Do you have a champion soul?

An athlete does not turn out to be a champion on the morning of victory. This moment is just the manifestation of what it has been for many years. To succeed, he had to make choices. He had to train and prepare with courage and determination to achieve his goal. (Let’s remember David’s personal life, then his fight and his victory against Goliath).

If we want to succeed in our work among children, we cannot make the economy, first of a good “general spiritual condition” and then of a serious preparation for the goal to be achieved.

But don’t panic! The Lord is there, we have his wonderful Word that instructs us, and also the power and wisdom of the Spirit of God. He wants us to be not only victorious, but more than victorious in our mission!

Loving children like Jesus

LOVE PROVES ITSELF

If we are asked if we like children, we will answer “of course!” And yet, the answer is not so simple. Our love can quickly reach its limits in certain circumstances. True love is not only what we feel, such as tenderness, emotion, sympathy, compassion, etc. It is also and above all what we do, what goes through our actions. God did not just announce from heaven: “I love you!” He proved his love for men in a concrete way:
“But this is how God proved his love for us: Christ died for us, and yet we were still sinners.” Romans 5.8
Similarly, children need proof of our love for them. And to do that, we have to show them in a practical way that we love them.
“My children, don’t just love in words, with beautiful speeches; show true love that manifests itself in deeds.” 1 John 3.18

LOVING ACCORDING TO GOD

It’s a big subject! Let’s look at some of the clues we find in the Bible:

  • “Have affection for each other as brothers who love each other.” Romans 12.10
  • “My brothers and sisters, you believe in Jesus Christ, our Lord full of glory. So don’t make a difference between people.” James 2.1
  • “Always be the first to respect each other.” Romans 12.11
  • “Who loves is patient and good, he is not envious, does not boast and is not pretentious; who loves does nothing shameful, is not selfish, does not get irritated and does not hold a grudge; who loves does not rejoice in evil, he rejoices in the truth. Who loves to support everything and keeps faith, hope and patience in all circumstances.” 1 Corinthians 13.4-7

LOVING IN PRACTICE

How can we apply these texts in our work for children?

  • affection: our relationship with children must be warm. Address them gently, be close to them, have tactile contact (with restraint and decency of course). The child needs to feel safe.
  • by an impartial attitude: no preferences, whether in relation to the child’s behaviour, his social level, the popularity of his family in the church, his nationality, his stage of development, etc. To love the child as he is: it is to show him that God loves him as he is. Note: the most “wise” children are not the most loved of God, nor the closest to the Lord. Let us make sure that our attitude does not suggest that. The children who answer the questions best, who “know everything”, are not necessarily the ones who are converted. Let us not let them think that they are pleasing to God because of this. It’s the state of their hearts that counts.
    Do not pay more attention to a child who touches us.
    The most difficult children are often the ones who need love the most.
  • do not pass judgment, condemnation (in words or thoughts) about their education, their habits, the commitment of their family, etc. Let us, on the contrary, be full of love and encouragement, and pray for families in difficulty.
  • to have consideration: by taking an interest in their spiritual situation, their daily life, to the extent that they are willing to talk about it, their interests, their tastes.
  • being available to them: listening to them, helping them, taking time for an interview.
  • with respect: to exercise discipline in the group so that everyone feels comfortable, to measure their words, to greet them when we meet them outside the classroom, in the church, just like adults. work not in mediocrity, but in quality.
  • giving themselves: consecration, perseverance and humility in service, time needed to prepare and pray.

 

If we know how to love children, the Lord will feel comfortable in our class and support our work.

Working together

You’re entitled to my respect!

In a team effort, especially in pairs, each instructor must stick to the part that has been allocated to him: singing, lesson, activities … except for special needs and agreement among all. For example, he should avoid commenting on the songs or praying at length in the introduction to the session. This will prevent children’s listening capital from being over-dented when the time comes for the lesson.

Monos

Long live diversity

Each instructor has its own uniqueness and importance, regardless of intellectual level, spiritual advancement, experience or age. The Lord can use all and children need all. Let’s appreciate the richness of a diverse team, let’s appreciate each other in our particularities.

Yes to unity

What a wonderful testimony to the children that a team of monitors who lives the gospel, not by necessarily performing great performances, but by living love, patience, forgiveness, self-giving! To remain united, the Lord has given us an excellent way, which brings down many human weapons: praying together and for each other.

The monitor’s fights

Introduction

The enemy knows the importance of our work among children. He knows the potential of a young life saved. Those involved in working among children are therefore particularly in his sights.

If there is one job that brings a lot of joy, it is work among children. Their naturalness, their receptivity, their freshness are so communicative!

But there are also difficult moments in the life of the monitor, where he must struggle to continue in the face of the opposition he encounters.

The Word of God, the word of truth, which does not obscure any aspect of Christian life, offers us his answers so that our service may be imbued with the victory of the Lord Jesus.


The fighter, who is he?

– A person born from above,who went from Satan’s camp to God’s camp.

– A person engaged in service, “converted to God, abandoning idols to serve the living and true God” (1
Thessalonicians1.9), a person, therefore, disturbing to the enemy.
– A vulnerable, imperfect, weak, limited person: “We carry this treasure (Christ) in earthly vases, so that this great power may be attributed to God, not to us.” (2 Corinthians 4. 7)

– A person who can avail himself of the authority of his Lord. “You have everything fully in him, who is the leader of all domination and authority.” (Colossians 2:10)

Who is he fighting?

He does not fight against human beings,even if the enemy can use them to accomplish his plans.“For we do not have to fight against flesh and blood…” (Ephesians 6.12). His human enemies, he is called to love them: “Love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who mistreat you and persecute you…” (Matthew 5.44)

He fights against spiritual enemies: “… but against domination, against the authorities, against the princes of this world of darkness, against wicked spirits in heavenly places.” (Ephesians 6.12). Satan is the leader of these authorities, he prowls, watching our weaknesses, waiting for the favorable moment, full of cunning and lies, driven by the will to destroy God’s work and drag his creatures out of God’s plan.

What is the purpose of the fight?

The progress of the kingdom of God. Each fighter works in one or more spheres of activity (family, church, neighbourhood, professional environment …) to proclaim the bonne news of salvation and to make its contribution to the advancement of the kingdom of God.

We will talk specifically about child labour. As we said in the introduction, the enemy knows the importance of our work among children. He knows the potential of a young life saved. Those involved in working among children are therefore particularly in his sights.

External and internal fighting

There are the struggles we have to wage outside the people of God, when we have to face the opposition of the unbelievers. It is in prayer and with faith that these victories are achieved.
But we can also encounter opposition within God’s people. They manifest themselves in conflicts:

– with parents and children (disruptive children, careless parents…)
– with other monitors (lack of mutual love, patience, generational conflict…)
– with managers (lack of consideration, investment …)

We may finally have to fight in our personal and family sphere.

The enemy’s strategy

The enemy has a strategy described in the Word of God: “Your adversary, the devil, prowls like a roaring lion, searching for whom he will devour.” (1 Peter 5.8). He is on the lookout, waiting for the right moment: “The devil walked away from him until a favorable moment.” (Luke 4.13), in order to find an access in our hearts, if we do not watch.

How does he do it?

1) It infuses us with thoughts: discouragement, feelings of inferiority or worthlessness, resentment, oppressions, fears …

2) It seeks to seduce us by the search for popularity, success, a dishonest gain, concealment … “Peter said to him, Ananias, why did Satan fill your heart to the point that you are lying to the Holy Ghost, and you have withheld part of the price of the field?” (Acts 5: 3).

3) It harasses us with personal problems: family, children, health, work, money … We are not talking about possession by demonic spirits. Jesus and the apostles drove out the demons of people who came to them to be healed or to listen to the gospel. “Then, having called his twelve disciples, he gave them the power to drive out the unclean spirits, and to heal all sickness and infirmity.” (Matthew 10.1).

There is no example of a possessed Christian in the Word of God. Believers are the temple of the Holy Spirit: “Do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit that is in you, that you have received from God …?” (1 Corinthians 6:19).

But a Christian can be harassed: “Simon, Simon, Satan has asked you, to sift you down like wheat. But I prayed for you, so that your faith would not fail.” (Luke 22.31-32)

A Christian can give access to the enemy: “If you get angry, do not sin; that the sun does not set on your wrath, and do not give access to the devil.” (Ephesians 4.26-27); “As soon as the piece was given, Satan entered Judas.” (John 13.27).4)

4) He resists us. When one teaches the Word of God, one may feel resistance, opposition; the audience seems airtight, closed.

Our strategy

1) With regard to conflicts within god’s people, they are often mentioned in the Bible. Entire chapters deal with the reasons for these conflicts and instruct us on how we should respond according to the Lord. “Now, the works of the flesh are manifest, they are …enmities, quarrels, jealousies, animosities, disputes, divisions, sects…” (Galates 5.20). “Having purified your souls by obeying the truth in order to have a sincere fraternal love, love each other ardently with all your heart…” (1 Peter 1:22). Let us examine our hearts,our motivations, pray, praise and unload on the Lord.

2) Let us accept the discipline of our Lord. A disciple who does not follow his Master in obedience and submission will not achieve much in his work. He’ll do damage and hurt others. Let’s take a step back and consider God’s family. It is important to see beyond our small rivalries with each other. It is essential, vital, to maintain a climate of peace and love in the church. The resentments have moved so quickly! They sadden the Holy Spirit, prevent the fulfillment of our prayers and play the opponent’s game.

3) Let’s take care of each other. People are more important than programs and projects. One can always pray that the Lord will act mightily; however, if we do not obey him and submit to each other in love, the Holy Spirit is limited in his action. The spirit of judgment, rivalry, criticism and bad feelings towards others sadden the Holy Spirit.


4) Let’s be flexible in our relationships with others. We cannot impose our way of thinking about others, however good it may be to us. However, we must not give up when our fight is right; we must do everything we can to ensure that children are not left behind by the church (she will have to report to God for the children he has entrusted to her), so that a good understanding is established with the parents, so that a climate of collaboration exists between the monitors, all in love and respect, with patience (knowing how to wait) and in a spirit of peace.

5) Let us rely on the Word of God,feed our thoughts and certainties, in order to be able to resist as Jesus did when he was attacked: “The tempter, having approached him, said to him: If you are the Son of God, order that these stones become loaves. Jesus answered: It is written: Man will live not only on bread, but on every word that comes out of God’s mouth.” (Matthew 4.3)

6) Let us not listen to the enemy,let us not be persuaded by his seductive speeches. We can be easy prey for him if we struggle with our reasoning alone. It will play with our feelings, our impressions, it can lead us into a logic that will seem to stand from a human point of view, but which will have no biblical basis.

7) Let’s work in the way of God. How important it is to remain in Jesus when he is served, to listen to his instructions, to be subject to the directions of the Holy Spirit! We work in a spiritual field, even if it involves social, human, practical, playful. If we want a spiritual result, we must use:

– spiritual means, which we find in our communion with Jesus: “Stay in me, and I will remain in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit on its own, if it does not remain attached to the cep, so you cannot, if you do not remain in me. I’m the cep, you’re the branches. He who remains in me and in whom I live bears a great deal of fruit, for without me you can do nothing.”(John 15.4-5)

– and spiritual weapons, those of God: “Shut up with all the weapons of God,so that you can stand firm against the devil’s wiles…” (Ephesians 6:11-18)

8) Let us resist with faith. Let’s not be overwhelmed by the fact that we have fights. The Lord allows them, it is the test of our faith, which is necessary for our spiritual development, the perfection of our faith: “… so that the trial of your faith, more precious than the perishable gold which is nevertheless tested by fire, may result in praise, glory and honor, when Jesus Christ appears.” (1 Peter 1.7).

God returns the attacks to our advantage, and from the evil that is done to us comes out good: “We know, moreover, that all things contribute to the good of those who love God, of those who are called according to His plan.” (Romans 8: 28)

9) Let us not be afraid of fighting: the Lord “has stripped the dominations and the authorities, and delivered them publicly in spectacle, triumphing over them by the cross.” (Colossians 2:15); “… he who can do, by the power that acts in us, infinitely beyond all that we ask or think…” (Ephesians 3.20). “Who will separate us from the love of Christ? Will it be tribulation, or anguish, or persecution, or hunger, or nudity, or peril, or sword ?… But in all these things we are more than victorious by the one who loved us.” (Romans 8.33).

10) Let’s be aware of the fight. When we feel oppression, a resistance to the proclamation of the Word of God, let us not fight against people, but realize that it is the powers of darkness that resist us. Let us simply and firmly take possession by faith of the ground on which we stand. Let’s face it with confidence and let’s not be impressed: “Resist him with a firm faith, knowing that the same suffering is imposed on your brethren in the world.” (1 Peter 5.8-9); “Submit yourself to God; resist the devil, and he will flee away from you.” (James 4: 7).

Conclusion

In conclusion, what is victory? It is not to suffer, but to be active in the way of God:
– fight the good fight (don’t get the fight wrong)
– complete the race (persevere and finish)
– keep the faith


“I fought the good fight, I finished the race, I kept the faith.”
 (2 Timothy 4.1-18)

If we fight according to God’s rules, victory is absolutely certain!

Some key verses

Read these verses by observing the context in which they were written:
– 1 Stone 5.1-9
– James 4.1-7
– Ephesians 6.1-13
– 2 Timothy 4.1-18