Subtle Changes?

Every-so-often I am brought to a point in which something bothers me until I say or write something about it; I am at that point now.

In Sunday school we talked about purity vs sensuality this past week and I brought up how sin has distorted our use of certain things originally created for good.

There are many things such as the internet, phones, and money but more specifically I'm thinking about plastic surgery and make-up. Plastic surgery was created for severe injuries to help in the recovery of a normal life for military or civilians injured due to war directly or indirectly. Here is a link to a more precise account: http://www.aboardcertifiedplasticsurgeonresource.com/plastic_surgery/history.html.

But today, plastic surgery is to "fix" what naturally isn't right. This has bothered me for years. I have also noticed a commercial which is ridiculous to have on Christian radio that states, "we don't create beauty, we reveal it." Really?! Reveal beauty through surgery? Beauty isn't revealed by a scalpel and and a surgeon, it's revealed by God both inwardly and outwardly. Today's young ladies are being enticed to have this "work" done to "reveal" their beauty. I've heard it said that "beauty is in the eye of the beholder," and I would thoroughly agree with that! Look around at people married or in relationships. Some people do not look like they should go together but by God's great power, they see beauty in one another!

Let me tell you what creates a more bothersome feeling within me. When a young man or young woman has had, let's say, a nose-job, breast implants, tummy tuck, botox or other physical altering procedure done, how will they have any idea what their child is going to look like? I know their love should not be based on the child's looks. I get that, but how will he/she know if the other had not been cheating on the other? These changes that men and women are getting are not truthful. How can people say their love is whole if the people themselves are not?

On top of that issue, is the issue of makeup. My daughter has become interested in putting on some makeup and it gets on my nerves. My daughter is beautiful without any enhancements, if you will. I see so many young ladies putting on, some to the extent of caking on, makeup to impress other young men. Is this necessary? No. One thing that I love about my wife and actually made her more attractive was the fact she did not have to wear makeup to be beautiful.

Another problem with extreme makeup, along with extreme tanning, is the aging that looks to take place. I have seen young ladies who are 13 look as if they are 18 to 20 because of the extreme use of makeup. My soul is wrenched by the fact that these young ladies desire to look older to get older guys to like them. The problem is, they older guys don't like them, they lust them. So dangerous are these young ladies to themselves, their futures and their future spouses.

Dads, we have got to get a hold on this now. This is not the responsibility of Mom. Mom is not a guy, or should not be! Dads, we know the mind of men. We must defend our daughters in our homes and teach them who they are in Christ, not who they are in makeup. I'm sorry but when I see a young lady all caked up in makeup you will not hear me say, "How beautiful."

I'll say how beautiful when they are baptized, dress with modesty and have self-respect, pray in the midst of their peers, surrender to ministry and when they are dressed in white for their godly husband. That's beautiful.

So to conclude this thought, subtle changes may not be so subtle later in life. I encourage all young ladies to think about who you are in Christ before becoming who you think you should be in makeup. Don't get physical changes because God has created you the way he intended. God loves you how he created you and if it is God's will for you to marry, men also, God has set apart a person for you. Pray and pray more so you may know the will and plans of God.

In Christ,
Blake Prater

Junior Journey

Junior Journey January 15, 2012 Lift Student Ministry

As you begin your journey into your senior year, you will be making decisions that will impact your coming future; looking into what God desires of you is vital to who you are and what you are to become.

Many times decisions on the future depends heavily on aspirations of greatness accomplished or realized through salary, material things or praise but your future must depend on Christ’s calling upon your life. A calling is not always a vocational ministry position; we are all called by Christ unto salvation but some are set apart to the service of the Lord.

My desire for this Junior Journey is to investigate God’s will for your lives. To prompt you to tap into Jesus’ thoughts and plans for you and see where you are in your journey.

We will work together over the next several months to prepare and challenge one another as you progress forward to your senior year. Just as birthdays do not equate to maturity neither does years after conversion mean growth in Christ and this Journey is to spark, reinvigorate or strengthen your walk with our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ!

Let’s read Luke 24:13-35: The Road to Emmaus

Now let’s break this down in terms of how to take the next step into leadership!

1. vv. 13-14 – Leaders talk about Jesus and his life with one another.

a. I want you to get with one person in the room to talk with about Jesus over this time of Journey.

2. v. 15 – Jesus draws near to leaders who know him and he has a plan for.

a. I want you to thoroughly read through the gospels; taking notes on each chapter.

3. v. 16 – Leaders, at different times, must listen to Christ without seeing him.

a. Take 15 minutes daily to be in your room with no electronics or music and talk to and listen for God.

4. v. 17 – Leaders will be held accountable about their knowledge of the King!

a. Be prepared for questions through text from me about what you are reading! I want responses!

5. vv. 18-24 – Leaders must believe even when everything seems unbelievable!

a. Thoroughly pray over your future. (Senior year, Sharing opportunities, college, marriage)

6. vv. 25-27 – Leaders listen to Jesus and learn.

a. Commit to attending events that challenge and build your walk with Christ. (Mission trips, weekend trips, D-Now, etc.)

7. vv. 28-29 – Leaders will desire to know more about Christ and to spend more time with Christ.

a. Commit to add at least 5 minutes monthly to your Bible study time.

8. vv. 30-31 – Leaders must understand that faith shouldn’t have to have physical revelation to believe.

a. Commit to intentionally seeking God’s unseen power and pray to recognize it!

9. vv. 32-35 – Leaders will share that Christ has been with them and has opened their eyes!!

a. Commit to share the gospel with at least 1 person per month while you are on this Journey.

I hope you found this helpful and please, if you did, implement it into your student ministry! God has been good to give to me, the least I can do is share it!! Isn't that what we are suppose to do with our Testimony and Jesus?!

Blake Prater

Student Minister of Farmstead Baptist Church

Lift Student Ministry

A Guide to Correct Citizenship: Philippians 3:20-4:1

20 For our citizenship is in heaven (Break 1), from which we also eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, (Break 2) 21 who will transform our lowly body that it may be conformed to His glorious body, (Break 3) according to the working by which He is able even to subdue all things to Himself. (Break 4) 4:1 Therefore, my beloved and longed-for brethren, my joy and crown, so stand fast in the Lord, beloved. (Break 5)

Students give one thing they are proud of as a US citizen.

Show video clip.

Oath of Citizenship in America - I hereby declare, on oath, that I absolutely and entirely renounce and abjure all allegiance and fidelity to any foreign prince, potentate, state, or sovereignty of whom or which I have heretofore been a subject or citizen; that I will support and defend the Constitution and laws of the United States of America against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; that I will bear arms on behalf of the United States when required by the law; that I will perform noncombatant service in the Armed Forces of the United States when required by the law; that I will perform work of national importance under civilian direction when required by the law; and that I take this obligation freely without any mental reservation or purpose of evasion; so help me God.^[1]

References:
Ephesians 2:19 Now, therefore, you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, 20 having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief corner stone, 21 in whom the whole building, being fitted together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord, 22 in whom you also are being built together for a dwelling place of God in the Spirit.

Hebrews 11:8-10; 13-16 - 8 By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to the place which he would receive as an inheritance. And he went out, not knowing where he was going. 9 By faith he dwelt in the land of promise as in a foreign country, dwelling in tents with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise; 10 for he waited for the city which has foundations, whose builder and maker is God… 13 These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off were assured of them, embraced them and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth. 14 For those who say such things declare plainly that they seek a homeland. 15 And truly if they had called to mind that country from which they had come out, they would have had opportunity to return. 16 But now they desire a better, that is, a heavenly country. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for He has prepared a city for them.

Define Citizenship – the act of becoming a member of a nation by birth or naturalization.

Break 1

What is your response to your citizenship being in heaven?

How do you become a citizen of Heaven? John 1:12-13 – but as many as received him, to them he gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in his name: who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.

Listen to Hebrews 11:8-10; 13-16

How would you describe the United States?

How would you describe Heaven?

Revelation 3:3-6 – The throne room - 3 And He who sat there was like a jasper and a sardius stone in appearance; and there was a rainbow around the throne, in appearance like an emerald. 4 Around the throne were twenty-four thrones, and on the thrones I saw twenty-four elders sitting, clothed in white robes; and they had crowns of gold on their heads. 5 And from the throne proceeded lightnings, thunderings, and voices. Seven lamps of fire were burning before the throne, which are the seven Spirits of God. 6 Before the throne there was a sea of glass, like crystal. And in the midst of the throne, and around the throne, were four living creatures full of eyes in front and in back.

Break 2

Paul speaks of where Savior comes from and that is heaven.

It is much like how when a president goes and visits the American embassy in another country. The Ambassadors are there awaiting the visit and accomplishing the tasks to which they were commissioned to do by the president and the country. Paul says in Ephesians 6:20 that he is an ambassador in chains. We are commissioned by God, you know, Matthew 28 the great commission, to accomplish the task in another country much like in 1 Peter 2:11-12 - 11 Dear friends, I urge you, as aliens and strangers in the world, to abstain from sinful desires, which war against your soul. 12 Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us.

Our citizenship is given by no other than Jesus Christ. Acts 4:12 – there is no salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.

Break 3

With his coming everything will change.

Break 4

How will that change take place, by his workings. Do you know what those workings were, his life, death and resurrection? Are you living like citizens of Heaven? Are you a citizen of Heaven

A Guide to Correct Gain: Philippians 3:12-19

Philippians 3:12 Not that I have already attained, or am already perfected; but I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me. (Break 1)

13 Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, 14 I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. (Break 2)

15 Therefore let us, as many as are mature, have this mind; and if in anything you think otherwise, God will reveal even this to you. 16 Nevertheless, to the degree that we have already attained, let us walk by the same rule, let us be of the same mind. (Break 3)

17 Brethren, join in following my example, and note those who so walk, as you have us for a pattern. 18 For many walk, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping, that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ: 19 whose end is destruction, whose god is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame— who set their mind on earthly things. (Break 4)

Break 1

Have a race outside. The runners are racing toward one person holding prizes. Along the race path are words that are sins everyone struggles with.

Q. Before the race did you: check out the path before you? Check out what was in your way while in the race? Check out what was in your way after the race?

Q. When do we truly want to see what is in our path? – After the race, especially if we lose. If we win, it doesn’t matter what was in the way because we have won and the prize has been attained and our eyes are focused on the end prize.

Listen to this quote: “You and I live in an age when only a rare minority of individuals desire to spend their lives in pursuit of objectives which are bigger than they are. In our age, for most people, when they die, it will be as though they never lived.” – Rusty Rustenbach

“Press on” carries both a hunting and athletic sense. Like, stalking prey with an unrelentlessness or to run as to gain a victory; out to win.

Break 2

Paul refers back to the elders, deacons and Saints at Philippi as brethren. This is a loving endearment.

Paul recognizes his shortcomings at this point.

Paul recognizes his past but refuses to live in it.

Paul recognizes his future and reaches for it.

Because of Paul’s recognition, he presses toward the goal…

The goal of the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.

Break 3

Therefore is a conjunction. Because of what was just said, this is the outcome.

Therefore…let us have this mind…nevertheless…let us walk by the same rule and let us be of the same mind.

So, what’s in the middle?

As many as are mature…and if in anything think otherwise, God will reveal even this to you.

Andrew Harris: What does a mature runner look like?

Andrew Harris: What is the contrast of an immature and a mature runner?

When Paul wrote to the Brethren he wanted them to recognize the true runners and the walkers.

Paul said that God would reveal it to them about who were walkers among them.

Paul’s statement of “nevertheless” reveals a desire that even if you do know who may or may not be running a true race, you are to run yours by walking in the same rule and thinking by the same mind.

Break 4

Again, Paul refers to them as brethren but calls for people to join him.

Paul knew he was not perfect, that he had not attained yet called people to follow him; will you do the same? Do you have a group of fellow believers who you could tell people, “join in following us for a pattern” of how to run for Christ?

Paul refers to those who walk and in this sense means, “having no eye or vision for the future or God’s will.”

Earlier Paul referred to “walking by the same rule.” That did not mean a slow pace, it meant there a pattern or following.

Those who walk are labeled by Paul as enemies of the cross of Christ. Think on your life today, at school, with your parents; in the car or on the van ride here, is your “walk” giving “friendly fire” to Christ?

Paul says those that are enemies of the cross of Christ set their mind on earthly things. Colossians 3:1-17

Are you running the race for the prize of the upward call of Christ or are you walking the road to destruction keeping your eyes on earthly things?

A Guide to Correct Loss: Philippians 3:1-11

Pass out note cards. Students are to write one known thing about the person on the right of them and give to the person on the left of them to read.

Philippians 1 Finally, my brothers, rejoice in the Lord. To write the same things to you is no trouble to me and is safe for you.

2 Look out for the dogs, look out for the evildoers, look out for those who mutilate the flesh. (Break 1)
3 For we are the circumcision, who worship by the Spirit of God and glory in Christ Jesus and put no confidence in the flesh—4 though I myself have reason for confidence in the flesh also. If anyone else thinks he has reason for confidence in the flesh, I have more:5 circumcised on the eighth day, of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; as to the law, a Pharisee;6 as to zeal, a persecutor of the church; as to righteousness under the law, blameless. (Break 2)
7 But whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ.8 Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ9 and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith—10 that I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death,11 that by any means possible I may attain the resurrection from the dead.
(Break 3)

Break 1

When you think of dogs, what comes to mind? Well, Jews used to refer to Gentiles as dogs. Dogs were scavengers much like with think of raccoons, coyotes and other non-domesticated animals that run in packs and eat whatever they may find and make messes. These “dogs” were filthy and unclean unlike our dogs of today that are dressed even some with accessories. Paul is referring to Jews as dogs, not the gentiles. This is a complete switch.

When you think of evildoers, what comes to mind? I think of Megamind or the Green Goblin.

What do you think “mutilate the flesh” means? This actually refers to circumcision. To give a little context, Circumcision by definition is the act of removing foreskin. Most male children have this done today.

Benefits of physical circumcision:
1 Some older men can develop cancer - about 1 in 1000 - fairly rare, but tragic if you or your son are in that small statistic. Infant circumcision gives almost 100% protection, and young adult circumcision also gives a large degree of protection.

2 Cancer of the cervix in women is due to the Human Papilloma Virus. It thrives under and on the foreskin from where it can be transmitted during intercourse. An article in the British Medical Journal in April 2002 suggested that at least 20% of cancer of the cervix would be avoided if all men were circumcised. Surely that alone makes it worth doing?

3 Protection against HIV and AIDS. Another British Medical Journal article in May 2000 suggested that circumcised men are 8 times less likely to contract the HIV virus. (It is very important here to say that the risk is still far too high - this applies also to preventing cancer of the cervix in women who have several partners.)

A BBC television program in November 2000 showed two Ugandan tribes across the valley from one another. One practiced circumcision and had very little AIDS, whereas, it was common in the other tribe, who then also started circumcising. This program showed how the infection thrived in the lining of the foreskin, making it much easier to pass on.

4 As with HIV, so some protection exists against other sexually transmitted infections. Accordingly, if a condom splits or comes off, there is some protection for the couple. However, the only safe sex is to stick to one partner or abstain.

So, why tell you these things when you are students? Let me give you a biblical understanding. In our lives we have pride in which we hide other sins. These sins may not be visible immediately, they may not even be recognized as sin or we have not thoroughly cleansed ourselves. The truth is; we cannot purify ourselves. God is the one who purifies and removes the sin from our lives. God spiritually circumcises our old nature from our new self. 2 Corinthians 5:16-17

So let’s get to the understanding of correct loss. Why would Paul be so adamant against physical circumcision that the Judaizers were pushing for? Anything added to Sola Gracia, Sola Fida, Sola Christus (Grace alone, Faith Alone, Christ alone) is incorrect. These Jews were saying and making people physically identify as Jews before claiming Christ.

How does this apply to students in 2011?

There is nothing, NOTHING needed prior to Christ’s calling of you. There is no other means needed for salvation other than faith in and repentance to Christ Jesus and the grace he bestows. Anyone who says different is a type of Judaizer.

Break 2

Now, we are the circumcision, who worship God in the Spirit… John 4:23-24
Why say this, and use this reference. The conversation between Christ and the woman at the well was heavily saturated in the traditions and the physical.

Instead of concentrating on the physical, “rejoice in the Christ Jesus and have no confidence in the flesh.”
What are you rejoicing in? What accomplishments do you have that “define” you? Are you defined only by your athletic, musical or drama accomplishments? Who are you known as?

Student on the left then reads the card aloud. 2^nd step of the beginning activity.

Let’s read verses 4-6. Do you think Paul had a right to boast?

Do you think you have a right to boast about what was on that paper?

Break 3

Now, all these things we have spoken from the note cards, I want you to wad them up and throw them at me (from your seats). 3^rd step of the beginning activity.

Why wad them up and throw them away?

Let’s read verses 7-11

But what things were gain to me, these I have counted loss for Christ.

Can you say that about what was on these papers?

Can you release and let go; can you lose your old self?

Can you say, “Indeed I also count all things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord…”

Paul even went one step forward to say he counts all his gains as rubbish. That means they like feces, excrement and bodily waste. His gains, his education, his prior life before Christ!

Why do we look back as though our past life is a long lost friend whom we desire to meet again someday? Why!?

“and be found in him.” Here we reference 2 Cor. 5:17.

Verse nine confirms “Sola Fida and Sola Christus.”

Verse 10 points to three things Paul desires and we should as well:

1. Know Christ

2. Know his Power

3. Know his sufferings

The good news is that those who suffer with and for Christ will attain the resurrection from the dead.

We must lose all to gain all. We must die to become alive. We must accept to be accepted.