2. A Word to Youth Eccl 11.9-10; 12.1

3. “Rejoice, young man, during your childhood, and let your heart be pleasant during the days of young manhood. And follow the impulses of your heart and the desires of your eyes.” Rejoice in the Time of Your Youth Eccl 11.9 Eccl 11.9

4. Rejoice in the Time of Your Youth Eccl 11.9 “Let your heart be pleasant” Stay happy, positive, rejoiceful “Follow the impulses of your heart and the desires of your eyes” Pursue your dreams Keep a sense of idealism

5. Remove Vexation From Your Heart and Pain From Your Body Eccl 11.10 “So, remove vexation from your heart and put away pain from your body, because childhood and the prime of life are fleeting.” Eccl 11.10

6. Remove vexation from your heart –E–Emotional vexation Anger, rebellion, jealousy, bitterness, anxiety Results in anorexia/bulimia; depression; drug and alcohol use; sexual immorality; suicide. Remove Vexation From Your Heart and Pain From Your Body Eccl 11.10

7. Remove vexation from your heart –E–Emotional vexation –S–Spiritual vexation From guilt “Come to me, all who are weary and heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and my load is light” Mt 11.28-30

8. Remove vexation from your heart –E–Emotional vexation –S–Spiritual vexation Put away pain from your body –P–Physical suffering E.g. From drinking, drugs, promiscuous/premarital sex, driving foolishly, etc. –M–Moral evil of such things Remove Vexation From Your Heart and Pain From Your Body Eccl 11.10

9. Remove vexation from your heart Put away pain from your body –R–Resolve now to protect your purity at all costs Sex is for marriage only – Heb 13.4 “Marriage is to be held in honor among all, and the marriage bed is to be undefiled; for fornicators and adulterers God will judge.” Heb 13.4

10. Remove vexation from your heart Put away pain from your body –Resolve now to protect your purity at all costs Remove Vexation From Your Heart and Pain From Your Body Eccl 11.10 “Flee (sexual) immorality. Every other sin that a man commits is outside the body, but the (sexually) immoral man sins against his own body. Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and that you are not your own? For you have been bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body.” 1 Cor 6.18-20

11. Remove vexation from your heart Put away pain from your body –Resolve now to protect your purity at all costs Remove Vexation From Your Heart and Pain From Your Body Eccl 11.10 “Now flee from youthful lusts and pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace, with those who call on the Lord from a pure heart.” 2 Tim 2.22

12. Remember that your Creator will call you to judgment – 11.9c Remember Your Creator and Reflect on Your Future Eccl 11.9c; 12.1-7 “Rejoice, young man, during your childhood, and let your heart be pleasant during the days of young manhood. And follow the impulses of your heart and the desires of your eyes. Yet know that God will bring you to judgment for all these things” Eccl 11.9

13. Remember that your Creator will call you to judgment – 11.9c Devote yourselves to serving God now, reflecting on the days ahead – 12.1f Remember Your Creator and Reflect on Your Future Eccl 11.9c; 12.1-7 “Remember also your Creator in the days of your youth, before the evil days come and the years draw near when you will say, ‘I have no delight in them’” Eccl 12.1

14. Remember that your Creator will call you to judgment – 11.9c Devote yourselves to serving God now, reflecting on the days ahead – 12.1f –What can you do in the kingdom? Encourage others by your presence and active participation in the church Remember Your Creator and Reflect on Your Future Eccl 11.9c; 12.1-7

15. Remember that your Creator will call you to judgment – 11.9c Devote yourselves to serving God now, reflecting on the days ahead – 12.1f –What can you do in the kingdom? Encourage one another by being involved together with the youth in church Remember Your Creator and Reflect on Your Future Eccl 11.9c; 12.1-7

16. Remember that your Creator will call you to judgment – 11.9c Devote yourselves to serving God now, reflecting on the days ahead – 12.1f –What can you do in the kingdom? Get involved in service and mission work Remember Your Creator and Reflect on Your Future Eccl 11.9c; 12.1-7

17. Remember that your Creator will call you to judgment – 11.9c Devote yourselves to serving God now, reflecting on the days ahead – 12.1f –What can you do in the kingdom? Invite your friends to church and talk to them about the gospel Remember Your Creator and Reflect on Your Future Eccl 11.9c; 12.1-7

18. Remember that your Creator will call you to judgment – 11.9c Devote yourselves to serving God now, reflecting on the days ahead – 12.1f –What can you do in the kingdom? Help out at church – building cleaning, bulletin, Lord’s supper prep., etc. Remember Your Creator and Reflect on Your Future Eccl 11.9c; 12.1-7

19. Remember that your Creator will call you to judgment – 11.9c Devote yourselves to serving God now, reflecting on the days ahead – 12.1f –What can you do in the kingdom? Begin preparing for a life of service –Gaining some Biblical knowledge –Establish the foundation for your life’s decisions (college, career, marriage, etc.) Remember Your Creator and Reflect on Your Future Eccl 11.9c; 12.1-7

20. Remember that your Creator will call you to judgment – 11.9c Devote yourselves to serving God now, reflecting on the days ahead – 12.1f –What can you do in the kingdom? Choose your friends wisely – 1 Cor 15:33 -- “Do not be deceived: Bad company corrupts good morals." Remember Your Creator and Reflect on Your Future Eccl 11.9c; 12.1-7

21. Remember that your Creator will call you to judgment – 11.9c Devote yourselves to serving God now, reflecting on the days ahead – 12.1f –What can you do in the kingdom? Be an example to your elders – 1 Tim 4.12 Remember Your Creator and Reflect on Your Future Eccl 11.9c; 12.1-7 “Let no one look down on your youthfulness, but rather in speech, conduct, love, faith and purity, show yourself an example of those who believe.” 1 Tim 4.12

22. Remember that your Creator will call you to judgment – 11.9c Devote yourselves to serving God now, reflecting on the days ahead – 12.1f –What can you do in the kingdom? Be an example to your elders – 1 Tim 4.12 –Jesus himself did the same – Lk 2.41-52 Remember Your Creator and Reflect on Your Future Eccl 11.9c; 12.1-7

23. Remember Your Creator and Reflect on Your Future Remove Vexation From Your Heart and Pain From Your Body Rejoice in the Time of Your Youth

24. “The conclusion, when all has been heard, is: fear God and keep His commandments, because this applies to [is the whole of] every person. For God will bring every act to judgment, everything which is hidden, whether it is good or evil" Eccl 12.13-14