The last three nights we were in Calabar, Nigeria we were able to participate in a Youth Program (unmarried 20-30yr. olds) with the church. The purpose of the program was to allow the young people in church a forum to express their skills and talents in dramas, dancing, singing, and preaching, but was also more importantly focused on empowering the youth and firing them up for the work God has for them. My group went on Sunday and I was able to participate in a short drama, and a Q&A panel, as well as give a short 10 minute message, which I have posted below.
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Tonight I will start in Esther 2:17
Now, here in this text, King Xerxes has dismissed his queen, Queen Vashti, for her disobedience and is looking for her replacement. As a young woman, Esther wins the favor of King Xerxes and in her youth she is made royalty and called to her destiny. Further on in Esther we learn that becasue of a series of events between Haman and Mordecai, Esther’s uncle, King Xerxes issues a decree to have all the Jews killed. In this, Queen Esther has a chance to save the Jews, her own people. Now to do so would risk her life, for anyone that went into the inner court without being called would be put to death. Mordecai tells her that she was called into the kingdom for such a time as this. She was made royalty to fulfill her destiny. So, she risks her life, wins the favor of the king, and he grants her request, and the Jews are saved.
And this is a shadow of what God wants to do in your life, in this youthful time. As the King of Kings, Jesus came to establish His Kingdom on Earth.
1. He came to set you free. Romans 8:1,2 says, “For there is no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit of life set me free from the law of sin and death.” If you have Jesus in your life you are free tonight. Say that with me, “I am free.”
If you do not have Jesus Christ, I have good news that God loves you, that Jesus died on the cross for you, and that He is calling you back into His courts tonight. If you would like to make the decision to accept Jesus as your savior, if you would bow your head and pray with me.
Say this again with me, “I am free.”
2. And just as he came to set you free, Jesus came to make you a coheir in His Kingdom, making you royalty. In Jesus, you are free, you are no longer a slave to sin. You are a son, and thus God has made you an hear. 1 Peter 2:9 says “But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of the darkness into light.” He has made you royalty so that you may join in the sweet inheritance of peace, love, joy, and everlasting, abundant life. Say this with me, “I am royalty.”
3. And just as Mordecai told Esther, I am telling you tonight that Jesus has brought you into his kingdom for such a time as this. God has a destiny for you. He has a specific plan, a specific job, a specific assignment on your life. He has people He wants you to talk to, to minister to, to pray for, to serve, and to share the love of God. You are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance. From 1 Peter 4:7 God wants us to love each other deeply, to offer hospitality, to use the gifts He has given us, to administer God’s grace, and to speak His words. So, say this with me, “I have destiny.”
In closing, this is the generational mandate that God wants you to live by. Will you stand with me and say this one more time. In Christ, I am Free. I am Royalty. I have Destiny. I’m going to change the world. Now is your time to shine. Thank you and God Bless.
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