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Deserted?
Pastor Jim Kilby • May 13, 2024
What a ministry the apostle Paul had. He saw the risen Christ with his own eyes and lived to tell about it. He wrote the vast majority of the New Testament epistles, and was the first to preach the good news of Jesus to the Gentiles. If that's not enough, he taught the first generation of missionaries, pastors and teachers and founded a host of churches -- all without modern means of transportation. With such a blessed ministry, one would think that Paul had it made in the shade. Paul had anything but! The truth is that ministry is tough, and running a successful ministry marks you for immediate attack by anyone and anything that hates the Lord. Paul was beaten, shipwrecked, stoned, jailed, stranded and beheaded! To make it all stop, all he had to do was stop preaching salvation through Jesus Christ. As you read these words from Paul's own pen, consider how blessed you've been by the Lord. I've met hundreds of people who almost begged to be put into ministry so they could spend their lives on church trips and work only on weekends! If they knew what they were asking for, few would ever pray for such a thing. Think about the people who minister to you. Have you been uplifting to them? Pray for your pastors, your teachers and your parents. Your day to serve will come soon enough... and if you're faithful and successful, you'll have days of pain and loneliness that only the Lord can soothe.
"You know that everyone in the province of Asia has deserted me, including Phygelus and Hermogenes." 2 Timothy 15
Pastor Jim Kilby
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Since I have a family and quite a few responsibilities to them, I like to keep a certain sum of money in my bank account for emergencies. I don't think that's wrong. In fact, I think it's biblical to save for a rainy day and to provide for one's family. The problem arises when we put an undue amount of trust and faith in things other than God, and that absolutely includes our bank accounts. Whether its parents, friends, money, or something else, if we put our trust in anything other than God our trust is misplaced. What is it that you trust in the most? "Whoever trusts in his riches will fall, but the righteous will thrive like a green leaf." Proverbs 11:28 Pastor Jim Kilby Your donation spreads good news! www.harvestyouth.org/donate
Are you getting anything out of your time in the Scriptures? Many tell me that the Bible just doesn't make sense to them. They read, but nothing really hits them--nothing really changes in the way they think or act. The truth is that Bible study is just like any other study in many ways. First, you have to be ready to learn. If we approach the Bible with an "OK, I'm here -- teach me if you can" attitude, we'll never get anything out of it. What's more, we have to involve ourselves in our learning. Don't just open the Bible and try to immediately understand writings that are thousands of years old. Buy a Bible study book and read it along with your Bible. Purchase a study Bible with notes below the Scriptures and read the notes when you don't understand something. Once you get involved, you'll find that three things happen for sure. 1. You will know more about God. 2. You will know more about yourself. 3. You will know more about yourself and God. The bottom line: If you're not getting anything out of the Scriptures, maybe it's because you're not putting anything into it. "For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through endurance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope." Romans 15:4 Pastor Jim Kilby Your donation spreads good news! www.harvestyouth.org/donate
Some days the world just kicks you in the teeth. It's like you wake up just like every other morning and before you know it, everything's gone wrong! Although I must admit most days are an awesome experience for me, I've had my share of days I'd rather forget, too! The world is a tough place to be sometimes, and the people that we run into can often make things even worse. For a Christian, it's even tougher. We face persecution for our faith, plus we have a higher calling to find joy in everything, and all the while we are supposed to be looking for opportunities to grow in Christ and even to share our faith. If you ever get down, just know this one thing. It's Jesus that gives us the power to make it through each and every day. And it's Jesus that ultimately will help us overcome the evil we see. "for everyone born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith. Who is it that overcomes the world? Only he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God." 1 John 5:4-5 Pastor Jim Kilby Your donation spreads good news! www.harvestyouth.org/donate
I had a young friend write me recently recounting a terrible tragedy that had fallen on her family. "Why?" the ink seemed to scream from the pages! And "why" is a question each of us will ask many times as bad things seem to have an uncanny way of happening to good people. The answer, probably easier to digest when we're not in the throws of the pain caused by tragedy, is fairly simple at it's root. There is much evil in the hearts of men. Although God calls all people to righteousness and holy living, many will seek a path of evil, blindly following the satanic calling they've embraced. God is not the author of evil... He is the antidote! "Though grace is shown to the wicked, they do not learn righteousness; even in a land of uprightness they go on doing evil and regard not the majesty of the Lord." Isaiah 26:10 Pastor Jim Kilby Your donation spreads good news! www.harvestyouth.org/donate
I receive an endless string of notes and e-mails from people who tell me they want to know the Lord, but just don't know how. I find they are easy notes to answer, because God has revealed Himself in so many ways I can simply point them to His Word and to prayer and they'll find what they are seeking. Unfortunately, far too many times I receive notes back that ask me if there is any other way, generally because they've tried reading the Bible occasionally and praying and that doesn't work. Of course, going to church seems like it's also too difficult for them. There are just too many other things to do on that day, and too many reasons they can't go! The short answer is this: Only those who are willing to give up everything and seek the Lord with their whole heart will ever find Him. The casual observer who intends to seek God on his own terms will never find Him. Imagine someone you called your best friend, but who you never called and never went to see--someone you clearly only casually were interested in knowing. Would they be your "best friend" for long? "You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart." Jeremiah 29:13 Pastor Jim Kilby Your donation spreads good news! www.harvestyouth.org/donate
I've done some pretty terrible things in my life. I know the Lord has forgiven me, but sometimes I still remember things I've done and I'm ashamed. It kind of feels like getting caught red-handed doing something your mom specifically asked you not to do, and right after you told her that you loved her! Sitting there with that guilt on your face, you just don't want to look her in the eyes. You'd do just about anything to not have that sin resting on your soul. Now, just imagine Jesus stripped, beaten, and hanging on a cross with not only your sins on His head, but mine, and all of the rest of humanity's sins too! Willing to endure something terrible so that we'd have forgiveness...now that's God sized love! "He was delivered over to death for our sins and was raised to life for our justification." Romans 4:25 Pastor Jim Kilby Your donation spreads good news! www.harvestyouth.org/donate
Are people's lives changing in the church where you congregate? Are people still giving their lives to Christ? Are people being healed by the Spirit of God? If not, it's not because God's Spirit is any weaker or less capable than ever. It's because of unforgiveness, infighting, and slanderous conduct on the part of some or even all of the members. We are commanded repeatedly to be "one" in the Lord... but instead, we'd rather have things our way. Unfortunately for all of us, that is exactly what we get--things OUR way! "How good and pleasant it is when brothers live together in unity!... For there the LORD bestows his blessing, even life forevermore." Psalm 133:1-3 Pastor Jim Kilby Your donation spreads good news! www.harvestyouth.org/donate
What is your most valued possession? Is there something you have that is more precious to you than anything else you own? What about your most valued relationship? Is there someone who is more special to you than any other person on earth? What is your most valued past time? Do you have a hobby or something you enjoy doing more than anything else in the world? Do you have a job that you really love? Does what you do there or even your title give you great pride? Excellent! Now, prepare to give it all up! If you allow any one of these things to get in the way of your relationship with Christ, move it over and prepare to take hold of the hand of your Lord. If you're not prepared to do that, as tough as it sounds, maybe you don't know Him as well as you think you do. "In the same way, any of you who does not give up everything he has cannot be my disciple." Jesus (Luke 14:33) "If anyone comes to me and does not hate his father and mother, his wife and children, his brothers and sisters-yes, even his own life-he cannot be my disciple." Jesus (Luke 14:26) "Sell your possessions and give to the poor. Provide purses for yourselves that will not wear out, a treasure in heaven that will not be exhausted, where no thief comes near and no moth destroys." Jesus (Luke 12:33) Pastor Jim Kilby Your donation spreads good news! www.harvestyouth.org/donate
"Don’t you have a saying, ‘It’s still four months until harvest’? I tell you, open your eyes and look at the fields! They are ripe for harvest.’" John 4:35 (NIV) Dear Friends, Why did we name our ministry “Harvest” Youth Ministries? It’s more than just a name…. it’s who we are, and it’s our mission. In a world often weighed down by uncertainty and darkness, the Gospel of Jesus Christ shines as a beacon of hope. The word "Gospel" means "good news," and it is indeed the greatest news humanity has ever received. Through the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ, God has made a way for us to be reconciled to Him, offering forgiveness, peace, and eternal life to all who believe. The Gospel is not only good news for individuals but also a call to action for all believers. Jesus speaks of a plentiful harvest, saying, “The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into His harvest field” (Luke 10:2). The harvest represents those whose hearts are ready to receive the message of salvation, to turn from darkness to light, and to find hope in Christ. As followers of Jesus, we are called to be workers in this field, sowing seeds of faith and truth through our words, actions, and love. When we share the Gospel, we become part of God’s divine plan to gather this great harvest, bringing more people into His kingdom. Jesus reminds us in Matthew 5:14-16 that we are the light of the world, a city on a hill that cannot be hidden. As we reflect His light, we are to let it shine before others, pointing them to the source of our hope and joy. This calling is not a burden but a privilege, as we join in the mission of spreading the good news. Let us sow faithfully, pray fervently, and trust that God, the Lord of the harvest, will bring forth an abundant harvest for His glory. In this work, we are reminded that the light of Christ will never be overcome by darkness, and the good news will continue to transform lives for eternity. Blessings in Christ, Pastor Jim Kilby
Harvest Youth Ministries (HYM) is an outreach aimed at young people; not a youth group. HYM is an IRS approved 501(c)(3) not-for-profit ministry. All donations are tax deductible as allowed by law.
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