Test, test, test.
You
Good evening and welcome to Verity Baptist Church. Let's go ahead and find our seats this evening
Find the seats and find that little song sheets inside your bulletin
And we're gonna open the service with mansions over the hilltop
find that
Sheet in your bulletin and we're gonna open the service with mansion
Over the hilltop. I'm satisfied with just a cottage below
And we're gonna sing it out on the first I'm satisfied
Just a cottage below
Where the ransom will shine I want
And that's
I've got a man
Just over the hilltop
We'll never
And some day
We'll never
But
Oh
All right, we're gonna see it out on the same but I want something better
All right, you guys kids over here teenagers. We got to sing out with some passion on the second one
Though often central sing it out on the second though
walk ten ten
So
No permanent well, I know
Oh man, I've got
Just
Oh
But walk on
Our
Puresco we're gonna slow it down on the third. So watch me. All right, we're gonna pick it up on the chorus though
I'll sing it out on the third. Don't take me
These
I'm not this girl
I'm having bad
I'm just
In search of a city
I want a mansion a harp in the crowd
Oh
Just over
And someday
Oh
Amen well, we want to welcome you to the next generation youth rally here the second night. We're so glad you're with us
We're gonna begin the service with a word of prayer and let's go ahead and bow our heads together
Heavenly Father Lord we do thank you for the great conference that you've given us Lord
We think for the young people that are here the parents that are here Lord
We pray that you would bless this evening Lord
We pray that you'd meet with us help us to have a good time with the games
With the wrestling show afterwards and we pray Lord that you would bless the preaching of your word as well in Jesus name we pray
Amen
Amen so let's grab our song books for this song. So grab your song books and turn to page number
261 song number
261
I'm gonna slow it down. I'm gonna sing something slow
Turn your eyes upon Jesus on number
261 on the first. Oh
Soul are you weary and trouble?
No light in the darkness you see
This light for a look at the Savior
And life more abundant and free
Turn
Your eyes upon
Jesus look full in his wonderful face
And the things
of earth will grow strange leads him in the
light of his glory
and grace on the second
Through death into life everlasting
He passed and we follow him there
Over us no more hat
Dominion for more than conquers we are
Son your eyes
Upon
Jesus look full in his wonderful face
And the things of earth will grow strange leads him
in the light of his glory
And grace you guys are seeing you. Well, let's finish strong on the last his words shall not fail you
He promised
Believe him and all will be well
Then go to a world that is dying
His perfect salvation to tell
Turn your eyes upon Jesus
His wonderful face
And the things of earth will grow strange
In the light of his glory
And
Amen all right. Well, let's go over some announcements just real quickly
If you please can take your bullets and we'll look at some announcements
If you don't have a bulletin raise your hand and one of our ushers can get one for you
If you need a bulletin just put your hand up and we will get one for you. Would you mind just
just putting me up just a hair, please and
We've got a couple of bulletins we need up here if you could help us with that you'd appreciate it great. Thank you
All right
well
of course we are on the last service on the second day the last service of the next generation youth rally and
You are here at the very last service. We appreciate you being here
Of course, we have a service for you tonight and then tonight after the service
we have a cookie fellowship in the
Break room for you. And of course, we've got a wrestling show and there is a rematch tonight and
We want to make sure that you are there
For that and then of course today tonight being the last
Evening service of the conference at the end of the service. We're going to be
raffling off a lot of different we're gonna be raffling off hats and
leftover Amazon gift cards, we're gonna be raffling off the
Scooter the $630 scooter electric scooter that we have and of course, we're gonna be announcing the winners of
The game and we have a prize for the team that wins
tonight so
It's gonna be an exciting service
Of course because of all those things just some real quick announcements that we want to give for the adults
First of all, don't forget
That we do have mother baby rooms and daddy baby rooms available for your convenience. All the rooms have comfortable seating
They've got monitors set up so you can watch the service and listen to it
so if you have a child that's being distracting during the service or if you need some privacy, we would encourage you to use those
rooms as
Needed and if you need to be baptized, please let us know we'd love to baptize you
The baptistry is filled the water is warm and we've got everything you need to be baptized
So you can just let one of the staff or ushers know that you'd like to be baptized and we can get you situated for
Baptism and then of course we ask that you'd please turn your cell phones off or place them on
Silent during the service that they're not a distraction to anyone. So we've got some games. We're gonna play
tonight and these games
These last few games are for some pretty big points
All right, so let me go ahead and give you an update as to where the teams are
Of course, we've got Atelius on this side. Let's hear Atelius
I was alright, let's hear Spartacus
Alright, let's get let's let's let give Atelius another chance go for it
All right, good good good. All right. So let me give you some some points here obviously
the young people went bowling to this afternoon and
They were competing against each other
So if every game that was one there was a certain amount of points they won and then they also
Got bonus points for strikes got bonus points for spares
Let me just see a raise of hands who got a strike today who got a strike
All right. Good. A lot of you guys twice who got a spare who got a spare
Okay. All right, who does not understand the question?
All right. Yeah, I figured there'd be one of you. Okay, so
At the bowling alley, I'm gonna give you the points that were earned at the bowling alley at the bowling alley
Spartacus earned
67,000 points. All right
That's
Pretty good 67,000 points at the bowling alley. However, Atelius earned
123,000 points
All right, so
Atelius had a good showing at the bowling alley that brings the total up to this point. I realize it's not over
All right
We still got some games and we've got two group games
Which means that they've got some pretty major points one of the games is worth
25,000 points another game is worth
30,000 points and another game is worth
10,000 points so you're still in this thing
But let me just give you the points up to this point up to this point. We have Spartacus with
225,000 points and we've got you can you can clap. That's all right
You
Know it's coming and we've got Atelius with
270,000 points. All right, so they're doing good
Up to this point, but you're still in it. You're still in it. All right
We've got some games that you can earn right now. So you're not that far off. All right
Well, we're gonna start off tonight with an eating game. Hopefully this one goes better than the one last night
But I need I need a couple of volunteers I need two volunteers from over here two volunteers
All right, come on up you two guys rose your hand. I need two volunteers from over here two volunteers from over here
Nobody wants to you want to come on up. All right, so this is a cheeto eating game anybody like Cheetos
I need one more person over here. All right, come on up. Come on up
And
We're gonna have the Cheetos
This is a Cheetos and glass-bottled Cokes game Cheetos and glass-bottled Cokes game
so the way it's gonna work is
There's going to be an eater and there's going to be a feeder
All right an eater and a feeder. So I don't know. I only had a girl girl do it
So is it your mom okay with this? Where's mom? I don't see her. Let's hopefully she's okay with it
She says she's fine. Okay, so here's how it's gonna work
I'm gonna say on your mark get set go when I say go your job is to open up a Cheetos bag
Open up a Cheetos bag
One of you is going to eat one of you is going to feed the one who eats has to have your hands behind your
back the one who feeds has to grab a Cheeto and throw them into the mouth of
The individual you've got to eat the entire bag when you're done with the Cheetos bag
you've got to open one of the glass bottle Cokes from pastor's office and
Open the coke and then you've got to feed them the first one to
Finish the Cheetos and the coke wins
the reason that there are two glass bottle Cokes up here is because if you spill if
You spill then for every spill you're going to have to open another one and take another sip now
If you just have like a little dribble because I know guys are like that
That's not a problem, but we don't want you cheating by like oh, I accidentally spill
So if you spill you're gonna have to open another one and drink as much as you spill if you drop a Cheeto
You're going to have to pick it up and eat it if you drop a Cheeto
You're gonna have to pick it up and eat it keep in mind that there have been haircuts and people put through
Tables on this platform. So just remember that so try not to drop anything. All right, do you guys have any questions any?
Questions. All right, let's let's let's let's hear the names. Well, give me your name and your team
Montel Spartacus
Joshua sparkles here for Montel and Joshua. All right, give me your names
Oh
Jocelyn Atelius Simon Atelius was here
Okay, and you don't have to throw them in their mouth you can just feed it into their mouths
Okay, you guys have any questions? All right. Are you ready? This game is for
25,000 points
25,000 points this could be a game changer
Literally 25,000 points everybody ready. Do you have any questions?
You don't look ready with your hands in your pocket like that
I'm just kidding on your mark
Get set go
Hands behind your back hands behind your back you drop one drop one
a
I
Thousand points for Spartacus for using the banner
Oh
No, no
All
Right, it's my mic my mic on
Okay
Let me tell me Cheetos you've got all right, let me see how many Cheetos you got let me see how many Cheetos you've got
Let me see how many Cheetos you've got let me see how many Cheetos you got all right
We
We we we will allow you to switch for the drinks, all right, so finish the Cheetos and switch the drinks
No, you have to finish the Cheetos and then switch the you can switch partners for drinks I
Don't want you throwing up on the platform
Pick up all the Cheetos on the ground before you move on pick up all the Cheetos on the ground before you move on
By the way, these are flaming hot Cheetos
Flaming hot Cheetos, they know that they might not
Flaming hot Cheetos
Drop one right here
I
Need to see the bag before you move on
I
Grab these grab these little pieces you got to finish this you got to finish it finish that finish that
Oh
All right, you can move on you can switch for the drink switch for the drink
Oh
Good job. Good job. Good try. Good try. Sorry. Okay. Can we get a couple of a couple of tickets for all of them?
couple of tickets for all them maybe a napkin maybe a wipe and
Two Amazon gift cards. Good job 30,000 points Spartacus
Still in the running you're still in the running. All right, let's get ticket. Let's get tickets for everybody
All
Right
For the next game. This is a group game
So there's going to be heavy points
We need five volunteers from each team five volunteers one, two, three
four
Five. All right, come on up five
one
two
I'm trying to pick people that haven't gone three
four
Five. All right, come on up
You need to line up. I know you're homeschoolers and it's hard to get in line
But line up right under the platform under the platform under the platform
This is giant Jenga
giant Jenga
The way it works is that you will go up
You you will go up pull out a piece
You must pull out a piece and then put it on top pull out a piece and pull it on top
One will go up first then the next one will go up first then the next the team to crumble
Excuse me. Let me get right in here the team to crumble
the
tower
Will
Lose all right. This is for 30,000 points
30,000 points
Let me go ahead and have the two
Come up here real quickly
If I can just have two of you come up here just to decide who's gonna go first
We're gonna do rock paper scissors. You guys understand a rock paper scissors work. All right
All right, okay you're go first
All right, go ahead and have a line have a so get on at the bottom at the bottom stand in line
You guys have any questions?
Sir I
Don't know I
Is that a rule is that a thing who's doing this
You cannot take it from the top
Top three
You cannot take it from the top three. Thank you for clarifying that I would have never thought of that
Okay, any other questions any other questions?
All right, are you ready you guys are going first on your mark get set go
Thank you
You
All right Spartacus go go up
I tell you sir, huh
I
Oh
All right Spartacus is up it already looks wobbly
She knows what she's doing. All right, Atelius
I
She's got it
He's an expert
You
It looks like she's done this before
You
Oh
You
Can she keep it from falling
You
Oh
Hold on hold on hold on just for Claire
We have been allowing you guys to hold it but because we got to hurry this thing up no more holding
All right, you're not you can't hold it
Oh
She's an expert
You
When it falls get out of the way don't let those blocks hit you
You need to pray about it
Oh
Atelius is the winner
All right, that was hard clock. Good job. Let's get tickets for all tickets for everybody involved tickets for everybody involved
Let's get tickets everybody. All right, we're gonna set up the next game to set up the next game
That was good. That was very good. I was impressed
All right for the next game is name that tune it's gonna be a first of all that that game we just played was worth
What is it 30,000 points 30,000 points for Atelius?
The next game is
Called name that tune we need five players from each team
You'll come up to a buzzer
The pianist will play a tune first one to buzz and give the correct answer
wins
Gets every every right answer is worth
1,000 points every right answer is worth a thousand points the team that wins the game gets
20,000 points. All right for the Shaw. I need I need somebody counting the points. I need somebody here
No, no, no, just the right every right answer is a thousand points and the game 20,000 points
So make so whoever wins the game. All right, I need five volunteers five volunteers name that soon
Not the same ones that already played
All right. I need somebody you're gonna I need volunteers from this side who's not played tonight. You haven't okay one
Two three four five come on up. All right
I need five volunteers from over here five volunteers
Otherwise, you're just gonna give it over just gonna give them 30,000 points for not showing up
Okay, one two three. I need two more one, two three
You've already played it's anybody that hasn't played one, two, three four. I need one more more one more. I
Think you're being volunteered five come on up. I don't think she knows. Yep. Come on up
All right. I need you guys to get in line get in line underneath get in line underneath. Okay?
One will one of you will come up at a time one at a time. You will come up to
Let's do it like this
You'll come up to
The table you'll face each other the pianist will play a song
The first one to buzz and give the correct answer wins I don't have the song list you have the song list brother Andrew
You have the song list
Okay, I need a judge my wife honey, can you just come up here some of these songs we might need help with the judges
So do you guys have any questions?
You have any questions a thousand points for every right answer twenty thousand points for the game
Where's brother shop thousand points very right answer twenty thousand points for the game. All right, come on up. Come on up
Yeah, that's fine perfect that's even better on your mark get set go
It's all right, that is right thousand points. Okay. Look up. Come on up. Come on up. Let's just fast
Let's do it fast. Come on up. Come on up
Go ahead
He
Lives got it. All right. Come on up. Come on up
Don't say it
She got it. All right, come on up. Come on up. Who's next who's next?
Go for it the match of the century
Over in the glory land let it know. All right next or you guys go off connects next group
All those fancy frills make it hard to decipher sometimes come on up go
Joy to the world got it. Come on up. Come on up. Come on up
Blessed be the name. I got it. All right. He got okay. Come on up. Come on up. Come on up
Cleanse me got it. All right, come on up
Who's next who's next who's next sisters?
What's that is that all right, she knew it good job. All right. Come on up. Come on up
We'll take that go come on up
Praise him got it. Come on up. Come on up
I
Bite me a bite and me got it. Come on up. Come on up. I don't know how many of these we got
Nope next come on up
Okay, come on up good
Don't sing it
She
Got it, right, but she broke our buzzer. Okay. All right. She got it. Come on up. Come on up
Old McDonald had a farm. I think you already did that one. Yeah, come on up
Are we out of songs? Okay. No, no, it's fine. Don't worry about it. I don't know
I
Bob a black sheep. How do you know that what he said?
Okay, you got it got it
Come on up you let me know when we're done. I don't know how many we have
Let's do let's do let's have everyone go one more time
So when you're done when you're done somebody get them tickets and you can go have your seat go
No, that's not it he's a trust him more but
Ah
What you guess only trust him only trust him was that it okay, you got it. All right, give him tickets
Have a seat. Come on up
Next song
Make sure you get your ticket
She's got it. All right, get your tickets and have a seat. She knows her classical music. Come on up
Every get tickets and have a seat get tickets and have a seat. Go ahead
Oh
Yankee Doodle, she's got it
Get your tickets and have a seat. All right, come on up. Oh
You okay? All right
You guys all sign that release of waiver thing, right? Okay, come on up. Okay. All right. Okay, go ahead
You
Happy birthday to you. She got it get your tickets and have a seat
All right, who's left? Oh
She already sent now. Okay, go for it
Sound the battle cries got it
All right
Let's go ahead. Can you guys help me get these things?
Situated. All right. Good job. Good job. We'll get all those points
Count it up and we will announce it at the end of the night. Can you get rid of that for me?
And let's go ahead and take our let's take our song sheets
We're gonna sing here am I Lord as we prepare to receive the offering?
Tonight
Here am I Lord send me it's in your song sheet the Wednesday evening song sheet the second song here
Am I Lord as we prepare to receive the offering tonight? Sing it out on the first?
Lord I give my life to you
Take control each day. I
will follow
anywhere
Near and far away
Here am I Lord
send me
Here am I Lord
send me
I
Will serve you faithfully
Here am I Lord
Send me. All right, we're gonna sing it out on the second
I want you to think about the words you're singing consider the words as you sing sing with some passion
Especially young people make this song a prayer sing it out on the second Lord. I want your perfect will
Be my faithful guy
Will never be afraid
You are close beside
Here am I Lord
send me
Here am I Lord
Send me
I
will serve you faithfully
Here am I Lord
Send me good on the last
Let me see my mission field
all
around each day
Fill my heart with Jesus love
Use me Lord I pray
Here am I Lord
send me
Here am I Lord
send me
I
will serve you faithfully
Here am I Lord
send me
Amen. All right. We'll have the guys come up and help us with the offering at this time and let's go ahead and
Have a word of prayer
Heavenly Father Lord, we do love you and we thank you. Thank you for the fun that we've had tonight Lord
We pray that you would begin to prepare our hearts to receive the preaching of your word
We pray that you bless the offering the gift and the giver in Jesus name we pray. Amen
You
Man please open up to judges chapter number eight
Judges chapter number eight if you need about you can put your hand up and one of the ushers can come by bring a Bible
Judges chapter number eight if you need about keep your hand up or she'll come by
Judges eight we'll read entire chapter as our custom
Judges
Eight beginning verse number one and the men of Ephraim said unto him why hast thou served us thus that thou callest us not?
when thou wentest to fight with the Midianites and
They did chide with him sharply and he said unto them
What have I done now in the comparison of you is not the gleaning of the graves of Ephraim better than the vintage of advisor
God hath delivered into your hands the princes of Midian or of Inzebe and what was I able to do in comparison of you?
then their anger was abated toward him when he had said that and
Gideon came to Jordan and passed over he and the 300 men that were with him faint yet pursuing them
And he said unto the men of sucketh
Give I pray you loaves of bread unto the people that follow me for they be faint and I am pursuing after zeba and zalmuna
Kings of Midian and the princes of sucketh said are the hands of zeba and zalmuna now in thine hand
That we should give bread unto thine army
And Gideon said therefore when the Lord hath delivered zeba and zalmuna into mine hand
Then I will tear your flesh with thorns of the wilderness and the briars
And he went up thence to Penuel and spake unto them
Likewise and the men of Penuel answered him as the men of sucketh had answered him
And he spake also unto the men of Penuel saying when I come again in peace, I will break down this tower
Now zeba and zalmuna were in Carcor and their hosts with them about
15,000 men all that were left of all the hosts of the children of the east for there fell in hundred and twenty thousand men that
drew sword and
Gideon went up by the way of them that dwelt in tents on the east of Noba and Jogbeha and
Smote the host for the host was secure
and when zeba and zalmuna fled he pursued after them and took the two kings of Midian zeba and zalmuna and
Disconfited all the host and
Gideon the son of Joash returned from battle before the sun was up and
Caught a young man of the men of sucketh and inquired of him and he described unto him the princes of sucketh and the elders thereof
Even three score and seventeen men and he came to the men of sucketh and said behold zeba and zalmuna
With whom he did abrade me
Saying are the hands of zeba and zalmuna now in thine hand that we should give bread unto thy men that are weary
And he took the elders of the city and thorns of the wilderness and briars and with them
He taught the men of sucketh and he beat down the tower of penuel and slew of the men of the city
Then said he into zeba and zalmuna
What manner of men were they whom he slew at haibor and they answered as thou art
So were they each one resembled the children of a king and he said they were my brethren
Even the sons of my mother as the Lord liveth if he had saved them alive. I will not slay you
And he said unto jether his firstborn up and slay them
But the youth drew not his sword for he feared because he was yet a youth
then zeba and zalmuna had said rise thou and fall upon us for as the man is so is his strength and
Getting a rose and slew zeba and zalmuna and took away the ornaments that were on their camel's necks
Then the men of israel said unto gideon rule thou over us both thou and thy son and thy son's son also
For thou has delivered us from the hand of midian and gideon said unto them
I will not rule over you neither shall my son rule over you. The Lord shall rule over you and gideon said unto them
I would desire request of you that you would give me every man the earrings of his prey
For that they had golden earrings because they were ishmaelites and they answered
We will willingly give them and they spread a garment and did cast there in every man the earring of his prey
In the weight of the golden earrings that he requested was a thousand and seven hundred shekels of gold
beside ornaments and callers and purple raiment that was on the kings of midian and beside the chains that were about their camels and
necks and
Gideon made an ephr thereof and put it in his city even in ophra and all israel went thither a whoring after it
Which thing became a snare unto gideon and to his house?
Thus was midian subdued before the children of israel so that they lifted up their heads no more
and the country was in quietness forty years in the days of gideon and
Jerabail the son of joash went and dwelt into his own house and
Gideon had three score and ten sons of his body begotten for he had many wives and his concubine that was in Shechem
she also bare him a son whose name he called Abimelech and
Gideon the son of joash died in a good old age and was buried in the sepulcher of joash his father in
Ophra of the Abiezorites
And it came to pass as soon as gideon was dead that the children of Israel turned again and went a whoring after
Balaam and made Baal-barath their God and the children of Israel remembered not the Lord their God
Who had delivered them out of the hands of all their enemies on every side
Neither showed a kindness to the house of Jerabail namely Gideon according to all the goodness which he had showed unto israel
Let's pray heavenly father. Thank you for this evening
God, I thank you for this conference Lord and for everyone that's here. I see you please meet with us tonight
Please meet with the teens tonight God and I say be there pastor God to strengthen him and fill him with spirit
We love you in Jesus name pray. Amen
There is no success without succession
If we fail to pass down our faith to the next generation we have failed
The decisions you're making today will set the trajectory for the rest of your life
Friends you're making the choices you're making the places you are going will be things that you carry with you into the rest of your life
And now
Introducing our preacher for the night the pastor of Verity Baptist Church here in Sacramento, California
Give an exciting next-generation youth rally. Welcome to the host pastor of this conference pastor Roger Jimenez
And God can forgive you and God can heal you but wouldn't it be better to just bypass it all together
And what are you better to just not have to have those?
You
God bless you guys. Thank you very much. And I hope you're having a good time
Is everybody having a good time at the next generation youth rally?
Praise the Lord. I've been very happy with the young people
I've been very happy with your attitudes your spirits and I appreciate you being here
I hope this conference has been a blessing to you and I hope that it's been a blessing to
Your parents as well
We're there in judges chapter number 8 and I'd like you to look down at verse number 13
Judges chapter number 8 and look down at verse number 13
The Bible says and Gideon the son of Joash returned from battle before the Sun was up and here in this story
And I'm not necessarily preaching on this story
Tonight but I'm just using it as an illustration as a starting point in the story
we have of course one of the famous judges from the book of Judges Gideon and he is coming back from a great victory and
As he comes back from this great victory
We're told here that Gideon the son of Josh returned from battle before the Sun was up
He has to deal with a couple of people who have hindered him who have troubled him who did not help him
during his battle and
Now he is learning that these individuals have also killed his brothers notice
They're if you skip down to verse number 18 judges chapter 8 and verse 18
The Bible says then said he this is of course referring to Gideon and to Ziba and Zalmunah
The manner of men he says what manner of men were they whom you slew at Tabor and they answered as thou art
So were they?
each one resembled the children of a king and
He Gideon said they were my brethren even the sons of my mother as the Lord liveth if he had saved them alive
I would not slay you so we see here in the story that Gideon is coming back from battle
He is dealing with these individuals Ziba and Zalmunah
And of course he has found out that not only did they hinder him and not help him during the battle
But they also killed his brothers while he was away in battle and in verse number 20
The Bible says this and he referring to Gideon said unto Jethur his firstborn
so I want you to notice that here we've got Gideon speaking to these two men Ziba and Zalmunah and
He finds out that they killed his brothers and the Bible tells us that Gideon who's a great hero
It was a war hero who has fought the battles of the Lord
He then looks at his firstborn son there verse 20 and he said unto Jethur his firstborn up and slay them and
he commands his son to
Rise up and to slay these two individuals that are murderers that are killers that murdered his brothers and
Jethur's uncles and he commands his son to take vengeance upon them
He gives him a command there in verse 20
He says up and slay them, but after he gives that command the narrator of the book of Judges, which is of course
The Holy Spirit is the narrator of the entire Bible speaking through men
The narrator tells us these words and I want you to notice it, especially you young people
I want you to look down at judges chapter 8 in verse 20
I want you to notice this little phrase the Bible says and he said unto Jethur his firstborn up and slay them
And then the Bible says this but the youth drew not his sword
But the youth drew not his sword
I want you to notice that in fact, if you have a pen if you don't mind writing in your Bible
I want you to underline that little phrase, but the youth drew not his sword
This is the title that I've given the sermon tonight taken from this little phrase
But the youth drew not his sword the Bible tells us that though he was commanded by Gideon to rise up and slay them
This was a righteous thing
This was a proper thing the Bible says that the youth drew not his sword
Because he was yet a youth then Ziba and Zalmana
Excuse me
The Bible says that he drew not because he feared the Bible says therefore he feared and because he was yet a youth verse 21
Then Ziba and Zalmana said rise thou and fall upon us for as the man is so is a strength as get and Gideon arose
And slew Ziba and Zalmana and they took away the ornaments that were on their camels next. I want you to get the story
This young man has been commanded to up and slay them to take his sword out of his sheath and to execute
Judgment upon two individuals that deserve it. He's not outside of the will of God here
He's not outside of his father's will at this point
he's commanded to do this and the Bible tells us the youth drew not his sword for he feared because he was afraid and
Because he was yet a youth and this is the phrase that I want to focus in on tonight this little phrase
But the youth drew not his sword. And what I want you to notice is that when the Bible gives us this phrase
It is telling us this is a phrase that is really like I said
The narrator of the Word of God is telling the us about the young man that he did not take action
He hesitated he drew not the sword that phrase is a commentary within the Word of God
It is a narration. It is an annotation. It is an observation
It is an explanation of what it is that was happening to this young man
Why he did not take action because he did not draw the sword. What are we talking about?
What is the Bible teaching us when it focuses in on that little thought but the youth drew not the sword
What we can learn is that he was not prepared
He was not prepared and he was not ready
To make the choice needed and to execute the judgment that was needed at the time
The reason that the Bible tells us that the youth drew not his sword is because we are being told that there was a hesitation
There he wasn't ready to just do what he needed to do
He wasn't ready when he was commanded up and slay them to simply grab the sword
pull it out of the sheath and do what he needed to do there was a hesitation there there was a
Moment in which he doubted and he decided not to
draw the sword and as a result his father had to step in and do the job for him and what I want to do
tonight and the reason I want to focus in on this little phrase is because I believe that this little phrase in this story could
really be used as a
narration or as a theme for a lot of decisions that young people make when they
Hesitate to do the right thing now. We're there in judges. I'd like you to go over to 2nd Samuel chapter number 13
2nd Samuel chapter 13 you're there in judges
You're just gonna go past the book of Ruth past the book of 1st Samuel into the book of 2nd Samuel 2nd Samuel chapter 13
And I want to show you a story here
See this young man Jethur
When the Bible says but the youth drew not the sword, but the Bible is really telling us is that he hesitated
He had to think about it for a moment and then he decided not to do it and it was the wrong choice
What he should have done was to draw the sword
What he should have done was to make the right decision
What he should have done was to execute judgment
What he should have done was to make the decision that needed to be made at that moment
But because the Bible tells us he was a youth because he was afraid he drew not the sword. I
Believe that one of the reasons that young people often
Make decisions that are wrong decisions. It's not because they don't know the difference between right and wrong and
If you're saved tonight, and I would imagine that the vast majority of the teenagers in this room are saved
That when young people make the wrong choice
It's not because they don't know what the Bible says because these young people are very well versed on what the Bible says
It's not because they don't know what's right and wrong because they've grown up if you're here tonight
I don't have to know a lot about you to know that somebody loved you enough to bring you to an event like this to
a
to a conference where you would have fun where you play games and where you would hear the preaching of
The Word of God the problem is not that you don't know what to do
The problem is not that you don't have the Holy Spirit of God if you're saved that is indwelling you
In fact, I believe and I'm gonna show you from the Bible tonight that it is often the case that when a young person is
Given a situation they were giving a choice to made
Oftentimes there's a hesitancy because they do know what is right. They do know what is wrong
They do know what they should do
They do know what they should not do but often the case is that they fail to draw the sword
They fail to follow through with what they know is the right thing to do
Let me give you some examples tonight you're there in 2nd Samuel chapter 13 like you look down at verse number 1
2nd Samuel 13 in verse 1
The Bible says and it came to pass after this that Absalom the son of David had a fair sister
whose name was Tamar and
Amnon
the son of David
Loved her I want to just give you several examples tonight
I'll begin with this young man by the name of Amnon the Bible tells us that
Absalom the son of David had a fair sister and
Her name was Tamar and Amnon the son of David loved her now
What's interesting about this is that later in this passage?
We were told that he ends up hating her and he ends up hating her more than he loved her
Which doesn't really sound like a lot of love but I've often thought about why is it that God tells us here that he loved
her but I think the reason is young people is because young people often think they're in love and
The truth is and I'm not trying to pick on you, but I just want to tell you something
You don't even know what love is
You you you're you're 13 and 14 and 15 years old and you think you're in love
Let me tell you something love is not a feeling
Love is not something you fall into you don't fall in love. You don't fall out of love
Love is a choice you make every day
You choose every day if you've got a mom and a dad that are together that have brought you here
You've got a mom and a dad that choose every day to love each other and you choose every day to love God
And this young man, he thought he was in love
He the Bible tells us that he loved her verse 2 and Amnon was so vexed
Tell me if this sounds like the average teenager
Amnon was so vexed. What does the word vex mean? He was irritated. He was distressed. He was annoyed
Why notice what the Bible says that he fell sick for his sister
now this young lady Tamar happened to be his half sister who he thought he was in love with for she was a
Virgin and Amnon. I want you to notice this phrase
Hey, here's the story. We've got a young man Amnon
He's got a brother Absalom and Absalom has a sister by the name of Tamar
This is Amnon's half sister. She's fair to look upon and he thinks he loves her
He is vexed and he is fell sick for his sister
But I want you to notice he wants to have a relationship with this young lady
But I want you to notice this little phrase at the end of verse number two
Amnon thought it hard for him to do anything to her
He had wrong intentions
He had impure motives. He had improper thoughts. He had all of these things
He should not have had all of these things. He should have had his mind right and God is himself, right?
He had all these things
But even with all of that the Bible tells us that he thought it hard for him to do anything unto her
What does that mean?
It means that he knew that what he felt and what he wanted to do was wrong and
To give a little credit to Amnon. There was a hesitation there
Where he realized this isn't right
Amnon thought it hard for him to do anything to her and here's what I believe about Christian young people that
Oftentimes before they make the wrong choice. There is something inside of them that says I probably shouldn't be doing this. I
Probably shouldn't be looking at this. I
Probably shouldn't be drinking this. I probably shouldn't be smoking this. I probably shouldn't be listening to this
I probably should not be going there. I probably should not be hanging out with these people
This is not a good idea
Amnon the Bible tells us to his credit thought it hard for him to do anything unto her
You say well that sounds good the problem is found in verse 3 but Amnon had a friend
But Amnon
had a friend
Let me tell you something young people your friends will determine the quality and the direction of your life
The people you associate with can ruin your life
The people you associate with can make you better or they can make you worse
Here we had a young man
Who's already not that right with God himself
Already entertaining impure thoughts and impure motives within his whole heart his own heart and mind
But there's enough of a conscience there to let him to stop him to
Direct the Holy Spirit of God to let us know that though he had these thoughts. He had these desires
He had these things he wanted to do Amnon thought it hard for him to do anything unto her
That's verse 2 but in verse 3 we read the words, but Amnon had a friend
Whose name was Jonadab?
The son of Shemi I David's brother
And Jonadab was very subtle man
once you notice that Jonadab is
characterized by the same
Adjectives as the devil. He was subtle and he said unto him. Why art thou being the king's son lean from day to day
will thou not tell me and
Look get the picture and look teenagers, please. I'm not trying to pick on you. I'm trying to help you. All right
And and I'm not I'm not I'm not your enemy. I mean, I'm your help
But let me explain something to you. There is no new thing under the Sun
Why is it that Amnon is asking his friend?
Why are thou being the king's son lean from day to day?
will thou not tell me because here we have a mopey teenager a
disgruntled teenager an
Emotionally unstable user. What are you talking about? Oh, you'll find out
We've got this young man. Just mother. I love Tamar. You know love is
I'm so in love shut up
You even know what love is you know, you understand what love is
We've got this young man who thinks he's in love moping around walking around
Complaining
Discouraged and his friend is telling him what's wrong
Why is all being the king's son lean from day to day?
Well, they'll not tell me and I've been said unto him. I love Tamar
My brother Absalom's sister
And John and I've said unto him
You say when will I know what love is when you have a job and you can support a young lady then we'll know you
love
When you have a job
And you're willing to go to work
To support a young lady and the children you have with that lady and you're willing to put a ring on her finger and make
A commitment that's when we'll know you're in love
Until then which you've seen on Hollywood at movies is not love
It's lust but it's not love
He says I love Tamar my brother Absalom's sister
John had upset unto him lay thee down on my bed and make thyself sick
And when thy father cometh to see thee say unto him
I pray thee let my sister Tamar come and give me me and dress the meat in thy sight that I may see it
And eat at her hand look down at verse number 11 and when she had brought them unto him to eat
He took hold of her and said unto her come lie with me my sister and she answered him nay
My brother do not force me for no such thing out to be done in Israel
Do not allow this folly look down at verse number 14
Howbeit he would not hearken unto her voice but being stronger than she forced her and lay with her
Here we have a young man
Who ended up raping a young lady forcing himself upon her?
Why why did this happen not because he had the thought and the idea that definitely was the genesis?
That led to this major sin
But to give him a little bit of credit
Amnon thought it hard for him to do anything unto her that is until his friend got involved
The problem is though the line Amnon thought it hard to him to do anything to her is
Actually a good line in the Word of God. It is followed by a negative line, but Amnon had a friend and
His friend was a bad friend
His friend was encouraging him to do wrong
His friend was encouraging him to do something
He should not do and as a result he being stronger than she forced her and lay with her
You say well, how did this end up?
for Amnon look at verse 32
2nd Samuel 13 verse 32
And John it out the son of shimmy. I David's brother answered and said
Let not my Lord suppose that they have slain all the young men
Say what's going on here?
I won't take the time to read through the whole story
But as a result of the actions that he took against Tamar
Amnon was killed by Absalom his brother his brother
Planned got bitter towards him and planned to kill him and here in verse 32
David King David is getting the story of what happened and I want you to notice who's delivering the story look at verse 32 and
Jonathan
Jonathan who was Jonathan Jonathan was his friend right verse 3, but I'm not a friend whose name was Jonathan
Jonathan was the guy who had the bright idea to feign yourself to be sick and then force yourself upon her, but now
Years later when Amnon has been killed has been murdered at the hands of Absalom because of his sin
Jonathan his so-called friend
The son of shimmy I David's brother answered and said let not my lord
This is Jonathan speaking to David Amnon's father suppose that they
Speaking about Absalom have slain all the young men the king's son
He's a they didn't kill all your sons for Amnon only is dead for by the appointment of
Absalom this had been determined from the day that he forced his sister Tamar
You know, it's interesting to me and I'm not preaching on this tonight, but it's interesting how Jonadab is such a perfect character of
Illustration of Satan
The Bible tells us he subtle the Bible tells us Satan is subtle
the Bible tells us he tempted Amnon the Bible tells us the devil tempted Amnon and once he tempted Amnon and Amnon fell and
As a result consequences came to his life. Then Jonadab runs to the king and says, let me tell you what Amnon did
He said Amnon is dead
For by the appointment of Absalom
He had been determined from the day that he forced his sister Tamar Jonadab is telling David
You know why this happened because Amnon forced his sister Tamar, but it's funny to me that he leaves out the part that it was
his idea
You know the devil does young people he will tempt you and then he will accuse you
He will befriend you he will be subtle to you
And then once you fall once your life's ruined once everything's been destroyed once everything's been exposed
Then he's the accuser of the brethren and he goes to God the father says look what he did
You said but Amnon, but Amnon had a friend and you know when it comes to young people
Friendships is very important and I think in life friendships are very important. I want you to develop good friends
I hope you develop good friends. One of the reasons we have events like these is because of friends
Let me tell you something oftentimes young people get connected with the wrong friends and
They want to run around like my friends my friends. Let me ask you something. Are your friends gonna visit you in prison?
You disrespect your mom
because of your friends
But when your friends tempt you to do something that lands you in prison, you know, who's gonna visit you not your friends
but your mom is
You know, it's gonna visit you at the hospital not your friends, but your dad will
you know who's gonna visit you when you're down and out and you've ruined your life and you're
Addicted to drugs or addicted to gambling or addicted to pornography or addicted to whatever you've been tempted to buy your friend
You know who's gonna be there your pastor your pastor's wife. Hey, the church is gonna be there. Those are your friends
There
The Bible tells us that Amnon had a friend and as a result his life was ruined
And here's all I'm saying young people
And I hope you get this point
But there was a moment in Amnon's life
There was a moment
When the Bible tells us that he thought it hard for him to do anything unto her
He knew it was wrong. He knew he shouldn't go through with it
He knew he should have done it but then here comes his friend and says hey I got an idea
Why don't we sneak up? Hey, I got an idea. Why don't we go over there? Hey, I got idea
Let's tell your parents you're sleeping over at my house and we'll go do X Y & Z then his friend shows up with an idea
And I believe that Amnon at that point what he should have done was
Spiritually taken out his sword and said get out of here Amnon. Get out of here Jonadab
I'm not gonna do it. It's wrong. It's not what I should do, but you know
What could be given as a narration for Amnon's life
You know, what could be given as an annotation or
an observation as
a commentary or an explanation for that moment at that moment, I
mean the the seconds between
Verse 2 and verse 3 look at it second Samuel 13 to Amnon thought it hard for him to do anything to her
Verse 3 but Amnon had a friend at that moment
Amnon should have made a choice to pull his sword out and say I'm not gonna do it Satan. I'm not gonna do it devil
I'm not gonna let you tempt me. I'm not gonna let you destroy me, but unfortunately
It can be said of Amnon
But the youth drew not his sword
He had a choice to make
Had a choice to fight
He had a choice to make the right choice and he hesitated to do the wrong thing
But he thought it hard to do anything to her
but at that moment
When he should have pulled the sword out, I'm not saying physically I'm saying spiritually and said no, I'm not gonna do it
it could be characterized as
the youth drew not the sword and
Because he did not draw the sword because he did because he hesitated to make the right choice
Because he hesitated to execute judgment
Jonathan was fine, but Amnon dealt with the consequences
Let me give you another example
Go to Genesis chapter 37
We see that first example of Amnon. He thought it hard for him to do anything unto her
Let me tell you young people you are going to have so-called friends in your life
And if you've got a friend that is making you worse if you've got a friend that is making you go down the wrong path
If you got a friend that is playing temptations in front of you, that is not a friend
That is no friend at all
Now those moments look young people, please you teenagers. I'm for you. I hope you understand that
We've been planning this conference for a year now in the last several weeks
We've been working hard we've been praying we've been preparing
And we're not doing this because you know, my wife and I just don't we don't have anything else to do. We're just bored
We're doing this because we love you
Because we care about the next generation
Because we don't want to see you go down the road of destroying your life
But I'm here to tell you that you if you've not already experienced it you're going to experience it as a teenager
And by the way, you're going to experience it for the rest of your life
Even as an adult you will have people in your life who are going to come in and pretend that they're your friends and pretend
That they love you and pretend that they like you and they're going to try to tempt you and they're trying to destroy your life
And if you're saved and if you've got a conscience at that moment
Something inside of you is going to say I don't think I should do this and at that moment you better draw the sword
You better make sure you're ready to make the right choice
You better make sure you're ready to fight the battles that you need to fight because if instead of you
But the youth drew not the sword
And we will know that the story will not end well
We give you another example
Genesis 37
Genesis 37 I gave you the example of Amnon
I
Gave you the example of Reuben
Genesis 37 verse 18
notice these verses and when they
This is Joseph's brothers
Saw him
speaking about Joseph
afar off
Even before he came near unto them
they
Joseph's brothers
conspired against him
Joseph notice the words to slay him
Joseph's brothers were so envious of Joseph that when they saw him coming and they had him alone
They conspired what does that mean? They made plans together?
against their brother to slay him
look at verse 19 and
They said one to another behold this dreamer cometh
come now therefore and let us slay him and
Cast him into some pit
And we all say some evil beasts have devoured him and we shall see what will become of his dreams
want you to notice verse 21 and
Reuben
Reuben was the eldest and
Reuben heard it and
He delivered him out of their hands. Isn't that good?
That's a good thing for Reuben to do
He delivered them out of their hands and said let us not kill him and Reuben said unto them
I want you to notice that Reuben realizes a bad idea
Please get the story. You've got the 12. You've got the 12 sons of Israel
11 of them are against one. They're sitting there. This is a group and they're all
Choosing and deciding that they want to do something that's wrong
But within that group, there's one individual who says I don't think this is a good idea
Within that group there's one individual who's hesitating
verse 21 and Reuben heard it and he delivered him out of their hands and said
Let us not kill him and Reuben said unto them shed no blood but cast him into the pit
That it that is in the wilderness and lay no hands upon him that he might
Rid him out of their hands to deliver him to his father again. I
Want you to notice this
Reuben
Realizes this is wrong. He realizes we should not do this
There's a hesitation in Reuben saying I don't think we should kill Joseph. I
Know he's a bride. I know he's annoying
I know that that that we don't like him, but I don't feel comfortable with going through with this
So the Bible tells us that Reuben devised this plan to try to get his brother to be delivered
Out of their hands that he might rid him out of their hands to deliver him to his father again
He wanted to stall them and he said shed no blood
But cast him into the pit that is in the wilderness and lay no hand upon him. He said hey guys, how about this?
Let's not kill him. Let's just put him into the pit. How about that?
Let's put him into the pit and his idea was I'm gonna come back later when they're not looking
I'm gonna pull him out of the pit and I'm gonna take him to dad and I'll make sure he's safe
That's what Reuben wanted to do. But what happened?
look at verse 23 and
It came to pass when Joseph was common to his brethren
that they stripped Joseph out of his coat his coat of many colors that was on him and
They took him and cast him into a pit and his pit was empty and there was no water in it
and he sat down to eat bread and they lifted up their eyes and looked and behold a
Company of Ishmaelites came from Gilead with their camels bearing
Spicery and balm and myrrh going to carry it down to Egypt and Judah sent unto his brother
What prophet is it if we slay our brother and conceal his blood?
Come and let us sell him to the Ishmaelites and let not our hands be upon him for he is our brother and our flesh
And his brethren were content
then they're passed by the Midianites merchant men and they drew and lifted up Joseph out of the pit and sold Joseph to the
Ishmaelites for 20 pieces of silver and they brought Joseph into Egypt you say well
They decided to sell him. They took him out of the pit and decided to sell him, but where's Reuben?
Look at verse 29 and
Reuben returned
What does that tell us that all of this happened while Reuben was gone?
Reuben said I can't let this happen. I'm gonna tell them. Hey, let's not kill him
Let's put him in the pit and his idea was when I come back. I'm gonna come back
I'm gonna pull him out when they're not looking I'm gonna do them does that but while he was gone
While he was gone
the ish the company of the Ishmaelites came by and
they decided to sell him and
when Reuben finds out look at verse 29 and
Reuben returned unto the pit and behold Joseph was not in the pit and he rent his clothes Reuben
Ripped his clothes when he went and he realized that Joseph was gone
He he got so upset and he realized what have you done like verse 30 and returned unto his brother
He said the child is not and I wither shall I go
See
The truth is this that Reuben knew that what they were doing was wrong
Reuben knew that it was not right for them to hurt Joseph Reuben
In fact had right intentions and good intentions and he wanted to pull Joseph out and deliver him unto his brethren
You say well, what was the problem with Reuben?
You know what the problem with Reuben was that he wanted to do it while still looking cool
You say well, what should have done, you know what he should have done is said hey guys no, this is wrong
We're not gonna kill Joseph and he should have just taken Joseph right then and there and taking him back to his father
But because he was wanted to fit in with the crowd
But because he wanted to be cool because he wanted to be accepted. What did he do? He gave in to peer pressure
And it's exactly what pastor Anderson preached to us last night
He was half in half out a double minded man, and it did not work
You
Say what should Reuben have done he should have pulled out the sword
He should have said no, we're not doing this. I don't care who thinks it's a good idea. This is not right
This is not what we're going to do
He should have stood up and said no
But I'm here to tell you something when they started having these conversations
When they started to see Joseph come and they started to conspire against him. How did that conversation go?
I don't know the Bible doesn't tell us but I could imagine because I know how young men are I could imagine that that whole
Group of young men were there and they saw Joseph coming and it probably started as a joke
Wouldn't it be funny if we just killed him?
Wouldn't be funny. It wouldn't be great. We just got and they kind of chuckled and they said well, maybe
What we could do
Well, we could kill him and then take his blood and put it and put it on on the clothes and tell dad that
That an animal got to him and as he began to talk the jokes became more and more serious and Reuben became more and more
Uncomfortable and he said this isn't right in his mind. He said this isn't right
We shouldn't do this, but he was not willing to take the sword out and say no, we're not doing that. That's wrong
I'm not gonna go. What do you want to do? You want to fear fit in?
See with Amnon we saw him give in to a friend, you know what we see with Reuben give in to peer pressure
He wants to fit in with the crowd
I'm gonna do right but I'm gonna make sure they don't see me because I want to be cool
I'm gonna do right
I'm just gonna try to still look like I'm with the group and
as a result
Joseph was sold into slavery and he spent 20 years of his life taken from his father taken from his family
13 of those years were spent in slavery and in a prison why?
Because a young man Reuben who knew what the right thing was to do
Who had a moment of hesitancy?
Who had a moment when the Bible says that he might rid him out of their hands to deliver him to his father again at
That moment Reuben should have pulled out the sword spiritually said we're not doing this. We're not making that choice
We're not gonna do that. That's wrong. We're not gonna do it
But what could it be said of Reuben at that moment when he should have stood up?
against the pressure of the group
You know what could be said?
as a commentary
As an observation as a narration
As a description as an explanation of his choice at that moment, you know what we could say
We could say but the young man drew not his sword
He knew what was right
But he chose not to do it
He knew the stand he had to take but he wanted to fit in
But the youth drew not his sword
Let me tell you something when Amnon when Amnon failed to draw his sword
It destroyed his life when Reuben failed to draw the sword. It destroyed somebody else's life
Young people, please listen to me your choices do not only hurt you
Your choices do not only affect you
There are people all around you that love you that care for you
that are invested in you and
When you fail to draw the sword when it can be said of you
But the youth drew not his sword. It doesn't just hurt you
it hurts Joseph and
It hurts the people
That love you and that are counting on you and that need you
To make the right choice
Let me give you a third example
Go to Genesis chapter 27. You're there in Genesis. Look at Genesis 27
He talked about Amnon
He thought it hard for him to do anything to her great, but Amnon had a friend
but Amnon had a friend and
unfortunately
Because the youth drew not his sword
His life was destroyed
Then we saw Reuben
Dealing with peer pressure and the Bible tells us that he might rid him out of their hands to deliver him to his father again
And we think great
But the youth drew not his sword and as a result
It destroyed
His brother's life Joseph's life
Let me give you a third example
Genesis 27 look at verse 5 and
Rebecca
heard when Isaac spake to Esau
Genesis 27 verse 5
his son
He saw went to the field to hunt for venison and to bring it
And Rebecca spake unto Jacob her son
Saying behold I heard thy father father speak unto Esau thy brother saying bring me venison and make me savory me
That I may eat and bless thee before the Lord before my death now
Therefore my son obey my voice according to that which I commanded thee go now to the flock and fetch me
Please understand the story. This is Rebecca
the mother of Jacob
Instructing Jacob to do something wrong
Go now to the flock and fetch me from then's two good coats of the goats
And I will make them savory meat for thy father such as he loved
here we have Rebecca who's an authority the mother of Jacob and
Please understand this you say where can temptation come from you know that it can come from your friends
Amnon had a friend Jonathan it can come from the group
Reuben and his brothers, but it can also come from people who are your authority
Unfortunately for some of you you might be tempted to sin by an uncle by an aunt
by an older cousin
For some of you may be your mom
Maybe your dad
Maybe your mom brings you to church, and she loves you. She's praying for you, but your dad is not saved
And he's influencing you to go in the wrong way
Please understand something the Bible says children obey your parents in the Lord for this is right
And the Bible says that you are to honor your father your mother
But the Bible also tells us that we are to obey God rather than men
And I think that you should submit to your God-given authority
You should submit to the authority of your father
And you should submit to the authority of your mother
And you should submit to the authority to the extent that it is appropriate of your pastor
And you should submit to the authorities that have been placed over you
But as soon as one of those authorities begins to tell you to do something that is wrong at that moment
we obey God rather than men and
Jacob here is being
Instructed by his mother to do something wrong, and I want you to notice that there's a moment of hesitancy
look at it verse 10 and
Thou Jacob
Shall bring it to thy father that he may eat and that he may bless thee before his death. That's the plan
look at verse 11
And Jacob said to Rebecca his mother behold
Esau my brother is a hairy man, and I am a smooth man. My father peradventure will feel me notice
He says notice the hesitancy and I shall seem to him as a deceiver
He says this is not a good idea
This is not gonna work
Esau's a hairy man. I'm a smooth man. My dad's gonna figure out what we're doing and I'm gonna look like a deceiver
I shall seem to him as a deceiver when I ever I read this in the Bible. I always want to yell to Jacob
I always want to say to Jacob. No Jacob. You shall not your it's not that you're gonna seem to him as a deceiver
It's that you're going to be a deceiver
And I shall bring a curse upon me and not a blessing and his mother said unto him
bad advice
Upon me be thy curse my son
Only obey my voice
And go fetch me them
You know, there was a moment of hesitancy there where Jacob said I shall seem to him as a deceiver
But his authority in his life said no no upon me be thy curse my son, but you know, that was a lie
Because Rebecca did not suffer the consequences of Jacob's decision that day Jacob did
Esau did
Isaac did and Rebecca
Look at Genesis 31 in verse 41. You said what happened as a result of his bad decision
Genesis 31 in verse 41
Genesis 31 41 the Bible says thus have I
This is Jacob speaking a couple of decades later. Thus have I been 20 years in my house
I served thee 14 years for thy two daughters and six years for thy cattle and I was changed my wages ten times
You know as a result of Jacob's decision to follow the instructions of Rebecca
He spent the next 20 years being deceived himself as he reaped what he has sown
Because he chose to deceive his father and steal the blessing from his brother for the next 20 years
He was lied to he was deceived. He was told work for this girl for seven years
He worked for seven years and then they swapped the girls and had to work another seven years to get the girl
He actually wanted then he had to work for cattle and his wages were changed over and over and over and over
He was tricked. He was deceived. He was lied to why because he tricked he
Deceived he lied young people. Listen to me. You will reap what you sow
Be not deceived. God is not mocked
You can laugh at your mom and you can laugh at your dad
You can laugh at your pastor
You can think you're smarter than everybody you think you think you're hiding what you're looking at and hiding what you're listening to and hiding
Where you're going and hiding what you're doing, but you're not hiding from God
You're not deceived
God is not mocked
But whatsoever a man so if that shall he also reap
And as a result Jacob spent the next 20 years being deceived himself as he reaps what he sowed
But it's heartbreaking to me because as I read the story I see that hesitancy look look at it again jesus 27 verse 12
He didn't want to do it
My father paired venture will fill me and I shall seem to him as a deceiver
For a moment, he thought I shouldn't do this for a moment. He thought this is not a good idea
For a moment. He thought this is not the choice that I should be making
What should Jacob have done at that moment? He should have pulled out the sword and said sorry mom. I love you
Sorry authority figure I love you, but I'm not gonna let you tempt me into sinning
I'm not going to go down this road
But instead
What can be said of
Jacob at that moment
When he had a decision to make when he had a choice to make and he chose to not fight to do the right thing
instead an
Observation a
Narration an explanation an application for what he did
We could say it this way, but the youth drew not his sword
He should have fought
Should have drawn the sword
Ruben should have fought
He should have said no
No, we're not doing this
Amnon should have fought he should have pulled a sword
But unfortunately like it was head of Jeter it could be said of Amnon. It could be said of Ruben
It could be said of Jacob, but the you
Do not his sword
And young people listen to me
Whatever regret you end up bringing into adulthood
Whatever failure
You end up having as a history
of your life
Will probably
Be explained by this phrase
but the you
drew not the sword I
Want you to just contrast that real quickly with another young person
By the name of Daniel
You don't have to go there. Let me just read this for you Daniel chapter 1 in verse 8 very well-known passage
Daniel's taken out out of his homeland taken away from his family
put into captivity
Put around a bunch of the peers of his age
They are tempted and they are encouraged to do wrong
but the Bible says
About one of the greatest men Daniel is one of these interesting characters kind of like Samuel
We see him start off in the Bible at as a very young age and we follow his life as even a very elder and
Old man and we see him as a young lad the Bible tells us but Daniel
Purpose in his heart that he would not to follow himself with the portion of the Kings me
you know what that means when he was tempted to eat the Kings me and drink the Kings wine and
Everyone else was going down that road Daniel. It was not said of him, but the youth do not the sword
Oh, no, he was ready. He was prepared Daniel purpose in his heart that he would not to follow himself with the Kings me
You know what Daniel did he do what Amnon failed to do?
You know what Daniel did he did what Ruben failed to do?
You know what Daniel did he did what Jacob failed to do? He pulled the sword out and said no
But Daniel purposed in his heart
He would not to follow himself with the Kings me I
Hope you're getting the point young people
I'm hoping that this little phrase will get ingrained in your heart
It's a little thought will get ingrained in your brain
I'm hoping that you will remember these words from judges chapter 8 and verse 20, but the youth drew not his sword
But the youth drew not his sword
But the youth drew not his sword and the next time you find yourself
Surrounded with a group of so-called friends and they're all conspiring to do something that your heart is telling you
This isn't right that your conscience is telling you. I shouldn't do this that the Holy Spirit is telling you. This is not right
I hope at that moment that these words will come into your mind
But the youth drew not his sword and that you will decide I won't be Amnon. I won't be Ruben
I won't be Jacob. I'll be Daniel and I'll stand up and fight. I
Won't make the wrong choice. I won't go down the wrong road. I
Told you about Amnon I told you about Ruben
I told you about Jacob
I told you about Jeter
But the youth
Drew not his sword
If you will, I'd like to tell you about another young man
This was not found in the Bible I
Could tell you
I've told the story before our church people have heard it
But I don't know that you young people have heard it and I just want to give you a personal illustration I
Want to tell you about a young man named Roger
By God's grace I was born into a Christian home
I'm thankful for that. I think my mom and dad my siblings are here tonight. I'm thankful for that. I
Grew up not only in a Christian home. I grew up in a Baptist home
Independent funeral Baptist home. I'm thankful for it
Was was everything perfect in our lives, of course, not no one's life is perfect, but I'm thankful for the heritage that I was given I
Got serious about soul winning as an older teenager
I'd grown up
in a Christian home and
I'd gone salt winning practically my entire life
My mom tells me stories that when I was in kindergarten
I would get in trouble because I was trying to give the gospel to all of the kindergartners
The teacher didn't understand it. She just thought I was telling everybody they were gonna go to hell
But as teenagers are
As I got older I got very self-conscious a
Little self-absorbed a
little selfish I
Began to be embarrassed of Christianity. I
Spent the first part of my life in a public school went to elementary
Junior high in the first year of high school in a public school
And my dad is here tonight
He had this rule
When we were growing up and
It was at any time that one of our friends came over. He was gonna preach the gospel to them
And partly I think he did that because he's a soul winner and he loved them
And partly I think he did that because he didn't want a bunch of kids in his house
And
He just had this rule if you you bring a kid over that's fine
You can bring a kid over but I'm gonna give him the gospel
And my dad would always encourage us to share the gospel and they give the gospel with our friends
And I was 13 years old we moved I grew up in Hayward, California moved to San Leandro, California
and that summer I graduated from elementary school going into junior high school going into seventh grade and
We're going to a new school. We didn't know anybody
My brother and I played baseball my brother's here tonight as well
And that summer we started to play baseball and the San Leandro Baseball League
And we became friends with a couple of young boys young men young men
Who lived down the street from us literally just lived a few houses down the street from us
We played baseball with them on the same teams
One of their names was Joey
He was my age. The other one was Jesse. He was my brother's age. I
Remember just as that as a young person. I
Remember to just have that tension, you know that but the Holy Spirit inside of you telling you this is right
This is wrong
draw the sword
Take a stand
Remember Lord began to work on my heart burden me to show the gospel of my friends
But I refuse I
Never I didn't say I don't I don't care. I didn't say I just kept saying well next time
I'll do it next time
One particular Wednesday we had this thing in our schools where we would get out. We had a half day on Wednesday
Teachers had conferences and meetings on Wednesdays, so we'd have a half day school. I
Remember on a Wednesday we got out of school early
We walked home
We had a basketball net
over our garage and when we walked home, we just kind of hung out outside in the garage and
Played basketball and just kind of hung out. I remember specifically thinking to myself. I
Remember looking at the time and think to myself my dad's gonna be home soon
And I remember specifically thinking myself
I gotta get these guys going cuz I don't want my my dad coming home and these guys being here and they're gonna try
to talk about Jesus
And I remember
Getting them out
Getting them saying oh you guys it's time to go. I gotta go. I got stuff to do
Cuz I didn't want my dad to embarrass me
And preach the gospel to my friends
On that particular Wednesday
Just a couple hours
After they left our home
Jesse died in a tragic accident
Of course I didn't know that I
Came to school the next day
It's funny how
When you go through something that's maybe a little traumatic
Your mind just vividly
Remembers things that you normally would not remember. I
remember walking into school and
Seeing groups of kids huddled crying
And of course, I'm a dumb teenager. I'm thinking about what are they crying about?
But I just kept walking I
Remember as I was walking to my class the teachers
Meeting had just got out and the door the door opened and and all the teachers just filed out right in front of me
And as I'm watching these adult grown-ups come out, they're crying the teachers the ladies crying. I think myself what they were crying about. I
Went to class
When I got to class, I remember one of my friends walked up to me said did you hear the news did what I?
Remember he handed me a newspaper. It was in the newspaper
Jesse had died
He died trying to beat a train
One of those dumb things that teenagers do
What's interesting to me is that I didn't cry I
Didn't have any emotion I think I was in shock
Everybody else cried around me. I didn't cry
Everybody else felt bad and I just had no emotion
I went through the day
I remember we went to my first class and they gave the announcement Joey was in our class was in my class
His brother had died the teacher gave the announcement of what had happened that joy was missing or that joy was not gonna be here
because of that and
We went through the class. I went to my next class. I went to another class. I
Remember after lunch I got to my third class and at this point I'm getting kind of worried cuz I'm thinking myself
What is wrong with me? Why am I not?
Weeping why everybody else is crying. What is what's wrong with me?
Remember you got to this class right after lunch
My class right after lunch and the teacher decided and again, this was a class that Joey was in with us
And she said why don't we all make some cards?
for the Lugo family let them know we're thinking about them and that we care about them and
Handed out paper and we this was junior high school. We began to make these cards and write these cards. I
Just remember this so clearly we had the way that the classroom was set up
We had desks set up that were up against each other
There was four kids that would sit at one desk four kids and the class was set up like this and the girl that sat
Right across from me. Her name was Angelica. I
Remember she got started on her paper and they put a paper in front of me and stuff in front of me
I didn't do anything
And when she got done making her card
Remember she looked up and she looked at me
She said doesn't Joey lived right down the street from you and I said, yeah, he lives just a couple houses from me
She said I don't want to give this to the teacher and have it be given with a whole group
Would you deliver this card to Joey's mother?
She said I'm a Catholic and I think the message in this card would really be helpful to her
And I said sure no problem
I remember she handed me the card and I remember opening the card and she had drawn this
Little picture and the words on the card said one day we will all be reunited in heaven
And I remember I just began to weep
I really began to just cry uncontrollably
Because I understood something that I understood pretty much my entire life that none of these people in this room understood and it is this
That people don't just go to heaven
Only those who believe on the Lord Jesus Christ go to heaven
Only those who are saved go to heaven
And they need somebody to preach the gospel to them
They need somebody to explain that salvation is a gift and that if they die in their sins
They will spend eternity in hell
I think at that moment the shock wore off and the realization
Came to light that I had a friend who was probably in hell and would spend eternity in
Hell though. There was a young man who had the gospel who could have gotten saved who was encouraged to get him saved
But the youth
Drew not the sword
About that day that I would spend my life as a soul winner
I think I've accomplished that task
But young people I want to tell you something
Don't let it be said of you that the you drew not his soul
Decide right now that when the opportunity comes
When the choice has to be made when you have to take a stand and you have to decide you're not gonna side with the
Group, you're not gonna side with the friend
You're not gonna make the wrong choice when the hesitancy is there and the choice has to be made
Let it not be said of you, but the youth drew not the soul
Let me set of you
He purposed in his heart
And he would live for God
He purposed in his heart
And he would not defile himself with the Kings me
He purposed in his heart that he would be a soul winner
He purposed in his heart that he would make it to marriage pure and as a virgin he purposed in his heart
That he would not do drugs that he would not listen to rock music that he would be a fundamental Baptist
But he would not be ashamed of cry
Let it not be said of you
But the you
Do not
Just sort that's power heads and I would a prayer Heavenly Father
What I pray for these young people I
Don't think they realize the opportunities that have been given to them I
Don't think they understand the resources that have been handed to them
These kids have so much potential
They've got so much going for them
They've got moms and dads and pastors and pastors white love them
But unfortunately, we cannot make the choice for them
Unfortunately, they're going to have to make the choice themselves
There will come opportunities
When they are pressured to do wrong
There will come opportunities
When they are pressured
To not take a stand
To not do what's right
To go along with the flow
And they'll know it's the wrong choice. They'll know it's not what they should do. They'll know that it's not the right thing to do
And I pray that it would not be said of them
But the you
Drew not his sword
Pray you would imprint that in their hearts and print that in their minds
Lord I pray that you'd help them at that moment to decide I will draw the sword. I
Will take a stand
I will take a stand and I will do what's right
In the matchless name of Christ we pray
amen
Like you to take your song books if you would and go to page number 306
Page number 306
We're gonna sing have thine own way Lord have thine own way
We don't hold invitations here, but it's good for you to think of these words
I want you to sing this with me young people
And I want you to consider making this a prayer in your life 306 sing it out on the first 306
Have thine own way
Lord have thine own way
Thou art the potter
I am the clay
Mold me and make me after thy will
While I am waiting
Yield it and still 306. Sing it out a second. Let's just slow it down just a tad on the second
Have thine own way
Lord sing it with a purpose have thine own way
Search me and try me master I pray
Wider than snow
Wash me just now
As in thy presence
My presence
Humbly I bow sing it out on the third have thine own way
Lord have thine own way
Wounded and weary
Help me I pray
Power all power
Surely is
Mine
Touch me and heal
Me
Save your divine listen to these listen to these words before we sing them have thine own way lord have thine own way
hold or my being
Young people you want to know why your parents brought you here
That's what we want for you
This is a prayer we want for you hold or my being absolute sway
Fill with thy spirit till all shall see
Christ only always
Living in me. Let's sing it out on the last thing. It was some passion
Have thine own way
Lord have thine own way
Hold or my being
Absolute sway
Fill with thy spirit
Till all shall see
Christ only always
Living in me
Amen god bless you. We're gonna have Deacon Oliver come up
I think he's got some questions and raffle tickets to hand out and then I'll come back up
And we'll do a points recap and let you know where we're at tonight i'll have brother oliver come up at this time
all right
I've got four questions to see who
Can raise their hand first, but she's gonna help me
See which hand goes up first. Okay, so
The phrase that pastor kept repeating when you're unable to execute judgment when needed what is the phrase that pastor repeated
Who
What is it
Uh, draw thy sword close very close anyone else who do we have?
But drew not his sword very close but the youth there you go good answer good answer give a round of applause folks round of applause
All right, all right three more questions, let's see who was amnon's subtle and bad friend
John adapt good answer round of applause round of applause. All right
All right, let's see
Who pastor said this quote but who will determine the quality and direction of your life
See you right there
Close no, no actually not close
Your friends, that's right round of applause round of applause all right
All right last question
Why
Ready why did rubin fall into peer pressure?
Let's have you right there
Why did rubin fall into peer pressure all right hands down again hands down hands down
You got it
So
Close but what's the answer? All right, what's the uh, everyone raise your hand ready one two three go
He wanted to look cool he wanted to fit in good job good job
All right, so that is it for the questions and at this time pastor Jimenez will come up all right
All
Right. Well, we appreciate you guys being here for this week. And of course, we've got to we've got some things
We've got a raffle off. Can I get some help with you guys?
Can you guys bring up these things up here so we can get rid of some of this stuff?
And let me uh, go ahead and start off. We've got some things to raffle. Of course, we've got
the uh, nice scooter up here, uh that we were gonna raffle off
The nine bot kicks scooter
valued at six hundred and thirty dollars and uh,
It works. Well, i've tried it and uh, we're gonna give this away
This is the this is the major thing we're gonna give out tonight, but we've got lots of different things
Yeah, if you've got tickets, let's go ahead and put those in good job guys. Don't forget about that
If you've got some tickets, let's put those in
for the shot these um
These prizes these these amounts were are correct, right this
That
And we did that
And then we did we actually made that twenty thousand. Okay. Yeah. Yeah, perfect
All right, if you've got some tickets, let's put those in there get you in there
Make sure you put all your tickets in there put them in there so you can be counted
All right, so we've got several things to raffle off tonight. We're we're gonna have the the scooter be the last thing
We raffle off but we've got several other things we want to raffle off
Before we do that, and of course, uh, we've been giving away
amazon gift cards
And we've been giving away
hats, uh throughout the conference, but we've got some
Hats that are left over and we've got some uh, amazon, uh gift cards that are left over
So we're going to go ahead and raffle these off as well. Okay, so we've got
Uh these hats that were made by
Miss susanna anderson. She donated these for the conference. They're very nice hats. They say very baptist church next generation youth rally
Of course, we've got black hats for atelius and then we've got gray hats for spartacus
So we're going to start off by raffling off
Uh some of these hats first
Oh brother
But you still have more okay. All right, let's get those in there. Let's get those in. Does anybody else have more
Everybody put them in
All right
da
All right, come on come on come on hey you're distracting him let him let him finish let him finish
All right
Let's put those in there put these in there quickly quickly quickly sense of urgency
Got it. All right good
That was a sticky note. Okay
All right
We're going to raffle off. Uh, some
Of these hats first i've got names that are already falling out. So i'm just gonna i'm just gonna consider these were chosen by the lord
All right first hat goes to
Kylin kylin, where's kylin kylin? Congratulations
Do you want your team hat or do you want to be a benedict arnold? All right good team. She's got it
All right. All right. Next hat's going to be given away to briseida
Briseida, where's she at briseida? All right, come on up
Good
I'm assuming you'd like your team hat gray. All right. Praise the lord
And we got two more of these we got to give out
See if anything falls. Okay. No
Use my super duper key here
I'm not looking
This one feels like it says daniel. I'm just kidding
Okay, that's not gonna work
Briseido you won again i'm gonna put this back in there
But i'm not giving you two hats
That's a lucky gal. Okay, let me close my eyes
Briseida no, i'm just kidding. No joel. He menace joel. He menace
Coming up quickly quickly sense of urgency
All right
One in gray one more
One more one more
One more hat one more hat
Okay
Autumn chesik autumn chesik. Where's autumn?
We only had a gray one and you're on the gray team that was of the lord. All right good. Congratulations
Okay, we also
Ordered more gift cards than we needed because we didn't realize how bad you guys would be at games
So we've got some amazon gift cards to give out we've got one two three four five six seven eight nine
Ten ten dollar amazon gift cards
Some of them fall out. Did these fall out right here? Okay, let's go with these
Max coker max coker where you're at. Where's he at max? Oh, come on up. Come on up
Come on up
John forte john forte. Come on. Where's you got to be here to win. All right, john forte. Come on up
Let me say that also if you're not here you don't win. Go ahead and grab grab any of them. They're all the same
All right. Congratulations guys
Let's pick a few more. All right, ten dollar amazon gift card
You gotta be kidding me daniel come on up
Daniel
You're welcome
Autumn chess again, I can't let you win again, but i'm gonna put this back in there. Wait, it was autumn, right?
Did autumn win already?
You won already? All right. Sorry
Are they falling out good night
Why do these all say autumn chess no
No, okay, I think I got enough here let's let's go with these
Okay, that one's on we already did that all right, uh, kyra ball kyra ball
All right. Come on down
Ten dollar amazon gift card
Suzette zuniga. Suzette zuniga
You didn't even have to eat all that jello you got it congratulations
Congratulations, okay, not that one
Natalie velardo natalie velardo, come on up. Congratulations. Natalie velardo
Jocelyn zuniga josslyn zuniga, where's she at?
All right, that is one lucky family josslyn zuniga, okay, we need three more we got three more
Three more close my eyes
I think I got one two, let me pick another one three
All right, so
John forte again, you already john forte already won, right?
Yeah, I don't know. He won so I need to pick another one simon simon. Come on up
Congratulations
I don't know why joshua. Jimenez. I don't know why i'm like
This is not rigged I promise
All right, and the last amazon gift card goes to emma rossin emma rossin
Emma
Congratulations, all right. Okay. Well
All right, so now we need to announce the winners for the game
But before I do that, I do want to remind you that we have a wrestling show right after the service in the fellowship hall
We've got the cookie fellowship and the wrestling show and if you remember it's a rematch between
pastor jimenez
And dwight kid because he cheated last night. So we get a rematch. Yeah, give me a round of applause. Yeah. Thank you
I appreciate that
I think i'm gonna I think i'm gonna do well
But I also wrote the script so
We need to announce the winners of the games we have two teams competing against each other going head to head
Let's give them one last chance to hear their team spirit. We have atelius
All right, that's good that's good and we've got spartacus
Is
That was a little better a little bit let's give atelius another chance atelius
All right good spartacus
All right, all right good job, okay, so if you remember
We left off
After the bowling alley
Where were we totals with bowling was
225 000 to 270 000 was where we left off for bowling then we had
three games cheetos and glass bottled coke for 25 000 points went to
Who did I don't even I don't even remember who it went to who won that game
Spartacus won that game
They were awarded 25 000 points and that brought them to
250 000
I just want to make sure i'm reading this ring
That brought them to 251 000 with atelius at 270 000 then we had the second game
That was giant jenga
For 30 000 points that went to atelius
That brought them to 300 000
251 000 then we had the last game name that song
And that brought the total and the winner for the night
At
Good night, where are the totals totals after the evening game?
This was really close honestly, I hate to even announce this
But
One team
one team had
Well, I was just let me just announce it the winner for the next generation youth rally it but before I say something
Let me just say
Hey, you know, it's not about winning and losing
It's about how you play the game at 300 000 points atelius
Atelius won the game. All right
We've got a prize for atelius everyone
On the atelius team is going to get let's have the ushers come up and make sure that everybody on till his team
We've got a next generation
Youth rally candy bar. It is hot cheeto flavor. No, i'm just kidding
It's not next generation youth rally
Let's let's get these to the winning team winning team and you know that you're the winning team because your candy bar says winner
Congratulations to the winner atelius. Let's give them a round of applause
We do also have a small prize for
The other team we also got you next generation youth rally candy bars
They don't taste as good and they're a little older and these ones unfortunately say loser
But
Maybe next year. All right, so let's give them all a round of applause
round of applause
Good sports good sports
Everybody did a good job. Everybody gets a candy bar
Everybody gets a trophy no child left behind
All right, congratulations congratulations
Congratulations
All right, good job you guys did great everybody had a good attitude
And now for the main prize
We've got the main raffle to be given away
It is
the nine bot
kick scooter electric scooter
630
it goes
Up to 18 miles per hour and it can go up to 20 miles on one charge
And we're going to go ahead and raffle this thing off
And this is the main this is the main event this is the main prize after this
We've got cookies and wrestling cookies and wrestling
Let me just really
All right, i'm gonna close my eyes i'm gonna say a quick prayer just kidding
All right
the nine bot
kick scooter electric scooter a value of six hundred and thirty dollars
I don't understand why this is but it goes to
joslyn zuniga
That is a lucky girl lucky girl, where's joslyn come on up come on up
You have to ride it out. No, i'm just kidding. I'm just kidding. Can we get a picture?
Can we can can we get a picture with joslyn joslyn come up over here? She is the winner
All right, put your hands on the handle there. Let's get a nice picture. Can I can I shake your hand?
Can I shake your hand? Congratulations? All right, let's get a nice picture
All right, let's give her a round of applause we'll get we'll get that to your house
I'll have degan oliver right into your house
All right, well, thank you very much for being part of the next generation youth rally the events are not done
We've got the fellowship hall cookies and then the final match the final match good and evil right and wrong
Dwight kid pastor. Jimenez. Let's have a word of prayer and be dismissed and then we'll head over into the fellowship hall dear
Heavenly father. Thank you lord for allowing us to have this night. Thank you for these young people
Thank you for this conference
I pray lord that it would make an impact in their lives and that it would make a
Impact for eternity in the matchless name of christ. We pray. Amen. God bless you. You are dismissed
You
Did you take a video dance