Youth and Revival: What's Going On? - Part 1
By Brian Thiessen
Ephesians 3:20-21 Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.
What does God have in store for the youth of this nation? What is God doing in your youth group and in your community? Can the youth in your church lead the way for revival? Will what God does in your youth group change your church forever? The truth of the matter is that God has begun works of revival in your youth groups and children's groups that have changed churches, communities and nations. For far too long the things that we as youth pastors and youth workers have done and taught, have been done without valuable information. This information is the knowledge of what God has done through revival, and the things that have always preceded God doing such a work.
The most liberating moment for me in ministry was the day that God showed me that he absolutely and without question did not need me to do youth ministry. I mean really showed me. The day that God made me realize that my passion and love for the youth of my community paled in comparison to His. The day I realized that I wasn't the one that had the biggest vision for the youth in my town, God did. No matter what I wanted to do, God wants to do more.
I am a big dreamer like I think many youth pastors are. God says that however big our dreams are they are nothing compared to the things that God would like to do.
This being said, there are a few things that we need to be reminded of.
First of all, God works according to His power that is at work within us. It is only through prayer and the renewal of our minds by the word of God that we can plug into the power that God has to offer us. Rev. Bill McLeod once told me to breathe out. Now breathe out again. It was impossible for me to do. Once I breathed out there was virtually nothing left to push out the second time. This is an illustration to show how some of us are trying to run our ministries. We cannot run on empty in our spiritual lives, and expect to have something to give to others. We must breathe in as often as we breathe out!
Be the first to react on this!
