COMMON SENSE WAYS OF LIVING LIFE WITH LESS STRESS

  

VIDEO LINKS 

COMMON SENSE WAYS TO LIVE LIFE WITH LESS STRESS- PART 1

COMMON SENSE WAYS TO LIVE LIFE WITH LESS STRESS - PART 2

COMMON SENSE WAYS TO LIVE LIFE WITH LESS STRESS - PART 3

COMMON SENSE WAYS TO LIVE LIFE WTIH LESS STRESS - PART 4

Common Sense Ways of Living Life With Less Stress

By Pastor Mark Taylor

"But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble” (Matthew 6:33-34)

In Part One of these messages on “Living A Life With Less Stress”, we discussed the fact that stress is in all our lives and it is not healthy.  We mentioned that leaning how to relax and taking control of our lives will help us reduce stress in our lives.  Because our Lord wants us to live with less stress, we need to look at ways to accomplish this important life skill.

If you can’t avoid a stressful situation, try to alter it. Figure out what you can do to change things so the problem doesn’t present itself in the future. Often, this involves changing the way you communicate and operate in your daily life.  If you can’t change the person or thing that is stressing you, change yourself. You can adapt to stressful situations and regain your sense of control by changing your expectations and attitude.

Look at the big picture. Take perspective of the stressful situation. Ask yourself how important it will be in the long run. Will it matter in a month? A year? Is it really worth getting upset over? If the answer is no, focus your time and energy elsewhere.  

Focus on the positive. When stress is getting you down, take a moment to reflect on all the things you appreciate in your life, including your own positive qualities and gifts. This simple strategy can help you keep things in perspective.

Adjust your standards. Perfectionism is a major source of avoidable stress. Stop setting yourself up for failure by demanding perfection. Set reasonable standards for yourself and others, and learn to be okay with “good enough.” 

Don’t try to control the uncontrollable. Many things in life are beyond our control— particularly the behavior of other people. Rather than stressing out over them, focus on the things you can control such as the way you choose to react to problems.

Learn to forgive. Accept the fact that we live in an imperfect world and that people make mistakes. Let go of anger and resentments. Free yourself from negative energy by forgiving and moving on.  “A heart at peace gives life to the body, but envy rots the bones.” (Prov. 14:30)

Adopt a healthy lifestyle.  You can increase your resistance to stress by strengthening your physical health.  Exercise regularly. Physical activity plays a key role in reducing and preventing the effects of stress. Make time for at least 30 minutes of exercise, three times per week. 

Eat a healthy diet. Well-nourished bodies are better prepared to cope with stress, so be mindful of what you eat. Start your day right with breakfast, and keep your energy up and your mind clear with balanced, nutritious meals throughout the day.

Have a good support system.  Church, family and positive people can help you reduce stress in your life  “I was glad when they said unto me, Let us go into the House of the Lord” (Psalms 122: 1).    God’s House should be a place where people are happy and joyful and can encourage each other.

Accept your personality, don't try to alter it. Instead, learn to manage your strengths and weaknesses. Likewise, stop chastising yourself for past mistakes. Learn from them - then let them go. Remind yourself of God ability when He created you and gave to you your special gifts and abilities.  “I will praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; Marvelous are Your works..” (Psalm 139:14)

Self-talk is one way to deal with stress. We all talk to ourselves; sometimes we talk out loud but usually we keep self-talk in our heads. Self-talk can be positive ("I can do this" or "Things will work out") or negative ("I'll never get well" or "I'm so stupid").  “And be not drunk with wine in excess; but be filled with the Holy Spirit;  Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heat to the Lord;  Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.”  Ephesians 5: 18-20.

Negative self-talk increases stress. Positive self-talk helps you calm down and control stress. With practice, you can learn to turn negative thoughts into positive ones. For example:  Instead of saying “I can’t do this”; say “I will do my best”.  Instead of saying “Everything is going wrong.”, say “I can handle things if I take one step at a time”; or “I can do all things through Christ, Who strengthens me” (Philippians 4:13).  Instead of saying “I don’t know how I am going to make it”, say to yourself God’s Words:       “My God shall supply all your needs according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus”  (Philippians 4:19). 

Another way to reduce stress in your life is simply not to argue with people who have different views from you and are convinced they are right and you are wrong.  This can be in the area of politics, religion, and social issues.  If you are convinced that your views are in line with God’s Word, the Lord Jesus has given us some very good advice.  “Do not give what is holy to the dogs; nor cast your pearls before swine, lest they trample them under their feet, and turn and tear you in pieces.” (Matthew 7:6).  Save the wisdom God has given you to give to those who are searching for the truth that comes from above.

Finally, and probably the most important way to reduce stress in your life is simply to   “seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness” (Matthew 6:33).  If you are living a life that is in line with God’s Word, and you are trying to please the Lord Jesus Christ, you will be “too blessed to be stressed”

Jesus said: “Take My yoke on you and learn of Me, for I am meek and lowly in heart, and you shall find rest to your souls” (Matthew 11:29).  Our minds are very important to God.  He wants you and I to develop them to be used for His service. “Study to show yourself approved unto God, a workman that needs not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth”  (2 Timothy 2:15).  God wants you to be wise and to make good decisions.  

Start today using one or more of these steps that God has shown you to live a life with less stress.  You will be happier and be a greater positive influence on others, and bring honor and glory to your Heavenly Father.

(For more video and written sermons by Pastor Mark Taylor go to:

www.sermonstotheworld.blogspot.com )

A LIFE WITH LESS STRESS

VIDEO LINKS TO THIS WEEK'S MESSAGE

A LIFE WITH LESS STRESS - PART ONE

A LIFE WITH LESS STRESS - PART TWO

A LIFE WITH LESS STRESS - PART THREE

A Life With Less Stress - Part One

“Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God.”  (Philippians 4:5-7)

Most people have some stress in their lives and that is normal.  But Christians have the power of the Holy Spirit to live a life with less stress.  Statistics reveal that stress actually causes eighty to ninety percent of illnesses. Stress related illnesses can be anything that make you miss a day of work, from a common cold to a migraine headache.  75% of the general population experiences some type of stress every two weeks.. 75%-90% of all visits to the primary care physicians are stress-related complaints or disorders. Nearly half of all worker-related turnover in the market place is stress related. This is the type of stress we do not need in our lives.

In this series of messages I hope to give you both spiritual and common sense strategies to handle the stress that comes into your life.  We know it is not God’s will for us to live our lives with worry, anxiety, and stress.  Our Lord has told us  “Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.” (Matthew 6:34-35).  He told us: “Let not your heart be troubled” (John 14: 1).

First of all, you must recognize you need a life with less stress and that God wants you to live that kind of life.  It is something you can do something about with the Lord’s help.  Maybe you have lived in a stressful life for so long, that you think it is normal, but it is not.  Not everyone deals with “drama” everyday.  Some people have chosen to draw boundaries in which they have chosen not to stress out about everyone else’s problems.  These people live with a thing called “Peace”.  That is their day is full of thoughts and actions that bring joy into their lives and into the lives of others.  Boundaries are important and we will learn how to set them and live within those boundaries as this series continues.

Stress management starts with identifying the sources of stress in your life. This isn’t as easy as it sounds. Your true sources of stress aren’t always obvious, and it’s all too easy to overlook your own stress-inducing thoughts, feelings, and behaviors.  We will identify some of those sources later, but first of all lets think about why God created us.  He created us after His image.  That image includes joy, peace, and love. Our Lord and Savior came for many reasons but one is that you could enjoy life.  “I have come that you might have life, and have it more abundantly” (John 10:10).

Sometimes we get so busy with life, we forget to live.  Our lives should include periods of happiness and relaxation and enjoying the many blessings God has given us.   “These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full.” (John 15:11).  Don’t get so caught up in the hustle and bustle of life that you forget to take care of your own needs. Nurturing yourself is a necessity, not a luxury.

Set aside relaxation time. Include rest and relaxation in your daily schedule. Don’t allow other obligations to encroach. This is your time to take a break from all responsibilities and recharge your batteries.  Connect with others. Spend time with positive people who enhance your life. A strong support system will buffer you from the negative effects of stress.  Do something you enjoy every day. Make time for leisure activities that bring you joy, whether it be stargazing, playing the piano, or working on your bike.

Healthy ways to relax and recharge can include: taking a walk; spending time in nature; call a good positive friend; sweat out tension with a good workout; write in a journal; play with a pet, work in a garden or flower bed; listen to music; and many more things that bring you joy.

The second thing the Lord wants us to have in our lives is peace.  Most people are disconnected from peace on a daily basis due to one of three reasons: (1) sin – loss of peace with God; stress – loss of peace with self; conflict – loss of peace with others. That’s the bad news. The good news is that God has an answer in the form of one of the names of God. Jehovah-Shalom. The God of peace desires to come into the broken lives of humanity. 

Have you seen the bumper sticker, “No Peace, No God…Know Peace, Know God.”?  Quite simply, that’s what this peace is all about. If we don’t have peace with God, we will certainly never enjoy any other sort of peace. This peace comes to a man or women when they invite Christ to come into their lives and follows His teachings and direction from the Holy Spirit.

Take control of your environment – If the evening news makes you anxious, turn the TV off. If traffic’s got you tense, take a longer but less-traveled route. If going to the market is an unpleasant chore, do your grocery shopping online.

This is probably the most important mental tactic when it comes to dealing with stress. You have to understand that only you are in charge of your life. Only you are in charge of what you think, and most importantly only you decide whether you are stressed or not.

”Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace.” (Colossians 3:15).  The key word is “let”.  Make a choice that you are going to think on things that bring peace into daily life.  What are thoughts that will bring you peace?  “Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things.”  (Philippians 4:8).  Think about what you are thinking about.  “You will keep in perfect peace him whose mind is steadfast, because he trusts in you.” (Isaiah 26:3).  If politics and world problems stress you out, avoid talking with people about these subjects.  Avoid people who stress you out – If someone consistently causes stress in your life and you can’t turn the relationship around, limit the amount of time you spend with that person or end the relationship entirely.  You might say “I am married to them, or they are my children.”  In that case you have to work on yourself which we will talk about later.

To live a life with less stress, I would encourage to begin praying and making your requests known to God about these two areas.  The first is to take time for yourself.  The second is to take control of your life, especially what you think.  Ask God to help you and as you make progress, give thanks to our Heavenly Father for helping you.

THE WILL OF GOD CONCERNING YOU

VIDEO LINKS TO THIS SERMON

THE WILL OF GOD CONCERNING YOU - PT 1

THE WILL OF GOD CONCERNING YOU - PT 2

THE WILL OF GOD CONCERNING YOU - PT 3

THE WILL OF GOD CONCERNING YOU - PT 4

THE WILL OF GOD CONCERNING YOU

BY PASTOR MARK TAYLOR

“In everything give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.” ( I Thessalonians 5:18)

God expects us to live a life of thanksgiving rather than offering limited thanks. And we must never lose sight of God’s goodness, and God’s hand at work in everything we face. 

Why is it that so many people have chosen to be negative and have an unthankful attitude towards God and others?  

1.  Possibly it is because of the way people have been raised in their childhood and the many disappointments they have  faced during their life times.  One word seems to sum up those experiences and that is rejection.  Possibly, the unthankful attitude is a result of feeling that our friends, our family, our wives or husbands, our children, or even God has rejected us.  When we feel that way it is hard to give thanks.  

Our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ experienced all those feelings, yet He remained thankful.  “He was despised and rejected—a man of sorrows, acquainted with deepest grief.  We turned our backs on him and looked the other way. He was despised, and we did not care. (Isaiah 53:3).  Yes, this was a prophecy that the Lord knew about 740 years before He chose to come to Earth and die for us.  He knew that not only the people of His life time would reject Him, but that you and I would reject Him, but He came anyway.  He overcame His feelings of rejection by fulfilling His purpose and demonstrating His love for you and me.  “For scarcely for a righteous man will one die; yet perhaps for a good man someone would even dare to die. But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” (Romans 5:7-8).  And even though the very people He came to save rejected Him, many others were saved and blessed by Him.  “He came into the very world He created, but the world didn’t receive Him.  He came to His own people, and even they rejected Him.  But to all who believed Him and accepted Him, He gave the right to become children of God.” (John 1: 10-12)  How did he remain thankful and positive?  He knew that this was the will of God for His life and He focused upon His Father’s love for Him.

2.  Perhaps the reason some are unthankful is that they do not think that life has been fair to them, or maybe even that God has not been fair.  God's idea of fairness is different than that of the world.

God's idea of fairness is based on love and righteousness, not on equality.  A real Christian's relationship with God is based on trusting that He is in charge of our lives (because we have given it to Him) and that He working on our behalf out of love for us.

3.  Perhaps another reason people are unthankful is that they view themselves as victims.  The victim mentality seeks sympathy.  Often people are not enthusiastic about giving up their victim role  because they fear it will cut off the attention they receive from their friends and loved ones.  Taking on the victim role leads to bitterness and unthankfulness.  This is not "God's will concerning you".

"Get rid of all bitterness, passion, and anger. No more shouting or insults, no more hateful feelings of any sort. Instead, be kind and tender-hearted to one another, and forgive one another, as God has forgiven you through Christ." (EPHESIANS 4:31-32).

In every situation, we are to have an attitude of thankfulness toward God.  Have an “attitude of gratitude”.  How in the world is that possible?  First, recognize that although not everything is good in itself, God can and will use everything in our lives for our ultimate blessing.

God is good, all the time, but life isn’t.  God allows, (not causes), circumstances that ultimately can result in something good if we let Him work.  I don’t personally believe that God causes any evil of any kind, but He can turn bad circumstances into a blessing for us.  As Christians who love God, we should take the attitude that since God is good, then this bad circumstance can bring about some further good in or through my life, or else God would not have allowed it.  Bad things are going to happen to everyone, regardless if they are a child of God or not.  But God is very concerned about His children when bad things do happen to them.

Giving thanks reminds us that God uses all our circumstances to make us more like Him   “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers.” (Romans 8:28-29). 

God has a good and wise and loving purpose for everything He allows into our lives, even pain and suffering. We can give thanks in the knowledge that He loves us and will never permit us any pain unless the ultimate benefit is worth the cost. That doesn’t mean we can understand His ways. We may have no idea how anything could be worth this much pain. But God’s Word tells us that it will be worth it.  “Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance (determination). Perseverance (determination) must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.”  (James 1:2-4).  If you allow God to help you, your difficulties will make you a stronger person.

There are times we cause our own problems.  This includes health issues, financial difficulties, and relationship failures.  Certainly this is not “the will of God” for you.  Sometimes the sins and failures of others cause us hurt and hardships.  Neither are the pains others inflict upon us “God’s will”.  All of us have free will to choose positive or negative behaviors that both affect us and others.  This is why the Lord Jesus Christ shed His precious blood for you and I that we might be forgiven and start over when we make wrong choices or others cause bad things to happen to us.  “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us of our sins, and cleanse us from all sin.” ( I John 1:9).

There are times when there is no explanation of "why" bad things are happing to us.  Some people are born with disabilities or handicaps and we do not know "why".  Our response can be negative, when bad things happen to us.  But that is not “God’s will concerning you”.  Our response should be thankfulness.  You may ask: “How can I be thankful for the losses in my life, the illness in my body, the rejection I feel?”  It is not easy.  

But you can start by:

Thanking God for the people you have left in your life that love you; 

Looking around and see that your health could be worse and thank Him for the years of good health you have already received; 

You can look at the homeless, the prisoners in jail, those bound by the chains of drug and alcohol addiction; and those in war torn countries around the world and thank God for your freedom and comfort;

You can thank the Lord that you have heard the Gospel and God has chosen you to love Him and live with Him forever and that He loves you and wants a relationship with you.

Our Lord did not promise us a life without pain or difficulties.  He said this:
“These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.”  (John 16:33).

Do you want to do God’s will today?  His will is that you be thankful.

IF GOD PUTS YOU ON HOLD - DON'T HANG UP

VIDEO LINKS TO THIS SERMON

IF GOD PUTS YOU ON HOLD - DON'T HANG UP - PART ONE

IF GOD PUTS YOU ON HOLD - DON'T HANG UP - PART TWO

IF GOD PUT YOU ON HOLD - DON'T HANG UP - PART THREE

“If God Puts You On Hold - Don’t Hang Up”

(A Sermon on God’s Timing)

by Pastor Mark Taylor

 “Those who wait for the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles;  they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.” (Isaiah 40:31) 

Most of us have called a place of business and have been asked the question: “Can you hold?”

or a pre-recorded message says: “Please hold, we will are speaking to someone else.  Your wait time is approximately 15 minutes or less.”

I want you to know that you are not just a customer  when you dial God’s number. You are one of God’s chosen and He hears your prayers the moment they are prayed. There are many promises in the Bible that reminds us of that promise.  “And call upon me in the day of trouble: I will deliver thee, and thou shalt glorify me.” (Psalm 50:15).   “Call to Me, and I will answer you, and show you great and mighty things, which you do not know.” (Jeremiah 33:3).  Our Lord Jesus promised this to those who love Him and serve Him: “You did not choose Me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit, and that your fruit should remain, that whatever you ask the Father in My name He may give you.  (John 15:16).

When you pray, God is not busy on His prayer line listening to someone else.  He is listening to you.  But sometimes He puts us on hold while He is working on our prayer request.  God is never in a hurry, but He is always on time.  While you are waiting, God is working.

When God appeared to Abraham in Genesis 18, it was with the intention to tell Abraham that he and Sarah were to finally have a son. Unfortunately, Abraham was 99 years old at the time, and Sarah was 89 years old. 

Both knew that it was already too late. They knew that it was physiologically impossible for them to have a child. The irony of the situation was not lost on Abraham and Sarah because they both burst out laughing saying, “God, it’s simply too late!  But God kept His promise and gave them a son, Isaac.

Mary and Martha watched their brother, Lazarus, become sick and die  (John 11). They had sent desperate messages to Jesus to come and help but He did not. Four days after Lazarus’ burial, Jesus appeared.  Out of desperation, they cried, “Lord, if you had been here, our brother would not have died.”  The Lord answered their prayers.  He was right on time:  “40 Jesus said to her, “Did I not say to you that if you would believe you would see the glory of God?” 41 Then they took away the stone from the place where the dead man was lying. And Jesus lifted up His eyes and said, “Father, I thank You that You have heard Me. 42 And I know that You always hear Me, but because of the people who are standing by I said this, that they may believe that You sent Me.” 43 Now when He had said these things, He cried with a loud voice, “Lazarus, come forth!” 44 And he who had died came out bound hand and foot with grave clothes, and his face was wrapped with a cloth. Jesus said to them, “Loose him, and let him go.” 

 Lazarus lived again.  You and I, and all of our loved ones in Heaven, are alive today because of the Lord’s power over death.  “And whoever lives and believes in Me shall never die”.  (John 11:26).

While we are on “hold”,  God sees the big picture.  In Isaiah 55:8-9 God reminds us of a fundamental truth. He says, “My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways . . . As the heavens are higher that the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.” This tells me that God operates on a different thought level. He has a vantage view that I am incapable of having.

2 Peter 3:8 says, that “with the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day.” Obviously, God runs by a different clock. He functions on a totally different time scale. His time is not our time.

In Jeremiah 29:11, God makes a wonderful promise. “For I know the plans I have for you; plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” You see, God functions at a very different level of intentionality. Unlike you and I, he has only good plans. This is further corroborated by Romans 8:28. Paul writes, “We know that in everything, God works for the good of those who love him, who are called according to his purpose.” This forces a conviction upon us that says that whatever happens to us fits a design. God is in control of our lives and He alone knows what is truly for our best.  Armed with this truth, we can now turn to the most important lesson of faith. Isaiah 40:31 states: “Those who wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall rise up on wings like eagles. They shall run and not be wearied; they will walk and not faint.”

The question is “What do we do while, we are on hold?”  What do we do while we are waiting upon the Lord?  Hang in there…don’t hang up. Too often we are impatient when a business puts us on hold, we just hang up. Remember the words of Scripture, “Faithful is He that calls you who also will do it” (I Thessalonians. 5:24). 

Believe that God is working on your behalf.  He is busy while you are waiting.  

While you are on hold, look at yourself and see if there is a reason that God has you on hold.  Is it possible that there are known sins in your life that God is waiting on you to turn away from.  “Behold, the Lord’s hand is not shortened, that it cannot save; neither his ear heavy, that it cannot hear; but your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid His face from you, that He will not hear” (Isaiah 59:1,2).  Sin will keep you on hold for a long time.  “If I regard iniquity in my heart, the LORD will not hear me” (Psalm 66:18).  While you are waiting confess your sins to the Lord and ask Him to give you power over them.  “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us of all our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” (I John 1:9). 

While we are on “hold”, we need to be more serious about our prayer and conversation with the Lord about our problems.   When the disciples could not cast a demon out of a child, they asked the Lord Jesus why.   “Then the disciples came to Jesus privately and said, “Why could we not cast it out?  So Jesus said to them, “Because of your unbelief; for assuredly, I say to you, if you have faith as a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move; and nothing will be impossible for you. However, this kind does not go out except by prayer and fasting.”  (Matthew 17: 19-22).

Finally, remember and remind yourself that He loves you and is listening to you.  “I love the Lord because he hears my voice and my prayer for mercy.” (Psalm 116:1).  If God puts you on hold, don’t hang up!!

(For more video and written sermons by Pastor Mark Taylor go to:

www.sermonstotheworld.blogspot.com )

A CAUTION AGAINST CRITICISM

VIDEO LINKS TO THIS SERMON

A CAUTION AGAINST CRITICISM - PT 1

A CAUTION AGAINST CRITICISM - PT 2

A CAUTION AGAINST CRITICISM - PT 3

A CAUTION AGAINST CRITICISM
by Pastor Mark Taylor

“And Jesus said: Forbid them not.”   Mark 9:38-40

In this sermon I am not talking about not being critical of sin, but of those serving the Lord. But even in that it should be done in a redemptive way to bring a person to Christ.  This message is about criticizing other people who are serving the Lord Jesus Christ in a different way than you or I do.

Criticism seldom, if ever, works. Even in our sincere efforts to help people, they don’t always appreciate it, and it tends to tear people down more than it builds them up. 

Even so, it’s a terrible tendency especially for those of us who have followed Christ for a while. We’ve learned so much over the years.  If we’re not careful we find ourselves becoming critical of those who are less experienced or who just don’t do it the way we have done it for years.  Worst of all, we can become crabby, old cranks that nobody can please, and I know none of us wants that.   So watch out for a critical spirit, because it really doesn’t benefit those we are trying to help, and in the long-run, it is self-destructive. 

But somebody says, “I really want to help people. If pointing out their faults doesn’t work, what does?” That’s the question I want us to explore this morning: How can we truly help people? How can we help the young and those with less experience grow in their relationship with Christ and serve Christ better? 

We have people who worship the Lord in different ways.  Some like traditional music, some like contemporary music, and others like “high church” music.  Some like short sermons and others like long sermons.

“Forbid him Not”  is a command from our Lord not to discourage others from serving Him, either by your authority, your arguments, or your persuasions.  If you have authority within the church, do not use that to stop the work of God.  

Do not cause people to stop expressing their love for Christ, just because it is different than yours.  If you are not careful you might find yourself “fighting against God”.

n I want us to explore this morning: How can we truly help people? How can we help the young and those with less experience grow in their relationship with Christ and serve Christ better? 

Well, let’s see how Jesus addressed that problem with his first disciples who themselves were becoming overly critical. You see, they had followed Jesus for three years, and they had learned from the best – Jesus Himself! So when they see somebody else trying to do their ministry, they stop him. 

Mark 9:38 “Teacher,” said John, “we saw a man driving out demons in your name and we told him to stop, because he was not one of us.” (NIV)  He didn’t go to the right “school.” He didn’t do it the way we do it, so we stopped him. 

The disciples were quick to point out to Jesus that the person who was “casting out devils in Jesus name”.... “he’s not one of us; he’s not our kind.” 

"Judge not, that you be not judged. For with what judgment you judge, you will be judged; and with the same measure you use, it will be measured back to you." (Matthew 7:1-2)

What does Jesus have to say about this? 

Mark 9:39-40 “Do not stop him,” Jesus said. “No one who does a miracle in my name can in the next moment say anything bad about me, for whoever is not against us is for us. (NIV)

We should encourage who ever God has saved and called to worship Him.  As an older more mature Christian, you should be the one who strengthens others who are trying to serve the Lord Jesus Christ.

Jesus says, and I’m going to reward the least little effort of anyone who serves in my name. 

Mark 9:41 “I tell you the truth, anyone who gives you a cup of water in my name because you belong to Christ will certainly not lose his reward.” (NIV)

So don’t stop the young and inexperienced. Don’t stop those who are trying to serve the Lord Jesus differently than you do.

Don’t hinder them from serving. Don’t keep them from ministering in Jesus’ name, even if all they do is give a cup of cold water, because Jesus appreciates it even if we would criticize it. 

There are people right here in this room who need to hear your words of appreciation today. They don’t need to hear your words of criticism, of how they did it wrong. They need to hear you say, “I appreciate you. I appreciate your efforts to serve. Thank you very much.”   Oh, how much we could lighten the load for each other just by saying, “Thank you” on a regular basis. Our words of encouragement can provide even the most weary servant the courage it takes to keep on going one more day. On the other hand, our critical comments can stop them dead in their tracks. 

Please, let’s watch our criticism lest our words of criticism stop the efforts of others to serve the Lord Jesus Christ. 

Sure, they’re going to make mistakes. Sure, they have a lot to learn, but we don’t help them when our critical remarks keep them from trying any further. Please, don’t stop people from serving with critical remarks.   Don’t cause them to stumble. Don’t trip them up with your words. That’s what Jesus warns His disciples about. 

Do you truly want to help people? Do you truly want to help the young and inexperienced grow in their relationship with Christ and in their ability to serve Him? Then don’t stop them with words of criticism, and don’t scandalize them. Instead, deal with your own faults first, and then try to help others.

We never know what other people are dealing with, and the last thing they need is somebody putting them down. Instead they need somebody to lift them up. They need somebody to come along side them and to encourage them when they are down.  When they see your words are words of love, they will listen to you and at least give your words some thought.  Then the Holy Spirit can work in their lives to change wrong methods or beliefs.  You can't change people, but God can through your love and patience.

Learn to give people the benefit of the doubt. Whatever is true, noble, right, pure, lovely, excellent and admirable, think on these things. Look more at the 50% of the jar that is full and positive instead of the 50% that is negative or empty.

Let God be the judge and do not try to take His place as the righteous judge. This will go a long ways in preventing problems and resolving differences and minimizing self-destructive attitudes, actions and thinking.  This will help the work of Christ if we let Him handle those who worship different or even believe different than we do.

THE HOLY SPIRIT IN THE CHURCH

THE SERMON BELOW WAS DELIVERED AT FRIENDSHIP CHURCH ON SEPTEMBER 23, 2012.

DELIVERED BY REV. TERRY FLEMING

                             

  

THE HOLY SPIRIT IN THE CHURCH - PART ONE

THE HOLY SPIRIT IN THE CHURCH - PART TWO

THE HOLY SPIRIT IN THE CHURCH - PART THREE

"THE WOUNDED WARRIOR"

VIDEO LINKS TO THIS MESSAGE

WOUNDED WARRIOR - PART ONE

WOUNDED WARRIOR - PART TWO

WOUNDED WARRIOR - PART THREE

      Pastor Mark Taylor                            

“The Wounded Warrior”

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 53:5)

We need healing today in many areas of our lives.  Physical healing is only one area that God is able to and wants to heal you in.  

• “Bless the LORD, O my soul, And forget not all His benefits: Who forgives all your iniquities, Who heals all your diseases, (Psalms 103:2-5).  

Sin is the disease that Christ died to destroy in the lives of His people.  As disease weakens the body, sin weakens the moral energy and causes pain and produces visible evidence of hurt.  No human physician can deal with it, but there is heavenly medicine a great physician who can heal us.  Christ was in pain that we might be at ease; He gave satisfaction to the justice of God that we might have satisfaction in our own minds knowing that through him our sins are forgiven us.  Because of the Lord Jesus’ suffering we have healing; for ” by his stripes we are healed.”  Sin is not only a crime, for which we were condemned to die and which Christ purchased for us the pardon of, but it is a disease, which affects directly the death of our souls and which Christ provided for the cure of. By his stripes (that is, the sufferings he underwent), and by the doctrine of Christ's cross, and the powerful arguments it furnishes us with against sin, the dominion of sin is broken in us and we are strengthen against that which feeds the disease.   By the strips of Jesus we are healed, and by these alone.  When the Son of God came to earth, he surprised a lot of people. His life was marked by humility. He came as a baby, born in a manger. God’s son lying in a cattle stall. Royalty born in poverty. From the time he was born until the day he died, he was always doing things differently than people expected. He refused to follow the script. He was a man on a mission – but the mission was one few could understand.

Jesus, the Warrior, went to battle long before he made his last fateful trip to Jerusalem.  As Jesus moved from town to town ministering to the needs of the people, he seemed from a human standpoint, to be nothing more than a traveling preacher with his followers. But in the spiritual realm, he was a man continuously at war.  Jesus showed with every healing that he had power over every form of sickness and disease. When Jesus came to town, the blind could see, the deaf could hear, the leper was cleansed, and the crippled would leap for joy.  The Warrior would walk right into the enemies’ camp and set captives free! Free from sin. Free from the past. Free to start a new life. “Neither do I condemn you, go and sin no more!”

Every sickness. Every sin. Every blow had been for a reason. Every stripe on his back, every drop of blood…there was a purpose for it all. The Wounded Warrior fought off death until he knew the price was paid. When the deed was done, the Bible says Jesus lifted up his eyes toward heaven and with his last ounce of strength and shouted, “It is finished!” And he died.  Three days later He arose from death and now promises us healing because of His suffering.

We need healing from many things and below are some of them. And then we need to do some things after we have been healed.

The Lord Jesus can heal you from a guilty conscience of past failures. Because we are healed from our past, we should not dwell on it.  Our heart is healed from the love of sin and rebellion toward God.  We are new creatures. 

• “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).  

The Lord Jesus can heal us from the disease of being hurt by Satan and others.  

• “He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds.” (Psalms 147:3). “The LORD is near to those who have a broken heart, and saves such as have a contrite heart”. (Psalms 34:18). 

• “Have mercy on me, O LORD, for I am weak; O LORD, heal me, for my bones are troubled.” (Psalms 6:2).  "Do not be afraid. Stand still, and see the salvation of the LORD, which He will accomplish for you today. (Exodus 14:13).

The Lord Jesus can heal us when we are discouraged and depressed.  

• “Why are you cast down, O my soul? And why are you disquieted within me? Hope in God, for I shall yet praise Him For the help of His countenance. (Psalms 42:5 NKJV).  “Have mercy on me, O LORD, for I am weak; O LORD, heal me, for my bones are troubled.” (Psalms 6:2).  

When you receive your healing there is new ways you should behave.  Get out of the company of others who have the disease you have been healed from. 

• “Blessed is the person who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly, Nor stands in the path of sinners, Nor sits in the seat of the scornful; (Psalms 1:1)

Use your healing and new strength to help others.

• “Brothers and sisters, if someone  is overtaken in any trespass, you who are spiritual restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness, considering yourself lest you also be tempted. Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ. (Galatians 6:1-2)

Praise the Physician who healed you. 

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

• “I love the LORD, because He has heard my voice and my supplications. Because He has inclined His ear to me, Therefore, I will call upon Him as long as I live.”     (Psalms 116:1-2)

SPEAKING A BLESSING

SPEAKING A BLESSING

By Pastor Mark Taylor

“Death and life are in the power of the tongue..” Proverbs 18:21

A blessing is not a blessing until it is spoken.  Avoiding negative talk is helpful, but it is only part of changing the way we think and speak to God, ourselves, and to others.  The moment you speak something in words, you give birth to it.  If you want to change your life, you start by changing your words.  If there is ever a time you should guard what you say, it is in times of trouble.

Your Words Can Bring Blessings to Others

Pleasant words are as a honeycomb, sweet to the soul, and health to the bones. (Proverbs 16:24)

You can tell people that they are loved and valued by you and by God.  We have the medicine of encouragement.  We have the medicine of hope.  We have the medicine of God’s Word.

It is reported that many physical problems are caused by stress and anxiety.  You and I can bring the peace of God to others simply by saying words of blessing on others.  God told Moses to tell Aaron to speak these words to bless the children of Israel:  “The LORD bless you, and keep you:  The LORD make His face shine upon you, and be gracious unto you:  The LORD lift up his countenance upon you, and give you peace.” (Numbers 6:24-26).  There are times when people need to hear from their friends and loved ones that everything is going to be ok and that God loves them and is going to take care of them.

Be a blessing to others by avoiding arguments and disagreements, especially on things that do not matter. There are several books written entitled “Don’t Sweat The Small Stuff” which is a good principle to live by.   Nine times out of ten, an argument ends with each person becoming more firmly convinced than ever that they are right and ending in hurt feelings on both sides.  No one really “wins” an argument.  Even when you are convinced you are 100% right, you may lose the respect and love of others by not respecting their right to disagree with you.  “Let your speech be alway with grace, seasoned with salt, that you may know how you ought to answer every man.” (Colossians 4:6)

“Here lies the body of William Jay,

Who died maintaining His right of way.

He was right, dead right, as he sped along,

But he is just as dead as if he were wrong.”

Your Words Can Bring Blessings To Your Heavenly Father

God can read your mind, but He would really like to hear your voice.  “By him therefore 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).  The sacrifice of praise is something you do when you don’t feel like doing it.  If things are not as good as you would like them, then praise God that they are not worse than they could be.  “Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O LORD, my strength, and my redeemer. ” Psalms 19:14

You can be a blessing to God by simply loving Him with your words.  Here is an example:

“Bless the LORD, O my soul: and all that is within me, bless his holy name. Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits: Who forgives all your iniquities; who heals all your diseases; Who redeems your life from destruction; who crowns you with lovingkindness and tender mercies; Who satisfies your mouth with good things; so that your youth is renewed like the eagle's.” (Psalms 103:1-5).

Your Words To Yourself Can Bring Blessings To You

That is why we need to be extremely careful about what we think, and especially careful about what we say.  Our words have tremendous power, and whether we want to or not, we will give life to what we are saying, either good or bad.  Words are similar to seeds.  By speaking them aloud, they are planted in our subconscious minds, and they take on a life of their own.  They take root, grow, and produce fruit of the same kind.  If we speak positive words, our lives will move in that direction.  Similarly, negative words will produce poor results.  We can’t expect to speak words of defeat and failure and to live in victory.  We will reap exactly what we sow.

To get through a rough time quicker and with better results, we must learn to speak as positively as possible.  “Whosoever keeps his mouth and his tongue, keeps his soul from  troubles.”  (Proverbs 21:23).  If there is ever a time you must guard what you say, it is in times of trouble.  What you say to yourself and others about your situation will impact how long you stay in that difficultly.  Even when you pray you should speak to God less about how big your problems are, and speak to Him about how big He is.  Remind yourself of His precious Words to you.  “Let not your heart be trouble...” (John 14:1).  “But seek first the kingdom of God, and His righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. Take therefore no thought for tomorrow: for tomorrow shall take care of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.” (Matthew 6:33-34).

God wants us to use our words to change our negative situations.  Don’t dwell on the problem, talk about the solution.  Jesus clearly tells us to speak to our mountains. “For verily I say unto you, That whosoever shall say unto this mountain, Be removed, and be cast into the sea, and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe that those things which he says shall come to pass; he shall have whatsoever he says” (Mark 11:23).