CHRISTIAN LIFE: Elders, teach the young ones

I. SON OF MAN, the order of God is clear: Elders teach the young ones. God did not say young ones teach the elders. He said the aged men and the aged women must teach. But today, by revelation and insight, there is a dangerous reversal in the church. The youth are now pulling the elders to the slaughter house, because the elders have stopped teaching. Titus 2:1-6—"But speak thou the things which become sound doctrine: That the aged men be sober, grave, temperate, and sound in faith, in charity, and in patience. The aged women likewise, that they be in behaviour as becometh holiness, not false accusers, not given to much wine, teachers of good things; That they may teach the young women to be sober, to love their husbands, to love their children, To be discreet, chaste, keepers at home, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God be not blasphemed. Young men likewise exhort to be sober-minded." This does not despise the youth in any way, as it is the responsibility of the elderly to guard and guide the young men and women; in fact, it is a divine duty. Youthful age is an open field full of landmines, unrestrained, and inexperienced and requires someone to help you navigate that dangerous field.

II. DAUGHTER OF ZION in Jeremiah 6:16—"Thus saith the LORD, Stand ye in the ways, and see, and ask for the old paths, where is the good way, and walk therein, and ye shall find rest for your souls." This is an instruction for the youth to seek for the old path and be assisted to walk therein. Most youth are restless because parents have failed to show them the old path that leads to the good way. Some leaders have joined the youth to develop a new path, which is leading them nowhere. Proverbs 20:29 reveals that, "The glory of young men is their strength: and the beauty of old men is the grey head." When the beauty of the grey head stops teaching, the strength of the young men will become destructive. When elders abdicate the pulpit of teaching, the youth will occupy it with error. The result is slaughter—spiritual slaughter. Doctrinal slaughter. Moral slaughter. You can’t get up one day and decide that you want to drive an automobile. No, you must learn how to operate it, and it takes someone who has the experience to teach you. Matthew 7:14 still says, "Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it." The gate is still strait! The way is still narrow! The youth are looking for the elderly to show them the way.

III. CHILD OF GOD, I tell of a truth, Elders, if you do not stand for the old paths, the youth will think the old paths are dead. Remember how we used to sing with holy tears sometimes: Oh, give me that old time religion. What was that old-time religion? It was the religion of holiness. Hebrews 12:14—"Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord." It was the religion of the fear of the Lord. We understood Proverbs 9:10 – "The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the holy is understanding." It was the religion of the Word and prayer. Acts 6:4 – "But we will give ourselves continually to prayer, and to the ministry of the word." These are the elements of the old-time religion that the elders must teach the youth. But unfortunately, in most of the churches today, that old-time religion is called old-fashioned. It is too hard. Too strict. Too deep. Modern Christianity wants a new religion—soft, entertaining, and convenient—but Malachi 3:6 says, "For I am the LORD, I change not." Elders, you are failing the youth.

IV. BRETHREN IN THE LORD, Matthew 7:14 teaches us that, "Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it." The gate is still strait! The way is still narrow! The old-time religion kept it narrow. Modern religion is widening the gate to bring in the world and calling it growth. The old-time religion taught power! Acts 1:8 - "But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you." Power to live holy. Power to overcome sin. Not just form, but power! We must love our youth, but we guide them through the power of God. THE YOUTH HAVE A LOT TO OFFER, YES, BUT DON'T LET THEM MISLEAD WITH THEIR YOUTHFUL EXUBERANCE. 1 Timothy 4:12 – "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." Joel 2:28 – "And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, and your young men shall see visions." Our young people have strength, they have visions, they have energy, they have technology, and they have ideas, but they need godly direction. Remember this is a DIVINE NEW DAY PROPHETIC WORD of encouragement sent forth through the authority and power of Christ Jesus and delivered to the brethren through God's Vessel, Francis Ameyibor. Yes! Zeal without knowledge will kill the church. Strength without guidance will pull all into the pit.

V. 2026 IS OUR YEAR AND SEASON TO BE LIFTED UP—What does the youth want today? Easy life. Easy ministry. Easy anointing. They want a crown without a cross. They want a platform without a process. They want preaching without prayer. They want glory without groaning. The church will not survive on youth strength alone. It will survive on elder wisdom guiding youth strength. Young man, humble yourself and learn. Elder, wake up and teach.

PRAYER: FATHER! WE NEED YOUR HELP AS YOUTH AND AS ELDERS. FATHER, grant us that enabling power through Christ Jesus’ name. AMEN!

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