DON'T LOOK BACK - LOOK FORWARD

DON’T LOOK BACK - LOOK FORWARD                                                                  By Pastor Mark Taylor

Many of you have given your hearts and minds to The Lord Jesus.  You have asked Him to come into your hearts to give you eternal life.  You have asked Him to forgive you of your sins.  Some of you have serve Him faithfully for a long time.  It is not time for you to quit, but to look forward to your time with The Lord Jesus in Heaven and with those you know who are there with Him.

“Jesus said to him, "You are not far from the kingdom of God." (Mark 12:34).

God wants you and I to finish well.  He wants us to be able to say as Jesus did:  “I have glorified You upon the earth. I have finished the work which You have given Me to do” (John 17:4).  

Circumstances, emotions, change and other internal messages can cause you to forget to look at the blessings that are awaiting you.

God does not always show us how He is going to bless us.    "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.

Some people get proud when God starts blessing them and feel that they do not need God or His help any more.

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.

Some people get angry and quit when they don't get their way.  

Don’t get angry at God or His Word when your blessing is delayed or not exactly what you wanted.  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.

If you find yourself ready to quit, you need to understand that God is standing by ready to help you.  If you have found yourself in one of the reasons above that people do not finish well, consider these verses:  “Call unto me, and I will answer you, and show you great and mighty things, which you know not” (Jeremiah 33:3).   “For a just man falls seven times, and rises up again: but the wicked shall fall into mischief” (Proverbs 24:16).

When you feel like quitting, you need to look up.  The Lord is the only resource that you can depend on to be there to help you day by day. 

“I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help.  My help cometh from the LORD, which made heaven and earth” (Psalms 121:1-2).

Remember "You are not far from the kingdom of God." (Mark 12:34).

Your enemy is Satan and he wants you to fall down and stay down, Jesus wants you to finish well. “The thief (Satan) does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.” (John 10:10).

God wants you to finish well.  “Rejoice not against me, O mine enemy: when I fall, I shall arise; when I sit in darkness, the LORD shall be a light unto me.” (Micah 7:8).

One of the greatest things about God is that He continues to work with men and women despite their own limitations and failings.  Too often they do not allow God to complete what He starts within them.  The Lord Jesus wants to finish what He has started in you.  “He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ”  (Philippians 1:6).

Family background is not a reliable indicator of accomplishment.  High percentages of great men and women have come from broken homes.  Neither is wealth an accurate indicator of success or poverty a guarantee of low achievement.  Opportunity is a very peculiar thing.  Two people with the similar gifts, talents, and resources can look at a situation, and one person will see tremendous opportunity while the other sees nothing.

To often people allow their circumstances to stop the Lord from putting the finishing touches on their lives.  They allow the bitter disappointments, the trials they are forced to endure, and the very dilemmas of life shape their character in such a way that nothing profitable ever comes of them.  Jesus gave us a warning about looking backwards. "Remember Lot's wife.” (Luke 17:32).  She had escaped the fire and brimstone of Sodom, but failed to follow God’s instructions and lost her life.  The children of Israel, twenty years and older, lost their opportunity to enter into the promise land because of doubt and fear.

Many people get close to receiving God’s salvation and blessings, but turn back.  “Now behold, one came and said to Him, "Good Teacher, what good thing shall I do that I may have eternal life?" Jesus said to him, "If you want to be perfect, go, sell what you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me." But when the young man heard that saying, he went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions.” (Matthew 19:16, 21-22).  “Then Agrippa said to Paul, "You almost persuade me to become a Christian." (Acts 26:28).  Both of these were “not far from the kingdom of God”, but they missed it.

If you are a Christian, but you have become discouraged, keep on working for the Lord and remember where you are headed. Your blessings could be right around the corner or down the road.  

If you turn back, you will never receive them.  God honors one thing above everything else and that is faith.  “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.  By faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that the things which are seen were not made of things which are visible….But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.” (Hebrews 11:1,3,6).  Remember "You are not far from the kingdom of God." (Mark 12:34).

Abraham Lincoln went bankrupt twice, three of his four sons died before the age of 18, he had a bad marriage, and was defeated in eight state and national elections before he became President.  Harland David Sanders, better known as Colonel Sanders started franchising Kentucky Fried Chicken restaurants at age 65, using $105 from his first Social Security check to fund visits to potential franchisees.  He went to over 200 restaurants before someone bought his idea.  These are examples of men that did not quit and became successful in politics and business.  Just think what we can accomplish for the Lord if we are willing to keep on going in our failures and never let money, age, or negative comments of others affect us.  Many of you may be close to accomplishing something great in your life, but you have doubts about your abilities or resources.  Paul said: “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” (Philippians 4:13).   

There is even a greater success than gaining wealth and fame. You can overcome sin in your life because that is why Jesus came to save you. "And she will bring forth a Son, and you shall call His name JESUS, for He will save His people from their sins." (Matthew 1:21).  He has come to make your life worth living. + “I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly. (John 10:10). He has come to give you true joy and happiness. "These things I have spoken to you, that My joy may remain in you, and that your joy may be full.” (John 15:11).

 The creator of the universe was talking to a man who was seeking his creator when “Jesus said to him, "You are not far from the kingdom of God." (Mark 12:34).  God is not far from you if you will look for Him. "Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. "For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened. (Matthew 7:7-8).

If you will let Him, He will carry you to the finish line. 

 “He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things?”  (Romans 8:32).

“I am confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ”  (Philippians 1:6).

When Our Lord preached a serious message on commitment many of those who were following Jesus left Him and went back to their old way of living.  He looked at the remaining 12 and asked them: "Do you want to leave Me too?"  Peter told Jesus "Lord, where can we go, You have the Words of Life."

If you decide to go back or quit, where will you go?  Who will give you the love and care that your Heavenly Father has given you and wants to continue to give to you.

If you decide to go back and leave The Lord, how many people will leave with you?  Will your children, grandchildren, friends, or other Christians leave The Lord with you and miss Heaven?  

Or will you continue to go forward and take many people to Heaven with you?

FEAR IS YOUR WORST ENEMY - FAITH IS YOUR BEST FRIEND

Fear Is Your Worst Enemy - Faith Is Your Best Friend

by Pastor Mark Taylor

“There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear”. (1 John 4:18).

Fear is the opposite of faith.  After forty years in the wilderness, Moses told Joshua and the people of Israel not to fear.  They were going into a new land and face new opportunities.   "Be strong and of good courage, and fear not, nor be afraid of them; for the LORD your God, He is the One who goes with you. He will not leave you nor forsake you." (Deuteronomy 31:6).  Keep positive about your future.  Remember we were saved by faith and we live by faith.  “For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believes ; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek. For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith.” (Romans 1:16-17)

I would encourage you to cast out your fear by using words of faith.  Instead of complaining and expecting the worst, speak affirmatively about God’s ability and God’s love for you.  “Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord”. (Ephesians 5:19).  Read and quote verses from the Bible to yourself.

“This I recall to my mind, therefore have I hope.  It is of the LORD'S mercies that we are not consumed, because His compassions fail not. They are new every morning: great is Thy faithfulness. (Lamentations 3:21-23)

Someone has said: “If you always do what you have done, you will always get what you always got”.  Some people get caught up in a cycle of doing the same thing over and over again and they will continue to get the same results.  Some people find themselves in a cycle of lack of forgiveness,  bitterness, and fear.   Forgiveness can break the cycle of blame and pain.  The most common Greek word for forgiveness means, literally, to release, or hurl away, or free yourself.  “There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear”. (1 John 4:18).

Their is a song that says: “Prayer is the key to Heaven, but faith unlocks the door.”  In order to touch God’s heart, we must do it with faith.  Look at all the times Jesus commented and praised people about their faith.

Another thing that will get rid of fear this year is to keep the strife out of your life.  We all have different personalities and temperaments and approach issues in different ways.  Get rid of pettiness, division, and discord.  Make a decision that your are going to make the necessary adjustments so you can live a more peaceful life. “For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work” (James 3:16).  Removing yourself from strife can improve your physical, mental, and spiritual health.

 When you are always worried about what someone else is thinking about you, it is a type of fear. Don’t allow others to cause you to fear. “The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? the LORD is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?” (Psalms 27:1).  When you compare yourself with others, you are limiting the Lord from using you to your best ability.  You may fear that you are not as good as someone else.  The Bible says this type of thinking is wrong.  “For we dare not class ourselves or compare ourselves with those who commend themselves. But they, measuring themselves by themselves, and comparing themselves among themselves, are not wise” (2 Corinthians 10:12).

Overcome fear by planning for a better rest of this year.  God has put dreams into all of our hearts.  We have to go beyond just believing things can be better.  We need to start making plans to improve our health, finances, relationships, and spiritual growth.  Your faith needs to move in a positive direction.  Keep your vision in front of you instead of your fear.  Talk to yourself and others about good health, getting out of debt, and better relationships.   Read your Bible more, pray more, read encouraging books, watch positive TV programs, listen to uplifting music, attend church more and you will begin to see the Lord doing amazing things in your life.  “Evening, and morning, and at noon, will I pray, and cry aloud: and He shall hear my voice” (Psalms 55:17).  Begin by making a list of your dreams, goals, and aspirations and areas you want to improve in.  Ask the Lord to give you wisdom on how to accomplish them.  “If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him” (James 1:5).  God wants to give you the ability to solve your problems.  He wants you to have peace about your present and about your future.  “But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality and without hypocrisy” (James 3:17).

YOU HAVE COME TOO FAR TO TURN BACK NOW

You Have Come Too Far To Turn Back Now
By Pastor Mark Taylor

“Jesus said to him, "You are not far from the kingdom of God." (Mark 12:34).

One of the greatest things about God is that He continues to work with men and women despite their own limitations and failings.  Too often they do not allow God to complete what He starts within them.  The Lord Jesus wants to finish what He has started in you.  “He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ”  (Philippians 1:6).

Family background is not a reliable indicator of accomplishment.  High percentages of great men and women have come from broken homes.  Neither is wealth an accurate indicator of success or poverty a guarantee of low achievement.  Opportunity is a very peculiar thing.  Two people with the similar gifts, talents, and resources can look at a situation, and one person will see tremendous opportunity while the other sees nothing.

To often people allow their circumstances to stop the Lord from putting the finishing touches on their lives.  They allow the bitter disappointments, the trials they are forced to endure, and the very dilemmas of life shape their character in such a way that nothing profitable ever comes of them.  Jesus gave us a warning about looking backwards. "Remember Lot's wife.” (Luke 17:32).  She had escaped the fire and brimstone of Sodom, but failed to follow God’s instructions and lost her life.  The children of Israel, twenty years and older, lost their opportunity to enter into the promise land because of doubt and fear.

Many people get close to receiving God’s salvation and blessings, but turn back.  “Now behold, one came and said to Him, "Good Teacher, what good thing shall I do that I may have eternal life?" Jesus said to him, "If you want to be perfect, go, sell what you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me." But when the young man heard that saying, he went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions.” (Matthew 19:16, 21-22).  “Then Agrippa said to Paul, "You almost persuade me to become a Christian." (Acts 26:28).  Both of these were “not far from the kingdom of God”, but they missed it.

If you are a Christian, but you have become discouraged, keep on working for the Lord and remember where you are headed. Your blessings could be right around the corner or down the road.  If you turn back, you will never receive them.  God honors one thing above everything else and that is faith.  “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.  By faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that the things which are seen were not made of things which are visible….But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.” (Hebrews 11:1,3,6).  Remember "You are not far from the kingdom of God." (Mark 12:34).

Abraham Lincoln went bankrupt twice, three of his four sons died before the age of 18, he had a bad marriage, and was defeated in eight state and national elections before he became President.  Harland David Sanders, better known as Colonel Sanders started franchising Kentucky Fried Chicken restaurants at age 65, using $105 from his first Social Security check to fund visits to potential franchisees.  He went to over 200 restaurants before someone bought his idea.  These are examples of men that did not quit and became successful in politics and business.  Just think what we can accomplish for the Lord if we are willing to keep on going in our failures and never let money, age, or negative comments of others affect us.  Many of you may be close to accomplishing something great in your life, but you have doubts about your abilities or resources.  Paul said: “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” (Philippians 4:13).   

There is even a greater success than gaining wealth and fame. You can overcome sin in your life because that is why Jesus came to save you. "And she will bring forth a Son, and you shall call His name JESUS, for He will save His people from their sins." (Matthew 1:21).  He has come to make your life worth living. + “I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly. (John 10:10). He has come to give you true joy and happiness. "These things I have spoken to you, that My joy may remain in you, and that your joy may be full.” (John 15:11).

 The creator of the universe was talking to a man who was seeking his creator when “Jesus said to him, "You are not far from the kingdom of God." (Mark 12:34).  God is not far from you if you will look for Him. "Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. "For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened. (Matthew 7:7-8).

HOW TO LOVE YOUR MOTHER

HOW TO LOVE YOUR MOTHER

By Pastor Mark Taylor

Mother’s Day - 2014

“When Jesus saw his mother there, and the disciple whom he loved standing nearby, he said to his mother, "Dear woman, here is your son,"  and to the disciple, "Here is your mother." From that time on, this disciple took her into his home.”  (John 19: 26-27)

“The moment a child is born, the mother is also born.  She never existed before.  The woman existed, but the mother, never.  A mother is something absolutely new.”

1.  Love her verbally.  A woman needs to hear those words, “I Love You!”  Some men would say, I’m just not turned that way…then turn around! “I’m just not comfortable”…then be uncomfortable!  Everyone wants to feel loved and hear those words.  Our Lord Jesus said:  “Whatsoever you would that others should do for you, you do unto them, for this is the law and the prophets.”  (Matthew 7:12).

2. Love her physically.  When’s the last time you gave her a big hug without her asking for it…or a kiss on the cheek, or a neck rub, or just sat on the couch and held her for a change?

She’s the first person who ever touched you…she wrapped you up in her womb for months, and you came out and first priority was to hold you.  She changed your diapers, potty trained you, and held the Kleenex for you to blow your nose! She wiped food off of your face years longer than she should have had to! 

She constantly touched you! And she may have to hand you off to another, and her life may endure some heavy changes, but she deserves your touch and should never have to give that up completely!

Our Lord physically touched others to bring them healing and love.  “And Jesus came and touched them, and said, Arise, and be not afraid.” (Matthew 17:7).

1. Love her patiently.

Mom's 'Salary' In 2013 Is $59,862 For 90-Hour Work Week, According To Insure.com

Mothers have an incredible job w/ no pay. No position in the business world compares to the physical, emotional, and spiritual commitment she has in motherhood.  No Occupation.  Love her patiently. Because she’s tender to your needs is no reason to take advantage of her, it’s reason to be patient and to love her all the more!

God’s Word tells us to be patient.  “Now we encourage you brothers and sisters, comfort the feebleminded, support the weak, be patient toward all people.” 

 (I Thessalonians 5:14).  Our mother’s deserve an extra measure of patience from us.

4. Love her attentively.

Mothers listened as you poured out your hear to her when you needed a mother’s ear.  She has had a sympathetic ear, and even as an adult you’ve gone to her when you needed someone who wiould really listen and understand…and have the confidence she’ll always be on your side if you are right, and sometimes even if your wrong.

“Listen to your father..and do not despise (To regard as unworthy of one's interest or concern) your mother when she is old.”  (Proverbs 23:22)

1. Love her gratefully.  She needs a sincere thank you, and not just today, but from a genuinely thankful heart when least expected!

“And let the peace of God rule in your hearts..and be thankful” (Colossians 3:15).

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

Take some time today to give your Mother thanks.

6.  Love her generously.

There’s nothing too good for her, we could never repay her, but we ought to die trying before she does! She didn’t spend on herself unless all your needs were met…she could easily do without, and now it’s time for her to have something she wants!

She clears her schedule so she can run you around…she gives up opportunities so you can have more opportunities!

“So let each one give as they purpose in their heart, not grudgingly or of necessity; for God loves a cheerful giver.”  (2 Corinthians 9:7).  This is not just speaking about money.

1. Love her honorably.

If anyone you have ever met deserves Honor, it is your Mother.

“Honor your father and your mother: that your days may be long upon the land which the Lord thy God has given you.”   (Exodus 20:12) 

Lord, help us never to be too busy for mom…if you could take time and great effort for your Mother on the cross in your death, help us to love our Mothers while we have her in our life!  For those of us whose Mothers are in Heaven, show us how to love women who need a “Mother’s Love”.

HOW TO BE A HAPPY CHRISTIAN

HOW TO BE A HAPPY CHRISTIAN

by Pastor Mark Taylor

“If you know these things, you will be happy if you do them.”

John 13:17

The thing of not worrying.  Jesus gave us this advice: "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).  You can only live today.  You cannot change what has happen in the past, and you cannot know what is going to happen tomorrow.

The thing of“Redeeming the Time”.  The Bible tells us: “See then that you walk carefully, not as fools, but as wise, redeeming the time, because the days are evil” (Ephesians 5:15-16).  Use your time wisely.  We have more modern “time saving” inventions like the computer, but we still seem to have less time to accomplish the things we want to do.  Much of our time is wasted watching TV, DVDs, and playing computer games.  We still have as much time as other people.  We have 24 hours a day and seven days a week.

"Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men, since you know you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward" (Colossians 3:23-24).

The thing of “Doing Your Best”.   No matter how big or small the task is, we should seek to do it with our best ability: “Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with all your might” (Ecclesiastes 9:10).  If we are going to be a successful Christian, we need to learn how to go the extra mile.  This includes doing our best at our place of employment, in our relationships with others, and using our gifts in service to the Lord Jesus Christ. "Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men, since you know you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward." (Colossians 3:23-24).

The thing of “Rest”.  Jesus said: “Come to Me all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” (Matthew 11:28).  Jesus values both spiritual and physical rest.  “And He said to them, Come aside into a deserted place and rest a little. For there were many coming and going, and they had no opportunity even to eat.” (Mark 6:31).  

Even God rested.  Not because He was tired, but as a need He saw humanity would need. "And He rested on the seventh day from all His work which He had made. And God blessed the seventh day and sanctified it, because in it He had rested from all His work which God created to make.” (Genesis 2:2-3).  We are made in God’s image and you need times of rest.  You cannot be successful if you are physically and mentally tired.

The thing of “Learning”.  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.  One of the first things in studying is to make sure you can use the knowledge that God gives you to make right decisions.  That is called wisdom.  You can get that wisdom from God as you study.  “If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, Who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him.” (James 1:5).  Your knowledge and wisdom are given to you to help others. “But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality and without hypocrisy.” (James 3:17). When you make decisions ask God to give you the mind of Christ in your decision. “Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 2:5).  If you think like the Lord, you will be successful and happy.

Today, I would encourage all of us to be happy Christians.  We do not have to be discouraged and live in defeat.  We have the power of the Holy Spirit to lift us above the world and all its problems.  The Bible says: “Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Romans 8:37-39).

The greatest step toward happiness is to first of all know that you are a Christian.  Make sure you have more than just a “head knowledge” of the Lord Jesus Christ.  "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.  Many will say to Me in that day, 'Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?' "And then I will declare to them, 'I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!' (Matthew 7:21-23).  Make sure you faith is real. “Jesus answered and said to him, "If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our home with him.” (John 14:23).

IT IS NOT MY PROBLEM

VIDEO LINKS TO THIS SERMON

IT IS NOT MY PROBLEM - PART ONE

IT IS NOT MY PROBLEM - PART TWO

IT IS NOT MY PROBLEM - PART THREE

IT IS NOT MY PROBLEM

By Pastor Mark Taylor

This is a sermon I preached last Sunday without notes. The Lord impressed on my heart through the Holy Spirit to speak about a need a lot of people have today.   It was a message to those people who are dealing with a lot of stress because of other people.  If you will watch the video links to this sermon, I believe it will help you to develop a strategy to reduce a great majority of the stress other people are causing you.  I do not have a written copy of this sermon yet.

The main verse related to this sermon comes from Nehemiah 6:2-3:  Then Sanballat, and Greshen sent unto me saying: Come down let us meet together in one of the villages in the plain on Ono.  But they thought to do me harm.  And I sent messengers unto them saying: "I am doing a great work, so that I cannot come down:  Why should the work cease while I leave it, and come down to you.

DAVID AND SAUL

DAVID AND SAUL

(I AND 2 SAMUEL)

by Pastor Mark Taylor

The story starts out with Saul – chosen by God to fulfill the people’s desire to have a king like all the other nations.   Saul was anointed King of Israel by popular acclaim, though at God’s direction. He was a man of stature, taller than all his peers, an apt warrior king. Just the sort of man Israel needed to oppose the Philistines. Except that he was also a flawed king. 

He forgot where his power as King came from and so made one too many mistakes as far as obeying God was concerned. As time and circumstances went on, Saul began to show his weaknesses. He often went by his own agenda and didn’t fully seek the Lord’s direction. He had trouble waiting for the Lord’s timing, too. Saul began to put himself above the Lord and made decrees without the Lord’s counsel.   As a result God decided to turn the kingship over to another, to David, a man after God’s own heart. 

King Saul was requested by the people because they wanted to be like the nations around them.  “We want to be like the nations around us. Our king will judge us and lead us into battle.” To be similar to other nations, they needed to have a king and not considered or noticed GOD is KING of kings and LORD of lords and their protection. GOD is more than enough. “But though I have rescued you from your misery and distress, you have rejected your God today and have said, ‘No, we want a king instead!’”  1 Samuel 10:19

God does not want us to be like the world.  Just because everyone else feels that they can sin and get away with it, God is watching.  There are consequences for sin and getting what you want when it is not God’s will.  God wanted to bless Saul and the nation of Israel, but Saul became proud and wanted to do things “his way”, and not "God’s way" . If a person rejects God, God will give His blessings to someone else.

After Saul’s failure, God allowed Israel to have another king.  King David was chosen after GOD's own heart, after GOD's own thoughts and feelings.   David had been anointed some time before, but had to wait 15 or 20 years for Saul to die before receiving the promised kingdom.  Samuel picked David, the youngest of Jesse’s boys, and anointed him as the next king. 1 Sam 16 says, From that day on the Spirit of the LORD came upon David in power. 

David is rightly described as a man after God’s own heart. For him, personal ambition was secondary. What mattered most was God’s right to choose, God’s right to dispose of his people as he saw fit. And when God anointed someone as King, only God had the right to take away that position. 

Two men remained in the palace. And one had a spear in his hand, but the other, a harp. Nobody tried to kill Saul, but he was always nervous with the fearful thought that somebody would harm him. Because he thought his son had made a covenant with David to kill him, he sought to destroy David. In the course of seeking David, he slaughtered 80 priests of God. So, when he was under the urgent circumstance, he could not go to the priests to inquire of the Lord. Instead, he asked a medium.

How can I have a heart like David’s rather than like Saul’s? Let’s learn what the Holy Spirit does as He works in our hearts through Baptism and God’s promises.  The Lord’s not fooled by outward appearance and The Lord’s Spirit changes us to the core.

The heart, the way the Bible uses that word, focuses on the mind as well as the emotions.  The heart is the real you, the inner you. It’s your thoughts and mind, your feelings and emotion, your will and drive. It’s the full you, the real you.

"From that day on the Spirit of the LORD came upon David in power" (1 Samuel 16:13 NIV). The Holy Spirit changes us at the core. He changes hearts. Consider some of the effects the Holy Spirit worked in the life of David. When faced with the hostile giant Goliath, David declared to him, "You come against me with sword and spear and javelin, but I come against you in the name of the LORD Almighty, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied"(1 Samuel 17:45 NIV). He trusted in the Lord.

If you want the Spirit, use the word. If you want to be David and not Saul, use the word. A good place to go in the Scriptures is to the Psalms. God used David to write many of them. The Holy Spirit will use them to work trust in your heart. For through the word the Holy Spirit changes us to the core so that we do much more than simply an outward practice of Christianity. 

He changes our hearts, the real you, the inner you, your thoughts, mind, emotions, attitude, will, and drive. God knows your heart. He knows how to keep you trusting his promises. No matter what Goliath you face, no matter how bleak the future may seem, no matter how horrible the sin that torments you.

That’s the change the Holy Spirit works in you and me. He plants trust in the Lord and grows that trust. But just as a farmer doesn’t just wave his hand and have his fields planted and growing, so also the Holy Spirit uses tools. For you see, through his tools the Holy Spirit brings us God’s promises, and his promise create trust.

God is looking for men and women, young people, and children who will follow Him.  He will give them all the resources they need.  He will give them blessings and success.  It all starts with trusting God and having a heart that God can speak to.  Will you be a David today instead of a Saul?  

HE IS RISEN

HE IS RISEN

by Pastor Mark Taylor

“For if the dead rise not, then is not Christ raised: And if Christ be not raised, your faith is vain; you are yet in your sins.”  (1 Corinthians 15:16-17)

The resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ is one of the most important doctrines of our faith.  We have many proofs that He died, was buried, and rose again after three days in the grave.  One of the greatest proofs of the resurrection I have witnessed in my life time are the people who I have met that have experienced the “new birth” and their lives have been changed.  I also have walked with Him and talked with Him and have experienced His presence for over 50 years. These two proofs give me enough faith to accept by faith all the other proofs that others have given for our Lord’s resurrection.  We have the eyewitness testimony in the word of God from several sources.  

• The guards who were assigned to guard His body experience a “great earthquake” and saw “an angel of the Lord descended from heaven”  and roll away the stone. (Matthew 28:2-4).  
• He appeared  to Mary Magdalene in John 20:14 and in Mark 16:9.  
• He appeared to women returning from the tomb in Matthew 28: 9-10.  
• He appeared to Peter later in the day in Luke 24:34 and I Corinthians 15:5.  
• He appeared to the Emmaus disciples in Luke 24: 13-33.  
• He appeared to the disciples twice in Luke 24: 36-43 and John 20 19:29.  
• He appeared to seven of the disciples by the Lake of Tiberias in John 21:1-23.  
• He appeared to a multitude of over 500 believers on a Galilean mountain in I Corinthians 15:6.  
• He appeared to the eleven in Matthew 28:16-20, Mark 16:14-20; Luke 24: 33-52, and Acts 1:3-12.  
• He appeared at His ascension in Acts 1:3-12.  He appeared to Paul in Acts 9:3-6 and I Corinthians 15:8.  
• He appeared to Stephen in Acts 7:55.  
• He appeared to John on the Isle of Patmos in Revelation 1:10-19.  

There is no record of the Roman soldiers, the chief priests, the Pharisees or Pilate and the Roman government disputing the resurrection.

We have the overwhelming proof of the dramatic change in the disciples after the Resurrection.  All of the disciples gave their lives as a witness of the Lord Jesus’ resurrection.  Thousands if not millions of men and women have spoke of a personal relationship with this resurrected Savior.  Their testimonies of the Holy Spirit’s presence in their lives continued to confirm the fact of our Lord’s resurrection.

On this resurrection Sunday I would like to share with you some of the proofs I have seen of His life and power today.

I have seen the lives of people who were on drugs and were alcoholics have the power to overcome their addictions. “And when he was come out of the ship, immediately there met him out of the tombs a man with an unclean spirit, Who had his dwelling among the tombs; and no man could bind him, no, not with chains: Because that he had been often bound with fetters and chains, and the chains had been plucked asunder by him, and the fetters broken in pieces: neither could any man tame him…  For Jesus said unto him, Come out of the man, thou unclean spirit. And they come to Jesus, and see him that was possessed with the devil, and had the legion, sitting, and clothed, and in his right mind: and they were afraid.”    (Mark 5:14-15)

 I have seen people who were mean and hateful change into people with loving hearts.  “And he said, "Who are You, Lord?" Then the Lord said, "I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. It is hard for you to kick against the goads." So he, trembling and astonished, said, "Lord, what do You want me to do?" Then the Lord said to him, "Arise and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do."  (Acts 9:5-6).   “For I am the least of the apostles, who am not worthy to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God.”  (1 Corinthians 15:9).

 I have seen people sick and dying healed through the prayers of other Christians as God’s Word promised. “Is any among you afflicted? let him pray. Is any merry? let him sing psalms. Is any sick among you? let him call for the elders of the church; and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord: And the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up; and if he have committed sins, they shall be forgiven him.” (James 5:13-15).

I have seen people who were full of guilt and fear be forgiven and receive grace and peace to follow God.  "And he arose and came to his father. But when he was still a great way off, his father saw him and had compassion, and ran and fell on his neck and kissed him. "And the son said to him, 'Father, I have sinned against heaven and in your sight, and am no longer worthy to be called your son.' "But the father said to his servants, 'Bring out the best robe and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand and sandals on his feet. 'And bring the fatted calf here and kill it, and let us eat and be merry; 'for this my son was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.' And they began to be merry. (Luke 15:20-24).

GOD IS ALWAYS RIGHT ON TIME

VIDEO LINKS TO THIS SERMON

GOD IS ALWAYS RIGHT ON TIME - PART ONE

GOD IS ALWAYS RIGHT ON TIME - PART TWO

GOD IS ALWAYS RIGHT ON TIME - PART THREE

GOD IS ALWAYS RIGHT ON TIME

By Pastor Mark Taylor

“MY HOUR HAS COME” (Mark 14:41)

God does everything with perfect timing.  There were many times that people threatened Jesus and tried to harm Him, but they could not because He would say “Mine hour is not yet come” (John 7:6).  Notice how things were in perfect timing for Jesus to come to Jerusalem for God’s great plan of redemption. We celebrate this day in Church History as Palm Sunday.  In less than a week the people would crucify Jesus after welcoming him as the Messiah.  Calvary was not God’s afterthought, it was His plan from the beginning: “the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world” (Revelation 13:8). One day everyone will worship the Lord Jesus regardless of what they feel right now: “For we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ. 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 every one of us shall give account of himself to God” (Romans 14:10-12). 

God had prepared a colt for Jesus to ride on as He entered into Jerusalem.  Jesus told his disciples “Saying, Go you into the village over against you; in the which at your entering you shall find a colt tied, whereon yet never man sat: loose him, and bring him hither. And if any man ask you, Why do you loose him? thus shall ye say unto him, Because the Lord hath need of him. And they that were sent went their way, and found even as he had said unto them” (Luke 19:30-32).

The palm branch was a symbol of triumph and of victory, in Jewish tradition, and is treated in other parts of the bible as such - Leviticus 23:40 and Revelation 7:9.  Zechariah saw centuries before, that people would welcome Him with joy and shouts of praise would fill the air.  He saw that the Messiah would be riding an unbroken colt: "Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion! Shout, O daughter of Jerusalem! Behold, your King is coming to you; He is just and having salvation, Lowly and riding on a donkey, A colt, the foal of a donkey” (Zechariah 9:9).  

The very next week He would be crucified. Jesus knew it was the right time to fulfill the Scriptures: “He is despised and rejected by men, A Man of sorrows and acquainted with grief. And we hid, as it were, our faces from Him; He was despised, and we did not esteem Him. Surely He has borne our griefs And carried our sorrows; Yet we esteemed Him stricken, Smitten by God, and afflicted. But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; The chastisement for our peace was upon Him, And by His stripes we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray; We have turned, every one, to his own way; And the LORD has laid on Him the iniquity of us all” (Isaiah 53:3-6).

God had planned Jesus’ entry to be a picture of His Second Coming:

“On the next day much people that were come to the feast, when they heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem, Took branches of palm trees, and went forth to meet him, and cried, Hosanna: Blessed is the King of Israel that cometh in the name of the Lord” (John 12:12-13).

“Then, as He was now drawing near the descent of the Mount of Olives, the whole multitude of the disciples began to rejoice and praise God with a loud voice for all the mighty works they had seen, saying:" 'Blessed is the King who comes in the name of the LORD!' Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!" (Luke 19:37-38).

There was a multitude that witnessed His entry, His death, His burial, and Resurrection.  This was planned by God so that there would be no question in History how and when this event would happen.  This record was given so you and I could be assured of the Lord Jesus Christ’s Second Coming to get those who have accepted Him.

“Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also” (John 14:1-3).

God is right on time with His schedule in History. He came on a donkey the first time and was coming to give His life for us.  He came to give His life for you and I. “The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly. I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep” (John 10:10-11).

 In the Second Coming He will be riding a white horse and will come down on Earth to rule and reign over it.    “And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he doth judge and make war.  His eyes were as a flame of fire, and on his head were many crowns; and he had a name written, that no man knew, but he himself. And he was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and his name is called The Word of God. And the armies which were in heaven followed him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean” (Revelation 19:11-14).

He has perfect timing for your life, if you will allow Him to work in you and for you.  This might include a relationship, a job or career, a healing, or some other spiritual blessing from Heaven.  Do your best no to get ahead of God as He arranges opportunities and people to bring about His will for your life.

JESUS' POWER OVER DEATH AND SICKNESS

VIDEO LINKS TO THIS SERMON
JESUS' POWER OVER DEATH AND SICKNESS - PART ONE
JESUS' POWER OVER DEATH AND SICKNESS - PART TWO
JESUS' POWER OVER DEATH AND SICKNESS - PART THREE

JESUS' POWER OVER DEATH AND SICKNESS - PART FOUR

  

JESUS' POWER OVER DEATH AND SICKNESS

by Pastor Mark Taylor

“Fear Not: Only Believe, and She Shall Be Made Whole”

Luke 8:50

Some people argue that miracles, including Jesus’ resurrection, are impossible because nature is a closed system and miracles would therefore violate the laws of nature.  God created nature and He can open or close it at any time.  The account of Jesus healing a woman and Jairus’s daughter in Luke 8:40-56 will teach us about the power of Jesus over disease and death.

God’s Word is showing readers that Jesus is God in human form who came to seek and to save the lost. Jesus is reaching His hand, as it were, into our time and space to demonstrate His enormous power from outside our system to do miracles and transform lives.

People in Jesus day knew He had powers given by God to heal.  There was no doubt in their mind. They had the one thing they needed - faith. In this crowd there were two people who desperately wanted Jesus’ help. One was a man, the other was a woman. God begans and ends this narrative with the man and sandwiched the woman’s story in the middle.

God’s Word said that there came a man to Jesus named Jairus, who was a ruler of the synagogue. He was a respected religious leader in the community, and was probably fairly well off financially too. Luke recorded earlier that in the town of Capernaum Jesus healed the sick people by laying His hands on every one of them and healing them.  Jairus was so concerned about his only daughter that, falling at Jesus’ feet, he implored Him to come to his house. Gone was the thought of his position. Gone was the thought about what others might think of him. His request to Jesus was for Him to come and heal his daughter, which Jesus agreed to do.

God’s Word now described an interruption. Jesus was on his way to Jairus’s house. Jesus’ disciples and crowds of people were going with Him. Luke said that there was a woman who had had a discharge of blood for twelve years (8:43a).  Interestingly, she had been ill for as long as Jairus’s daughter had been alive.

An amazing thing happened!. She was instantly healed!  Jesus also wanted to assure her about what it means to belong to Him. He said to her, “Daughter, your faith has made you well; go in peace” (8:48). Jesus wanted her to know that she was not healed because of some superstitious belief that somehow by touching His garment she would be healed. He wanted her to know that it was her faith in Him that healed her. 

Notice that Jesus stopped the crowd and gave His full attention to this woman. Although Jesus’ ministry was primarily to crowds, He always had time for individuals.  You may feel you are in a crowd today and that no one can help you with your problem.  But if you feel Jesus’ presence, all you have to do is to touch His heart with your heart.

While Jesus was still speaking, someone from the ruler’s house came and said, “Your daughter is dead; do not trouble the Teacher any more” (8:49). Why, the very thing that Jairus feared had happened! If only Jesus had not stopped to talk with the woman, Jairus must have thought to himself, and his daughter might now be alive.

But Jesus on hearing this news about Jairus’s daughter answered him, “Do not fear; only believe, and she will be well” (8:50).  

We want Jesus to take action on our timetable and schedule, but Jesus is in control. And when things don’t happen on our timetable, we think that God does not love us. You see, Jesus knows things that we don’t. Jesus has no more trouble healing a dead person than a sick person. He is at work in our lives for His glory and our ultimate good, and not for our present comfort and lack of problems.

And so Jesus tells Jairus to trust Him, even though he feels so terribly distraught about what had just happened to his girl. 

Jesus used a similar word for “child.” And in that culture, this word was used as a pet name. Literally, Jesus was saying something like, “Honey” or “Sugar” or “Sweetie.”

Basically what Jesus was doing was what Jairus did every morning when he went into his daughter’s room and took her by the hand and said, “Honey, it’s time to get up.”

Do you see the incredible power of Jesus? Death is the greatest enemy we have. Death is our most feared and dreaded enemy. Jesus spoke to her as if death was nothing but sleep.  We know it is not sleep for God’s Word tells us: “We are confident, yes, well pleased rather to be absent from the body and to be present with the Lord.”

2 Corinthians 5:8. The fact is she was present with the Lord.

Here’s what that means. Jesus is saying that if you believe in him, then you don’t have to be afraid of death. The greatest and final human enemy that we all face – death – is nothing more than a good night’s sleep to Jesus. Jesus said: “And whoever lives and believes in Me shall never die. John 11:26

Well, as soon as Jesus told Jairus’s daughter to get up, her spirit returned, and she got up at once (8:55a). Jesus demonstrated his power over death. We should believe that Jesus has power to save anyone and power over death.

Jesus calls us to trust Him.  He is calling on us to trust Him that He will call our loved ones to come from Heaven to meet us one day and we will see them again.