Let Me Love You

ABOUT ME

GRADUATED TEEN CHALLENGE in 2011.

Served on staff for 4 years.

Associates degree in Ministerial Theology GATEWAY INTERNATIONAL BIBLE

TWO CLASS AWAY FROM BEING CREDENTIALED WITH AG

I HAVE BEEN MARRIED FOR 3 YEARS TO THE LOVE OF MY LIFE

AND WE HAVE ONE AMAZING SON. OUR MISSION IS TO BUILD HIM UP TO BE THE NEXT GENERATION TO FOLLOW GOD.

MY SON WENT TO HIS FIRST AG CONFERANCE THIS WEEKEND

YOUTH ALIVE - ONE DAY.

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There is a void in every soul of a person that wants more:

This Void causes us to pursue things to try and fill it.

THE More we try to fill the void the bigger the void gets.

Void always want more.

I tried to fill this void with money, sex, drugs, violence, Anger that intoxication or even adrenaline.

I could never get satisfied.

TESTIMONY

1 Cor. 15 33

1 Corinthians 15:33 ESV

Do not be deceived: “Bad company ruins good morals.”

Who you hangout with is who you will become.

You don’t want friends to feed your EGO VS ETERNAL PATH.

Destiny is always measured by your disciplined decisions.

a. Friends that Believe you in you when you don’t believe in yourself.

YELLING! SCREAMING AT MY MOM TO HELP ME. PUNCHING WALLS.

I HAD A VOID IN MY LIFE: We are going to read about a son who had a void in His life.

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Parables where stories with hidden meaning of the Kingdom of God.

God doesn’t hide things from you but He will hide things for you.

FIND GOLD YOU HAVE TO SEARCH FOR IT.

Hungry to search the scriptures, pursue with faith what God is saying.

THE STORY

Luke 15:11-24 The Parable of the Prodigal Son.

Luke 15:11–24 (ESV)

And he said, “There was a man who had two sons. And the younger of them said to his father, ‘Father, give me the share of property that is coming to me.’ And he divided his property between them. Not many days later, the younger son gathered all he had and took a journey into a far country, and there he squandered his property in reckless living. And when he had spent everything, a severe famine arose in that country, and he began to be in need. So he went and hired himself out to one of the citizens of that country, who sent him into his fields to feed pigs. And he was longing to be fed with the pods that the pigs ate, and no one gave him anything.

“But when he came to himself, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired servants have more than enough bread, but I perish here with hunger! I will arise and go to my father, and I will say to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son. Treat me as one of your hired servants.” ’ And he arose and came to his father. But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and felt compassion, and ran and embraced him and kissed him. And the son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’ But the father said to his servants, ‘Bring quickly the best robe, and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet. And bring the fattened calf and kill it, and let us eat and celebrate. For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found.’ And they began to celebrate.

Offensive Request

Asking for your inheritance EARLY was one of the top disgraceful things you could do in that culture.

Inheritances were delegated out and the blessings were given at the end of the life for the Father.

Wishing His Father was pretty much dead to him.

SQUANDURED in RECKLESS LIVING

RECKLESS - Immoral acts, and undisciplined.

Hook up with Prostitutes, getting drunk.

DRIVEN BY SELFISHNESS

HE NEEDED MONEY TO SUPPLY HIS PLEASURE

HIS PLEASURE OUTWEIGHED HIS PURPOSE AT THE FATHERS HOUSE.

The Son Got Baited, hooked.

Selfishness- blocked him from seeing the love, the companionship, the joy, everything that was provided in the Fathers house.

GENESIS 3:6

Genesis 3:6 ESV

So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was to be desired to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate, and she also gave some to her husband who was with her, and he ate.

CATCHING ANIMALS

How they use to catch animals in biblical days was digging a big hole in the ground.

Then covering it so the pit was not noticeable.

They they would place bait on top of the covering to let the animals fall in.

COMPROMISED IN HIS LIVING HE GOT FURTHER AWAY FROM THE THINGS FATHER PROVIDED FOR HIM.

Love - Companionship - joy - purpose.

Compromise can hinder our connection with God.

Quench the spirit of God, and grieve the spirit of God.

DON’T GIVE IN TO COMPROMISE!

DO NOT LIVE IN THE FLESH -

Romans 8:13 (ESV)

For if you live according to the flesh you will die, but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live.

BUT EMBRACE THE CONVICTION GOD IS DOING ON THE INSIDE OF YOU!

LET THE SPIRIT OF GOD GUIDE IN THE TRUTH, CONVICT YOU, DIRECT YOU. GOD IS DOING IN YOU.

IF YOU FOLLOW YOUR CONVICTION, YOUR CONVICTION WILL ALWAYS LEAD

TO BE FULLY CONVINCED OF THE VICTORY THAT WAS BROUGHT TO YOU BY THE DEATH, LIFE, AND RESURRECTION OF CHRIST JESUS.

God PUTS BEFORE US LIFE AND DEATH

Deuteronomy 30:19 (ESV)

I call heaven and earth to witness against you today, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and curse. Therefore choose life, that you and your offspring may live,

LIFE CAN HAVE SOME TEST -

- WORDS I SAY TO MY BROTHERS. I CAN TEAR THEM DOWN OR LIFT THEM UP.

- I CANT TALK ABOUT THEM BEHIND THEIR BACK or PRAY FOR THEM WHEN THEY ARE NOT AROUND.

EVERY TEST - PART OF YOUR TESTIMONY

I PROMISE YOU WHEN TEMPTATION COMES, GOD WILL ALWAYS PROVIDE A WAY OUT.

Multiple Choice - 3 Answers are wrong & 1 Answers is right.

FISHING HOOK

The devil tries to whisper in our ears and tempt us. Don’t need this place.

You can do better on your own.

Make more money

Sex in relationships

ONE OF THE STRONGEST THINGS YOU CAN DO IS SAY NO.

AS A PASTOR - “YOU DO THAT, OKAY WELL I DON’T”

- I DON’T WANT TO DEFILE MY MIND, MY HEART, MY BODY. I KNOW WHERE THAT TAKES ME.

James 4:7-8

James 4:7–8 ESV

Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded.

Submitting my life - heart, mind, and tongue.

Resistance causes strength.

Strength Drawing Near to God. BECAUSE GOD IS MY STRENGTH.

Resist temptation & run to truth.

AT THE PIGPEN, HE CAME TO HIMSELF.

HE WAS HUNGRY. EVERYTHING HE DID TO TRY IN FILL HIMSELF MADE HIM EMTPY.

He had no food, no place to live, no joy.

Hypothetically - He didn’t eat the pigs food because I think it would have got him sick.

- Rotten, Mold & Scraps. - Outside - Famine is going on.

“But when he came to himself, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired servants have more than enough bread, but I perish here with hunger!

1. HUNGER FOR THE BREAD.

Physical meaning, typology (Spiritual mean) of Christ

a. JESUS IS THE BREAD OF LIFE

John 6:35 (ESV)

Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in me shall never thirst.

Lust, Money, Sex, Drugs, could not satisfy the hunger.

THE SON WAS HUNGER FOR A NEW LIFE.

Whatever you fed on will grow.

The Hunger You have for Life can ONLY be satisfied by the Bread of LIFE

Matthew 6:11

Matthew 6:11 (ESV)

Give us this day our daily bread,

The Son was so Lost, the only thing that he could think about was the BREAD. BECAUSE HE HASN’T HAD THAT BREAD IS SO LONG.

Sick, Starving, & ALL HE WANTED WAS THE BREAD OF LIFE.

I have lived without the bread of life in my life.

I became DEPRESSED, suicidal, full of drugs, in and out of jail, and I WAS ALWAY STARVING FOR SOMETHING ELSE.

WHEN I STEP FOOT ON TEEN CHALLENGE ON FEB 3rd 2010 8:35pm I ENCOUNTERED THE BREAD OF LIFE.

WATER BOTTLES

I HAD TO LET GO OF WHAT WAS MAKING ME EMPTY SO I CAN TAKE HOLD OF JESUS CHRIST -

EVERLASTING WATER - LOVE, FORGIVENESS

THE SON WAS IN A PLACE OF HUMILITY AND REPENTANCE.

REPENTANCE - TURNING FROM THIS LIFE. GOING BACK TO MY FATHERS HOUSE.

The SON had a HUMBLING WALK AHEAD OF HIM.

a. SPOILING THE INHERITANCE, THEN COMING BACK TO THE VILLAGE WAS SO DISGRACEFUL

THE VILLAGE HAD A TRADITION of EX COMMUNICATION

- Tradition - If a son was very to return with nothing that was given to him. THE VILLAGE WOULD BRAKE THEIR JARS IN FRONT OF HIS FEET TO MAKE HIM SEE HOW SHAMEFUL IT WAS.

Son Created a speech to say to His Father.

Not to consider him a son anymore but a servant.

ASKING FOR MERCY

THE FATHER RAN TO EMBRACE THE SON

The Fathers in their village NEVER RAN. - People that wanted to see them would have to request to see them.

Father RAN TO COVER THE SHAME

FATHER RAN SO HE WOULDN’T LET THE PEOPLE REMIND HIM OF HIS MISTAKES

THE FATHER EMBRACED HIM AND KISSED HIM

a. THE MOST POWERFUL THING YOU CAN DO HERE AT TEEN CHALLENGE AND FOR THE REST OF YOUR LIFE:

LET GOD LOVE YOU, LET GO EMBRACE YOU

LET GOD COVER YOUR SHAME.

LET GOD HEAL YOUR WOUNDS.

Your not defined by what you have done. You are defined by What Jesus Christ did for you!

AND IT DOESN’T STOP THERE

b. THE FATHER PLACES A ROBE ON HIM, A RING ON HIS FINGER, AND SHOES ON HIS FEET - CELEBRATES!

Father placed a NEW IDENTITY on His Son of ROYALTY.

What you have done doesn’t determine who you are.

Father ACCEPTED HIS SON AND ADOPTED HIS SON BACK INTO THE FAMILY.

Father wanted to give the SON THE BEST ROBE.

Father couldn’t give out what He didn’t have.

GOD WANTS TO GIVE US THE BEST ROBE TODAY.

Mark 15:17 (NIV)

They put a purple robe on him, then twisted together a crown of thorns and set it on him.

GOD WANTS TO EMBRACE YOU TODAY!

- GOD WANTS TO CLOTH YOU FROM ON HIGH TODAY.

CLOTH YOU WITH HIS LOVE, COMPASSION, FORGIVENESS.

JESUS DIED FOR THE FORGIVENESS OF YOUR SIN.

LUKE 15:24

Luke 15:24 ESV

For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found.’ And they began to celebrate.

IF YOU FEEL EMPTY TODAY, IF YOU FEEL DEAD, OR EVEN LOST. GOD WANTS TO HAVE AN ENCOUNTER.

GOD LEAVES THE 99 TO GET THE 1.

TWO ALTER CALLS TODAY - WE ARE GOING TO OPEN THESE ALTERS UP

IF YOU HAVE NEVER RECEIVED JESUS CHRIST AS YOUR LORD AND SAVIOR

TODAY GOD WANTS YOU TO LET HIM LOVE YOU.

HE WANTS TO CLOTH YOU IN A NEW IDENTITY

GOD WANTS TO EMBRACE YOU.

Romans 10:9–10 ESV

because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved.

IF WE REPENT OF OUR SINS, CONFESS WITH OUR MONTH, BELIEVE WITH OUR HEARTS JESUS IS LORD

YOU WILL BE SAVED.