Lies...all lies!

Our students face many challenges in the world today. I have noticed an increase in "major" issues with our young adults since the beginning of this year. Big issues such as; anger, depression, suicide, sexual impurity, and homosexuality. I cannot believe that these are just random occurrences but signs that our students are under attack. I've with other student pastor's and they are seeing the same issues among their young people.
Over the past few weeks in our student ministry we have been focusing on why students are influenced so much by society today. We have found that students will abandon their "convictions" at any time for the sake of popularity, comfort, or simply not to rock the boat. We have found that their friends and the media are the two most effective influences in their lives (not parents, God, or spiritual leaders) and that most seek to follow, not because they don't want to lead, but because it takes less effort to follow. Our students have given control of their lives over to others and they are leading them away from God much less church. Our students are being fed lies and are swallowing them hook, line, and sinker.
There are four specific lies that students have bought into:

1. You're alone- you are the only person struggling with these thoughts or actions, keep it quiet, clam up, isolate yourself, let no one else in
2. You're worthless- what you've done makes you no good to anyone, your sin disqualifies you and you should continue down the wrong path because that's your only option                                           
3. You're unloveable- what you've done has separated you from Christ's love and God nor anyone else will ever see you the same, so change your expectation of love and accept anyone who comes your way who says "I love you"           
4. You're unusable- God could never use someone so messed up, you need to fix yourself to have a chance to back with Him, it's probably just too late, move on with your life

Four answers your students need to hear:

1. You're not alone- the fact is everyone struggles, you, me, mom, dad, the pastor, none of us are immune to temptation and sin and we actually grow stronger by seeking help. Isolation is one of the primary tools of the enemy, it keeps you down and weak, and allows thoughts, pain, and hurt to breed into bitterness. Church, family, and good friends are placed in your life by God as your safety net to help you when you fail, meant to help hold you up when trials come.                                       
2. You're priceless- what you have done doesn't define you, you have to learn to repent and move on. God doesn't make mistakes and He has created you for a purpose and a calling. His plans for you will blow your mind if you will just give up control of your life over to Him, then you will see the glory of God in your life. Your purity is important to God so hear Jesus' words to the woman caught in adultery..."go and sin no more", sin is not the only option.                                                               
3. You're lovely- God's love is unending and there's nothing you can do to stop Him from loving you. A simple way to remember this is to ask yourself a question. How many of my sins were in the future when Jesus died on the cross? Answer: ALL OF THEM. There's nothing you can do to disappoint God, you can't exhaust His love it is unlimited and free. Friends may come and go but God will always remain the same.                                                   
4. You're more than qualified- when we look at the bible we notice a strange trend, God uses some messed up people. Moses & David are just two examples who had serious moral failures, yet once they had repented God used them to do great things. God stands ready to make you an accurate display of Christ to everyone at your school, teams, work, and wherever you go. You can't clean yourself up, you need the Holy Spirit to enact a heart change, He will equip you and bring forth the inner man making you a new creation in Christ for all to see.

It's time that we stop accepting less than God's best for our lives and realize that we are called to something far greater. This world is hard and trials will come, the question is will you run to God or believe the lies. Please join me in prayer for our young adults and help me reflect Christ's epic love to them.

God bless,

Drew