A Youth/Hyphen that does Know their God!

How well do you know Jesus?

Question, what are some of the characteristics that identify a good relationship?

Scriptures:

Jeremiah 9:23-24 “Thus says the Lord: “Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom, Let not the mighty man glory in his might, Nor let the rich man glory in his riches; But let him who glories glory in this, That he understands and knows Me, That I am the Lord, exercising lovingkindness, judgment, and righteousness in the earth. For in these I delight,” says the Lord.”

Luke 9:51-56 “Now it came to pass, when the time had come for Him to be received up, that He steadfastly set His face to go to Jerusalem, and sent messengers before His face. And as they went, they entered a village of the Samaritans, to prepare for Him. But they did not receive Him, because His face was set for the journey to Jerusalem. And when His disciples James and John saw this, they said, “Lord, do You want us to command fire to come down from heaven and consume them, just as Elijah did?” But He turned and rebuked them, and said, “You do not know what manner of spirit you are of. For the Son of Man did not come to destroy men’s lives but to save them.” And they went to another village.”

John 14:8-9 “Philip said to Him, “Lord, show us the Father, and it is sufficient for us.” Jesus said to him, “Have I been with you so long, and yet you have not known Me, Philip? He who has seen Me has seen the Father; so how can you say, ‘Show us the Father’?”

Introduction

Scientist till this day have not come together to agree how many galaxies there are, how many starts there are, how many planets there are. To be quite honest this is an impossible feat. Only God know the exact number, not knows how many universes there are.

> Anyone get excited that If HE know the exact number of all this He knows exactly where you are, what you have need of and what your future holds?

> You serve a powerful God, God is not a concept or a thought but He is a real entity!

> He fills all space and is everywhere at all times.

> He”s so powerful and guess what?............... HE is longing for you!!!!! God desires to have you, youre Heart, by that I mean your affections, attention, companionship!!

It is Gods hearts desire that we should know Him!

Even the disciples, James and John, which walked with Jesus for three years, couldnt really comprehend His Heart and Charcter, we read in Luke 9: 51-56 They were asking for Jesus to destroy that which He came to save.

They did not understand that the heart of Jesus was one full of Love, and compassion, they did not understand that He had in his heart to forgive them, this reveals that they knew Jesus very little.

If were not careful we can know Jesus at a certain level and be missing out on more of Him.

There is too much to know about Him. He is so vast, but at the same time He is not impersonal.

We see in John 14:8-9 that even Philip failed in recognizing His divinity, His Essence. Have I been with you so long, and yet you have not known me? That I am the father?

It is Gods desire to reveal Himself to us, in a genuine and powerful way. But before we can know Him in an a deeper way there are things that we will have to do to better our relationship with Him.

young people this is much more than rules and regulations, it is much more than what to do and what not to do, this is about a God that created the heavens and the earth wanting you to love Him and walk with with Him.

We cannot be fooled that our eternity is secured because we are dedicated to a religion. Our dedication ought to be to Jesus Himself.

True Christianity is simoly a relationship with the Person of Jesus Christ, we simply do and do not do things because there are things God does and does not like.

Our God has feelings like you have feelings, character, thoughts and desires. He can happy or mad.

Gods desire is that we live connected to Him. In Matthew 11:28-30

Matthew 11:28–30 NKJV

Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.”

This invitation is for us to come to Him personaly. So that we can learn from Him, you know what He desire to teach you… Lead you! The Invitation still stands.

Unfortunately ther had been times in my own life that I believe God might have utter the words He once did in Jeremiah 2:32 “Can a virgin forget her ornaments, Or a bride her attire? Yet My people have forgotten Me days without number.”

They had gone after idols...

God is so determined to know you and have relationship with you that He will allow things to happen to you in hopes that you turn to Him so that He may reveal Himself. This is what He did to the children of Israel when they were taken into captivity.

And God in His love and mercy he speaks to them while they were yet captive… Jeremiah 29:11 “For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope.”

Hey Israel I am not done with you, I still have a future for you… rebuke the enemy when He speaks to you and tells you to give up youre future in God is over because you cant seem to get it together… Come To Jesus.....

It is not the will of God for us to live in spiritual darkness. Its His will for us to live illuminated by His Spirit, Love and Wisdom.

Believe it or not each and everyone of you has a place in God, youre actually the only feet that fit this pair of shoes… Lol.

I pray that by the end of the night you make a commitment to pursue it Like never before.

I believe I'm looking into the faces of world changers but before we can do that we must make sure we are in relationship with Him!!!!

Daniel 11:32 “Those who do wickedly against the covenant he shall corrupt with flattery; but the people who know their God shall be strong, and carry out great exploits.”

I wonder what would happen in the city of Tyler with a youth/Hyphen that is so on fire for Jesus because they know Him and He talks to them regularly.

God can do great things through you.

Imagine being used in the gifts of faith, healing, disenrment, gift of miracles, prophecy.... diverse tongues and the interpretation thereof.

1st Timothy 4:12-14 “Let no one despise your youth, but be an example to the believers in word, in conduct, in love, in spirit, in faith, in purity. Till I come, give attention to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine. Do not neglect the gift that is in you, which was given to you by prophecy with the laying on of the hands of the eldership.”

Paul talking to Timothy giving Him instruction...

Just because your young does not mean God cannot use you… But rather be an example… Who here wants to be an example that, Hey, it can be done and if it can be done through me in can be done through you!!!! Come on somebody....

He said till I come, give attention to reading, to exhortation to doctrine. oh and Timothy do not neglect the gift that is in you....do not be careless of… You have been given something special, precious.

You feel a call of God in your life, prepare yourself, buy bible study apps, bible dictionaries, etc… dont just sit there. while youre waiting prepare. Prepare sermons now, study leadership now, get a mentor now.

Right now is not the time to be careless of the things of God, there are young people around you that are desperate, that are looking but do not know where to find what they are looking for…

We cannot afford to be negligent but rather we ought to be so on fire for God!!!!

Burning Hot with Zeal… Get to a place where we are unstoppable being used as an instrument for other pepoles lives to be changed. You can be that young person.

Imaging being used to leead people out of sin, out of drugs, suicide addictions, lustful behavior, etc.

Josiah becomes king when he was only 8 years old but at the age of 16 He was used to turn a whole nation back to the one true living God. And a reviva of righteousness came upon the land.

2 Kings 22:1–20 (NKJV)

Josiah was eight years old when he became king, and he reigned thirty-one years in Jerusalem. His mother’s name was Jedidah the daughter of Adaiah of Bozkath. And he did what was right in the sight of the Lord, and walked in all the ways of his father David; he did not turn aside to the right hand or to the left.

Now it came to pass, in the eighteenth year of King Josiah, that the king sent Shaphan the scribe, the son of Azaliah, the son of Meshullam, to the house of the Lord, saying: “Go up to Hilkiah the high priest, that he may count the money which has been brought into the house of the Lord, which the doorkeepers have gathered from the people. And let them deliver it into the hand of those doing the work, who are the overseers in the house of the Lord; let them give it to those who are in the house of the Lord doing the work, to repair the damages of the house—to carpenters and builders and masons—and to buy timber and hewn stone to repair the house. However there need be no accounting made with them of the money delivered into their hand, because they deal faithfully.”

Then Hilkiah the high priest said to Shaphan the scribe, “I have found the Book of the Law in the house of the Lord.” And Hilkiah gave the book to Shaphan, and he read it. So Shaphan the scribe went to the king, bringing the king word, saying, “Your servants have gathered the money that was found in the house, and have delivered it into the hand of those who do the work, who oversee the house of the Lord.” Then Shaphan the scribe showed the king, saying, “Hilkiah the priest has given me a book.” And Shaphan read it before the king.

The word was in the rubble, dirty dusty.

Now it happened, when the king heard the words of the Book of the Law, that he tore his clothes. Then the king commanded Hilkiah the priest, Ahikam the son of Shaphan, Achbor the son of Michaiah, Shaphan the scribe, and Asaiah a servant of the king, saying, “Go, inquire of the Lord for me, for the people and for all Judah, concerning the words of this book that has been found; for great is the wrath of the Lord that is aroused against us, because our fathers have not obeyed the words of this book, to do according to all that is written concerning us.”

When He read the Law, he saw he condition they were in.

So Hilkiah the priest, Ahikam, Achbor, Shaphan, and Asaiah went to Huldah the prophetess, the wife of Shallum the son of Tikvah, the son of Harhas, keeper of the wardrobe. (She dwelt in Jerusalem in the Second Quarter.) And they spoke with her. Then she said to them, “Thus says the Lord God of Israel, ‘Tell the man who sent you to Me, “Thus says the Lord: ‘Behold, I will bring calamity on this place and on its inhabitants—all the words of the book which the king of Judah has read—because they have forsaken Me and burned incense to other gods, that they might provoke Me to anger with all the works of their hands. Therefore My wrath shall be aroused against this place and shall not be quenched.’ ” ’ But as for the king of Judah, who sent you to inquire of the Lord, in this manner you shall speak to him, ‘Thus says the Lord God of Israel: “Concerning the words which you have heard—because your heart was tender, and you humbled yourself before the Lord when you heard what I spoke against this place and against its inhabitants, that they would become a desolation and a curse, and you tore your clothes and wept before Me, I also have heard you,” says the Lord. Surely, therefore, I will gather you to your fathers, and you shall be gathered to your grave in peace; and your eyes shall not see all the calamity which I will bring on this place.” ’ ” So they brought back word to the king.

This young man did not have great examples before him, his grandpa was a wicked man, Manssah he was so wicked he sacrificed his sons to pegan gods.

It does not matter where you come from you can change Your family tree.

You can be the differance in you family and become a beacon of light and Hope.

Void in the Hole of man.

There is a hole in the heart of a man that only God can fill.

Ecclesiastes 2:1–11 NKJV

I said in my heart, “Come now, I will test you with mirth; therefore enjoy pleasure”; but surely, this also was vanity. I said of laughter—“Madness!”; and of mirth, “What does it accomplish?” I searched in my heart how to gratify my flesh with wine, while guiding my heart with wisdom, and how to lay hold on folly, till I might see what was good for the sons of men to do under heaven all the days of their lives. I made my works great, I built myself houses, and planted myself vineyards. I made myself gardens and orchards, and I planted all kinds of fruit trees in them. I made myself water pools from which to water the growing trees of the grove. I acquired male and female servants, and had servants born in my house. Yes, I had greater possessions of herds and flocks than all who were in Jerusalem before me. I also gathered for myself silver and gold and the special treasures of kings and of the provinces. I acquired male and female singers, the delights of the sons of men, and musical instruments of all kinds. So I became great and excelled more than all who were before me in Jerusalem. Also my wisdom remained with me. Whatever my eyes desired I did not keep from them. I did not withhold my heart from any pleasure, For my heart rejoiced in all my labor; And this was my reward from all my labor. Then I looked on all the works that my hands had done And on the labor in which I had toiled; And indeed all was vanity and grasping for the wind. There was no profit under the sun.

Solomon pretty much said what? This is it?

This is why so many “rich” and “famous people” can be some of the most unhappiest people…Sober! Because there is only one that can satisfy.

Testify. I started with little things and then escalated.

The enemy starts you off small, then it wont satisfy so he says come one try this now there is where you will be happy, and then you get there and wow disappointing.

One of the reasons I dont do fads, they change to quick for the amount of money I make.

one day before I knew it I was in so deep I couldn't get out of the hole. But there was a time I visited a church where I heard a testimony and in fact I was prophesied over. at that I did not believe it because I was getting strung out drinking and partying all the time.

I know what it is to drink, party, be with a girl here and there, had girls that wanted something serious with but I was of the mindset that i did not want a commitment.

Young ladies be careful who you give your heart to.

It is Gods desire to reveal Himself to us, in a genuine and powerful way. But before we can know Him in an a deeper way there are things that we will have to do to better our relationship with Him.

One of the first things we can do is woship and praise Him sincerely. Being sincere is important to God.

We must also seek His face (relationship with Him daily, as easy as talking to Him through out the day and sitting down to hear from Him through His word and Spirit,)

Conclusion

God desires a true relationship with us, but if we are not careful there can be a disconnection and that disconnection could be because of sin.

Isaiah 59:1-2 “Behold, the Lord’s hand is not shortened, That it cannot save; Nor His ear heavy, That it cannot hear. But your iniquities have separated you from your God; And your sins have hidden His face from you, So that He will not hear.”

If there are things you cannot overcome, Gods hand is not shortened. All you got to do is recognize it and ask for salvation and deliverance.

Romans 7: 21-25 “I find then a law, that evil is present with me, the one who wills to do good. For I delight in the law of God according to the inward man. But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members. O wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death? I thank God—through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, with the mind I myself serve the law of God, but with the flesh the law of sin.”

Man i try to do good and fail, inwardly i desire to do what is pleasing in His sight and then i try to do that which is pleasing but there is evil present with me and mess up.

Oh wretched man that I am… Expressing his frustrations

then in verse 25 He gives us the Key to deliverance....

It's only through Jesus Christ..... in and of our selves we will fail miserably, trust me I tried to reform myself on my own and I would mess up every time. I tried a lot of things. And nope.

We have the power of the Holy Ghost to live a victorious life, we have what we need to have the victory, the name, the altar, angels, the word, awesome leadership. my, what else do we need?

If you have messed up and sinned, 1 John 1:9 Has the answer for you.....“If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”

I would not leave this building without touching God or letting Him touch me...