What I Learned At
Youth Jubilee 2019
1. A Blessing For All Ages
Our five children were spaced in age with a little more than two years between them, so there is ten years between the oldest and youngest. When we told them Bible stories each night it was sometimes a challenge to teach a four year old, and also make it interesting for a young teenager. It is good to know that God's Word is the living Word and He can speak to hearts of all ages. We just had our Youth Jubilee and it was so great to see the wide range of ages, and know that the Lord was blessing and teaching each one in His way. It was such a joy to know that some of my grandchildren were in church services where the Holy Spirit was speaking to hearts, and Jesus was saving souls, and God was opening the windows of heaven to rain His blessing down on us. I want to share some of the good news we learned from the preaching of God's Word. I also want to share some thoughts about the reminders God showed me of His goodness. I hope that you enjoy hearing "What I Learned At Youth Jubilee 2019".
2. Don't Stop Praying For The Lost
Sometimes we get a burden for someone that is lost and we earnestly pray for that person... for a while. When we don't see a change in his or her life, we sometimes forget to keep praying. The Lord reminded me this week to keep praying! God still saves lost sinners. There is a special young lady who is dear to my heart and I have been praying for her salvation for over ten years. She asked the Lord to save her this week. It was wonderful to see God save her, and several others, too. God reminded me that He is still saving all who will come to Him, confessing their sin, and trusting in Jesus to give them everlasting life. I want to encourage you today to keep on praying! Don't give up! "For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost." (Luke 19:10) "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life." (John 3:16)
3. Teach The Children
Each year at Jubilee several different churches load up a bus or van with their youth and bring them to our area for several days and nights of worship. They get up in the morning and come to church services where they hear preaching and singing from different ones. They are fed lunch and supper and in the evening we come together again for more preaching and singing. Some of the groups also have more devotional time together. Some of the local churches also join our Jubilee during the week. The children learn Bible truths from God's Word and some are saved and many more receive spiritual help from the Lord. Many come together to work and pray and make the necessary plans and preparations to have this time of Youth Jubilee every summer. I believe that one of the reasons so many are helped during this week is because of some truths found in Deuteronomy 6:5-9. We are taking the time to teach and preach and talk about spiritual things. We come together to worship and fellowship with the purpose of helping these young people learn more about God. Children have a desire to learn and when we fill that yearning with the things of God, they can learn to love God with all their heart, and soul, and might.
"5 And thou shalt love the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might.
6 And these words, which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart:
7 And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up.
8 And thou shalt bind them for a sign upon thine hand, and they shall be as frontlets between thine eyes.
9 And thou shalt write them upon the posts of thy house, and on thy gates."
4. We Are Born With It
Our youngest granddaughter is nine months old and she can't stand on her own, but she enjoyed standing against the pew as I held my arm around her to keep her from falling. She liked this until her big sister climbed up on my lap. Then she put her little hand on Elsa's arm and tried to pull her off my lap. Elsa got down and climbed up on Michael's lap. This usually sweet, little baby still wasn't satisfied. She pulled on Elsa again, and climbed over into Michael's lap. I know that brothers and sisters are often jealous of one another, but I didn't think it started so early. This little episode reminded me that we are born with a sin nature. We don't have to wait until we are half-grown to learn how to sin. Since the curse that came about because of Adam and Eve's sin, all of us have been born in sin. Jesus Christ is the only one who was ever born free from sin because He is the Son of God. That is how He could become our sacrifice to pay for our sin.
"As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one:...For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;" (Romans 3:10 & 23)
"Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned:" (Romans 5:12)
"For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him." (II Cointhians 5:21)
"So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation." (Hebrews 9:28)
5. It Is Worth The Great Preparation
Each Sunday morning, after the regular offering, the little children in the church walk around and collect money that people in the congregation want to give for the following Youth Jubilee. It is a joy to see the excitement on their faces as they sometimes run to drop the money into the bucket. In this way, we prepare for Youth Jubilee all year long, with a small special offering every week. At the right time, meals are planned, supplies are bought, and hotel reservations are made for the out-of-town guests. There is an expense and great preparation when you host a meeting such as this. But, it is well worth it! Each year souls are saved, and spiritually fed, and many lives are changed. We praise the Lord for the seed that is planted, for those who water, and for God who gives the increase! Michael reminded me of the story of Jesus when He crossed the Sea of Galilee and there came up a great storm. They passed over into the country of the Gadarenes and were met by a man who lived among the graves.
"1 And they came over unto the other side of the sea, into the country of the Gadarenes.
2 And when he was come out of the ship, immediately there met him out of the tombs a man with an unclean spirit,
3 Who had his dwelling among the tombs; and no man could bind him, no, not with chains:
4 Because that he had been often bound with fetters and chains, and the chains had been plucked asunder by him, and the fetters broken in pieces: neither could any man tame him.
5 And always, night and day, he was in the mountains, and in the tombs, crying, and cutting himself with stones.
6 But when he saw Jesus afar off, he ran and worshipped him," (Mark 5:1-6)
When Jesus cast out the unclean spirits, they asked to go into the swine, ("about two thousand" Mark 5:13) which all ran down a cliff and drowned. The people went out to see what had happened and instead of being happy for the healed man, they asked Jesus to leave their country. Jesus had gone a great distance, and through a great storm for one man. It is well worth the great preparation for Jubilee, even if only one person gets help from the Lord.
6. Brotherly Love Continues
I really am planning to share some of the Bible truths I learned from the messages last week, but God has reminded me of another life lesson this week. My verse today is found in Hebrews 13:1. "Let brotherly love continue." It is amazing to see how the love of God continues to grow through our yearly meeting. After 14 years of Youth Jubilee I have made many friends. There are so many preachers, youth leaders, and singers who I have come to know and love and I only see them during the week of Jubilee. It is such a joy to be with them and fellowship and worship with them year after year. I have watched their families grow, children growing taller and in Christian maturity, and I also get to see new faces each year. My daughter met her husband at Youth Jubilee and they got married and now have three children. He accepted the call to preach at one of the meetings and God is using them in His work. I also get to fellowship with many families from our area who come to worship with us. God can take people from miles away, and people nearby, and bind our hearts together in love. Our encouraging word today is, "Let brotherly love continue."
"7 Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God.
8 He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love.
9 In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him.
10 Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.
11 Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another." (I John 4:7-11)
7. Working On A Building (Sermon Notes from Preacher John Lancaster)
Preacher John Lancaster opened with his text from Luke 14:27-28, "And whosoever doth not bear his cross, and come after me, cannot be my disciple. For which of you, intending to build a tower, sitteth not down first, and counteth the cost, whether he have sufficient to finish it?" His sermon was titled, "Working On A Building".
(1) The Foundation. The most important thing in life is to know that you are saved, or, know that you are not, (so that you can get saved.) Salvation is the solid foundation which will not fail. Jesus said, "Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock:" (Matthew 7:24) Jesus went on to say that the foolish man built his house on the sand. When the rains came the house on the rock stood firm, while the house on the sand fell, "and great was the fall of it." (Matthew 7:27)
(2) The Fundamentals of Faith. We must believe the diety of Jesus Christ. Jesus is God. "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God." (John 1:1) Believe in the virgin birth, Christmas. Believe that we are saved through Jesus, who shed His blood on the cross. Believe in the resurrection, Easter. Believe that the scripture, the Word of God, is true.
(3) The Future. With Christ as our foundation, and believing in the fundamentals of faith, we have a bright future ahead, in heaven above.
"3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,
4 To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you,
5 Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time." (I Peter 1:3-5)
8. To Walk With God (Sermon Notes from Preacher Cody Shew)
Preacher Cody Shew opened with his text with Enoch, "And Enoch walked with God: and he was not; for God took him." (Genesis 5:24) He moved on to the next chapter, where the people of the earth were wicked. "And GOD saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually." (Genesis 6:5) But, even in those terrible times, "...Noah walked with God." (Genesis 6:9) We also are living in terrible times of wickedness on the earth, but we can also walk with God.
(1) Noah had an Internal Conversion. "...Noah was a just man and perfect in his generations, and Noah walked with God." (Genesis 6:9) "Can two walk together, except they be agreed?" (Amos 3:3) "Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new." (II Corinthians 5:17)
(2) Noah had an Intimate Communion. "And God said unto Noah,..." (Genesis 6:13) Noah had fellowship with God. God talked with Noah. And Noah walked with God. Walk with God, not ahead of God, or behind God.
(3) Noah had an Infinite Call. God told Noah what to do, "Make thee an ark of gopher wood; rooms shalt thou make in the ark, and shalt pitch it within and without with pitch." (Genesis 6:14) and Noah listened to all that God told him to do and he finished his job. "Thus did Noah; according to all that God commanded him, so did he." (Genesis 6:22) We can walk with God even in these wicked days through Jesus Christ, our Lord. "I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me." (Philippians 4:13)
9. Put What Matters Most First In Your Life (Illustration by Preacher Mike Soup)
Each year Preacher Mike Soup brings objects to illustrate his sermons. He usually also brings something the kids can take home with them as a reminder of the lessons. One year he brought a plastic shovel for each one and his sermons were all about things in the Bible that were hidden in the ground. Last year he used a pottery wheel and clay to illustrate the different aspects of the Potter and the Clay. I was in the kitchen during this sermon, but Susanna shared the video she took and I was able to watch the illustration. He was talking about families that had stopped coming to church. He took a large jar and he began filling it with small beads which represented all the little things that were filling their lives. As he poured the beads in the jar he was telling how parents told him the kids liked playing ball, and they were good at it, and they couldn't miss any of the games, and they had to spend time on their schooling, and their jobs, and they like horses, and going camping, and they had a place at the beach... and all those little things were taking all their time. Then, he started adding larger beads and explained how there were more important things that they had to do and they didn't know how it happened, but they just didn't have time for church and the things of God. Finally, Preacher Soup took a large gold bead and tried to fit it into the jar, but there wasn't enough room. So he took the loop on the bead and hung it on the outside of the jar, and asked if we wanted to go through life with Jesus just hanging on the edge of our lives. He had another jar and this time he started with the largest bead and the medium sized beads and showed them how he could easily put them into the empty jar, and he began pouring the small beads down over them and they all went into the jar. He explained that when we put Jesus first in our lives and put the important things first, then there will be room for the little things. Put what matters most first in your life. "But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you." (Matthew 6:33)
10. Salvation Is Free (Notes From Preacher Mike Soop)
I want to share another special sermon by Preacher Mike Soop on, "Salvation Is Free." He told how so many things have "points" to get something free. He has a SubWay card and he can build up points to get a free sandwich. There are points for gas, and points for frequent flyer miles. We get accustomed to getting free stuff for building up points. But, he exclaimed, salvation is free! We can't build up points to earn our salvation. Jesus died on the cross, gave His life to pay for our sin, and there is nothing we can do to buy or work to earn eternal life. The preacher handed out some small tithing envelopes that had little boxes for the points you could earn each Sunday: Attendance (20%) On Time (10%) Bible Brought (10%) Offering (10%) Prepared Lesson (30%) Preaching Attendance (20%) and then the last box was for Total Grade. He told how someone could get 100% for filling all the boxes. A person could get 100% week after week, but that would not earn him or her salvation. His message to the children was that "Salvation Is Free". We don't, and can't work to earn points for salvation. He also gave everyone another card that he had created with a 2019 Youth Jubilee Report. He had similar check-off items: I believe in God/Jesus, I go to church, I journal/read Bible, I've been baptized, I pray for others often, I sing in choir. He had enough items to score 110%, but the question at the bottom read, "AM I A 110% HARD WORKING LOST PERSON?" A person can believe that there is a God, and not be saved. Someone can go to church and still be lost. Baptism and singing in the choir does not save a person. We can not work our way to heaven. We must believe that we are lost and that Jesus died to give us eternal life, and when we confess our sin and trust in Him to save us, He will! On the back of the card Preacher Soop gave verses that tell of God's wonderful gift of salvation.
"For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:" (Ephesians 2:8)
"For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord." (Romans 6:23)
"But we believe that through the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ we shall be saved, even as they." (Acts 15:11)
"For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life." (John 3:16)
"And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son." (I John 5:11)
"And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand." (John 10:28)
"Thanks be unto God for his unspeakable gift." (II Corinthians 9:15)
11. Stay Faithful
Just like everyone else, we grow older each year, and some things become more difficult with time. Many of our men and women at church are beyond 70 or 80 years old, and they continue to work and serve these young people each year. I noticed one of our elderly widows this year as she worked in the kitchen. She was always working. Whether it was drying dishes, or putting the right lids with pots as they were washed, or cleaning tables, she was busy doing what was needed. I am thankful to be a part of this group and they encourage me to do what I can for the Lord. Please pray for me. I am having a problem with my asthma and I can't do all that I would like to do, but I do have a desire to stay faithful in the work of the Lord. Let's do what we can for the Lord. Let's strive to be faithful and finish our course, so that we can say like Paul, "I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith:" (II Timoty 4:7)
12. Lessons From A Lad (Notes From Preacher Cody Shew)
Michael is sharing this devotional for me today...
Cody Shew preached one night of the Youth Jubilee on "Lessons From A Lad" out of John 6:1-14. He brought out four points that we can learn from the young man who gave his lunch to Jesus so that the multitude could be fed.
1. Wisely choose your crowd. When Andrew spoke to Jesus, the lad was right there. This boy was following the group that was following Jesus. Because he was with a "godly" crowd trying to follow Jesus, this young boy was a part of an amazing miracle.
2. Why worry? Just give! John 6:9 says, "There is a lad here, which hath five barley loaves, and two small fishes: but what are they among so many?" This boy had only a little food, but it did not bother him. Today's social media often makes people compare themselves to each other. This can cause feelinigs of inadequacy. But God never meant for you to compare yourself to others. Psalm 139:14 says "I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made..."
3. What we give must be broken. John 6:11 says, "And Jesus took the loaves; and when he had given thanks, he distributed to the disciples, and the disciples to them that were set down; and likewise of the fishes as much as they would." The other gospels show that Jesus broke the bread and fish before He gave it to the disciples. "Brokenness" is often a part of the Christian life. We must be willing to sacrifice all to go for God.
4. When you give, God will supply. John 6:12-13 says, "When they were filled, he said unto his disciples, Gather up the fragments that remain, that nothing be lost. Therefore they gathered them together, and filled twelve baskets with the fragments of the five barley loaves, which remained over and above unto them that had eaten." When you serve God, He will supply your need. The lad gave all that he had, but look how much was left over. Some say there were twelve baskets so that each disciple could take a basket home. I prefer to think that the disciples all helped him carry twelve baskets back to his house, because when you give your all, you will be amazed at how the Lord will bless and give back to you.
13. Why Did Zacchaeus Come To See Jesus? (Notes From Preacher Tim Huffman)
We are all familiar with the story of Zacchaeus in Luke 19:1-10. But Brother Tim Huffman posed the question, "Why did Zacchaeus come to see Jesus in the first place?" Brother Tim then told a story of what might have happened. Maybe Zacchaeus was collecting taxes in Nain and knocked on a door. The woman who came to the door was dressed in black mourning clothes, and explained that she had no way to pay her taxes since her only son had just died. Zacchaeus told her he would be back in thirty days. Then Zacchaeus visited a home in Gadara. But the woman who answered the door said she could not pay her taxes because her husband had lost his mind. He was wondering around in the graveyard, and she had no food and no money. Again, Zacchaeus said he would return in thirty days. Another house visit took Zacchaeus to Capernaum, and the woman who answered the door was clearly very sick. She explained that she had no money to pay the taxes because she had an issue of blood for which she had been paying doctors for years. Again, Zacchaeus said he would return in thirty days. After thirty days, Zacchaeus returned to all three houses. In Nain a young man answered the door, and said, "Mom, the tax man is here." Zacchaeus was confused, but the woman told him that a man named Jesus had raised her only son from the dead. In Gadara a man opened the door, and when he heard the man call for his wife, Zacchaeus was confused again. But the woman explained that a man named Jesus had cast the demon out of her husband, and now he was fine. At the house in Capernaum, a woman answered the door and said, "Oh, hello. Let me get you our tax money." Zacchaeus did not recognize her, but she explained that she was the woman he had met thirty days ago. "I was healed when I touched a man named Jesus!"
So maybe that is not what happened, but the point is that the three women in these stories all testified as to what Jesus did for them. They each had a story to tell. And that is what we all need to do. Maybe our testimony will cause someone to seek out Jesus. Our testimony could lead someone else to salvation!
Mark 5:18-19 says, "And when he was come into the ship, he that had been possessed with the devil prayed him that he might be with him. Howbeit Jesus suffered him not, but saith unto him, Go home to thy friends, and tell them how great things the Lord hath done for thee, and hath had compassion on thee."
Do you have a story to tell?
14. A Man Named "Such" (Notes From Preacher Charles Mustian)
Thanks to Michael for sharing these sermon notes.
Bro. Charles Mustian preached an unusual sermon during Youth Jubilee. His text verse was Matthew 26:18 -- "And he said, Go into the city to such a man, and say unto him, The Master saith, My time is at hand; I will keep the passover at thy house with my disciples." Bro. Mustian said we hear sermons about Paul, John, and Simon Peter, but no one ever preaches on this man named "Such", so he thought he would try. Here was his outline:
1. "Such" was a sinner. 1 Corinthians 6:9-11 "Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God. And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God."
2. "Such" was sentenced for his sin. John 8:5. "Now Moses in the law commanded us, that such should be stoned: but what sayest thou?"
3. "Such" got saved. Acts 2:47 "Praising God, and having favour with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved."
4. "Such" praised God. John 4:23 "But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him."
5. "Such" had a "stumble". Gal. 6:1 "Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted."
6. "Such" is still secure. Rev. 20:6 "Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years."
If God could save a man named "Such", then He can save anyone! "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life." (John 3:16)
15. Our Rewards Will Follow
It is hard to believe that we are in August. Time goes by so quickly and it has been two full weeks since Youth Jubilee. I wanted to close these devotionals by reminding you that your rewards will follow. We didn't hand out any rewards or trophies. It would have been impossible for us to choose who had the most important job, or influence, or help to those who came. We don't know who was given the hope and love they needed during Jubilee. We don't know which sermons were used the most by the Holy Spirit to speak to ones who needed it most. We saw the leaders who stood before us, and heard the singers that sang, but there were many working to help and serve and I believe their rewards will also be great in heaven. We read in Revelation 14:13, "And I heard a voice from heaven saying unto me, Write, Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth: Yea, saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their labours; and their works do follow them." Notice that little phrase, "... their works do follow them." We don't receive rewards immediately for the work that we do for the Lord, but our works follow us. My Grandfather was preaching when I asked the Lord to save me, so I believe that he, and my parents who brought me up in the way of the Lord, will be rewarded for their part in my salvation. I believe that it also "follows" through my children. Maybe my Grandfather, and Mom and Dad, will receive a reward for the work I do, and for the work that my children do for the Lord. I want to encourage you today to keep on working for the Lord. Don't put all your efforts in work that is rewarded down here. Keep working to lay up treasures in heaven. "But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also." (Matthew 6:20-21) "And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be." (Revelation 22:12)
