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National Youth Fellowship

National Youth Fellowship

  • All UMCA Local Churches

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  • 06:00:00 - 23:59:59
  • 2024-07-22 - 2024-07-28

YOUTH WEEK 2024 SPEECH BY THE PRESIDENT

Dearly beloved men and brethren, greetings in the name of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ!

Another season is upon us; a season to indeed turn absolutely unto the LORD.

It is a season turned for the entire youth fellowship of our great denomination, a season to be true to who we are; zealous for the kingdom enterprise and looking up unto Jesus the sole author and the finisher of our faith.

I bless the LORD God for yet another youth week 2024 tagged “GO IN THIS YOUR MIGHT; Judges 6:14”.  I believe God is intentional about us to have looked at our innermost depths to find in us “MIGHT” that is locked up in our inside in spite of the despair, worries and cost of living in our day. It means as youths our might is only found in God who gives strength to the weak and might to the fearful. Indeed the times are hard and complex, the economy of our nation so fluctuating, scarcity in almost every sphere of life, but the Lord is our refuge and strength a present help in times of need. This calls for drawing strength and building faith in the Lord our God alone.

I give God thanks for the work of the national youth fellowship executive council members, the district youth fellowships and the local church youth fellowship groups for keeping the faith and sustaining the work of the Lord amongst the youths. The Lord Bless you all.

At this very juncture, I would on behalf of the entire national youth fellowship commiserate with our dearly loved brethren who were bereaved of loved ones and also identify with our brethren who were faced with numerous misfortunes or the other. Our hearts are with you and may you find solace in Christ alone.

Furthermore, I would like to thank the UMCA Headquarters and the Districts for their fatherly support to the youths. Your counsel and encouragements always add to our momentum to really follow hard to serve Jesus. The LORD rewards you in no small measure.

Finally brethren, I commend you to God the father of our Lord Jesus Christ and to the power of his word which is able to build you up and to give you an inheritance with them that are sanctified. I therefore charge you to make the most of this “YOUTH WEEK”, attend to it and I trust God afterwards we all will “Go in this our might” just as the Lord has said to Gideon and even extending it to us. God bless you all and have a moment of refreshing this youth week in Jesus Christ’s name. AMEN!

Thank you.

Emmanuel bargu Joseph

National Youth Fellowship Chairman

 

SCHEDULE

Monday, 22nd July –  Talk on Building and Managing Multiple Streams of Income

 

Tuesday, 23rd July – Bible Study

 

Wednesday, 24th July – Special Prayer Meeting (Youth Focus)

 

Thursday, 25th July – Teaching on Stress Management

 

Friday, 26th July – Sports

 

Saturday, 27th July – Love Feast

 

Sunday, 28th July – Thanksgiving Service

 

BIBLE STUDY

Topic: GO IN THIS THY MIGHT

TEXT: Judges 6:14-21, Romans 8:19-22, EXO 3:23-25

Memory Verse: Isaiah 6:8

Introduction

Every generation has its peculiarities as it relates to oppression, slavery and wickedness of any kind; every generation has something laid on them against their desire that causes them to groan and weep, hoping that and wishing that deliverance will come someday; that’s why the Bible say; the earnest expectation of the creation, waiteth for the manifestation of the sons of God (Romans 8:19). The devil will never leave any generation without oppression and slavery. There are always, pains, slavery and groanings that the devil lays on each generation, and until God finds a man that he can send for their deliverance the servitude remains.

For the Isrealites in (Gen 12:40) it was cruel slavery in Egypt under the kingship of Pharaoh that last for 430 years until God found Moses.

In Judges 6, it was the oppression of the midianites, who invaded them, spoilt their crops and brought great famine and humiliation to Israel until God found Gideon. In Judges 13:4-5, the philistines oppressed the people of Israel and kept dealing with them for 40years (Judges 13:1) until God raised Samson. When Israel was to be wiped out in Shushan God found Esther who put her life on the line with faith in God until deliverance came.

Even in our time that we are modern slavery, political, economic, blood shed on daily basis etc. All the groanings and pain we are experiencing now, will continue until God finds men who are ready at all cost to go for him and enforce his will. The phrase “Go in this thy might” is a command God gave to Gideon, the man he found qualified to deliver Israel from the oppression of the midianites. God is looking for men he can give command like he gave to Gideon, are you qualified to receive that command from God and run with it?

Secondly, there are people who God has already given the command, “Go in this thy might” but have refused to move whether because of fear, or disobedience.

Which category are you?

In this study shall be exploring, What it means to go in your might, Qualities Of The Man Who Can Go, Qualifications Of the man who will go for God, The Devotions Of The Man Who Can Go for God, and Hindrances to Going for God, we shall also be considering, The Challenges of the Man who will go for God, Why we must go for God, Rewards Of Going For God and example of men who went for God. May the Lord open the eyes of our Spirit man as we study further (Amen)

SECTION A

  1. In the light of the following scriptures, discuss what it means to “go in this thy might” Judges 6:14, Romans 10:15, Genesis 12:1-5, Exodus 3:10-11
  2. Qualities of the man who can go.
  3. Must be a man of honest report – Act 6:2-3; 1 Timothy 3:1
  4. Must be a man of faith – Acts 6:5
  • Must be humble – James 4:6, Philippians 2:8-10
  1. Must be able to hear God – 1Samuel 3:10, Genesis 22:2-3, Genesis 12:1-5
  2. Must have the character of prompt obedience – 1Samuel 3:10, Genesis 22:2-3, Genesis 12:1-5
  3. Must be a man of sacrifice
  • Must have a heart for the People – 1Samuel 17:26, Exodus 32:30-32
  • Must be disciplined – 1Corinthians 9:27
  1. Committed to hard work – 1Corinthians 15:10, 1Corinthians 15:58

 

  1. Qualifications of the man who will go for God
  2. Must be born again – John 3:3
  3. Must overcome the world and all it lusts – James 4:4. 1John 2:15-17
  • Must yield to discipleship and training – Luke 9:23, Matthew 11:28-29
  1. You must have a healthy marriage and keep a good home – 1Tim.3:2, 5; I Pet. 3:1, 7; Eph. 5:22-23
  2. Must Live a life of consecration – Romans 12:1, 1Peter 2:9, Romans 6:13;19, 2 Timothy 2:20-21, Judges 13:4-5
  3. Must understand God’s call and receive the call
  4. The general call – Matthew 28:18-20
  5. The specific call – Exodus 3:10-11, Romans 11:13, Acts 22:21, Romans 15:15-16, Judges 13:4-5

vii.       Must put on the garment of a servant – John 13:4-5;13-15 Mark 9:35, Mark 10:44

  1. The devotions of the man who can go for God
  2. The word – Hebrews 4:12, 2 Timothy 3:16-17
  3. Personal altar – Luke 2:25, James 5:16, 1Thessalonians 5:17, Mark 1:35
  • Fasting – Matthew 17:21, Luke 2:36-38
  1. Sacrificial life – 1Corinthians 15:30-32, 2 Timothy 4:6

 

SECTION B

  1. Hindrances to Going for God
  2. Sin (Romans 6:23, Proverbs 28:13)
  3. Pride – James 4:6, Psalm 113:6
  4. Disobedience – 1 Samuel 15:18-22 and 26-29
  • Laziness – Prov. 24:30-32, Prov 18:9, Prov. 15:19, Prov 22:23-25, Prov 13:4
  1. The Flesh – 1John 2:15-16
  2. Friendship with world – 1John 2:15-16
  3. The devil and his cohorts

(1 Corinthians 16:9, 1Thessalonians 2:18, 1Peter 5:9)

  1. The challenges of the man who will go for God
  2. Persecution – Matthew 19:29
  3. Temptations – Luke 4:3-8
  • Trials – 1Cor 10:13, 2 Timothy 4:5
  1. Why we must go for God
  2. God desire that we dethrone darkness – John 1:5, Isaiah 60:2, Matty5:14-16 Habakkuk 2:14
  3. In every generation God needs men to effect a change – Ezekiel 22:30
  • The spread the work of the great commission to all nations – Matthew 24:14
  1. Rewards of going for God
  2. Crown of glory – 1Peter 5:4; 1Corinthians 9:24-25, 2 Timothy 4:6-8
  3. Divine protection – 2Kings 6:15-17, Psalm 105:14-15, Hebrews 1:14
  • Divine health and wellbeing – Exodus 15:26, Psalm 103:2-3
  1. Provision and abundance – Matthew 6:29–33
  2. Example of Men who went for God
  3. Gideon – Judges 6:11-21
  4. John the Baptist – John 5:35, Matthew 11:7-11
  • Esther – Esther 4:16-17
  1. Elijah – 1Kings 18:24-40
  2. Mary the mother of Jesus – Matthew 1:21, Luke 1:31
  3. Jehu – 2Kings 9:30-37

 

Conclusion

The challenge of our time is not that God can not deliver us, it also not that God is weak, the things God did in the days of old, He can do again and even more. The challenge of our time is lack of men, who God can endorse to go for him. Even though there have many men who seems to be sent by God both on pulpit and off pulpit, not many got Divine Approval. As we strife and pray that God will find us worthy and faithful to go for Him.

TEACHING ON COPING WITH STRESS

Stress is a common experience and a part of life. It is experienced every day and not restricted to any age group. The situation of the world in recent times has contributed to the increasing stress-experience especially among the young and middle-age persons. It is not surprising that various impact of stress which are usually seen in aged persons are now becoming common among young people. A typical example is hypertension which is becoming increasingly common among young and middle-age persons all over the world. Hence, it is paramount that we pay attention to managing stressors (factors that contribute or increase stress) among ourselves as youths. It is important to note that majority of these stressors are not usually controllable nor completely removable, they can only be managed with appropriate measures.

Stressors of our time

There are a number of things that initiate or contribute to stress among young persons, however we will list a few common ones:

  1. Worry
  2. Pressures – Academic, Financial, Peer, Marital, Family
  3. Changes in life
  4. Unemployment
  5. Loss – job, loved ones, opportunities
  6. Health issues
  7. Discrimination
  8. Situation that are out of your control
  9. Overwhelming responsibilities
  10. Failure or non-achievement of goal

More can be added in the course of the discussion/talk

Signs of being stressed

While in some instances it is possible easily identify that a person is stressed, in most cases, people either ignore these signs or cannot connect these signs to being stressed. Here are common signs of stress in people but it is important to note that these signs are not absolute and all may not necessarily be experienced by an individual.

  1. Frequent headaches which may be accompanied with body aches and blurry sights
  2. Fatigue – tiredness or getting tired easily
  3. Sleep problem (especially finding it difficult to have a good sleep or sleeping off at odd times and places)
  4. Aggressiveness, getting frustrated easily or being depressed
  5. Panic attacks – panicking unnecessarily or without a definite cause
  6. Overthinking
  7. High blood pressure which may be accompanied by chest pains
  8. Heartburn, indigestion and/or peptic ulcer
  9. Feeling of hopelessness, avoiding people (especially loved ones) and loss of interest in hobbies
  10. Frequent feeling of being sick

More can be added in the course of the discussion/talk

How to overcome stress

While stress cannot be eliminated, the causes and effects can be controlled and managed, this has to be a continuous practice if we will overcome stress. Majorly, behaviours, habits and lifestyle control have been identified as the prominent way to overcome stress. Here are some suggested ways to manage stress:

  1. While stress may appear very much physical (all about the physical life is built on the spiritual), stressful times is a sign to rejuvenate your spiritual life. Take time to pray, study and meditate on the word of God. This spiritual activities have a way of giving a refreshing experience. To get it done more effectively, go for a retreat.
  2. Take time to rest your body – Get off physical activities to have enough time rest your body including getting enough time to sleep
  3. Take time to rest your mind – This can be achieved by taking your mind off the things that are piling the pressure on you
  4. Settle down and be realistic with your goals and capabilities – Identify and appreciate your capabilities and realistically build your goals based on what you have while you carefully push to do and get more. Accept that there are limitations and weakness which is common to all, however you can identify yours and work on them without putting pressure on yourself
  5. Live within the means and the things you have – This may require you to cut down certain things you identify to be putting stress upon you especially when it comes to the finances and responsibilities
  6. Take care of your body – Begin to eat well, seek medical check-up and treatment (if need be), go for exercise and recreational activities such as sports and picnics
  7. Connect and talk to people who can help you unwind, give you quality advice and counsel
  8. Disconnect from associations, activities and people who put your under pressure and increase your stress level. For example, if a friend push you and stress you, disconnect from such friend. If attending a certain gathering or meeting put so much pressure on you, stop going. However, this will not be applicable to your job or immediate family, you may need to find other ways to manage the stress coming from these apart from walking away
  9. Seek for new opportunities and activities that can be refreshing
  10. Be grateful to God for what you have and thank Him for the things you are trusting Him for

Discussion: Practical experience of stress and how it was overcome

Conclusion: Stress has become a common topic of discussion at every level and we cannot deny it impact on everyone. As long as we are living, there will be things that bring stress, however we can get ourselves above the stressors and daily overcome stress with appropriate measures.

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