YOUR CHRISTMAS GIFT OF PEACE

VIDEO LINKS TO THIS SERMON

YOUR CHRISTMAS GIFT OF PEACE - PART ONE

YOUR CHRISTMAS GIFT OF PEACE - PART TWO

YOUR CHRISTMAS GIFT OF PEACE - PART THREE

Your Christmas Gift of Peace

By Pastor Mark Taylor

“And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward everyone.”  Luke 2: 13-14

How wonderful our homes could be, how wonderful our lives could be, how wonderful our world could be, if we really did put into practice the blessing of "peace on earth, good will toward men." We cannot control what happens outside of our lives, but we can have peace in this world. Our Lord Jesus said:  “My peace I give unto you” (John 14:27)

But our life doesn’t always go as expected. Chances are your perfect Christmas plans will have some unexpected interruptions. Realize that your plans may not be God’s plans, and God is working His plan when He interrupts your plan.

The messages of the angels to the shepherds, to Joseph, and to Mary was to “Fear Not”.  Their first Christmas was full of unexpected interruptions.

Joseph probably would have liked the angel to explain his situation to the rest of the family.  Imagine the hassle Mary endured as an unwed mother, the hassle of a wedding, the whispers and guessing: why Joseph would do such a thing, or who would of thought such a thing of a nice girl like Mary? But the angels only said “Fear Not”.  

Joseph was planning on marrying his sweetheart.  Mary was probably planning on an elaborate wedding and a normal family. Things did not work out like they wanted them to.  God changed their plans.   Because Joseph listened to God and resisted the urge to give into his fear, he did marry his sweetheart and was honored to have been chosen to raise God’s only Begotten Son.

“But while he thought on these things, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a dream, saying, Joseph, son of David, fear not to take unto you Mary as your wife: for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost.” (Matthew 1:20).

The absence of fear is an important part of having “Peace on Earth” and having peace in your life this Christmas and every day of the year.  

"Do not say to yourselves: Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business and make money."  Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes.  Instead, you ought to say, "If it is the Lord’s will, we will live and do this or that." (James 4:13-14).

After the angel told Mary about her opportunity to let God work in her life by carry the Lord Jesus: The angel told her to “fear not”.

“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 you, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow you: therefore also that holy Child which shall be born from you shall be called the Son of God. And, behold, your cousin Elisabeth, she has 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 Your word. And the angel departed from her.” Luke 1:34-38.  

We don’t need an angel to appear unto us and speak with us today.  We have God’s Word and the Holy Spirit to give us peace in difficult times.

Whether rich or poor, powerful or weak, whoever we are, we need peace that God is with us. And God has promised that when the Christ child enters our hearts and lives, then we will receive His help. And when we are helped by the Holy Spirit of God, then we are to develop a more sympathetic feeling towards one another.

God wants to give to you this Christmas the gift of Peace.  Peace is an assurance that He is in control of your life if you have given your life to Him.  This is called “Providence” - nothing can happen to you without God knowing about it.

Put the interruptions in your life in perspective.  Sometimes they look a lot worse than they really are and many times they are only temporary.  We spend $100 worth of worry on a $5 problem.  This will rob you of the wonderful gift of peace the Lord wants to give to you.

Another thing that can rob you of this wonderful gift of peace is letting things that others have done to you cause you anger and hurt.  Ask God to give you enough trust in Him that He will take care of the wrong that others have done to you.

“Peace on (Your hearts and minds on) Earth” and may you show good will toward all people.  You can do it if you have God’s Peace in control of your life.  It is a gift, all you have to do is ask for it and accept it as a part of your free Christmas gift of salvation.

YOUR GIFT OF GOD'S SON

YOUR GIFT OF GOD’S SON

By Pastor Mark Taylor

“Unto Us a Child is born, unto us a Son is Given” 

Isaiah 9:6

Our Lord and Savior, was both born and given to us.  He was truly-born as a child as you and I were and became a human.  As Jesus Christ, God’s Son, He was given, begotten of His Father, not made, but of the same substance of His Father.  This is a mystery utterly beyond the understanding of any human being.  As one great preacher, C.H. Spurgeon said: “It would be like a gnat drinking from the ocean for a finite creature to comprehend the Eternal God.  A God whom we could understand would be no God.”  

Jesus Christ as a child was born, but Jesus Christ as a Son was not born, but given.  "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.” (John 3:16).  It is true that “unto us a child is born”.  It is a fact that a child is born.  It is a fact more fully established than any other fact in history, that the Son of God became a man and was born in Bethlehem, wrapped in swaddling clothes, and laid in a manger.  The unbeliever may dispute it, but we, professing to be believers in Scripture, receive it as an undeniable truth, that God has given His only begotten Son to be the Savior of men and women.

If this child who we see through the eyes of faith wrapped in swaddling clothes in Bethlehem’s manger, is born to you, then you are “born again”. “Jesus answered and said to him, "Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God." (John 3:3). For this child is not born to you unless you are born to this child.  Only men and women who are “born again” can claim the babe in Bethlehem as being theirs.

How can you know if you are “born again”.  There are several ways.  Have you come to Christ and asked for forgiveness of your sins and asked Him to be your Savior?  Is there a change within you that makes you care about spiritual things?  Is there a change in you that makes you want to avoid sin and the pleasures of this world?  “If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God. Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth.” (Colossians 3:1-2).  The new birth does not consist in washing the outside of the cup, but a cleaning on the inside, in the inner man.  If you are not changed inside, this child is not born to 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).

Another way you can know if you are “born again” is that there is a change on the exterior of your life.  Do your friends and family observe a change?  If there is no change in the outward life, there is no change within.  The proof of the Christian is in the living.  When we live in sin and worldly pleasure, and seek our own desires, and not God’s will, and we deceive ourselves.  “If we say that we have fellowship with Him, and walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin. If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.” (1 John 1:6-8).

If this “Child”, the Lord Jesus Christ is born to you, you must come to Him as a child with faith.  “Then Jesus called a little child to Him, set him in the midst of them, and said, "Assuredly, I say to you, unless you are converted and become as little children, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven. "Therefore whoever humbles himself as this little child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.” (Matthew 18:2-4). Do you take God’s Word just as it is, simply because your heavenly Father says it is true?  Can you believe the mysteries of God in the Bible without demanding to have them intellectually explained to you?  Can you say and believe as the Psalmist says: “Forever, O LORD, Your word is settled in heaven. Your faithfulness endures to all generations; You established the earth, and it abides. They continue this day according to Your ordinances, For all are Your servants.” (Psalms 119:89-91).

If this “Son” is given to you, you have become a son or daughter of the Heavenly Father.  “But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name: who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.” (John 1:12-13).  Does the Holy Spirit speak to you about your relationship with Him.  “For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, "Abba, Father." The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God”  (Romans 8:15-16).  If “unto us a Son is given”, then we are given to the Son.  "This is the will of the Father who sent Me, that of all He has given Me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up at the last day.” (John 6:39).  The Lord Jesus Christ is praying to the Father for you today if you are His son or daughter.  "I pray for them. I do not pray for the world but for those whom You have given Me, for they are Yours.” (John 17:9)

If you receive the gift of salvation from God the Father then you have been born again - “unto you a child is born”,.  If you have accepted Christ as your personal Savior, “unto you a Son is given”.  How is it we give so little to Christ who gave Himself for us?  This Christmas realize the greatest gift you have been given is the Lord Jesus Christ.  It is a personal gift that each person has to receive.

BEAUTY FOR ASHES

“BEAUTY FOR ASHES”

Isaiah 61:1-3

By Pastor Mark Taylor

Today is the First Sunday of Advent.  Celebrating Advent involves spending time in spiritual preparation for the coming of Jesus Christ at Christmas.  We celebrate Advent not only by thanking God for Christ’s first coming, but also for His presence among us today through the Holy Spirit, and in preparation and anticipation of His Second Coming.

Christ can deliver a holiday to your home that never fades away. One that doesn’t get boxed up and stored away for another year. But rather, one that applies the healing to your life directly in the places where you hurt. One that sets you free.

In Isaiah 61:1-3, which was written sometime before 681 B.C., the prophet foresees this Messiah and speaks for Him…The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is upon someone?

And someone has been anointed to do some things?  And that SOMEONE is Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior.

In Luke 4: 16-21 Jesus reads from Isaiah 61! The words of the Messiah. 

He tells them, What you’ve been waiting for is here! The Scripture has come true before your very eyes!”.  This is what He came to do the first time and what He will complete at His Second Coming.

1 The Spirit of the Sovereign LORD is on Me, because the LORD has anointed Me

to preach good news to the poor. He has sent Me to bind up the brokenhearted,

to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners,

2 to proclaim the year of the LORD’S favor and the day of vengeance of our God,

to comfort all who mourn, 3 and provide for those who grieve in Zion—

to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of gladness

instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair. 

They will be called oaks of righteousness, a planting of the LORD for the display of His splendor.

The emphasis of this message from the Lord is “to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes.”  The Jews knew that during times of mourning ashes were smeared on the head. Jesus replaces those ashes with a crown. A crown of beauty applies to the head. The cure given directly to the place of need. To bring the new life of gladness instead of mourning – the infusion of a heart of praise to replace despair and depression. Many of you here have received that crown of beauty replacing your ashes, and you know how desperately you needed it.

The Lord promised ‘beauty for ashes.’  What are ashes? They are nothing more than the remains of something that once was. Many of you are now looking back at ‘what used to be,’ and you are wishing it could be that way again. You’ve lost something or someone that  ‘used to be’ and are wishing you could have that person or thing once again.   You are grieving your past; grieving past relationships; grieving past memories; grieving past moments of blessing and are dreaming of ‘what used to be!” 

Your past relationships have failed – they are nothing more than ashes it seems – but God has promised beauty! He has promised to replace your ashes for beauty!  Look at these ashes {sift through the ash heap}. Notice these ashes are nothing more than a remnant of something that once was. It’s dark and gray. It’s lifeless. It’s dirty; filthy. But, today, God will bring that thing back to life once again! He will revive what used to be to become what He expects it to be!

The Bible says that he will give us beauty for ashes. In Bible times it was the custom for the people of that day, in great times of mourning and difficulty, to lay in ashes. Just think about that. You’ve got a problem in your life and you just sit down in a pile of ashes. There is nothing beautiful about ashes.

But the scripture says he is going to take your difficult, disgusting, depressing and horrible situation and give you beauty. He is going to pick you up out of the ash pile of life and make something beautiful out of you.

Isaiah said he will give you beauty for ashes. God knew you would be burnt by life’s experiences. But he also knew he could replace that burnt out mess wi

Whatever God’s hands touch becomes beautiful. All you need is a touch from the master’s hand.  He has made every thing beautiful in His time. (Ecclesiastes 3:11)

Our Lord does not want you to worry about your future or how you are going to make it through your difficult days.  Listen to God’s Words to you today:

Fear not: for I have redeemed thee, I have called you by your name; You are Mine.

When you pass through the deep waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow you: when you walk through the fire, you shall not be burned; neither shall the flame stay upon you.  For I am the LORD thy God, the Holy One of Israel, Your Savior.  Isaiah 43:1-7

Let us begin this Christmas season by thinking about what the Lord Jesus has already done for us and what He is going to do for us in the future.  Allow Him to begin the process of turning your ashes into a crown of beauty on your head.  Others will be able to see this crown and you will glorify your Father who is in Heaven.

THE PARABLE OF THE LOVING FATHER

THE PARABLE OF THE LOVING FATHER

LUKE 15: 1-15

by Pastor Mark Taylor

We live in a world of ungrace.  God’s grace is often hard for us to fathom, and so Jesus talked to us about it often.

Although this is often called the parable of the Prodigal Son, the key figure in the parable is the Father. I prefer to call it the Parable of the Loving Father. Jesus is teaching us the God of the Universe is like the father in this story. It’s not enough to believe in God; you must understand the nature of the God Jesus came to introduce. The wonder and beauty of the character of God can been easily seen in this beautiful parable.

Chapter 15 begins with this: “Now the tax collectors and ‘sinners’ were all gathering around to hear him. But the Pharisees and the teachers of the law muttered, ‘This man welcomes sinners and eats with them.’”

This is what prompts Jesus to tell three parables that highlight God’s extreme grace--the Pharisees’ extreme ungrace.

In essence, Jesus is saying, “You think you know God, but you do not. God doesn’t play by your rules. Here is what God is all about.”

In the parable, the father represents God the Father.

And this father had two sons.

One of these boys is called the ‘older’ and the other is called the ‘younger’.

The story of the Prodigal Son, after all, appears in a string of three stories by Jesus—the lost sheep, the lost coin, the lost son—all of which seem to make the same point. Each underscores the loser’s sense of loss, tells of the thrill of discovery, and ends with a scene of jubilation.

Jesus says in effect, ‘Do you want to know what it feels like to be God? When one of those two-legged humans pays attention to Me, it feels like I just reclaimed My most valuable possession, which I had given up for lost.’” 

In Luke, right before the parable of the Prodigal Son, Jesus says in verse 10: “In the same way, I tell you, there is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.”

The God of the Universe has a message for you today. He is saying to you, “I love you, so you are free to go.” God loves you so much He will never force you to stay in fellowship with Him. So, if you are bound and determined to do something as foolish as walking out on God, He won’t stop you. 

Remember, God doesn’t play by our rules.  Who do we know who might feel too embarrassed to come back home…to return to church?

We, the Church, are the Body of Christ on this earth.  We are to represent God to the world.  We are to play by God’s rules, not our own.

The church should be the place where people aren’t afraid to come back.

We should be the place of celebration.

Starting in verse 17 we get to see a real turning point in this parable.

“When he came to his senses, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired men have food to spare, and here I am starving to death! I will set out and go back to my father and say to him: Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me like one of your hired men.’  So he got up and went to his father.”

Look at what Paul says to the Christians in Ephesians Chapter 2: “As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world…All of us also lived among them at one time…But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead…it is by grace you have been saved.”

Our God is loving Father, Who does not hold our sins against us, but throws a party when we come to Him for salvation and forgiveness!  And while we are still a long way off, he runs to us!  “When you start home, I’ll meet you more than halfway!”

The father refused to entertain the idea his son would be a servant. You see, even when the son was in the far country, the relationship was intact; it was the fellowship that was broken. Immediately the father commanded his servants to bring the best robe. He took that beautiful robe and lovingly placed it around his son, covering all the filth and dirt of his mistakes. That’s a lovely picture of how God covers our sin with a robe of righteousness.

The Pharisees and the teachers of the law are represented by the older son in this parable who “became angry and refused to go in” to the party.

They didn’t like the fact that God doesn’t play by their rules.  They didn’t like the fact that God rejoices and welcomes ‘sinners’.

So where are we in this parable?  Are we inside the party celebrating?  Or are we standing outside

Don't Walk Away From Your Blessing

Don’t Walk Away From Your Blessing

By Pastor Mark Taylor

“And Elisha sent a messenger to him, saying, "Go and wash in the Jordan seven times, and your flesh shall be restored to you, and you shall be clean." But Naaman became furious, and went away and said, "Indeed, I said to myself, 'He will surely come out to me, and stand and call on the name of the LORD his God, and wave his hand over the place, and heal the leprosy.' "Are not the Abanah and the Pharpar, the rivers of Damascus, better than all the waters of Israel? Could I not wash in them and be clean?" So he turned and went away in a rage.” (2 Kings 5:10-12 NKJV)

God does not always show us how He is going to bless us.  The information given to Naaman about Elisha's power to heal his leprosy was given to him be a little maid that waited on his wife.  "For My thoughts are not your thoughts, Nor are your ways My ways," says the LORD. "For as the heavens are higher than the earth, So are My ways higher than your ways, And My thoughts than your thoughts.” (Isaiah 55:8-9).  When you are praying for a blessing, do not under estimate the advice or suggestions that is given to you.  God might use something you read or hear that you were not expecting.  You may attend a Sunday evening or Wednesday night service and the Holy Spirit might give you the wisdom you need to receive the blessing you have been praying about.

God does not always use the same method to accomplish His goals and bring blessings to those who ask.  In Naaman’s situation, Elisha did not even go out to meet him but sent his servant to tell him what to do.  This upset Naaman and almost cost him his healing.  This is what he wanted Elisha to do:  “But Naaman became furious, and went away and said, "Indeed, I said to myself, 'He will surely come out to me, and stand and call on the name of the LORD his God, and wave his hand over the place, and heal the leprosy.” (2 Kings 5:11).  When you receive Godly counsel, you may be told that you have to stop doing some things you are doing or start doing some things you are not doing to receive God’s blessings.  

Pride will keep you from receiving God’s blessings.  “Pride goes before destruction, And a haughty spirit before a fall.” (Proverbs 16:18).  “For all that is in the world--the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life--is not of the Father but is of the world. And the world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever.” (1 John 2:16-17). Proud men are the worst enemies to themselves and keep themselves from receiving the blessings of God.

You are more likely to find God’s blessing when you are in God’s territory and with God’s people.   Jordan belonged to Israel's God, from whom he was to expect the cure, and not from the gods of Damascus or their rivers.  It watered the Lord's land, the holy land, and in it held a miraculous cure. The relation of the river to God was much more considerable than the depth of the channel or the beauty of the stream. That Jordan had more than once before this obeyed the commands of omnipotence.  “I was glad when they said to me, "Let us go into the house of the LORD." (Psalms 122:1).

After taking the advice of his servants, Naaman yielded to make this exercise not one of faith, but of an experiment. He received his blessing and healing because he obeyed the Word of God.  Elisha told him to wash or dip himself in the Jordan seven times and he did it. “So he went down and dipped seven times in the Jordan, according to the saying of the man of God; and his flesh was restored like the flesh of a little child, and he was clean.” (2 Kings 5:14).  God will always honor His Word.  “Forever, O LORD, Your word is settled in heaven. Your faithfulness endures to all generations; You established the earth, and it abides.” (Psalms 119:89-90).  “The entirety of Your word is truth, And every one of Your righteous judgments endures forever.” (Psalms 119:160).  “It is impossible for God to lie, we might have strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold of the hope set before us.” (Hebrews 6:18).  

When Naaman received his blessing he gave God glory and praise.  Of the ten lepers that our Saviour cleansed, the only one that returned to give thanks was a Samaritan.  “And one of them, when he saw that he was healed, returned, and with a loud voice glorified God, and fell down on his face at His feet, giving Him thanks. And he was a Samaritan. So Jesus answered and said, "Were there not ten cleansed? But where are the nine? (Luke 17:15-17)   This Syrian did so, and here expresses himself.  Convinced of the power of the God of Israel he said: “And he returned to the man of God, he and all his aides, and came and stood before him; and he said, "Indeed, now I know that there is no God in all the earth, except in Israel; now therefore, please take a gift from your servant." (2 Kings 5:15).  Can’t we as God’s children give Him praise and honor when He answers our prayers.  “Oh, that men would give thanks to the LORD for His goodness, And for His wonderful works to the children of men!” (Psalms 107:8).

Don’t get angry at God or His Word when your blessing is delayed or not exactly what you wanted.  If Naaman had not turned back to the man of God and obeyed God’s Word, He would have died a leper instead of a great military leader.  Many people have walked away from God’s blessings when they were so close to getting them.  “Then Agrippa said to Paul, "You almost persuade me to become a Christian." (Acts 26:28).  Almost is not good enough when you are dealing with God.

LET YOUR WANTS EQUAL YOUR HAVES

Let Your Wants Equal Your Haves

by Pastor Mark Taylor

“For I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content” (Philippians 4:11)

Did you know you are rich if you decide to be rich?  You can be rich when your “wants” and your “haves” are equal.  If you have a million dollars, but you want two million dollars, you are not rich.  If you want five dollars, and someone gives you ten dollars, you are rich.  If your cup is half full, you are rich.  If your cup is half empty, you feel you are not rich.  That is up to you!!  “Now godliness with contentment is great gain.” (1 Timothy 6:6).

“Delight yourself also in the LORD, And He shall give you the desires of your heart.” (Psalms 37:4).  This verse is not saying that He will give you what you want, but “He shall give you the desires of your heart.”  This is saying He will give you what to want.  If you have everything you want, then you will be content.  But if you want things you cannot have, you will never be content.

So the Lord wants to give you the right “wants”.

We are made to have control over our wants.  We have a free will and we have the ability to choose what to want and what not to want.  I am rich because God has given me my “wants” and I have chosen to be content with them.  Some great principles to keep your “wants” equal to your “haves” is: 

1.  Look at what you have today. Think about others who have less.  Do you have your health, friends, a relationship with the Lord?  Then you are rich.  I have good health, good friends, a great church, a wonderful wife, three healthy children, the Lord in my heart, and enough food to eat today.

2.  Want no more than you have.  That does not mean you don’t plan for the future, it means be satisfied with what you have right now, today.  I have a church with 100 members.  I don’t want a church with 200 members, today.

I wouldn’t be able to minister to that many people right now.  I have a house with 1274 sq ft.  I don’t need a house with 3000 sq ft so why want one.

3.  Look at what you can have some day.  Plan for it, work for it, save for it, and pray for it.  But don’t let your wants for tomorrow make you unhappy today.  Think about why you want it.  Do you really want it or are you trying to impress someone else?  That is the wrong reason and when you do get it, you will not be happy.  There is an old saying: “Be careful what you want, because you might get it”.

4.  Decide to want it when you can have it.  Don’t make something a “want” until you can have it.  When you can have a new car, then “want” it.  When you can have a better job, then “want” it.  If you keep feeling bad about what you don’t have, you will never be happy about what you do have today.

5.  Don’t want it now.  Want it later.  Don’t use up your life to quickly.

Sometimes we give our children and teenagers everything they want, right now.  They don’t have anything to look forward to when they get older. I waited until I was 61 years old to buy myself and my wife a new car that we wanted. We waited to help our children and gave most of our time and money to the ministry, and then the Lord gave us both the “want” and the finances to have what we have today. There are still some things I want to do because I am waiting on the right time and waiting on the Lord to give them to me.

The Lord has always kept me happy and content.  “Rejoice because your names are written in heaven." (Luke 10:20).  I keep my wants equal to my haves by thinking about Heaven.  “If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God. Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth.”

(Colossians 3:1-2).  Ask the Lord to give you a heart for Heaven and for people.  Then you can really mean this: ““For I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content” (Philippians 4:11).

Remember what really matters is people in our lives, and the life to come and how we prepare for it. “For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. And having food and clothing, with these we shall be content. But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and harmful lusts which drown men in destruction and perdition. (1 Timothy 6:7-9).

WHO IS ON THE LORD'S SIDE?

VIDEO LINKS TO THIS SERMONS TO THE WORLD

WHO IS ON THE LORD'S SIDE - PART ONE

WHO IS ON THE LORD'S SIDE - PART TWO

WHO IS ON THE LORD'S SIDE - PART THREE

“WHO IS ON THE LORD’S SIDE”

By Pastor Mark Taylor

“For it is written:  “As I live, says the Lord, Every knee shall bow to Me,
And every tongue shall confess to God.” So then each of us shall give account of himself to God.”  (Romans 14:11-12)

I love to preach about the “Love of God” and His Mercy and His Grace.  I really think this is the main theme that you see throughout the Bible.  There is another theme that is sandwiched between these marvelous attributes of God, The Holy Spirit, and our Precious Savior, The Lord Jesus Christ.  That theme is about choosing to serve God or following Satan.

Joshua challenged the children of Israel to make a clear choice of who they were going to serve. “Choose you this day whom you will serve...” (Joshua 24:15)

God’s Word emphasizes His Grace.   “For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast. For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.”  (Ephesians 2:8-10). 

Some have used this verse to develop a false since of security in believing that once they are “saved”, that they can do what ever they want to without consequences. It is my personal opinion that those who have this attitude toward the wonderful gift of Salvation, probably do not know the Lord Jesus as their Savior. They are not on “The Lord’s Side”.  “What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin that grace may abound? Certainly not! How shall we who died to sin live any longer in it? Or do you not know that as many of us as were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death?” (Romans 6:1-3).

When the children of Israel were freed from 400 years of slavery and had the opportunity to start a new life with God’s blessings, many of them chose to rebel against God and Moses.  Moses asked a question that God would like for you to answer:

“Moses stood in the entrance of the camp, and said, Whoever is on the Lord’s side—come to me!” (Exodus 32:26).

Three thousand did not come to Moses, but remained in defiance.  They were all killed that day.  Our Lord has told us:  "He who is not with Me is against Me, and he who does not gather with Me scatters abroad.” (Matthew 12:30).  The Christian life is not a game in which you can change sides when you want to.  "No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be loyal to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon (the world)."  (Matthew 6:24).

When you choose the wrong side you lose God’s blessings, His protection, and the possibility of His gift of Eternal Life.   I know the Grace of God is “Greater than all of our sins”, but I also know that Jesus said: “He who has My commandments and keeps them, it is he who loves Me. And he who loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I will love him and manifest Myself to him.”  (John 14:21).  If you have no desire to keep His commandments of loving one another, forgiving one another, and living a life that is pleasing to God, then you are probably not on “God’s Side”.  The tree is known by its fruit whether is is good or corrupt. (Matthew 12:33).  Jesus wants you to know whether you are on “The Lord’s Side” or not.  What kind of fruit does your life produce?

Jesus wants you on His side.  “Jesus stood and cried out, saying, "If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink.” (John 7:37).  "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.” (John 10:27-28). When you choose the Lord’s side, you receive all the benefits of a child of God.  

You not only receive all the blessings that come with obedience, but you receive an inheritance as a child of God.  “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and that does not fade away, reserved in heaven for you” (1 Peter 1:3-4). 

When you choose the Lord’s side, you receive the benefit of instant contact with the Creator of the Universe.  “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).

Our Lord also said this to those who were trying to live on both sides of the fence: “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven.” (Matthew 7:21).

“The Holy Spirit, Himself, bears witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God.” (Romans 8:16).  There is in every believer both the testimony of God’s Spirit, and the testimony of the believer that they are a child of God.  The believer can know if He if He is a child of God if He loves God and desires to live a life pleasing to God.  This is an inward proof.  A true lover of God will desire to do His will “on Earth as it is done in Heaven.” (Luke 11:2).  The testimony of the Holy Spirit is an inward impression on the souls of believers where He testifies to their spirit that they are children of God.

My prayer for you is that you will declare as Joshua did when he said:  “As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.” (Joshua 24:15)

THE PRAYER OF JABEZ

VIDEO LINKS TO THIS SERMON

THE PRAYER OF JABEZ - PART ONE

THE PRAYER OF JABEZ - PART TWO

The Prayer of Jabez

by Pastor Mark Taylor

And Jabez called on the God of Israel saying, ‘Oh, that You would bless me indeed, and enlarge my territory, that Your hand would be with me, and that You would keep me from evil, that I may not cause pain!’ So God granted him what he requested” (1 Chronicles 4:10, NKJV).

Jabez was not remembered for some outstanding achievement, but a prayer.  He did not win a great battle or erect a great building. He simply prayed a prayer.  He is the only person mentioned in the first nine chapters of I Chronicles because of a prayer that  he prayed.

He prayed that God would bless him. He prayed that God would enlarge his territory, or his borders. He prayed that God’s hand would be upon him. He prayed that God would keep him from evil.

We are encouraged over and over again in God’s Word to ask God for blessings. “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

Jabez prayed for God to bless him. He sought God’s blessing on his life. He was not worried about being selfish, he wanted God’s best and believed that God wanted to give it to him.

God wants to bless you and reward you with prosperity, good health, and happiness.

“Let the LORD be magnified, which hath pleasure in the prosperity of his servant.”  Psalm 35:27

“Honor your father and your mother, that your days may be long upon the land which the Lord your God is giving you.” Exodus 20:12

“Happy are the people whose God is the Lord!” Psalm 144:15

If you want to have more so that you can give more, then that is an acceptable prayer. If you want to be able to give more to missions or an outreach program so that people will come to know Christ, then by all means pray for material prosperity. 

If you want wisdom so that you can help other people then pray for wisdom, for the Bible says, “If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him” (James 1:5).  If you want to serve others with more talents and resources, then pray for those things in order that your life may be a blessing. 

Blessing means responsibility. Serving God by serving people takes time. If God gives me more, I have to do more.

“Enlarge my territory” This is taking the limitations off God in your life!

This is saying God, “I am not going to limit You in what you can do through me.” Remember, it is us who limits the work of the Holy Spirit in our lives The word for “enlarge” also means – to bring in abundance, to increase, to bring up, to multiply, to make greater, to extend the dimensions…”  Many people never have a purpose larger than themselves.  Jabez prayed that God would enlarge his borders.  A leader is a servant of other people. Jabez wanted to be used by God more than anything else.  

Do you want to be blessed by God?  Be a blessing Then pray for God to enlarge your life and your sphere of influence. Ask him for something so big that you cannot possibly do it by yourself. Ask him to enlarge your territory. Surely there is more to life than trying to make yourself happy.   God wants you to see beyond the circumstances. He wants to enlarge your life if you will join Hm by praying and believing for His blessing. 

The third thing to consider is: Jabez prayed for God’s hand to be upon him. Jabez knew that what he was praying for was bigger than what he could accomplish himself. He was praying for something so big that only the hand of God on his life could accomplish it.  Begin to pray for the hand of God to be upon your life so that you can accomplish something great for Him. Hopefully, it will be something so great that when it comes to pass, you and everyone else will have to say, “This had to be the hand of God, because there is no way I could have done this by myself!” 

But the final part of Jabez’s prayer is the most important. We need to consider the fourth part of his prayer: Jabez prayed that God would keep him from evil.  He wanted his life to be a blessing. He wanted to be protected from the harm of evil, but he also wanted to be kept from sinning, because he knew that sin causes pain. It brings pain into the world. It brings pain into the life of the one who commits it, and it brings pain into the lives of those whom the sin was committed against. 

Jabez called on the One who could, would and wanted to make the difference in his life. His prayer let loose God’s will, power and blessing in his life. It can do this in your life also.  Are you willing to be like Jabez and do the "extra" to bring about the extraordinary work of God in your life? It all starts with a prayer.

THE HOLY SPIRIT

VIDEO LINKS TO THIS SERMON

THE HOLY SPIRIT - PART ONE

THE HOLY SPIRIT - PART TWO

THE HOLY SPIRIT - PART THREE

THE HOLY SPIRIT

by Pastor Mark Taylor

In the Apostles’ Creed we say: “I believe in the Holy Spirit”.  Christians believe in one God. "The Lord our God is One" (Deuteronomy 6:4); we're not "polytheists" - we do not believe in many gods. We do believe that God has chosen to reveal Himself in three different ways – The Father, The Son (The Lord Jesus Christ), and The Holy Spirit.  The Holy Spirit was present at creation with the Father and the Son.  “In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth. And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters.” (Genesis 1:1-2).  “And God said, Let Us make man in Our image, after Our likeness” (Genesis 1:26).  The Bible teaches that we are a trinity of a body, mind, and soul, yet we are one.  Nature illustrates the Trinity in trees: the tree, the fruit, and the seed.  An egg is a shell, white, and yoke.  Water (H₂O) can be liquid, ice, or vapor.  While these can be separated, God the Father, the Lord Jesus, and the Holy Spirit are always with each other and are one substance. Yes, it is a hard concept to understand because God is much greater than you or I, and His ability to create Himself in three forms, and remain one is not completely understood by human minds.  “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways," declares the LORD. "As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts." (Isaiah 55:8, 9). 

Our Lord and Savior spoke often of the Holy Spirit as a person.  “And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, "All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. "Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, "teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age." Amen.”   (Matthew 28:18-20).

The Holy Spirit, who is the Third member of the Trinity, is a gift to us in this dispensation, the "Church Age." The Holy Spirit's work is to give believers gifts or talents to enable him to serve the Lord Jesus Christ. 

When the Lord Jesus ascended into Heaven He sent the Holy Spirit to become present in the lives of every believer.  He teaches and helps us to understand the Word of God.   “And I will pray the Father, and He shall give you another Comforter, that He may abide with you for ever; Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it sees Him not, neither knows Him: but you know Him; for He dwells with you, and shall be in you. I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you  “But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, He shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you” (John 14:26).  

Our Lord in His physical body could only be present at one place at one time, but through the Holy Spirit He can be every where all the time.  

“Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send Him unto you. And when He is come, He will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment” (John 16:7-9). It is the Holy Spirit that brings you to God the Father through His Son, the Lord Jesus. “So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God. But you are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of His.” (Romans 8:8-9).

When you accept the Lord Jesus as your personal Savior, the Holy Spirit comes and lives in you. “Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call.” (Acts 2:38-39).  “And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of My hand…I and My Father are one.” (John 10:28-30).  The Holy Spirit seals that promise. “That we should be to the praise of His glory, who first trusted in Christ.  In whom you also trusted, after that you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that you believed, you were sealed with that Holy Spirit of promise.” (Ephesians 1:12-14).

God gives us the Spirit so that we can know what the right thing is and how to do it. He could of given us a huge manual to study with the right thing to do in every situation that would ever come up in life. But instead He gives us the Spirit so that we have the answer right then as it comes up.

The second thing that the Spirit does for us is allow us to live as children of God. There is a big difference between being led by the flesh and being led by the Spirit. When we were led by the flesh we were slaves. We were ruled over and had no choice in the matter. But, by the Spirit we are led as children are led.  How do I lead my children? First, I lead them gently. I take them by the hand, or if the way is too difficult I carry them.  Second, I lead my children in the way they need to go. I am not going to take them anywhere that is dangerous or unhealthy. No, I am going to take them to the best places for them.  Third, I lead my children personally.  I set the example for them. We talk along the way. I answer their questions and guide them through it encouraging and instructing.  

Another work of the Spirit is intercession for us, helping us to pray. Almost like a translator allowing us to speak the language of heaven. “Likewise the Spirit also helps our infirmities. For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered” (Romans 8:26).  In our spiritual lives there are many times when we do not have any idea what is wrong, all we know is that something is not right. At these times the Spirit that is dwelling in us knows exactly what the problem is and is already taking the issue up with God.

There is much more to the Holy Spirit but this is a great start to understanding God in our hearts, making us truly alive, children of God, intimately linked with the Father, guaranteed of an inheritance and interceded for perfectly because He knows our hearts and knows the will of God. What a blessing to be led by the Spirit!