Our Gifts and How To Use Them

 Our Gifts and How To Use Them

by Pastor Mark Taylor - January 3, 2022

“Therefore I remind you to stir up (keep in full flame) the gift of God which is in you…”  2 Timothy 1:6

All Christians have at least one gift. . This is a picture of a fireplace that has some hot coals but no fire.  Those coals need to be stirred up and more wood put on those coals.  these coals are your gifts God has given you.

1.  The Gift that is in You

    

What gift is in you?  Some people have the gift of the mind which is accompanied with the gift of speech.  Not everyone who has the gift of the mind, has the gift of speech.  The person who has the mind, and the speech, and the gift of a fervent spirit has great power from God,  and is obligated to use it for our Lord Jesus Christ.  We are bought with a price.  “For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God’s.”  1 Corinthians 6:20

Some people can not speak very eloquently with the tongue, but can speak with the pen.  Notes and letters and written sermons are gifts that have led to the salvation of many.  Can you write with simplicity and express the power of God?  It is a gift.  Music, art, leadership, and craftsmanship are also additional gifts that can be used for our Lord Jesus

Another form of a gift that is given to us in that of influence.  We all have some influence.  Parents mold children’s lives.  Those who are in the workforce have influence over employees and employers.  You are affecting those around you for good or for evil.  

Older adults have another gift.  It is experience.  It cannot be purchased or taught.  Experienced Christians are put into the Church to guide others without experience.  Use your experience in the visitation of the sick, your conversations with the poor, and your meetings with younger Christians.  Let your anointing fall on others.

Others have the gift of prayer.  Praying with power in private, within the church, and for sinners is a special gift.  These people know how to knock on Heaven’s door.  You will be able to judge a church by its prayer, as you can the temperature by a thermostat.   It is not only a gift for you but to help others.

Some of you have the gift of meaningful conversation.  Always say something worth saying.  Turn conversations back to Spiritual things and our Lord Jesus.  Always speak to visitors who come to church.  They need to know that they are welcomed.

Other gifts include nursing sick people, helping the poor, and  being content with your life.  Fan into a flame the gift of God that is in you.

2.  How are we to Fan into Flame the gifts of God.

  

    First we should examine what gifts we have.  Acknowledge the abilities we have. Let us ask others to help us identify them.  Let us ask ourselves:  “What gifts do we have?  Ask ourselves: “What can we do more?  

   Consider to what use we can put our talents to use.  Is there anything we can do more to help our families or neighborhoods spiritually?  You are to be a light in a dark places.  Let us ask ourselves:  “What can I do for my Lord by helping others?”  

    Use our gifts.  Not only examining and considering our gifts, but actually using them.  The person that does one thing, will find himself doing two. and doing two, will do four, and so on.

   Improve our gifts.  In addition to using our gift, each one of us should strive to improve it.  We should all be learning how to be better in our service of Christ.  Everyone of us should be students and learners.  Grow mentally and spiritually.  

   Pray over our gifts to fan them into a flame  Talk to God about our weaknesses in our gifts and callings, and ask for His assistant in using them.  Pray over yourself.

3.  Why is it we should Fan into the Flame the gifts God has given us?

    Everything we do for our Lord Jesus will fall far short of what He deserves, and for what He has done for us.  So we will never do enough.  This is not salvation by works. Yet, we should do it because He first loved us. Remember what obligations we have to our Lord for all He has done for us. Visualize all Jesus has done for us at the cross, and it will not be difficult to use of our gifts.  It will be an act of love and devotion.

   We must fan into a flame our gifts because they need fanning.  There are times we become indifferent.  At those times we need someone to rebuke us and remind us of our gift.   If we don’t we may lose our ability to use our gifts in the future.

   We must fan into a flame our gifts because our Lord Jesus is going to return and reward all of His children for using their gifts in service to Him.  

(Some notes from a sermon preached by Charles H. Spurgeon) 

THE SOUL THAT SINS - EZEKIEL 18

The Soul that Sins

by Pastor Mark Taylor - December 30, 2021

“The Soul Who Sins Shall Die - He that is righteous; he shall surely live, declares the Lord God.”  Ezekiel 18: 4,9

Chapter 18 of Ezekiel is declaring that every person is responsible for their own sin.  In our culture we sometimes excuse our sinful behavior as a result of our past. Some have used a term generational curse as an excuse that they have no personal choice on how they will live.   The sins of our fathers and mothers have an influence on us, but it is not an excuse that will hold up when we stand before God at our judgement.  

Every person will be judged according to whether they have accepted the Lord Jesus as their Savior.  The demonstration and truth of that is how we respond to sin.  It does not mean that we reach a state of sinless perfection.  It does mean we are not to live a life of continuous sin without any repentance or change.  While the dying in these verses could mean both physical death and/or eternal death, they should compel us to live a holy life.  “I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. 2 Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect. (Romans 12: 1-2)  Be careful not to lose all your rewards God wants to give you when you reach Heaven, and still have to suffer the consequences of your sins on earth while you are here.

Ezekiel is writing in this chapter about a wide held belief that the sins of the fathers would be passed down to the children.  While this seems to be the history and the choices of the Children of Israel from the time of Moses, Ezekiel is bringing in a New Covenant of how God will deal with his children,  including the Gentiles.  God tells Ezekiel  “As I live says the Lord God, you shall not have an occasion any more to use this proverb in Israel. "The fathers have eaten sour grapes, and the children's teeth are set on edge".  The soul that sins, it shall die…He that walks in my statutes, and has kept my judgments, to deal truly, his is just, he shall surely live, says the Lord God.”  (Ezekiel 18: 4, 9).

God has a message for those who have lived a wicked live.  In this chapter God says:  “If the wicked will turn from all his sins that he has committed, and keeps all my statutes, and does that which is lawful and right, he shall surely live, he shall not die.  All his transgressions that he has committed, they shall not be mentioned unto him, in his righteousness that he has done he shall live.” (Ezekiel 18:21:22).

God also has a message for those who were living a life pleasing to God and then turns to the way of the wicked person.  “But when the righteous turns away for his righteousness,  All his righteousness that he has done shall not be mentioned, and in his sin that he has sinned, in them shall he die.” (Ezekiel 18:24).

The main message of this chapter is Repentance.  “ Therefore I will judge you O house of Israel, every one according to his ways says the Lord God: Repent and turn yourselves from all your transgressions; so sin shall not be your ruin.  Cast away from you all your sins, whereby you have transgressed, and make you a new heart and a new spirit: for why will you die, O house of Israel? For I have no pleasure in the death of him that dies, says the Lord God, wherefore turn yourselves, and live.”  (Ezekiel 18:30:32).

This new heart is the one God gives us when we repent of our sins and accept the Lord Jesus as our personal Savior.   “The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart” (that is, the word of faith that we proclaim); 9 because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.”  (Romans 10:8-9).  “Jesus answered him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.” (John 3:3).

We will all die physically.  But we will not all die spiritually.  “Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in Me, though he die, yet shall he live, 26 and everyone who lives and believes in Me shall never die. Do you believe this?” 27 She said to Him, “Yes, Lord; I believe that You are the Christ, the Son of God, who is coming into the world.” (John 11: 25-26)

If God’s grace leads you to repentance and His Holy Spirit calls you to come to Christ and to give your life to Him, do it today.  This has to be done personally and sincerely.  This is more than walking down an aisle saying a prayer and being baptized.  That is something you should do.  But those demonstrations of your faith are only the beginning of living a life that is pleasing to God.  The first choice you have to make is to receive this wonderful offer of eternal life, our Lord Jesus is offering you.

“I call heaven and earth to witness against you today, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and curse. Therefore choose life, that you and your offspring may live..”  (Deuteronomy 30:19)

I WILL LOVE THEM FREELY

 “I will Love them Freely..”

by Pastor Mark Taylor

“I will heal their backsliding,  I will love them freely,..” 

Hosea 14:4

A message of salvation. This is the way love comes down from Heaven to Earth - Freely.  Spontaneous love that came to those who did not deserve it, purchased it, or sought after it.

We use the word freely to describe something that was given to someone who gives  and not expecting anything in return.  God’s love comes to us freely.

God does not accept our works in exchange for His love.  Those that receive this love have no ability to pay for it.  The generosity of our God was given to us while we were still His enemies.  “But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”  Romans 5:8  “And if by grace, then it is no longer of works; otherwise grace is no longer grace. But if it is of works, it is no longer grace; otherwise work is no longer work.” Romans 11:6

God calls those who have no way to pay for it or sought for it.  The love of God goes after men who have not even thought of Him.  When they hear about God’s love or the Holy Spirit reveals it to them, then they start seeking. It is given freely.

A well gives its water after someone has dug it.  A mountain stream gives its water freely.  God’s love is freely given by His Grace.  “For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God,  not of works, lest anyone should boast.”  Ephesians 2:8-9

“For He says to Moses, “I will have mercy on whomever I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whomever I will have compassion.”  So then it is not of him who wills, nor of him who runs, but of God who shows mercy.” “ Romans 9:15-16

Today, if you have received God’s mercy you should not take His love for granted..  Today, if you have not received it, call out to Him and ask Him for it.  “Do not remember the sins of my youth, nor my transgressions; According to Your mercy remember me, For Your goodness’ sake, O Lord.”  Psalms 25:7

No matter how great a sinner you think you are God’s love is freely given to you.  Such is the grace of God. It comes from the goodness of God, like the rain and the sun.  “..for He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust.”  Matthew 5:45. 

The free love of God comes to the most undeserving who will receive it. Nothing you can do can make God love you any more than He does right now.  Nothing you do will take away His love for you.   “For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come,  nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”  Romans 8: 38-39

I am not just talking about accepting our Lord Jesus to escape hell and go to Heaven.  I am not talking about loving God because He has promised blessings to those who serve Him.  Those are certainly realities we will experience.  But I am talking about receiving God’s love.  It is given to you freely.  A relationship and a friendship with the God of Heaven.  Do you remember feeling loved by someone?  This is the free love God is offering you.

The free love of God existed before there was a man, before you were created you were loved by God. God did not start loving you because there was something good in you.  And He does not continue to love you because there is some virtue in you.  Your goodness is not a cause for God’s love for you.

God’s love for you is because He is love, not because you somehow have earned His favor.  “Beloved, let us love one another, for love is of God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God.  He who does not love does not know God, for God is love.  In this the love of God was manifested toward us, that God has sent His only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through Him. In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins.”  

1 John 4: 7-10

When our Lord Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead after four days the reaction of the family and friends was:  “Jesus wept. Then the Jews said, “See how He loved him!” John 11: 35-36.  Our Lord Jesus loves us so much that we will also rise from the dead and always be with Him.  “For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord. Therefore comfort one another with these words.”  1Thessalonians 4: 16-18

While our souls never die, our bodies do (2 Corinthians 5:8) , until our Lord Jesus gives us our glorified bodies. (1 Corinthians 15: 42-54).

You and I are loved freely by our Lord Jesus which should compel us to love Him.  

“We love Him because He first loved us.”   1 John 4:19

Some Notes From A Sermon preached by Charles Spurgeon in 1863 - Grace Abounding

 Where Are The Nine?

                                                                           by Pastor Mark Taylor

                                                                                   July 9, 2021

And Jesus answering said, “Were there not ten cleansed? but where are the nine? There are not found that returned to give glory to God, except this stranger. And He said unto him, Arise, go your way: your faith has made you whole” (Luke 17:17-19).

Leprosy (today known as Hansen’s disease) is a chronic bacterial infection that affects the nerves and skin of the arms and legs, and can cause blindness, muscle weakness, and kidney failure.  It is the oldest known disease from about 600 B.C.  Naaman, a Syrian Commander of the army, in 2 Kings 5 was the only person healed of this disease in the Old Testament (Luke 4:27).  The Bible says “He was a mighty man of valor, but a leper.”  The next recorded healing of this disease was done by our Lord Jesus in Luke 17:11-19.  Both of these were miraculous and immediate.

The leprosy was a disease which the Jews supposed to be inflicted for the punishment of some particular sin, and to be, more than other diseases, a mark of God’s displeasure; and therefore Christ, who came to take away sin, and turn away wrath, took particular care to cleanse the lepers that asked for mercy.

 

The spiritual lesson in this sermon is that when the blessings come, don’t forget to be thankful to our Lord Jesus.  “It is a good thing to give thanks unto the LORD, and to sing praises unto Your name, O most High” (Psalms 92:1).

Notice, there were ten lepers who came to Jesus to be healed, but only one returned to thank Him. The others took their healing and went on their way.  Our Lord asked: “Were there not ten cleansed?”  People often ask God for help, but fail to be thankful.  

Of the many who receive mercy from God today, there are very few that return to give Him thanks.  Ingratitude is often included in lists of sins.  “This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy,…” 2 Timothy 3:1-2.   Ingratitude partially caused cost the children of Israel 40 years in the wilderness, and resulted in the rich young ruler rejecting eternal life.  

The “One Thankful Person”, took the time to return to Jesus to thank Him.  He started out standing “afar off”, but now he was on “his face at His feet, giving Him thanks”.  He started out asking for mercy, and now he “glorified God with a loud voice”.  Those who have received mercy from God should publish it it others.  Their praise to God will encourage others and lead them to trust Christ.   Jesus took notice of the grateful return of the “One”.  He also took notice of the ingratitude of those that were sharers of the mercy that did not return to give thanks.  In coming back to give thanks, he gave glory to God and recognized our Lord Jesus as God.  It is never too late to come back and be thankful.

 “Where are the nine?”     Will you be the one thankful person?

How can we give thanks for what He has done for us?  Actions speak louder than words.  Luke 7: 37-50   “Wherefore I say unto thee, Her sins, which are many, are forgiven; for she loved much: but to whom little is forgiven, the same loves little.”  Luke 7:47

How can you be thankful?

“By Him, then, let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips, giving thanks to His name” (Hebrews 13:15).

“Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your request be made known to God.”  Philippians 4:6

“If you love Me, keep My commandments.”  John 14:15

“In everything give thanks, for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.”  1 Thessalonians 5:18

“Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits: Who forgives all thine iniquities; who heals all thy diseases; Who redeems  thy life from destruction; who crowns thee with lovingkindness and tender mercies.  Who satisfies thy mouth with good things; so that thy youth is renewed like the eagle's.”  Psalms 103:  2-6

“He hath made his wonderful works to be remembered: the Lord is gracious and full of compassion.”  Psalms 111:4

Will you be the one thankful person to our Lord Jesus today?   

The Love of God

“THE LOVE OF GOD” 

By Pastor Mark Taylor - June 22, 2019 - Sonia’s Home Group

“For God so loved the world, that He gave His only Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life.”  (John 3:16)

The world population as of April 2019  is 7.7 billion  and the percent of those who call themselves Christian is only. 33.35%.  This means 67% of the world has not heard of,  or decided not to receive the love of God, through His Son, Jesus Christ.

So if the "Love of God" has been revealed to you and you have accepted "The Love of God", you need to be thankful to our Heavenly Father.

THE LOVE OF GOD IS UNIVERSAL  

“For God So Loved The World...”.  The Greek word for world (kosmos) is defined as “the ungodly multitude; the whole mass of men alienated from God, and therefore hostile to the cause of Christ.” This is the world that God loved. It doesn’t say that God loved all the good guys. Or that God loved all the Jews. Or that God love all the saints. It says, “For God so loved the world.”

So God’s love clearly isn’t based on our spiritual condition or our moral predisposition. It isn’t based on our behavior or our attitude toward him. Rather we see here that God’s love for mankind is universal and unconditional. He loves everyone. And this is one of the things that sets him apart from every other god held up by every other world religion.

This does not however exempt any of from the consequences of our sins and wrong choices. "Be not deceived (make no mistake in your thinking), God is not mocked, for whatsoever a person sows, that shall they also reap." (Galatians 6:7).  We must keep in the context of God's love that He hates sin because of the harm it does to His children.  He does not hate the sinner, but the actions that robs them of the blessings He wants to give to those He loves.

This also means that His love continues to be given to you unconditionally.  “There is nothing we can do to make God love us more. There is nothing we can do to make God love us less.”  Christianity uniquely claims God’s love comes free of charge, no strings attached. No other religion makes that claim. 

THE LOVE OF GOD IS SACRIFICIAL

“For God so love the World, that He Gave..”    He loved us by giving, by serving, by sacrificing.  We learn something important about the nature of true love. Some people think they love others because of what those people do for them or how they make them feel.   God shows us that true love has nothing to do with what you can do for HIm, but everything to do with what He can do for you.

THE LOVE OF GOD IS VALUABLE

“For God so loved the world, that He gave, His Only Son...” 

Here we see the value of the Father’s love for us. Not only was He willing to give, but we see here that He was willing to give the only Son He had. When you give to someone out of your abundance that is one thing, but when you give your all, that is quite another. 

How many times have you heard or even said yourself: “I can’t give you that because it’s the only one I’ve got.” God didn’t have a back up. God didn’t have a spare. But He loved us so much that He was willing to give us the only Son He had.

THE LOVE OF GOD IS IS PERSONAL

“For God so loved the world, that He gave His only Son...”

God’s love is not only universal, unconditional, and valuable, it is a personal love.  A love given to each of us individually, one at a time.  He gave His love to individual people, not to governments, nations, or religious organizations.

One of the reasons God saved you is because He is fond of you. He likes having you around. He thinks you are the best things He ever created. If God had a refrigerator, your picture would be on it. If he had a wallet, your photo would be in it. He sends you flowers every spring and a sunrise every morning. Whenever you want to talk, He is ready to listen. He can live anywhere in the universe, and He chose your heart.

GOD’S LOVE IS AVAILABLE TO ANYONE

“For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever would believe in Him...”

The really good news about God’s love is that it is not limited to a select few.  Nor is it difficult to obtain.  The love of God is accessible to “whoever believes” in Jesus – the only Son of God. 

God has come down to our level. Not in the sense that He has lessened His holiness or lowered His standards. But only in the sense that He has made His love accessible to the average, ordinary person like me and like you.

GOD’S LOVE IS FOREVER

“For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish, but have eternal life”

God’s goal in sending his Son from heaven to earth was not condemn you are to show you how bad you are, how unworthy you are or how hopeless you are. God’s only desire in sending His Son was to show you His love and draw you into a love relationship with Himself. Jesus didn’t come into the world in order to rebuke you. He came to rescue you. He didn’t come to criticize you. He came to cleanse you. He didn’t come to punish you. He came to pardon you. He didn’t come to destroy you. He came to deliver you.

Our response to this wonderful gift of love from God to us should be to accept it and love God back.    Romans 10: 9-13

“If you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. 11 For the Scripture says, “Whoever believes on Him will not be put to shame.” 12 For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek, for the same Lord over all is rich to all who call upon Him. 13 For “whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.”

Our response of love should be to live a life that would be pleasing to The Lord.  Jesus said: "If you Love Me, Keep My commandments." (John 14:15).  "If you keep my commandments, you shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father's commandments, and abide in His love." (John 15:10).

What are those commandments?    “This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you.”  (John 15:12)

When our Lord was asked: What is the greatest commandment?  He said:  

"You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, With all your soul, With all your mind, And with all your strength.  This is the first commandment,   And the second is like it  in that you should love your neighbor as yourself." (Mark 11: 29-30).

Love is an action verb.  You love God with your life and not with just words.

"My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth."  I John 3:18

"Beloved, let us love one another, for love is of God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. 8 He who does not love does not know God, for God is love."  (I John 4: 7-8)

The Importance of Belonging To A Local Church

The Importance of Belonging To A Local Church

2 Corinthians 8:5 “…but they first gave themselves to the Lord, and then to us by the will of God.”  The church offers you something you cannot get anywhere else.

Why Have strong relationships.

1. We were created for connections.
2. Connections balance our lives.  By yourself you will leave an unbalanced life.  The Bible has 58 “one another” in the New Testament.
3. Connections give us strength, emotional, spiritual, and physical.

The relationships that will last forever are those built in the family of God - the Church.  The one thing that will last after this world is over is the church. (Romans 12:2).  Church is not an event you attend, but a group you are a part of.  We are connected to each other.

What a Church is like in metaphors (pictures)., a brick in a temple, a family member in a family, a vine to a branch.

1. It connects me to God’s eternal temple.  I Corinthians 3: 16 “ Do you not know that you are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you?”  Ephesians 2:21 -22 “in whom the whole building, being fitted together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord,  in whom you also are being built together for a dwelling place of God in the Spirit.”  The word together is key.  

Lessons from building - you cannot build it with one part. all the parts have to fit together,  a part is useless until it is connected. By yourself you cannot be used.  a part for the house needs to be inside the house not outside the house.  We are connected to hold each other up.1 Timothy 3:15 “I write so that you may know how you ought to conduct yourself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground (foundation)  of the truth.”  The Benefit : I get support and stability.  Small groups are a way to get this support.

2.  Second Benefit:  I get life and growth. It Connects me to Christ body. Ephesians 1:22-23 “And He put all things under His feet, and gave Him to be head over all things to the church,  which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all.”  Ephesians 4:25 “Therefore, putting away lying, “Let each one of you speak truth with his neighbor,” for we are members of one another.”  Romans 12: 4-5 Therefore, putting away lying, “Let each one of you speak truth with his neighbor,” for we are members of one another.”   The church has many parts, God loves diversity. every part of the body is needed to make the body complete.  we each have a different work to do,  we need each other.  I cannot fulfill God’s purpose for my life by myself.

People say I need Jesus but not the church.  Colossians 2:19  “ and not holding fast to the Head, from whom all the body, nourished and knit together by joints and ligaments, grows with the increase that is from God.”  Just as your body is connected, we must be connected in the church.  You only grow by being connected to the church.  You can make temporary change but you need people to make long lasting change.

 Second Benefit:  I get life and growth.

3.  It connects me to the power of Jesus. John 15:5 “I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing.”  This is our organic connection.  One wire can keep your car from moving. John 15:4 “Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me.”  Connections makes us productive.  Your life impact will be determine by the connections you make.  The fruit comes from the root.  This is the kind of fruit you will produce if you are connected:

Galatians 5:22-23  “ But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, long suffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law.”  Third Benefit:  I get God’s power to Change.  There are some problems you will never get rid of along, only in community being connected. Having others praying for you, holding you accountable and supporting you.

4. Fourth Picture:  It connects me to God’s Family.  A Christian without a church family is an orphan.  Somebody chose you to be apart of their family when you left the hospital.  You need a church family. Romans 8:16 “The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God.”  “1Timothy 3:15 “I write so that you may know how you ought to conduct yourself in the house of God, which is the church (family) of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth.”  Your number one priority in the family of God is to love the other members.  1 Peter 2:17 “Honor all people. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the king.”  Colossians 3:14  “But above all these things put on love, which is the bond of perfection.” (Most important love each other).  Love is what holds the family together.

Fourth Benefit:  I am loved and accepted.  People need to hear your story and they need for you to hear their story.

2 Corinthians 8:5 “…but they first gave themselves to the Lord, and then to us by the will of God.”  

A church family helps you to connect to God, to others, to the truth, with yourself to use your gifts and abilities , fulfill your life mission.  The church will outlast every kingdom and  business.  

*Sermon Notes From Pastor Rick Warren.

A Season of Life - Springtime

SEASONS OF LIFE – SPRING

Pastor Mark Taylor 

“But this I say, He which sows sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he which sows bountifully shall reap also bountifully.

(2 Corinthians 9:6)

Following the turbulence of winter comes the season of activity and opportunity called springtime.  It is the season for entering the fertile fields of life with seed, knowledge, commitment, and a determined effort.

Spring does not care if you sow or sleep, nor does it care if you plant abundantly or sparingly.  God has given you the wisdom to rise from your comfortable chair and enter the fields at the right season.

The springtime in your life offers you the opportunity to enroll in a class, to have the courage to change either an occupation or residence, or perhaps even to change your mind about something or someone.

Springtime can enter your life when ever you are ready, but timing is important.  Do not allow springtime to pass while you sit idly by and others are planting their seeds.

To take full advantage of the spring in your life, you must begin to rid your soil of the weeds and rocks of worry, doubt, or pessimism.  It is the fertilizer of faith and enthusiasm that will overcome the worst forms of weeds.  The Lord allows flowers to start over every spring and he will allow the same for you:

“And why take ye thought for raiment? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin: And yet I say unto you, That even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which to day is, and to morrow is cast into the oven, shall he not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith?” (Matthew 6:28-30 KJV)

Plant more seeds this year.  If you gave a small amount of money to the work of the Lord last year, give more this year.  If you attended church only a few times last year, attend more this year.  If you gave a small amount of your time last year ministering, give more time this year to the Lord.  If you spent a small amount of time and effort in helping your church, invest more this year.

“For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.” (James 2:26)

Faith provides us with a multiple reward.  For each cup planted, a bushel is reaped,  for every good idea given to another, many shall be given to us in return,  for every act of kindness and love, a life of love will be returned, for each seed of encouragement given to another, encouragement will be given.

A kernel of corn produces its own kind.  A seed of doubt, or fear, or distrust place in the mind also produces after its own kind.  The price, or effort of thinking thoughts of love, prosperity, or self-confidence takes no more effort than to think thoughts of hate, poverty, or self doubt.  Only the rewards are different.

Springtime says “Here I Am!”.  I will provide the warm weather and the fertile fields, but you will have to decide if you are going to plant or not, and what you will plant.  The act of planting during the spring requires that we exert effort and discipline.

Each day is given to us as a new season of spring.  The thoughts, deeds, dreams, and efforts of today will provide tomorrow’s harvest.  To neglect the opportunity given to us this day is to delay our better harvest tomorrow.

There will be no better day, no better opportunity, no better springtime, no better time to begin than the current moment.  Life is truly a constant beginning, a constant opportunity, a constant springtime.  We need to have the faith of a child.

“And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not. As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith.” (Galatians 6:9-10)

“Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.” (1 Corinthians 15:58)