Wayne Van Gelderen: What a privilege it is to be a Christian. I remember when it dawned on me when I was saved, I was placed into Christ. I was immersed in him.

Romans chapter six says, I was placed into his very life and his life into me, with the Spirit of God coming into my life. That meant then that my life now has a whole different purpose. And then when it began to dawn on me that having this relationship with Christ meant that I had a relationship with the local church, because the church is the body of Christ.

That really changed my whole sense of who I was and why church was so important. Young person, I want to encourage you to realize that you are important to the Lord. If you are saved, you have the Spirit of God dwelling in you.

You are joined to Christ. And if you will put yourself in the place that God wants you, you will be united with a local church, which is the body of Christ. Christ is the head, and we are his instruments to accomplish his will in this day and age in which we live.

You know, it’s really exciting to be part of God’s plan. Did you know that you are important? Not because of who you are?

We’re only sinners saved by grace. But you’re important because Christ has a great work to do, and he wants you to be part of it. Let me tell you, if you’re not intricately part of your church, you’re not going to understand that.

You’re going to feel disconnected from the Lord. You’re going to wonder, what is your purpose? You are going to find yourself being very self-focused.

And if you only just go to church or attend here or there, or you’re not really part of it, you’re going to be missing that deep driving identity that God wants you to have. You see, each of you listening to me today have a spiritual gift. You have a distinct part of the local church.

First Corinthians chapter twelve makes it very clear that God gives severally, as he will, the spiritual gifts. They’re not all the same. They’re different.

Each one is unique. As Ephesians chapter four says, we’re all given that measure of the gift of Christ. We find in the fourth chapter.

And so each one of us has a distinct work in the local church that nobody else can quite do the same way. You say, you know, I’m only fourteen years old. The Spirit of God is eternal and he’s in you.

Think about that. A fourteen year old walking with God can have a dramatic impact upon the church of the Living God. You’re part of the body of Christ.

Our problem is we don’t walk with the Lord enough to see him use us miraculously. I love it when I see teens really get on fire for God. You can look in their eye and you realize they’re walking with the Lord and they begin to realize, whoa, my life can count now.

I am part of a big deal. I am part of the creator’s body, so to speak. I am part of his plan for this day and age here in this year, I am right in the center of his will and then they begin to see miracles happen.

God answers prayer. God allows them to touch other folks spiritually. They see people saved.

They begin to realize that they’re not limited by their lack of ability, that they have his supernatural ability. And it’s just exciting. And then they see other people in the church.

Adults realize this young person has the hand of God upon them, not because they’re anything special. None of us are, but because God is special and God’s doing a special work. It’s really wonderful for me to see young people in our church when they get on fire for God, understand how much others appreciate them and need them, and to see the unity that comes between them and the adults in the church.

And they begin to have a camaraderie that brings a unity and a real sense of encouragement to that teenager, because they are now not just a kid off in the youth group. They are part of seeing the work of Christ go forward. And then as you get older, God’s going to call you to do some very specific things to serve him.

And when a church is on fire for God, that church can affect a community. It can affect the world. God spread local churches all around the world.

After Christ ascended to the right hand of the Father, and the apostles went forth, and just the common people of Jerusalem began to move out. And God used them mightily in the church of God in that day. Reached from England to China before the first century was over.

Think of what God wants to do today. You’re part of it. When you surrender, when you’re completely dependent upon God, God will do that work.

So, young person, I want you to be encouraged. Your life does matter. God has you part of his very body, the body of Christ, the local church.

Value it. Be there whenever you can, whenever the door is open. Trust the authority within that church to lead and guide you through the preaching and through counsel, and commit yourself to sacrifice to accomplish what God would have you accomplish right in these teen years.

Love your church, be loyal to it. Give of your heart to the Lord, and you’ll be amazed what God would do if you do that. May God bless you and may you get excited about the potential you have right now to make a difference for Christ.