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REACHING THE WORLD FOR JESUS

May God bless the Pastors and Bible Teachers all over the world, we thank God that Sermons to the World is now reaching 156 countries and all 50 States and The District of Columbia in the U.S.

Reaching the unseen

Go to the people of all nations and make them my disciples. Baptize them in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Matt 28:19

MISSION

Mission: To be a resource to Pastors and Bible teachers in spreading the Gospel of Jesus Christ around the world. – Sermons to the World

VISION STATEMENT

Vision: To reach the world on the internet to fulfill the command of Jesus in Matthew 28:19-20 – “to go into all the world and teach all nations”.

Bible Verse

"Believe in the Lord Jesus and you will be saved, along with everyone in your household." Acts 16:31

Saturday, April 6, 2013

"YOU HAVE DONE IT TO ME"


“YOU HAVE DONE IT TO ME”
By Pastor Mark Taylor


For I was hungry, and you gave me food: I was thirsty, and you gave me drink: I was a stranger, and you took me in: Naked, and you clothed me: I was sick, and you visited me: I was in prison, and you came unto me. Then shall the righteous answer Him, saying, Lord, when did we see you hungry, and fed you? or thirsty, and gave you something to drink?  When did we see you as a stranger, and took you in? or naked, and clothed you?   Or when did we see you sick, or in prison, and came unto you?  And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as you have done it unto one of the least of these my brothers or sisters, you have done it unto Me..” (Matthew 25:31-40).

Sometimes I have to remind myself of what the Christian life is all about.  I have to remind myself it is not simply living up to a higher moral standard than the world, even though that is important.  It is not simply omitting doing bad things, even though that is important. 

Our Lord said He did not come to condemn the world, but to save it.  "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.  For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.  He that believes on him is not condemned: but he that believes not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God." (John 3:16-18)

Our Lord has told us what is important to Him. It is simply showing compassion on others.   We usually think compassion is just feeling sorry for someone; however, God has shown us with concrete examples from His Word - the Bible, of what compassion is. Compassion should go one step farther than just feelings; it should do something instead of just desiring to do something. That is what compassion does: something. The “least of them” is not necessarily a “believer” but could be someone who doesn’t even know the Lord yet. It’s like “who is my neighbor?” in the story of the Good Samaritan. 

Our Lord Jesus gave us His Mission statement of why He was sent to Earth.
Luke 4:18 “The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me,  Because He has anointed Me. To preach the gospel to the poor;
He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted,To proclaim liberty to the captives. And recovery of sight to the blind,To set at liberty those who are oppressed."

Later He tells His disciples:  Matthew 20 :26-28  "Yet it shall not be so among you; but whoever desires to become great among you, let him be your servant. 27 And whoever desires to be first among you, let him be your slave— 28 just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.”
When the disciples asked our Lord about the last days he told them many things.  He spoke about judgement for the saved and the lost.  Since He has died on the cross for our sins and we have been forgiven, judgement for us will be centered around what we have done for others, rather than our sins.  Yes, there are consequences for our sins and the Lord has reminded us that all people will “reap what they sow”, and that there is an accountability for our words and actions.  When and how all this will take place for the Christian, I am not sure.  What I am sure of is our Lord’s Words in Matthew 25 about what will please Him when we stand before Him.
The surprise of the righteous at this statement makes it impossible to think that works of righteousness wins salvation. How they treated the “least of these” was not for the purpose of being accepted or rejected by the king. They did not show love to gain heaven by their works, but because they had the love of God within them and compassion on others.

God blesses us in order that we may be a blessing to others. All of us have been given something that we can share with others. If we don’t take the opportunities we have to be a blessing and squander or hoard these for ourselves, they will eventually be taken from us.  Sometimes we think if we do something for somebody else we will run short ourselves. But God tells us it is exactly opposite of that.  Proverbs 28:27 says, “He who gives to the poor will lack nothing.” 

The quickest way to get out of debt is to start giving to God.  The quickest way of getting ahead in your finances is to give to those in need.  I know that does not sound logical.  Listen to what our Lord said about giving:  Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again. (Luke 6:38).

“When the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all the holy angels with Him, then He will sit on the throne of His glory... Then the King will say to those on His right hand, ‘Come, you blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.” (Matthew 25:31-32).


The life of a Christian from God’s perspective is to be a life of service, worship, and praise.  We are called to serve.  We will be judged by our willingness to help those less fortunate than we are, those who have been cast down, or have been orphaned by society.  We will be rewarded by willingness to help those who are spiritually, physically and economically handicapped.  God has not called us to focus on ourselves, but has called us to “do unto others, as we would have others do unto us”.  

"If only we had known that helping others was helping Jesus. If only we had known that serving others was serving Christ. How differently we would have lived our lives!"   Well, now you know.


Everything you do for others, you are doing for God.  Every act of kindness, every act of charity, every act service is something you will be rewarded for by your Heavenly Father.  Everything you do on Earth for others is something God considers that you are doing for Him.  You are the hands and feet of our Lord and Savior.  Let Him use you today.

Wednesday, April 3, 2013

COMING TO JESUS EARLY


VIDEO LINKS TO THIS SERMON



Coming To Jesus Early
by Pastor Mark Taylor

“Now on the first day of the week Mary Magdalene went to the tomb early, while it was still dark, and saw that the stone had been taken away from the tomb” (John 20:1).

The crucifixion had brought earth’s darkest day.  Even the light of the sun had been hidden from view for three hours during the middle of the day.  There was also a dark despair that swept in on the followers of Christ who had either forgotten or doubted His promise to rise from the dead.  Even Mary and other women came to His grave to bring spices and ointments to put on His dead body.  They came to do the work of an undertaker.  Instead this is what happen: “But they found the stone rolled away from the tomb. Then they went in and did not find the body of the Lord Jesus. And it happened, as they were greatly perplexed about this, that behold, two men stood by them in shining garments. Then, as they were afraid and bowed their faces to the earth, they said to them, "Why do you seek the living among the dead? "He is not here, but is risen! Remember how He spoke to you when He was still in Galilee, "saying, 'The Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, and be crucified, and the third day rise again.'" And they remembered His words” 
(Luke 24:2-8).

We ought to come to Jesus early “while it is still dark”.  We should come to Jesus early to give Him our burdens.  “Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time, casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you” (1 Peter 5:6-7).  David prayed this prayer in his wilderness experience: “O God, You are my God; Early will I seek You; My soul thirsts for You; My flesh longs for You In a dry and thirsty land Where there is no water” (Psalms 63:1).  The earlier we seek Him, the sooner we will find Him.

God will meet us in dark times and bring us light. “Then Jesus spoke to them again, saying, "I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life." (John 8:12).

God has called you out of the darkness of your burdens.  “But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light” (1 Peter 2:9).  You cannot wait until the sun starts shining to come to Jesus.  You have to begin your journey while it is still dark.

We ought to come to Jesus in spite of the obstacles that confront us.  The women who came to Jesus early envisioned having to overcome powerful obstacles to get to Jesus.  “And they said among themselves, "Who will roll away the stone from the door of the tomb for us?" But when they looked up, they saw that the stone had been rolled away--for it was very large” 
(Mark 16:3-4).  The tomb was sealed and guarded by representatives of the Roman Empire.  The tomb had been closed by a large stone.  There are always obstacles in getting to Jesus.  These include pride, fear, selfishness, and sin.  Those who come to Jesus will find the stones in their lives will roll away.

The longer we wait, the less likely we are to come to Him. “Beware, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief in departing from the living God; but exhort one another daily, while it is called "Today," lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin” (Hebrews 3:12-13).

If you are waiting for an intellectual experience where you understand everything, you will never come to Christ.  Or if you are waiting until you become “good enough”, that day will never come.   Jesus said: "Assuredly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God as a little child will by no means enter it." (Mark 10:15).

If you are waiting for the right time to come to the Lord, it is today.
For He says: "In an acceptable time I have heard you, And in the day of salvation I have helped you." Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation” (2 Corinthians 6:2).  Jesus also says this to you and me:
"Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. "Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. "For My yoke is easy and My burden is light." (Matthew 11:28-30).