MILLENNIALS RISING!

Wednesday, July 10, 2019

MILLENNIALS RISING!

Acts 7:58-59

58 And cast him [Stephen] out of the city and stoned him: and the witnesses laid down their clothes at a young man's feet, whose name was Saul.

59 And they stoned Stephen, calling upon God, and saying, Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.

           The Greek word for “young” in verse 58 is neanias which sounds a lot like the Spanish word for child. It refers to a youth up to about ages 40! If we apply this to Saul who became Paul on the Damascus road, we might also apply it to Stephen who was the victim of religious persecution and martyrdom.

Millennials, like baby boomers, are a group defined by their birth dates. A "millennial" refers to someone who was born after 1980 or, more specifically, between 1977 and 1995. Also referred to as Generation Y, Generation Why, Generation Next and Echo Boomers, this group currently comprises one-third of the American workforce and will soon become the majority as they come of age. Estimated at 80 million, they outnumber baby boomers (73 million) and Generation X (49 million).

Until most recently, millennials favored a more liberal thought, but something is happening to their dream. Millennials are smart and often highly skilled. They will ultimately be challenged to discern between darkness and light.

Paul, the young man, pondered Stephen’s martyrdom and his own part in it. It bothered him deeply and, I assume, he regretted it till the day he was martyred as well. That’s why the voice of Jesus said, “it is hard for the to kick against the pricks” (Acts 9:5). Essentially, what Jesus said was “it is uncomfortable for you to continue to act against your own conscience.” Paul’s sense of right and wrong was being challenged by reality.

Our world is in a mess and we are delivering its destiny into the hands of young men and women like Paul. If we are older, we probably worry about that, but we must never underestimate the power of the Holy Spirit as He ministers to the heart and mind. God’s got this!

Acts 9:6

6 And he trembling and astonished said, Lord, what wilt thou have me to do? And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go into the city, and it shall be told thee what thou must do.

Dear Lord, please send your Holy Spirit to minister to both old and young. Challenge our prejudices with your truth and heal our land. AMEN