The youths are the future of the church and are the prophetic voices that will help bring the church into the future in a relevant manner. But in order to be able to provide that kind of a leadership, the youths need to have the anchor of an enlightened heart (an inner awareness provided by the Holy Spirit) in knowing intimately 3 areas – the hope to which God has called them, the riches of God’s glorious inheritance in the saints, and his incomparably great power for them who believe.
If youths are going to be influencers in this day and age, they need to firstly know the hope to which God has called them. “Hope” for the Christian is not a “maybe” kind of thing but a certainty of confidence that does not disappoint (see Romans 5:5; Hebrews 11:1). Our confidence in the calling of God for our lives is so sure because God Himself has guaranteed it by giving a deposit, the Holy Spirit, as a down payment guaranteeing the progressive and full experience of the pleasures of God’s heart in our lives in a day and age where we seek adventure and excitement. The whole universe and life is a God-given playground of certainties where we do not need to fear any evil because He is there (Psalm 23:4).
A second anchor for influence is the intimate knowledge of the riches of God’s glorious inheritance for them. It is awesome to know that we are heirs of God and co-heirs with Jesus Christ (Romans 8:17). That means we are going to inherit lots – every spiritual blessing (Ephesians 1:3); co-seated with Christ and sharing a fantastic amount of authority instead of living like an underdog in life (Ephesians 1:20-22; 2:6); and so much more.
Thirdly, youths need to be aware of the great power beyond comparison that is available to them. It is the same power that raised Christ from the dead that is available to us (Ephesians 1:19-20). It is so difficult to describe the immensity and dynamism of that power that 3 words have to be used to describe it – power (ability, abundance, miraculous power); mighty (dominion, vigour, strength); strength (forcefulness). It is the resurrection power that triumphs over death. And if death can be defeated, what else in our lives can that power not deal with? Pain? Betrayal? Emotional wounds? Even a broken heart, God can heal (Psalm 147:3).
We need to pray for our youths to be anchored with intimate awareness in all 3 areas so as to become a springboard for the great and exciting things God is going to do through them in our churches and in our land.
By,
Chairman of The Board of Youth Work,
Dr. Herbert Tan
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