Youth Service - Bro Samuel Sterrett - Bro Jonathan Edwards - 2-27-2026

If you could turn to Acts chapter nine. If I

had to title this message, it'd be look unto Christ

all right. In Acts chapter nine and in verse three,

it says, and as he journeyed, he came near Damascus,

and suddenly there shined round about him, alight from heaven.

And he fell to the earth and heard a voice

saying unto him, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me? And

he said, who art thou Lord? And the Lord said,

I am Jesus, whom thou persecutest. It is hard for

thee to kick against the pricks. And he, trembling and astonished, said, Lord,

what wilt thou have me to do? And the Lord

said unto him, a rise, go into the city, and

it shall be told THEE what thou must do. Let's

pray God anoint me.

God, God.

I need your God. I need any upon me. God

an to play.

God. God, help me to say nothing more, nothing less,

offer your.

Glory God, not of it of myself. It's not about me.

It's about you and your people. God, God, would you

anoint me with the heaven? The annoying God just thought, God,

Jesus name.

Now I I was reading my Bible probably about a

week ago, and something stuck out to me. Jesus tells

him to follow him, basically, and the thought came to me.

Paul had a choice to make. He had two paths

he could take. He could go follow Christ or he

could turn right back to the world and go back

to where he came from. And we see later when

he chose. Because he was blinded, and this stuck out

to me too, he chose to follow Jesus. And only

after he followed Jesus where his eyes opened, only after

he could see that he could see I messed up.

I was doing wrong. I was in the wrong. There

has to be that change. And then another example is Demus.

He had two options, but because his focus was on

the world, because he was looking at the things of

the world, because there was that interest, in that desire

to experience the world, he left. He left Paul's side,

the man of God that showed him the way, and

he chose to walk away just because his his focus wasn't.

Where it needed to be.

And it's so easy to get caught up in the

world and to have all your focus put on the world,

and then you lose track. I don't know if any

of you have ever tried walking in a straight line.

When you're not paying attention, when you're looking to the

left or to the right, or your eyes are closed,

you end up somewhere where you didn't want to be.

You end up somewhere where you don't know where you're at.

Another example that we see in the Bible of Solomon,

the wisest man to ever live beside Jesus, fell because

his interest was in the world. His interest was in

the in the in the play of the world that

lasted for just a short span of time, and he

lost out. Such a mighty man, a big man, even

he he thought he was too big. It's so easy

to fall. But I'd like to preach a good side

of this. We see David who did fall. He fell,

but he got back up. He realized, Hey, my heart

is dirty. I need a new heart. I need to

get back where I need to go. I need to

get back where I belong. And then lastly we see

the prodigal son who seemed to be so far gone

there was no hope. There was no hope of him

coming back. There was no hope of him realizing they

he messed up. Then he fell, but Thankfully, he reached

such a low point, a low point in his life

where he realizing he saw, I need to go back

to my father. I need to go back where I'm

fed and where I'm able to grow. If there's no

growth in progression, something's wrong. You're not you're not looking

to Jesus, because he will take you further.

He will keep taking you on and on and on.

If there's no growth, if there's just stagnant and you're

not getting anywhere, there's a reason to search your heart.

A little bit of soul searching never hurt anybody. And uh,

as I was watching the live stream for Wednesday night,

we've seen a prime example of someone he may have

not seen the big picture, but he knew he had

to He had to follow Christ. He couldn't follow his family.

He had to follow his his father, his heavenly father.

And we see where that got him. We see where

it got David, We see where it got the prodigal son.

So if if.

I just encourage you to take a look at where

you're at, if you're not where you want to be,

or if you're not where you're supposed to be, you

need to make a change, because ultimately that path.

There's only two paths.

There's the path where Jesus is at, where he's leading

and guiding you, and the other path it's gonna take

you to hell. And if you don't, if you don't

check yourself before that happens, it'll be too late. Once

you get to the point where you think you're on

the right path, where you know you're on the right

path and nobody can tell you different, you're on your

perfect path to heaven, No, you're gonna end up in hell,

just like Judas did. He thought he was on his

perfect path. He thought he knew better, he thought he

could do it on his own, and he's in Hell

to this day. So check yourself. Just focus on Jesus.

He's all that matters. And I thank you, I thank

God for everything He's done for me. He's such a

good God.

Brother Jonathan's share of the word tonight.

Amen.

Amen.

I assure am thankful for the sweet holy ghost that

we have felt. Ton Amen, the sweet presence of the

Lord we felt. Amen. And I just want to say

I'm thankful for our pastor tonight and how God's blessed

us with a man of God that can speak into

our lives. And you know, if we take it and

apply it, it'll make.

Us seeing, you know, to somebody that we wouldn't have been.

I guarantee you that any other pastor that I've said

under they wouldn't have had the effect that that man

of God does. And I want to say, I'm thankful

for our youth pastor here tonight, another man of God

that you know, we really couldn't ask for a better

youth pastor here. God's blessed us tremendously with the wonderful pastor,

a wonderful youth pastor.

And I want to say I'm thankful for what he said.

You know, I believe God's trying to help somebody here tonight,

just the way that God's dealt with me to go

in a certain way. I know only God knows what's

gonna happen. I know only God knows who really needs

the help on the inside. We all need help, Amen,

But I feel like there's always those few that just

need a little bit more, Amen, to glean a little

bit more, to go that extra mile, Amen. But I

believe God can help you go, Amen, thousands of miles,

hundreds of more miles.

Amen.

You don't have to just live, amen, day by day

on bread. You can live, Amen, live through eternity, Amen,

living on the promises. And I'm just thankful for everything

that's been done so far. And the Lord dealt with

me over in Luke chapter nineteen. Brother Nathaniel's already mentioned

some about this over in the thirteenth chapter. I'm gonna

read a verse, and then i'll jump a couple verses

and read a few more. It says, and he caught

his ten servants and delivered them ten pounds, and said.

Unto them, occupy till I come.

And in the sixteenth verse, it says, then came the

first saying, Lord die pound hath gained ten pounds. And

he said, unto him, well, thou good servant, because thou

hast been faithful in a very little have thou authority

over ten cities. And the second came saying, Lord th

pound hath gained five pounds, And he said, likewise to him,

be thou also over five cities. And another came saying, Lord, behold,

here is thy pound, which I have kept laid up

in an afkin. And another came saying, Lord, behold, here

is thy pound which I have laid up in a napkin.

Let's pray here tonight, God, would you please this come by, Lord.

God.

We thank you Jesus, Lord, and we praise your holy name.

God.

We love you, Lord, and we thank you Jesus, God,

Lord of Heaven. I thank you Jesus, God of Heaven. Lord,

I magnify you, Jesus, Thank you God. I know a

lot's already been said tonight about opportunities, but this is

what the Lord gave me, and I just couldn't get

get away from it. But what I want to preach

on tonight is equal opportunities.

And if we look the first of then.

In a wonderful story in this nineteenth chapter of Luke

is of the encounter Zachi has had with Jesus. And

after this wonderful encounter we find where Jesus and those

around him, most likely it would have been his disciples

and other close followers, we find with a journey on

to Jerusalem. And as they draw, as they draw nigh

into Jerusalem, Jesus begins to open up and pour into

those around him about this parable of the nobleman and

his ten pounds. As we see in verse verse number twelve,

it says, and he said, therefore, a certain nobleman went

into a far country to receive for himself a kingdom

and to return. This nobleman would have been someone of

noble ranking appear, Amen, and someone with high social position,

no doubt, some money that had great wealth that had

been raised up. Amen, had already went out, Amen and

made a living, because in his mind and his heart,

he was going out, Amen, to seek out a kingdom

for a self. But before this nobleman left out, Amen,

to go out on his journey, he caught his ten

servants and delivered under them ten pounds and said under them,

occupy till I come.

And if you notice, he said occupy.

Until I come, instead of stay idle until I come.

Amen.

And I believe that he had faith and trusting these

ten servants. Most likely they had been under his leadership

for some time. Amen, for him just to trust them

with this portion of money and say, you know what,

do what you would have Amen, occupy as long as

you don't stay idle. Amen, Just do what Amen, whatsoever

you would have in your heart, as long as you're

doing something that's better than nothing. But I also believe

that this nobleman was a wise and Amen. When was

checking to see who would seek to make the best

out of what they were given.

Amen.

And to see who would put a little time and

just a little bit of effort, but not fully invest

everything into this opportunity they were given.

Amen.

And to also see who was seeing amen idol, Amen,

with no desire to invest their time, money in future, Amen,

into something that's better.

Amen. And and it came to pass as time went on. Amen.

And as this nobleman returned at the receivers even his kingdom. Amen,

he commanded these servants to be called unto him. Amen,

come back, I'm gonna check you again, Amen, And that

he might notice how much every man gained by trade him.

Amen.

And this nobleman came, I believe with high expectations. You know,

I've trained them, Amen, they should be able to do something, Amen,

hoping to find these servants the Amen, that all would

have amen, with the extra mile Amen, that every single

one of them, Amen, would have went out and done something, Amen,

and not just stand there and not just sit there.

Amen.

How many knows theymen? If you're going to advance, you've

got to do something.

Amen. And we see in verse number sixteen Amen.

It says, then came the first thing, Lord, thou pound

hath gained ten pounds. After this, nobleman saw truly that

this servant had gained all that he had, Amen, And Amen,

had put all that he had into investing.

Amen. And he proved that he was faithful. Amen.

And the small things he put them amen set him

in authority over ten cities.

Amen.

In in verse eighteen, Amen, the second came saying, Lord, the

pound hath gained five pounds Amen.

So he was given a thirty over five cities.

But I believe this can also show us, Amen, that

some will choose to invest and look for greater things and.

Push theirselves to max capacity.

Amen, while others Amen show some interest but not truly

throw everything they have into it.

Amen. Amen, what they're supposed to be fulfilling. Amen.

Because both of these men Amen, these two servants were

given the ecal amount.

Amen.

But one amen came back with ten Amen and one

came back with five.

Amen. Do the math that's five differ? Something ay wrong? Amen?

If one of them, amen, he would have amen followed procedure. Amen,

he probably could have came back with ten as well.

Amen. That's the same way with us. Amen. God's looking

for one hundred percent. Amen.

Amen, just like the nobleman was looking for one hundred percent. Amen,

God's looking for one hundred percent out of a I believe.

Amen.

And in verse number twenty, trying to lay a foundation here,

just bear with me say that another came saying, Lord, behold,

here is thy pound, which I have laid up in

a napkin.

What truly would have been this cause?

Amen to amen, for this servant to sit hotel, amen,

to find nothing to invest in?

Amen.

He was given equal opportunity to get up Amen from

his place. Amen, Amen, and go and make use with

what he was given.

Amen. He had the same amount as the other servants had. Amen.

That gained the ten pounds and one game to five pounds. Amen.

He was given the same opportunity. So what happened? Amen? Amen.

It is the same with us here tonight. Amen.

We're all given equal opportunities, Amen, to push ourselves for

a greater experience.

Amen.

If you would ask me tonight, amen, Amen, would I

have in one of those ones that could have been

caught on amen in battle as brother Nathaniel was talking about, Amen,

I would have been in the age gap Amen. But

I would have sat on the sidelines if you would

ask me a few years ago, Amen, because I wouldn't

have anything to offer. Hallelujah.

Amen.

God don't shorthand anybody. He don't shorthand anybody, hallelujah. I

believe it's the only person that'll shorthand us Amen, is ourselves.

Amen. And in John chapter nineteen and verse thirty.

Amen, when Jesus was dying on the cross and he

said it is finished, Amen, he gave everyone that was

right the equal opportunity amen to.

Receive salvation Amen, by the blood. Amen. And he's still

offering it amen to each and everyone. Amen. Even if

we think about the two thieves Amen, that was right there,

that nod Amen.

There.

You can't really get a better amen example Amen of

somebody Amen, that had equal opportunity.

Amen. You got the lamb of God, the Son of

God between you. Amen.

And you're a thief on the right amen and a

thief on the left amen.

By one of them, Amen, remember me in Paradise. Amen.

But the other didn't want anything to do with them. Amen.

But that's how we amen. And we see amen, in

the churches. What other greater opportunity Amen.

Do you have sitting in the church pew, having the

pastor that we have, Amen, Having the pastor's wife that

we have, Amen, Having the youth leaders that we have. Amen.

You've been given amen, equal opportunity in the pews. Amen,

to receive us change, Amen, and receive a greater blessing.

Amen.

And levitica is eleven, Chapter eleven, verse forty four says,

for I am the Lord of your God. You shall

therefore sanctify yourselves, and you shall be holy, for I

am holy. And Second Corinthians, Chapter six and verse seventeen,

wherefore come out from amongst them and be separate, saith

the Lord, and touch not the young clean.

Thing, and I will receive you. Amen.

Right, there's two verses. Amen, that's been offered to anybody.

Amen that would is truly humble their selves Amen, and

sanctify theirselves.

Amen. Went out of the Old Testament and levitikus Amen

went out of the New Testament.

Second Corinthians. Amen, it's been ringing true for years and years.

Amen. And those two verses will never change. Amen.

And there's been countosus of people that have the eqal opportunity. Amen,

that'll comebine get true sanctification.

Amen. Let me tell you what sanctification'll do. Amen. It'll

drive back Amen, the demon of Hell. Amen. It'll purify you. Amen,

It'll come on yourself Amen and me Amen, as a

servant under God.

Amen, Amen, Hadeluja praise God. And looking over in Acts

chapter two and verse thirty eight, it says then said

under them.

Repent and be baptized, every one of.

You in the name of Jesus Christ, for the remission

of sins, and you shall receive the gift of the

Holy Ghost. Amen, each and every person. There was a

great multitude there that day.

Amen. I believe there was thousands. Amen.

Each and every one of them Amen was given the

same opportunity to walk away, Amen, baptizing the Holy Ghost.

Amen.

Each one of them Amen came that day, Amen, no

doubt expecting. But Amen, when the Man of God got

up and started preaching, were they truly willing Amen to

follow Amen his godance and what he had to say.

Amen.

I believe there was three thousand added to the church. Amen,

towards the end of that chapter.

Amen.

But I wonder just how many more Amen was possibly

there Amen that stood around and been like, you know what.

Peter's done satting, he's done preaching. Amen. Why why can't

I really get it for myself? Amen?

The man of God's unpreaching Amen. The Man of God's

done said what to do?

Amen. But we sit there idle amen, with equal opportunities. Amen.

And we come in and out Amen. A church.

Amen, sit on the pew, get up, go out in

the same routine. You come back in another opportunity. Hallelujah,

Praise God, Hallelujah. I believe opportunities will run out one day.

Amen. Amen.

The man on the cross, that was his last opportunity

he had before going anyto eternity. And what a sad

thing know that one of them being so close to

the Savior Amen, and denying and wanted no part with it.

Amen.

So many people I feel like, come through Bethel's doors.

It's their last opportunity for one more chance of hope.

Amen. It's their last opportunity. Amen. They get as close

as they can. Amen. But whatever Amen, the service is done.

They just push it back. Amen. I don't want to

push back spirit. I want to pour it on spirit. Amen.

I want God just to saturate us. Amen.

Amen, Hallelujah, Praise God. And if you look back at

Luke chapter nineteen, the servant that laid has pound up

in a napkin had an excuse. So many people in

the church world today, even in the holiness Amen movement,

as they like to call it, they always got their excuses,

A why can't I ever measure up?

Amen? We don't, Amen, nobody will ever measure up to God.

But if we just give it all that we have, Amen,

if we just humble ourselves and come before him. But

in verse number twenty one, it says, for I fear

deed because thou art and destruer man, this servant Amen

thought he could excuse, Amen, could have an excuse and

try to slide by.

Amen.

If this nobleman knew that he had been given, Amen,

an equal opportunity to go out, Amen and make Amen ready, Amen,

to go out and make Amen himself acceptable and make

a profit.

Amen.

Amen, he was given the same exact, Amen, the same

exact No doubt he pulled out the same bag Amen.

When he got him together that day, he probably got

out of the same Amen sack of money. Said you

know what, here you go, Amen. It comes back on

our actions what it really does.

Amen.

If we don't put no action, Amen, behind the opportunities

were given.

Amen, We'll just come in Amen, time at their time. Amen.

You know what, Amen, I don't believe the first one Amen,

that was given his pound and give gain ten pounds.

He wasn't gonna sit there, hoddel Amen. I can imagine, Amen,

the nobleman gave him his pound. He probably jumped up

before he even got out of town. Amen, and said,

you know what I've been given. Amen, I've got something

to do. We all got something to do tonight.

Amen.

Whether it be amen so small, Amen, there's something little. Amen,

we been given something to do. Hallelujah. Amen, Hallelujah, Praise God.

And if you if you read over there and the

twenty second verse of the same chapter, Amen, it says,

and he said thing to him out of thine own mouth?

Will I judge thee?

This is talking about the nobleman when he came back

and found out, Amen, that that that servant was a

if you would felled miserably, that's what he done. He didn't,

He didn't do what he was supposed to do. Said

and he said thing to him out of thine own mouth?

Will I judge thee? Thou wicked servant, thou knewest what

I you knew us that I was in a sture man,

taking up that I'd laid not down, and reaping that

I did not sew. Wherefore then gave us not thou

my money into the bank that had my coming.

God might have required mine own with us.

And he said under them that stood by, take from

him to pound and give it to him the half

ten pounds. And they said, unto him, Lord, he hath

ten pounds. Yes he did have ten pounds. But that's

also amen, Amen, the servant that put the most into it.

Amen.

And whenever we see others, it seems like Amen, they

come in and get their blessings. But yet we're sitting

there wondering, Amen, why this seemed like my blessing getting

pulled and pulled over them?

Amen. When sister comes in and gets blessed. Amen, every service, Amen.

And there's somebody amen in here, wonder why can't I

just have a part of that?

Amen? When when's the last time amen, you just put

it all? Amen? And what you have Amen, And when's

the last time amen you put a little bit of action? Amen,

Amen behind your opportunity. Amen. Because of every breathing soul. Amen,

that walks through those doors. Amen. They're giving an opportunity. Amen. Man,

And if they leave here, you know what it's on them. Amen.

I guarantee it.

If they walk through those doors, Amen, God's gonna deal

with them.

Amen.

The pastoral preach to them. The Holy Ghost Amen will

be here Amen, like it.

Is every service. And I'm thankful for that. Amen. I'm

about through here tonight. Amen. If we could all stand

here to not over.

In Psalm chapter eighty four, verse eleven, it says, for

the Lord God is a son and shield.

The Lord will give, the Lord will give grace and glory.

No good thing will he withhold from them that walk

up rightly, O, Lord of Hosts, Blessed is the man

that trusteth in thee Amen. If you look at the

end of that verse again, no good thing will he

withhold from them that walketh up rightly.

Truly, there's nothing Amen, that he's going with Amen.

Whenever we have an opportunity and we just put it

all that we got into it, Amen, when we put

action behind it.

He's not going to withhold the blessings. Amen.

He's not going to withhold amen, the things that he

would have to pour out on us. And Amen, I

just thank the Lord here tonight if we can all

just find a place to pray and search our hearts. Amen,

and just ask God whatsoever you would have me to do.

I'm willing to do it.