Black Ops "there's a soldier in every one of us."

Illustrate here: video opener Black Ops 

Please welcome to our service tonight: United States Army Combat Engineer Specialist, Josh Wood. 

Black ops-A black operation or black op is a covert operation by a government, a government agency, military organization, private companies or groups. A black operation typically involves activities that are highly secretive and often outside of standard military/intelligence protocol, sometimes against the law-Secret operation that cannot be traced back to the parties involved.

1.Soldiers reject the enemy and his tactics.

a. The enemy uses sin to lure us uses sin to distract us, and then finally his ultimate goal uses sin to destroy us.

b.Stay away from the lure of sin and you'll stay out of the trap.

c. The enemy desires destruction; Godly soldiers desire freedom, justice, and safety.

                                                           i.      Temptation is a tactic of tremendous turmoil.

                                                        ii.      Temptation causes you to question your God, question your destiny, and question your mission.

                                                     iii.      Reject the enemies plan by not listening to his voice.

1.Don’t listen to his banter, refuse his thoughts.

2.Social media of the mind where the devil posts a status and you allow it to affect, infect and control you.

2.Soldiers accept training and leadership.

a. As a soldier you have to allow God to break your spirit.

b.Spirit breaking can be positive or negative.

                                                           i.      Negative spirit breaking is allowing someone to control you through physical, mental or emotional abuse, therefore allowing them to control your thoughts, your will and your emotions.

1.Many people think this is the kind of God we serve when in fact they are so mislead, so deceived, so elementary in their view.

                                                        ii.      Positive spirit breaking is accomplished through submission.

1.Submitting your self to the influence of God.

a. God, when allowed, will inspire your influence, encourage your will, He will never use circumstances to control you, and will never use His power to exert His authority in, over, or through you.

2.That’s not who or what God is.  

a. Inspire your influence; He will literally breathe life into every situation you will ever face. 

b.Encourage your will. We all live under the mandate and opportunity of free will.

c. God will never puppet string your life; He will always allow you to choose.

                                                                                                                                   i.      I can choose Him, I can choose to disregard Him, and His love for me will never change.

1.His goal for me will never change, I am a soldier.  

2.It’s never Yes sir I’m so scared of you cause you hate me so, It’s always, “God what did you plan for me today? God what did you have in mind for my future, my relationships, my attitude?”

3.Soldiers expect justice as the reward.

Philippians 2:13-17 (NLT)

For God is working in you, giving you the desire and the power to do what pleases him. [14] Do everything without complaining and arguing, [15] so that no one can criticize you. Live clean, innocent lives as children of God, shining like bright lights in a world full of crooked and perverse people. [16] Hold firmly to the word of life; then, on the day of Christ's return, I will be proud that I

did not run the race in vain and that my work was not useless. [17] But I will rejoice even if I lose my life, pouring it out like a liquid offering to God, just like your faithful service is an offering to God. And I want all of you to share that joy.”

a. Justice is the quality of being fair, being reasonable, the right thing.

b.There is a wrong/right way to treat people.

c. There is a wrong/right way to serve, give, encourage.

d.There is a wrong/right way to live.

e. There is a wrong/right way to learn.

                                                           i.      God is fair, reasonable, and right.

1.I will choose to be like Him, I am a soldier.

2.As a soldier I will mimic His every move.

  

4.Soldiers lead courageously.

a. Be worthy of following.

                                                           i.      Good leaders will never lead you into a destructive place.

                                                        ii.      Good leaders will never lead you into temptation, compromise, or sin.

                                                     iii.      Just because I’m a leader does not mean fear is never present.

1.Though in the face of fear I have to function, I have to operate; I have to continue my mission.

b.Be headed somewhere.

c. Don't live life haphazardly.

5.Soldiers focus on the task at hand.

James 5:7-8, NLT “Dear brothers and sisters, be patient as you wait for the Lord's return. Consider the farmers who patiently wait for the rains in the fall and in the spring. They eagerly look for the valuable harvest to ripen. You, too, must be patient. Take courage, for the coming of the Lord is near.”

a. The farmer must wait patiently for his crops to grow; he cannot hurry the process.

b.But he does not take the summer off and hope that all goes well in the fields.

                                                           i.      There is much work to do to ensure a good harvest.

                                                        ii.      In the same way, we must wait patiently for Christ's return.

                                                     iii.      We cannot make him come back any sooner.

c. But while we wait, there is much work that we can do to advance God's kingdom.

d.Both the farmer and the Christian must live by faith, looking toward the future reward for their labors.

                                                           i.      I’m not looking to just be blessed by my work for only tonight.

                                                        ii.      I have an eternal hope; I have an eternal mindset in that I expect God to continually reward my every effort for Him.

e. God is taking you through a process, don’t run from it!

f.    God is taking you through a process because you are a soldier, soldiers don’t run out, soldiers don’t quit, soldiers can’t dismiss the process and still expect to be soldiers.

                                                           i.      Those people are called civilians.

g.Don't live as if Christ will never come. Work faithfully to build his kingdom--the King will come when the time is right.

Illustrate Here: There’s a soldier in every one of us. 

h.The devil's surprise-destroy every human being he can.

i.     God's surprise-provide a rescue mission for every human through His son Jesus Christ.   

Isaiah 9:6-7 (NLT) “For a child is born to us, a son is given to us. The government will rest on His shoulders. And he will be called: Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. [7] His government and its peace will never end. He will rule with fairness and justice from the throne of his ancestor David for all eternity. The passionate commitment of the Lord of Heaven's Armies will make this happen!”

6.Soldiers are trained to search, rescue and to never leave another soldier behind.

1 Thessalonians 4:16-18 (NLT) "For the Lord himself will come down from heaven with a commanding shout, with the voice of the

archangel, and with the trumpet call of God. First, the Christians who have died will rise from their graves. [17] Then, together with them, we who are still alive and remain on the earth will be caught up in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. Then we will be with the Lord forever. [18] So encourage

each other with these words."

a. Encourage one another with these words.

b.Live in anticipation!

                                                           i.      317 times in the New Testament heaven or the rapture is mentioned. (The word rapere and its derivations means to be caught up, plucked up, or taken by force.  It was the Latin word for the Greek word harpazo, which means “to seize upon with force” or “to snatch away” in 1 Thessalonians 4:17.)

c. Heaven is real declare it, live it out, talk about it!

                                                           i.      Live like your going to it!

d.“There’s a soldier in every one of us” means, there lies in the heart of every one of us the potential for doing unbelievable, physically in achievable miraculous works for God. 

                                                           i.      I love how that video shows everyday average people fighting for their cause and winning.

                                                        ii.      Surprising the enemy with what they didn’t ever expect, me having the upper hand, because of Christ. 

Next Month our seven core values:

Black Ops "Training"

Black ops-a covert operation by a government, government agency, military organization, private companies or groups. A black operation typically involves activities that are highly secretive and often outside of standard military/intelligence protocol, sometimes against the law-Secret operation that cannot be traced back to the parties involved.

Isaiah 9:6-7 (NLT) "For a child is born to us, a son is given to us. The government will rest on his shoulders. And he will be called: Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. [7] His government and its peace will never end. He will rule with fairness and justice from the throne of his ancestor David for all eternity. The passionate commitment of the Lord of Heaven's Armies will make this happen!"

1. Trust your leader.

Lead-to guide some one or some thing along a way.
Military trusts their Lieutenants, Captains, Majors, Colonels, and Generals.
Athletes trust their coaches, assistant coaches, trainers, and managers.
Construction workers trust their owners, Foreman's, and their Supervisors.
Every person has leaders below them and above them.
It's called authority.
When I think of trusting my leader it's not just out of fear, but it's out of honor, it's out of discipline, it's out of my respect for their hard work and ability.
Trusting my leader means I'm placing confidence in them, I'm trusting they will lead to the destination God has purposed for us all.
Leaders understand submission.
Leaders operate in submission and authority.
The right amount of humility and authority creates the perfect leader.
If you are so passive you won't meet new people or fix a problem even if you have to tackle it yourself you need new training, you've never followed your leader.
If you are so authority driven that you overstep people, disregard them, ignore their best interests, or trample them you need new training, you've never followed your leader.
Willing to be trained.
Are you willing to receive training?
Willing to implement that training?
Training is an essential element to be able to carry out any covert, black op, or secret mission.
Training is a constant.

Hebrews 13:15-17 (NLT)
"Therefore, let us offer through Jesus a continual sacrifice of praise to God, proclaiming our allegiance to his name. [16] And don't forget to do good and to share with those in need. These are the sacrifices that please God. [17] Obey your spiritual leaders, and do what they say. Their work is to watch over your souls, and they are accountable to God. Give them reason to do this with joy and not with sorrow. That would certainly not be for your benefit."

2. Trust your team.

Your team is a highly trained, seriously dangerous, mission driven, vision seeing, bunch of professionals, or they should be.
Many times because of the "lack of training" many Christians refuse to trust their team in any effort.
Many because of jealousy, many because of insecurity, many because of power struggle, many out of rebellion, many out of selfishness, and many because they refuse to submit to their leader or team.
Teams operate best as teams.
We have to trust that our team will make decisions for the cause of the whole vision.
We have to trust that our team will see the big picture and capture that effort.
We have been in the same training.
We have been in the same efforts.
We are fighting the same battle against sin, the Devil, and time.
We share the same leader.
We share a common vision, "To go into all the world and share the life altering, eternity changing Gospel of Jesus Christ."
We share the work load of that mission, cause, and dream.

3. Trust your equipment.

A police officer trusts his leader, his training, and his equipment.
He trusts that his equipment will not fail him.
He trusts that his weapons, tools, and equipment will be there for him when called upon.
Christians should trust the bible.
Well I'm not sure about all the things in here...well I believe this but not that, we'll I think this or I think that...not me man, if the bible would have said that Jonah swallowed the great fish I would believe it, that Shadrach, Meshach, Abednego and the entire world was thrown into the fiery furnace and came out alive I would believe it.
If it said that the entire nation of Israel walked on water, killed T-Rex with their bare hands I would believe it.
Christians should trust prayer.
Don't use prayer to just gripe, complain, whine.
Use prayer to encourage your leader, your self, and others.
Prayer is the Christians untapped tool, untapped in its thought, use, and implementation.
Christians should trust the Spirit.
The Spirit of Christ in us, the Spirit of God in us, that's the Holy Spirits message to the entire world is through us of Christ's birth, death, burial, resurrection, and eternal life giving power.
Christians should trust each other.
Already covered this in teams.
Christians should trust fasting, giving, serving, love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.
Our equipment, unlike the world is flawless, it's perfect, it's able to do the miraculous, the impossible, and the unheard of.
Our equipment makes an eternal difference.
Our equipment when used correctly could change the world.
Let's encourage it, let's engage it, let's model it.

God is always looking for "those who are willing to do what others will not." 

Next Month we teach on Youthrock's 7 core values:

Oxymoron Christianity death of a moron

Unforgiving Christian

Non serving Christian

Non giving Christian

Non witnessing Christian

Cursed Christian

Cheap Leader/Christian

Potty Mouth Christian

Backbiting Christian

Negative/Discouraging Christian

Hopeless Christian

Thankless Christian

Non Tithing Christian

Broke Christian

Prayer less Christian

Non bible reading Christian

Non fasting Christian

Disrespectful/Hateful Christian

Non Church attending Christian

Addicted Christian

Depressed Christian

Worried Christian

Critical Christian

Judgmental Christian

Rebellious Christian

I could go on all day of the incorrect ways we as Christians are to function and operate, to act or not act, live or not live. This month we have been discussing Oxymoron Christianity which means the terms are in direct conflict of each other when said together. These sound so funny to us, even ridiculous yet this is the exact way many Christians choose to live their Christian lives.

This is what they choose.

1.When you hear the word of God and refuse to respond to it's life altering, life saving message that's rebellion.

•      God's Word is life giving, God's word brings joy, brings health, passion, strength and freedom to all who embrace it.

•                  Christians many times refuse to read the word of God so when troublesome times come we're in fear.

•                  When financial duress shows up were faithless and discouraged.

•                  When we get criticized, or judged we become bitter, frustrated, and hatful instead of motivated and relentless to fulfill our God mission.

•                  When we get trapped by sin we stay incarcerated because we forget the very reason Jesus came, to free mankind!

•                  When the enemy rushes into our situation we operate out of frustration, discouragement, & disbelief instead of faith, confidence, & courage.

Romans 12:8 (NLT) "If your gift is to encourage others, be encouraging. If it is giving, give generously. If God has given you leadership ability, take the responsibility seriously. And if you have a gift for showing kindness to others, do it gladly."

"Some churches exist in a city, some against the city, we exist FOR the city."

I believe Solid Rock exists for the city.

•      OUR VISION:is to provide a church where people can be saved, healed, set free, discipled, equipped, empowered, and serving.

•      OUR MISSION:is to light the darkness and help every person in Jesus, become a disciple and build his kingdom.

•                  If we can't share a vision we can't arrive at the same destination.

•                  God has a perfect plan for the church, our job is to live out that mission.

Matthew 28:19-20 (NLT)

Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. [20] Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age."

2. Jesus lead with passion, excitement, tenacity, power, authority, and the Kingdom of God progressed.

•      Don't mistake Him for being a wimp He was the man of all men.

•      He grew up a carpenter. You don't really see wimpy men in construction.

He lived His life in the perfect balance of the fruits of the Spirit

Galatians 5:22-23 (NLT) "But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, [23] gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these things!"

•      Yet He exuded the kind of aggressiveness that made warriors take notice, the type of formation that made the military pay attention, the category of authority that only Kings displayed.

•      We have to take notice of this infallible leader and choose to mimic Him in all that we say, think, or do.

"A leader takes people where they want to go. A great leader takes people where they don’t want to go, but ought to be."

Galatians 2:16 "Yet we know that a person is made right with God by faith in Jesus Christ, not by obeying the law. And we have believed in Christ Jesus, so that we might be made right with God because of our faith in Christ, not because we have obeyed the law. For no one will ever be made right with God by obeying the law."

•      There are 613 points of Jewish law that one would must fulfill to be considered a perfect law keeper.

•                  That is impossible!

•      Yet Jesus learned that law, abided by that law, and became the perfect sacrifice for all mankind.

•      This is vital to our faith, and our eternity.

•                  Being a good manager of our Christian walk is one of God's ultimate goals for the Christian.

•      Us dying to our moronic nature should be ours.

3. How can you hold on to a good conscience?

1 Timothy 1:19, NLT "Cling to your faith in Christ, and keep your conscience clear. For some people have deliberately violated their consciences; as a result, their faith has been shipwrecked."

•      Treasure your faith in Christ more than anything else and do what you know is right.

•                  Each time you deliberately ignore your conscience, you are hardening your heart.

•      Over a period of time your capacity to tell right from wrong will diminish.

•      You essentially telling God, "I can run my life so much better, I can run my marriage so much better, I could plan my future so much better, and I could handle my spirituality so much better."

•                  This is not allowing Christ to be Lord, Savior, Deliverer, Leader, Healer, and protector of your life you have now dethroned Him then hired, promoted, and exalted yourself for the job.

•                  Or worse you allow people, culture, society and media to guide you.

•                  As you walk with God, He will speak to you through your conscience, letting you know the difference between right and wrong.

•      Real simple sounds like, "Hey that's not the best decision you could make right now. Hey that decision will have terrible repercussions on you, your family, those that love you and those you love. Hold on there is a better way."

•                  Be sure to act and react to those inner tugs so that you do what is right--then your conscience will remain clear.

•      Your conscience is not God but God has placed that inside each of us to help us be guided by His will.

•                  Your conscience will help kill the moron inside.

•                  Sin desires to keep us moronic in our decisions, moronic in our goals, and moronic especially in our God relationship.

•      Moron simply means-a stupid person. 

•                  How ridiculous is it that we think God is ever moronic about being God?

•                  How stupid of us to think that as "For God loved the world so much that he gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life. [17] God sent his Son into the world not to judge the world, but to save the world through him."

God loves us more than we could ever dream, think, imagine, or understand!