YOUTH PROBLEMS TODAY

Introduction: Essentially, "young people" fall into the period of life from the beginning of puberty to the attainment of adulthood. This period is usually concomitant with problems as they "struggle" to fit themselves into society. The word "problem" doesn't necessarily imply that youth is assumed to be a period in which storm and stress predominate; it can be a period marked by good health and high achievement. Nevertheless difficult decisions and adjustments face young people in today's society. In this paper, therefore I would attempt to identify some of the fundamental problems faced by young people in Mizoram today and possible solutions to these problems.

Elaboration of Youth Problems:

I have a question that whether Today’s Youths are facing Today’s problems or Youth problems are today’s problems. There are seven notable points which we first must recognize. Firstly, there is a possibility that today’s youths face today’s problems due to socio-political and economical set up in the society and on the other hand today’s youth causes today’s problems. Secondly, there are many problems already which youth must face in this world. Thirdly, they will not be young for very long. Time will take care of that. Fourthly, today’s youth is not the first to face problems. Nor are they the only ones today facing problems. Fifthly, youth are neither inferior nor superior to adulthood. Adulthood and youth are obviously not the same. They do not have the same responsibilities, opportunities nor capacities. Youths cannot be adults just yet and adults cannot now be youths. Adults have problems youths cannot solve, and vice versa.

Farmers have problems, merchants have problems and everyone has problems. Their problems, even though related, are not the same. Neither is superior to the other. Neither is inferior to the other. There is a great difference between adults and youths we must remember. Adults have once been youths, but youths have never been adults. Adults, therefore, have some advantage to see and understand both periods. Youths sometimes seem to forget this. Sixthly, there are some matters which youths cannot yet handle because they are not in the position to handle them. There are matters of leadership, guidance, control and duty that pertain to adults that do not yet pertain to youths. Even though youths may be affected by many things over which they have no control, this is life. Such is true even in adulthood. Seventhly, there are many problems about which there is much that youths can do. In fact, if these problems are not handled now to the extent they can be, youths will be forever handicapped. If youths are handicapped what would be our future.

1. Unemployment Problem: One of the main problems faced by young people today is unemployment problem. The State Government does not solve yet this unemployment problem. Our economy is fully depending on Central Government. Our basic needs are increasing year by year; market prices are also rapidly increasing. In the meantime it is very difficult to get job opportunities due to our poor economic system and most of us are trying to get only Government Jobs. So, many youth today are experiencing problems in obtaining jobs. Young people today have certain needs and aspirations. Consequently, the treat of unemployment means financial worries, frustration and discouragement. Because of this problem may be many youths are easily going into the undesirable direction of delinquency, drugs, vandalism, stealing, etc. Moreover, they compensate for their feelings by striking out against society, revolting against adult authority.

Solution: What can be done to solve the problem of unemployment and its ills? One method which can be adopted to curb the problems which arise out of unemployment among youths, involves the providing of relief or protection from the financial hardships of unemployment. For instance, a compulsory unemployment insurance system could be adopted in which workers and their employers contribute to a fund out of which payments are made to those young people who are eligible for work, but cannot find work. Incidentally this method is currently being used in the United States of America, Britain and other countries.

Other methods which can be adopted include measures aimed at creating conditions that reduces the level of unemployment. These would include: (a) programmes for retraining, in order to give would be employed young people new skills that are in demand; (b) subsidies and other incentives to encourage workers to move out of areas of labour surplus into areas in which labour is in short supply.

Identity problem:

Another problem facing young people today is the tension which exist between parents and children. The major problem between parents and children is the result of a lack of communication. It is usually common for strained relationships to develop between parents and young people. In their eagerness to achieve adult status, young people may or rather usually resent any restrictions placed upon them. Often times young people may not be willing to admit that they have doubts and fears about taking on adult responsibilities and freedom. They invariably believe that their parents are overanxious and overprotective. This usually creates tension between parents and young people. To correct this problem, psychologist emphasize the significance of psychological weaning. This is the process of outgrowing family domination and working towards the time when the young person establishes his or her own home. Similarly, parents should exercise control over young people, but with sympathy and understanding.

2. Problem of Sexual Development: An area of immense concern, and which poses a problem for young people and their parents is sex and dating. Some parents today are prepared to give their children some latitude as far as dating and sex are concerned. In contrast, some parents are very overprotective, restricting their children from going out with the opposite sex, thus, many young people today are debarred from learning the valuable experience of adjusting to other persons. They also show deficiency in the development of social poise, which might not be available otherwise and this deprives them of their privilege. Therefore, parents, school, and the church can and should do more to promote wholesome relationships.

Teenage pregnancies and venereal disease are also common problems facing the young person or teenager. This can severely disrupt her education. Moreover, being pregnant at such an early age can also have deleterious effects on one's health. Perhaps what is most important is the risk of "catching" the deadly disease AIDS. Many young persons today have contacted AIDS and are suffering the consequences, being terminally ill.

Solution: What can be done to address these problems? First, many of the sexually related problems of young people can be lessened if young people were given sufficient and suitable instruction well in advance of the time when sex is an immediate concern for them. Some surveys have shown that the primary source of information most children, regarding sex, is their peers, not from their parents. Secondly, the postponement of sex prior to marriage can go a long way to reduce the incidence of AIDS. And thirdly, the church can reinforce the Christian teaching of monogamy.

On the question of Church, it has been found that many of our young people today attend church, while an equal or greater amount do not attend church. There is a tendency for the latter set, to become involved in antisocial activities such as drugs, gambling, stealing and vandalism. For those young people who attend churches, many of them have serious reservations about the church as a whole. Many of them question the significance of the church in view of what is happening in our society today, in terms of drugs, unemployment, frustration, and crime. Maybe the church needs to diversify its programmes in order to effectively accommodate the "Modern youths" and by extension to curb their fears and frustration.

Having looked at most of the fundamental problem areas for young people and solutions to these problems, I would hope that, or rather it is my desire that this article would serve as a vehicle for helping young people today to appreciate and understand some of the problems which confront them and how they can attempt to address them.

Additionally, it is my fervent hope that those in authority would work in conjunction with young people to help them to alleviate the aforementioned problems. We must remember that the young people are the leaders of tomorrow; consequently, it is incumbent on the adults to set the pace (as it were) for an uninterrupted transition.

Motivational speaker Nick Vujicic got married! Born without limbs, he has overcome adversities and made the most out of his life. Never give up in life. finally he did it... he is the man....

3 Simple Tips to Increase Giving (Almost) Overnight

3 Simple Tips to Increase Giving (Almost) Overnight

There is much talk today about changing a church’s culture of generosity.  A church’s culture is built up over years, embedded with heritage and history, and is not easily or quickly changed.  Identification, diagnosis, strategy, and focused implementation are essential stages required to effect real cultural change in any organization. 

However, I know from years of experience and observation that a church’s giving can be quickly and dramatically upgraded with no more than three very simple and easily implemented steps of action.  These first steps can be foundational for the long-term process that can lead you and your church to be as generous as you want to be.

1. TALK ABOUT GIVING

Some congregations only hear about giving/stewardship/generosity on a one-Sunday a year emphasis or when the budget if being presented.  This is a serious mistake on several levels.  Most significantly, it categorizes giving and excludes it from every day life.  This violates the teaching ministry of Jesus and the content of the New Testament. 

Jesus talked more about money than he did about heaven, hell, and prayer combined.  A full one-third of his parables deal with wealth-related issues.

Sensitive, caring, and intentional discussions about financial stewardship must become a consistent and normative part of the congregational conversation.  Failure to do so will be to:

i) Avoid a major portion of God’s Word.

ii) Deprive the people of the opportunity for true spiritual growth and transformation.  Jesus asked, “If you have not been faithful in handling worldly wealth, who will entrust the true riches to you?”  (Luke 16:11)

iii) Weaken the ministry.  A ministry that matters must be adequately funded.  The more the ministry, the more the funding required.

The churches that are hurting most in today’s unusual economy are those who have, sometimes for very noble reasons, failed to talk about giving.

2. FOLLOW THE MONEY 

As families need to know where their money comes from and where it goes, so does the church.  Church leaders must have awareness of their source(s) of revenue.  “What demographics define our revenue?”  “Who is supporting the ministry?”  “Who isn’t and why not?”  But beyond the leadership, the church at large must know where the money is going.

Many contributors have little idea where their money goes once they donate through the offering plate or online giving.  It goes from their account to the church’s account and disappears as if into a black hole.  That can be fixed easily and quickly with two simple steps.

First, “show and tell” them where their dollar is going.  Give them more than a pie chart; give them a name and face.  Instead of saying “We gave $10,000 to missions in India,” introduce them to the family whose life was changed.  Give them names and faces and personal stories.  They don’t have to be “tear-jerkers.”  They just have to be authentic.

If the money goes to the children’s ministry, then let the children demonstrate their ministry and make the appeal.  Whether the money is needed to fix the bus or pay the electricity bill, it must be linked to people.  If you can’t put a human face on it, then you might need to reconsider your cause.

The second quick fix to eliminate that black hole of the disappearing dollar is to acknowledge and appreciate every gift.  Find creative ways to express the church’s appreciation for the support it receives.  Mail letters, send e-mails, tweet messages, use the Web site and the worship offering time to show the direct linkage between people’s contributions and the church’s ministry.  Demonstrate what their dollar does.

Send an acknowledgement letter to a first-time giver.  Hey, they have just taken a first step in a vital Christian discipline.  Encourage them.  Tell them they are on the right track.  How about a cute thank you card to a student or child who gives?  How encouraging would that be for a child just learning to be generous?  (Heaven knows they are getting plenty of messages encouraging them to be selfish, greedy, and covetous.)

Show and tell people where their money is going, who and how it is helping, and thank them for making a difference in the world.

3. DEMONSTRATE GENEROSITY

Giving, like most disciplines, is best learned by example.  The disciples asked, “Lord, teach us to pray.”  And Jesus prayed.

Nothing teaches better or most quickly than a true-life example.  I learned it many years ago.  Without going into the complicated details, I once found myself in a situation where I truly needed to announce publicly what I was giving to a special church offering.  This wasn’t for the purpose of boastfulness, for I was only giving $25, although, at that time, that was significant to me.  It was just an awkward occasion, and my only recourse was to announce that I was giving a $25 check to the cause.  No big deal.  That Sunday afternoon, I asked our church treasurer how much the congregation had contributed to the cause.  He mentioned that it was a good offering but then added, “There is something unusual about the offering.”  When I asked what he meant, he explained, “We got an unusually large number of $25 checks.”

People want guidance in their giving, and the best way to do that is with personal examples.  Not only do people need to see the personal examples of their peers learning to give, they must also have the corporate example of a generous church.  Is your church generous?  Do you give to those from whom you will never see a return?  (Luke 6:34)  Has your church ever promoted a one-time cash offering that would be given away to an important need for which it would receive no headlines, no credit, and no anticipated return?

Jesus was generous with himself every day.  He gave away good every day of his ministry.  When the stricken woman touched the hem of his garment, he felt the good go out of him.  (Mark 5:30)  Is our generosity that touchable?  Are we that available to those next to us?  Who are those straining to touch the hem of your garment?  Or your church’s garment?  Jesus said, “Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works and glorify your Father who is in heaven.”  (Matthew 5:16) 

Five Subtle Ways Satan Sneaks into the Pulpit

Five Subtle Ways Satan Sneaks into the Pulpit

Take five minutes out. Lean back in your chair at the office or put your feet up in your recliner. You might close your eyes to help you think and ponder. Now ask yourself a question that could determine if you'll still have an effective ministry 20 years from now: "If Satan were to sneak into your pulpit, how would he do it?" Keep in mind that you won't recognize him by his clothing or actions. He'll be kind, polite, winsome, and attractive. But he's ugly and deceptive underneath.

Effective ministry demands that we recognize the tactics of the enemy and then guard against them. Penetrating Satan's mind and knowing that "He that is in you is greater than he that is in the world" are key (I John 4:4).

Criss-crossing the world as an evangelist, I've seen five prominent ways he sneaks into the pulpit. Let's examine what they are and how to avoid them.

1. Satan will convince you that you're not only someone, you are SOMETHING.

God never uses one person or one ministry to touch everyone. It's together that we get the job done. It's the combination of spiritual gifts God uses to build up the body. That's why I Corinthians 12:21 teaches, "And the eye cannot say to the hand, 'I have no need of you'; nor again the head to the feet, 'I have no need of you.'"

You are one of the "someones." Uniquely gifted, God uses you and your giftedness to both reach the lost and build up those who are His. As people are helped and blessed, they let you know. They should! All of us need to be encouraged.

But one encouraging comment can become several comments, sometimes many comments. They come verbally through text messages and e-mails. Sometimes, comments you make get repeated on a Web site or two, and then you might find people have referred to you on Twitter or Facebook.

That's when Satan causes you to think you're not only someone, you are SOMETHING. Pride creeps in—not overnight, just one Sunday at a time. In six months, you start to be a different person. You begin to ponder, "Where would the church be without me? Why don't other preachers develop the skills that I have? I never knew God was going to so abundantly use me."

The answer for this problem is two-fold. First, secure an accountability partner who is honest enough to tell you every time they see something prideful about you. But don't get defensive, since they are probably right and are trying to help (as you asked them to), not hurt. Secondly, every day remember something: Should you be wiped off the scene today, the work of Christ would go on pretty much unhindered. This fact is sobering to say the least and keeps you right where you need to be—feeling dependent, undeserving, and grateful.

2. Satan will suggest that instead of teaching something relevant, you need to teach something new.

The preacher's job is well defined. Second Timothy 4:2 says, "Preach the word!" This means our message is confined to what He says. We are not teaching something new but truth as old as the Bible itself. We don't have to make it relevant; it isrelevant. All we have to do is communicate effectively to the people. This is why the pressure we need to feel is not how to come up with a truth our people have never heard of. Instead, it's the pressure to take the truth God gave years ago and put it in words that are meaningful and applicable. Sometimes, we teach the same truth 50 times. It's been accurately stated that effective communication is saying the same thing in different words.

But the longer you're in the ministry, the easier it can be for Satan to convince you that people are tired of hearing the same old thing. Therefore, instead of feeling the need to use sentences, illustrations, and analogies that drive truth home in a fresh way, you think that you need to come up with something new, period—something never thought of, never taught, and never heard. The subject may be the mind, marriage, relationships, spiritual growth, love, hate, or a myriad of things. Soon you have stepped outside the Scriptures, teaching your thoughts instead of His. Discerning people will appropriately begin to say, "I'm not sure that's what the Scriptures say." The difference is profound. God has never promised to bless your word; He's only promised to bless His.

The answer? Get down on your knees, open the Bible in front of you, and utter a simple prayer: "Don't let me stray outside this book, but help me teach whatever is in this book clearly and effectively." Then, approach someone in your church who is very knowledgeable in the Word and say to them, "If you hear me say something strange, don't just accept it. Ask me about it, and don't assume that because I'm the preacher I am right." That person should regard you highly for caring enough to make sure you're preaching His thoughts, not yours.

3. Satan will tell you that your people need an exhorter in evangelism.

A pastor who has spent any time in the Word knows II Timothy 4:5: "But you be watchful in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry." When Paul wrote that, he was not addressing Timothy as a gifted evangelist, but Timothy as a gifted pastor-teacher.

Unfortunately, Satan will try to define that verse for you. He can convince you that you have to stand before your people and say, "Evangelize, evangelize, and evangelize." That way, you feel that you have done your part.

It is what Satan doesn't tell you that matters. He doesn't tell you that people are most apt to do what you do, not what you say. If you talk about the lost, they will talk about the lost. If you talk to the lost, they will talk to the lost. Examples, not exhortation, change the hearts of people in evangelism.

As you show your church how you take advantage of opportunities to converse with the lost, soon you will have a church full of people who are not just "discussing" the work of an evangelist but are doing the work of an evangelist. How do you get there? It's simpler than you might think.

First, as Paul did in Ephesians 6:19-20, ask your people to pray that when you open your mouth, something will come out of it (utterance) and boldly. Secondly, once again, find an accountability partner. This may be the one you've asked to check your pride or maybe a different one. But once a month, have that person ask you, "What have you done to reach out this week to a lost person?" I assure you, I know pastors who have taken up that challenge, and it is changing their lives and—guess what—their churches.

4. Satan will convince you that you can grow spiritually through your sermon preparation.

I've heard of few sermons that benefited people much when they didn't first hit the preacher. Preachers who preach with passion are those who have been so deeply touched by a passage that they become a channel to transfer the blessing to others. It shows in the way they come across. Their whole demeanor is not, "This is what you need." Instead, it is, "This is what God showed me I need, and I know you're going to be blessed by it, too." Sometimes, there's uncertainty as to whether it's a sermon or a testimonial.

But Satan uses the struggle every preacher faces: time. You can begin to think that you don't have time to get alone with God, so your sermon preparation, climaxed by a few moments of prayer, will suffice.

Since God is a God of grace, He obviously understands your time constraints and loves you, but He also desires your fellowship (I John 1:3). Those moments when you close your ear to everyone else's voice and just listen to His as it comes through devotional study of the Word—those uninterrupted moments with your best friend—are what keeps you fresh. Some of those times cause tears to run down your cheeks as He shows you areas in which you're flawed and need improvement, but you still come away feeling energized. Interestingly enough, preachers who have fallen away from the Lord have commented to me that where they made their mistake was neglecting their quiet time with Him.

Consider creating a hallowed spot. For me, it's my chair in the living room where God and I meet each morning. Always going through a book of the Bible, I may cover one verse or I may cover a chapter. I don't care. What I do care about is that I go from there into my day's activity with one truth to meditate on for that day. I also keep the requests I give Him carefully noted on a 3x5 card, so I'm careful not to forget. I come away fed, energized, helped, and encouraged—as only the One who saved me more than 40 years ago can do. Don't ask me why He would ever want to be with someone so depraved as you or me. But He can't wait to talk, and I can't wait to listen and respond.

5. Satan will convince you that "you're not getting the attention you deserve."

Frustrating, isn't it? You may be more faithful in your study and preparation of your message than many preachers you know, but somehow they get the recognition you don't. What follows is money. Increased recognition brings increased funds with it. So while you and your church struggle to make it, the other preacher's church and even the preacher are doing quite well.

Satan can convince you that you have a right to be frustrated. You are not getting half the attention you deserve. Soon your frustration turns to others whom you deem responsible—your people, a staff member, board member, denominational head, or perhaps your own mate. Tension builds, and Satan stands on the sideline smiling…correction: laughing.

The answer: Go back to the starting block. Don't memorize but master I Corinthians 4:2, "Moreover it is required in stewards that one be found faithful." Note the word is "faithful," not "famous." Place it in front of you on the desk. Hang it in your office. But don't just memorize it; swallow it. Absorb it into your spiritual being so that it becomes a governing principle of your life.

Why? Because God is the keeper of the books. No good deed goes unrewarded. No amount of discipleship goes unnoticed. No mistakes are made in His bookkeeping. Everything due to you will come in terms of recognition, if not now, then later. He promises, "And behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me, to give to everyone according to his work" (Revelation 22:12) Think about it—who would you rather be rewarded by? Someone down here who only sees a lot of what you do or someone "up there" who sees all of what you do?

Conclusion

Now that you know Satan's tactics and how to prevent them, ACT! Let Satan know in no uncertain terms that his tactics won't work with you. James 4:7 promises, "Resist the devil and he will flee from you." Your prayers and action will give him a not-so-subtle message: "I'm not interested in a truce; I'm only interested in victory. And victory will be mine."

Fail Well: 5 Tips for Owning Your Mistakes

Fail Well: 5 Tips for Owning Your Mistakes

Here are five principles for owning your own mistakes and failures:

1. Respond immediately.

When you realize you’ve made a mistake, “own it” with those involved as soon as possible. Delaying only tempts you to put it off and rationalize why it’s not that big of a deal to share. If your teammates don’t see you owning your mistakes when they come to light, they will question your credibility—and rightly so.

2. Be crystal clear.

Be direct and clear about the mistakes you make. If avoiding accountability is bad, half-owning a mistake wrapped in excuses is pathetic. Don’t beat around the bush or sugar coat the issue. Clearly identify the mistake and its implications. This will help bring people up to speed on the issue and enlist their support in what should be done next.

3. Share the lesson learned.

Failure is a wasted experience if nothing is learned. Learning a personal lesson is good, but teaching others from your mistakes is even better. It will take some humility on your part, but great leaders know that it’s much more effective to lead out of vulnerability with all of our imperfections than seeking to manage a façade of leadership perfection.

4. Be ready for feedback.

Just because you’ve taken responsibility doesn’t mean that people will not want to further process what has transpired. Be prepared for people to share their feedback. Resist the urge to be defensive.A wonderful proverb states, “A soft answer turns away wrath.” It is difficult for people to pour out their wrath on someone that takes feedback with humility. Remember: if you’re committed to “owning it,” this is part of the process.

5. Move forward. If you lead, you’re going to fail, period.

It’s part of the job description. Pick yourself up and move on. Earlier in my leadership, I would be paralyzed by my mistakes. It would take me forty-eight hours or so to find my leadership equilibrium. High capacity leaders don’t have that kind of time to be wasting by kicking themselves. Keep in mind you’re modeling that you can fail, learn, and move forward.

The sad reality is that many leaders run from owning their mistakes because they don’t want to look weak. The irony is that this very avoidance of accountability screams weakness.

Strength in leadership comes from integrated character at every level. Make owning mistakes part of your leadership toolbox and you and your team will be the better for it.

Stare at Jesus, Not Porn: 9 Ways to Fight Lust

1. Fight lustful images with the knowledge of God’s written Word. 

Images are unbelievably powerful, but God has made the universe through his word and the explosive power of his word trumps the alluring power of an image. God didn’t give us a picture-Bible, but revealed himself through words and sentences to be read and heard.

The longest chapter in the Bible shows that the way a young man keeps his way pure is through knowing God’s word (Ps. 119:9, 11). Therefore the firecracker of pornographic images is no match for the napalm of God’s spoken and written word.

2. Realize that viewing porn unleashes insatiable craving but kills genuine satisfaction. 

Leering at naked women online incites yearnings for more and more naked women, yet never gives ultimate satisfaction.  On the other hand, the body of one’s wife is a garden of pleasures that leads to holy satisfaction.

The book of Proverbs gives the wisdom of a father to son: “Let [your wife’s] breasts satisfy you at all times”(5:18, 19). The body and breasts of your wife contain an intoxicating influence that no other body and breasts can bring.

If you don’t think they are satisfying or intoxicating, the problem isn’t her, but the fact that you settle for inferior and ultimately unsatisfying cravings. Why settle for cheap wine when your wife is a fine vintage.

3. Treat all women who are not your wife like sisters and mothers (1 Ti. 5:2).

Look into the eyes of your mom or sister and recognize that the centerfold you gazed at last night probably has a heartbroken family member that loves her.

Unless a further sexual deviancy has developed within you, the thought of your daughter or mother being a centerfold should appall you and jolt you out of the objectification of women and back into the reality of treating all women as created in the image of God.

4. Sever the sources of temptation to view porn. 

When discussing the adulterous sin of lust, Jesus said, “If your right eye causes you to sin, tear it out and throw it away. For it is better that you lose one of your members than that your whole body be thrown into hell” (Mt. 5:29). In doing so he prescribes a radical violence toward that which leads you to sin.

Jesus knew that amputating your hand doesn’t kill lustful desire, after all he said sin starts in the heart (Mt. 15:19), but his call does mean that you need to get drastic on non-sins that may lead to sin. For some of you this will mean disconnecting the Internet for a period of time or only accessing it in public places, for others this may mean an extended media fast of all kinds. You fill-in-the-blank.

Remember, though legalism is never a means to sanctification, the call to holiness and following Jesus demands radical steps.

5. Think about the eternal result of lust. 

As Jesus’ words indicated above, at on one level, his answer to how to fight lust is: fight it or risk going to hell. God’s wrath is coming for all kinds of sin and one of them is sexual sin (Col 3:5-6). Therefore since purity is of eternal importance, don’t give up in the fight for it.

This is only one of the ways to fight this particular sin, but it is not the most significant way. The primary way to repent is through seeing God’s magnificent kindness and undeserved grace in Jesus (Ro. 2:4), but this does not mean we that we ignore the other biblical incentives of repentance in light of God’s future terrible wrath.

Grace is the best motivator, but it is not the only one.

6. Enjoy the pleasures of purity more than the pleasures of porn.

Eighteenth-century preacher Thomas Chalmers, in his classic sermon “The Expulsive Power of a New Affection”, demonstrated how the greatest power in killing a sinful desire is not just by harping on the sinful desire but on replacing it with a new and greater holy desire.

The promise of experiencing sinful lustful pleasures at almost any moment via your Internet connection is hard to argue with, unless you replace it with a superior pleasure, then it becomes easy. Jesus said it is the pure in heart that will see God (Mt. 5:8), and the Psalmist tells us that in the presence of God are infinite pleasures (Ps. 16:11).

In view of this reality, the desire to see God who gives eternal pleasure far outweighs temporal lustful desire. It’s insane to settle for a mud puddle of pleasure when you have an ocean of pleasure awaiting you in the presence of the Triune God.

7. Avoid accountability groups and link up with believers radically focused on encouraging one another in the Gospel of grace. 

Accountability groups kill, but gospel-driven community gives life. Well, maybe this is a bit of an overstatement against accountability groups, but the point is that often accountability groups turn into focusing on sin rather than experiencing the gospel of grace.

Men’s groups I’ve been apart of in the past tend to focus more on the experiences of failure the week before not the event of God’s grace in the death and resurrection of Christ 2,000 years ago. Don’t get me wrong, Christian relationships should engage in confession of sin (Ja. 5:16), but they are also meant for encouragement in grace.

The author of the Hebrews reveals that the key to not being hardened to the deceitfulness of sin is daily encouragement not an excessive concentration on sin (Heb. 3:13). The use of accountability software between brothers to keep one away from online pornography is helpful, but grace-oriented encouragement between brothers is best.

8. Stare at Jesus not at porn. 

Trying harder and harder to stop looking at porn isn’t the way to stop looking at porn; you must look somewhere else, namely, the person of Jesus Christ.

Paul in 2 Corinthians 3:18 writes, “And we all with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another.” True inward change comes from beholding Jesus not from not looking at porn. As it has been said, what you behold you become, or as biblical theologian Greg Beale puts it, you become what you worship.

Look at porn and become a person controlled by lust and idolatry or look at Jesus and become a glorious and whole human being that reflects the beauty and glory of God.

9. Fight as a son of God who has been freed to walk in purity. 

As a Christian the key to fighting lustful temptation (and any temptation for that matter) is by knowing who you are not by evaluating what you have done.

Becoming a son of God is not dependent upon your not looking at porn, but upon being united to Jesus by faith and the result of the Spirit of God’s work in your heart (Ro. 8:3-4, 14). No longer are you defined by your entanglements with porn, but by your connection to the person and work Jesus. Jesus was crucified for your lust, and he has made you objectively pure in him.

Therefore you can work from a place of purity as covered in the righteousness of God in Christ (2 Cor. 5:21), not toward a place of purity to earn righteousness. Kill the urge to view porn because you are a son of God who is dead to sin and free to walk in purity (Ro. 6:1-14). Pornography is no longer your master—God is your father who radically loves you (1 Jn. 3:1) and Jesus is your sin-bearer who is not ashamed to call you, with all your inordinate lusts, “brother”  (Heb 2:11).

So, fight the temptation of pornography, to paraphrase John Piper, as a victor not a victim. 

THE RESPONSIBILITIES OF YOUTH IN THE CHURCH

Introduction
A. Membership hina phatah neiding ahi:1. Houbung member khat hitheina dingin Christian insunga hungpeng ihijeh a kisonna ding imacha aumpon ahi. Amavang amasapen na lhagaova penthah na neimasah ngai ahi ( John 3:5 ). Penthah na ineijouteng leh tahsan na a Baptize bolding nhai ahi. Hichu Jesun eithupeh u khohtah khat chu ahi ( Mat 28:19 ). chujouteng leh Houbung dan phate cha a juikimding ngaikit ahi.
2. Houbung member khat hinahi Christa tibah khat hina ahin, Jesu Christa aluchang hina a kikhaikhomna ahi. ( 1 cor 12:12-31 )
B. Pathen ni kituptah a manding
1. Seijuiho chu inkhat ah akikhom un ahi ( John 20:19 )
2. Jesun damlouho suhdamna nikho in anamangin ahi (John 9:14 )
3. Jesun cholngah nikho a thilpha bolding ahi ati ( Mat 12:12 )
4. Houbungmasa ho chun Pathen houkhom na nikho in anamangun ahi ( Acts 20:7 )
5. Pathen thuseinan jong anamangun ahi ( Acts16:13 )
6. Pathen lekhabua kon in kihil na nikho in Paul in anamangin ahi ( Acts 17:2 )
C. Houin kai khohsah ding:1. Christian masaho chun Houin kaiding hi anagelkhoh lheh un ahi ( Acts 2:42, 20:7 )
2. Leng David in Pathen hou nomasah dan le agelkhoh dan anaseije ( Ps 27:4, 52:8, 84:10 )
3. Hebrew Lekhathot pan Houin kaijinga kitilkhouto ding thu hatah in aseije ( Heb 10:24-25 ).
4. Christian khangdong ten jong Houin kai hi nasatah a gelkhoh angaijin ahi. Pathen houva icheding teng leh a) Houin na amasapenna lhunteina dia kihabolding ahi, chuleh houinsung lhunteng leh anung lam a touteiding golouvin amalam’a touding hagelkhoh in, anunglam chu displine a umho le anukhah ho dia khenpeh ding ahi. b) Von hoipen le athengpen na kivon na Houin jot ding ahi ( Ps 96:9 )
c) Houkhomla gunchutah le thanomtah a sahding ahi. Lasalouvin thipbeh in touhih in ( Ps 35:18 ).
d) Pathen na dia ipeh ding lom somma khat le maicham kitahtah a pehding ahi, hichu Pathen ihounau khat ahi ( Ps.96:8 ) : O.T phatlai chun Cholngah ni kitup tah a manglou ho chu songin anaseplihjiuvin ahi. Ahin N.T phat na vang hin chutobang loma gihsa dan chu aumtapon ahi. O.T phat na chu kichat na jeh a ananit u ahin, N.T Phat navang hi ngailut na jeh a kinit ahijoi. Ahin kichat ding aumtapoi tia khohsahloutah a bolding tinavang ahipon ahi. Tahsan chaten atumbeh a navahtah a Pathen ihoukhomnau phatdang aumpon, hijeh a chu Pathen nihileh eima tahsa ngaichat suhbulhit na nikho s msnlouding lhagaovin angaichat ho suhbulhit na nikho joh a manding ahi.Phatmasa a Pathen ni hi itobanga anamanjiuvem ti hi anoija hin phabep veuhite:: Houbung kiti hi Pathen in achapa Jesu Christa thisan na vannoi chonset na lah a pat na akoudoh ho chu kiseina ahi. Houbung kiti hi jat le nam phung le changa kikhen na umlou, Christa tahsan jouse chu insung khat na aumkhomnau chu ahi. Jesu Christa aluchang hina noija mikhat cheh hi ama tibah ihiuvin ahi. Hitobang kiloikhomna thenga chu khangthah ten itobang mopohna ineijuvem ti hi anoija hin abanchan veuhite.