IT'S ALL LIES: THE SIN OF EXCUSE

To begin the new year, we will be featuring a series of articles based on the theme "Live Dead." The articles will be written by the each speaker based on the letter they presented at Convention. We hope this provides a tool for you to use for leadership, discipleship or mentoring as you challenge you students to "Live Dead." 

In preparing for “L” is For Lies in the L.I.V.E. D.E.A.D. sermon at Youth Convention, I couldn’t help but think back to where lying began. And I saw something intriguing…even a little scary. 

Genesis 3:8-13 recounts what happened after Adam & Even chose to disobey God. “8Then the man and his wife heard the sound of the LORD God as he was walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and they hid from the LORD God among the trees of the garden. 9But the LORD God called to the man, ‘Where are you?’ 10He answered, ‘I heard you in the garden, and I was afraid because I was naked; so I hid.’ 11And he said, ‘Who told you that you were naked? Have you eaten from the tree that I commanded you not to eat from?’ 12The man said, ‘The woman you put here with me—she gave me some fruit from the tree, and I ate it.’ 13Then the Lord God said to the woman, ‘What is this you have done?’ The woman said, ‘The serpent deceived me, and I ate.’” The comparison I want to make is between sin and excuses. In Genesis 3, everyone had an excuse! Adam had an excuse…he blamed the woman. Eve had an excuse…she blamed the serpent. 

At the heart and foundation of sin itself, came the spirit & mentality of excuse. The first time in history that there was sin…an excuse followed shortly thereafter. There is only one degree between sin and excuse. The Greek for word for sin…”havatia”…means “to miss the mark”. The dictionary defines excuse as “a reason to miss the mark”! 

Brian Houston of Hillsong Church says, “An excuse is not much more than the meat of a lie with the skin of a reason!” The enemy lies…we know that. People lie…we know that. But take note that not just the lies we tell, but also the excuses we make, will give way to the Enemy’s plan to steal, kill, and destroy our lives. 

Kyle Bethke - Bethel Church in Modesto, Lead Pastor
Regional Leader with NCN Student Ministries

PROTESTANT DECLINE

While we have always enjoyed religious freedoms in this country, the current trend in society is to have the freedom to practice nothing.  Each year, more churches open than close, but many denominations shrink with the passing of each New Year.  The statistics don’t add up.  While the number of churches grow, the amount of believers in society are shrinking.  
 

For what may be the first time in centuries, Protestants no longer make up the majority of Americans. Those claiming to be Protestants have slid to 48% in the United States, down from 52% in 2007. 22% of Americans claim Roman Catholicism, just edging out the "nones," a category that has been surging in recent years. 20% of Americans, primarily the under-30 set, claim no religious affiliation. The study pointed out that "none" needn't necessarily mean "atheist" as much as it implies a dissatisfaction with mainline denominations. Either way, it's a major religious, cultural and even political shift in a country for which religious freedom is a benchmark ...

With the “nones” closing the gap on the United States population, churches face a real dilemma on reversing the trend.  Opening new churches hasn’t made an impact, and actually parallels the decline in believers.  Many of these churches are surviving on transplant growth.  As the church, we need to stop fishing from each others ponds, and go out and catch some fresh fish.  If we don’t, pretty soon there will be “none”.

 -NCNSM Staff

-Source: Relevant Magazine

CULTURE TRENDS

It is important to realize the challenges we face as we see a significant shift in our culture away from biblical truth to social convenience.  As pastors we must remain aware and attentive to the challenges this generation faces, and it must influence and shape how we minister to the next generation as we prepare them to follow Christ in an ever changing culture.

THEY ARE ONLY GIANTS

One of the realities of ministry is that we will face obstacles and challenges.  The question then is do these challenges stop us from what God has for us, or do we face the challenges and move forward?  Issues such as worry and doubt can become giants that keep us from entering the blessing that God has for us and our ministry.  

When we look at Numbers 13:27-32 we see spies who allowed the limitations they saw keep them from receiving the blessing God had for them.  God sent them in to the land to spy out what he had already promised them.  Instead of realizing that God had already given them the land, they instead respond with fear and doubt, leaving them wandering for 40 years, never receiving what God already had given them!

The ‘giants’ we face can come in many forms, but how we respond will determine the end result. What is keeping us from receiving what God has already promised and given to us? What can we consider as we face challenges? 

Consider these things:

DON’T TURN OPPORTUNITIES IN TO OBSTACLES -  Two saw land and blessing, while ten saw walls and giants. So often we miss the opportunity hidden in the problem. Just beyond the challenge lies the opportunity.  Obstacles are meant to be pushed out of the way. Often we here people mus-characterized as “the bad kid that won’t change” or we hear people speak how “things have always been done this way.”   How often do we write people off, not realizing that God has brought them our way?  We become the agent of change to shape them and direct them toward the kind of life God had intended for them?  

OVERCOME THE ASSUMPTIONS.  The ten spies were looking through the wrong lens.  They already assumed they couldn’t defeat the giants.  What we think we see is not always the reality.  We often approach situations assuming we know the outcome.  This outcome is often based on the limitations we let dictate our lives.  Don’t let the assumptions you have of people, places, or situations remove you from moving forward in what God has for you.  How often do we misjudge or misread a situation, which keeps us from having the opportunity to make a difference?

DON’T LET FEAR BLOCK THE BLESSING.  The ten spies saw the giants, and forgot the blessing God had for them.  The promised land became an unopened gift they would never receive, because fear became the roadblock.  The land was already a guarantee.  They simply needed to take it. Focus on what God has placed before us, not on what stands in our way.   What stands in our way will eventually be behind us if we continue to move forward.  Remember, the giants only look big, but often it is simply a facade.  Fear is a facade that has no power.

TRUST WHAT GOD HAS ALREADY GIVEN YOU. Don’t let Go of What God has already given you.  God has already given you everything you need to overcome the obstacles that stand in your way. The size of our obstacles always diminish when held up to the glory of God. In the end, when we trust God and allow him to lead us, we find out the giants weren’t giants at all. 

What we Must Do?

a.    Trust God and trust that He is leading you

b.    Find and work with those who are going the same direction

c.    Keep your eye on the promise not on the problem

d.    Change your perspective of how you see obstacles

e.    Seek wisdom and counsel from trusted mentors and leaders

f.     Always keep the vision before you of what God has called you to do

What became of the other two spies?  For 40 years, they wandered with the others.  However, God remembered their faithfulness and willingness to move forward and take the land. In those years, they would come to be trusted men who stood beside Moses, and were raised up to lead.  Of the twelve spies, Joshua and Caleb would be the only ones to enter the land of promise.  Not only did they enter the land, but they led the others into what God had already given to them so long ago. Trusting God not only becomes an opportunity to be blessed, but also an opportunity to lead.   

So when you look at obstacles and when you face challenges, remember this: they only look like Giants.

Scott Tuttle

Operations and Events Director

NCN Student Ministries

UNCOMPROMISING COMPASSION

So how do we become relevant without compromising our character? 
How do we reach the world with out looking like the world?

When we look at a person with love we begin to see them how Jesus sees them and see us! We see they’re hurt and have compassion, we see their pain and it reminds us we don’t belong here. Look past the current situation or circumstance and truly begin to see the brokenness. I believe everyone is searching for God they just may not now it yet.

I like how A.W Tozer said it “excessive need for support from without is proof of the bankruptcy of the inner man.” If we could see everyone with this filter, it would be a lot easier to love. The saying, “Know all forgive all”, is so true! If we really knew the reason behind the way people act forgiveness would come naturally and easy because we would see it’s out of hurt. 

It’s the same hurt we came from but because of grace we no longer live in that brokenness but in freedom, this relationship is not just for us but for the broken sinners, who at times, are so easy to judge.

This generation is longing to be loved! That’s why the average age for a young lady to lose her virginity is 16.2, she’s searching for God, and found a quick fix.  That’s why 50% of all teens are sexually active. 77% of high school students have tried alcohol, 67% have tried cigarette smoking, 41% have tried marijuana, and 18% have used another type of illegal drugs at least once in their life. Searching for God love, found worldly acceptance.

They are tired of searching and being let down. In the U.S. more people kill themselves than are killed by all other causes. America is in a desperate state and a desperate need for real love. Let our lives be the proof of Gods love, real love, and life changing love. Let our life’s challenge, inspire, encourage, strengthen, and give hope.

Let us be the ones that turn the tide and shape culture by doing the work God has called us to do in ministering to our students.  It requires steadfast prayer, relationships built, trust established, and committed leaders. Let our undying efforts be to model Christ, mentor students, and mobilize leaders to impact this generation.

Sources

1. http://www.swmihoh.org/INeedHelp/TeenStatistics/tabid/71/Default.aspx

2. http://www.soundvision.com/info/teens/stat.asp

John Zick - Youth Culture Specialist/NCN Student Ministries