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Sermon by: Pablo Pacheco Jr. & Winton Forde on 9/24/05 @ Eternal
Gospel Church in West Palm Beach
A Calling for All Youth
Opening Song: “Give
of Your Best to the Master” # 572 or # 309 (Eng.) # 277 (Sp.)
Closing Song: “Tis So
Sweet to Trust in Jesus” # 524 or # 329 (Eng.) # 266 (Sp.)
Scripture Reading: 1 Tim 4:12 (KJV) 12 Let no man despise thy youth; but be thou an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity.
Pablo’s Comment: Brethren, God has chosen us to do a solemn work in these very last days of earth’s history and soon this work is going to be finished. Destruction is getting worse and worse every year. Take a look at the record breaking hurricane season that we have had this year. Seventeen hurricanes so far and it isn’t even over yet. Jesus told us that it would be this way just before His second coming.
Winton’s Comment: But in order for the work to go forward in all its branches, God is calling for youth with vigor, zeal, and courage.
Pablo’s Comment: Now, I now that some of you older folks like to be considered youth, and that’s o.k., because this sermon applies to you also. So you don’t have to feel left out.
Winton’s Comment: God has chosen the youth to aid in the advancement of His cause. To make plans with clear minds and to execute those plans with courageous hands demands fresh, uncrippled energies. Young men and women are called to give God the strength of their youth, that through the exercise of their powers, through keen thought and vigorous action, they may bring glory to Him and salvation to their fellow men.
Let us pray.
Pablo’s Comment: Inspiration tells us that in the history of Timothy are found precious lessons for us today. So in this sermon we’re going to take a good look at the life of Timothy and we are going to try to find those lessons so that we could apply them to our lives. The Bible instructs us to teach the children in the way that they should go and when they get old they shall not depart from them.
Winton’s Comment: It was the year A.D. 46. He had witnessed Paul’s sufferings at the close of Paul’s first visit to Lystra and upon his mind there was an impression made that had deepened with the passing of time until he was convinced that it was his duty to give himself fully to the work of the ministry. He was just a young lad when God chose him for service. Three years later in the year A.D.49 he was ordained.
Pablo’s Comment: Now brothers and sisters, how could this be? Here you have a young kid who gives his self to Jesus at a very young age, and three years later gets ordained as a pastor. Do you think that this young man probably had his act together? This is a great example for you young people. But how did this happen. He must have had a whole lot of training, right? Well let’s hear what inspiration tells us about the early years of this acceptable young man’s life.
Winton Reads: Bible
Commentary, Volume 7 and page 918 says: Timothy’s mother and
grandmother were united in their efforts to train him for God.
Pablo Asks: What was his
lesson book?
Winton Reads: --the Bible.
Paul, his father in the gospel, declares, "From a child thou hast known
the holy scriptures." The faith of the mother and grandmother in the
oracles of God was a constant illustration to Timothy of the blessing of doing
God's will.
Pablo’s Comment: How about you
parents? Are you uniting together your efforts to train up your children
correctly? Or are you like some parents that I’ve heard say that the children
need to learn on their own. Because I cannot understand a parent that says that
they love their children but yet don’t seem too worried about their spiritual
life. Do we really believe that God is going to hold us accountable for the
many blessings that He has bestowed upon us?
Winton Reads: In the book of Psalms 127:3-5 the Bible says: 3 Lo, children are an heritage of the LORD: and the fruit of the womb is his reward. 4 As arrows are in the hand of a mighty man; so are children of the youth. 5 Happy is the man that hath his quiver full of them: they shall not be ashamed, but they shall speak with the enemies in the gate.
Pablo’s Comment: Brethren do you comprehend what this text just said. It’s telling us that:
#1 Children are not our own personal property. Children are the heritage of the Lord.
#2 They are to be as weapons for Jesus. They are to be brought up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord, that they might be qualified to do their work in time and eternity.
# 3 They shall not be ashamed. You must teach them that they are a branch, from which God expects fruit; a steward, whose capital must yield increase; a light, to illuminate the world's darkness. Every youth, every child, has a work to do for the honor of God and the uplifting of humanity. {AH 280.4}
Oh, what a great feeling it is to know that you have done all in your power to train up your children in the way. Oh, what great rewards there are for you. As Winton just read a few minutes ago it was the faith of Timothy’s mother and grandmother in the oracles of God that showed young Timothy the blessings of doing God’s will.
Are
we showing our children the blessings of God due to our dedication to God
through studying His Word? Are we giving our children the examples of faith? Or
are we showing a more dedication to the television set? Because, if we choose
to waste any precious time in the things of the world, and show our kids that
its o.k. to mingle in the things of the world, our children might seek guidance
from the people or the things of the world and find themselves involved with
some bad company.
Winton Reads: This is taken
from Bible Commentary, Volume 7 page. 918. When Timothy was little more than a
boy, Paul took him with him as his companion in labor. Those who had taught
Timothy in his childhood were rewarded by seeing the son of their care linked
in close fellowship with the great apostle.
Pablo’s Comment: I know that for
Timothy’s mother and grandmother that must of felt great. I know, because I
think that it’s every parents dream to see their children choose to associate
with good company. I know that it is mine. I don’t think that anyone in this
room with children want to see their children mixed up with bad company. Then
we must be the examples for them so that they may become children for the use
of God.
When
Paul saw this young man he knew that young Timothy was a perfect candidate for
the ministry.
Winton Reads: The pen of
inspiration tells us that Paul loved Timothy because Timothy loved God. His
intelligent knowledge of Godliness and of the truth gave him peculiarity and
influence. The Godliness and influence of his home life was not of a cheap
order, but pure, wise, and uncorrupted by false teachings. The moral influence
of his home was great, not disturbed, not reckless, not unpredictable. The Word
of God was the rule which guided Timothy. He received his instruction line upon
line, precept upon precept, here a little, and there a little. Impressions of
the highest possible order were kept before his mind. His home instructors
cooperated with God in educating this young man to bear the burdens that were
to come upon him at an early age. . . .
Pablo’s Comment: We see here that
the advantage that Timothy had were correct examples of piety and true
godliness. Religion was the atmosphere of his home. The manifest spiritual
power of the piety in the home kept him pure in speech, and free from all
corrupting sentiments.
From
a child Timothy had known the Holy Scriptures. He had the benefit of the Old
Testament Scripture, and the manuscript of part of the New, the teachings and
lessons of Christ. If we want our children to be as arrows against the enemy in
the hand of Jesus then we must make our home the training ground. We cannot
expect the children to come to church every Sabbath to learn about character
preparation and be neglecting the schooling that is to take place in the home.
We cannot trust that if we place them in Adventist schools that they are going
to learn all that they need to in there. Most Adventist schools now are getting
just as bad as regular schools. So we cannot depend on them. God did not place
our children in their hands anyway. It is our responsibility every day. In
these last days our children have to be fitted for battle against the evil that
exists.
Winton Reads: Messages to Young People page. 21 says that God wants the youth to become men of earnest mind, to be prepared for action in His noble work, and fitted to bear responsibilities. God calls for young men with hearts uncorrupted, strong and brave, and determined to fight manfully in the struggle before them, that they may glorify God, and bless humanity.
Pablo Reads: Child Guidance page 508 says that from a child, Timothy knew the Scriptures; and this knowledge was a safeguard to him against the evil influences surrounding him…. Such a safeguard all our children need, and it should be a part of the work of parents and of Christ's ambassadors to see that the children are properly instructed in the Word of God.
Winton Reads: Timothy’s
principles were so fixed by a correct education that he was fitted for the
important position that God had for him.
Pablo Reads: But how do we educate the youth? Sister
White tells us that those who are older must educate the youth, by precept and
example, to fulfill the claims that society and their Maker have upon them. God
will use the youth today as He used Timothy, if they will submit to His
guidance. Young people, it is your privilege to be God's missionaries. He calls
upon you to work for your companions. Seek out those you know to be in danger,
and in the love of Christ try to help them (YI Feb. 13, 1902). But there is
something very important that you need to know. It is the secret that made Timothy’s
work so valuable.
Winton Reads: The servant of
the Lord tells us that Timothy inquired at every step, "Is
this the way of the Lord?" He had no specially brilliant talents, but he
consecrated all his abilities to the service of
God,
and this made his work valuable. The Lord found in him a mind that He could
mold and fashion for the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. {7BC 915.7}
Pablo’s Comment: Praise God! You
could do the same thing. All of us could do this. God will bless the work of
our hands if we could just humble ourselves before Him. Many of the folks that
were called to finish this work have rejected the Three Angels’ Messages. They
have rejected the Spirit of Prophecy. With the deepest concern the question may
be asked, Who will fill their places? To whom are to be committed the vital
interests of the church, when the present standard-bearers fall? We can but
look anxiously upon the youth of today as those who must take these burdens,
and upon whom responsibilities must fall. These must take up the work where
others leave it…. Never before was there so much at stake; never were there
results so mighty depending upon a generation as upon these now coming upon the
stage of action. {Counsels to Parents, Teachers, and Students 536.3}
Inspiration goes on to say that scarcely can the human mind comprehend the spiritual attainments which can be reached by them as they become partakers of the divine nature. Daily correcting mistakes and gaining victories, they grow into wise, strong men and women in Christ. {My Life Today 277.2}
To the youth of today, as surely as to Timothy, are spoken the words, "Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth." "Flee also youthful lusts: but follow righteousness, faith, charity, peace." "Be thou an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity." I Timothy 4:12. {CT 535.4}
Winton’s Comment: I pray that, as Timothy’s mother and grandmother in connection with God helped to make Timothy a great man of God, you parents realize how vital it is for you to be our example so that we could become God’s secret weapons against Satan in the closing scenes of the great controversy. Let us please kneel for our closing prayer.