Pastor Mark Taylor
Don’t Quit in Difficult Times
“We also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance; and perseverance, character; and character, hope. Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us.” (Romans 5:3-5)
Many of us are going through major struggles today. Some are going through financial, educational, emotional, health, and relational struggles. Think about your struggles and consider how you made it, and realize you can make it again. The joy of accomplishment in overcoming struggles is something to glory in. You cannot glory in quitting or giving up.
I want you to know that you are not going through struggles because you are a bad person or that you are being punished by God. He has your best interest in mind and wants the best for you. "The thief (Satan) does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly”. (John 10:10). Jesus wants you to have joy in your life even though you have problems. "These things I have spoken to you, that My joy may remain in you, and that your joy may be full”. (John 15:11)
Many of us can look back in years past and be proud that God gave us the ability to overcome difficulties in our lives. We can enjoy the fruits of our struggles. The battles bring victories and the victories bring happiness. Our nation was born in struggles. Now we can enjoy freedom because of the struggles that our fathers and grandfathers went through. Many of you have struggled hard to get a good job, a good education, to raise your children, and to serve God. God is telling you and me to arise up from our discouragement and keep on going. “I can do all things through Christ which strengthens me. (Philippians 4:13). Jesus said: “In the world you shall have tribulation, but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world” (John 16:33).
Tribulation brings patience, and patience brings experience, and experience brings hope. (Romans 5:3-4). When you go though struggles with others they become your best friends. If you never go through struggles you cannot experience hope or patience.
If you are not doing anything today for God or your Church, you need to get into a ministry and struggle with others. It will bring you friends that will last forever. Struggles and difficulties will show you how God has delivered others and how he uses others to help us when we need help. “Two are better than one; because they have a good reward for their labor. For if they fall, the one will lift up his fellow: but woe to him that is alone when he falls; for he has not another to help him up” (Ecclesiastes 4: 9-10).
When you come through a struggle, you can see that God is powerful and that He can do it again and again. This is called faith. ”The just shall live by faith” (Romans 1:17) He wants to show you how strong He is: “For the eyes of the LORD runs to an from throughout the whole earth, to show himself strong in the behalf of them whose heart is perfect toward Him”
(2 Chronicles 16:9).
God wants to remind you that if you suffer with Him you will be rewarded. “If we suffer, we shall also reign with Him: if we deny Him, He also will deny us” (2 Timothy 2:12). “Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, unmovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as you know that your labor in not in vain in the Lord” (I Corinthians 15:58).
This is why Paul said he could “glory in his tribulations”. He did not say he enjoyed the struggles, but he said I rejoiced in that I did not quit. He said: “I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith” (2 Timothy 4:7). Our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ finished His struggle: “I have glorified you on the earth, I have finished the work which you gave me to do” (John 17:4). He suffered because he knew what the struggle would bring. “Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God” (Hebrews 12: 2).
END OF THE SERMON-1 _________________________________________________________________
SERMON -2
Pastor Mark Taylor Friendship United Methodist Church Sunday Evening Worship Service
How Much Faith Do You Have?
“For I say, through the grace given to me, to everyone who is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think soberly, as God has dealt to each one a measure of faith.” (Romans 12:3).
The Bible speaks of a “measure of faith”. Our Lord responded to one person who asked to be healed: “According to your faith be it unto you” (Matthew 9:29). Let us consider several measures of faith.
No Faith. Our Lord said unto the disciples at one point “How is it that you have no faith” (Mark 4:40). Today there are many defeated Christians living without power and victory who have no faith.
Little Faith. Our lord said unto His disciples: “O you of little faith”
(Mathew 8:26). There are some people who have enough faith to get saved, but do not have enough faith to pray and get things from God.
Weak Faith. Paul talks about immature Christians who have been saved, but seldom go to church and know very little about the Bible or the Christian life. “Him that is weak in the faith receive” (Romans 14:1).
Death Faith. James is talking about a faith that only talks and never is demonstrated. “Even so faith, if it has not works, is dead” (James 2:17)
Great Faith. Jesus spoke to the gentile woman who sought for crumbs from under the table and said to her: “I say unto you, I have not found so great faith, no, not in Israel” (Luke 7:9).
I encourage all of you to have great faith. Pray with faith, Live by faith, Serve others with faith, read the Bible with faith, wait on the Lord’s second coming by faith. Great faith begins with small faith and as we learn to trust the Lord, we will see greater and greater things happen in our lives.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
SERMON -3
Pastor Mark Taylor Friendship United Methodist Church
Sunday Morning Worship Service
A Faith That Won’t Let Me Go Back
“Now the just shall live by faith; But if anyone draws back, My soul has no pleasure in him." But we are not of those who draw back to perdition, but of those who believe to the saving of the soul.” (Hebrews 10:38-39)
To go forward, we have to get over the idea of going back. There is no such thing as “the good old days”. When things got difficult the children of Israel were always thing about going back to Egypt Egypt Egypt Egypt
(Exodus 14:11-12).
Today, I want to assure you that your journey to the “Promised Land” is worth the difficulties during the trip, and returning to a life of sin is a wrong and harmful decision. There is a “point of no return” when an airplane is in flight to a destination, because there is not enough fuel to return. Once we commit ourselves by faith to the Lord Jesus Christ and put our lives in His hands, there is nothing to return to. “From that time many of His disciples went back and walked with Him no more. Then Jesus said to the twelve, "Do you also want to go away?" But Simon Peter answered Him, "Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life.” (John 6:66-68).
The children of Israel had a misconception that things were better back in Egypt
You were not just “saved” from hell to go to Heaven. You were “saved” from sin to live a holy life and to serve God with your good works. “Looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from every lawless deed and purify for Himself His own special people, zealous for good works.” (Titus 2:13-14). Our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ said: "Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven”. (Matthew 5:16)
My faith won’t let me turn back and miss all the things that God has prepared for me. “But as it is written: Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, Nor have entered into the heart of man The things which God has prepared for those who love Him." But God has revealed them to us through His Spirit. For the Spirit searches all things, yes, the deep things of God.”
(1 Corinthians 2:9-10). My faith won’t let me turn back and disappoint the best friend I ever had. “A man who has friends must himself be friendly, But there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.” (Proverbs 18:24).
Jesus calls you His friends "Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one's life for his friends. "You are My friends if you do whatever I command you.” (John 15:13-14). My faith won’t let me turn back and miss the Divine protection the Lord Jesus gives me. "My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me.
I encourage you today to keep serving the Lord and don’t turn back. “Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 3:13-14).
END OF THE SERMON -3
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Pastor Mark Taylor Friendship United Methodist Church Sunday Morning Worship Service
You Have Come Too Far To Turn Back Now
“Jesus said to him, "You are not far from the kingdom of God." (Mark 12:34).
One of the greatest things about God is that He continues to work with men and women despite their own limitations and failings. Too often they do not allow God to complete what He starts within them. The Lord Jesus wants to finish what He has started in you. “He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ” (Philippians 1:6).
Family background is not a reliable indicator of accomplishment. High percentages of great men and women have come from broken homes. Neither is wealth an accurate indicator of success or poverty a guarantee of low achievement. Opportunity is a very peculiar thing. Two people with the similar gifts, talents, and resources can look at a situation, and one person will see tremendous opportunity while the other sees nothing.
To often people allow their circumstances to stop the Lord from putting the finishing touches on their lives. They allow the bitter disappointments, the trials they are forced to endure, and the very dilemmas of life shape their character in such a way that nothing profitable ever comes of them. Jesus gave us a warning about looking backwards. "Remember Lot's wife.” (Luke 17:32). She had escaped the fire and brimstone of Sodom, but failed to follow God’s instructions and lost her life. The children of Israel, twenty years and older, lost their opportunity to enter into the promise land because of doubt and fear.
Many people get close to receiving God’s salvation and blessings, but turn back. “Now behold, one came and said to Him, "Good Teacher, what good thing shall I do that I may have eternal life?" Jesus said to him, "If you want to be perfect, go, sell what you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me." But when the young man heard that saying, he went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions.” (Matthew 19:16, 21-22). “Then Agrippa said to Paul, "You almost persuade me to become a Christian." (Acts 26:28). Both of these were “not far from the kingdom of God”, but they missed it.
If you are a Christian, but you have become discouraged, keep on working for the Lord and remember where you are headed. Your blessings could be right around the corner or down the road. If you turn back, you will never receive them. God honors one thing above everything else and that is faith. “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. By faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that the things which are seen were not made of things which are visible….But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.” (Hebrews 11:1,3,6). Remember "You are not far from the kingdom of God." (Mark 12:34).
Abraham Lincoln went bankrupt twice, three of his four sons died before the age of 18, he had a bad marriage, and was defeated in eight state and national elections before he became President. Harland David Sanders, better known as Colonel Sanders started franchising Kentucky Fried Chicken restaurants at age 65, using $105 from his first Social Security check to fund visits to potential franchisees. He went to over 200 restaurants before someone bought his idea. These are examples of men that did not quit and became successful in politics and business. Just think what we can accomplish for the Lord if we are willing to keep on going in our failures and never let money, age, or negative comments of others affect us. Many of you may be close to accomplishing something great in your life, but you have doubts about your abilities or resources. Paul said: “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” (Philippians 4:13).
There is even a greater success than gaining wealth and fame. You can overcome sin in your life because that is why Jesus came to save you. "And she will bring forth a Son, and you shall call His name JESUS, for He will save His people from their sins." (Matthew 1:21). He has come to make your life worth living. + “I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly. (John 10:10). He has come to give you true joy and happiness. "These things I have spoken to you, that My joy may remain in you, and that your joy may be full.” (John 15:11).
The creator of the universe was talking to a man who was seeking his creator when “Jesus said to him, "You are not far from the kingdom of God." (Mark 12:34). God is not far from you if you will look for Him. "Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. "For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened. (Matthew 7:7-8).
END OF THE SERMON -4
No comments:
Post a Comment