Young Guns Jacob/Esau/John the Baptist

Young Guns Jacob/Esau John the Baptist

This series takes on such a cool feel to me for when you begin to talk about young leaders who are dangerous to hell, dangerous to the Devil, dangerous to everything evil and destructive that fires me up like no other.

Genesis 25:27-34 (NLT)

"As the boys grew up, Esau became a skillful hunter. He was an outdoorsman, but Jacob had a quiet temperament, preferring to stay at home. [28] Isaac loved Esau because he enjoyed eating the wild game Esau brought home, but Rebekah loved Jacob. [29] One day when Jacob was cooking some stew, Esau arrived home from the wilderness exhausted and hungry. [30] Esau said to Jacob, "I'm starved! Give me some of that red stew!" [31] "All right," Jacob replied, "but trade me your rights as the firstborn son." [32] "Look, I'm dying of starvation!" said Esau. "What good is my birthright to me now?" [33] But Jacob said, "First you must swear that your birthright is mine." So Esau swore an oath, thereby selling all his rights as the firstborn to his brother, Jacob. [34] Then Jacob gave Esau some bread and lentil stew. Esau ate the meal, then got up and left. He showed contempt for his rights as the firstborn."

• A birthright was a special honor given to the firstborn son.
• It included a double portion of the family inheritance along with the honor of one day becoming the family's leader.
• The oldest son could sell his birthright or give it away if he chose, but in so doing, he would lose both material goods and his leadership position.
• By trading his birthright, Esau showed complete disregard for the blessings that would have come his way if he had kept it.
• Esau traded the lasting benefits of his birthright for the immediate pleasure of food.
• Esau exaggerated his hunger. "I'm dying of starvation!" he said.
• The pressure of the moment distorted his perspective and made his decision seem urgent.
• He acted on impulse, satisfying his immediate desires without considering the long-range consequences.
• We can fall into the same trap.
• When we see something we want, our first impulse is to get it and we can exaggerate its importance in the moment.
• We can avoid making Esau's mistake by comparing the short-term satisfaction with the long-range consequences.
• We often experience pressures like Esau did.
• For example, when we feel sexual temptation, a purity vow, a marriage vow may seem unimportant.
• Maybe you haven't prepared for a big test and cheating seems like now the only option you got, resisting that urge builds character, cheating destroys it.
• Maybe you choose to do things feeling as if no one is looking, no one is paying a attention, no one cares.
• When I begin hearing that voice immediately I rebuke it knowing that I will know, I will see, I will experience the pain, shame and guilt of doing wrong and that it will disappoint my God.
• Perspective is everything.
• Your attitude and the way you regard life, your calling, your relationships, and others is everything.
• Getting through that short, pressure-filled moment is often the most difficult part of overcoming temptation.
• Ask God to help you see life from His perspective and to help you resist making Esau-like choices.
•  Instead of selling our birthright we need to embrace it.
• Embrace that God has called, destined, and designed you for this purpose. 
•  It's choice not chance that determines your destiny in life.
• My birthright is what God has planned for me.
• It's what He has designed, blueprinted, and planed for me.
• This is so special to me.
• This is something I will protect even if it were to cost my life, my birthright.
• My freedoms, God's exceptional purpose through me.

 

Illustrate here: Blue Prints. 

• God has constructed me in such a manner and He built everyone of us with great thought, with great design, with greatness deposited inside of each area of our lives.
• Why would I ever disregard, dismantle, or destroy that?
• I wouldn't trade that for anything this world would ever have to offer.

 
Speaking of that another Young Gun comes to mind named John the Baptist.
 
Luke 1:8-17 (NLT)
"One day Zechariah was serving God in the Temple, for his order was on duty that week. [9] As was the custom of the priests, he was chosen by lot to enter the sanctuary of the Lord and burn incense. [10] While the incense was being burned, a great crowd stood outside, praying. [11] While Zechariah was in the sanctuary, an angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing to the right of the incense altar. [12] Zechariah was shaken and overwhelmed with fear when he saw him. [13] But the angel said, "Don't be afraid, Zechariah! God has heard your prayer. Your wife, Elizabeth, will give you a son, and you are to name him John. [14] You will have great joy and gladness, and many will rejoice at his birth, [15] for he will be great in the eyes of the Lord. He must never touch wine or other alcoholic drinks. He will be filled with the Holy Spirit, even before his birth. [16] And he will turn many Israelites to the Lord their God. [17] He will be a man with the spirit and power of Elijah. He will prepare the people for the coming of the Lord. He will turn the hearts of the fathers to their children, and he will cause those who are rebellious to accept the wisdom of the godly."

• Filled with the Holy Spirit within his mothers womb God had a plan for this Young Gun.
• While Zechariah was in the "House of God" representing and serving the people of God an angel came and spoke to him about his family.
• God is personal, His design is personal, His plan is personal, His presence is personal, His dream and mission for you is personal.

 
John 1:6,7 (NLT)
"God sent a man, John the Baptist, [7] to tell about the light so that everyone might believe because of his testimony."
 

• You talk about being blueprinted, the scripture stated that "God sent a man" I love this God sent, John went.
• We need to have this mindset built into our psyche that we will hear from God, then do what He says.
• Don't make excuses, don't waste time, don't procrastinate, just execute.
• Execute His plan for us.

 
John 1:17,32-37 (NLT)
"[17] For the law was given through Moses, but God's unfailing love and faithfulness came through Jesus Christ. [32] Then John testified, "I saw the Holy Spirit descending like a dove from heaven and resting upon him. [33] I didn't know he was the one, but when God sent me to baptize with water, he told me, 'The one on whom you see the Spirit descend and rest is the one who will baptize with the Holy Spirit.' [34] I saw this happen to Jesus, so I testify that he is the Chosen One of God." [35] The following day John was again standing with two of his disciples. [36] As Jesus walked by, John looked at him and declared, "Look! There is the Lamb of God!" [37] When John's two disciples heard this, they followed Jesus."
 

• A great leader of God will always point all to Jesus.

Next month at Youthrock: 

 

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:

the table

We've had a powerful series this month and tonight we'll conclude on the thought of "what are you bringing to the table?"

Romans 6:13 "Do not let any part of your body become an instrument of evil to serve sin. Instead, give yourselves completely to God, for you were dead, but now you have new life. So use your whole body as an instrument to do what is right for the glory of God."

1.When Paul uses the term "instrument of evil," he uses a word that can refer to a tool or weapon.

1.Our skills, capabilities, and bodies can serve many purposes, good and bad.

1.In sin, every part of our bodies are vulnerable.

2.In Christ, every part can be an instrument for service.

1.It is the one to whom we offer our service that makes the difference.

3.Will you give yourself completely to God, asking him to put you to good use for his glory?

2.What part of your body have you not completely given to God?

1.Your mind? Choices, attitudes, wandering.

2 Corinthians 10:3-5 (NLT) "We are human, but we don't wage war as humans do. [4] We use God's mighty weapons, not worldly weapons, to knock down the strongholds of human reasoning and to destroy false arguments. [5] We destroy every proud obstacle that keeps people from knowing God. We capture their rebellious thoughts and teach them to obey Christ."

1.Your Spirit? The true inner workings of God in you. Your emotions, character, true you. The you God knows.

1.Omnipresent-God is present everywhere all at the same time.

2.Omniscient-God knows all things.

3.Omnipotent-God's unlimited power, able to do anything.

Hebrews 12:9 (NLT) "Since we respected our earthly fathers who disciplined us, shouldn't we submit even more to the discipline of the Father of our spirits, and live forever?"

1.Your members?

1 Corinthians 9:27 (NLT) "I discipline my body like an athlete, training it to do what it should. Otherwise, I fear that after preaching to others I myself might be disqualified."

1.Discipline your mind, your spirit and your body to do what you want and need it to do for God.

2.Don't disqualify yourself by not hearing and responding to the voice of God.

3.Don't disqualify yourself by knowing what to do then refusing to make yourself do it.

4.Your body and all it's 2000 parts is a terrible thing to waste but such a powerful thing to surrender.

Proverbs 6:16-19 (NLT) "There are six things the Lord hates- no, seven things he detests: [17] haughty eyes, a lying tongue, hands that kill the innocent, [18] a heart that plots evil, feet that race to do wrong, [19] a false witness who pours out lies, a person who sows discord in a family."

1.Haughty eyes.

1.Arrogantly superior.

2.Lying tongue.

1.Refusal to tell the truth.

3.Hands that kill the innocent.

1. Abortion, murder.

4.A heart that plots evil.

5.Feet that race to do wrong.

6.A false witness who pours out lies.

7.A person who sows discord in a family.

1.These sins are in a provoking manner to God, which are hurtful to the comfort of human life.

1.These things which God hates, we must hate in ourselves; it is nothing to hate them in others.

2.Let us reject all such practices, watch and pray against them;avoid, with marked disapproval, all who are guilty of them, whatever may be their rank.

1.When I think about what I bring to the table, what I personally offer, I want to be loyal to God, loyal to His message, loyal to His mission and not just faithful.

1.There is a huge difference between being loyal and being faithful.

2.Many people faithful to the core but disloyal to the cause.

Loyal-showing firm and constant support or allegiance to a person or institution.

Faithful-constant, reliable.

1.It could be that your current life challenge is just God giving you an opportunity to do something you've never ever done before?

1.To be a voice of God to this generation you must know who and what you are to this generation.

2.God has gifted you, open your mouth to speak for Him, open your heart to serve for Him, open your ears to the injustice in this society, and open yourself to others they desperately need the message.

Romans 12:9-10, NLT "Don't just pretend to love others. Really love them. Hate what is wrong. Hold tightly to what is good. Love each other with genuine affection, and take delight in honoring each other."

1.Most of us have learned how to pretend to love others--how to speak kindly, avoid hurting their feelings, and appear to take an interest in them.

2.We may even be skilled in pretending to feel moved with compassion when we hear of others' needs, or to become indignant when we learn of injustice.

1.But God calls us to real and sincere love that goes far beyond pretense and politeness.

2.Sincere love requires concentration and effort.

3.It means helping others become better people.

4.It demands our time, money, and personal involvement.

1.We are the change the world is waiting for.

2.We've got a love the world is desperate for.

1.Use my calling, use my gift to change the world!

1.Now, right now is my time I am the voice to this generation I abandon all to you God and only to you will I surrender.

2.Carry hope, let love shine and show this world that mercy is alive.

3.Whatever you are bringing to the table is what is being consumed by this generation, by this culture, by society, by your friends, your family.

1.So it's imperative that you bring your very best, your anointed, your reason and calling from God to this table.

4.The world needs your testimony of hope, your testimony of passion, your testimony of salvation, your testimony of rescue, your testimony of His Spirit's power working in you!

Acts 4:32-33 (NLT) "All the believers were united in heart and mind. And they felt that what they owned was not their own, so they shared everything they had. [33] The apostles testified powerfully to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and God's great blessing was upon them all."

1.God's great blessing was upon them all.

1.God's great favor and protection was upon them all.

2.Your love in us has given us the power to change the world.

3.Your love in us is how we change the world.