Taylor's Chapel Baptist Church

This morning we are going to talk about another abuse of the tongue. It is an abuse of the tongue that mames and destroys people and churches left and right. And the abuse of the tongue that we are going to begin talking about today is something called "unchristian criticism"

This is Memorial Day weekend. And as I think about it, I believe many people have forgotten what Memorial Day is all about.

The Bible has a lot to say about the use and the abuse of the tongue. As a matter of fact, two of the Ten Commandments deal with the use of the tongue. The first one is, "Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord Thy God in vain." And the second one is, "Thou shalt not bear false witness." And many of the other commandments are impacted by the use of the tongue. Today, we are going to spend some time talking about the incredible power of the spoken word. And more specifically, we are going to talk about "the negative power of the tongue".

Paul the Apostle is on a boat headed for Rome. The boat had just recently encountered strong winds that had battered both the ship and the crew. God was gracious and allowed the boat to dock. They were spared and had been given an opportunity to find safety in the port of Fair Haven through the winter. But everyone's wants pressed against God's grace. Paul advised the captain and crew to stay in Fair Haven. He said that if they didn't they would most certaily lose everything. But they wouldn't listen. Now... God has to put everyone on their backs to force them to look up.

This morning, I want you to see how Satan tempted Jesus. And he tempted him in all ways that he could. He tempted Jesus with "the lust of the flesh", "the lust of the eyes", and the "pride of life". And you can rest assured that if he tempted Jesus Christ in all these ways, he will tempt you in all these ways as well.

So here we go. Paul is about to board the boat to Rome. He is clearly viewed as worthless. He is a prisoner. He has no rights. He has no authority. He has no responsibilities. His job is to wear shackles and chains...keep his mouth shut...stay out of everybody's way... and try not to take up anybody's space...time...or oxygen.He didn't get to decide which boat he would board. He didn't get to decide which seat he would sit in. He didn't get to decide when he would go to bed. He didn't get to decide when he would get up. He didn't get to decide anything! Rome had placed him on a boat of their choosing. And they had decided who would have authority over him while he traveled. Let's hear what Dr. Luke had to say.

Last week we talked about Paul the Apostle as he boarded the boat to Rome. And we talked about Paul's health and how he was in bad shape. We said that the Roman Centurion, Julius, looked at Paul and saw that he needed medical care...and he allowed Paul to go to his friends in Sidon. Now if Paul made a run for it...Julius would have been executed! But somewhere along the journey...the Holy Spirit had made Julius' heart tender. Paul had most likely spent time talking with him. And the Lord grew a trust and respect for Paul in Julius' heart. Tonight...we pick back up where we left off. Paul is about to board the boat again...but this time... a storm's coming.

If you have God's Word...turn with me to Luke 4. And this morning... we'll be talking about... temptation. You know when it comes to temptation...there are three ways that you can handle it. Two of them are wrong. And only one is right.

The cost of our transgressions...the sacrifice that had to be made to make us right before God was so great! It's hard to even fathom the idea! Jesus Christ gave His life for ours on the Cross! he died for us! And it is here...in the darkness of the shadow of the cross that the Easter Story begins.

Last week, we continued talking about the healing power of prayer. And if you'l remember, we said that for prayer to have power, first there has to be a confession that proceeds it. That is, you have to get right with God before you go to Him on behalf of somebody else. And then we said that once you've done that, it is then, and only then, that we can truly intercede for somebody . It is then and only then that we can begin praying with power.This morning, as we continue in the book of James, I want you to see the illustration that James gives. It's the illustration that proves the power of prayer. And James illustrates it with Elijah.

Let me ask you something. Have you ever noticed how... when the Gospel Message of Jesus Christ is handed out...and the Holy Spirit begins working on hearts... Satan always steps up to drive doubt?I wonder... how many messages have been given... and the Holy Spirit has convicted somebody of the need to come forward and accept Jesus as Lord... Savior...and King... and Satan has leaned forward and whispered doubts into their ear?

Last week... we began talking about the "Healing Power of Prayer". And if you'll remember…we specifically talked about... the confession that precedes it. This morning…I want to spend time continuing our talk about the "Healing Power of Prayer"…but I want to change our focus a little bit and talk about the intercession that provides it. Turn with me if you will to James 5:16.

Now the message this morning is going to deal with the healing power of prayer… but I want to remind you that there is more than just the healing of the body! There are souls that need to be healed! There are churches that need to be healed! There are homes that need to be healed! There are fellowships that need to be healed! There are spirits that need to be healed! There are minds that need to be healed! And indeed …there are bodies that need to be healed!

Folks...listen to me... if you have come to know Jesus Christ as your Lord...Savior... and King... you have a testimony. You can look back at your life before you knew him... and think about what it was like. You can view in hindsight... those people that God put in your path... to bring you to the Cross of Calvary! You can remember the things that you did... that you weren't proud of. You can remember the things you thought... the things you said... people you were involved with... the unrighteous deeds you partook in. And you can remember what it was like... when you found out that a man named Jesus Christ loves you. You can remember what it was like...when you found out that that He was the Son of God... and He had the power to forgive you.

When last we met... Procius Festus was trying to play "Peace Maker" with the Jewish Leaders. And he was attempting to convince Paul the Apostle... to go to Jerusalem to face charges being brought against him... by the Jewish Leaders. And Paul the Apostle... basically said, "Look! I am being held... in Roman ... Custody! I have broken none... of Rome's laws! Festus...you're the judge...not the Jewish leaders! I WILL NOT go to stand trial in Jerusalem... before this Jewish Leader kangaroo court! I appeal to Caesar!" Now Paul has handed out the Gospel message of Jesus Christ to Felix...Drusilla... Porcius Festus...and he is about to witness to King Agrippa and Bernice. But the question is this: Do they really want to hear from Paul the Apostle? Or do they simply want to be seen? Do they really want to attempt to understand the message Paul has to give? Or do they simply want to be entertained by Paul?

Folks...the Lamb is the Lord Jesus! When you receive Christ as your personal Lord and Savior…your name is written in the Lamb's Book of Life! Now let me make something abundantly clear for everyone here today. If you have not received Jesus as your Lord and Savior …and you die before doing so…you…are … going…to…Hell! Why?Who enters heaven according to Revelation 21:27? "Only those written in the Lamb's book of life!" Listen to me! Don't come to me telling me how good of a person you are! It doesn't matter! You are either in the Book or you're not! And if you're not…then you are going to be TOTALLY separated from God and from all the Saints for eternity!

You know...I can't help but wonder…if the reason that we have so much... so-called... "Hell" in the world today …is because we have spoken so little about it in our pulpits! Most people can't remember the last time they heard a preacher stand up and expound on Hell.And as I sound the Alarm this morning... I want to tell you... I'm not speaking primarily to the lost! Most people are not saved by hearing a message on Hell. Now some may be…but I'm preaching primarily to the church! I'm preaching to those of us who ARE saved!

I want to start off by asking you a question: Are you satisfied with where you are in life? Are you satisfied with what you have? You know what? That's a question many people answer every single day…and they're not even trying to answer it! And they don't even realize it! And yet… the answer that keeps coming back... is a resounding… "NO"!

When last we met...Governor Felix had been relieved of his duties. Paul the Apostle is still being held prisoner. He has actually been a prisoner for two years, and up to this point in time...no one had ever proved that he had done anything wrong! As a matter of fact...Governor Felix had spent the past two years deliberating! Rather than declaring Paul guilty...Felix held him captive... in an effort to extort money from him... while he chatted with him!Now a new Governor has entered the picture. His name is Porcius Festus. And now that he has become governor...it is up to him to deal with Paul's case. Now...Festus has arrived in Jerusalem from Caesarea. The chief priests and the leaders of the Jews are already trying to convince Festus to bring Paul to Jerusalem to "stand trial" once again.The intention of the Jewish leaders though...was not to allow Paul a trial. They had plans to ambush him...and kill him...on the way from Caesarea to Jerusalem. And they were pressing hard for Festus to give him up.

Let me ask a question that many people have asked throughout time. What is love? Many would say, "Well preacher, God is love!" And that is a very true statement! That is probably the best definition that can be given! God is love! But how do we fully comprehend a definition like that? What does that mean? Can you explain what that means to somebody else? Can you explain what is meant by "God is love?"

Just as Boaz loved Ruth... before Ruth ever knew his name! Jesus loved us before we knew His! We love Him because… He first loved us! That's the great love that He has for us. S

Let me ask this question...what happens when a person is confronted by Jesus Christ... but instead of accepting Him...they harden their hearts and turn away? What happens to them?

Well folks… the story that we will be discussing over the next few weeks… has for us… a happy…ending. It doesn't start happy. But it ends happy. As a matter of fact…the story we have before us today starts out with a funeral…but it ends with a wedding. It starts with a famine…but it ends with fullness. Well... what is this story we are going to listen to today?It's a WONDERFUL story… about two people who get married. And at the end of this story…we just feel like we want to add a last verse to this book… and have it say…"And they lived happily ever after".

I want to start off with a question this evening? Can you be afraid of something... that you believe with all of your heart... CANNOT happen? Can you fear something... you 100% DO NOT believe?

Now this morning I want to pick up where we left off last week. Not only did these three men of God have physical problems … not only did they have psychological problems … but these two kinds of problems caused them to have a third problem! They had a spiritual problem! Now listen to me. You may think that what they did was not all that bad. I mean… after all… anybody can get tired. And there are legitimate reasons to be tired. And you can understand that anybody can get a little down from time to time and want to pout and have a pity party! Right? But listen to me… if you don't deal with those things… and if you don't watch those things… those so called little problems become big problems! And when they become big problems…they become the door through which Satan comes to bring trouble…depression and anxiety to your life in an effort to steal away your victory!

So tonight...we pick up where we left off last week. Felix and Drusilla requested an audience with Paul the Apostle. And Paul spent time talking to them about Jesus Christ. He talked to them about who Jesus is...and about what Jesus had done. Paul shared the Gospel message with both Felix...and Drusilla.Tonight...we find out what happened after they heard that message. Did they accept Him...or did they deny Him. What was their verdict...concerning Jesus Christ?

This morning... I am going to ask you to lick your fingers and get ready… because we're going to look at three separate passages of scripture… from three separate books of the Bible. Normally… we just take one passage and look at it by itself… but this morning I want you to go to three different books in the bible. We're going to be looking in the book of Numbers… the book of 1 Kings… and the book of Jonah.So first off… I want you to find Numbers 11:15. Here we find a prayer. And I want you to notice what an unusual prayer it is. As a matter of fact… all three verses that we're going to read this morning are prayers. And you're going to find out… that all three of these prayers have something in common. They're really the same prayer… just phrased differently.

"Do Everything…in the name of the Lord Jesus!" Do how much? Everything! Do everything in what? Do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus! Let me ask you something this morning. What does it mean to do everything in the name of Jesus? I gonna talk about three specific things that it means this morning... to do everything in the name of Jesus.

So tonight...we pick up where we left off last week. Paul the apostle has taken the stand. He has given his testimony and has stated that, "He has done nothing wrong." He has contended that he has been brought into court...and he can be found guilty of only two things: (1) Loving and serving the Lord, and (2) loving and serving others. And neither of these two things are against the law. There has been no crime committed. Now it was Felix's turn. He has heard both sides. There is absolutely no evidence of wrongdoing. But what will the verdict be? Let's begin.

Do Everything…in the name of the Lord Jesus! Do how much? Everything! Do everything in what? Do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus!

So tonight...we pick up where we left off last week. Paul the apostle has been hauled into court. The Jewish leaders have come to Cesarea in an attempt to convict Paul of "a wrong doing" that has been completely fabricated. And the hope is that Paul will be found guilty and condemned.We spent time last week talking about the Jewish lawyer... Tertullus...and how he attempted to paint Paul out to be a "Rebel Rouser". We talked about how everything they convicted Paul of...was actually all the things they themselves had done. And we talked about how they tried to throw the Roman commander into this fantastically concocted lie. They tried to paint Lysias as someone who was promoting civil unrest...and maybe...wanting Felix gone.At the end of the message last week... Governor Felix is about to hear the Truth. He is about to hear the Gospel Message of Jesus Christ. And once he hears it...he has to make a decision. Will he accept Jesus as Lord...Savior...and King...or will he reject him.Tertullus' time is done. Now it is Paul's turn to take the stand. Paul begins by rewinding the concocted story Tertullus had spun...and he begins to expound on the true events that had led him to this trial.

Now the Apostle Paul has finally arrived in Caesarea. The religious leaders can't reach him physically. Governor Felix...after five days...hears the case. Paul is brought into the court room. The high priest enters...his attorney by his side. Felix takes his seat...and the proceedings begin.

What is the one commitment we could make this coming year... that would turn our lives around? There is one thing that would make us better people. There is one thing that would make our families better and stronger. There is one thing that would cause this church to be a better church! There is one thing that would cause me to be a better person!

The wor "through" is a beautiful word in this passage of scripture! Why? It tells us that God doesn't just lead us into the valley and leave us there…but instead… He always brings us through it!

It's sweet to a little child…and yet it is perplexing tothe most advanced scholar! It is quoted at funerals …AND it is quoted at weddings! It isquoted in the nursery school… and it is quoted on the battle field! The magnificence…thewonder… the awe of the 23rd Psalm is absolutely life changing!

Family's important aren't they? What would you do without your family? I don't know where I'd be without my family. No matter what happens in my life. No matter where I am. No matter where I go. My family will always be there.Family...true family are those who are willing to walk in...and stand with you...when things get bad...and the rest of the world walks out.

Offer yourself this Thanksgiving to the Lord and say, "Lord…before I do anything else…I … give… you…myself…completely. Lord Thank you for your son Jesus Christ. Thank you for saving my Eternal Soul. Lord I can never repay you for such a gift as you have given me.

Tonight...we pickup in Acts 23:12. The streets outside have quieted down. Paul had stood firmly with the Lord... and withstood the onslaught from Satan. But just as Satan hounded Jesus all the way to the cross...so he decided to do the same thing to Paul the Apostle... in an effort to prevent the church from growing...and ultimately...prevent people from coming to Christ.

I'm gonna start off with a question that many of you may already know the answer to...(or at least think you do): Just who is the Lord Jesus Christ? You know…that's a question that every person will have to answer at some point in their life!

Have you ever noticed...it's when you think you know everything...or when you think you're just SO much better at something than somebody else...that the Lord serves you up a big ol' piece of humble pie?

What is Believer's Baptism and why is it important?

The same God that raised Jesus Christ up from that grave… is the same God... who's going to raise the unsaved who are already dead and gone to Hell. And He's going to bring them up…not for relief…not for parole…but for a final judgment.

Now if you will remember last week, Paul the Apostle had been brought into Roman custody. The Commander was trying to figure out who Paul was...and why the crowd was trying to kill him. He had already heard Paul's testimony, but the Commander still thought that there had to be more to the story. And in an effort to coerce the "truth" out of Paul...he ordered the soldiers to begin an interrogation. Let me translate that for everybody. He ordered the soldiers to scourge Paul. He ordered them to beat Paul... until Paul told him what he wanted to hear.They stretched Paul out and prepared to beat him. And once they got him stretched out... Paul said, "Is it legal for you to scourge a man who is a Roman citizen and is uncondemned?"That got the Roman Commander's attention. In an effort to ensure he didn't lose his own life by beating a Roman Citizen... who had not been convicted of a crime nor judged... the Roman Commander order the soldiers to back off. And in order to get to the truth...he ordered the Sanhedrin...the religious leaders...and the Roman soldiers to all meet together to discuss "exactly" what happened.He wanted to know the truth about (1) who Paul was...and (2) why they wanted to kill him. And he planned to hear both sides of the story with everyone together in one place. So tonight, we pick up where we left off.

One of these days... you are going to meet Jesus Christ…one way or another. And if you don't know Him as your Lord... Savior and King…you are going to meet him in a most unfortunate way!

Tonight...we continue to watch the makings of a True Leader. Paul the Apostle continues to encounter the persecution of the world head on. But he continues to hand out the truth...even when the world doesn't want to hear it.

During this time of year we are thankful for the harvest season. But the harvest usually spoken of in the scripture is a spiritual harvest. We are reminded that God is the Lord of the Harvest, that he gives the increase (yield), that the field is white and ready to be harvested, and that we are to pray for harvesters. Jesus knew the workers are few, so let us share with our family, church, work, school, and community who the Lord is and see the awakening that is building across the country with no regard to the increase, just the sowing (planting) and reaping (collecting)--for that is all we are called to do.

"What exactly is faith?" You hear people talk about "having faith". But what exactly... are they talking about?

What did we do 100 years ago when it was night. Much of the time we looked up at the stars and moon, and were silent allowing God to revel himself to us. Today we stare at our phones and drowned out the Lords voice with lights and electricity. But someone who could not do that was Jacob before he met his brother. There at Peniel Jacob wrestled (stove) with God. He was alone, anxious, and not wanting to give in. But the Lord pursued him until Jacob admitted who he was to God, a supplanter (sinner, liar). Upon Jacobs submission, contriteness, and confession the Lord changed his name. It is the same for us today.

We are instructed in the wisdom literature to buy truth and not to sell it. And we are told that truth contains: wisdom (practical knowledge), instruction (discipline and morals), and understanding (discernment). These are we to get at all costs and never to give up. Yet, we find ourselves at all stages of life trading for something. None of us is truly neutral, we are always trading our time, as limited as it could be, for something. Are we trading for truth or selling it dear for the worthless things in life?

We are instructed in the wisdom literature to buy truth and not to sell it. And we are told that truth contains- wisdom -practical knowledge-, instruction -discipline and morals-, and understanding -discernment-. These are we to get at all costs and never to give up. Yet, we find ourselves at all stages of life trading for something. None of us is truly neutral, we are always trading our time, as limited as it could be, for something. Are we trading for truth or selling it dear for the worthless things in life--

There are many points in our lives when we just have no idea. This was my feeling as I became your pastor and had many 'firsts' and continues to be my experience. Many persons in the bible had no idea what to do or how to accomplish God's will. So, we are not alone in that feeling. In fact, we should admit more often we have no idea what we are doing or need to do, rather than depend on our own logic. We can admit we have no idea what we are to do because we know the One who does know. And He has told us what we are to do, Just Love Jesus! All the what ifs in life come into sharp contrast when we just love Him. To my first church, Taylor's Chapel Baptist, I love you, it has been the honor of my life to serve you, and you will be in my prayers and thoughts, always. Remember, you know the basics (Just Love Jesus), figure it out quickly--you set the tone. And I'm here if you need me.