WORLD

Working with teenagers from all walks of life at the SPRING Student Center is very interesting. Some have never read the bible or had any exposure at all to the things of God. So, what can we really expect of them in terms of behavior?

For one thing, to obey the rules that we lay out, since it is being provided to them free of charge. Beyond that though, we can only expect them to act like people who do not know the Lord Jesus Christ as Savior. They don’t know the blessings of following His Way for their lives. They operate by the principles of this world; the same world that says you can be President of the United States, have adulterous relationships with other women and still be liked by the majority of the people. The same world that pays sports figures multi-million dollar salaries and pay the people that educate their children well below the $50,000 mark.

It is up to Christians to set an example by following God’s ways…

Do not love this world nor the things it offers you, for when you love the world, you do not have the love of the Father in you. ¹⁶For the world offers only a craving for physical pleasure, a craving for everything we see, and pride in our achievements and possessions. These are not from the Father, but are from this world. ¹⁷And this world is fading away, along with everything that people crave. But anyone who does what pleases God will live forever. 1 John 2:15 - 17 (NLT)

If we follow God’s prescription for our lives and non-Christians see that difference: in our attitudes towards them and that we have a different priority system, they will want to know more about Christ.

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DISGUISE

We live in a world where marketing companies vie for the attention of every age group from young to old. They package everything from the trivial to the downright dangerous in attractive packages in order to make more money.

The spiritual world isn’t any different. There is Good and there is evil. If you have read the Bible, you have learned that God is Supreme and has already won the war through the sacrificial death of His Son, Jesus Christ. Satan, however, is still trying to keep as many people from going over to God’s side as he can and he does not care about rules or playing fair.

Paul speaks of the devil’s tactics in his second letter to the church in Corinth:

No wonder, for even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light. 2 Corinthians 11:14 (NASB)

His disguise comes in many shapes and sizes in today’s world. He can make a movie sound good by calling it fantasy or pairing it up with a seeming good charity. He can make wizards, demons, witches and warlocks sound like “fun” things rather than the flip side of God’s kingdom.

So how do we tell the difference?

Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world. ²This is how you can recognize the Spirit of God: Every spirit that acknowledges that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God, ³but every spirit that does not acknowledge Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist, which you have heard is coming and even now is already in the world. 1 John 4:1 - 3 (NIV)

Pray for each other and tune into God’s Word. When you are in sync with His Holy Spirit, you will not be deceived.

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BODY

The latest fashion, makeup, long hours at the gym…What do all of these have in common? They are all an attempt to make our physical bodies attractive to ourselves and to others. Do any of these things matter to God?

Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and that you are not your own? ²⁰For you have been bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body. 1 Corinthians 6:19 - 20 (NASB)

So, if we belong to God, having accepted Jesus Christ as our Savior, dressing nicely can bring Him honor. At least people wouldn’t think we were slobs who didn’t care! And, I suppose that if we were to exercise more, the outward effects would have the same result as dressing nicely.

I would suggest to you that glorifying God in our bodies, might I add, “while” we are in our bodies, is of the utmost importance and has longer lasting implications. We only have so much time on this earth, some more than others. While I am in this body, I need to bring glory to God. Whatever I do should bring glory to God. Now, if I look good and live longer because of exercise and dressing nicely, it may increase the fruit of my labors.

Of course the more important point of this passage of scripture is that we that call ourselves Christians are not our own. We have been purchased by the blood of Jesus and the Holy Spirit is “in” us. Many simply use this passage as a caution against smoking, drinking and drugs while skipping over the specific warnings against immorality, but it has much wider reaching effects:

• We belong to Christ
• The Holy Spirit of God indwells us

That alone should cause us to walk this earth in humility and wonder while seeking daily to do the work of the Almighty God that made us and saved us from a life of sin, while at the same time giving us a long-lasting purpose of leading others to know Christ as Savior bringing them into a relationship with the Lord.

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GREAT

Many people wake up each day to the thought “Here we go again” or “Not another day like yesterday.” One can get caught up in temporary circumstance, or think that “things might have been better in my life, if only…”

The truth is that every single day we face new possibilities, new choices and new hope for a better day, if we look to the Lord Jesus Christ as our Creator and Savior. God alone has the ability to lead us down the right path as we look to Him for guidance. He has set that path before us in His Holy Scriptures…

Because of the LORD’S great love we are not consumed,

for his compassions never fail.

²³ They are new every morning;

great is your faithfulness.

Lamentations 3:22 - 23 (NIV)

God’s love is great. His mercies are great. His faithfulness is great. It is up to us to look to Him and realize that every day is a new chance to live for Him.

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PLEAD

Over 330 different teens have been in the SPRING Student Center in the last nine weeks. Of that number, nearly 300 do not have a relationship with God or know anything about Jesus Christ as Savior. Many come from broken homes. They hunger to be part of something larger, to be loved by others and know that there is hope for their futures.

So what can we that call Jesus Lord do about that? Hear these words from the prophet Jeremiah:

Rise during the night and cry out.

Pour out your hearts like water to the Lord.

Lift up your hands to him in prayer,

pleading for your children,

for in every street

they are faint with hunger.

Lamentations 2:19 (NLT)

We need to pray constantly for these kids. Yes, it may take a sacrifice of your time and energy, but God will reward your efforts. He can and wants to help these kids. Fall on your knees, O Christian, and beg for these young lives to be touched and healed by the Lord.

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SHOULD

I should do this. I should do that. You’ve thought that before. We all should do certain things, but do we?

¹⁰But the day of the Lord will come as unexpectedly as a thief. Then the heavens will pass away with a terrible noise, and the very elements themselves will disappear in fire, and the earth and everything on it will be found to deserve judgment. ¹¹Since everything around us is going to be destroyed like this, what holy and godly lives you should live, 2 Peter 3:10 - 11 (NLT)

What holy and godly lives we should live knowing that one day we will stand in the presence of the Lord God who made the heavens and the earth.

Some of you may think, “I can’t do it. I can’t be holy and godly.” Whenever you have that thought, remember this verse:

For I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength. Philippians 4:13 - 14 (NLT)

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ALL

“That kid is beyond help. That kid will never learn, he’s (she’s) just plain bad. There’s no hope for them.”

That kind of talk begs the question, for whom did Jesus Christ die on the cross?

For the grace of God has been revealed, bringing salvation to all people. Titus 2:11(NLT)

“For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life. John 3:16 (NASB)

Everyone on this earth is a creation of the almighty God. He provided salvation for ALL people. Who are we to say that a person cannot be helped, cannot be saved by God? So what is our responsibility? Look at the next verse in Titus…

And we are instructed to turn from godless living and sinful pleasures. We should live in this evil world with wisdom, righteousness, and devotion to God, Titus 2:12 (NLT)

We are to remain faithful to God and His plan. We are to tell others about the hope that we have in Jesus Christ and pray that they see the change He has made in our lives.

The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance. 2 Peter 3:9 (NASB)

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WHOLESOME

Sometimes we can be so careless about what we say to people. We assume things that may or may not be true. We let the words fly and think about it later (maybe).

Here’s what Paul had to say about that to the people in the church at Ephesus:

²⁹Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. Ephesians 4:29 (NIV)

In today’s world, our mouths are not the only thing that can have unwholesome talk spewing forth. We now have email, IM (instant messaging) and texting on our cell phones.

If Paul were alive today, I’m almost positive he would have said,

Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, or in your emails, IM’s or your text messages…

BE CAREFUL about what you say to each other and how you say it, whether it is verbal or written. What you say reflects on the character of Jesus Christ, our Lord.

Don’t fall into the category of those deny God by their actions:

¹⁵To the pure, all things are pure, but to those who are corrupted and do not believe, nothing is pure. In fact, both their minds and consciences are corrupted. ¹⁶They claim to know God, but by their actions they deny him. They are detestable, disobedient and unfit for doing anything good. Titus 1:15 - 16 (NIV)

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WORK

Have you ever known someone that asked for people’s opinions, including yours, but seemingly always went with the one that pleased them the most regardless of its truthfulness? Perhaps a better picture is the one who is wearing a new outfit which is not at all flattering but people tell them they look good to avoid the embarrassing truth.

The truth may at times be hard to take, or even embarrassing, but it remains the truth. Here is an example from Paul’s letter to Timothy about those who modified the truth of the Bible…

³For a time is coming when people will no longer listen to sound and wholesome teaching. They will follow their own desires and will look for teachers who will tell them whatever their itching ears want to hear. ⁴They will reject the truth and chase after myths. ⁵But you should keep a clear mind in every situation. Don’t be afraid of suffering for the Lord. Work at telling others the Good News, and fully carry out the ministry God has given you. 2 Timothy 4:3 - 5 (NLT)

We live in such a time. New Age and custom-made religions pop up all the time and are a potpourri of ideas that people have chosen out of several different religions. They take ones that are pleasing and mix them together to create a custom religion that won’t bear the “burdens” of the difficulty of faith in God or following the commands that God has relayed to everyone in His Word.

Despite all of that, those of us that believe in God and His Son Jesus Christ are commanded to “work at telling others the Good News” of our Lord. Work is not always pleasant but it is fruitful. God’s Truth in its entirety is our handbook. Work at learning it. Work at sharing it.

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RUN

Some people run to lose weight and others run to exercise their cardiovascular system. Either way, running takes work and discipline if it is to be effective.

Paul writes to Timothy about running:

Run from anything that stimulates youthful lusts. Instead, pursue righteous living, faithfulness, love, and peace. Enjoy the companionship of those who call on the Lord with pure hearts. 2 Timothy 2:22 (NLT)

Eugene Peterson put it like this in The Message:

Run away from infantile indulgence. Run after mature righteousness—faith, love, peace—joining those who are in honest and serious prayer before God

Run away from things that are bad for you and run toward things that are good for you. Running in this sense also takes work and discipline if it is to be effective.

I recall hearing some apply this verse to the young, but what it says is, run away from “youthful” lusts. Even older people can have “youthful lusts,” longing for something that might make them feel young, at least for a moment in time. I think that is why the Message answers that with “Run after mature righteousness,” etc. Everybody has to grow up sometime! Follow God’s plan…

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PRINCIPLES

High Schools, Colleges and Universities teach the Bible as literature. Many incredible principles may be found in its pages whether you believe in Christ or not. You would think it might cause someone to ask, “Why would it be helpful in some cases and lying in others?” Of course, those of us that believe in Jesus as Savior and Lord know that every word is true.

Here is an example from the Old Testament Prophet, Jeremiah that gives us some valuable principles:

The people pleaded with Jeremiah,

Please pray to the LORD your God for us. As you can see, we are only a tiny remnant compared to what we were before. ³Pray that the LORD your God will show us what to do and where to go.” Jeremiah 42:1-3 (NLT)

Jeremiah agreed to pray for them. The petitioners made the following promise:

Whether we like it or not, we will obey the LORD our God to whom we are sending you with our plea. For if we obey him, everything will turn out well for us.” Jeremiah 42:6 (NLT)

Jeremiah prayed until he heard from the Lord.

Ten days later the LORD gave his reply to Jeremiah. Jeremiah 42:7 (NLT)

God simply told them not to go to Egypt. However, the people called Jeremiah a liar…

and all the people refused to obey the LORD’s command to stay in Judah. Jeremiah 43:4 (NLT)

While the people made the wrong choice in the end and were punished, we can glean some powerful principles from this passage:

1. Seek the Lord’s guidance
2. Wait for His answer…regardless of how long it takes
3. Obey Him…don’t make promises you cannot or do not intend to keep.

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FIGHT

Superman, Batman, Catwoman, Spiderman…. What do they all have in common? Yes, they are fictional characters (sorry if you didn’t know) and they all started as cartoon heroes before becoming “movie stars.” However, there is something deeper at the center of each of these characters and their stories; they all fight evil.

Rather than fighting evil, you and I merely have to “flee” from it or avoid it, when we have Jesus Christ on our side. He is our chief warrior in the battle.

The fight for us begins with fleeing evil, but continues with pursuing good…

For the love of money is the root of all kinds of evil. And some people, craving money, have wandered from the true faith and pierced themselves with many sorrows. ¹¹But you, Timothy, are a man of God; so run from all these evil things. Pursue righteousness and a godly life, along with faith, love, perseverance, and gentleness. ¹²Fight the good fight for the true faith. Hold tightly to the eternal life to which God has called you, which you have confessed so well before many witnesses. 1 Timothy 6:10 - 12 (NLT)

Concentrate on pursuing things that are good and doing the right thing

Get better at living a life that no one can find fault in

Work on increasing your faith in God and His plan

Strive to love, even those you don’t like!

Don’t give up and be gentle with those who don’t agree with you…

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SANCTIFICATION

Sometimes we “church” people use “church words” that others don’t understand. Take the word sanctification for example. Sounds fancy enough but what does it really mean?

For this is the will of God, your sanctification: that you should abstain from sexual immorality; 1 Thessalonians 4:3 (NKJV)

So then, we might deduce that sanctification is remaining sexually pure. Is that all it means?

The Greek word used here is hagiasmos, which the Thayer Greek Dictionary says means:

1) consecration, purification

2) the effect of consecration

2a) sanctification of heart and life

Wikipedia says consecration is the solemn dedication to a special purpose or service, usually religious. The word "consecration" literally means, "setting apart."

For this is the will of God, your purification, your setting yourself apart to the things, desires and will of God.

The Greek word hagiasmos is from hagiazo, which Thayer says means:

1) to render or acknowledge, or to be venerable or hallow

2) to separate from profane things and dedicate to God

2a) consecrate things to God

2b) dedicate people to God

3) to purify

3a) to cleanse externally

3b) to purify by expiation: free from the guilt of sin

3c) to purify internally by renewing of the soul

Hagiazo is from the Greek word hagios, which Thayer says means “most holy thing,” or “saint.”

For this is the will of God, for you to be holy…set apart from the things of the world, to Him, your Creator, to be holy as He is holy.

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MINISTRY

If you had the choice between telling someone about something that was good or doing something good for that person, which would you do?

Often times, we in the church would simply like to tell the homeless person about Jesus rather than also helping him find housing. We might prefer to tell the teenager who has a rough situation at home “Jesus loves him (or her)” rather than also showing them the love of Christ by listening to them and trying to help.

Singing cheerful songs to a person with a heavy heart

is like taking someone’s coat in cold weather

or pouring vinegar in a wound. Proverbs 25:20 (NLT)

James, the brother of Jesus Christ, speaks about this in James 2:15 - 17 (NASB),

If a brother or sister is without clothing and in need of daily food, ¹⁶and one of you says to them, “Go in peace, be warmed and be filled,” and yet you do not give them what is necessary for their body, what use is that? ¹⁷Even so faith, if it has no works, is dead, being by itself.

If we wish to lead a lost world to Christ, we must remember that we are His body here on the earth, His hands, His feet, His eyes, His loving touch, His caring heart…

Those of us that claim Christ as Savior are His body in this world.

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REPENT

In 1990, 86% of people asked claimed to be Christian. In 2001, 77% made the same claim. 40% of those did not attend any type of church service. According to Christianity Today, in a 2006 article, only 17.7% of the population attends a church service.

¹⁷ There is hope for your future,” says the LORD.

“Your children will come again to their own land.

¹⁸ I have heard Israel saying,

‘You disciplined me severely,

like a calf that needs training for the yoke.

Turn me again to you and restore me,

for you alone are the LORD my God.

¹⁹ I turned away from God,

but then I was sorry.

I kicked myself for my stupidity!

I was thoroughly ashamed of all I did in my younger days.’

Jeremiah 31:17 - 19 (NLT)

Pray for this country, starting with you and your town, to listen to God, to heed His call to return to Him as the One True God. This is the same message that John the Baptist preached,

“Repent of your sins and turn to God, for the Kingdom of Heaven is near.” Matthew 3:2 (NLT)

Jesus is patiently waiting…

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WASTE

Have you ever stopped and thought about how much time you waste in one day? Just try it once. As you go throughout your day journal the activity, time spent and what it accomplished. It might prove very enlightening.

Here is what Paul had to say to Timothy regarding a good use of time:

Don’t let them waste their time in endless discussion of myths and spiritual pedigrees. These things only lead to meaningless speculations, which don’t help people live a life of faith in God. ⁵The purpose of my instruction is that all believers would be filled with love that comes from a pure heart, a clear conscience, and genuine faith. ⁶But some people have missed this whole point. They have turned away from these things and spend their time in meaningless discussions. 1 Timothy 1:4 - 6 (NLT)

What should be the uniting purpose of all of our speech?

…that all believers would be filled with love…

Arguing about secondary doctrines, who has the most books in their library, who has a preacher for a dad or even who is going to win the world series…all of that and more, waste time, when we could be speaking about the incredible love of Jesus and at the same time demonstrating it to those we come into contact with.

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LONG

Are you thankful for what you have or are you always wishing you had something else, something better?

Perhaps there is a fine line between the two. We need to be thankful for what we have and yet, it is okay to desire something better, especially when it is promised to us by the very One who created us, the Lord God Almighty.

¹ How lovely is your dwelling place,

O LORD of Heaven’s Armies.

² I long, yes, I faint with longing

to enter the courts of the LORD.

With my whole being, body and soul,

I will shout joyfully to the living God. Psalms 84:1 - 2 (NLT)

The place God has given us to live, whether it is a twenty-room mansion or a simple one-room house, is a precious gift as long as He is with us.

Do you long with your entire being to be with God as the Psalmist did? Do you live each and every day thinking of Him and being thankful for what He has already given you?

Think about it…

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HELL

There is a growing movement in the world today. I’m not talking about the Democratic or Republican Party. Nor am I speaking of Greenpeace or the conservationist movements. I am talking about the large mass of people who deny the existence of hell.

Good and evil, God and satan, Heaven and hell…..

Not only does it seem logical to accept hell’s existence because of the opposites that we see all around us, but it is also talked about in the Holy Scriptures, the Bible.

⁷And God will provide rest for you who are being persecuted and also for us when the Lord Jesus appears from heaven. He will come with his mighty angels, ⁸in flaming fire, bringing judgment on those who don’t know God and on those who refuse to obey the Good News of our Lord Jesus. ⁹They will be punished with eternal destruction, forever separated from the Lord and from his glorious power. ¹⁰When he comes on that day, he will receive glory from his holy people—praise from all who believe. And this includes you, for you believed what we told you about him. 2 Thessalonians 1:7 - 10 (NLT)

Some of you are saying, “I didn’t see the word ‘hell’ anywhere in that passage.” You’re right, it wasn’t there…but “hell” was. Look at verse nine:

⁹They will be punished with eternal destruction, forever separated

from the Lord and from his glorious power.

Hell is separation from God. Whether you want to believe in a physical location or not is irrelevant. HELL is being separated from the One who made us, loves us and gave His only Son to die in our place so that we could be with Him.

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ABANDONED

“Why did God let this happen to me?” “He can’t be a loving God since He allows evil to exist.”

Do statements like these sound familiar to you? When you have accepted Christ as your Savior, you understand that things happen to you to grow your character, to make you more Christ-like and less self and world centered. Evil exists because God’s way (the opposite of evil) has been rejected.

Since they thought it foolish to acknowledge God, he abandoned them to their foolish thinking and let them do things that should never be done. Romans 1:28 (NLT)

Evil would not exist if man and other created beings had not abandoned God. He is the Creator and deserves our respect, love and obedience. When we ignore His ways, evil is allowed to thrive. God is good. Evil is the absence of good.

God will not force us to do the right thing. He desires us to willing follow Him.

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OVERFLOW

Do you think that people naturally love each other? Perhaps we might find in ourselves the capacity to love one or two others as long as they are like us. To go beyond that point to loving others as ourselves I propose that it takes the power of God…

And may the Lord make your love for one another and for all people grow and overflow, just as our love for you overflows. 1 Thessalonians 3:12 (NLT)

Paul knew that it took the Lord to “make” our love for each other and for “all” people grow and even overflow. To allow God to work like that in our lives requires surrender to His will and ways and a close, daily commune with Him.

Try it and see if your love for others doesn’t begin to overflow far beyond your human capabilities.

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