If we look around in our churches and fellowships, we see zealous young people who have great potential in themselves to do exploits for the kingdom of God. But from our own experience, rarely do this come to pass. Many destinies are aborted along the way and this phrase is written in the hearts of many concerning many young people; “HE COULD HAVE BEEN A GREAT PERSON IN THE KINGDOM, BUT HE DESTROYED HIMSELF”. It is said that experience is the best teacher; but the best thing is to learn from the failures of other people and take warning for ourselves.
PRIDE
There is a great tendency in young people to be proud especially when they get educated. This shows itself in their arrogance and lack of submission to their parents, and elders in the church.
They tend to think that know more than their unlearned parents and if they have read through the bible at least once, they tend to think that they can even preach better than their pastors. When they are given a leadership opportunity; they think they are the most important people in the society and that everyone should respect them. God seeing this attitude begins to oppose them for God always opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble. 1Pet 5:5 and it continues to say that the devil is looking for someone to devour in verse 8, and therefore the devil devours the young people by first making them proud. These leads many into heresies and a life of sin.
2) SEXUAL IMMORARITY
This is another giant that over the years have destroyed destinies of young people. Everyone is tempted in this area, not just once, but numerous times. It is written about Joseph, when he was tempted by Potiphars wife and he said that he could sin against God; Gen 39:7-9. One could have thought that after making such a broad statement, it was the end but looking at the next verse; we see that the temptation continued for many days. Gen 39:10 SHE KEPT ON PUTTING PRESSURE ON JOSEPH, TRYING TO CONVINCE HIM DAY AFTER DAY. What could be more clear than that? She may have continued for weeks or even months until she realised that she could not prevail with Joseph. What saved Joseph was that he never entertained such thoughts but continued in the fear of God.
Prov 14:27 says that the fear of God is a fountain of life to depart from the snares and traps of death. This temptation seeks to first weaken us in a slow process which we’ll not realize but over a period of time, it maybe months or even years, strike when we are weak and we wonder what happened to so and so. Hosea 7:8,9 says that Ephraim have mixed himself…STRANGERS HAVE DEVOURED HIS STRENGTH AND HE DOES NOT EVEN KNOW. This is why we need to be more careful. James 1:15 says that when lusts(evil desires) conceive, they give birth to sin. We all know that the time conception takes place is not the same time of giving birth. Giving births comes after a long period after conception; in the same way; if we allow evil desires to CONCEIVE IN OUR MINDS, one day they’ll give birth to sin.
If we are to fight this temptation; we must not allow these desires to conceive in our minds; but reject them whenever they come; and also do away with anything that tempts us or brings such thoughts to us. It may may a TV programme, internet sites, magazines…
DO NOT MAKE ANY PROVISION FOR THE FLESH TO GRATIFY ITS DESIRES. Rom 13:14
3). LOVE OF MONEY
This is another trap many young people fall into. How to get rich quickly.
Judas who could have become one of the great apostles fell away due to love of money. John 12:6
Balaam who was a prophet of God became a sorcerer due to pursuit of unrighteous money. Num 22 5-24:25, Josh 13:22, 2Pet 2:15
Gehazi who could have become Israel’s next prophet and get a double portion of Elisha’s anointing lost the opportunity for pursuing unrighteous money. 2King 5:20-27
Jesus said that there are only two masters in the world; God and wealth, and you could not serve both. Mat 6:24. NB there are two terms, master and servant; i.e. If God is to be your master, you have to make money your servant and vice versa.
1Tim 6:9 says that those who are determined to be rich fall into temptations and traps and many foolish and hurtful lusts which plunge people into ruin and destruction.
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