To the Next Generation

Introduction

There really are no words for what has happened today. What we have witnessed today is something incredible. 11 Baptisms. ELEVEN. But what is even

Every baptism is a person who was brought from death to life. Every time I see a baptism, I think about Jesus interrupting the funeral procession in Luke 7. A man has died in the little town of Nain and is being carried out to the tomb by his mother, family, and friends, but Jesus steps in front of his procession.

He causes this young man to come back to life.

For all of us, we are nothing more than a funeral procession. Marching towards the grave. But at some point in time, Jesus interrupted our funeral procession.

Notice what the people did in response to what God had done.

Luke 7:16 “Fear seized them all, and they glorified God, saying, “A great prophet has arisen among us!” and “God has visited his people!””

An awe, a reverence, a trembling swept through the crowd at seeing something so unexplainable. May what happens today cause your vision of God to get bigger and bigger.

They glorified God in light of what they had seen. They worshipped. They praised. Baptisms are worship. They are obedience to God. But they ought also cause us to worship. Our God is still working.

They stated, “A great prophet has arisen among us, “ but more importantly, “God has visited His people.”

Make no mistake,

There is much labor on the part of our ministers for every person who gives their life to Jesus.

There are ministries and bible studies that have contributed to their knowledge of the Bible.

There are many prayers from parents and grandparents and great grandparents and friends and aunts and uncles and Sunday School teachers.

What is happening today is nothing short of an act of God. Every baptism is. Every time someone says, I am a sinner, and I need the grace that only Jesus can provide.

What is symbolized today is no less a miracle than Jesus causing the man to walk.

CHARGE: That we would invest deeply, intentionally, and sacrificially in the next generation.

Psalm 145:4 “One generation shall commend your works to another, and shall declare your mighty acts.”

Today, we have seen that God is at work in the next generation.

We so often lament the world that our children will grow up knowing.

God has created them for this day. He will meet them in it, He will see them through it, and He will equip them to change the world for its good and His glory.

We have a great and heavy responsibility to love our children and our students to share with them everything that they need to know to know God and follow Him.

We need to pray for them, encourage them, and help them. We are going to take a moment and pray for them now.