The Fundamental Issue of Youth: Value, Leadership Skills, Revelation of Knowing who God is?

Youth Pastor Jonathan
Halogen Foundation
Singapore
23.10.2015

- Putting up my pastoral hat, it is good to have programme/activities to enhance value and leadership, but being a youth pastors for 7? years, I think the young people nowadays don't have value nor leadership issues but the revelation of knowing who God is.

- Many people view beatitudes as a PROCESS towards achieving an end but I am more inclined to think that God view the 'process' as an END itself. It is not like I have completed 'poor in spirit' or 'mourn' or 'meek'. Not treating 'all these things will be given to you as well' but to seek first the kingdom of God first. (Being vs Doing)

- Not on the rock does not mean on Peter church will be built but on the truth which Peter has revealed by the Father where Jesus is the Messiah, the son of the living God.

- It's easy to have programme or training to improve value and skills but it's difficult to help believers to really embrace the importance of truly understand who God is and therefore understand ourselves better. When fundamentals are right, for example we know that God will provide everything then our behavior/thought would not be worries.


The Beatitudes
Now when Jesus saw the crowds, he went up on a mountainside and sat down. His disciples came to him, and he began to teach them. He said: “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted. Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth. Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled. Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy. Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God. Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God. Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. “Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you. (‭Matthew‬ ‭5‬:‭1-12‬ NIV)

But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. (‭Matthew‬ ‭6‬:‭33‬ NIV)

To the church in Ephesus
“To the angel of the church in Ephesus write: These are the words of him who holds the seven stars in his right hand and walks among the seven golden lampstands. I know your deeds, your hard work and your perseverance. I know that you cannot tolerate wicked people, that you have tested those who claim to be apostles but are not, and have found them false. You have persevered and have endured hardships for my name, and have not grown weary. Yet I hold this against you: You have forsaken the love you had at first. (‭Revelation‬ ‭2‬:‭1-4‬ NIV)

When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, “Who do people say the Son of Man is?” They replied, “Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, Jeremiah or one of the prophets.” “But what about you?” he asked. “Who do you say I am?” Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.” Jesus replied, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by flesh and blood, but by my Father in heaven. And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it. I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.” (‭Matthew‬ ‭16‬:‭13-19‬ NIV)

Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and strangers, but fellow citizens with God’s people and also members of his household, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone. (‭Ephesians‬ ‭2‬:‭19-20‬ NIV)

For this reason, ever since I heard about your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all God’s people, I have not stopped giving thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers. I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better. I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people, (‭Ephesians‬ ‭1‬:‭15-18‬ NIV)

What is more, I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them garbage, that I may gain Christ (‭Philippians‬ ‭3‬:‭8‬ NIV)