1John 2:12  I write to you, dear children, because your sins have been forgiven on account of his name. 

1John 2:13  I write to you, fathers, because you have known him who is from the beginning. I write to you, young men, because you have overcome the evil one. I write to you, dear children, because you have known the Father. 

1John 2:14  I write to you, fathers, because you have known him who is from the beginning. I write to you, young men, because you are strong, and the word of God lives in you, and you have overcome the evil one. 

1John 2:15  Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 

1John 2:16  For everything in the world--the cravings of sinful man, the lust of his eyes and the boasting of what he has and does--comes not from the Father but from the world. 

1John 2:17  The world and its desires pass away, but the man who does the will of God lives forever. 

THREE LEVELS OF CHRISTIAN LIFE

1.CHILDREN: these are the new believers and “baby spiritually “

( SHEEP )2.YOUNG MEN: these are the growing Christians and strong Christians who overcome struggles ( SHEEP-DEER )

3.FATHERS: these are the matured spiritual Christians focused on doing the will of God . 

    These reproduce and bear children and raise and take care of their children well to become strong and become like them eventually.

( LION, EAGLE, PASTORS ) A true born-again Christian must grow to become Young Man and Father in living for Christ and in commitment to do the will of the Father God in heaven.

WHO ARE THE CHRISTIANS WHO HAVE REACHED THE LEVEL OF YOUNG MEN?

1.) ”YOUNG MEN” HAVE OVERCOME THE EVIL ONE

1John 2:13  I write to you, fathers, because you have known him who is from the beginning. I write to you, young men, because you have overcome the evil one. I write to you, dear children, because you have known the Father. 

2Corinthians 2:11  in order that Satan might not outwit us. For we are not unaware of his schemes.

 

Ephesians 6:11  Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes. 

2.) ”YOUNG MEN” ARE STRONG BECAUSE THE WORD OF GOD LIVES IN THEM

1John 2:14  I write to you, fathers, because you have known him who is from the beginning. I write to you, young men, because you are strong, and the word of God lives in you, and you have overcome the evil one.  

NOTE: YOUNG MEN HAVE STRONG APPETITE TO READ AND MEDITATE ON THE WORD OF GOD DAILY.

THEY HAVE STRONG CONVICTIONS ON BELIEVING AND FOLLOWING THE WORD OF GOD.

THEY DONT COMPROMISE GOD’S WORDS.

THEY HAVE THE HABITS OF DAILY BIBLE READING AND DEVOTION

THE WORD OF GOD IS ESSENTIAL IN OVERCOMING CHRISTIAN LIFE.

THE LORD JESUS OVERCAME THE DEVIL BECAUSE OF GOD’S WORDS

Matthew 4:3  The tempter came to him and said, "If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread." 

 

Matthew 4:4  Jesus answered, "It is written: 'Man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.' " 

3.) ”YOUNG MEN” DO NOT LOVE THE WORLD OR ANYTHING IN THE WORLD

1John 2:15  Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him

NOTE: YOUNG MEN ARE NOT FOCUSED ON AND CONTROLLED BY WORLDLINESS AND MATERIALISM

YOUNG MEN OVERCOME WORLDLINESS AND MATERIALISM

1John 5:4  for everyone born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith. 

 1John 5:5  Who is it that overcomes the world? Only he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God. 

 

4.) ”YOUNG MEN” OVERCOME THE CRAVINGS OF SINFUL NATURE.

1John 2:16  For everything in the world--the cravings of sinful man, the lust of his eyes and the boasting of what he has and does--comes not from the Father but from the world. 

KJV  For all that is in the world--the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life--is not of the Father but is of the world.

Romans 8:8-98 Those who are in the realm of the flesh cannot please God.

9 You, however, are not in the realm of the flesh but are in the realm of the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God lives in you. And if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, they do not belong to Christ.

5.) ”YOUNG MEN” ARE COMMITTED TO LIVE FOR AND IN THE WILL OF GOD

1John 2:17  The world and its desires pass away, but the man who does the will of God lives forever.

NOTE:THE KEY AND FOUNDATION IN OVERCOMING LIFE IS THE TOTAL COMMITMENT TO GOD’S WILL

MANY STRUGGLING TO DO THE WILL OF GOD BECAUSE THEY ARE NEVER TOTALLY COMMITTED TO THE WILL OF GOD. THEY STRUGGLE WITH THEIR OWN WILL.

Matthew 7:21  Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.

Luke 22:42  Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done.