A Christian Faith for Today

It demands spiritual action and gives power for every aspect of your life. In this classic message, Brother Schambach shows how the Power of Faith can save you.
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Inspiration is subjective, as different people will find different things to be inspiring. However, Christians can unite around one inspirational source—God himself. God is the basis for all of our inspiration because He is the basis for everything good and everything worth imitating. Here, are 30 quotes from a variety of influential Christians that inspire us and point us back to Christ.

Enjoy these many different thoughts on the Christian life. What was once foolishness to us—a crucified God—must become our wisdom and our power and our only boast in this world. You are a child of the Almighty God. To him, death is loss. To him, death is gain. I have my moments of deep discouragement. I have to go to God in prayer with tears in my eyes, and say, 'O God, forgive me,' or 'Help me. Unless we speak intelligibly and articulately, we will immediately lose the respect and attention of those to whom we are speaking.

We must be good communicators. When we pepper our sentences with the latest slang and slurs or when we mumble under our breath or speak so quickly that people cannot understand what we are saying, we will not be able to gain the attention of those with whom we wish to communicate. By not communicating articulately, intelligently and clearly, we can forfeit an opportunity to not only be a good example but to present the Gospel to the lost or to edify another believer who needs to hear a word of encouragement. The Bible provides us with a good example of a young man who carefully chose his words, spoke the truth and clearly articulated his message.

In 1 Samuel 3 we read about Samuel, a young man whom God specifically used to be His spokesman to the nation of Israel.

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In verse 19, God's Word says, "And Samuel grew, and the Lord was with him, and did let none of his words fall to the ground. Had Samuel ruined his testimony through filthy language, slanderous gossip or unintelligible speech, this young man would not have been able to be used so mightily for the work and glory of the Lord. We also need to be an example to others in our conduct.

To be an example of the believers "in conversation" involves our conduct behavior and our lifestyle.

Today's Devotional

How do we act around other people within our church or society, whether young or old, saved or unsaved? Do we try to be as difficult, as cool, as rebellious, as wild or as nonconformist as we can possibly be? Or do we conduct ourselves in a manner that sets us apart from the world and causes others to see something different in us? When others observe our behavior, can they conclude that we are young people of integrity, discernment and knowledge?

If not, then we must change! We must act differently than those who do not know Christ, for the Holy Spirit indwells us and is grieved when we live like the world. Under no circumstances are we to imitate the world. Those Christians who think they can be like the world in order to reach the world for Christ or who think they can remain attached to worldly pleasures, attitudes or behaviors without experiencing the disapproval of the Lord are only deceiving themselves, grieving the Holy Spirit and bringing reproach to the name of Christ. Not only are we to be examples in our conduct and behavior, but in our lifestyle as well.

As believers, our interests and our priorities must be aligned with the revealed will of God as found only in His Word.


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Rather than being drawn to the amusements of the world, we must see to it that our lives honor and glorify our Savior. Once again, God's Word declares that we are to be holy "in all manner of conversation [lifestyle]," that is, we are to be separated from the world and set apart unto Christ in every area of our lives Rom. So many young people today profess to know Christ as their Savior, yet they try to stay as close to the world and its pleasures as they possibly can.

But the Word of God declares that the world and all therein is "darkness" rather than light. It commands us to "love not the world, neither the things that are in the world" 1 Jn. Although we are in the world, we are not of the world. The Bible says, "For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world" 1 Jn.

We must not embrace the world system and its vain pleasures once we have become a new creation in Christ 2 Cor. God is light; the world is darkness. Our love, loyalty and allegiance will go to one or the other. Light and darkness cannot coexist. Love for the things of the world and love for Christ are completely incompatible. Perhaps this area of conduct and lifestyle is the most difficult area for most of us as young people to conquer through obedience to the Word of God.

But once again, the Bible provides us with an account of several young people who exemplified what it means to be blameless in conduct and lifestyle even though the pressures they faced were far greater than any pressures we may encounter today. They proved that a Godly lifestyle can be accomplished! In Daniel chapter one, we find that Daniel and his three young friends remained true to their God despite being taken captive and subjected to pagan beliefs and practices.

They were strangers in a foreign land who found themselves separated from their families and friends. They had every opportunity to begin enjoying the sinful, worldly attractions and entertainment that surrounded them in the land of Babylon, for there were no Godly adults to tell them what to do or what to refrain from doing. Yet they refused to defile themselves with the pleasures, foods and amusements of the pagan Babylonian lifestyle.

Because their convictions were their own. Other young Israelites were also taken captive, but they gave in to the pressures to conform to the wicked Babylonian lifestyle. Daniel, Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego did what was right because they were young people with personal conviction. God rewarded them for their separation from the world. Their behavior and lifestyle remained exemplary throughout their captivity. We need to remember this account of Daniel and his three friends when it seems as though it is impossible for us to be different from the world or even from fellow Christians who are following the world.

We also need to be an example to others by showing love and concern for the well-being of other believers and unbelievers. The word "charity," or "love," in this verse does not speak of affection or friendship, but rather of an unselfish, sacrificial love for another. This agape love agape is the Greek word from which our English word "charity" [or "love"] is translated in this text means that we love our fellow Christians to the extent that we sacrifice our own time, comfort or popularity in order to build them up in the faith.

When we truly love others as we should, we will sometimes need to reprove and correct them when they begin to move in the wrong direction, even though doing so might cause them to feel resentful toward us. We must understand that this agape love is not shown by doing what the one we love desires, but what is needful for them.

This is the same love Christ had for us when He died on the cross for our sins. As ungodly "enemies" of God see Rom. But because He loved us so much, He died for us anyway because He knew that was best for us; He knew we needed a Savior, a Substitute to pay the price of our sin on Calvary's cross. Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another. If Christ loved us to such a great extent, should not we love our Christian friends in like manner?

For example, when we see a friend begin to hang around with the wrong crowd or begin to grow indifferent or apathetic towards the things of the Lord, we must confront him in a kind, gentle manner and inform him that he is heading in a destructive direction. Of course, our friend probably will not appreciate it at the time and perhaps may not appreciate such concern and reproof for many years to come. But our prerogative is to love them; and true, sacrificial, selfless love will lead us to warn our friends about their potentially destructive behavior or attitudes.

Not only must we love our Christian friends, but we must also love the unsaved. We need to be an example of the believers by telling others about what Christ has done for them. I believe we especially need to give this message to other young people who will often listen to what we have to say but will rarely listen to other adults. What a marvelous privilege it is to be able to share the life-changing message with others—that Jesus died for their sins and that through trusting in His substitutionary death and resurrection they, too, can possess peace with God and a personal relationship with their Creator.

Jesus Christ Himself is the perfect picture of a young man who loved all men. As a young boy, He obeyed His parents and honored them in everything He did. As a young man of only 33 years old, Jesus suffered a cruel death on Calvary's Cross. Do we love others as Jesus loved all men? Are we willing to even suffer rejection and scorn in order to help our Christian friends and to witness to those who do not know Christ?

Not only do we need to be an example of the believers in our speech, our conduct and our love for others, but we also need to be an example to others in our inward attitudes. To be an example "in spirit" means to not only outwardly do what we know is right and honoring to God, but to do it with the right attitude.

Often, when parents, teachers, pastors or employers tell us to do something, we do it because we have no choice but to obey. Yet inwardly, we are frustrated, irritated or outright angry about what we are commanded to do, and we let everyone know how we feel through our less-than-joyful response. Our facial expressions, our mannerisms or even the tone of our voice often reveals the attitude of our heart. We all can think of times when we have ruined our testimonies before other believers or even unbelievers, not because we failed to be responsible or obedient, but because others noticed that our attitude was downright ugly.

God's Word teaches us, on the other hand, to do everything to the glory of God 1 Cor. The apostle Paul tells us, "And whosoever ye do, do it heartily [that is, with your whole heart], as to the Lord, and not unto men" Col. It is impossible for us to genuinely do everything to the glory of God and simultaneously possess a bad attitude. To be an example of the believers in spirit means that we not only do all to God's glory with a proper attitude but it means that our inner-man conforms to the will of Christ.

Are we selfless, meek and humble, or are we proud, arrogant and boastful see Phil. To be an example in spirit also means that we are sincere in everything we do Josh.

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The deeds of our spirit involve all our innermost qualities and characteristics. We must be sure that we are doing what is right for the right reason. A pure, selfless spirit will result in an attitude that is glorifying to God and edifying to those around us. An excellent Biblical example of a young person who exemplified a proper spirit is David. Although Samuel anointed David to be king of Israel when he was just a youth, David never let his prestigious position go to his head. Prior to actually becoming king of Israel, David continued to honor the present king, Saul, with an upright spirit despite the fact that Saul was jealous of David and had even tried to kill him.

Although David once had the opportunity to kill Saul as he slept, he refused to do so and, instead, he cut off a portion of Saul's robe as a sign to the king that he could have killed him but that he chose to spare his life instead. However, knowing that Saul was still God's anointed king, David's conscience bothered him because he had even gone so far as to cut off a portion of Saul's robe in the first place notice 1 Samuel David respected and honored Saul.

He was a Godly example of what it means to possess a humble, righteous spirit despite difficult circumstances. As Christian young people, we also need to be an example to others in our faith. This means that we must know what we believe and we must know why we believe it. The word "faith" in this verse does not simply mean that we have a belief in something, but that we are firmly convicted in our belief. We are to know and study God's message to us, His Word, and we are to be fully persuaded and convicted that His instructions to us are our final authority in all matters of life.

However, it is important to realize that we cannot have true convictions unless we truly know what God's Word has to say concerning how to live our lives. If someone questions our beliefs, can we show them from Scripture the basis for our beliefs?

Lead by Example: Challenge to Today's Christian Youth

We need to set aside time each day to not just read the Bible, but to study It! Do not neglect studying God's Word simply because you think you do not have enough time. One famous preacher, Charles Haddon Spurgeon, once stated, "I would rather let my soul soak in half a dozen verses of the Bible all day than rinse my hand in several chapters. Oftentimes, we begin a Bible reading schedule, and after a few weeks, or even a few days, we are behind and simply give up reading the Bible altogether.

When this happens, or perhaps if this is the case right now, forget the failed attempt and move on--start reading and studying the Bible again today! Even if you can only manage to get through a few verses each day, it is important that you do not neglect to daily walk with your God by reading His Word and communicating with Him through prayer.

Our personal walk with God is more important than anything else in this world! If our daily time of personal, quiet fellowship with God is neglected, then we will fail to be the kind of Godly examples we need to be in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith and in purity. Sadly, many young people and older people alike have lost their faith and their confidence, either in the truths of God's Word or in the world around them.

They feel as though they cannot believe in anything anymore. People have failed them. Churches have disappointed them. Friends and family members have used them and deserted them. They feel like it is no longer possible to be certain about anything.

Their hopelessness and lack of confidence is evident in their lifestyles, their music, their books, their appearance and their beliefs. Other professing Christian young people sometimes feel that what they believe is not even that important. They think God's Word is not entirely applicable to them, or they cling to the idea that the truths contained in God's Word can be altered and changed as culture and society shifts all around us. They are not grounded in the truths of God's Word.

They echo the pleas of the compromising adults who are urging all denominations or all religions to forget their differences and join together in common cause. This unscriptural attitude that disregards Biblical doctrine for the sake of "unity" permeates our society today at all levels, even among youth. Still other young people feel that everything is fine with their lives. They feel as though they do not need a close relationship with Christ, or perhaps they think that they actually do possess a proper relationship with Him when, in reality, they do not.

These young people quickly throw their "faith" out the window when it is not convenient or advantageous for them to hold to it. They know what God's Word says on a particular topic, but they are not willing to obey It and apply It to their own lives. But as young people today who are exhorted to be examples "in faith," we need to believe in Christ, believe the Bible, be grounded in our faith and be ready to be faithful to our Lord no matter who or what disappoints us.

God tells us in His Word to "grow in faith" 2 Thess. We need to allow our unwavering faith in God and in His Word to be seen by all! God has promised to never leave nor forsake those who come to Him on His terms. Sure, we might feel like we are all alone at times as we stand for the truth and serve Him as an example "in faith" when no one else seems to hold the same Bible-based convictions that we do. But we must never forget that faithfulness and obedience to our Lord will always bring joy and reward while disobedience and compromise will always bring chastisement and regret.

Gideon is a prime example of a young man who remained faithful to God despite difficult circumstances. He is listed in Hebrews 11, the "faith chapter," as a young man who "out of weakness [was] made strong" verse 34 because he followed God's orders even though they seemed to be unreasonable by man's standards. Even today, we may feel that it is unreasonable for God to require us to separate from worldly pleasures and amusements or from worldly friends who have no interest nor regard for the things of the Lord.

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But our separation from these only makes us purer vessels that are "meet for the Master's use. Remember, God has a plan and purpose for our lives today! But in order to be used by God, we must be separated from that which draws us away from Him and separated unto the Lord Himself. The cost is worth it! Gideon heeded God's seemingly unreasonable commands and won victory after victory as a result. Finally, we read in 1 Timothy 4: You probably guessed it—this refers to sexual purity, which God explicitly requires of all believers.

Speak the Word Only - Faith for Healing

All young people today, including Christian young people, face extraordinary pressure to become sexually active. We are surrounded by music, television, magazines, books and games that all urge us in some way or another to express ourselves sexually and to delve into that which God has forbidden at this stage in our lives. Without reservation, the Word of God explicitly forbids sexual activity outside the bounds of marriage, despite the fact that the society in which we live readily accepts fornication and immorality as "normal" and even glorifies it.

Paul explains God's will for our lives in 1 Thessalonians 4: He writes, "For this is the will of God, even your sanctification, that ye should abstain from fornication. Not only are we to "abstain from fornication," but in 1 Corinthians 6: Why is God's Word so forthright concerning this matter?