Listooder Youth Fellowship

Should a Christian go to War? - Jonny Rice

As reports reach us daily of battles and conflicts in the world, we ask the question: Is it right for a Christian to go to war? Although seemingly more prolific than at any other time in history, the existence of these wars is simply evidence of the divine will of God and a reminder of the prophetic words in Matthew 24. So as Christians, what should our view be to the ongoing wars in which our nation is engaged in? Opinions on this matter are strong, and yet are often based on a poor understanding of Scripture. Those who oppose war on the grounds of religious beliefs will state that God is a God of Peace, who would not condone war. However, we read in Romans chapter 13 that God puts men and women into places of authority, to ‘execute wrath upon him that doeth evil’. As we read in Ecclesiastes 3:8 there is a time when war is necessary, to eradicate evil regimes. But should a Christian be a soldier? No Christian should take on a career that it is not led of God. Therefore, if a person has been directed of God, by the leading of the Holy Spirit (John 16:13) to become a soldier, then that is not for any other believer to question. That person then comes under the authority of his/her superiors (Romans 13:1-4) and, if called into battle, must be prepared to go. So is it ever right to object to a war? The Scriptures are very clear regarding this question. In Luke 14:31-32 we learn that only a fool would enter a conflict with insufficent resources. Therefore a war begun without appropriate planning and sufficient resources, is a war that should not go ahead. And in James 4:1-2, we learn that a war started by reason of greed is also wrong. Whether greed for power, wealth or possessions, a conflict on these grounds is one that should not be supported. But how do we know? Surely only the Lord knows the true motives of any conflict. That is true, however, He has given us the great privilege of being able to ask. James 4:2 reminds us ‘ye have not, because ye ask not’. If it ever becomes absolutely necessary for us to know the true motives of war, and therefore to know what our own views should be, we should pray. 2 Corinthians 10:4 reveals the real power of prayer – ‘For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strongholds.’ – We have a mighty weapon against evil, whether on a personal or a global scale, and that is prayer. Let each of us pray that God will preserve our land from evil, and protect those faithful believers who have followed the call of God into the armed forces, and even now are fighting to ‘execute (God’s) wrath upon him that doeth evil’.

Why Worry? - Bob McConnell

In the recent installment of Listooder’s popular ‘Amongst Ourselves’ format, where the regulars take part in the meeting, a terrific crowd came out to the hall to enjoy the fun. Ably led by Faith Dane, the meeting was first handed over to Ruth Dane who gave a word of testimony, focussing on the faithfulness of God in her life. Ruth’s testimony was followed by a cotton-wool inspired challenge, in the form of George McFadden’s quiz, assisted by Philip and David Pentland, once again pitting the left side of the hall against the right. Once the comotion had died down, Bob McConnell brought the meeting to a close with some simple, yet fundamental thoughts on the subject of Worry. Reading from Matthew chapter 6, Bob considered the command of Christ in verse 11 to request our daily bread. Despite the acknowledgement in verse 8 that God already knows our thoughts and needs, He still commands us to request this daily provision. As Believers, God will provide our every need, without fail. Yet we still worry about every little thing. We worry about money, we worry about work, we worry about our health, our looks and our future. But in Matthew chapter 6 we are reminded of the birds, the soul-less creation of God. They don’t work. They don’t worry, yet they survive. They have a heavenly provider who cares for their every need, and as we read in verse ‘are ye not much better than they’. If God can take care of the birds, then surely He can take care of us, who were created in His own image. Three times in the chapter, the Lord commands us to ‘take no thought’, to have no anxiety regarding these things, no worries, no fears. It is a command we should all obey, and yet we fail time and again. A lack of faith in what God can do for us is what leads to our anxiety, and where a weak faith leads to worry, worry leads to discontentment. In Philippians 4:11, the apostle Paul declared ‘I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content’. It was not something that came naturally to Paul, it is not something that comes naturally to us, but we must learn to be content. We must pray for that understanding of true contentment. In Luke chapter 10, Martha fretted as she considered all that needed to be prepared for her guests. In the meantime her sister sat down at the feet of Jesus, seemingly oblivious to the work that needed done. As Martha complained to Jesus, the rebuke came back plainly and simply: ‘Martha, Martha, thou art careful and troubled about many things: but one thing is needful: and Mary hath chosen that good part.’ So what is it to be content? As verse 33 of Matthew 6 says, it is to ‘seek ye first the kingdom of God.’ Putting the things of God first will massively reduce the signifcance of the other things in our lives. If we put God first, then we can rightly claim the promise that ‘all these things shall be added unto you’. God first, denying our own selves, and our own desires. Learning to be content, praying for contentment and for the faith to fully appreciate what God has already given us. So what should we worry about? Firstly, we should worry about our eternal security. Are you saved? Have you taken the step in faith, whereby you have put your faith trust in the Lord Jesus Christ? Have you been washed in the blood of the Lamb? Secondly, if you are saved, then how is your walk with God? It is only by walking close by His side that we will fully experience the blessings and provisions that God freely gives to His children. ‘Godliness with contentment is great gain’. 1 Timothy 6:6

Testimony of Ruth Dane

Listooder regular, Ruth Dane, speaks of the blessings the Lord has given to her. Saved at the age of 3, Ruth related her experiences in life were she has seen God's faithfulness to her, guiding her safely through situations outside of her control.

The Power of the Devil - Ian Wilson

Although we sometimes view the Christian life as a playground, Ian Wilson reminded the young people of Listooder that is is really a battleground, a constant battle with the world, the flesh and the devil. It is the devil which occupied our attention as we met for the first meeting of February. A created being, the devil was a cherubim at the beginning, the anointed cherub and top angel in heaven, until pride came in (Ezekiel 28:17) Asking the question ‘Who is Sovereign?’, Ian reminded us that the devil’s power is limited to what God will allow him to do. In Job 1, the he approaches God to ask for permission to attack Job. Just as with us, he ultimately wants to destroy one thing in Job’s life, and that is his spiritual relationship with God. Then looking at the ‘Schemes of the Devil’, Ian shows, from Scripture, the character of the devil as a roaring, devouring lion (1 Peter 5:8), as a hindering force (1 Thessalonians 2:18), a provokation (1 Chronicles 21:1) and a constant temptation (Mark 1:13) to us in our walk with God. He wants to stop us from living for God, and shining bright for Him, growing day by day. Subsequently, if we as young believers are not living for God, the devil will probably leave us alone, because that’s what he wants all along. So how do we react to this powerful force, whose main desire is the destruction of Christians? The Reality: ‘be sober…’ (1 Peter 5:8) – We must take the threat seriously. The devil is not a cartoon character, nor a football mascot. The devil of the Bible is real and dangerous. We must, as Christians, be sober and serious. The Responsibility: ‘Submit yourselves also to God…’ (James 4:7) – To stand against the devil, we must first learn to submit to the will of God. Only then will we be ready to face the foe. The Resistance: ‘Resist the devil and he will flee…’ (James 4:7) – Once we have submitted our lives to God, He has promised that the devil will flee from us, if we simply stand against him. Don’t give in. The devil has been defeated, and if we resist him in the power of God, He WILL flee. The Reliance: ‘Resist stedfast in the faith’ (1 Peter 5:9) – Faith is to rely upon the Lord, standing only in the power of His might. When the devil attacks, we have a far greater one on whom we can call for help. However, the closer we are walking with the Lord, the easier it will be to call upon Him. Ian concluded by reminding us that a Christian cannot be guaranteed a life without conflict, but every believer can experience a life without defeat.

The Sin of King David - George Speers

George Speers explores the lessons that can be learnt from this deep and dark experience of King David, an experience that could be all too relevant for any Christian. The circumstances of David’s temptation King David had sent his men to war, but did not go himself, despite Kings generally leading their men into battle. He had neglected his duty, and perhaps as a result of his recent successes in battle, he had taken his eyes off the Lord. His zeal for the work, and enthusiasm for the battle had been dampened. Surely it is under circumstances such as these that we are most susceptible to sin. The progress of David’s enticement King David saw, then he sent and then he lay. At each step of the process, he could and should have dealt with his sin. He should have stopped and considered his circumstances, he should have gone into a quiet place with the Lord. But sin doesn’t take time for thought, sin moves quickly and takes over the entire thought-process. King David had, at times, been closer to the Lord than we could even imagine, yet now his entire mind is occupied by sinful thoughts. Every believer is capable of every sin. It is dangerous to assume ‘that’ll never happen to me’. It is simply by God’s mercy that it has not already happened. The complexity of David’s sin The sin of King David went much deeper than the adultery itself. Covetousness, deceit, lies, murder, stealing, disobedience, dishonour are all seen in the actions of David before the end of this chapter. Sin is no simple matter. Sin is deceptive, and will subtly draw us into more sin. Once again, the mercy of God is our only hope. The heart of David’s failure In 2 Samuel 12, the prophet Nathan comes to King David with a heart-wrenching story about a rich man who takes and destroys all that a poor man has. Touched by this story, David asks ‘who is this man?’, to which Nathan replies ‘Thou art the man.’ At the heart of this sin, lies the sad reality that David’s actions not only caused much pain and suffering to those involved, it also displeased the Lord (2 Samuel 11:27). The Lord dealt with David’s sin by bringing him face-to-face with the reality of his actions, drawing him to sorrow and repentance. This passage is a warning to any believer. Can any Christian fall into the deepest and darkest of sin. Sadly, the answer is, of course, yes. Therefore we must seek God’s help to guard our eyes, our minds and our hearts. We must remain enthusiastic about the battle for God, and keep that close fellowship with the Saviour. The further we are from the Lord, the more likely we are to suffer these temptations. And remember, no matter how far we fall, no matter how deep sin takes us, as the redeemed of God, our heavenly Father waits with open arms to draw us back to Himself. The blood of Jesus Christ, His Son, cleanseth us from all sin. 1 John 1:7 Let us run with patience the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith. Hebrews 12:2

New Tribes Mission - Dave & Libby

Since 2005, Dave and Libby have been serving the Lord in Southern Asia. As missionary workers with New Tribes Mission (NTM), their aim is to learn the language and culture of native tribes, ultimately finding themselves in a position to present the message of the Gospel to the people for the first time. Now home in Northern Ireland for a period of rest and recouperation, they hope to return later in 2011, to continue their language training, medical work, and general practical assistance to the people. Building this relationship of trust with the people, in the midst of their spirit worship, immorality and frivilous life style, is vital as they continue learning the language to the extent that they can systematically and chronological teach the message of Salvation in their mother tongue. Through much prayer and by the mighty hand of God, they have already secured the trust of the tribal leaders, and been granted residence within the village, a major step in the long journey that God has brought them on. Let us pray that as they return, many more doors will be opened, and through their lives and through their testimony, souls will be won for Christ.

Taking a Stand - Alistair Crawford

In the final Listooder meeting of 2010, Alistair Crawford questions the adage that ‘every man has his price’ by looking at one individual in Scripture who never sold out. Despite the Babylonian pressure to conform, Daniel never abandoned his principles. Similarly, it is the desire of the devil to conform us to the ideas of the world, but as Believers, we have been given the responsibility of taking a stand for Christ. The Babylonians sought to change Daniel’s Godly attitudes by first changing his surroundings. He was given a new home, new environment and new influences to turn his attention away from his God. Many young Christians find that, once they leave the familiar, safe surroundings of home, the ‘bright lights of the world’ become too great a temptation. They also attempted to give Daniel a new knowledge, exposing him to different beliefs, opinions and standards. Believers today are faced with many things that are legally, culturally and fashionably acceptable, but which are contrary to the Word of God – social drinking, dirty jokes, sexual relationships, acceptance of homosexuality are all things that we are expected to partake in, yet the standard of God’s Word has not changed. The Babylonians even tried to change Daniel’s diet. The things which he once had an appetite for were removed, and food was placed before him which, according to the law, would defile him before God. Our hunger, our thirst for Christ should be strong, lest we find our appetite turning towards the things of this world, rather than the things of God. Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself. He took a stand. He had a standard. It is imperative that we, likewise, take our stand. In many simple ways, whether at work, school, college or home, we can take a stand for Christ, nailing our colours to the mast and declaring the Word of God as our standard. A stand like this takes courage. Daniel’s courage came from God. As the children’s song goes ‘Daniel was a man of prayer’. Each day, he spent time with the Lord, each day he asked for help and strength to take that stand. The God who helped him to stand up against the Babylonians is willing to help us to stand up against this world, if we simply ask. If we do take our stand, then God has promised to bless us, ‘He will remember his own’ – 1 Samuel 2:30 – Them that honour Me, I will honour.

Influence of the Media - Maurice Warburton

Maurice Warburton brings several years of experience in online media to Listooder as we consider the influences the media has on our Christian lives. As co-founder of the website EternityWhere.com, Maurice has seen the positive impact that online communications can have for the Gospel of Jesus Christ. The dangers, however, are many, and this is the focus of Maurice’s message tonight. In Ephesians 2:2 we see the devil described as ‘the prince of the power of the air’. It has pleased God to allow the devil to have dominion over the air, the atmosphere, that which we breath, see, hear and speak through. Whether it be mobile phones, television waves or the internet, every form of communication travels through the air at some point along its journey, through the devil’s domain, and so it is not surprising to see his control and his influence upon these things. The media is being used by the devil to lie. The deity of our Lord is questioned in the media. So too is the authority of Scripture, the creation of the world, the moral standard for our lives. For many years, media has been used to carry lies which have turned many against the truth of Scripture. The media is being used by the devil to lull. The Word of God often asks that we ‘think’, ‘consider’, ‘behold’… To ponder the Scriptures can be a great revelation to our hearts, revealing what Christ has done for us. But the devil does not want us to think. The devil want to ‘amuse’ us, occupying our thoughts with mindless concepts, lulling us into a spiritual sleep. The media is being used by the devil to lead. Not only does the devil subtly ‘numb’ our minds to the Word of God, he also tries to lead us as far from God’s truth as he possibly can. Often the most lovable characters in a soap are those engaged in homosexuality, causing a conflict in our minds as we attempt to reconcile those feeling with the clear condemnation of Scripture. Much of most catchy and appealing music in the charts today promotes materialism, lust and many other concepts which, in any other situation, Christians would run from, yet music tends to pull us in. It is in all these circumstances that we must show great discernment, accurately employing the wisdom of God and the leading of the Spirit in our lives. Television in itself is not inherently wrong, nor is music, but whilst enjoying these gifts we have been given a responsibility of God to be disciplined, to be careful and to be wise, lest we allow the devil to lie to us, to lull us into spiritual sleep and to lead us into temptation.

Contagious Christians - Tim McIlwrath

Tim McIlwrath explores the contagious characteristics of the Apostles, on a superb, highly-attended night at Listooder Youth Fellowship. Defining the word ‘contagious’ as:tending to spread from one to another, Tim highlighted many examples in Scripture when the apostles had a massive impact on the world around them. Accused of ‘turning the world upside down’ and ‘ filling Jerusalem with their doctrine’, the apostles had something special about them. So what was it? What was this special formula which each of them possessed? In 1 Corinthians 2, Paul describes himself as first coming to the Corinthians in fear, weakness and trembling, yet many souls were saved and a church established. It was not the men themselves that were special, but rather it was the Spirit within them that enabled them to wreak havoc on the heathen world. And today, when so many around us are living in darkness, our desire should be that we also would possess this Spirit. A gift of God at the point of our Salvation, we must allow the Spirit to have room to work in our lives. To fully experience the Spirit’s power in our lives we must reach the point where we are prepared to die unto our own desires, our own plans, our own ambitions and submit to the perfect will of Christ, and the leading of the Spirit. Praise God that He can use us to turn the world upside down for Christ, but our hearts must be willing to be used.

The Sword and the Flesh - Neil Mateer

The fifth Saturday of the month provides an opportunity for the familiar faces of Listooder to take leading roles in the meeting, and this Saturday, 30th October, was no exception, as a crowd of over 30 young people gathered. First up was Victoria Hanna who brought a report of the six weeks she had spent serving the Lord in Central Africa. After much prayer, and as a result of the Lord’s clear leading, Victoria used her free summer months of 2010 to travel out with F.A.M.E. to the land of Kenya. Dressed in traditional Kenyan clothes she reported on her time among underprivileged Kenyan families, opportunites to distribute Gospel tracts, and spoke of the general enthusiasm among children and older people for the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Following the report, Stephen and Barbara Hanna split the hall in two with a highly contested battle in which the two sides answered questions on general Biblical knowledge for a chance to earn points on the dartboard. The Right (from the front) easily defeated the Left, as the front of the hall took a severe battering from some badly misplaced darts. ehud and eglon - the sword of the spirit Once the excitement eased, Neil Mateer brought the closing message from the Word of God. From Judges chapter 3, Neil presented the life of Ehud, a Judge in Israel during a time of idolatry and wickedness throughout the land. Over-ruled by the wicked King of Moab, the mission of Ehud was to defeat King Eglon, described in Scripture as ‘a very fat man’. Considering Eglon as a sign of our own fleshly lusts and desires, Neil proposed that it must also be the mission of every Believer to overcome this enemy. To do this we must follow Ehud’s example as he first meets with God at the altar, then takes a concealed dagger, symbolic of the hidden Word of God in each of our hearts, and attacks the sinful flesh with one powerful thrust. A solemn, yet vital message to the young people gathered, and well worth listening to again as we remind ourselves of the constant battle facing the Believer in this world.