TITLE: IS YOUR CONSCIENCE A SAFE GUIDE By Pr Alex Ambuch

The scripture says, “He that hath no rule over his own spirit is like

A city that is broken down, and without walls” (Proverb 25:28)

A university student once said, “Let my conscience by my guide. If I don’t feel something is wrong, I know I am safe. I listen to my conviction.”

Listening to this statement, it appears it has some truth in it.

It is true God convicts us of right and wrong. If we choose to be in touch with God, the small voice of the third person of the Godhead (Holy Spirit) will guide us.

Reverting back to the same question, “Is our Conscience alone a safe guide? The answer to this question would be,

 our conscience is the voice within us that prompts us to duty

 It is the inner voice that convicts of sin (John 16:8)

 It is the inner sense of awareness of right and wrong.

God has given to us a conscience, an inner moral rader system that is sensitive to the spirit of God.

The conscience does not operate in a vacuum.

The question is, “what do we feed our minds with?” For our minds are heavily influenced by what we put in. They, (mind) are shaped by our environment, by our choices, and by the suggestion of others.

The bible talks about good conscience and bad conscience. Let’s begin with good conscience. The scripture states:

“Paul walked straight at the Sanhedrin and said, my brothers, I have fulfilled my duty to God in all good conscience to this day” (Act 23:1, NIV).

“The goal of this command is love, which comes from a pure heart and a good conscience and sincere faith” (I Timothy 1:5, NIV)

“They must keep hold of the deep truths of the faith with a clear conscience.” (I Timothy 3:9, NIV)

“How much more, then, will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself unblemished to God, cleanse our conscience from acts that lead to so that we may serve the living God” (Hebrews 9: 14, NIV)

The scripture talks of a defiled conscience.

“But not everyone knows this, some people are still so accustomed to idols that when they eat such food they think of it as having been sanctified to idols, and since their conscience is weak, it is defiled” (I Cor. 8:7, NIV)

“When you sin against your brothers in this way and wound their weak conscience, you sin against Christ: (I Cor. 8:12, NIV)

“Such teachings come through hypocritical class, whose conscience have been seared as with hot iron” (I Timothy 4:2, NIV)

“Let us draw near to God with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water” (Hebrews 10:22, NIV).

This leads us to our first question, “Is the Conscience a safe guide”

If the conscience is shaped by God’s word, it ought to be sensitive to the Holy Spirit, conditioned by Godly counsel as above stated, then, it can be trusted.

If the conscience is defiled by disobedience attitude, feared by sin, influenced by Christian compromised behavior, and conditioned by fault choices, then it is unreliable. God’s word must be above our conscience, and any other teachings. The law of God stands above our conscience.

The will of God as revealed in the scriptures, if it does not shape our conscience, then our conscience is not reliable because it is defiled.

The conscience must be shaped by God’s will:

 Allow the Holy Spirit to continually dwell within (James 4:5)

 Allow the Holy Spirit to continue guiding unto the truth (John 16:8, II Cor. 3:8)  Let the Holy Spirit set a standard for your life (Psalms 19:7)

 Let the Holy Spirit guard and guide your conscience (Prov. 28:26, Acts 24:16) Let’s open our hearts to the Spirit of God, and allow Him to shape our conscience, let us fill the mind with God’s word, and allow it to mold the conscience. Let the mind be guided by a sanctified conscience like Joseph, Daniel, Shadrack, Meshack,Abednego and Timothy.

Seventh-day Adventist Church Nairobi Central Youth Ministries TITLE: REVITALIZING YOUTH MINISTRIES BY PR. ALEX AMBUCHI

The growth pattern of the youth in the youth ministries can be expressed in Inreach and Outreach. Inreach depicts an inner experience in the life of the youth believer reflected in a personal growth process. The process is where he or she is prepared for salvation. Inreach involves a process where individual believer is assisted to grow spiritually in the faith.

The Outreach is the act of reaching out to unreached through sharing the everlasting gospel. Youth involvement can be solicited and assigned a task of assisting those who have not responded to divine invitation both in and outside church.

In Youth Ministry, Inreach program plays a key role. The youth have challenging needs. The program must be exciting and able to address their needs. Since young people love to be involved in God’s work, this will stimulate them in maximizing their potentials in the service of God. The youth have full of energy. In order to hold them in church, they must be involved in activities in the church. Because of the growth pattern process, youth would like to be assisted to develop a personal relationship with Jesus.

The world seems to be more appealing than the church, many of their peer groups are outside there. In order for them to counter the outside appealing pressure, we have to make inside more appealing. They need to be given an opportunity for growth and development. Let them be assured who they are, and they are accepted and loved as both at home and church.

Every human being loves to be appreciated and recognized as worthy human being. When youth environment is filled with love and friendship, it will change their dimension and focus. But the question is “How do we do it?”

We need to create the opportunity for nurture by introducing programs that will cultivate interest in church activities geared toward strengthening their faith, love and hope in Christ. Outdoor activities like swimming, hiking, visitation, games and mission work are very important in keeping the youth active. There are other meetings called by the

conference, Union, Division or GC. These meetings gives an opportunity to the young people to meet and also appreciate diversity. The exposure impact lives and strengthen their faith and church commitment.

The prayer and bible study groups ministries are a powerful tools in youth ministries. Because of 21st Century’s explosive challenges, brought in by sophisticated technological, political interest and economic challenges, we candidly need to move faster. The youth prayer network of small group will revitalize youth ministries. Small Bible Study groups and meditation will revive the youths. Their prayer and Bible study groups, small network groups needs to be encouraged. Encourage the formation of prayer and Bible study conference. This can be done when participant members are in different places. Introduce hotline number where the youth can channel question or testimonies. The Friday Vespers is a brilliant idea for the few days I have attended and it is such a blessing.

The concept of small group ministry can impact the youth worship service. We encourage the youth ministries to adopt the following Prayer Ministries.

 Prayer telephone ministry as earlier suggested

 Prayer e-mail ministry

 Prayer chains

 Prayer partners

 Evangelism Prayer groups

 Prayer Retreat

Young people, “Did you know that small groups can help you grow in many ways?” The scripture states, “And He called the twelve together, and gave them power and authority over all demons and to heal diseases. And He sent them out to proclaim the kingdom of God and to perform healing” (Lk 9:1,2)

Anytime the members prayed something happened. The scripture says, “The place where they were meeting was shaken. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God boldly” (Acts 4:31) E.G.White states: “The formation of small companies as a basis of Christian efforts is a plan that has been presented before me by one who cannot err. If there is a large number in the church, let the members be formed into small companies to work not only for Church members, but for unbeliever also.” (Evangelism 115)

The Following are Steps to New Life:

1. Be convicted of sins John 16:8

2. Confess and repent 1 John 1:9, Rom. 2:4 3. Be converted Matthew 18:2-3

4. Choose whom you will serve John 24:15 5. Ask for the Holy Spirit Lk. 11:13

6. Believe that you have received the Holy Spirit Mrk. 11:24 7. Be baptized with water and the Holy Spirit John 3:5 8. Receive the fellowship of the Holy Spirit Phil. 2:1-2

How to Maintain the Spirit – Filled Life

1. Allow the Holy Spirit to continually dwell within James 4:5 2. Be spiritually minded Rom. 8:6

3. Allow the Holy Spirit to continue guiding unto all truth John 16:8, II Cor. 3:8

4. Walk in the Spirit Gal. 5:16

5. Let the Holy Spirit set the standard for your life Ps. 19:7

6. Let the Holy Spirit guard and guide your conscience Pro. 28:26, Acts 24:16,Phil. 2:13 7. Grieve not the Holy Spirit Eph. 4:30

8. Pray without ceasing I Thes. 5::17, James 5:16

9. Be continually filled with the Holy Spirit. Eph. 5:18

How to Lead Others Into Spirit-Filled Experience

1. Encourage deeper understanding of human need of salvation Rom. 6:23, I Peter 3:9, Isaiah 64:6

2. Review the Rebellion of human Isaiah 53:5, Heb. 2:14

3. Encourage the understanding of God’s great love for each person I John 4:16, 8, 9. 4. Encourage people to realize their personal need John 8:35, Acts 4:12

5. Encourage people to personally claim the promise of God Rev. 22:17, Ps. 51:10, 11, Rom. 8:16

Seventh-day Adventist Church Nairobi Central

Youth Ministries