GETTING THROUGH THE VALLEY

GETTING THROUGH THE VALLEY

BY PASTOR MARK TAYLOR

"Yes, though I walk through the Valley, I will fear no evil, for You are with me"  

Psalms 23:5

Mountain top experiences are wonderful and we should praise God for each one of them that we experience.  We should remember them and share them with others.  These are times when God has blessed us with His good gifts of love.  “Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning.” (James 1:17).

The danger with mountaintop experiences is that they are so wonderful and so revealing that we don’t want them to end. Many people try to live out their life on the mountaintop. But, life isn’t lived on the mountaintop. It’s lived in the valleys below. After the Lord Jesus‘ transfiguration, He, Peter, James and John came down from mountain and they found people who were hurting and in need. They came back to the reality of every day life. 

Nearly 19 million Americans or about 10 percent of the US populations age 18 or over will suffer some form of depression each year.  This percentage is probably true of people in all countries.  This is a real valley for both Christians and non-Christians.  Other valleys we experience include physical illness, loss of loved ones, loss of a job, the loss of one’s identity and self-worth

The Lord Jesus was also going to face a valley.  He was going to be betrayed by one of His disciples, denied by another one, and forsaken by all of them.  But before this valley, He went to a place to prepare for it.  To a place of prayer and strength.  Let us look at this valley, and see how our Lord “walked through it”.  “Then Jesus came with them to a place called Gethsemane, and said to the disciples, Sit here while I go and pray over there.  And He took with Him Peter, James, and John, and He began to be sorrowful and deeply distressed.” (Matthew 26:36-37).  In this chapter, the Lord gives us some ways to walk through our valleys.

Jesus did not isolate Himself.  He kept His friends close by His side as He was experiencing a great spiritual battle with Satan.  Jesus let others in on the sorrow and grief that filled His heart that night. Jesus surrounded Himself with friends.  Too often Christians are imprisoned by themselves because they believe the lie that their depression should be kept as a secret—a deep dark shameful secret that we hide from everyone. When we get depressed we isolate ourselves from other people and try to ‘pull ourselves up by our own bootstraps.’  “Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.”  (Galatians 6:2).  Jesus was open and honest about the trial He was facing; He did not let His depression isolate Him from others. Will we follow His example and not isolate ourselves from others? Sharing our depression with someone else is the first step out of the Valley of Gloom.

Jesus not only was with His disciples, but He let them in on the struggle He was going through.  “Then he said to them, "My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death. Stay here and pray with me."  (Matthew 26:38).  Notice too that Jesus didn’t just tell everyone about His need. Jesus used wisdom about who He shared His need with. Jesus asked His disciples to pray, but then He pulled Peter, James and John aside and shared more openly.  If we are going through a valley we need to get counseling and comfort from those who love us and will pray for us.

Jesus was honest and to the point with His Heavenly Father about His sorrow.  “Going a little farther, he fell with his face to the ground and prayed, "My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will." (Matthew 26:29).  Jesus didn’t hid anything from the Father; instead Jesus was honest and let the Father know exactly what caused His heart to be heavy.  I personally do not believe that the Lord was trying to get out of going to the cross, because He had said many times that that was the reason He had come.  I believe He did not want to experience the temporary separation from His Father on the cross when He took on the sins of the world.

Jesus did not get trapped by bitterness or blame.  On the cross, our Lord said:  “Then Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do.”  (Luke 23:24).  He did not blame the disciples when they fell asleep instead of praying, the Jews, or the Romans.  This is an important step in walking through the valleys we are in.

Jesus prayed more than once about His valley.  God hears us the first time and every time we pray, but we need to hear ourselves pray.  We need to spend time with our Heavenly Father and express our sorrows and difficulties to Him.  Prayer is not trying to convince God to change His mind but to give us strength to get through our valleys.  Paul had the gift of healing, but when He was sick, God chose not to heal him immediately, but promised Him that He would give Him the strength to get through it.  “And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.” (2 Corinthians 12:9).  God answered Jesus and gave Him the strength He needed to endure the suffering, shame and pain he would endure on the cross.  “And there appeared an angel unto him from heaven, strengthening him.” (Luke 22:43).

Jesus got up from His time in prayer and confronted His difficulty head on. Jesus didn’t run from His problem; He didn’t head for the hills and try to hide. Jesus faced Judas and the soldiers who had come to arrest Him. Jesus was ready to face the agony of the cross with God’s power. 

God will strengthen you to overcome your valleys and move forward with His freedom and liberty. Don’t let depression freeze you in your tracks; let God warm your heart with His love. Move forward with His strength.  “For I can do all things through Christ which strengthens me.”  (Philippians 4:13).

IT IS GOOD FOR US TO BE HERE

VIDEO LINKS FOR SERMON

"IT IS GOOD FOR US TO BE HERE - PART ONE

"IT IS GOOD FOR US TO BE HERE" - PART TWO

"IT IS GOOD FOR US TO BE HERE" - PART THREE

“IT IS GOOD FOR US TO BE HERE”

February 24, 2013 

By Pastor Mark Taylor

“After six days Jesus took Peter, James, and John with Him and led them up a high mountain, where they were all alone. There He was transfigured before them.” (Mark 9:2). “Peter saw His glory, and the two men that stood with Him..., Peter said unto Jesus, Master, it is good for us to be here” (Luke 9: 32-33).

This story of the transfiguration is a miracle that describes to us what we sometimes call mountaintop experiences of life.  Today we hear the account of our Savior’s Transfiguration, and see with the eyes of faith His face shining as bright as the sun. We can see His garments whiter than all the bleach on earth could ever possibly make them. Knowing this, we come away with the firm conviction that Jesus is our Lord and our Savior, the true Son of God. We come better prepared to enter into the valleys of life with Jesus walking into the valley of His suffering.  You do not have to stay in the valley, but you will have to “walk through the valley” (Psalm 23:5).

It is natural for everyone, everywhere, during their lives to be in the valleys of work and life, and be on the mountain tops of victory, renewal and rest.  Mountains and valleys are connected and it is important to understand how the personal mountains and valleys of life are important to you.  

The mountain top experiences are where you appreciate what you have and you reflect on what is important.  It is the place where you have reached a goal and you achieved success.   Perhaps you had a mountaintop experience when your child was born, when you were married, or when you received a special blessing of healing from God. Maybe your mountaintop experience occurred as you just sat quietly in prayer with God, or maybe you remember an experience in your life when God brought you to the mountain top and you felt God was so close to you that you could just reach out and touch the hand of God. 

But life isn’t one mountain peak after another. There are the valleys too when the troubles of life, those difficult moments come. A valley is when you have been diagnosed with cancer or some other illness. When a loved one dies – that’s a valley. During those moments, it’s more difficult to see and feel the Lord’s presence. 

When you’re in the valley, it’s hard to say, “God is good.” Sometimes your faith is shaken. There’s some doubt there, when you’re in a valley that God is blessing you and those around you.  You question whether God really loves you.   It is difficult to say “Yea, thought I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear not evil, for Thou are with me, your rod and your staff they comfort me.” (Psalm 23:5).  That is why you need the mountains.

Mountain top experiences prepare us for the valleys in our lives. We are able to make it through the valleys in our lives, because we’ve been to the mountain top with God. When we are in the valley of joblessness, in the valley of loneliness, or in the valley of sickness, or in the valley of depression, or in the darkest of all valleys, “the valley of the shadow of death”,  we need to remember our mountaintop experiences and remember that just as God was with us up on the mountaintop, God is with us in the valleys of our life.

At the Transfiguration, Jesus revealed his deity. He was the Holy, Almighty God, and the brightness of His appearance revealed that to His disciples. This was good, because soon the disciples would see Jesus dirty and bloody and weak and dying. During that time, it would seem as though Jesus was a lowly man. But here it is clear, as He shines brighter than the sun – He is God – Holy, Almighty, and Powerful.

“And there appeared before them Elijah and Moses, who were talking with Jesus.” The other Gospels tell us that they were talking about his future death and resurrection and ascension.  Mountain top experiences are times for us to think about Heaven and our great future with the Lord Jesus and our loved ones who are already in Heaven.  This also reminds us that even though Elijah and Moses lived hundreds of years before Jesus, that they were alive and we will be also.  Our Lord raised Lazarus from the dead and told everyone there:  “Whoever lives and believes in me, shall never die.”  (John 11:26).  In another place He said of His Father:  “I am the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob? God is not the God of the dead, but of the living.” 

(Matthew 22:32)

The disciples needed to climb a mountain to see this. Today, God’s Word is your mountain to climb. Every time you come to church, and you hear the Word of God, you have climbed the mountain. Here, you see Christ, who has taken your sins away on the cross and who has risen from the dead. Here you catch a glimpse of His glory, even if it’s just for a moment. Sunday morning worship, Sunday evening worship, Wednesday Night Bible Study, when you read the Word of God – this is where you can find the  mountain top. 

It is good for you to be here, because this is where you are strengthened for the days ahead, for all the peaks and valleys that are around the corner for you.  God’s voice calls out from the cloud that surrounded them on top of that mountain saying, “This is My Son whom I have chosen. Listen to Him.” (Luke 9:35).

You need to purposely be with people and  go to places that will give you the mountain top experiences to strengthen you for the days you will be in the valley.  Revival services, Bible conferences, Inspirational books written by people who have had great experiences with the Lord Jesus, and times of prayer with other dedicated Christians.  Through these you will see that the Lord Jesus can lead you through the valleys.  You will “see His Glory”.  You will feel His presence.  And you will be better prepared to walk through that next valley.

INTRODUCTION TO THE HOLY SPIRIT

VIDEO LINKS TO THIS SERMON

INTRODUCTION TO THE HOLY SPIRIT - PART ONE

INTRODUCTION TO THE HOLY SPIRIT - PART TWO

INTRODUCTION TO THE HOLY SPIRIT - PART THREE

INTRODUCTION TO THE HOLY SPIRIT - PART FOUR

Introduction To The Holy Spirit

by Pastor Mark Taylor

This sermon is only a brief introduction to the Holy Spirit.  There have been hundreds of entire books devoted to revealing this wonderful Person to you and I.  The greatest book is the Bible.

Through the gift of God to mankind we are able to communicate in ways today that would have been thought of as impossible just 50 years ago.  Today I am able to communicate with live video chats with Pastors in India and other countries simply by touching a few buttons on my computer.  My sermons go to over 93 countries throughout the world on my website and people can read them in their language by simply clicking one button on their computers.  In addition to that hundreds of people have listened to my sermons on CD's after you listen to me speak to you in this Church building.  So, if poor, ignorant men like I and others can do things like this, why do we question the ability of the God of the Bible on matters such as the way He has chosen to reveal Himself to us?

Our God is the creator of technology and every other invention man has been given knowledge of.  By faith in our God - the God of the Bible, it should be easy for us to accept that He can and has revealed Himself to us in three different ways - The Father, The Son, and The Holy Spirit.

I think sometimes we forget that God is not just another more powerful human.   "For My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways My ways, saith the Lord." (Isaiah 55:8)
We were made in His image, but He is the Creator of the Universe Who is all powerful (omnipotent), all present (omnipresent), and all knowing  (omniscient).  We live in a galaxy with millions of stars and planets, and in a world with over  250 billion galaxies.  All of this was made by our God who took the time to create us and reveal Himself to us and have a loving and personal relationship with us.  He knows everything about you, even the number of hairs on your head. (Matthew 10:29-31)

Since our God is this and so much more, it is a small thing for Him to reveal Himself as the Father , Son, and Holy Spirit.  

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 them to serve the Lord Jesus Christ.  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.    “These things I have spoken to you while being present with you.  But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you.  Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.” (John 14: 25-27).  While these can be separated, God the Father, the Lord Jesus, and the Holy Spirit are always with each other and are one substance.

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).

This promise is given only to those who have accepted the Lord as their Savior.  "I will ask the Father, & He will give you another Counselor to be with you forever - the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept Him, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him . . ." (John 14:16-17). But even though the people of the world, the people who aren’t Christians don’t know Him, Jesus tells us that the Holy Spirit is working on them. 

The Holy Spirit's name can also be translated into the names:  “Comforter”, “Counselor”, and “Paraclete” or “One Who stands alongside”.  This refers to someone who is our defense attorney who stands before God for us when the devil attacks our relationship with Him.

Some denominational groups feel that the only evidence of a person who has the Holy Spirit is the “gift” of speaking in tongues. I am not discounting their experience or limiting the Holy Spirit from demonstrating Himself in that manner. 
This is another example of putting God in a box and saying He can only work one way.  God loves variety as is seen in His diversity in nature, the types, sizes and colors of all the plants and animals He has created for us.  Man was created with a diversity of personalities.  Some people express themselves with great emotion, and others do not.  We have been told by our Lord not to judge others in their relationship to God who do not worship just like us.

However, many people have been used by the Holy Spirit without this gift including Martin Luther, John Wesley, D.L. Moody, Billy Graham, and hundreds of missionaries and Pastors over many centuries.   I personally believe that there are many “gifts” that the Holy Spirit gives to the child of God as evidence of His presence in their lives and this is only one of them.  I would rather spend this time with you introducing the Person of the Holy Spirit.

The Holy Spirit is not a "gift", but a person who indwells Christians.  He in turn gives gifts to those who have accepted the Lord Jesus Christ.  Other "gifts" include:  preaching, teaching, healing the sick, singing, giving, helps, writing, artistic abilities, administration, and the greatest gift, "love". (I Corinthians 13).  Our Lord Jesus said:  "If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children:  how much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask Him?" (Luke 11:13).  It is simply a matter of asking.

There are many things that every believer can agree on who have experienced the power of the Holy Spirit and that is what this sermon will attempt to do with His help.

The Holy Spirit is God’s final contact, God’s last attempt to reach man & save him from sin. The Holy Spirit is God’s agent in the world today showing us the great love of God & offering us His salvation.

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)  .The Holy Spirit uses every opportunity possible to convict us of our sins, to call us to righteousness, & to warn us about the judgment to come.  The Holy Spirit is  not optional or extra.  It comes into you when you are "born again" (John 3:3).  

The Holy Spirit will be evidenced in your life by your desire to share your faith and the love of God  in your life to others.  “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes into your life. You will tell about Me in the city of Jerusalem and over all the countries of Judea and Samaria and to the ends of the earth.”  (Acts 1:8)

The Bible tells us that the Holy Spirit comforts us in time of trouble or sorrow; He helps us to overcome temptations & to live the way we ought; He educates our conscience; He helps us to pray as we ought; & He bears witness to God on our behalf that we are children of God.   To the Christian, the Holy Spirit is God’s great Helper - helping us where we are weak, lifting us up when we fall, comforting us in trouble or sorrow, guiding us in the way we ought to go, & standing alongside us as a witness for our defense before God on that great judgment day.

Why is the sin against the Holy Spirit called the “unpardonable sin”? The sin against the Holy Spirit is the sin of so often & so consistently refusing God’s will that in the end we no longer even recognize it, even when it comes in all of its power.  It was a direct reference to the Pharisees giving credit to Satan for the healing of the man Jesus healed who was blind and unable to speak. (Matthew 12: 30-32).  People need to be very careful about speaking against the works of the Holy Spirit in the lives of others.

But why should that sin be unforgivable? What makes it so much worse than all other sins? The answer is simple. When someone reaches that stage, repentance becomes impossible.   If we cannot recognize good when we see it, we can’t desire the good.  If we do not recognize evil as being evil, we can’t be sorry for it, & hate it, & wish to change for the better.  If we cannot love the good & hate the evil, then we can’t repent; & if we do not repent, we cannot be forgiven, because repentance is a vital condition for forgiveness.

It was to that stage that the Pharisees had come. They had so long been deliberately blind & deaf to God that they had lost the ability to recognize God when they were confronted by Him.  It was not God who had shut them out; they had shut themselves out, for years of resistance to God had made them what they were. 

Great men of God, such as Billy Graham and others have admitted that even they do not understand everything about the Holy Spirit, God The Father, or the Lord Jesus Christ.  And they have studied the Word of God and other people’s ideas and writings all their lives.  So it is unlikely that we will ever totally grasp how wonderful the Holy Spirit is and the help and power is available to us through Him.  We can, however, pray for more understanding, more gifts, more love, and a life of forgiveness and repentance for ourselves and others.  As we give more of ourselves to God, He will reveal more of Himself to us.

INTRODUCTION TO THE HOLY SPIRIT

THE IMPORTANCE OF LOVE IN OUR LIVES

VIDEO LINKS TO THIS SERMON

THE IMPORTANCE OF LOVE - PART ONE

THE IMPORTANCE OF LOVE - PART TWO

THE IMPORTANCE OF LOVE - PART THREE

THE IMPORTANCE OF LOVE - PART FOUR

“THE IMPORTANCE OF LOVE IN OUR LIVES”

February 10, 2013 

By Pastor Mark Taylor

"This is My commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you.”           (John 15:12)

Love is the most important word in any language.  It was also the most important commandment given to us from God and the Lord Jesus Christ. “And you shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength.' This is the first commandment. "And the second, like it, is this: 'You shall love your neighbor as yourself.' There is no other commandment greater than these." (Mark 12:30-31).

We will see that without the love from above that God gives us, nothing else will matter in our lives. This is how important it is:

“Dear friends, let us love each other, because love comes from God. Those who love are God’s children and they know God. Those who do not love do not know God because God is love God has shown His love to us by sending His only Son into the world. God did this so we might have life through Christ.” (I John 4:7-9).

Hopefully the Holy Spirit will reveal to you how important love is to the church, to friends, to your family, and to your relationship with the person who loves you the most. and that is God.

The Lord gives us a clear explanation of how important love is in our lives in I Corinthians 13.

 “I may be able to speak the languages of men and even of angels, but if I do not have love, it will sound like a noisy musical instrument.” (v. 1).  Words without love will not touch the hearts of men or God.

“If I have the gift of speaking God’s Word and if I understand all secrets, but do not have love, I am nothing.” (v. 2a).  Even if you are a gifted speaker and impress people with your knowledge of God’s Words and ways, and you do not have love, you are nothing in God’s eyes or those who hear you.

“If I know all things and if I have the gift of faith so I can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing.” (v. 2b).   if you know everything there is to know about nuclear science; if you know everything there is to know about medicine; if you know everything there is to know about philosophy & psychology & theology & every other kind of “ology” - if you know it all, but have no love, then you are nothing at all. People will not care how much you know, until they know how much you care. 

Do you believe in Jesus? If you do then that is good.  But the Bible teaches that if even if you believe all the right stuff, but you do not have love, then you faith is not enough. Because even faith is of no value unless it is backed up by love.

“If I give everything I have to feed poor people and if I give my body to be burned, but do not have love, it will not help me.” (v.3).  Love is more important than generosity.  Paul is saying that even if you go to church every time the church doors are open, if you give large offerings, if you read your Bible faithfully, if you pray, & do all the things that a Christian person ought to do, but if there is no love behind all that, then it is nothing in God’s sight.

We should know some ways to love.  We can love by our words to each other.  We can love by spending quality time with each other.  We can love by giving things to each other that is valued by the other person.  We can love each other with acts of service toward each other. We can love each other with physical touch.  All of these things are ways to love.  There are some actions in our lives that are the opposites of love.

I Corinthians 13 continues by telling us what love is not.  If you are demonstrating some of these negative qualities in your life, you need to ask God to give you power and the desire to overcome them.

“Love does not give up. Love is kind. Love is not jealous. Love does not put itself up as being important. Love has no pride.  Love does not do the wrong thing. Love never thinks of itself. Love does not get angry. Love does not remember the suffering that comes from being hurt by someone.  Love is not happy with sin. Love is happy with the truth.  Love takes everything that comes without giving up. Love believes all things. Love hopes for all things. Love keeps on in all things.  Love never comes to an end. (v. 4-8).

Can you begin to see why you and I cannot love without God’s Holy Spirit dwelling inside of us?  We have certainly all fallen short of the description of love in the verses above.  The “Love” that God is speaking about in this Chapter is a supernatural love that comes from above.  We can have it and demonstrate it in our lives toward others.  You cannot have it just because you are a “good person”.  You have to receive it as a gift from above.

Paul is writing to the church, to people who love God and have accepted the Lord Jesus as their Savior.  We need to ask for and demonstrate more love towards each other.  Otherwise all of our efforts and service on Earth will not matter when we step into God’s presence at the end of our lives on Earth.

We have seen in this “Love Chapter” that we do not need a good education, good resources, great faith, or good talents to do the work God has put into our hearts to do.  What we need is more love.

Will you ask God to fill you with His love so it will overflow into the world?  Your family, your friends, your church, and you really do need more love.

REST AND RESTORATION

VIDEO LINKS TO THIS SERMON

REST AND RESTORATION - PART ONE

REST AND RESTORATION - PART TWO

REST AND RESTORATION - PART THREE

Rest and  Restoration (R & R)

By Pastor Mark Taylor

“Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.”  MATTHEW 11:28

“He restores my soul; He guides me in the paths of righteousness For His name’s sake.” (Psalm 23:3)

One day when the Lord returns He is going to restore our world to it's original creation before sin entered it.  There will be no Satan or evil.  The "Lion shall eat straw like the Ox...and a little child shall lead them."  All of this will happen when the Lord sets up His Kingdom on Earth and we rule and reign with Him. "And He has made us serve God as kings and priests, and we shall reign on the earth." (Revelations 5:10).  But until then we are in constant need of rest and restoration.

We need rest just as we need air, water and food to survive. The fact is, when we fail to rest fully and deeply, we not only hurt ourselves, we run the risk of hurting others. Physical rest is every bit as important as emotional and spiritual and let us not underplay this reality. 

We also need Restoration.  In the scriptures we see God restoring many things, the joy of salvation (Ps 51); the rain (1 Ki 18); lost years (Joel 2:25); relationship with the Father (Lk 16); lost wages (2 Ki 8); and other things.  The Hebrew word means to turn back to God, to refresh and to repair. When we restore something we bring it back to original condition.  God wants us to be restored as much or more than we sometimes do. If you can remember that God wants you to be on fire for Him it will always make the journey back home much sweeter.  s the prodigal son. Put shoes on his feet, my regal robe on his back, my ring of authority on his finger.  If he had not run out of money he may have never returned home.

Rest is an important element in being restored back to our original condition and in even in better condition.  Restoration means to take something from the garbage heap and make something very special out of it.  God is that way also,  He enjoys restoring things to their intended purpose.

As we read through the Gospels we see the relaxed, calm pace Jesus kept from day to day. You never once see Jesus in a hurry. Even when one of Jesus’ closest friends, Lazarus, was on his deathbed, Jesus took His time getting to Bethany to be with Lazarus. How is it that Jesus moved through life so slowly, and yet accomplished so much? Is there something we contemporary Christians have missed?  The ability to calm your soul and wait before God is one of the most difficult things in the Christian life, but it is necessary.

Maybe you have lived in a stressful life for so long, that you think it is normal, but it is not.  Maybe you have not been able to rest or be restored because of the demands of others..  Some people have chosen to draw boundaries in which they have chosen not to stress out about everyone else’s problems.  These people live with a thing called “Peace”.  That is their day is full of thoughts and actions that bring joy into their lives and into the lives of others.  Boundaries are important and we need to set them.

When God begins to restore you, He wants you to make meaningful changes in your life that keeps you from falling back into a broken and stressful life.  Today, you can begin to allow God to start the repairing work that needs to be done in your life.  

Prayer and asking Him to help you is where things start.  God works with you in your spirit and mind.  That means you have to connect with Him in conversation and filling your mind with new material for new thoughts and actions. To live a life with of rest and restoration, I would encourage to begin praying and making your requests known to God about these two areas.  The first is to take time for yourself.  The second is to take control of your life, especially what you think.  Ask God to help you and as you make progress, give thanks to our Heavenly Father for helping you.

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

Rest is more than sleeping or being physically inactive.  There is certainly a need for those periods of time.  But it involves more than spending time by yourself in a quite room.  Set aside relaxation time. Include rest and relaxation in your daily schedule. Don’t allow other obligations to encroach. This is your time to take a break from all responsibilities and recharge your batteries.  Connect with others. Spend time with positive people who enhance your life. A strong support system will buffer you from the negative effects of stress.  Do something you enjoy every day. Make time for leisure activities that bring you joy, whether it is reading an inspirational book, playing a game with your children or grand children, or working on a project you enjoy.  Other healthy ways to relax and recharge can include: taking a walk; spending time in nature; call a good positive friend; sweat out tension with a good workout; write in a journal; play with a pet, work in a garden or flower bed; listen to music; and many more things that bring you joy.

As God is restoring you, take control of your environment.  ”Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace.” (Colossians 3:15).  The key word is “let”.  Make a choice that you are going to think on things that bring peace into daily life.  What are thoughts that will bring you peace?  “Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things.”  (Philippians 4:8).  Think about what you are thinking about.  “You will keep in perfect peace him whose mind is steadfast, because he trusts in you.” (Isaiah 26:3).

Have a good support system.  Church, family and positive people can help you as God restores your life  “I was glad when they said unto me, Let us go into the House of the Lord” (Psalms 122: 1).    God’s House should be a place where people are happy and joyful and can encourage each other. And finally read God’s Word daily.  This will guide you into a life of rest and restoration.

TOO MANY EXCUSES

“TOO MANY EXCUSES”

By Pastor Mark Taylor

There are at least five areas the church needs to focus on as we carry out His commission:  “Go into all the world and preach the Gospel”.  If we are focusing on these five ministry areas and if we are following the will of God, and if our eyes are on Him, we can be excited about what God is doing and what He is going to do. 

We need to focus on investing and inviting.

We need to focus on the Word of God and prayer. 

We need to focus on meaningful relationships.

We need to focus on serving others.

We need to focus on praise and worship.

There is one thing stopping us from accomplishing these areas of ministry and that is “Too Many Excuses”.  Because it is going to take commitment, dedication, sacrifice, and tenacity to get it done. It means that we are going to have to stop making excuses.   It seems all of us have all kinds of strong excuses not to do the things we ought to be doing.   We need to be saying:  “I can do all things through Christ Who gives me strength” (Philippians 4:13).

If there was any one person in the Bible who came up with excuses not to do what God had called them to do, it would have to be Moses. As many of us do, Moses had many excuses that he gave to God as to why he could not fulfill his calling to rescue the Israelites from slavery. 

Moses said, “But I am not qualified.”  Moses said to God, “Who am I that I should go to Pharaoh and bring the Israelites out of Egypt?” (Exodus 3:11).  

All Moses could see was his own unworthiness.  God is calling us to make an impact and God is going to provide the means to fulfill that calling. We are His, we are His sons and daughters and He has qualified us to make an impact. 

Moses said, “But I don’t have the knowledge to do what you are asking me to do.”  “Suppose I go to the Israelites and say to them, ‘The God of your fathers has sent me to you,’ and they ask me, ‘What is his name?’ Then what shall I tell them?” (Exodus 3:13). God always gives us the knowledge and the power to do what He asks us to do. Therefore by faith we do it. 

Moses said, “But I do not believe I can do it.”  Moses, once again doubts himself and his ability to fulfill his mission.  “What if they do not believe me or listen to me and say, ‘The LORD did not appear to you’?” (Exodus 4:1).  We should not worry about what others think of us in relationship to our mission and calling from the Lord. Basically Moses is saying they are not going to believe me so I don’t believe in me.   The fear of failure often keeps people from trying to follow the Lord.  God gave Moses convincing proofs and He gives us the Word of God to produce faith in us.  “So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God.”  (Romans 10:17).

Moses said, “But I don’t have the right gifts for this mission.”   If God calls you to do something, He will give you the ability to get it done.   “Pardon your servant, Lord. I have never been eloquent, neither in the past nor since you have spoken to your servant. I am slow of speech and tongue.”   (Exodus 4:10).  God answered Moses and said:  “Now go; I will help you speak and will teach you what to say.” (Exodus 4:12).   God already knows the inability and shortcomings of those He calls.  But our God is a God of miracles and He can give you what you need to get His job done.  “But Jesus looked at them and said, "With men it is impossible, but not with God; for with God all things are possible." (Mark 10:27).

Moses said, “But I don’t want to!”  But Moses said, “Pardon your servant, Lord. Please send someone else.” (Exodus 4:13).  Moses was done with excuses and showed the real state of his heart. He would rather have God send someone else.  His problem wasn’t really a lack of ability; it was a lack of willingness.  He simply did not want to go.  It may be true with us that we would really rather that God would use someone else.  Send someone else to visit the sick.  Send someone else to invite people to church.  Someone else can pray.  Someone else can give their money and time.  In that case someone else will receive God’s blessings and some other church will grow and take the message throughout the world for the Lord.  God has given us everything we need to do everything He has called us to do.  “I can do all things through Christ Who gives me strength” (Philippians 4:13).  We need to be more confident in the fact that God is always going to give us what we need to get the job done.  All we have to do is step out in faith and do it. 

With Moses we know that He did answer the call and was successful in delivering the children of Israel out of Egyptian bondage.  What about us?  Will we heed the call to use our gifts and abilities for the service of the Lord?  Moses is with the Lord right now enjoying his salvation and rewards for making the right decision.  It is an honor to be called by God and to serve Him.  If you put aside your excuses you will hear Him say to you: “Well done, good and faithful servant; you were faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your Lord.” (Matthew 25:21).

What is God calling you to do this year?  I am sure He is speaking to each of us about something.  He has told us we are “the light of the world” and that we are “the salt of the earth”.  This means we are called to do something to make our world better, our church better, and our make our friends and families better.  Why don’t we all quit making excuses and start doing what God is asking us to do?

THE LOVE OF GOD

“THE LOVE OF GOD” 

By Pastor Mark Taylor

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

The world population as  of July, 2012  is 7 billion  and the percent of those who call themselves Christian is only. 33%.  This means 67% of the world has not heard of,  or have decided not to receive the love of God, through His Son, Jesus Christ.

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

THE LOVE OF GOD IS UNCONDITIONAL. 

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

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

This does not however exempt any of us from the consequences of our sins and wrong choices. "Be not deceived (make no mistake in your thinking), God is not mocked, for whatsoever a person sows, that shall they also reap." ( Galations 6:7).  We must keep in the context of God's love that He hates sin because of the harm it does to His children.  He does not hate the sinner, but the actions that robs them of the blessings He wants to give to those He loves.  Deliberately choosing to live a life of sin is rejecting the Love of God.  This does not mean you will not sin from time to time. When you do God has forgiveness for you.  "If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us of our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness."  (I John 1:9).

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

THE LOVE OF GOD IS SACRIFICIAL

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

THE LOVE OF GOD IS VALUABLE

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

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

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

THE LOVE OF GOD IS PERSONAL

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

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

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

GOD’S LOVE IS AVAILABLE TO ANYONE

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

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

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

GOD’S LOVE IS FOREVER

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

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

GOD'S LOVE IS FOR YOU

Our response to this wonderful gift of love from God to us should be to accept it and love God back.  

Romans 10: 9-13

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

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

What are those commandments?  

This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you.  (John 15:12)

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

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

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

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

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

I hope you will accept God's Love today.  Just simply ask Him to forgive you of all your sins, and come into your heart, and God will do the rest.