Last Updated on Monday, 15 April 2013 07:40 Posted by Clash Sunday, 19 May 2013 01:04
By Rob Cook
Peter gives us the secret to conquering temptation:
“His [God’s] divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature and escape the corruption in the world caused by evil desires.” (2 Peter 1:3-4 NIV)
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Last Updated on Sunday, 14 April 2013 18:46 Posted by Clash Sunday, 12 May 2013 01:04
By Rob Cook
The Apostle Paul tells us how to overcome temptation:
"So I say live by the Spirit [the Holy Spirit, God in Spirit form], and you will not gratify the desires of the sinful nature. For the sinful nature desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the sinful nature, they are in conflict with each other, so that you do not do what you want. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under law." (Galatians 5:16-18 NIV)
Last Updated on Sunday, 14 April 2013 06:20 Posted by Clash Sunday, 05 May 2013 01:04
By Rob Cook
Batman had Robin. The Lone Ranger had Tonto. Beavis had Butthead. Sherlock had Holmes—wait a minute—never mind. You get the point. Everyone needs someone he can count on. This goes all the way back to Bible times.
Last Updated on Sunday, 14 April 2013 06:17 Posted by Clash Sunday, 28 April 2013 01:04
By Rob Cook
“I have hidden your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you.” (Psalm 119:11 NIV)
The most effective tool I’ve found for combating temptation is the Bible.
The more I read the Bible, the less I want to sin. The closer I am to God, the stronger my resistance.
Unfortunately, the less I read my Bible, the more I find myself caught up in sin.
Just fifteen minutes a day keeps the devil away
I love to read the Bible an hour or more a day, but I know that, as a teenager, you have lots of demands on your time, so I’m suggesting that you read a minimum of fifteen minutes a day.
I also suggest you pray at least fifteen minutes a day as well. That’s only a half-hour out of a 24-hour day.
Sound hard?
Break it up
You could read seven minutes in the morning and eight minutes at night. Pray while you’re on the john. You can take care of business while you’re taking care of business.
There’s no end to the possibilities. It just takes a little effort, and the rewards far outweigh anything you’ll give up.
“Since then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. For you died*, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory. (Colossians 3:1-4 NIV)
(*Note: This is not talking about a physical death as in you checking out, taking a dirt nap, donating your body as worm food. This is talking about your sinful nature, the old you, as in before Jesus. Just figured I’d clarify that.)
Visit our Facebook® group page, REGENER8, and tell your story.
Robert Cook is the Pastor, Founder, and Executive Director of 252 Underground Youth Ministry.
Last Updated on Sunday, 14 April 2013 06:13 Posted by Clash Sunday, 21 April 2013 01:04
By Rob Cook
You’ve probably seen the mega hit movie Transformers or, at the very least, you’ve heard about it: ordinary-looking cars and trucks with the ability to transform into robots.
Those robots look nothing like their original form.
Last Updated on Sunday, 27 January 2013 07:36 Posted by Clash Sunday, 14 April 2013 01:04
By Rob Cook
I’ve done so many bad things that I never believed God could love me. I had friends that went to church, and a couple times I went with them, but I always felt like the black sheep. I could tell by the way people looked at me that I didn’t belong there.
Last Updated on Sunday, 27 January 2013 07:36 Posted by Clash Sunday, 07 April 2013 01:04
By Rob Cook
So yesterday we established that I’m crazy about my wife, Stephanie, and that because I care about her, I care about the things she cares about.
If something is important to her, you guessed it, it becomes important to me. (Remember this stuff, guys, ‘cause you’ll probably be married someday, and this advice is worth the price of the book alone.)
If we are to have a great relationship with Jesus, we ought to find out what He cares about, right?
Last Updated on Sunday, 27 January 2013 07:36 Posted by Clash Sunday, 31 March 2013 01:04
By Rob Cook
So many young people ask me this question: “What do I have to do if I’m a Christian?”
They want to know what’s the least amount they can do and still go to heaven. That’s the wrong question. Being a Christian, a.k.a “follower of Christ,” is not about what you have to do.
The real question is, “What can I do for Jesus?”
Last Updated on Sunday, 20 January 2013 18:42 Posted by Clash Sunday, 24 March 2013 01:04
By Rob Cook
So we’ve established that Jesus loves you and me. And He gave His life to prove it. But it doesn’t end there. In fact, that’s really only the beginning.
Jesus wants to be a part of your everyday life. He wants you to talk to Him. Tell Him your fears and troubles, your victories and challenges.
Last Updated on Sunday, 20 January 2013 18:39 Posted by Clash Sunday, 17 March 2013 01:04
By Rob Cook
So why would Jesus leave heaven and come down here, just to be mocked and killed?
I’ve often wondered why He did. What motivated Jesus the King to leave His kingdom and come to earth as a helpless baby? Why did He volunteer to go through puberty, become a homeless servant, and die a horrible death on a cross after being betrayed by a close friend?
Last Updated on Sunday, 20 January 2013 18:39 Posted by Clash Sunday, 10 March 2013 01:04
By Rob Cook
Jesus doesn’t set up an obstacle course with hoops to jump through in order to be in a relationship with Him.
He doesn’t have a list of requirements that you must fulfill so He can check them all off.
That’s religion. That’s man trying to reach God and putting conditions on it.
Last Updated on Sunday, 20 January 2013 18:32 Posted by Clash Sunday, 03 March 2013 01:04
By Rob Cook
Do not touch. Do not enter. No Skate boarding. No trespassing. No loitering. No shoes, no shirt, no service.
When I was a teenager, I hated rules. It seemed to me that rules were meant to keep me from having fun.
To be completely honest, I just didn’t want anyone telling me what to do. Usually when someone told me not to do something, it made me want to do it more.
I’m no longer a teenager but, to tell you the truth, I still don’t like rules.
Last Updated on Saturday, 19 January 2013 09:41 Posted by Clash Sunday, 24 February 2013 01:04
By Rob Cook
Before I met Rob (Cook) and everyone who supported 252 Underground,* I was smoking weed everyday after school and on weekends. My friends and I would hang out and just chill, smoke, and have a good time. There were days that sucked: not having any money for weed, people asking to join in when there wasn’t enough, or people messing with me when I was high.
Last Updated on Sunday, 27 January 2013 07:35 Posted by Clash Sunday, 17 February 2013 01:04
By Rob Cook
This is probably not what you expected from a devotional about drug use, but that was my plan.
You’re smart. You don’t need me to tell you not to do drugs. You already know the dangers. And if you’re already doing drugs, me spewing a bunch of facts about it will probably not make you quit.
No pressure
Last Updated on Sunday, 27 January 2013 07:35 Posted by Clash Sunday, 10 February 2013 01:04
By Rob Cook
When we get busted for doing bad stuff, we blame everyone else. We don’t want to take responsibility for our actions.
Grown men, on trial for killing 127 people, blame their parents and their childhood for their crimes. It’s ridiculous but lawyers try anyway. It rarely works.
Here’s why
Last Updated on Sunday, 27 January 2013 07:34 Posted by Clash Sunday, 03 February 2013 01:04
By Rob Cook
I’m sure you’ve heard the old adage about one rotten apple spoiling the whole bunch, or bad company corrupting good morals. If you haven’t, well, now you have.
Anyway, it’s true, and I’ve experienced it first-hand on several occasions in my life.
Last Updated on Saturday, 19 January 2013 09:26 Posted by Clash Sunday, 27 January 2013 01:04
By Rob Cook
Have you ever owned a backyard bug BBQ? One of those cool blue neon lights that all the moths and annoying insects swarm around? The soft soothing light mesmerizes the insects into a false sense of security. It lulls them into believing there is no danger. They blindly fly into the light, only to be vaporized into crispy critters.
Last Updated on Saturday, 19 January 2013 09:23 Posted by Clash Sunday, 20 January 2013 01:04
By Rob Cook
If you’re the average teenager in America, you’ve probably heard a hundred anti-drug messages. You probably completed the D.A.R.E program at your junior high school, and were required to write a little essay on the evils of smoking pot and doing drugs.
Last Updated on Thursday, 06 December 2012 09:42 Posted by Clash Sunday, 13 January 2013 01:04
By Rob Cook
Teen Take
Always hungry, never satisfied. Always thirsty, never satisfied. Always want more, never satisfied.
Last Updated on Thursday, 06 December 2012 09:34 Posted by Clash Sunday, 06 January 2013 01:04
By Rob Cook
Stay plugged in
As you focus and commit to staying pure, many things will be there to drag you down. Temptation will be in your face, even more than before.
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For we struggle not against flesh-and-blood enemies... Ephesians 6:12
