God Of My Youth, Forget Me Not In My Old Age, Pastor Samuel Obafaiye

God Of My Youth, Forget Me Not In My Old Age, Pastor Samuel Obafaiye

The life of all mammals and plants have a beginning and end. In between these two points is a middle position where all organism reach a peak or plateau and from there they begin to experience a decline.

The bible put the old age of man at 70-80 years. After which the bible says life may become more challenging (Psalms 90:10). With that figure in mind, it means that life climax or peak is about 35-40 years, after which the law of diminishing returns do set in.

Little wonder we start growing grey hairs at 35 and above. The good news, however, is that our God can stem or override any law. May you not experience diminishing returns at 40, 50, 60, 70 in Jesus name. Your strength shall not decline. At 70, may you still be strong.

Jesus said “It is finished” before He gave up His spirit. Meaning there is nothing more He wanted to do.
You will not exit this world before your Divine time.
You will complete your assignment before you release your spirit.

The glory of the youth is their strength, because of this, it is possible for youths to think they can help themselves and not require the help and assistance of anyone, including God. But as life progresses, a time comes when the youth later realise that he now needs help.

David became the king of Judah at 30 years and the king of Israel at 37 years (2 Sam. 5:5); and finally died at 70 years (2 Sam. 5:4). The bible says he died at a ripe old age.
1 Chronicles 29:26-28 – Thus David the son of Jesse reigned over all Israel. And the time that he reigned over Israel was forty years; seven years reigned he in Hebron, and thirty and three years reigned he in Jerusalem. And he died in a good old age, full of days, riches, and honour: and Solomon his son reigned in his stead.

He had nothing else to do.
He completed his assignment.
He fulfilled his purpose for living.
He was able to see the continuation of his legacy in Solomon.
– May you live to a good old age.
May you be full of days. Full of riches. Full of honour. May the seed from your loin/womb later reign in your stead.

In I Kings 1:1-4, prior to David’s death, the bible recorded that he started feeling funny, he was always feeling cold. So his servants got him a young girl to keep him warm, but David knew that it wasn’t the help of a man he needed, but the help of God. So David had to pray.

Psalms 71:17-18 – O God, thou hast taught me from my youth: and hitherto have I declared thy wondrous works. Now also when I am old and gray-headed, O God, forsake me not; until I have shewed thy strength unto this generation, and thy power to everyone that is to come.

The God that helped him at possibly 15 to kill lion and bear.
The God that helped him to kill Goliath at 17.
The God that defended him from King Saul until he was 30.
The God that defended him from General Abner and Ishibosheth, the son of Saul until he was 37.
That same God should not forsake him. God didn’t. His life ended peacefully.

God has helped us to cross over different hurdles in our early years, we can still trust in Him in our older years and till our final days.

It is important to know that David was able to enjoy the help of God because he obeyed God from his youth. Big lessons for our youth.
Romans 12:1-2 – I beseech you, therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

For us to enjoy God till our hairs all go grey, we must obey God in our younger years. We must be ready to learn from Him.

Proverbs 14:12 – There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.

Proverbs 19:21 – There are many devices in a man’s heart; nevertheless the counsel of the Lord, that shall stand.

David must have been taught of God to have succeeded in life. This is evident in his wisdom, forgiveness, repentance, devotion, writings, etc.

We too must offer ourselves to be taught of God in order to finish well and not only just start well.
God taught David through:
– His word (Psalm 119:9-11). A young man keeps his way pure…
– His prophets (Samuel, Nathan, Gad)
– His Spirit (I Sam. 30:1-8).
– Life challenges (Saul, Absalom, Ahitophel, Joab, Shemei, Jonathan).

What have you learnt from God?
Who have you learned from His prophets?
What have you learned from God’s word?
In what way have you received God’s instructions.
What lessons have remained with you?
Are you profiting from your past and present life experiences?

David said that God has taught him from his youth, meaning that he did not stop to learn. We must not grow physically and spiritually to where we are no longer learning. When one stops learning, they start diminishing.

Apostle Paul with all his knowledge of Christ was still yearning to know more (Phil. 3:10-11). How much of God do you know? Are you satisfied with all you know? Do you truly seek to know more?

David enjoyed the help of God in his old age because he used his mouth and his life to declare the wondrous works of God. David took every opportunity to show forth the glory of God. E.g. killing Goliath of Gath.

Whatever we do in life, our main assignment must be to declare the wondrous works of God. When God sees that, He will be more willing to help us till old age.

We must, however, be able to distinguish the wondrous works of God from the promotional works of men. In what way are you using your life to show forth the praise of God? This is the time for you to do so.

May God not forsake you in your old age.
Of what importance is a life that was enjoyed the help of God in the youth but in old age?
Lot‘s end did not go well.
Judah messed up is old age.
King Solomon didn’t do well either.
King Asa made a mess of his old age.
May your old age be fine. May all ends well for you.

Though David was in his old age, yet he wanted God to still use him to show forth His strength to the present generation and His power to future generations. No wonder we are reading about David today.
Are you passionate about what God can do in your life?

What lion have you killed to glorify God?
What Goliath have you slain?
That must have been yesterday.
What are you doing for the present generation to see?
What are you doing for the future generations to see?
This is the time to do it. Your hairs will soon turn grey.
May God help us till the end in Jesus name.

Prayers
Psalms 71:17-18 O God, thou hast taught me from my youth: and hitherto have I declared thy wondrous works. Now also when I am old and gray-headed, O God, forsake me not; until I have shewed thy strength unto this generation, and thy power to everyone that is to come.

– Father, teach me throughout my lifetime.
– Father, help me to declare your wondrous works.
– Father, do not forsake me throughout my days.
– Father, help me to show thy strength to my generation and your power to generations to come.

The sermon, God Of My Youth, Forget Me Not In My Old Age, Pastor Samuel Obafaiye, was delivered on June 24, 2018, on the occasion of Special Elders’ Service