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by Pastor Mike Taylor
1,He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.
”(Psalm 91:1 )
“ And
we know that all things work together for good to them that love God,
to them who are the called according to his purpose.”(
Romans8: 28)
“And
if the righteous scarcely be saved, where shall the ungodly and the
sinner appear?
19 Wherefore
let them that suffer according to the will of God commit the keeping
of their souls to him in well doing, as unto a faithful Creator."(
1st Peter 18-19)
Anxiety
is building in this nation, and for that matter, all over the world.
Fear grips the average human being, as they see events that they have
no control over. It doesn't matter if it's in Greece, Spain, Portugal
in the EU or right here in the USA, men are fearful. They know that
this is an unprecedented time of turmoil and signs of impending doom.
Men are behaving like animals and evil grows exponentially, as we
grow closer and closer to the end of this age as we witnessed crimes
of unspeakable horror in the recent news coverage of the rampage of
demonic possessed individuals, who executed the innocent in grocery
stores,
theaters, and shopping malls. The culture has gone mad.
The
powers that be look for a culprit to blame. They blame guns, they
blame the social haters, and they blame those that hold onto those
guns and their religion, namely Christian Conservatives. They wish to
infringe on our Constitutionally given rights that were written by
men who feared God, and knew that any government, even theirs that
they were forming could become despotic.
We see the sin
of homosexuality with it's push for same sex marriage making huge
strides for public approval. We continue to see abortion unabated and
Planned Parenthood boasting that they terminated the life of another
baby, every 94 seconds last year.
WE see a government that has
grown corrupt, and I pray the present administration is replaced, as
the downhill slide grows worse by the day. Congress has become
impotent to stay the powers who are moving this country into a more
Socialistic-Communistic form of a New World Order. So more often,
they are promoting it.
It was reported that the brainiac just
keep printing more and money, so inflation is rising exponentially
and they have reversed the strides to “Make America Great Again”
and destroy American jobs and the southern border is being flooded
with illegal immigrants who bring disease, drugs and human sex
trafficing. The goal from what I read is to replace currency with a
digital form of payment so that every man and woman can be monitored
of what they do, where they go and what they buy....This promotes a
One World Government.
We could go on and on mentioning the
symptoms of the economic collapse, as well as the societal collapse
of this nation and reaching all around the world of nations having
the exact same problems, just more of them. But that is in an other
sermon you can read on this site. But the point here is, there is
signs in the heavens over the earth that point to disasters that are
coming. We saw that in not too distant past, and now we see signs
that point to a possible fulfillment of the Feast of Trumpets this
fall. We saw a "total eclipse" of the sun that was only be
for the central USA. It has never happened before. Is it a sign of
foreboding of the coming wrath of God? Will it begin to happen this
fall? We don't know, but this sign of the eclipse is but another sign
in the heavens that 'something" big is about to happen...we just
pray and watch. Then we read about all the pestilences that have
invaded earth and the natural disasters of volcanoes all over the
earth coming to life...earthquakes increasing with every month that
passes...last year we had 7 earthquakes of 7.0 magnitude or greater and
we have already seen that many in the first few months of this year.
News speaks of locusts that ravage the countryside, southwest drought
that has caused massive dust storms in the USA. Hearing about Ebola
in Africa, Bird flu in Russia, not to mention the Covid-19 hype that
has gotten every person alive fearful for their existence (save it is
about control of the population to do what the government says). I
believe that this is the run-up to the coming Mark of the Beast that
will control everyone on this planet.,
MAKE
YOUR FOUNDATION THE “ROCK”
It's a exciting time to live in, but anxiety producing for those who don't have a firm foundation on where their strength lies. I have brothers and sisters who email me with searching questions on how to prepare for what is coming. I am a firm believer and have always been that God allows nothing to come against His chosen children, the church, the bride of Christ, a people taken for His name, unless it is for their benefit and their spiritual maturity. I have also come to believe that God is not interested in our comfort, but in our being ready to reign and rule with Jesus Christ for a 1000 years, and on into eternity. When the cares of this life seem to weigh in on any of us, and I'm not immune, I counsel my congregation to look to the Bible for their strength and their foundation of coping. I have been telling each of them, when things get rough around your community, your town, or your state, then it is a time to grab onto the promises of God and remind Him of those promises. OH, He knows what He promised, but He wants to hear that you believe that He will do what He said. Inspiration and strength has always been drawn from two chapters in the bible for me, in particular, but not exclusive, as the whole bible is designed to encourage and to lead us into righteous living, but for me Psalm 91 and Romans chapter 8, have special promises of protection and looking forward to our heavenly home. Let's take a moment to draw strength from these two chapters that have distinct promises of divine protection and Christian hope for a glorious future. Let us take a few verses from each, but I encourage you to read these chapters prayerfully and without doubt. I ask that you to claim those promises, as God cannot lie. He just wants you to reach out to Him and draw nigh to Him.
2” I will say of the Lord, He is my refuge and my fortress: my God; in him will I trust.
3 Surely he shall deliver thee from the snare of the fowler, and from the noisome pestilence.
4 He shall cover thee with his feathers, and under his wings shalt thou trust: his truth shall be thy shield and buckler.
5 Thou shalt not be afraid for the terror by night; nor for the arrow that flieth by day;
6 Nor
for the pestilence that walketh in darkness; nor for the destruction
that wasteth at noonday.”(Psalms 91:2-6)
Just
as a hen gathers her chicks during a storm, or for protection against
terrors surrounding them, our Father wishes to draw us unto Himself
and protect us. Terror that is all around us (ie). Islam terrorist,
Washington bureaucrats, single pay government insurance, and even
widening debt and deficit spending, not to mention a society in
decay, we have no need to be afraid. Why? God is in control and His
Word will not come back to Him void. He said it, it will be
done!
MATTHEW
HENRY SPEAKS ON PSALM 91
Matthew
Henry has a great commentary on Psalm 91, and I would like to share
it with you.
"He
that by faith chooses God for his protector, shall find all in him
that he needs or can desire. And those who have found the comfort of
making the Lord their refuge, cannot but desire that others may do
so. The spiritual life is protected by Divine grace from the
temptations of Satan, which are as the snares of the fowler, and from
the contagion of sin, which is a noisome pestilence. Great security
is promised to believers in the midst of danger. Wisdom shall keep
them from being afraid without cause, and faith shall keep them from
being unduly afraid. Whatever is done, our heavenly Father's will is
done; and we have no reason to fear. God's people shall see, not only
God's promises fulfilled, but his threatenings. Then let sinners come
unto the Lord upon his mercy-seat, through the Redeemer's name; and
encourage others to trust in him also."
AS
you read this marvelous chapter of God's Word, it should give you
hope that you are not alone, but He walks right there with you. You
may become a little fearful with the latest report of a disaster or a
shooting, or crime in your area, open your bible and read this
chapter and claim it in its promised message. I leave my family
bible open at all times to this chapter, to remind God that I trust
His Word, and His protection at any time. The bible is full of
promises that tell the truth about God's protection to the true
believer. Many Christians wring their hands and wonder what is
coming down the pike for us all. But you know what? It doesn't
matter, as He will prepare you for whatever comes. This side of the
tribulation, we could see many natural disasters in this country of
the USA, as it's happening all over the world. Many people will die,
as many have already died. Some needlessly, but some because they
have shaken their fist at God and God just might have removed His
hand of protection from them and allowed them to go their own way and
their demise was chance and circumstance. Liberal thinkers who don't
need God, have no one to turn to when the times get rough, unless
they repent of their sinful deeds. But not so with the believer in
Jesus Christ. Going on in this same chapter of Psalms, the Psalmist
writes a promise given to a child of God.
7
"A thousand shall fall at thy side, and ten thousand at thy
right hand; but it shall not come nigh thee.
8 Only
with thine eyes shalt thou behold and see the reward of the
wicked.
9 Because
thou hast made the Lord, which is my refuge, even the most High,
thy habitation;
10 There
shall no evil befall thee, neither shall any plague come nigh thy
dwelling."(Psalms 91:7-10)
Wow,
has it ever made you wonder why evil is all around you, but it hasn't
touched your life? How many stories could I print off testimonies of
men and women in harm's way were spared because they called out to
God? But my brother and sister, there is a small catch to that
protection. See Verse 1 of this chapter that started this sermon. You
must be right next to His altar, under His shadow, under His wings,
and staying close to God. You can't be out willy nilly living the
life of this world, feeding your flesh with diverse pleasures, as
that is a sure invitation for God to reprimand you and allow evil to
enter your life. But it doesnt have to be so. God wishes to be with
you in times of trial and even persecution.
11 "For he shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways.
12 They shall bear thee up in their hands, lest thou dash thy foot against a stone.
13 Thou shalt tread upon the lion and adder: the young lion and the dragon shalt thou trample under feet.
14 Because he hath set his love upon me, therefore will I deliver him: I will set him on high, because he hath known my name.
15 He shall call upon me, and I will answer him: I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him, and honour him.
16 With long life will I satisfy him, and shew him my salvation."(Psalms 91:11-16)
Whatever happens, nothing shall hurt the believer; though trouble and affliction befall, it shall come, not for his hurt, but for good, though for the present it be not joyous but grievous. Those who rightly know God, will set their love upon him. They, by prayer constantly call upon him. His promise is that he will in due time deliver the believer out of trouble, and in the mean time be with him in trouble. The Lord will manage all his worldly concerns, and preserve his life on earth, so long as it shall be good for him. For encouragement in this he looks unto Jesus. He shall live long enough; till he has done the work he was sent into this world for, and is ready for heaven. Who would wish to live a day longer than God has some work to do, either by him or upon him? A man may die young, yet be satisfied with living. But a wicked man is not satisfied even with long life. At length the believer's conflict ends; he has done for ever with trouble, sin, and temptation.
Did you catch that? Nothing can come against us, unless God allows it for our personal growth in spirit and maturity within His coming Kingdom. The devil can't touch us if we are within His protective circle, which is right up against His altar, His Throne. He may test our metal, but He will not allow anything to adversely effect us that He doesn't know that will make us stronger in Him.
My brothers and sisters, what do we have to fear? Nothing is the answer. Getting back to a little bit of the anxiety that people email me about. Who do you trust? We can't trust our government any more. We can't trust our elected officials or political parties, not even the Tea Party. We can't trust people in general, especially if you get into the big cities. Men have seem to become more ferocious in this desire to inflict pain and lash out at others. Was a time you could hitch hike down the interstate, which I never encouraged even my brother who thought it was a great way to travel, but times have changed. You don't hitchhike, and you don't pick up hitchhikers. Society has changed and not for the better. There is a large number of things you just don't do anymore, because society has become corrupt in general and your own unsaved neighbor will sell you for a ten bucks. That's a sad commentary, but society has proven it to be so. The love for one another has grown cold. Only the True Believer supports one another in love and genuine concern for their good.
A GLORIOUS FUTURE JUST OVER THE HORIZON
But we have a glorious promise that is found in Romans chapter 8 and the most favorite part of that chapter is from verse 28 to the end of the chapter. Can you not see that we have nothing to fear? Reread the opening verses of this sermon and see that God only allows good to come to those who love God and are called according to His purpose. Read the whole chapter, but focus in on the last of this chapter..Look at v. 31-32,
31 "What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us?
32 He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all thing.
33 Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God's elect? It is God that justifieth.
34 Who
is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is
risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh
intercession for us."(Romans
8:31-34)
He
will give us all things, whatsoever we ask believing, He will do it
if being in our best interest and in His divine Will. He knows what
is good for us, will protect us, and what will make us grow as
Christian people. He then ends the chapter will a powerful promise,
that proves that we will never be alone in this life, as long as we
stay close to Him.
38
"For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels,
nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to
come,
39 Nor
height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate
us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord."(Romans
8:38-39)
Again,
I ask you, what have we to fear? Nothing! God will lead us into green
pastures, as the Psalmist wrote in chapter 23.
23
"The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. (we
lack for nothing due to His Goodness)
2 He
maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the
still waters.(
He blesses us with needs for our everyday lives)
3 He
restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for
his name's sake. (He
is forever by our sides)
4 Yea,
though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear
no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort
me. (even
though trouble is afflicting us, He will bring us through it and we
will be better for it)
5 Thou preparest a table
before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head
with oil; my cup runneth over. (We cannot contain the blessings
of God)
6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me
all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of
the Lord for ever." ( the blessing of the Lord are
plentiful until He brings us home to receive a greater reward for
being steadfast and faithful)(Psalms 23-1-6)
PROMISES
NOT MADE TO THE WORLD
Now
my reader, I must deal with the negative side of not following what
I've outlined up to now. In past sermons, I have ventured into the
demise of our country, as we have gone the way of Sodom and Gommarrah
and certain destruction will come down on our heads, or God would
have to apologize to Sodom for bringing down fire and brimstone about
them. As the world grows worse and worse, and our home is on the
horizon and we wait for the trumpet sound and Jesus to say “Come up
here,” we may see the symptoms of judgment beginning to come to
pass on this nation and all nations around the world. We can expect
more “accidents”, more natural disasters, more crime, and more
moral and economic woes coming fast and furious. These break neck
events will make men's hearts very anxious, but they haven't seen
anything yet! God told us though the apostle John what is coming upon
mankind, when the wrath of God is poured out on the rebellious
nations. But never fear, my brethren, God has not appointed us to
wrath...He said so in 1st Thessalonians
9 "
For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by
our Lord Jesus Christ,
10 Who
died for us, that, whether we wake or sleep, we should live together
with him."(1st
Thessalonians 5:9-10)
This
is a clear indication of the church being removed out of the way,
before God's wrath is released on this earth in all earnest. We may
see, and it is not revealed how much we will see, but we WILL NOT see
the destruction of 3/4 of every living thing that grows on this
planet....that's every tree, green grass, sea creatures and the water
they live in, animals, and including 3/4 of mankind to the tune of 6
billion people slaughtered in divine judgment. The horrific depiction
of the carnage would make any sane man's hair stand up on the back of
his neck and head. Evil will reign supreme on this earth for 7 short
years with the worst of the evil in the last 3.5 years, known as the
Great Tribulation. Men, women and children will die by the thousands
into the millions in a very short time.
Can you image the pain
and suffering endured by mankind during those awful years? What's
going on now will look like a picnic compared to that time. Some of
the graphics descriptions of men's pain and suffering include being
stung by demons repeatedly for 5 months begging to die, but they
cannot. Another sign is great sores that come upon men who have the
mark of the beast on their foreheads and heat that scorches men to
death........
8 “And
the fourth angel poured out his vial upon the sun; and power was
given unto him to scorch men with fire.
9 And men were scorched with great heat, and blasphemed the name of God, which hath power over these plagues: and they repented not to give him glory.
10 And the fifth angel poured out his vial upon the seat of the beast; and his kingdom was full of darkness; and they gnawed their tongues for pain,
11 And blasphemed the God of heaven because of their pains and their sores, and repented not of their deeds.”(Revelation 16:8-11)
Of course great heat will produce great famine, as everything will
die. But men will curse God, instead of repenting of this
wickedness.
Great
hailstones raining down on the earth that weigh upwards of 100#
each...unheard of? Get ready,
"From
the sky huge hailstones of about a hundred pounds each fell upon men.
And they cursed God on account of the plague of hail, because the
plague was so terrible."(Revelation 16:21)
You
want to get yourself in a funk, and totally depressed, read the 16th
chapter of Revelation. This imagery is easy to understand and is not
symbolism at all, but will be a literal event to come to all who
dwell upon the earth in wickedness. As had been written, the time of
the end is close at hand, when I say the end, I mean the end of the
age of Grace. God's grace will have run out. God's people have
suddenly vanished from the face of the earth. Don't believe it? Wait
around, should you be so foolish, I guarantee that you will, as the
bible has been 100% accurate into modern times. There is no reason to
believe that the events depicted in Revelation will not be fulfilled
in their entirety. Woe to you if you are still here.
12 “And
the sixth angel poured out his vial upon the great river Euphrates;
and the water thereof was dried up, that the way of the kings of the
east might be prepared.
13 And I saw three unclean spirits like frogs come out of the mouth of the dragon, and out of the mouth of the beast, and out of the mouth of the false prophet.
14 For they are the spirits of devils, working miracles, which go forth unto the kings of the earth and of the whole world, to gather them to the battle of that great day of God Almighty.
15 Behold,
I come as a thief. Blessed is he that watcheth, and keepeth his
garments, lest he walk naked, and they see his shame.”(Revelation
16:12-15)
As
my sister, Donna Wasson once wrote, “Are you in, or are you out?”.
You ask how do I get in? Oh, that's easy. All it takes is faith and
repentance. Faith in what?
16
"For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son,
that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have
everlasting life.
17 For
God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that
the world through him might be saved.
18 He
that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is
condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the
only begotten Son of God."(John 3:16-18)
Realize
that you are a sinner, as it is written, Romans,
20 “Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin.
21 But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets;
22 Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference:
23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;
24 Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus:
25 Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God;” (Romans 3:20-25)
Accept
His free offer of grace and mercy, Ephesians 2,
8 For
by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it
is the gift of God:
9 Not
of works, lest any man should boast."(Ephesians 2:8-9)
God
through His Son is offering you the keys to eternal life, the
proverbial golden ring on the merry-go round...reach and out and take
it. It's entirely free. All you have to do is admit you need it, and
Him. Believe He died for you and for me and was raised to life by God
our Father after 3 days and lives today and is coming back for His
people chosen for His name. When this happens then my friend, if you
do not possess the “golden ring” of Jesus Christ, the Tribulation
is your reward of 7 years of literal hell on earth...not meant to
scare, but to warn you of your condition and the remedy. Because, if
you are sensitive to the times that are coming upon us, you know
within your mind and you heart, that a Blood Moon was Risen and a
full eclipse came, which could be full of the wrath of God. It's that
dread you feel within your spirit, that pulls within your mind and
threatens to send you into despair and madness. I beseech you, to
present yourself to Christ a broken and contrite heart asking, no
pleading for forgiveness. And you know what, He will grant the
request for all eternity.
8 But what saith it? The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is, the word of faith, which we preach;
9 That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.
10 For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.
11 For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed.
12 For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him.
13 For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.” (Romans 10:8-13)
This
is Pastor Mike Taylor, praying the salvation of our and Savior Jesus
Christ comes into each of your hearts and minds. If you need
counseling, prayer, or just a listening ear. Email me
at realteam1999@sbcglobal.net,
this is me praying God's blessing on you all,
till we meet at Jesus feet.
