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TRAIN UP

"Train up a child in the way he should go,

And when he is old he will not depart from it."

Proverbs 22:6 (NKJV)

   We all have heard this verse many times. If we have been in the church long enough we have probably grown dull of hearing what this verse is truly saying. Pay careful attention to the first word of this verse. The word is "train." How many of you, like myself, often hear this verse as "teach?" There is a difference between "training" and "teaching." Unfortunately, I believe much of this can be seen in the lives of my millennial generation. My generation has been in "teaching" overload. "Training" is something that seems to have eluded my generation as many now need on the job training. How we got here is of less consequence than finding a solution to the problem. The solution is to recover the art of "training."

   Here is what I am getting at, and I say this with as much humility and brokenness as I can, if we are simply "teaching" and not "training," we are going to have generation after generation who have simply "read the book;" let's focus on our book - the Bible. They will be growing into their adult life to face principalities, powers, the rulers of the darkness of this age, spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places, having only "read the book," with no clue how to truly fight the good fight of faith. If we are not "training" the next generation, they will faint, save God's mercy and grace, which is always abundant.

   To minister to the next generation is perhaps the greatest calling of all, for you are training the next soldiers of the Kingdom of God to bring heaven to earth. Be encouraged in knowing that the angels of children are always seeing the face of the Father (Matthew 18:10 NKJV), so you truly are not alone in this battle. 

“The Lord is with you, you mighty man of valor!”

Judges 6:12 (NKJV)

Stephen Ibach
Creative Director
 

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PnC

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PnC

In Ephesians 3:14-21, Paul gives us a picture of deep prayer. In verse 19 we read, "to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge." The word used for "know" here is the same word used in the original language as the intimate closeness of a husband and wife.

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WILL YOU SLOW DOWN?

   Will you actually take the time to slow down? Is there actually even a way to help you slow down? We actually believe there is and we believe it is through the activity of journaling. Most people will see the word "journal" and pass on by without a second glance of seriousness, but it may be because they have never taken the time to slow down in the first place, resulting in no knowledge of what it is like. The very act of journaling forces the issues of life to the forefront of our mind (which may be another reason we avoid it). It forces us to slow down and actually deal with what God would like us to deal with. Whether it be sin, doubt, wrong beliefs, or something else, God really is big enough to deal with these issues. Journaling God's Word forces us to see what He has said and is currently saying over our circumstances. Start by Giving God 12 minutes a day. You may be surprised how that 12 minutes turns into 20 and even 60 minutes a day. You may find that your time journaling with the Father becomes your favorite time of day. You may end up finding that you begin to structure your entire day to maximize the time you spend with Him. So journal. Journal while you have the time, because our time here on earth is too short not to.

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SEPARATE

     Separate. It is a Biblical perspective. It was in the beginning when God separated the light from the darkness (Genesis 1:4). It is also a perspective that is very useful in our walk with Christ in discipleship. Jesus often took His disciples aside and revealed the hidden things of the Father's heart to them (Matthew 20:17-19). There is something so mysterious about separating ourselves for a season to seek the deeper things of God. We believe it is especially important to separate around the age of 12. This is the time when everything is changing. It is the time the world is throwing all it's weight at the eyes and ears of tweens and it is when we are truly supposed to instead be pressing in to Christ so we may run the race we were created for (Hebrews 12:1-2). Our L7 Leadership Program is geared specifically to help tweens separate themselves from the weight of the world for 4 weeks so that they may walk out the other side with a clearer picture of the leader God created them to be... SOLID, stable, stayed, and fixed in Christ, AWARE of the needs around them, and UNITED under the banner of Jesus Christ, who is the way, the truth, and the life. Take a moment to check it out. Take time to help your tweens separate and never be the same.

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JOURNAL

   Journal... seriously just journal. The best way to force yourself to slow down and seek the Father is to just journal. This is especially true for Tweens.

     Tweens today are getting older younger, faster quicker, and sadder sooner. They are completely bombarded by an endless menu of all this world has to offer. It's no wonder many have been wandering from the church earlier and earlier. Many times they have just been led astray way too early by the enemy and begin drowning in their fleshly desires, sometimes having never really "heard" the way, truth, and life for themselves. It is harder than ever to be a Tween and follow Jesus because there is just so much in the world pulling at their attention. How can you possibly sort it all out?

     This generation of Tweens is the first in history with the ability to satisfy nearly every fleshly desire imaginable without even leaving the house and it is all made possible by the technology they can hold in the palms of their hands - phones, tablets, and computers, with connectivity to the whole world via the internet. We must reach them before they need to be rescued.

     There is a spiritual war going on, in spiritual realms, and that war is for the minds of all flesh and blood. Tweens are going to immerse themselves in something, and whatever they immerse themselves in will consume them.

Those who live according to the flesh have their minds set on what the flesh desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires. The mind governed by the flesh is death, but the mind governed by the Spirit is life and peace. The mind governed by the flesh is hostile to God; it does not submit to God’s law, nor can it do so. Those who are in the realm of the flesh cannot please God. Romans 8:5-8

     Pastor Gregg has said before, "We cannot change a Tweens menu, but we can equip them with a righteous appetite." What would it actually look like for Tweens to have every desire of their spirits met rather than every desire of their flesh? What would it look like to see a generation of Tweens immersed in their Bibles and journals instead of their phones? What kind of a world would that look like? It's just my opinion, but I truly believe Heaven would literally be touching earth because of a whole generation that fully submitted themselves to their loving Father in complete abandon.

For those who are led by the Spirit of God are the children of God. The Spirit you received does not make you slaves, so that you live in fear again; rather, the Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship. And by him we cry, “Abba, Father.” The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children. Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory. Romans 8:14-17

     So how do you equip a righteous appetite? Journal. Read and rewrite scripture. The quickest way to hear what God is saying is to slow down. The quickest way to slow down is to write down what He has already said. There is no magic formula and there never has been. It has always been to physically get in the Word of God and "mess up your Bible so you don't mess up your life" as Pastor Gregg says. The secret has always been to immerse yourself in HIm - His Word. There is something about the very activity of reading and rewriting scripture where you begin to hear what God is actually saying. It begins to take root, it begins to make sense, and it begins to become personal.

     It is the Father's heart for us to be completely immersed in Him, completely abandoned to Him, completely His sons and daughters. When you purpose to actually slow down enough and take time to draw near to the Father's heart, He will draw near to you (James 4:8). So what are you waiting for? He is waiting for you.

 

Stephen Ibach
Creative Director

 

 
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