12/03/2025
CHRIST, THE GROWTH MODEL FOR THE YOUTH
"And Jesus grew in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and man."— Luke 2:52 NIV
"Voices Amplified and Innovations Ignited," is the theme for this year's Youth Day celebrations. But what is a voice amplified if those voicing out are saying Jesus is a scam? More and more youths are claiming there's no God, many are getting convinced that Christianity and growth or prosperity don't go along. Many youths have left the church for search of 'greener pasture' in the world. Is it true that hardwork and Christianity don't go along? Is Christianity a scam brought to us by the western world as many claim?
While it can be true that wrong practices of religion can lead to poverty, Jesus himself is the model anyone who wants to make in life should follow. Ask any attentive student of scripture they will tell you that Jesus' name is a brand no business will match, his life is full of business, academic, economic, social and spiritual principles. These principles are principles to greatness.
Christ was not more advantaged than any of us. A carpenter's son, born in a manger yet but a brand 2000 years ago with over 2 billion people today (though people misuse it). Christ was a hard worker, from age 0 till age 30 (as a youth) he was in his father's workshop working with wood. Some people think 💬, Christ was some lazy fella, no brethren. 30 good years, he was scarcely known to the world. The only way to greatness is hardwork, no cutting corners. Hardwork is the only amplifier the youth should use to get their voices amplified.
After 30 years of service in his father's workshop, he now went into Judea, Samaria and now he's everywhere. Jesus didn't rush to make it, he waited and built himself for 30 years then went full scale with his mission to Earth, saving soul. The more time you spend in preparing the more powerful you will be. My fellow Youth rush in being famous, rushing into the world to make it so they can be seen, Christ says that's not the way. He spent much time in secret building himself, and only worked for 3 and half years but the results are eternal. My good Sir Mr Mike Ashley Phiri wrote on his wall:
"Cheers to you if you have been told you're too risky to bet on. You are best kept secret in the hidden voices, the one God trusts so much, the one God is jealous of and wants to keep you just a little bit longer before the world 🌎 discovers you and things get crazy. There is rhythm to this that is predictable. The people of God are chosen, and then they are hidden. They are then trained and developed in secret. Jesus was the best kept 🙌 secret( Rom 16: 8). The longer you can stay hidden, the more explosive your message will be. You can not escape discovery . You will be the voice, the Oracle of God to the people 🙏 🙌"
You can't make it in bed 🛏️, is a principle Christ understood well. He was an early riser from the start, till even in his death he woke up earlier than those who were alive for when they went to the tomb they found that he was risen. "Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed." Mark 1:35 NIV. Read biographies of all millionaires, none sleep the way you do, not even Jesus did!
The wise man had a question for the youth, "How long will you lie there, you sluggard?
When will you get up from your sleep? A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest — and poverty will come on you like a thief
and scarcity like an armed man." Proverbs 6:9-11 NIV. To my sisters, even you can't make it 'in bed' either ways. When Mary Magdalene realized that she could only make it through Jesus, she was ever at his feet. Your voices aren't amplified in bed but at Jesus' feet!
We are not the first ones to try and gamble, Judas Iscariot did and you know the story. Try to get rich quickly by trading Christ for some 30 pieces of silver will hung you in a tree of problems. You can't make it on betway, Christ is the only better Way! Only hardwork pays no ponzi schemes!
From as early as when he was 12 years of age, Christ could stand the PhD and Doctors of his time because he studied.(Luke 2:41-52) You can't always ChatGPT your way up, study and learn the skills of proper research. Paul advised the young man Timothy, "Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth." 2 Timothy 2:15 KJV
Don't be an island 🏝️ fellow young man. Christ was a community asset, he was a friend to the republican and yet a master to the high ranking officials like Nechodimus. We cannot afford to be so disrespectful to people who will lift us up. Either ways, it's the people who will lift you up to achieve your mission, it's his people who lifted Christ to the cross. It's the people who provided for his grave. Those people you disrespect today are the ones who can stand for you when you can't stand by yourself. One line our Youth director Pastor Angel Chipulu always says, "kubafye bwino chapwafye ". Indeed, just be good to people.
Many young men are evolving from being GENTLEMEN to GENTILE MEN then to GE***AL MEN. Today's world 🌍 is littered with men and women who cannot control their passions, lust, desire etc. They sleep with anything they admire, what a sad 😢 world. Social media is flooded with cases of r**e, we need more of the holy spirit as Youths. It's God we need for our generation to be delivered.
The only way to the top unfortunately passes through a place called suffering. Christ passed through it, "For it was fitting for Him, for whom are all things and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons to glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings." Hebrews 2:10 NKJV. The only way to heaven is the cross and crucibles. The only way to the top of anything is through suffering. I mean, just look at our president, aren't you inspired?
A man who ran for president 6 times, failed 5 of those. Imprisoned not less than 15 times, yet he was determined. Then imwe ba youth with one heartbreak ati I'm killing myself, with just one failure ati I can't do this anymore, you must be joking. Our Youth give up too early. They get discouraged too early. This you should know, life is one tuff stuff, but you gotta push, keep fighting, never give up till you bag the gold. Don't go for the silver like Judas, go for the gold! My good Sir Mr Lemmy always says "Consistency over fads." Kwata consistency na persistence mulumendo!
At the end of it all, our voices can only be amplified and innovation unleashed if we do it the Jesus way. His voice was said 2000 years ago yet still audible today. Things that last take time. To make it you have to be serious. You'll fail many times but be patient, heaven will be yours one day.
As we have faith, we should work. Faith with works is dead. "There is a great work to be done, and every one who names the name of Christ should be a worker together with Him. The indolent, those who merely profess the faith and do nothing, are weighing down the church like a millstone." (Review and Herald, March 1, 1881)
"Young men and young women, press forward. Do not wait for some higher work before you learn to be faithful in the work nearest you. The common duties of life must be performed with fidelity, if you would be qualified for higher responsibilities."
(Messages to Young People, p. 149)
"Young men should remember that they are forming habits which will be with them in their future life. They should be learning perseverance, self-denial, and economy. If they form a character of integrity and diligence, they will be honored of God and esteemed by men."
(Counsels to Parents, Teachers, and Students, p. 165)
"The Lord desires that the youth shall become useful members of society. They are to be trained to be thinkers, not mere reflectors of other men’s thoughts. They are to be taught to use their God-given abilities in ways that will bless themselves and others." (Education, p. 17)
If we are to gain favor before God and men, we should grow as Christ did, "in wisdom and stature."
HAPPY YOUTH DAY 🙌
