Please Pray for our Young People

Dear Members and Friends of St. John, 

 

On April 8, eleven young teenagers confirmed their faith in God at St. John.  They shared with others that they believe in Jesus as their Savior.  They shared that they affirm the covenant God made with them in their baptisms.  They shared with others that they want to serve God with their lives, that they want to serve God in His church, even to the point of death!  They received God’s blessings and were sent to live their lives for Him.  Confirmation Day is a joyful day for Christian young people.

 

But, today I ask you to pray for these young people who were confirmed.  Please pray for Amber, for Regina, for Kai, for John and Thomas, for Jack, for Jacob, for Luke, for Cooper.  Please pray for Dezzy and for Julia.  In fact, please pray for all young people that they may know the Lord and continue in faith.

 

On the day I was confirmed my pastor gave me a confirmation verse, just as I gave verses to our young people this year.  It turns out that the verse my pastor gave me was his own confirmation verse, and was also his father’s confirmation verse as well.  I was given the following verse from God’s Word to help guide my life, “Be faithful unto death, and I will give you the crown of life.”  (Revelation 2:10)  Being faithful to our Lord, continuing in faith and in love and in obedience, has never been easy.  We constantly fight a battle against our selfishness, our fleshly desires.  As children of God we fight against the temptations of this world.  This struggle has been true since the first sin.

 

But, being faithful to our Lord, keeping vows made to the Lord, faces greater opposition today than when I was confirmed 51 years ago.  The world around our young people uses advertisements and social media to lure them to self-indulgence and calls this selfishness “natural” or “normal.”  Please pray for our young people.

 

The world around our young people tells them to find truth in their own hearts and that they get to determine what is true.  There is actually partial truth in telling someone to trust themself.  After all, God has created us as His unique and blessed people.  But, often this self-trust is encouraged at the expense of knowing that ultimate truth comes from God and is found in His Word.  Many times I have heard someone say, “I know what God’s word says.  But, this feels so right.  It must be okay with God.”  When we think we determine what is true, even when our “personal truth” contradicts God’s Word, then we make ourselves god.  In reality, however, God calls for us to listen to Him, to listen to His truth, to listen to His Word, and to follow Him.  But, our young people are constantly being called away from trusting God. Please pray for our young people.

 

Today’s church can seem old and worn out.  After all people have followed Jesus for over 2000 years.  A majority of people today believe that God is a choice, not the truth.  Being part of a minority of those who believe in Jesus as our Savior can be difficult.  In early days of the Christian Church faith in Jesus seemed new and vibrant.  Today, because many want a change from the traditional values of our culture, a culture in which many values came from God and from Scripture, Christianity seems old fashioned.  It seems old fashioned to our young people who are just beginning their lives.  Please pray for our young people.

 

You see, we face a constant battle.  We read in Ephesians 6:12, “For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.”  This battle is not only fought on a large scale, but is fought even more in the heart and soul of every individual Christian, and in the lives each of these young people.  This battle is fought in daily temptations about whether I live for myself, or live for God.  It is fought in daily decisions about whether to believe God and His Word, or to find a different truth in myself.  These are battles which our new “confirmands,” and all our young people face.  Please pray for all our young people.

 

Our opponent in this battle, and the opponent of the faith of our young people, is an enemy that is much stronger than we are.  In honesty, Satan is too strong, and possibly worse, too crafty and deceitful, for us to win this war on our own.  But, thankfully, the battle has already been won.  Jesus says in John 16:33, " . . .  In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world."

 

Jesus overcame our enemy when He lived a perfect life.  Jesus overcame the enemy of our faith when He died for sin, and even more when He rose from the dead.  As He Jesus tells His disciples and all people in this verse, He has overcome the world.  But . . . the battle still goes on!  Please pray for our newly confirmed young people, and for all children of God.

 

A Child of God, Praying for My Own Children, and for All Young Christians!

Pastor Jonathan          

 

 

 

P.S.      Here are some pictures I was sent of the pot luck taco bar before the St. John outing to see the VPA production of Mary Poppins.  Thank you to our Fellowship Board! https://photos.app.goo.gl/4dJLSsmUBZe5ckvY2

 

P.P.S.  Here are some pictures from our vacation.  I’ll be adding more pictures over time.  https://photos.app.goo.gl/3Iz1u7xY2gq6UkP83

 

P.P.P.S.  Martin Luther described Christian victory in this battle even more succinctly in His famous hymn, A Mighty Fortress.

 

A mighty fortress is our God, A sword and shield victorious;
He breaks the cruel oppressor’s rod And wins salvation glorious.
The old satanic foe Has sworn to work us woe.

With craft and dreadful might He arms himself to fight.
On earth he has no equal.

 

No strength of ours can match his might. We would be lost, rejected.
            But now a champion comes to fight, Whom God Himself elected.
            You ask who this may be? The Lord of hosts is He,

            Christ Jesus, mighty Lord, God’s only Son, adored.
            He holds the field victorious.

 

Though hordes of devils fill the land All threat’ning to devour us,
            We tremble not, unmoved we stand; They cannot overpow’r us.
            Let this world’s tyrant rage; In battle we’ll engage.

His might is doomed to fail; God’s judgment must prevail!
One little word subdues him.

 

            God’s Word forever shall abide, No thanks to foes, who fear it;
            For God Himself fights by our side With weapons of the Spirit.
            Were they to take our house, Goods, honor, child, or spouse,

Though life be wrenched away, They cannot win the day.
            The Kingdom’s ours forever!

 

 

 

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ABOUT ‘THOUGHTS FROM THE PASTOR’ -   I am sending these e-mail messages, hopefully weekly, to all St. John members and friends whose e-mails I have.  (I am regularly adding new names of friends and members – in case you are just receiving this e-mail for the first time.)  However, if you do not want to receive this e-mail, please let me know, and I’ll gladly leave your name off my list for this message.

 

 

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