JOY TO YOUR WORLD

Video Links To This Sermon

JOY TO YOUR WORLD - PART ONE

JOY TO YOUR WORLD - PART TWO

JOY TO YOUR WORLD - PART THREE

JOY TO YOUR WORLD

by Pastor Mark Taylor

“Rejoice in the Lord always: and again I say, Rejoice.” (Philippians 4:4)

I will greatly rejoice in the LORD, my soul shall be joyful in my God; for He has clothed me with the garments of salvation, He has covered me with the robe of righteousness” (Isaiah 61:10).

The Lord Jesus wants you to have a "Merry Christmas" this year.  Hopefully God will show you through this message that it is His desire for you to have joy and He will help you to make it happen.

Joy and happiness are often used to mean the same thing.  I think we can have joy all of the time even if we are not happy.  But I think that happiness is a choice.  I think that joy is that gift that God gives you to have peace in times of unpleasant circumstances when you may not feel happy.  For instance, when you lose a love one you are sad and unhappy, but you can have joy that you will see them in Heaven and that they are better off there than they would be here. “He that goes forth and weeps, bearing precious seed, shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with him.” (Psalms 126:6)  “Weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning.” (Psalms 30:5)

I would like to talk to you about happiness that will in turn add to your joy.  Joy is a decision you make, not just an emotion you feel.  When you get up in the morning, you can choose to be happy and enjoy that day, or you can choose to be unhappy and have a bad day.

Joy is not always displayed in the same way by everyone.  God has given each of us different personalities.  Some people have a bubbly personality that shows when they are happy and when they are not.  But other people are more reserve and even shy and they may not always demonstrate their happiness by laughing or smiling.  

But we should all learn how to smile more and laugh more.  “A merry heart does good like a medicine: but a broken spirit dries the bones” (Proverbs 17:22)

Here are some principles to apply in order to have the joy that God wants to give you, 

To have joy you need to learn how to live one day at a time.  By an act of your will, you need to choose to forget about yesterday and tomorrow and think about today.

Life is to short not to enjoy every single day. “This is the day which the LORD hath made; we will rejoice and be glad in it.” (Psalms 118:24)  Learn to enjoy your family, your friends, your health, your work, your church, and everything God gives you. 

 Jesus said: “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.”  (John 10:10).  An abundant life is a happy life. 

He also said: “Take therefore no thought for  tomorrow: for tomorrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.” (Matthew 6:34)

To have joy you need to learn not to let life’s little things get you upset.  When negative things happen to us, no matter how much we rant and rave, it’s not going to change anything.  No matter how much we murmur and complain, it’s not going to make anything better.  You can decide not to let little things get the best of you. 

“Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.” (Philippians 4:8)

To have joy don’t wait on some event or person to make you happy.  Big events will not keep you happy.  People cannot keep you happy.  Having  the right relationship and fellowship with the Lord can make you happy: “For the joy of the LORD is your strength.” (Nehemiah 8:10)

To have joy, learn how to content where you are in your life today.  If you will make the decision to stay faithful and be content, at the right time God will change your circumstances.  The Bible says: “But godliness with contentment is great gain.” (1 Timothy 6:6)  “For I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content.” (Philippians 4:11).  

Notice that it is a learning process.  Ask the Holy Spirit to give you wisdom on how to look at your life as someone who has been blessed and is being blessed everyday.  If you are always discontented, something is wrong.  If you get up each morning dreading your day, you need to ask the Lord to change your attitude.

To have joy, understand that God has your best interests in mind as you go through trials and difficulties.  “The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD: and he delights in his way.” (Psalms 37:23)  There is a reason why you are where you are and God will direct your steps until he leads you through the valley.  Remember change is by steps, not giant leaps.

If you will apply some or all of these principles to your life during this season of the year, you will have a “Merry Christmas”, regardless of what you have or don’t have. “If ye know these things, happy are ye if ye do them.” (John 13:17)

The greatest gift you have is God’s love and that should make you happy.  

“These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full.” (John 15:11)   “For I am the LORD, I change not”. (Malachi 3:6).

“Rejoice, because your names are written in heaven.” (Luke 10:20)

“I say unto you, that likewise joy shall be in heaven over one sinner that repents, more than over ninety and nine just persons, which need no repentance.” (Luke 15:7 )

GOD'S GREATEST GIFT TO YOU

GOD’S GREATEST GIFT TO YOU

SERMON BY PASTOR MARK TAYLOR

"For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given."   Isaiah 9:6.

As Jesus Christ was a child in his human nature, he was born, begotten of the Holy Ghost, born of the Virgin Mary. He was as truly-born, as a child, as any other man that ever lived upon the face of the earth. He is thus in his humanity a child born. But as Jesus Christ is God's Son, he is not born; but given, begotten of His Father from before all worlds, begotten—not made, being of the same substance with the Father. The doctrine of this eternal relationship of Christ is to be received as an undoubted truth of our holy faith. 

If unto me a child is born then I have been born again; and, moreover, I am now in consequence of that new birth, a child of God. If, again, a Son has been given to me, then I am a son; and again I am given to that Son who is given to me.

Now, if this Son is given to you, you are a son/daughter yourself. "For unto as many as received him to them gave he power to become the children of God." (John 1:12). "Wherefore in all things it behoved Him to be made like unto His brethren, that He might be a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make reconciliation for the sins of the people." (Hebrews 2:17). The Son of God is not mine to enjoy, to love, to delight in, unless I am a son of God too. Does the Holy Spirit bear witness with your spirit that you are born of God? 

If Christ is not my Christ, He is of little worth to me. If I cannot say He loved me and gave Himself for me, of what value is His birth, death and resurrection to me? Bread in the store is well enough, but if I am hungry and cannot get it, I will starve though the stores are full. Water in the river is well enough but if I am in a desert and cannot reach the stream or if I can hear it in the distance and cannot find it, I will die of thirst.

There may be some to whom it is a matter of uncertainty as to whether Christ is theirs or not. Do not go through this Christmas season without knowing assuredly that Christ is yours, and that you are Christ's.

If the Son is given to me, why should not I be sure of it? If the child is born to me, why should I not know it for a certainty, that I may even now live in the enjoyment of my privilege—a privilege, the value of which I shall never know to the full, till I arrive in glory?  “For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given.” Isaiah 9:6.

Let us examine what it means to be become a son/daughter of God and to receive this great gift of God’s Son to us.

Verily I say unto you, Except you be converted, and become as little children, you shall not enter into the kingdom of Heaven.  Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of Heaven.” (Matthew 18: 3-4).

Many of us have heard the invitation to come to Christ and have given our hearts to the Savior.  We have read and heard the verse Jesus said to Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews: “Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the Kingdom of God.” (John 3:3).    We know that before a child is born into the world he has eyes, but cannot see, he has ears but cannot hear.  Before he/she is born they cannot breathe. It is only after their birth that they now are capable of hearing and seeing.  When we are “born again” we receive our spiritual eyes and ears. “The natural man cannot receive the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.” (I Corinthians 2:14).  

When we are “born again” God breathes into our soul a spiritual life.  It is that great change which God works in the soul when he brings it into life.  When we are “born again”, our spiritual life begins.  There are similarities between our natural birth and growth and our spiritual birth and growth. 

When we have received this “Son” which was “Born unto us”, and “given unto us”, we have become a child of God.  This is our “spiritual birth”.  God has made this a simple process.  It is something He does in us and not something we can do.

Today, you can receive this wonderful gift of God’s Son, the Lord Jesus Christ.  If you have not already received Him as your personal Savior, this will be the best and most lasting Christmas present you will ever receive.  If you have received God’s Son, share this message of love with someone else you want to see in Heaven with you.

This gift is free to anyone who will ask God for forgiveness of their sins and ask the Lord Jesus to come into their hearts and save them.

“For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.” (Romans 10:13).

You say, “Surely, it cannot be that simple.” Yes, that simple! It is scriptural. It is God’s plan. My friend, believe on Jesus and receive Him as Savior today.

In Luke 18:13, the sinner prayed: “God be merciful to me a sinner.” Just pray: “Oh God, I know I am a sinner. I believe Jesus was my substitute when He died on the Cross. I believe His shed blood, death, burial, and resurrection were for me. I now receive Him as my Savior. I thank You for the forgiveness of my sins, the gift of salvation and everlasting life, because of Your merciful grace. Amen.”

THANKS - GIVING

THANKS – GIVING

By Pastor Mark Taylor

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

On December 4, 1619, 38 English settlers arrived upstream from Jamestown, where the first permanent settlement of the Colony of Virginia had been established on May 14, 1607.  The group's charter required that the day of arrival be observed yearly as a "day of thanksgiving" to God. On that first day, Captain John Woodleaf held the service of thanksgiving. As quoted from the section of the Charter of Berkeley Hundred specifying the thanksgiving service: "We ordaine that the day of our ships arrival in the land of Virginia shall be yearly and perpetually keept holy as a day of thanksgiving to Almighty God.". (original spelling).  In 1941, the U.S. Congress  passed a bill requiring that Thanksgiving be observed annually on the fourth Thursday of November.

In the Bible, Thanksgiving has always been apart of God’s plan for those who love Him.  There are 138 passages of Scripture that deal with the subject of thanksgiving!  “It is a good thing to give thanks unto the LORD, and to sing praises unto Your name, O most High” (Psalms 92:1).

There are two parts to that compound word – Thanks, and Giving.  Today, I want us to look at them as two separate actions that go together.

First of all “Thanks” is an action word, not just a feeling or emotion.  God wants to hear our voices and receive our words of thanks.  It reminds us of the nearness of God and all He has done in the past.  “We give thanks to You, O God, we give thanks! For Your wondrous works declare that Your name is near.” (Psalms 75:1).  When we give “thanks” it reminds us of His mercy and love for us.  “Oh, give thanks to the LORD, for He is good! For His mercy endures forever.” (Psalms 107:1).  Jesus demonstrated how important “thanks” is by constantly giving His Father thanks.  “Jesus lifted up His eyes and said, "Father, I thank You that You have heard Me.” (John 11:41).  

It is God’s will that you be thankful.  “In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you” (1 Thessalonians 5:18).

The opposite of “Thanks” is not being thankful.  And Jesus answering said, Were there not ten cleansed? but where are the nine? There are not found that returned to give glory to God, save this stranger. And He said unto him, Arise, go your way: your faith has made you whole” (Luke 17:17-19).

“Giving” is the second part of “Thanksgiving”.  As our Lord “gave thanks”, He also gave to others.  “And He took the seven loaves and the fish and gave thanks, broke them and gave them to His disciples; and the disciples gave to the multitude.” (Matthew 15:36).  “Then He took the cup, and when He had given thanks He gave it to them, and they all drank from it.” (Mark 14:23).

The opposite of giving is simply not giving.  There is a Biblical principle and truth you can count on.  “But this I say: He who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully.”                     (2 Corinthians 9:6).  The Lord wants to give you a lot, but it really is determined by your generosity to others.  "Give, and it will be given to you: good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over will be put into your bosom. For with the same measure that you use, it will be measured back to you." (Luke 6:38) 

How are you going to celebrate your “Thanksgiving”?  Is it going to be just about food and time off work?  Or will you make it a day of “giving thanks” to God about how much you really love Him and appreciate all He has done for you?  Is it going to be “all about you”?  Or is it going to be about making this “Holy Day” special for someone else?

Take some time in the next few days to find things to be thankful for, and write notes of thanks to others or call them up and give them some words of thanks.  This is not a season to enter into with complaining and talking about what you don’t have.  It is a season of being “Thankful”.  Remember the song

When upon life’s billows you are tempest tossed,
When you are discouraged, thinking all is lost,
Count your many blessings, name them one by one,
And it will surprise you what the Lord hath done.

"IN EVERYTHING GIVE THANKS"

“In Everything Give Thanks”

by Pastor Mark Taylor

“In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you” (1 Thessalonians 5:18)

Giving thanks is an act of the will.  It is something you do on purpose and willingly out of love.  It is an attitude of gratitude. 

During Your Difficult Times Give Thanks.

This verse is saying give thanks “in” your difficult times, not “for” your difficult times.  It is also important to know that God does not cause your difficult times.  Jesus said: “The thief (Satan) does not come except to steal and to kill and to destroy.  I have come so that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly” (John 10:10).

It is also important to remember that just because we are children of God, it does not exempt us from difficult times.  Jesus reminds of this when he said: “I have spoken these things to you so that you might have peace in Me.  In the world you shall have tribulation, but be of good cheer. I have overcome the world. (John 16:33)

During Your Good Times Give Thanks.

When things are going good for you – give thanks.  When God hears and answers your prayers – give thanks.  When you think of how blessed you are – give thanks.  When your children learn to be thankful to you and others you are proud of them, the Lord Jesus appreciates your praise and thanksgiving. God is proud of you when you are thankful.

“It is a good thing to give thanks unto the LORD, and to sing praises unto Your name, O most High” (Psalms 92:1).

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

“Praise you the LORD. O give thanks unto the LORD; for He is good: for His mercy endures for ever” (Psalms 106:1).

For Your Future Times Give Thanks.

When you pray, expect God to answer you and thank Him for the answer ahead of time.  This type of thankfulness is an example of faith which pleases God.

“Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God” (Philippians 4:6).

“Since then we have a great High Priest who has passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession. For we do not have a high priest who cannot be touched with the feelings of our infirmities, but was in all points tempted just as we are, yet without sin. Therefore let us come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need” 

(Hebrews 4:14-16).

Heaven and eternal life is your reward and you can be thankful for it now.

“Yet do not rejoice in this, that the evil spirits are subject to you, rather rejoice because your names are written in Heaven” (Luke 10:20).

Give thanks today for all the blessings you have.  Even in your difficult times, you can give thanks for the people who love you, for the church that ministers to you, and for the God that loves you.

During these Thanksgiving and Christmas seasons, let us truly be thankful.  Let us demonstrate with our lips and our lives how much we love God.

There are 138 passages of Scripture that deal with subject of thanksgiving!

A MESSAGE FROM THE MOUNTAINS

A MESSAGE FROM THE MOUNTAINS

by Pastor Mark Taylor

Below is a short video of the beauty that God has created in the mountains in the State of North Carolina in the USA.

I hope you can see that even though the world is full of problems, God has places where we can go to see His wonderful works.

A MESSAGE FROM THE MOUNTAINS

PRAYER REALLY DOES MAKE A DIFFERENCE

“PRAYER REALLY DOES MAKE A DIFFERENCE”

By Pastor Mark Taylor

When we rely upon education, we get what education can do;  Education can provide opportunities that would otherwise be missed.  But it alone does not give us the wisdom from God to use our knowledge to always make the best decisions in life.  When we rely upon skill, we get what skill can do; Skill can be developed with training and practice, But when God gives you His blessing your skill will become a gift that far exceeds your ability.  When we rely upon 

, we get what technology can do; technology can be used for good or evil.   When we rely upon organization, we get what organization can do;  Organizations can meet the needs of people through group efforts

But, When we rely upon prayer, we get what God can do.  He can do more for you and me than education, skill, technology, and organization  Those  devoted to prayer do things by prayer-they begin with prayer, not tacking prayer on as an afterthought, after decisions are made.

"But as it is written, Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, neither has it entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love Him."

1 Corinthians 2: 9

Prayer is not trying to convince God to give us what we want.  It is not a way of trying to get God to change His mind about things that needs to be changed in our lives.

It is praying "not my will, but thine be done."

Certainly there is a place for praying for God's blessings on our live as Jabez did:  

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

We are encouraged over and over again in God’s Word to ask God for blessings. “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened.”  Matthew 7:7-8

But that is not what prayer is all about!.  Prayer is more than asking and receiving things from God

When we pray, we receive the gift of God Himself-

Prayer is communion with God. He wants us to know Him.  If we never gain anything from prayer but the opportunity to commune with God, that should be sufficient for us.

Jesus counted on prayer as a source of strength that equipped Him to carry out a partnership with God the Father on earth.

Prayer makes a difference in receiving forgiveness for your sins.  It is a second chance that is given to you every time you go to your Heavenly Father.

Prayer makes a difference in our relationship as children of God with our Heavenly Father.  Apparently God is the kind of friend and Father who rewards friendship and relationship with Him.

  No one in the Old Testament directly addressed God as “Father”, but Jesus did so 170 times. He told us to also:  Our Father Who is in Heaven..” (Matthew 6: 8-10).

Prayer makes a difference in what we can receive from God.  “You have not because you ask not” (James 4:2)  But that asking should be as a loving child who is asking for things to make him a better person and better serve his Father.

"Cast your care (your anxiety, your worries about the future, your concern about those you love) upon Him, for He cares for you" ( 1 Peter 5:7)

Prayer will make a difference in how much and how effective we will be in our service for the Lord.  Prayer is more than a reflective time to consider God’s point of view.  It is also a time to find a way to accomplish God’s will in the work He calls us to do.  

After entrusting the human species with the gift of free choice, God invited them to act as partners, even to argue and wrestle with the One who created them.   He asks us to pray for that which He wants to do.

Prayer makes a difference in our relationship with our Heavenly Father.  I spend time with my closest friends not because of what they can do for me, but for the pleasure of their company.    In one hand I hold the truth of God’s vastness, and in the other hand I hold the truth of God’s desire for intimacy.  Prayer that is based on relationship and not transaction may be the most freedom-enhancing way of connecting to a God who’s vantage point we can never achieve and can hardly imagine.  “The eyes of the Lord are on the righteous and His ears are attentive to their prayer”. (I Peter 3:12)

Prayer makes a difference in feeling the presence of God in your life.  Prayer is not my way of establishing God’s presence, rather as my way of responding to God’s presence that is a fact whether or not I can detect it.  My feelings of God’s presence – or God’s absence- are not the presence or the absence.  Prayer means keeping company with God who is already present.  God has time for you.  A God unbound by our rules of time has the ability to invest in every person on earth.  God has, quite literally, all the time in the world for each one of us.  “For a thousand years in Your sight Are like yesterday when it is past, And like a watch in the night” (Psalms 90:4).  

Contact with Him is not our achievement.  It is a gift coming down to us from on high like a meteor, rather   than rising up like a rocket.  God finds ways to communicate to those who truly seek God.  I need to think more about God than about myself when I am praying..

Prayer will make a difference in our lives in increasing our faith.  Before the words of prayer come to the lips, the mind must believe in God’s willingness to draw near to us, and in our ability to clear the path for His approach.  Such belief is the idea that leads us toward prayer.  “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 11:6). The more we pray, the more faith we will have.

Prayer is something the poorest person can do.  Prayer is something any person can do regardless of their education.  Prayer is something a child can do or someone who is in their senior years.  Prayer is something  a person who is sick or well can do.  Prayer is something a person who is discouraged and away from God can do.

Prayer Really Does Make A Difference

(Book by Phillip Yancy)

THE PRAYER OF JABEZ

Video Links To This Sermon

THE PRAYER OF JABEZ - PART ONE

THE PRAYER OF JABEZ - PART TWO

The Prayer of Jabez

by Pastor Mark Taylor

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

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

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

We are encouraged over and over again in God’s Word to ask God for blessings. “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened.”  Matthew 7:7-8

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

I WILL LIFT UP MY EYES

“I WILL LIFT UP MY EYES”

by Pastor Mark Taylor

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

Many of us have had the opportunity to see God in the power of the ocean, in the desert, and in the sky.  God has given us nature to reflect on His power and greatness. 

"The heavens declare the glory of God; and His creation shows His handiwork.  Day after day they speak.  And night after night they reveal knowledge." (Psalm 19:1-2)

2 

In order to get the help we need from the Lord, we must lift up our eyes.  We have to get them off the problems and the distractions of this world and lift up our eyes to the person who can help us and that is God.  We have to focus on things that can bring our thoughts and minds back to God.  This should include attending church services where God’s people come to together to worship: “Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching” (Hebrews 10:25).  But there are also other ways to lift our eyes to the Lord.  We can listen to Gospel music, watch Christian programming on TV, read our Bible or listen to it read to us on tapes or CDs, and read Christian books by Christian authors.  We have many ways available to help us turn our minds and hearts back to our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.  We really have no excuse to let our days go by without thinking about and communicating with God.

David said “I will”.  We must act on our free will to come to God.  It cannot be only the inspiration of another’s experience that we should draw strength from.  It has to come from within ourselves and we must say “I will”.  I choose to turn away from human reason and negative thinking.  I choose to look to God and what he has already done.  He has done many marvelous acts of creation.  He has helped me before.  He has helped many people who have called on Him.  So “I will” look to Him.  

You may have to go to the mountains, or to the beach, or to a secluded area to find time to be with the Lord.  It is difficult to have uninterrupted time in our busy lives.  But you have to be willing to lift up your eyes unto the Lord in order to see Him.  You can do this in the early morning or late evening when you have some quite time. “Evening and morning, and at noon, I will pray and cry aloud; and He shall hear my voice” (Psalms 55:17).

God is waiting to hear from you and have your attention.  He has help for you and a solution to your problems.  But you have to be “willing” to go to Him: “But without faith it is impossible to please Him: for he that comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of them that diligently seek Him” (Hebrews 11:6).

Secondly, we must understand that our “help comes from the Lord”.  He gives us wisdom to make good decisions and know His will.  But again we have to ask and seek for His will: “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).  And “.. you have not because you ask not” (James 4:2).  God is not to busy to hear your request.  Nothing is too small or unimportant to God if it is a burden to you.

Finally, realize that the Lord you love and serve, and the one that loves you is the same one “which made heaven and earth”.  When you look at the mountains, waves, or waterfalls, you see the majesty of His creation.  If you think about how large the universe is or how complex the microscopic world is, you can begin to see how great our God is.  The thing that is so amazing is that someone as powerful as God is would care for someone like us.  We have God’s attention.  The problem is whether or not He has our attention.

We need to remove ourselves from the busy world that we live in and spend some time “lifting our eyes to the hills from where our help comes”.  This can take the form of an early morning devotional time, or a quiet time in the evening without the TV or radio, or a prayer in your car on the way to work. 

 Remember God is waiting to hear from you!!

“Call unto me, and I will answer you, and show you great and mighty things, which you know not” (Jeremiah 33:3).

“I will worship toward Your holy temple, and praise Your name for Your

loving-kindness and for Your truth's sake; for You have magnified Your word  above all Your name. In the day when I cried You answered me and made me bold with strength in my soul” (Psalms 138:2-3).

“This poor man cried, and the LORD heard, and saved him out of all his troubles. The Angel of the LORD camps round about those who fear Him, and delivers them. Taste and see that the LORD is good; blessed is the man who trusts in Him” (Psalms 34:6-8).

WHAT MORE COULD I HAVE DONE FOR YOU, THAN I HAVE NOT ALREADY DONE

Video Links For This Sermon

What More Could I Have Done? - Part One
What More Could I Have Done? - Part Two
What More Could I Have Done? Part Three
What More Could I Have Done For You, Than I have Not Already Done?

by Pastor Mark Taylor

What more could have been done to My vineyard, That I have not done in it? Why then, when I expected it to bring forth good grapes, Did it bring forth wild  grapes?   Isaiah 5:4

Our Lord has described His relationship with you in many different ways. He has called you His friend. “Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends. You are My friends if you do whatever I command you.” John 15:13-14. He has called you to a special position in His service. “By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.”

In our text verse today, God is comparing you to a place He has invested a lot of time and work to receive something in return. God is asking a question: “What More Could I have Done for You, That I have Not Already Done?” to receive something good from you in return.

Many Christians today have disappointed God with the fruits of their lives. Instead of producing the fruit of the Spirit, they have produced sour grapes in their lives. “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, long suffering (patience), kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control.” Galatians 5:22-23.

Many people have given excuses on why they are not serving the Lord with their whole hearts which is a commandment we have received. “Jesus said, “ ‘You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ This is the first and great commandment.”

Isaiah 5:4

Matt.22:37-38. Many others have failed to show their love for others in deeds and actions.

When God looks at your life, what does He see? He wants you to know that it really matters to Him. Actions such as reading your Bible, praying, attending Church, ministering to others in need, are good fruits that a Christian should always produce.

Jesus put it this way: “A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart brings forth evil.” Luke 6:45.

What more could God have done for you than to give you the desire and ability to bring Him good fruit?

He has provided a way for you to receive forgiveness of your sins through the death, burial, and resurrection of His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ. “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.” John 3:16. Do you know of anyone else that cares that much for you? “For scarcely for a righteous man will one die; yet perhaps for a good man someone would even dare to die But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” Romans 5:7-8.

“What More Could I have Done for You, That I have Not Already Done?”

What more could God do for you than to reveal to you the opportunity to receive eternal life? God has given you clear instructions in His precious Word - The Holy Bible. “Ifyouconfesswithyourmouththe Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.” Romans 10:9-10. This opportunity is offered to anyone who wants to follow God and will live a life pleasing to Him. “For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord, shall be saved” Romans 10:13.

What more could God do for you than to provide you with the ability to communicate with Him? “So I say to you, ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened.” Luke 11:9-10.

What more could God do for you than to give you other Christians to help you learn about the love of God? “But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin. I John 1:7. He has given you a Church, a body of believers who can encourage you to live for God.

What more could God do for you than to give you all the things you need? He has given you the resources of prayer and protection. “What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? 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 8:31-32

What more could God do for you than to provide for you an eternal place to be with Him? “Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me. In My Father’shousearemanymansions;ifitwere 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 to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also.” John 14: 1-3. You will spend eternity some place. Wouldn’t it be wonderful to be with God and all those people who love Him and are already with Him?

God has done a lot for you and in return He is expecting to see good fruit for all the time and energy He has put into your life. A relationship with God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit is more than just mentally believing that they exist. It is a relationship. “But someone will say, “You have faith, and I have works.” Show me your faith without your works, and I will show you my faith by my works. You believe that there is one God. You do well. Even the demons believe—and tremble! But do you not know, O foolish person, that faith without works is dead?” James 2:18-20.

God has given each of you gifts and abilities that can glorify Him and be a blessing to others. God has done His part and I don’t know of anything else He can do to show His love for you. The question then becomes: “God, What more can I do for you?”. Let that be your prayer and He will show you many ways to receive blessings from Him and be a blessing to others. Everything you do today for the Lord will count for Eternity. “Set your affections (mind) on things above, not on things on the earth.” Colossians 3:2