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Divine Welfare For Gods Youth

A Lesson Presented At The Southside church of Christ Youth Revival Meeting

Richmond, California
Theme: Young People, Where Do We Go From Here?

                                                                                Assigned Topic: Spiritually, Our Makeup & Welfare

 

Lesson Text: (Genesis 22:7-12)  "And Isaac spake unto Abraham his father, and said, My father: and he said, Here am I, my son. And he said, Behold the fire and the wood: but where is the lamb for a burnt offering? And Abraham said, My son, God will provide himself a lamb for a burnt offering: so they went both of them together. And they came to the place which God had told him of; and Abraham built an altar there, and laid the wood in order, and bound Isaac his son, and laid him on the altar upon the wood. And Abraham stretched forth his hand, and took the knife to slay his son. And the angel of the LORD called unto him out of heaven, and said, Abraham, Abraham: and he said, Here am I. And he said, Lay not thine hand upon the lad, neither do thou any thing unto him: for now I know that thou fearest God, seeing thou hast not withheld thy son, thine only son from me."

 

God maintains a special place in His plan for the youth. Just as babes in Christ, God knows that young people are easy targets for Satan to feast upon. Peter was a grown man and Satan was out to sift him as wheat (Luke 22:31). Job was a grown man with a wife and family to care for but that did not stop Satan from requesting permission from God to unleash a spiritual and physical attack that would bring most men to their knees (Job 1:11-12 & 2:3-7). The marital union of Adam and Eve was solid and perfectly designed but it did not deter Satan from beguiling Eve (Genesis 3:1-6).

 

In our fast paced society young people and especially children are prime targets for Satan but God maintains a special protection for young Christians willing to follow Him. The Bible says in Matthew 18:2-5 " And Jesus called a little child unto him, and set him in the midst of them, And said, Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven. Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven. And whoso shall receive one such little child in my name receiveth me."

 

In Mark 9:36-37  The Bible says, "And he took a child, and set him in the midst of them: and when he had taken him in his arms, he said unto them, Whosoever shall receive one of such children in my name, receiveth me: and whosoever shall receive me, receiveth not me, but him that sent me." Jesus also said, "Verily I say unto you, Whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little child, he shall not enter therein. And he took them up in his arms, put his hands upon them, and blessed them" (Mark 15-16). The disposition of Christ clearly indicates His special protection and admiration for the young. From this premise we want to emphasize that if God takes care of the young the young must reverence and obey Him that has so wonderfully made them.

 

Josiah began his 30 year reign as king at the age of 8 (2 Kings 22:1) and Christ was about His Fathers business at the age of 12 (Luke 2:49). Young people, where do we go from here? No longer can we make excuses about being too young to serve God or too young to be a diligent and faithful Christian. No longer can you abuse your intelligence, ignoring all of Gods scriptures that indicate that tomorrow is not promised. Although God watches over His elect He also repudiates and detests sin. Many young boys should be thankful they are not living under Old Testament Law and are living under grace (Romans 6:14). God expects for boys to grow up and be God-fearing men and in the Old Testament unruly sons were put to death:

 

 "If a man have a stubborn and rebellious son, which will not obey the voice of his father, or the voice of his mother, and that, when they have chastened him, will not hearken unto them: Then shall his father and his mother lay hold on him, and bring him out unto the elders of his city, and unto the gate of his place; And they shall say unto the elders of his city, This our son is stubborn and rebellious, he will not obey our voice; he is a glutton, and a drunkard. And all the men of his city shall stone him with stones, that he die: so shalt thou put evil away from among you; and all Israel shall hear, and fear" (Deuteronomy 21:18-21).

 

Thank God for grace and the sacrifice of Christ.

 

Text: "And Isaac spake unto Abraham his father, and said, My father: and he said, Here am I, my son. And he said, Behold the fire and the wood: but where is the lamb for a burnt offering? And Abraham said, My son, God will provide himself a lamb for a burnt offering: so they went both of them together. And they came to the place, which God had told him of; and Abraham built an altar there, and laid the wood in order, and bound Isaac his son, and laid him on the altar upon the wood. And Abraham stretched forth his hand, and took the knife to slay his son. And the angel of the LORD called unto him out of heaven, and said, Abraham, Abraham: and he said, Here am I. And he said, Lay not thine hand upon the lad, neither do thou any thing unto him: for now I know that thou fearest God, seeing thou hast not withheld thy son, thine only son from me" (Genesis 22:7-12).

 

In our text most people extrapolate and ponder the fact that Abraham was able to muster the faith and courage to sacrifice his promised son. We wonder how could a man have enough faith to actually attempt to brutally murder his innocent, beloved and precious son? The pain Abraham must have felt as he walked with his son, knowing Isaac was the offering.

 

As a testament to the faith that young people can have we must observe the faith and obedience of Isaac. As a type or shadow of Christ Isaac knew he was about to be put to death by his father. As he asked his father where the lamb was he must have figured out he was the lamb to be offered. But because of his faith in his father he did not resist, run or even beg for God's mercy. Isaac could see the alter, wood, and fire and probably was quite familiar with the knife of his father.

 

The Bible tells us that Abraham tied up his son Isaac as if he was a lamb and laid him across the alter. Some may wonder as to how Abraham was able to tie up his son but the major point is that young Isaac allowed himself to be tied because he trusted his father. Young people, do you have this much faith in God? This was not just an ordinary sacrifice it was a burnt offering. Not only was Abraham aware that he had to sacrifice his son he also knew he had to burn him at the stake. But more importantly, young Isaac knew he was to shed his blood and be burned. How frightening of a predicament this was, but because of the faith of Isaac, the young lad, he did not question the horror and allowed himself to be offered as a living sacrifice.

 

As father Abraham raised his hand to slay his son God said, "Lay not thine hand upon the lad, neither do thou any thing unto him: for now I know that thou fearest God, seeing thou hast not withheld thy son, thine only son from me" (Genesis 22:12).

 

Young people, where do we go from here? As long as you remain as a living sacrifice, God will be your protector. But the minute you rise up against him in disobedience he might allow you to venture off into a far country like the prodigal son (Luke 15:11-32). It is not about the nightclubs, marijuana, fast cars, explicit lyrics and a trunk full of slump. It is not about fast girls, thugged-out boys, short skirts, sagging pants, sideshows, poor grades and bling-bling. It is time to let God use you like He used Isaac to show the world that He and His power are real.

 

Older folks may put you down, treat you as if your intellect is inferior, take advantage of your youth, tell you that you are not ready, protect you from their own worst fears, but Paul told young Timothy "Let no man despise thy youth; but be thou an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity" (1 Timothy 4:12).  Where do we go from here?

 

ˇ        Romans 12:1  I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.

 

ˇ        Galatians 5:25  If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.

 

ˇ        2 Corinthians 6:17  Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you,

 

ˇ        1 Corinthians 15:34  Awake to righteousness, and sin not; for some have not the knowledge of God: I speak this to your shame.

 

ˇ        Psalms 139:14  I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvellous are thy works; and that my soul knoweth right well.

 

Young people do not play church, devote the totality of your being to Christ and God's divine welfare will keep you preserved until the end.

 

AMEN