What Must I Do to Be Saved?
Preparing Youth to Receive the Promise
by
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Satan uses three major forms of temptation to take advantage of our desires and tempt us into sin: lust of the flesh, lust of the eyes, and the pride of life (1 John 2:16). This is Satan’s oldest trick in the book. Eve fell into this trap when she disobeyed God by eating from the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil (Genesis 2:16–17).
The first deceitful method Satan used to tempt Eve was to minimize and disregard her punishment for disobedience. He told her, “You shall not surely die” (Genesis 3:4). Look for the trap whenever someone is tempting you to deny, debate, or minimize your punishment for pursuing your desires. These people will use phrases like, “You won’t get caught” or “It’s worth the risk.” Know that if there is a slight possibility your actions warrant punishment, don’t do it!
The second deceitful method Satan used to tempt Eve was to suggest that God was hindering Eve from becoming a god herself (Genesis 3:5). God knew that Eve’s knowledge of good and evil would cause the fall of mankind, but Eve’s pride likely caused her to make an attempt to overtake authority as a god. Look for the trap whenever someone is tempting you to turn against authority (parents/teachers) or to falsely accuse others. Those who tempt you may use phrases like, “Your parents are hating on you” or “Your teacher is discriminating against your race.” Know that if you have to rebel against authority, don’t do it!
In the end, Eve made the choice to disobey God. And the Devil did not make her do it! He only tempted her with her strongest desire, lust of the eyes (Genesis 3:6), and Eve ate from the tree and shared her fall into temptation with Adam. Criminals do the same thing when they recruit a “co-defendant” or “fall partner” to participate in sin.
Adam and Eve also made an attempt to cover up their sin (Genesis 3:7). Everyone has tried to cover an act of sin. But just as God gave Adam and Eve an appropriate covering (Genesis 3:21), God will also cleanse us from sin when we choose to repent (1 John 1:9). Look for the trap whenever someone’s is tempting you to blame others and cover up your actions. These people will offer an alibi to convince you that you can get away with sin. They may also offer a scapegoat, or someone else to blame for your sin. Know that if you have to lie or blame someone else for your actions, don’t do it!
Let’s review some examples of how your worldly desires and fleshly lusts make it difficult to resist temptation.
Pride of Life
Have you ever met a pretty girl who only dates fellas who are violent and no good to her? Meet Tanya. She is eye candy and seems to have it going on, until you meet her boyfriend. Tanya is dating Johnny, a gang member who wears a natural mean-mug. The only thing Johnny is good at is knocking out boys. So why does Tanya date Johnny? She is controlled by her pride of life. Tanya looks sweet and innocent on the outside, but actually she thinks she knows everything and is very conceited (Proverbs 26:12). Tanya likes Johnny because he can protect her when she pretends to be more than what she really is (Galatians 6:3).
One day, a boy named Mike asked Tanya for her phone number. Tanya gladly exchanged numbers, but she gave Mike’s number to her jealous boyfriend, Johnny. Mike went to the hospital and Johnny went straight to juvenile hall for assault. While Johnny was locked up, he thought Tanya was cheating. As soon as Johnny was released from jail, he rushed to speak with Tanya, but Johnny did all the talking with his hands. Tanya skipped school for a week to hide her black eye.
Tanya’s pride would not allow her to face all her classmates who laughed and talked behind her back. She also avoided her parents, as Mom and Dad had warned her about dating thugs, but she would not listen. Tanya’s pride caused her to continue dating Johnny just to prove she could change him. Besides, Johnny apologized, claiming he hit Tanya out of love (1 Corinthians 13:4–8) and promised to never hit her again. Too bad Tanya was controlled by her pride of life, because the day she stood up to Johnny, he broke his promise along with Tanya’s jaw.
Lust of the Eyes
Have you ever met a church boy who had the lifestyle of a dope boy? Meet Gabriel. Everybody in Gabriel’s family loves Jesus. Gabriel appears to be a humble servant of the Lord, until he leaves church (Matthew 23:27). He speeds in the school parking lot just to be seen in his Tahoe with twenty-six-inch chrome rims. Gabriel only hangs with students who have nice rides and top-of-the-line gear (James 2:1–4). So why does Gabriel, a child of God, have to look so fly? Gabriel is controlled by his lust of the eyes. One day a hustler named Ricky decided to take advantage of Gabriel. Ricky drives a BMW and is twenty-three years old, but only hangs with teenagers. While cruising the strip, Ricky made sure that Gabriel saw his brand-new BMW 745LI—all the bait he needed to set Gabriel up for a fall. Gabriel immediately fell in love with Ricky’s ride when he noticed the immaculate interior. What Gabriel did not see was that the Beamer was stolen.
Ricky invited Gabriel to roll with him for the weekend. Since Ricky dressed like most of the college students at Gabriel’s church, Gabriel assumed that Ricky was harmless based on his outward appearance (1 Samuel 16:7). Ricky’s BMW swerved in both lanes as Gabriel trailed close behind. The cars stopped at a red light. While Gabriel was busy admiring the nice rides on the strip, a gunman pulled alongside and demanded his Tahoe. The BMW and Tahoe sped off as Gabriel stood in the street, wondering why he did not see the jack move coming (2 Corinthians 5:7).
Lust of the Flesh
Have you ever met a girl who was rumored to be a tease and had a bad reputation for not having sex? Meet Jill. She is outgoing, fun-loving, and easy to get along with. Jill has many friends on her Facebook page, but she has never had a boyfriend. So why does Jill have a bad rep for not having sex? Most of Jill’s Internet buddies are controlled by their lust of the flesh. Jill has made the correct choice to not date because she has a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. The only relationships her friends have are chatting online, sexting, or hanging out late at night (Romans 8:4).
Friday was game day, and Jill and the rest of the cheerleaders wore their uniforms to school. Todd, who is driven by his out-of-control hormones, decided to locate Jill on Facebook. They chatted online only once, but Todd lied to his friends about Jill being unable to resist hooking up with him on the first night. Jill thought Todd was cool, but before she agreed to accept his friendship, Jill asked Todd if he knew Jesus. Todd never returned her text to confirm that he was a child of God (Matthew 10:32–33).
Todd became angry with Jill because she threw God in his face, so he e-mailed his friends, claiming that Jill was a tease and scared to go all the way. Jill was confused; she could not understand why boys were turned off by her being a Christian (Romans 8:6–7; 1 Corinthians 2:14). One day Jill will realize that she has the best relationship of all—a spirit-led connection with God. The power of the Holy Spirit enables Jill to resist falling into a lustful trap with the Devil.
Remember, temptation is difficult to resist because you can make the choice to lessen your responsibility by taking shortcuts; allowing others to do your work; following others; breaking the rules.
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About the Book
Today the Lord is blessing you with an opportunity to be forgiven of your sins. Take your first step toward improving your future. Through your faith in Christ Jesus, you can receive God’s greatest gift: eternal life! “For by grace are you saved through faith; and not of yourselves: it is the gift of God” (Ephesians 2:8).
The Holy Spirit empowers you to resist temptation. You will soon recognize God’s voice within yourself and be encouraged to turn from sin, foresee trouble, and avoid it. This text helps you learn the Word of God and see yourself in a new light that your parents or teachers may not have explained. Rethink possible. Build your faith by following Jesus’ perfect example, instead of counting on man’s likelihood to let you down. Take a hold of God’s favor that none of us deserves. It is your choice. Will you claim the victory? By opening this book, you have agreed to open your heart to Christ.
What Must I Do to Be Saved is the inspired word of God, tailor-made for teens and spiritual babes. The text contains testimonies, exhortations, and moral lessons that portray common lifestyles of teenagers. Scriptural references provide basic fundamentals and teachings of salvation, faith, repentance.
The outline heightens teens’ awareness of God’s presence within them. The internal battle of spirit versus flesh is identified to prepare youth to resist temptation and overcome obstacles. Each subtopic concludes with a lesson review which consists of multiple choice, true/false, fill-in-the-blank questions. Each question has a scriptural reference to assist research and memorization of the Holy Scriptures. “Check Yourself” is provided to emphasize how the biblical teachings can be directly applied to individual circumstances, mindset, or development.
Make that change! Choose to be set free from relational traps and locked-up mindsets that steal your joy, peace, and freedom to be who God has called you to be. I pray this message leads you to God’s purpose for your life. Do you believe?
About the Author
I moved to the Seattle area in February of 2011. I joined Center of Faith church of God in Christ, founded by Pastor Wilbur D. Vincent and First Lady Suganah. I have since learned to submit to God’s vision while increasing my faith for an emotional and spiritual makeover. I was blessed to be married to my lovely wife, Tia, following Sunday Worship service on October 23, 2011. I am working two jobs to fund my ministry as well as relocate my family from California. Through perseverance and commitment I am blessed to reap the fruit of my labor in Jesus’ name.
As a youth I was raised in a two-parent home. We were lower-middle class, lived in housing projects and urban neighborhoods. However, I was taught not to be a product of my degenerate, short-sighted environment. I received spiritual guidance at church while in elementary school. I was enrolled in a year-round Christian youth program called Destination Discovery. I attended Magnet schools that promoted diversity, fairness in opportunity and educational excellence.
At age 15 I made a costly decision to indulge in the street life. I went from being an honor roll student to a mediocre high school graduate. I was a half-attentive, misdirected college student not living up to my full potential. Several poor choices landed me in prison. Incarceration proved to be my Damascus experience. God led Metamorphism Ministries to me. I learned effective laws of bible study: Context; Normal Usage of Words; The Bible as a Whole; Foundational Truths of Sound Doctrine. More importantly, I learned practical application of the bible during the most unfavorable circumstances.
My divine transformation came once I transitioned from being a loyal church-goer to a follower of Jesus Christ. The difference was that I learned how to be Christ-like in my own house, and not only when I was in God’s house. I accepted accountability as a born-again believer and an explosion of revelation transpired as my personal relationship with Jesus became more intimate. I am on my path of “Restoration unto Salvation”. My calling is to repair the breaches I caused in the lives of many adolescents. God has given me visions that will help build the younger generation as noble saints.
My goal is to share the gospel and my testimonies in a praiseworthy format applicable to the lives of youth and spiritual babes. My message from God is tailored to those who suffer the consequences of rebellion, poor decisions, relational traps and unfavorable circumstances. By the power of the Holy Spirit everyone can breakthrough to success! To walk in repentance is a life-long journey that requires discipline, patience and faithfulness. I am in the business of saving souls. Fulfillment of my ministry manifests every time someone asks, “What must I do to be saved?”
As a published author my objective is to be a virtuous vessel God springs forth to fulfill His promise of salvation to all people worldwide. My reward comes when true repentance is birthed in the heart of sinners, and backslidden believers. My message is more of a movement: Take control by learning self-control in the pursuit of spiritual excellence! My duty is to break down barriers and build relationships to strengthen God’s army with repentant souls who simply need inspiration and direction toward leadership in God’s kingdom.
What Must I Do To Be Saved begins with an introduction of my calling from God to deliver a message to our youth, offering an opportunity to be saved from sin. My revelation and inspiration came from Ezekiel 2; 3:17-18. I admit that I cannot change anyone, nor can I force salvation upon adolescents. However, to remain obedient to the will of God I must pursue the mission of saving souls!