SERIES OF MESSAGES IS ON FAITH and NOT QUITTING.

Pastor Mark Taylor

 SERMON - 1

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.

 SEND OF THE SERMON -2 

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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.  “Then they said to Moses, "Because there were no graves in Egypt, have you taken us away to die in the wilderness? Why have you so dealt with us, to bring us up out of Egypt? "Is this not the word that we told you in Egypt, saying, 'Let us alone that we may serve the Egyptians?' For it would have been better for us to serve the Egyptians than that we should die in the wilderness."

 (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 where they had been slaves.  They were so used to living a dysfunctional life, they did not know how to live a life pleasing to the Lord with the blessing of the Lord.  When you turn back, you are enslaving yourself to sin.  “Do you not know that to whom you present yourselves slaves to obey, you are that one's slaves whom you obey, whether of sin leading to death, or of obedience leading to righteousness?” (Romans 6:16)

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. "And I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; neither shall anyone snatch them out of My hand. "My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of My Father's hand. (John 10:27-29)  My faith won’t let me turn back and miss getting my needs met by my Heavenly Father.  "So I say to you, 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.  "If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him!" (Luke 11:9-10, 13)

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 

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 SERMON -4 

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 

SERIES OF MESSAGES ON CHRISTMAS

SERMON ONE

Pastor Mark Taylor                               Friendship United Methodist Church   Sunday Morning Worship Service

“HIS NAME SHALL BE CALLED WONDERFUL”

“For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.”  (Isaiah 9:6-7)

When you were planning a name for your child, you may have looked at many names and the meaning of those names.  God told the prophet Isaiah 740 years before the birth of Christ what His names would be.  Today, I would like to examine one of those precious names of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ – “Wonderful”

Why do you think Jesus’ name would be called “Wonderful”?  I am sure there are many reasons, but I would like to express some of the reasons I think His name was and is still called “Wonderful” today.

Every ordinary thing He touched became “Wonderful”.  When He touched water it turned into the best wine and became wonderful.  When He touch ordinary bread and wine, it became the extra ordinary symbols of His Body and His Blood that would be broken and given for us, and it became wonderful.  When His Body touched the “Old Rugged Cross”, it turned a dreadful sight into the wonderful picture of sacrifice and love.  When His Body touched the empty tomb, it became our wonderful symbol for our hope of the resurrection.

Everyone He touched changed from ordinary into “Wonderful”.  At His presence, the blind would see, the deaf could hear, the lame could walk, and the dead could be raised from the dead.  When Jesus came by, people felt His “wonderful” presence and everyone He touched received something “Wonderful” from our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.  Jesus said this about Himself: "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; To proclaim the acceptable year of the LORD." (Luke 4:18-19). 

Everything He did was “Wonderful”.  He fed thousands of hungry people with His “Wonderful” miracles.  He ate and fellowshipped with the outcasts and unlovable in His community.  He brought the message of eternal life to all who would hear and receive it.  He received and ministered to children, tax collectors, demon possessed people, social outcasts, and anyone who would come to Him.  They would have certainly described their time with Jesus as “Wonderful”.

Everything He said was “Wonderful”.  He talked about living forever with Him in Heaven.  He talked about having rewards for living a good and righteous life.  He talked about forgiveness for all the sins we have committed.  He talked about His love for us and the need for us to love others.  His words made  everyone that followed them feel “Wonderful”, as it will for you and me.  He said His words would last forever: “Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away” (Matthew 24:35).

Everything He has planned for our future is “Wonderful”. He has planned on giving you and me eternal life that we would never die.  "I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live. "And whoever lives and believes in Me shall never die. Do you believe this?" (John 11:25-26).  “He came unto his own, and his own received him not. But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name” (John 1:11-12).  He has planned on giving us a “Wonderful” place to live with Him: “And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea. And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God. And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away” (Revelation 21:1-4).

I hope all of us will not just think about how “Wonderful” He is at Christmas time.  He is “Wonderful” all the time, because that is His name.  If He is living inside of you through the Holy Spirit, you too can live a “Wonderful” life.  He will allow your words, your relationships, and your actions be “Wonderful” to others as you go through this next year.  The next time you hear someone say that you are “Wonderful”, then you can know it is because Jesus is living inside of you.  “His Name Shall Be Called Wonderful”!!

MERRY CHRISTMAS – PASTOR MARK AND NANCY TAYLOR

“JESUS IS THE REASON FOR EVERY SEASON”

SERMON TWO

Pastor Mark Taylor                                          Friendship United Methodist Church                                                   Sunday Evening Worship Service

The Coming of the Lord Jesus

Occasionally during this time of year some people talk about seeking the true meaning of Christmas.  Few people seem to be truly interested in what the birth of Jesus Christ means. We should not be alarmed at this because the world has always rejected their Creator. But the birth of Jesus for those who believe and love God has great significance that extends beyond his birth and looks at who He truly is and why He came. The believer in God understands that the purpose of His coming has both present and eternal consequences.

 Luke 2:8-14 tells us His birth was proclaimed by a host of angels. The angels said he was the Savior, which was Christ the Lord.  We must understand that 4000 years earlier in Garden or Eden when man sinned and brought sin and death into the world, this Savior was promised by God. (Gen. 3:15).  2000 years before His birth, God told a man named Abraham, that God would make of him a great nation and that in his seed, all the nations of the earth would be blessed. (Gen. 12:3, 22:18) .  God fulfilled that promise and Abraham's decedents became the Nation of Israel, the Jews and Jesus was an Israelite of the Tribe of Judah. In approximately 1042 BC King David of Israel was promised that through his descendants, the Savior would come and His kingdom would be eternal. (II Sam. 7:14-17).  742 years before his birth, Isaiah, God's prophet, foretold the amazing truth that he would be born of a virgin and said His name would be Immanuel. (Isaiah 7:14).  700 years before He was born, Micah, God's prophet revealed in Micah 5:2 that the Savior would be born in Bethlehem of Judah and in Micah 4:8 that the place would be at the tower of the Flock where the sacrificial lambs were raised that were sacrificed in the Temple in Jerusalem only 3 miles away.  Daniel even told the exact year that he was to be born about 500 years before his birth. (Dan 9:25).  There are over 300 prophecies in the Old Testament which foretold His coming.  In Isaiah 53, God said that the coming Messiah would be an offering and that He would bear the iniquities of many.

It was not a coincidence that Jesus was born in Bethlehem – It was a prophecy: “But thou, Bethlehem Ephratah, though thou be little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of thee shall he come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting.”  (Micah 5:2).  Bethlehem means “house of bread”.  Jesus said: “I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst.” (John 6:35).  It was not a coincidence that Jesus was born in a stable with sheep.  John the Baptist said: “Behold the Lamb of God, which takes away the sin of the world” (John 1:29).  It was not a coincidence that Shepherds were the first to see Jesus at His birth: “And it came to pass, as the angels were gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us.”(Luke 2:15).  Jesus said: “I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd gives his life for the sheep.” (John 10:11). It was no coincidence that kings sent wise men to honor Jesus as King:  “Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judaea in the days of Herod the king, behold, there came wise men from the east to Jerusalem, Saying, Where is he that is born King of the Jews? for we have seen his star in the east, and are come to worship him.” (Matthew 2:1-2)  “And Pilate wrote a title, and put it on the cross. And the writing was, “JESUS OF NAZARETH THE KING OF THE JEWS.” (John 19:19 )

The blessings of Christmas are tied to our response to the Christ Child born in Bethlehem 2,000 years ago. When we read the Christmas story from the Bible, there are at least three ways which we can respond to Him.  One response was given by the innkeeper when Mary and Joseph wanted to find a room where the Child could be born. The innkeeper was not hostile; he was not opposed to them, but his inn was crowded; his hands were full; his mind was preoccupied.
This is the answer that millions are giving today. Like a Bethlehem innkeeper, they cannot find room for Christ. All the accommodations in their hearts are already taken up by other crowding interests. Their response is not atheism. It is not defiance. It is preoccupation and the feeling of being able to get on reasonably well without Christianity.  But another response was totally different. It came from an old priest in the Temple by the name of Simeon. He took the Christ Child in his arms and said, "My eyes have seen your salvation."

SERMON THREE

Pastor Mark Taylor                          Friendship United Methodist Church 

                                                Sunday Evening Worship Service

PROPHECY AND THE BIRTH OF OUR LORD AND SAVIOR

Today, I would like to remind you that our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ is the true “Virgin Born” Messiah that was prophesied to come to us.  We don’t have to defend the Bible, it defends itself and is without any mistakes.  I would encourage you to trust that God loves you enough and is powerful enough to give you His true and complete message, using men  “For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Ghost” (2 Peter 1:21).  “All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness” (2 Timothy 3:16).  Those who are really searching for the “truth” can find it in the Holy Scriptures. Studying fulfilled prophecy is one of those ways. When you don’t understand everything in the Bible it reminds us:

“Now the just shall live by faith: but if any man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him” (Hebrews 10:38).  Here are only some of those prophecies that were given and fulfilled:

The information and thoughts below are from the research and careful study of others.  Today we will look at three of those prophecies:  The Virgin Birth, Bethlehem, and the timing of His birth.

Prophecy                                  Made                           Fulfilled

Born of a Virgin	Isaiah 7:14	Matt 1:23,    Luke 1:30-38
Born in Bethlehem	Micah 5:2	Matt 2:1-6,   Luke 2:1-20
Massacre of Infants	Jeremiah 31:1-15	Matthew 2:16-18
Come from Nazareth	Isaiah 9:12	Matt 2:22-23,   Matt 4: 13-16
Preach in Capernaum	Isaiah 9: 1-2	Matthew 4:15-16
Come out of Egypt	Hosea 11:1,  Numbers 24:8	Matthew 2:14-15
Kings would bow down to Him	Isaiah 49:23	Matthew 2:11
He would be given gifts	Psalm 72:10	Matthew 2: 1, 11
He would live 33 years	Leviticus 12: 1-4	Luke 3:23

(www.teachinghearts.org)

Prophecies of the OT Fulfilled in Jesus Christ:

    There have been described in the Old Testament 300 prophecies of the first coming of the Messiah and 500 of the second coming, all of then made hundreds of years before the birth of Jesus and fulfilled to the letter in Jesus Christ, the Messiah.   George Heron, a French mathematician, calculated that the odds of one man fulfilling only 40 of those prophecies are 1 in 10 to the power of 157. That is a 1 followed by 157 zeros. Compare it to this; your odds on winning the state lottery are 14 followed by 6 zeros.  (http://biblia.com/jesusbible/prophecies.htm)

PROPHECY – THE VIRGIN BIRTH

“Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign: Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a Son, and shall call His name Immanuel”  Isaiah 7:14

FULLFILLMENT

“And the angel said unto her, Fear not, Mary: for thou hast found favour with God. And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name JESUS. He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest: and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David: And he shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end. Then said Mary unto the angel, How shall this be, seeing I know not a man? And the angel answered and said unto her, The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God. And, behold, thy cousin Elisabeth, she hath also conceived a son in her old age: and this is the sixth month with her, who was called barren. For with God nothing shall be impossible. And Mary said, Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according to thy word. And the angel departed from her.” (Luke 1:30-38 KJV)

 BETHELHEM - PROPHECY

Micah, 735 - 710 B.C., predicts that Christ, the Messiah, would be born in Bethlehem. It was recognized by all of the early church Fathers that this statement was true.

FULLFILLMENT

“But thou, Bethlehem Ephratah, though thou be little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of thee shall he come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting” (Micah 5:2).

THE TIMING OF HIS BIRTH

The prophecy recorded in Daniel 9:26 predicts that the Messiah would die in Nisan 14, A.D. 33. Since the Jewish religion would have required the Messiah to be at least 30 years of age before He could start His ministry, this means that the Messiah would have had to be born at least 30 years earlier. The gospel of Luke tells us that Jesus was born during the reigns of Caesar Augustus (43 B.C. - A.D. 14) and Quirinius of Syria (3-2 B.C.). Multiple church fathers also indicate that Jesus was born by at least A.D. 1 (Finegan, Jack. Handbook of Biblical Chronology, 519-526). Together, the data indicates that Jesus fulfilled this prophecy. He was born early enough to die on the predicted date of Nisan 14, A.D. 33.

SERMON FOUR

Pastor Mark Taylor                                           Friendship United Methodist Church   Sunday Morning Worship Service

                                     The Peace Jesus Brings

“Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you” (John 14:27)

We hear a lot about Peace this time of the year.  One of the most familiar verses that is quoted or displayed is: “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men” (Luke 2:14).  And certainly this would be wonderful if we had peace and no war on earth.  But this will not happen until the Lord Jesus returns and sets up his kingdom on Earth at His Second Coming.  The Biblical definition of peace is not only the absence of war or conflict with others.   Jesus also said peace is something He gives to us with our new birth and relationship with Him.  “Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world gives, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid” (John 14:27).  Paul speaks of Peace: “And the peace of God, which passes all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:7). His peace will “keep our hearts and minds through Christ Jesus”. It will keep us from sinning under our troubles, and from sinking under them. It will keep us calm and peaceful, without losing our love for the Lord, and will give us inward satisfaction toward our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. “Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on thee” (Isaiah 26:3).  This is the kind of Peace we need on earth and in our lives during this Christmas season.  The Lord Jesus Christ wants to come into our lives and bring us peace.  “For He is our peace”. (Ephesians 2:14). 

But Peace does not come alone or without some pre-conditions.  “Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwells righteousness. Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for such things, be diligent that ye may be found of him in peace, without spot, and blameless.” (2 Peter 3:13-14)  Righteousness and Peace are married and they come as a pair.  You cannot have one without the other. “Righteousness and Peace have kissed each other”

(Psalm 85:10).  You cannot live a unrighteous life and expect to have Peace.  On the other hand if you live a Righteous life, Peace will automatically come. When you live a life pleasing to God, which is a righteous life, you will have peace.  “And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace of them that make peace”  (James 3:18).  

In other words, you cannot live a life of sin and expect the peace of God to be a part of your life.  “For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.” (Romans 8:6). 

You cannot live a life in purposeful sin and expect the blessings of God.  "A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart brings forth evil. For out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks. "But why do you call Me 'Lord, Lord,' and do not do the things which I say?” (Luke 6:45-46).

The gift of peace is from the Holy Spirit and with that gift comes additional gifts: “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law. And those who are Christ's have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.”             (Galatians 5:22-24)

Before you received Christ as your Savior, you had an old nature which the Bible calls the “old man” that ruled your decisions.  We sometimes call it “human nature”.  When you were “born again”, you received the Holy Spirit to help you with your new life.  “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.” (2 Corinthians 5:17).  If you will ask the Lord to help you with your new life, He will give you the wonderful gift of “Peace”.  If you want peace then the Bible gives you some things you need to do.  “If indeed you have heard Him and have been taught by Him, as the truth is in Jesus: that you put off, concerning your former conduct, the old man which grows corrupt according to the deceitful lusts, and be renewed in the spirit of your mind, and that you put on the new man which was created according to God, in true righteousness and holiness. Therefore, putting away lying, "Let each one of you speak truth with his neighbor," for we are members of one another. "Be angry, and do not sin": do not let the sun go down on your wrath, nor give place to the devil. Let him who stole steal no longer, but rather let him labor, working with his hands what is good, that he may have something to give him who has need. Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth, but what is good for necessary edification, that it may impart grace to the hearers. And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, and evil speaking be put away from you, with all malice. And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God in Christ forgave you.   (Ephesians 4:21-32).

The Bible assures us if we will allow the Holy Spirit to direct our lives, we will have “Peace”.  Not only will we have it, but we will be able to bring peace to those around us.  

THE "NEW" JESUS and THE "NEW"YOU

Pastor Mark Taylor                                           Friendship United Methodist Church                                                        Sunday Morning Worship Service

The “New” Jesus and The “New” You

“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.” (2 Corinthians 5:17).

Before His resurrection our Lord had chosen to be a servant.  After His resurrection He had become the Lord of Lord and King of Kings.  “ And He has on His robe and on His thigh a name written: KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS. (Revelation 19:16)   Before His resurrection He had chose to die for our sins.  After His resurrection He would never die again.  "Do not be afraid; I am the First and the Last. "I am He who lives, and was dead, and behold, I am alive forevermore. Amen. And I have the keys of Hell and of Death.” (Revelation 1:17-18).  Before His resurrection He suffered for you and me.  “Surely He has borne our griefs  And carried our sorrows; Yet we esteemed Him stricken, Smitten by God, and afflicted. But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; The chastisement for our peace was upon Him, And by His stripes we are healed.”  (Isaiah 53:4-5).  After His resurrection He has promised that we will live with Him where there is no suffering.  "And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away." Then He who sat on the throne said, "Behold, I make all things new." And He said to me, "Write, for these words are true and faithful." (Revelation 21:4-5).  Before the resurrection He came to serve you and me.  “Even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give His life a ransom for many.”  (Matthew 20:28).  After the resurrection all those who love Him will get to serve Him.  “It is a faithful saying: For if we be dead with Him, we shall also live with Him: If we suffer, we shall also reign with Him: if we deny Him, He also will deny us: If we believe not, yet He abides faithful: He cannot deny Himself. (2 Timothy 2:11-13).  We have a lot to look forward to by living a righteous life for Him and a life of good works in His name.

Just like the Lord was “new” after His resurrection, we are o be “a new creation” when the Lord gives us our “new birth”.  Jesus answered, "Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. "Do not marvel that I said to you, 'You must be born again.' (John 3:5-7).

The “New You” should not include the following characteristics. “But now you yourselves are to put off all these: anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy language out of your mouth. Do not lie to one another, since you have put off the old man with his deeds, (Colossians 3:8-9). 

The “New You” should include these characteristics: “Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering; bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against another; even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do.” (Colossians 3:12-13).

The “New You” has the ability and power from the Holy Spirit to overcome sin.

“No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it.

(1 Corinthians 10:13).

The “New You” has the ability to love others. “He who does not love does not know God, for God is love.” (1 John 4:8).  “In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the payment for our sins. Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.” (1 John 4:10-11). “And we have known and believed the love that God has for us. God is love, and he who abides in love abides in God, and God in him” (1 John 4:16).  “We love Him because He first loved us. If someone says, "I love God," and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen, how can he love God whom he has not seen? And this commandment we have from Him: that he who loves God must love his brother also.” (1 John 4:19-21).

The “New You” will demonstrate your faith by your good works.  “For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.”  (Ephesians 2:10).  “What does it profit, my brethren, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can faith save him? If a brother or sister is naked and destitute of daily food, and one of you says to them, "Depart in peace, be warmed and filled," but you do not give them the things which are needed for the body, what does it profit? Thus also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.” (James 2:14-17)

THE RAPTURE

Pastor Mark Taylor                               Friendship United Methodist Church

                                                          Sunday Evening Worship Service

The Rapture – A Pre-Tribulation View Of The Second Coming of Christ

“For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with Him. For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not precede them which are asleep. For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.  Wherefore comfort one another with these words.”  (1 Thessalonians 4:14-17)

These verses say that both the dead and the living will be changed and "shall be caught up" to meet the Lord in the air. Christ will not come down to earth, but will take up all believers on earth. English word "Rapture" is taken from the Latin word, "rapre" which means to be caught up. Thus the coming of the Lord Jesus for Christians is called the Rapture.  Christ will return, and will call up all Christians who are alive or who died since Pentecost.

 The Thessalonians were concerned because some of their members had died and Christ had not returned. Paul wrote to reassure them of the position with the Lord.

 Paul in says he did not want them to be ignorant, about the dead in Christ.  Clearly says this is for Christians. If one has believed in the Lord Jesus Christ and received Him as their Savior.  When Christ returns He will bring with Him those that have died.

The Bible says “We are confident, yes, well pleased rather to be absent from the body and to be present with the Lord” (2 Corinthians 5:8). To be absent from the Body, meaning to die, is to be instantly in the presence of Christ.

Those of us who are alive when this day comes, will not precede or go before those who have died.  First: Those that died will be resurrected and joined with their resurrected bodies once again,  Next: Christians who are alive at his coming will be "caught up", at the same time as those who died, and will be instantly changed and given our glorified bodies. Paul said everyone will not die, but all will be changed. “Behold, I tell you a mystery: We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed-- in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. (1 Corinthians 15:51-53)  There are no prophecies to be fulfilled before the Lord comes. The Rapture in the New Testament is always presented in the Bible as being imminent!  The church is told to be ready always!  Phil. 4:5, "Let your gentleness be known to all men. The Lord is a Hand." James 5:8, "You also be patient. Establish your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is at hand." 1 John. 2:28 says "And now, little children, abide in him; that, when he shall appear, we may have confidence, and not be ashamed before him at his coming."

There are some who are teaching that believers will have to go through part of the Tribulation.  The Tribulation is a Jewish event, where God is once again working with Israel. The modern church age is not in view in the Tribulation and nowhere mentioned from Revelation 4:1-19:1.  Revelation 3:10 Jesus spoke to the church at Philadelphia "Because thou hast kept the word of my patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth."

Many theologians and pastors do not believe in the Rapture and even make fun of it.  I believe the Bible teaches that there is a Rapture of the Church and we all need to be ready.  “Knowing this first: that scoffers will come in the last days, walking according to their own lusts, and saying, "Where is the promise of His coming? For since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of creation." For this they willfully forget: that by the word of God the heavens were of old, and the earth standing out of water and in the water, by which the world that then existed perished, being flooded with water. But the heavens and the earth which are now preserved by the same word, are reserved for fire until the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men” (2 Peter 3:3-7).