No Competition

Ephesians 5:14-17

Ephesians 5:14–17 (NKJV)

Therefore He says: “Awake, you who sleep, Arise from the dead, And Christ will give you light.” See then that you walk circumspectly, not as fools but as wise, redeeming the time, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be unwise, but understand what the will of the Lord is.

“God does not need to compete for your attention.

To contend for your attention would be to mean something else actually has the possibility of beating him.

He is undefeated.

There is no comparison. There is no competition only complacency.

When you choose to settle for less than God’s Will for your life, God will not beg for you to choose him, because champions don’t beg.

Champions Don’t Beg

Champions don’t settle, champions don’t lower themselves just to prove once again that they can win not only at the top of the mma arena, but again at the bottom.

Imagine Connor McGregor coming to you school. just to prove again.

Christ Died 3 Days - Jonah

Matthew 12:39–41 NKJV

But He answered and said to them, “An evil and adulterous generation seeks after a sign, and no sign will be given to it except the sign of the prophet Jonah. For as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of the great fish, so will the Son of Man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth. The men of Nineveh will rise up in the judgment with this generation and condemn it, because they repented at the preaching of Jonah; and indeed a greater than Jonah is here.

Christ died, 3 days in the belly of the earth. Where dead things go, both body and spirit! And hurled back into our life! To bring deliverance!

quickly repented, and avoided the judgment and wrath of God.

DAGON דגון

They worshipped a fish God! And a beast of the sea spewed a prophet onto the beach, they all listened. And did whatever he said! And got right with YHWH.

Nahum 3:11

Nahum 3:1–19 (NKJV

‘Nineveh is laid waste!

Apathy within 5 generations

That great fish didn't keep Jonah Down, But God’s Will Prevailed!

Death, and hell couldn’t keep Christ down. Raised to set you free!

Do You Remember When You First Got Saved?

But now what? Lost it’s shiny

What are you pursuing?

Have we become as apathetic in our faith as the Ninevites?

"Teach us to pray” in Matthew’s Gospel. Later in Luke

ALWAYS OUGHT TO PRAY AND NOT LOSE HEART

Luke 18:1 NKJV

Then He spoke a parable to them, that men always ought to pray and not lose heart,

The Lord’s Thoughts

Luke 18:8 NKJV

I tell you that He will avenge them speedily. Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will He really find faith on the earth?”

“will the son of man… will I? Find faith on the earth when I return.”

Or will they too turn back to their lusts and desires?

“How To’s” Again

GOD DOES NOT WANT MORE RELIGION AND LAW!

In Christ, the law has been fulfilled, and we now pursue relationship with Him, but more importantly, we MUST SHARE HIM WITH THE WORLD!

Lord Means Owner | Baptism

Matthew 28:19-20

Matthew 28:19–20 NKJV

Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen.

Liked but Not Subscribed

This is divine allegiance

1 peter 3:21 “There is also an antitype which now saves us—baptism (not the removal of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God), through the resurrection of Jesus Christ,”

By your confession you are saved, committed even.

Dating vs Engaged. (Committed, but lacking in benefits)

God does not have to contend for your attention, he is the champion.

we tend to try and tell God how it is, and how it’s gonna go.

But he’s so confident, secure, and patient that his word remains unchanged and he’ll let you do you.

But if you ever want to really see life and life abundantly, his instruction is already there.

In your bible, and according to job 33:16 sealed upon your heart.

Job 33:15-16

Job 33:15–16 NKJV

In a dream, in a vision of the night, When deep sleep falls upon men, While slumbering on their beds, Then He opens the ears of men, And seals their instruction.

Why when you sleep?

No Distractions!

Witchcraft after your sleep | Demons Gain Authority

Tell Your Neighbor

WAKE UP!

Ephesians 5:14

Ephesians 5:14 NKJV

Therefore He says: “Awake, you who sleep, Arise from the dead, And Christ will give you light.”

Awake vs Out of Bed

Story Time!

Wake Up, Get Up, Footsteps Outside The Door, The Flash!

I can hear the footsteps of my king.

Revelation 3:11 NKJV

Behold, I am coming quickly! Hold fast what you have, that no one may take your crown.

Last days, wars, rumor of wars, famine, pestilence, etc. Closer now than ever!

Engaging in Life from Under Covers

On My Way! In The Car - Literally just woke up

1 thessalonians 5:2

“For you yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so comes as a thief in the night.”

Suddenly - weeping and gnashing

I believe there will be a time of weeping before we step pass the judgment seat of Jesus Christ.

lived perfectly as a man, only one qualified to judge you as a man, and as God. And he will decide your fate.

Two Judgements

1. Sheep and Goats

Matthew 25: 31-46 ““When the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all the holy angels with Him, then He will sit on the throne of His glory. All the nations will be gathered before Him, and He will separate them one from another, as a shepherd divides his sheep from the goats. And He will set the sheep on His right hand, but the goats on the left. Then the King will say to those on His right hand, ‘Come, you blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: for I was hungry and you gave Me food; I was thirsty and you gave Me drink; I was a stranger and you took Me in; I was naked and you clothed Me; I was sick and you visited Me; I was in prison and you came to Me.’ “Then the righteous will answer Him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry and feed You, or thirsty and give You drink? When did we see You a stranger and take You in, or naked and clothe You? Or when did we see You sick, or in prison, and come to You?’ And the King will answer and say to them, ‘As…”

2. Great White Throne - Judgment Seat of Christ.

Revelation 20:1-5 “Then I saw an angel coming down from heaven, having the key to the bottomless pit and a great chain in his hand. He laid hold of the dragon, that serpent of old, who is the Devil and Satan, and bound him for a thousand years; and he cast him into the bottomless pit, and shut him up, and set a seal on him, so that he should deceive the nations no more till the thousand years were finished. But after these things he must be released for a little while. And I saw thrones, and they sat on them, and judgment was committed to them. Then I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded for their witness to Jesus and for the word of God, who had not worshiped the beast or his image, and had not received his mark on their foreheads or on their hands. And they lived and reigned with Christ for a thousand years. But the rest of the dead did not live again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection.”

What will WE be judged on then?

The Parable of the Talents

Matthew 25:14-30 ““For the kingdom of heaven is like a man traveling to a far country, who called his own servants and delivered his goods to them. And to one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one, to each according to his own ability; and immediately he went on a journey. Then he who had received the five talents went and traded with them, and made another five talents. And likewise he who had received two gained two more also. But he who had received one went and dug in the ground, and hid his lord’s money. After a long time the lord of those servants came and settled accounts with them. “So he who had received five talents came and brought five other talents, saying, ‘Lord, you delivered to me five talents; look, I have gained five more talents besides them.’ His lord said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant; you were faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord.’ He also who had received two talents came and said, ‘L…”

Story Style

To one have gave $9,788,445 dollars

To another he gave $3,915,378 dollars

And to the third $1,957,689 dollars

Each according to their ability.

God Trusts you with what he’s equipped you with.

Proverbs 16:9 NKJV

A man’s heart plans his way, But the Lord directs his steps.

Get Caught up in the details and fail to launch

get under authority

keep that vision so in front of you

Feeling Discouraged

Allowing time suckers

comfortable, warm blankets and pillows to keep you

you might be awake, you aint up.

Repeat after me.

“If what I saw! Is not what I see! Then what I see! Is temporary!”

Explain above

This man gave each according to their ABILITY!

Then he went away!!!!

Where is your God?

Christ did “go away” but he will return soon.

I hear his footsteps.

Sent You HIS COMFORTER

John 14:16 (NKJV)

And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Comforter, that He may abide with you forever—

But you see, he knew you’d be too comfortable with the things this earth offers you,

he new you’d maybe wake up, but not want to get up out of that comforter… that blanket that keeps you warm.

Phoebe Stealing the Blanket

Christ left, yes. But he sent us HIS COMFORTER. HIS Holy Spirit!

So we can preach the gospel with all power, authority, and boldness!

BUT!

“I wish we had Jesus himself”

Apathy Disguised as Insecurity.

3 Servants - No speed dial. Just Trust.

They took risks.

$10,000,000 Losses. BIG LOSSES!

Elon musk 11 billion

Bigger Gainz

“With great power comes great responsibility right?"

Those who don’t fear death can’t be owned by anyone or anything except the author of both death, and life.

Took Risks, Doubled

The second one, got less than half of the first guy. 4 million

- Consisten - Daring, Reserved, Intentional

- 401k Secure And dependable. Compounding Interest.

This makes me think of your typical youth pastor, or volunteer leader.

Faithful, Open Heart, Consistent.

- Youth ministry can be the most lonely place on earth in my opinion.

This, in my mind. Is the second servant. Unshakable, faithful, consistent. Dependable.

You can always expect a return on whatever they invested in you.

Some times young people don’t know the power and value of what their youth pastor said when they were young until they’re in their upper 20’s. 30’s, maybe even 40’s.

That’s the value of the second servant.

Those long term deposits that only increase in value as time goes on. One day 29 years from now you check on the value of the shares you earned and BAM! They multiplied 10 fold!

This second servant too, doubled his money. Went from 4mm to 8mm

Master Pleased Upon Return

3rd. Small Loan of Million Dollars 1.95mm

the master knew he had potential.

But man… it literally was 1/5 of what he gave the first guy.

#1 lost more in one bad deal than i was given! 1/5th

What if I lost all this? It’d be a debt I can never pay back if I lost it all, and then I’d be in trouble for sure.

THE PROBLEM IS YOUNG PERSON THAT THE THIRD MAN DIDN’T REALIZE HE WAS PROMOTED FROM AN EMPLOYEE TO AN OWNER!!!!

You are no longer just a servant but a son!

The kingdom has been given to you!

All power, and all authority has been given to you!

If Jesus has all authority, and has given you that authority to accomplish his will, that means that if Christ has all authority, then that something standing in your way trying to stop you has NO AUTHORITY!

But we give it authority by keeping a slave mentality. A worker mentality. A doer mentality!

No Longer His! But Yours! Prodigals Clothed In Righteousness.

But this servant stayed afraid.

“I got the least out of the three of us.”

Comparison is the thief of joy

Instant Millionaire - Still Bitter - Overnight Transformation of mean - Bound to their cynical, and fearful perspective.

because someone else got a better testimony or blessing than you, now yours don’t matter anymore

Read Quote

And that servant burried they money in his backyard striped of joy, wrapped in fear, and doubt. Becoming cynical of his more than generous master thinking lies about him that he was a ‘hard man’ to expect something like that out of him, just wanting me to do all the labor for him so he can benefit off of the sweat of my labor while he does nothing himself. I’m gonna plant what he gave me right here and when he comes back he’ll get every cent!

Read Quote

Not only did this insecure fool prove himself to be ungreatful and afraid, never having taken a chance, but also he lived in the exact same authority, position, and lack of financial means to change anything about his stature, influence, or blessing. He was instantly a multi millionaire but no one ever would have known because he was under a poverty mentality of lack and fear robbed by the thief of joy, that is comparison, so neither he was blessed, nor was anyone else blessed through him!

3 jobs still broke!

“you’ve been faithful with little.”

Alright now wait…

- guy #1 $10,000,000, he doubled it $20,000,000, = little!

- When was the last time $20,000,000 was considered LITTLE to someone you know!?

- Quarter, nickels.

I will set you over much!”

With 20,000,000 compared to my nickel standards, he now owns the northern hemisphere! And Brazil.

“Enter in to the joy of your master.”

This man goes on with the same story to the second guy, little, much, joy! Boom!

These guys are GONE! Celebration and a new level has begun.

Now we’ve got this last dude.

*sniff* here you go! Everything you gave me, I didn’t lose it, not even a nickel!

broken heart and mind this kid had.

Billionaires don’t worry about nickels.

Pablo Escobar $1000wk Rubber Bands

This 3rd kid did not come in third place. He failed to even place because he failed to compete at all.

I told you God will not compete for your attention.

He’s already provided everything you need to win the race. To see all your dreams come true! He’s already transformed you from a servant to a son!

From a slave to a master, from a broke middle school student to wealth beyond comprehension in the kingdom of God.

“But because you think your time is worth nickels and Pennie’s you freely give it to anything that asks for it without question, and the only one who actually values your time waits patiently, won’t lower his standards to beg you for attention.”

He came down to you level once and won that battle as a man, Jesus Christ.

He doesn’t need to prove a thing ever again!

3 days in the belly of the earth, risen a victor!

He’s not coming to your level again, h

He’s paved you a path and paid the price for you to step up to his level!

He’s called you to wake up, Knocks on your door to get you up,

and now you too can begin to hear his footsteps coming and BOY YOU BETTER BE READY!

Are you awake?

Are you up??

“get out of bed!”

Stand up.

The master looks at the 3rd man, sees his $2,000,000, and a different story pans out.

“You wicked, lazy, worthless slave. You believe you’re a slave though I’ve made a your prince, then as you think so you are. You should’ve at least invested what you had into a bank and got a few dollars back. Added ANY value to what I gave you!”

You doubting, lazy, passive, fearful, selfish, self gratifying, self seeking, narcissist. Had you at least gave ANYTHING to your church. Stayed late and stacked chairs, served in the nursery, helped run slides, came even a couple times to pre-service prayer with your pastor, had you invested at all and by so doing even in the littlest way, you would have added even some value to what I gave you and I would have been pleased!

$20,000,000 is nickels to me, you think I care at all about your $2,000,000? I care about the your heart and your mind! And even when given a prize you could never had earned on your own or paid back, you remained a slave instead of a son. You remained unchanged, even though I promoted you from burger flipper to franchise owner in an instant. Yet the hid that transformation from the world and not a single person benefited from your blessing.

No, NO! That’s it!

You were my follower. You were my servant.

GUARDS! GUARDS! TAKE this man’s money and give it to the other guy who has 20 mill.

Yeah, that’s how it is. Anyone who has more will be given, and they’ll have abundance. But FROM THE ONE, who has not! Because all you had was what I gave you! You didn’t add any value to it at all or even try! So you have nothing. So I’m taking back what’s mine. Which leaves you with nothing because you did NOTHING, and even what you do have HAS NOW ALREADY BEEN TAKEN AWAY!

GUARDS! Throw this worthless FOOL SERVANT of mine INTO THE OUTER DARKNESS! In that place there will be weeping, wailing, trivial without end, and endless clenching of your jaw and grinding of your teeth in agony and darkness.

A fool…

Is not someone…

Without education…

Or knowledge…

A fool is someone...

Who knows better...

but doesn’t do it!

James 4:17

James 4:17 NKJV

Therefore, to him who knows to do good and does not do it, to him it is sin.

John 15:22

John 15:22 NKJV

If I had not come and spoken to them, they would have no sin, but now they have no excuse for their sin.

HOLD THIS IN YOUR HEART UNTIL HE RETURNS

The master gives only what your capacity is.

Don’t let comparison destroy your faith and testimony.

Awake, and arise. Get out of bed, and walk not as a fool like the third servant. But wise.

A fool has knowledge but does not apply it.

One who is wise simply applies the knowledge they have.

That is the mark of the wise.

Wisdom is applied knowledge.

You know to read your bible but do you?

You know to pray, but do you?

You know to be baptized, but have you?

You know to support your youth pastor. but do you?

You know to share Christ with others, but will you?

Prayer Call Response

I’m calling you all, to awake. To arise.

The footsteps of the king are just outside the door.

And he is returning not only to judge the just and unjust, but the righteous, Those who call themselves servants of the master.

Ask Yourself

Have you taken the great gift God has given you, and applied it to your life?

Or are you sleep walking. Are you a fool? Using Apathy and a bad attitude disguised as “Fear” to stop you from applying the knowledge of Christ to your every day life as you learn of him?

Awake, arise. Walk as wise, not as fools. For the days are evil. And soon is the return of our savior, who will judge both Just, and the unjust. the living, and the dead.

Pray