23:30
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This is a piece I wrote in hope of speaking it at a youth and young adults event hosted by our church back in 2007. That wasn't to be, but I'm still sharing it here.
Imagine you are one of a group of primarily youth (but other ages as well) and listen, as I talk.
You ARE Big brothers and Sisters in God.
Can everyone under the age of about 25 stand up please.
OK, can everyone who is over the age of 11 please sit down.
Those of you that were stood up just now need to take a good look at the ones that are sill standing. Make sure you know who they are.
Ok, you can all sit down.
Those of you who are from Springfield, I already know, but I don’t know most of our visitors. You might have actual brothers and sisters, you might have none. You might come from churches with lots of younger children, you might come from churches with none. But each and every one of YOU are big brothers and sisters in the Kingdom of God.
These younger children, the under 11’s, they look up to you.
They want to be like you.
I don’t have under 11’s at home any more, but I’m sure C can vouch for this fact, with her boys.
You might think that your influence in this world is nothing, you might think that you do little for God, but it’s not true.
These kids want to be LIKE YOU, and they watch you, they imitate you, good or bad, they do it because you are you. Because to them, being an adult, being a “grown up” is just too far away to comprehend. They might want to be like their parents on some levels, but on so many levels, they just can’t relate to that, and who they want to be , who they want to follow is you.
I’ve been thinking of some examples in the Bible to share with you, of people who were like Big brothers or Sisters to those around them. I think you’ll recognise most of these stories.
Moses and Joshua.
Moses, was this mighty man of God, leading god’s people, a whole nation, out of captivity in Egypt. And by his side was his “aide” Joshua. Moses was surely training Joshua. Every morning while they were out in the desert, Moses would walk from the tent where he slept, to the tent where he would meet with God, and the people would all stand at the doors of their tents and watch him go until he stepped out of their sight. That’s how much respect they had for him.
Who knows where Joshua was?
I’m presuming one of the older ones at least should get this
Yes,
Exodus 33:11 says
11 The LORD would speak to Moses face to face, as a man speaks with his friend. Then Moses would return to the camp, but his young aide Joshua son of Nun did not leave the tent.
Moses went back to his sleep tent and left the presence of God, every night, but Joshua, STAYED in the presence of God. He experienced more of God than the man who went before him. Moses got to take the people to the river on the opposite shore to the promised land, and then he died. It was Joshua, who took the people in, Joshua who led them as a victorious people and went on to do many things for God.
What about Elijah and Elisha.
Elijah was a mighty prophet of God, bringing God’s word to a people who didn’t always want to hear it. Confronting King Ahab, Queen Jezebel and their prophets of baal. Miraculous provision for him during a famine. Many years of drought, then God tells Elijah to pray for rain, and it rains! And it rains and rains and rains!
And he had an assistant too, Elisha.
He travelled with Elijah, learnt form him, and so on.
THEN, one day God decides it is time for Elijah to die, and Elisha is warned by other prophets, and by Elijah himself, to go home, because today he would be no more.
Each and every time he heard that warning, he said “As surely as the LORD lives and as you live, I will not leave you.” He continued to walk on with Elijah and with God.
Finally the time came, they crossed over the river and Elijah asked an important question.
2 kings 2:9-12a
9 When they had crossed, Elijah said to Elisha, "Tell me, what can I do for you before I am taken from you?"
"Let me inherit a double portion of your spirit," Elisha replied.
10 "You have asked a difficult thing," Elijah said, "yet if you see me when I am taken from you, it will be yours—otherwise not."
11 As they were walking along and talking together, suddenly a chariot of fire and horses of fire appeared and separated the two of them, and Elijah went up to heaven in a whirlwind. 12 Elisha saw this and cried out, "My father! My father! The chariots and horsemen of Israel!" And Elisha saw him no more.
Elisha even had the guts to ASK for more than his predecessor had received.
I want each and every one of you to far surpass and outdo me!
I want to see each of you do more and be more and see more in God than I could ever imagine, and I believe that is possible!
And at the same time, I want you to understand that that is also true for those who come after you, they will see more and do more and be more than you ever could.
ESPECIALLY if you are willing to take your place as their spiritual big brothers and sisters.
Love them, talk to them, spend time with them, get to know them, work with them, be a good role model.
I’m not touting for helpers for the kids work here AT ALL.
Because you could NEVER step into an “official” kids session in your whole life and it would not change the fact that you are called to model for them what is possible in the Kingdom, that you are called to lead them into greater things than even you can do. Of course, if you feel like maybe God is calling you into that kind of area in church, speak to your youth team or one of the adults involved with the children, but please don’t think that is the only way to be an influence on them.
You ALREADY ARE an influence, you will continue to be as long as you are around them and they see and hear far more than you think they do.
Be careful role models, but be Impressive ones!
Imagine you are one of a group of primarily youth (but other ages as well) and listen, as I talk.
You ARE Big brothers and Sisters in God.
Can everyone under the age of about 25 stand up please.
OK, can everyone who is over the age of 11 please sit down.
Those of you that were stood up just now need to take a good look at the ones that are sill standing. Make sure you know who they are.
Ok, you can all sit down.
Those of you who are from Springfield, I already know, but I don’t know most of our visitors. You might have actual brothers and sisters, you might have none. You might come from churches with lots of younger children, you might come from churches with none. But each and every one of YOU are big brothers and sisters in the Kingdom of God.
These younger children, the under 11’s, they look up to you.
They want to be like you.
I don’t have under 11’s at home any more, but I’m sure C can vouch for this fact, with her boys.
You might think that your influence in this world is nothing, you might think that you do little for God, but it’s not true.
These kids want to be LIKE YOU, and they watch you, they imitate you, good or bad, they do it because you are you. Because to them, being an adult, being a “grown up” is just too far away to comprehend. They might want to be like their parents on some levels, but on so many levels, they just can’t relate to that, and who they want to be , who they want to follow is you.
I’ve been thinking of some examples in the Bible to share with you, of people who were like Big brothers or Sisters to those around them. I think you’ll recognise most of these stories.
Moses and Joshua.
Moses, was this mighty man of God, leading god’s people, a whole nation, out of captivity in Egypt. And by his side was his “aide” Joshua. Moses was surely training Joshua. Every morning while they were out in the desert, Moses would walk from the tent where he slept, to the tent where he would meet with God, and the people would all stand at the doors of their tents and watch him go until he stepped out of their sight. That’s how much respect they had for him.
Who knows where Joshua was?
I’m presuming one of the older ones at least should get this
Yes,
Exodus 33:11 says
11 The LORD would speak to Moses face to face, as a man speaks with his friend. Then Moses would return to the camp, but his young aide Joshua son of Nun did not leave the tent.
Moses went back to his sleep tent and left the presence of God, every night, but Joshua, STAYED in the presence of God. He experienced more of God than the man who went before him. Moses got to take the people to the river on the opposite shore to the promised land, and then he died. It was Joshua, who took the people in, Joshua who led them as a victorious people and went on to do many things for God.
What about Elijah and Elisha.
Elijah was a mighty prophet of God, bringing God’s word to a people who didn’t always want to hear it. Confronting King Ahab, Queen Jezebel and their prophets of baal. Miraculous provision for him during a famine. Many years of drought, then God tells Elijah to pray for rain, and it rains! And it rains and rains and rains!
And he had an assistant too, Elisha.
He travelled with Elijah, learnt form him, and so on.
THEN, one day God decides it is time for Elijah to die, and Elisha is warned by other prophets, and by Elijah himself, to go home, because today he would be no more.
Each and every time he heard that warning, he said “As surely as the LORD lives and as you live, I will not leave you.” He continued to walk on with Elijah and with God.
Finally the time came, they crossed over the river and Elijah asked an important question.
2 kings 2:9-12a
9 When they had crossed, Elijah said to Elisha, "Tell me, what can I do for you before I am taken from you?"
"Let me inherit a double portion of your spirit," Elisha replied.
10 "You have asked a difficult thing," Elijah said, "yet if you see me when I am taken from you, it will be yours—otherwise not."
11 As they were walking along and talking together, suddenly a chariot of fire and horses of fire appeared and separated the two of them, and Elijah went up to heaven in a whirlwind. 12 Elisha saw this and cried out, "My father! My father! The chariots and horsemen of Israel!" And Elisha saw him no more.
Elisha even had the guts to ASK for more than his predecessor had received.
I want each and every one of you to far surpass and outdo me!
I want to see each of you do more and be more and see more in God than I could ever imagine, and I believe that is possible!
And at the same time, I want you to understand that that is also true for those who come after you, they will see more and do more and be more than you ever could.
ESPECIALLY if you are willing to take your place as their spiritual big brothers and sisters.
Love them, talk to them, spend time with them, get to know them, work with them, be a good role model.
I’m not touting for helpers for the kids work here AT ALL.
Because you could NEVER step into an “official” kids session in your whole life and it would not change the fact that you are called to model for them what is possible in the Kingdom, that you are called to lead them into greater things than even you can do. Of course, if you feel like maybe God is calling you into that kind of area in church, speak to your youth team or one of the adults involved with the children, but please don’t think that is the only way to be an influence on them.
You ALREADY ARE an influence, you will continue to be as long as you are around them and they see and hear far more than you think they do.
Be careful role models, but be Impressive ones!
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