Last night Wednesday Sept. 10th was an awesome night for the Youth at FBCF. We have dinner every wednesday night at our church for anyone who wants to come. Its not just for youth, its for adults and everyone. There is a lot of work that goes into feeding 60+ people. Not only preparing the food, but cleaning it all up. Last night, we, the youth group, were the ones responsible for cleaning everything up. What a blessing this was! The youth at our church are incredible! They are so impressive. Last night, we had 20+ youth down in the kitchen working hard. Some were scrubbing dishes, some were drying the clean dishes, some were laboring over the filthy popcorn machine, some were wiping down tables, some were sweeping, some were cleanging, organizing, and getting things in order, some were taking out the trash, and all were working collectively to get the church looking good.
This act of service (as most acts of service do) proved to be not a burden, but a joy. Because we became like our Lord and served, we were late beginning our youth service. We didnt even get into the YouthRoom until about 7:20. Then I took several minutes encouraging them, praising them, and exhorting them for that good work. Then after I finished teaching at about 8:05, we went outside for a big game of football. What was so impressive to me was the unity and comraderie and fellowship that our youth group possessed last night. Everyone was so happy and joyful and glad to be around one another. When I think of what I want our YouthGroup to be, it is that one united Group. And last night we really looked like it.
We all worked hard together cleaning the kitchen. Then we all attentively looked into God’s Word for instructuion and training and growth. (We’re trying to K2G!) Then we all went outside and had a blast just hanging out together. What a group of kids! No cliques…just one big body of teens who love each other. I feel like we are on our way to becoming more and more like the type of YouthGroup that Jesus glories in. Remember, the world will know that we are Christ’s followers by the way we love one another (John 13:35). Our youth understand this! Or at least are beginning to, and it is so encouraging to see and be a part of!
All of that was just the fellowship! We had Bible Study too. (there are so many reasons why being at church is so important. every believer should make every effort to be there and not miss. everything that i’ve written above that was so impactful and encouraging and a blessing to me was not from the teaching but from the time spent there. i’m so glad i was a part of that.)
We continued on in the gospel of Mark. Last night we looked at Mk. 1:21-28 concerning Jesus healing a man with an unclean spirit.
Mark says that right after Jesus called those 4 disciples (Simon, andrew, james and john) they went into the synagogue. When they got there, Jesus was teaching with such great authority that everyone was astonished. His teaching was far greater, far better, far different than the usual teachers.
I reminded the youth of just who Jesus is. He has authority. In reality, He is the authority! He was walking by a lake and calls out to 4 fishermen “follow me”, and they do. They drop everything and follow him. Then they follow him into the synagogue where he begins teaching, and everyone there is amazed at the authority with which he teaches. Another time He is sleeping in the boat when a sea storm begins to scare the grown men so much they begin crying and go wake Jesus. Jesus commands the winds and waves to stop, and they do. At the end of Matthew, Jesus reminds them that “All authority on heaven and earth has been given to him.” Jesus indeed has authority.
So it comes as no surprise at all that Jesus in this text tells the unclean spirit what to do, and it does. He has authority! All authority is His! John the baptist was absolutely right when he said in 1:7 that he is not worthy to stoop down and untie Jesus’s sandals.
Jesus commanded the unclean spirit to be silent and come out of the man. And the unclean spirit did just that. Now, it is interesting to notice what the man with the unclean spirit had been saying that Jesus told him to be silent. He had said “you are the Holy One of God”. I went on to ask the Youth is their anything wrong with what hes saying? Jesus is the Holy One of God. So whats the problem.
2 Problems: 1) Jesus didnt want his identity exposed. As he says so often, His time had not yet come. and 2) the unclean spirit was saying who Jesus was without worshiping Jesus. His heart wasnt’t right.
So I asked the youth, what about their hearts? They claim Jesus is the Holy One of God. Is it worship to Christ and glory to Him? Or is it from a sinful heart and He wants you to be silent?
This Jesus has authority! So much authority that everything obeys His commands. If your His child or follower, you will too.!