Overcomers Youth Ministries

12/26/2017

12/04/2017

"For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the LORD. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts."
-Isaiah 55:8-9

Has anything in your life not worked out the way you would like? You really wanted to make the sports team, but you didn't. You studied really hard for a test, but didn't do so well. It could be something bigger. Maybe you just found out your family is moving, or parents are divorcing, or a close friend is very sick.

In these moments, it is easy to blame God that life isn't fair. Or that you could have done it better. That is a natural human reaction. But here is the profound statement of the day.....we are not God. God sees the end from the beginning and knows exactly what He is doing. He wants to take every single thing that happens to us, good or bad, and use it to reach His end goal with each one of us. Living by faith doesn't mean that we carelessly roam around doing nothing. It simply means that we constantly lean and depend on God to use everything we deal with to accomplish things for His good and for His glory.

So don't be afraid to tell God what is overwhelming you, or what has you down for the moment. Because we have Jesus, our High Priest, who knows and has lived through exactly what we are dealing with. He got through it and reached the end goal of redemption without blemish. And He did it solely by trusting in God's ways.

11/29/2017

"Truly I say to you, among those born of women there has arisen no one greater than John the Baptist. Yet the one who is the least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he."
-Matthew 11:11

John the Baptist was a Nazarite. He lived in the wilderness and ate bugs and honey. He probably didn't look like anything spectacular at first glance. But look at what Jesus said about him, "There has arisen no one greater." That is quite a statement, especially coming from God in the flesh. The reason John was so highly spoken of by Christ wasn't because of the way he looked, dressed, or anything else of that nature. It was because John lived a life completely devoted and dependent on God. So much so that he was chosen to begin Jesus's earthly ministry of preaching the coming Kingdom of the Heavens. "Repent, for the Kingdom of the heavens is at hand. (Or drawn near)." But even the one who is the least in the Kingdom of the heavens is greater than he.

So ask yourself honestly, if Jesus was to tell people about me, would he be able to speak that highly of me? Or am I too concerned with worldly things rather than the heavenly things set before me. Am I allowing Christ to magnify Himself in me like John was? Or am I hiding Him because of what my classmates, friends, or family might think of me. Allow God to make Himself known through your life. Your role in His Kingdom depends on it.

11/27/2017

"Let no one despise you for your youth, but set the believers an example in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, in purity."
1 Timothy 4:12

There is only one way to prevent people from thinking less of you because of your age, according to this verse. It's not by debating, arguing, or demanding respect. It's merely by your example. Regardless of their age, people will think more of you when your life exemplifies the way a Christ- follower ought to live.

People will look at 5 areas of your life: how you speak, how you live day to day, how you show respect and love for others, how you follow (or don't follow) Jesus Christ, and the state of your heart. Remember that the way you live reveals the true nature of who you are. Don't just assume you are setting a good example because you are mostly a good person compared to the people around you. Allow God to speak truth into your life through His Word about the little areas of your example that you might not think much about. You will inevitably influence someone watching you. No matter your age (or theirs).

11/27/2017

11/27/2017

Do you ever wonder what it is exactly we as followers of Christ are striving for? The battles and conflicts we have in this life have meaning. Revelation 3:21 says that Christ will allow those who overcome the opportunity to sit on His throne and rule with him. This is not automatic and requires effort on our part in this life. If you want to learn more about how to reach that goal, the consequences of missing that mark, and many other practical Biblical lessons, join us at Overcomers Youth Ministries every 3rd Sunday at 6pm at Faith Baptist Church at 8834 N. Hickory Valley Rd in Chattanooga, TN. Hope to see you there!!