CHRIST IS THE ANSWER FAMILY CHURCH (CITAFC) YOUTH MINISTRY RETREAT 2015

CHRIST IS THE ANSWER FAMILY CHURCH (CITAFC) YOUTH MINISTRY RETREAT

Saturday, 11 April 2015

Venue: Marian Retreat House, Verdun, St. John

Retreat Theme: "Striving Youth"

Bible Text: Daniel, Chapters 1-3

Topic: Equip to be used by God? Why would He use me?

Time: 9-10:30am

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Presenter’s revision of topic: "Equip(ped) to be used by God!?!? Why would He use me?"

      1.       Being/Becoming equipped (for service)

      2.       Used by God (as a servant in His Kingdom)

Why would God use me? Why wouldn’t He?

Specifics of Presentation:

      A.      Biblical reference to Dan.1-3

      B.      Case study — character profile of Apostle Thomas, aka "Doubting Thomas"

      C.      Being equipped with spiritual gifts

      D.      Conclusion: Daniel’s prayer of repentance and consecration

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Biblical reference to Dan.1-3: What’s in a name?

Daniel: "God [el] is my judge." Name changed to Belteshazzar: "Bel, protect his life." Bel, also called Marduk, is the chief Babylonian god.

Hananiah: "the LORD shows grace." Name changed to Shadrach: "under the command of Aku (the moon god).

Mishael: "who is like God?" Name changed to Meshach: "who is like Aku (the moon god).

Azariah: "the LORD helps." Name changed to Abednego: "servant of Nego/Nabu (god of learning and writing).

Aspiring to high office: The life of Daniel

• Chief civil servant/governor (Dan.2:48-49)
• President during the reign of Darius (Dan.6:1-3)
• Appointments and struggles occurred under the monarchies of Nebuchadnezzar, Belshazzar, Darius and Cyrus.

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  Case study of Apostle Thomas:

BIBLE PASSAGES:

v  JOHN 11: 7-8 & 16:

⁷ and then he said to his disciples, “Let us go back to Judea.” ⁸ “But Rabbi,” they said, “a short while ago the Jews there tried to stone you, and yet you are going back?” ¹⁶ Then Thomas (also known as Didymus) said to the rest of the disciples, “Let us also go, that we may die with him.”

v  JOHN 14: 3, 5-6 & 8:

³ And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. ⁴ You know the way to the place where I am going.” ⁵ Thomas said to him, “Lord, we don’t know where you are going, so how can we know the way?” ⁶ Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. ⁷ If you really know me, you will know my Father as well. From now on, you do know him and have seen him.” ⁸ Philip said, “Lord, show us the Father and that will be enough for us.”

v  JOHN 20: 19 & 24-29:

¹⁹ On the evening of that first day of the week, when the disciples were together, with the doors locked for fear of the Jewish leaders, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you!” ²⁴ Now Thomas (also known as Didymus), one of the Twelve, was not with the disciples when Jesus came. ²⁵ So the other disciples told him, “We have seen the Lord!” But he said to them, “Unless I see the nail marks in his hands and put my finger where the nails were, and put my hand into his side, I will not believe.” ²⁶ A week later his disciples were in the house again, and Thomas was with them. Though the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you!” ²⁷ Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here; see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Stop doubting and believe.” ²⁸ Thomas said to him, “My Lord and my God!” ²⁹ Then Jesus told him, “Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”

v  JOHN 21: 1-5:

¹ Afterward Jesus appeared again to his disciples, by the Sea of Galilee. It happened this way: ² Simon Peter, Thomas (also known as Didymus), Nathanael from Cana in Galilee, the sons of Zebedee, and two other disciples were together. ³ “I’m going out to fish,” Simon Peter told them, and they said, “We’ll go with you.” So they went out and got into the boat, but that night they caught nothing. ⁴ Early in the morning, Jesus stood on the shore, but the disciples did not realize that it was Jesus. ⁵ He called out to them, “Friends, haven’t you any fish?”

v  ACTS 1: 12-14:

¹² Then the apostles returned to Jerusalem from the hill called the Mount of Olives, a Sabbath day’s walk from the city. ¹³ When they arrived, they went upstairs to the room where they were staying. Those present were Peter, John, James and Andrew; Philip and Thomas, Bartholomew and Matthew; James son of Alphaeus and Simon the Zealot, and Judas son of James. ¹⁴ They all joined together constantly in prayer, along with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brothers.

                                               

Little is recorded of St. Thomas the Apostle; nevertheless thanks to the fourth Gospel his personality is clearer to us than that of some others of the Twelve. His name occurs in all the lists of the Synoptists (Matthew 10:3; Mark 3:18; Luke 6, cf. Acts 1:13), but in St. John he plays a distinctive part. First, when Jesus announced His intention of returning to Judea to visit Lazarus, "Thomas," said to his fellow disciples: "Let us also go, that we may die with him" (John 11:16). Again, it was St. Thomas who during the discourse before the Last Supper raised an objection: "Lord, we don’t know where you are going, so how can we know the way?" (John 14:5). But more especially St. Thomas is remembered for his incredulity (disbelief) when the other Apostles announced Christ's Resurrection to him: "Unless I see the nail marks in his hands and put my finger where the nails were, and put my hand into his side, I will not believe" (John 20:25); but eight days later he made his act of faith, drawing down the rebuke of Jesus: "Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed" (John 20:29).

Thomas, one of the twelve disciples is believed to be the twin brother of Matthew. He was first called Jude the son of James and grandson of Alpheus. Some texts have stated that Thomas is the twin of James not Matthew, so little is truly known about Thomas. Didymus in the Greek means twin. Thomas was given the nickname “doubting Thomas” because he was continually looking at the worst in all things. No matter what it was Thomas was able to find something wrong. After the death of Lazarus Jesus said He was going to Bethany. Since Bethany was so very close to Jerusalem it was thought that the religious leaders might find Him and kill Him. Thomas shows a very rare character for him by standing to the aide of Jesus and saying that the others should go with Jesus and be by His side.

Although Thomas was truly a doubter once he was given the facts and shown what it was he was asked to do his loyalty and dedication was unsurpassed by any. Once Thomas believed in something you could not persuade him differently. Thomas felt they would all die by following Jesus to Bethany but he insisted they all go to stand by the side of the one they loved and followed. It is believed that Thomas preached in Persia, Parthia and also in India. Thomas was the one that helped build a palace in India and credited with the founding of Christianity in that country. Thomas is believed to be buried at Edessa and to have been killed with a spear. The spear and a builder’s square are the symbols of Thomas.

As to the works of Thomas it seems his only writing was the Gospel of Thomas. This is a Gnostic Gospel and is not considered to be inspired by the majority of theological leaders. This book of the Gospel is said to be entirely made up of the sayings of Jesus from a very early age onward. The words of Christ as a child, teen, and into young adulthood are said to be in this book and told as Thomas remembers them.

A personal note: Do we have “doubting Thomases” in our churches today? How are they received and treated? Discuss.
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Being equipped with spiritual gifts: THE GIFT OF THE SPIRIT AND GIFTS FROM THE SPIRIT:

1.       Romans 12:6-8 ⁶ We have different gifts that are consistent with God’s grace that has been given to us. If your gift is prophecy, you should prophesy in proportion to your faith. ⁷ If your gift is service, devote yourself to serving. If your gift is teaching, devote yourself to teaching. ⁸ If your gift is encouragement, devote yourself to encouraging. The one giving should do it with no strings attached. The leader should lead with passion. The one showing mercy should be cheerful.

2.       Romans 12:9-21 ⁹ Love should be shown without pretending. Hate evil, and hold on to what is good. ¹⁰ Love each other like the members of your family. Be the best at showing honor to each other. ¹¹ Don’t hesitate to be enthusiastic—be on fire in the Spirit as you serve the Lord! ¹² Be happy in your hope, stand your ground when you’re in trouble, and devote yourselves to prayer. ¹³ Contribute to the needs of God’s people, and welcome strangers into your home. ¹⁴ Bless people who harass you—bless and don’t curse them. ¹⁵ Be happy with those who are happy, and cry with those who are crying. ¹⁶ Consider everyone as equal, and don’t think that you’re better than anyone else. Instead, associate with people who have no status. Don’t think that you’re so smart. ¹⁷ Don’t pay back anyone for their evil actions with evil actions, but show respect for what everyone else believes is good. ¹⁸ If possible, to the best of your ability, live at peace with all people. ¹⁹ Don’t try to get revenge for yourselves, my dear friends, but leave room for God’s wrath. It is written, Revenge belongs to me; I will pay it back, says the Lord. ²⁰ Instead, If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him a drink. By doing this, you will pile burning coals of fire upon his head. ²¹ Don’t be defeated by evil, but defeat evil with good.

3.       1 Corinthians 12:1-11 Brothers and sisters, I don’t want you to be ignorant about spiritual gifts. ² You know that when you were Gentiles you were often misled by false gods that can’t even speak. ³ So I want to make it clear to you that no one says, “Jesus is cursed!” when speaking by God’s Spirit, and no one can say, “Jesus is Lord,” except by the Holy Spirit. ⁴ There are different spiritual gifts but the same Spirit; ⁵ and there are different ministries and the same Lord; ⁶ and there are different activities but the same God who produces all of them in everyone. ⁷ A demonstration of the Spirit is given to each person for the common good. ⁸ A word of wisdom is given by the Spirit to one person, a word of knowledge to another according to the same Spirit, ⁹ faith to still another by the same Spirit, gifts of healing to another in the one Spirit, ¹⁰ performance of miracles to another, prophecy to another, the ability to tell spirits apart to another, different kinds of tongues to another, and the interpretation of the tongues to another. ¹¹ All these things are produced by the one and same Spirit who gives what he wants to each person.

4.       1 Corinthians 12:28-31 ²⁸ In the church, God has appointed first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then miracles, then gifts of healing, the ability to help others, leadership skills, different kinds of tongues. ²⁹ All aren’t apostles, are they? All aren’t prophets, are they? All aren’t teachers, are they? All don’t perform miracles, do they? ³⁰ All don’t have gifts of healing, do they? All don’t speak in different tongues, do they? All don’t interpret, do they? ³¹ Use your ambition to try to get the greater gifts. And I’m going to show you an even better way.

5.       1 Corinthians 13:1-13 If I speak in tongues of human beings and of angels but I don’t have love, I’m a clanging gong or a clashing cymbal. ² If I have the gift of prophecy and I know all the mysteries and everything else, and if I have such complete faith that I can move mountains but I don’t have love, I’m nothing. ³ If I give away everything that I have and hand over my own body to feel good about what I’ve done but I don’t have love, I receive no benefit whatsoever. ⁴ Love is patient, love is kind, it isn’t jealous, it doesn’t brag, it isn’t arrogant, ⁵ it isn’t rude, it doesn’t seek its own advantage, it isn’t irritable, it doesn’t keep a record of complaints, ⁶ it isn’t happy with injustice, but it is happy with the truth. ⁷ Love puts up with all things, trusts in all things, hopes for all things, endures all things. ⁸ Love never fails. As for prophecies, they will be brought to an end. As for tongues, they will stop. As for knowledge, it will be brought to an end. ⁹ We know in part and we prophesy in part; ¹⁰ but when the perfect comes, what is partial will be brought to an end. ¹¹ When I was a child, I used to speak like a child, reason like a child, think like a child. But now that I have become a man, I’ve put an end to childish things. ¹² Now we see a reflection in a mirror; then we will see face-to-face. Now I know partially, but then I will know completely in the same way that I have been completely known. ¹³ Now faith, hope, and love remain—these three things—and the greatest of these is love.

6.       1 Corinthians 14:1-40 Pursue love, and use your ambition to try to get spiritual gifts but especially so that you might prophesy. ² This is because those who speak in a tongue don’t speak to people but to God; no one understands it—they speak mysteries by the Spirit. ³ Those who prophesy speak to people, building them up, and giving them encouragement and comfort. ⁴ People who speak in a tongue build up themselves; those who prophesy build up the church. ⁵ I wish that all of you spoke in tongues, but I’d rather you could prophesy. Those who prophesy are more important than those who speak in tongues, unless they are able to interpret them so that the church might be built up. ⁶ After all, brothers and sisters, if I come to you speaking in tongues, how will I help you unless I speak to you with a revelation, some knowledge, a prophecy, or a teaching? ⁷ Likewise, things that aren’t alive like a harp or a lyre can make a sound, but if there aren’t different notes in the sounds they make, how will the tune from the harp or the lyre be recognized? ⁸ And if a trumpet call is unrecognizable, then who will prepare for battle? ⁹ It’s the same way with you: If you don’t use language that is easy to understand when you speak in a tongue, then how will anyone understand what is said? ¹⁰ It will be as if you are speaking into the air! There are probably many language families in the world, and none of them are without meaning. ¹¹ So if I don’t know the meaning of the language, then I will be like a foreigner to those who speak it, and they will be like foreigners to me. ¹² The same holds true for you: since you are ambitious for spiritual gifts, use your ambition to try to work toward being the best at building up the church. ¹³ Therefore, those who speak in a tongue should pray to be able to interpret. ¹⁴ If I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays but my mind isn’t productive. ¹⁵ What should I do? I’ll pray in the Spirit, but I’ll pray with my mind too; I’ll sing a psalm in the Spirit, but I’ll sing the psalm with my mind too. ¹⁶ After all, if you praise God in the Spirit, how will the people who aren’t trained in that language say “Amen!” to your thanksgiving, when they don’t know what you are saying? ¹⁷ You may offer a beautiful prayer of thanksgiving, but the other person is not being built up. ¹⁸ I thank God that I speak in tongues more than all of you. ¹⁹ But in the church I’d rather speak five words in my right mind than speak thousands of words in a tongue so that I can teach others. ²⁰ Brothers and sisters, don’t be like children in the way you think. Well, be babies when it comes to evil, but be adults in your thinking. ²¹ In the Law it is written: I will speak to this people with foreign languages and foreigners’ lips, but they will not even listen to me this way, says the Lord. ²² So then, tongues are a sign for those who don’t believe, not for those who believe. But prophecy is a sign for believers, not for those who don’t believe. ²³ So suppose that the whole church is meeting and everyone is speaking in tongues. If people come in who are outsiders or unbelievers, won’t they say that you are out of your minds? ²⁴ But if everyone is prophesying when an unbeliever or outsider comes in, they are tested by all and called to account by all. ²⁵ The secrets of their hearts are brought to light. When that happens, they will fall on their faces and worship God, proclaiming out loud that truly God is among you! ²⁶ What is the outcome of this, brothers and sisters? When you meet together, each one has a psalm, a teaching, a revelation, a tongue, or an interpretation. All these things must be done to build up the church. ²⁷ If some speak in a tongue, then let two or at most three speak, one at a time, and someone must interpret. ²⁸ However, if there is no interpreter, then they should keep quiet in the meeting. They should speak privately to themselves and to God. ²⁹ In the case of prophets, let two or three speak and have the rest evaluate what is said. ³⁰ And if some revelation comes to someone else who is sitting down, the first one should be quiet. ³¹ You can all prophesy one at a time so that everyone can learn and be encouraged. ³² The spirits of prophets are under the control of the prophets. ³³ God isn’t a God of disorder but of peace. Like in all the churches of God’s people, ³⁴ the women should be quiet during the meeting. They are not allowed to talk. Instead, they need to get under control, just as the Law says. ³⁵ If they want to learn something, they should ask their husbands at home. It is disgraceful for a woman to talk during the meeting. ³⁶ Did the word of God originate with you? Has it come only to you? ³⁷ If anyone thinks that they are prophets or “spiritual people,” then let them recognize that what I’m writing to you is the Lord’s command. ³⁸ If someone doesn’t recognize this, they aren’t recognized. ³⁹ So then, brothers and sisters, use your ambition to try to get the gift of prophecy, but don’t prevent speaking in tongues. ⁴⁰ Everything should be done with dignity and in proper order.

7.       Ephesians 4:1-16 Therefore, as a prisoner for the Lord, I encourage you to live as people worthy of the call you received from God. ² Conduct yourselves with all humility, gentleness, and patience. Accept each other with love, ³ and make an effort to preserve the unity of the Spirit with the peace that ties you together. ⁴ You are one body and one spirit, just as God also called you in one hope. ⁵ There is one Lord, one faith, one baptism, ⁶ and one God and Father of all, who is over all, through all, and in all. ⁷ God has given his grace to each one of us measured out by the gift that is given by Christ. ⁸ That’s why scripture says, When he climbed up to the heights, he captured prisoners, and he gave gifts to people. ⁹ What does the phrase “he climbed up” mean if it doesn’t mean that he had first gone down into the lower regions, the earth? ¹⁰ The one who went down is the same one who climbed up above all the heavens so that he might fill everything. ¹¹ He gave some apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers. ¹² His purpose was to equip God’s people for the work of serving and building up the body of Christ ¹³ until we all reach the unity of faith and knowledge of God’s Son. God’s goal is for us to become mature adults—to be fully grown, measured by the standard of the fullness of Christ. ¹⁴ As a result, we aren’t supposed to be infants any longer who can be tossed and blown around by every wind that comes from teaching with deceitful scheming and the tricks people play to deliberately mislead others. ¹⁵ Instead, by speaking the truth with love, let’s grow in every way into Christ, ¹⁶ who is the head. The whole body grows from him, as it is joined and held together by all the supporting ligaments. The body makes itself grow in that it builds itself up with love as each one does their part.

8.       1 Peter 4:7-11 ⁷ The end of everything has come. Therefore, be self-controlled and clearheaded so you can pray. ⁸ Above all, show sincere love to each other, because love brings about the forgiveness of many sins. ⁹ Open your homes to each other without complaining. ¹⁰ And serve each other according to the gift each person has received, as good managers of God’s diverse gifts. ¹¹ Whoever speaks should do so as those who speak God’s word. Whoever serves should do so from the strength that God furnishes. Do this so that in everything God may be honored through Jesus Christ. To him be honor and power forever and always. Amen.

9.       Acts 18:24-28 ²⁴ Meanwhile, a certain Jew named Apollos arrived in Ephesus. He was a native of Alexandria and was well-educated and effective in his use of the scriptures. ²⁵ He had been instructed in the way of the Lord and spoke as one stirred up by the Spirit. He taught accurately the things about Jesus, even though he was aware only of the baptism John proclaimed and practiced. ²⁶ He began speaking with confidence in the synagogue. When Priscilla and Aquila heard him, they received him into their circle of friends and explained to him God’s way more accurately. ²⁷ When he wanted to travel to Achaia, the brothers and sisters encouraged him and wrote to the disciples so they would open their homes to him. Once he arrived, he was of great help to those who had come to believe through grace. ²⁸ He would vigorously defeat Jewish arguments in public debate, using the scriptures to prove that Jesus was the Christ.

10.   John 20:19-22 ¹⁹ It was still the first day of the week. That evening, while the disciples were behind closed doors because they were afraid of the Jewish authorities, Jesus came and stood among them. He said, “Peace be with you.” ²⁰ After he said this, he showed them his hands and his side. When the disciples saw the Lord, they were filled with joy. ²¹ Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you. As the Father sent me, so I am sending you.” ²² Then he breathed on them and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit.

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CONCLUSION:

Daniel’s prayer of repentance and consecration (based on Daniel chapter 9):

Father, we come to You in the name of our Lord and savior, Jesus Christ. We honour and praise Your matchless name, Heavenly Father, for You are great and greatly to be praised. O Lord, righteousness belongs to You, but we are ashamed. We, Your people all over the world, have sinned against You. We confess our sins and the sins of our forefathers. We have sinned against You. We have lived wickedly, and have rebelled, disobeying Your voice and Your will. We have allowed ourselves to be deceived and distracted. We have not walked with the Holy Spirit, whom You gave us to guide us, teach us, and show us all truth. We have become spiritually immature, worldly, and unable to live out the truth. We have failed to do Your will. We confess and repent of the sins of idolatry, witchcraft, sexual immorality, theft, lying, greed, pride, murder, adultery, dishonouring our parents, unbelief, lack of love, and countless other sins against You, O Lord. Because of our sins and disobedience, our land and people have been cursed. But You are a merciful God, full of grace and love, and we ask that You forgive us our sins and cleanse us of all unrighteousness. O Lord, hear our prayers, open Your eyes, and see our despair.

O Lord, hear! O Lord, forgive! O Lord, listen and act! Do not delay for Your own sake, my God, for Your people are called by Your name. Break the curses that have come upon our land and people, we humbly ask, O God. We bind all ruler spirits Satan has sent to carry out those curses against us, in Jesus’ name. Your Word says, “Whatever we bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever we loose on earth will be loosed in heaven” (Mat.16:19; 18:18). Free the souls of men, women, and children who have been bound by Satan, and take the blinders off their minds. We humbly ask You to send angles with chains from heaven to bind up all of Satan’s ruler spirits that control our land and people. We cut off all the cords of the enemy and cast them away. Hide us beneath Your wings and cover us with Your feathers to protect us against the enemy (Ps.91:4). We give You all the praise and honour and glory, O Lord God.

In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen.     

OOW

2015