Our Father Knows Best

Our Father Knows Best - By Pastor Mike Taylor - https://pastormiketaylor.blogspot.com/2020/08/our-father-knows-best.html 105 " Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.106 I have sworn, and I will perform it, that I will keep thyrighteous judgments." (Psalms 119:105-106) When I was a child, I followed my parents teachings, because they said so. Being a little guy, these people I called "mommy anddaddy" were relied on for everything. They were so much stronger and bigger than me and how could I not do as I was told? When my dad said jump, it was usually "how high?". Or at least in following his verbal command, I jumped at doing what he said becauseof fear. All of us remember as being children, when our parents told us something to do, even though we did not understand why, we didit anyway. Remember being a little person and saying that often uttered word, "why"? In my house, the response was usually, "because I said so". And if we disobeyed the rules of our parents or the warning not doing as we were told, what was the end result?Correct, we got our behind tanned with a wide belt or a paddle. We obeyed out of fear. Fear of discipline and the pain it would result in. 42 "And the Lord said, Who then is that faithful and wise steward, whom his lord shall make ruler over his household, to givethem their portion of meat in due season? 43 Blessed is that servant, whom his lord when he cometh shall find so doing. 44 Of a truth I say unto you, that he will make him ruler over all that he hath. 45 But and if that servant say in his heart, My lord delayeth his coming; and shall begin to beat the menservants and maidens,and to eat and drink, and to be drunken; 46 The lord of that servant will come in a day when he looketh not for him, and at an hour when he is not aware, and will cuthim in sunder, and will appoint him his portion with the unbelievers. 47 And that servant, which knew his lord's will, and prepared not himself, neither did according to his will, shall be beatenwith many stripes."(Luke 12:42-47) If you were around in the '60s, there was a show called "Father Knows Best"....it was a family show that dealt with family issues...inthe end, the father of the family knew what was best for each of them. So it is with our Heavenly Father...He knows the beginning from the end and everything in between. He watches over us and gives us blessings that we don't deserve, if we follow what Hehas told us in His Word...... 28 "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. 29 For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstbornamong many brethren." (Romans 8:28-29) "For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the LORD, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and ahope." (Jeremiah 29:11) OUR HEAVENLY FATHER I remember growing up in church and hearing messages that could only be described as "hell fire and brimstone" sermons. A lotof people came to the altar to repent out of having the living daylights scared out of them. No one who came down wanted to experience a never ending judgment of torment by fire. Was their basis for repentance based on faith or pure unadulterated fear of anall consuming God? Of course, the answer was fear, but better fear than no response at all. Many of these same people when they felt that had appeased God, returned to their lifestyles, as if nothing had ever happened in their lives. Why is that? Because theygot past their fear. Oh, they knew that to sin was not part of their "being saved", but hey, (I did it this time and nothing happened, right? If I do it again, maybe nothing will happen again. God doesn't see and I won't get caught.) So they keep doing thesame sin, over and over and expect no discipline for their actions. They reason "God is love and He saved me, so I'm good". No need to fear anymore. I have many people email me and lament that the world believes that if they say a simple prayer, that theyhave a free pass now to do whatever they want and get away with it. Let us make a bold statement. You can not offend God. God is not a God of meanness. You can not cause Him any injury or inflictharm on Him. God does not sit around just waiting for you to mess up and hit a button labeled "SMITE". But God IS a God of judgment. God will ultimately discipline all who He calls His children and those who do not belong to Him, as they have rejected theonly payment for their sin, Jesus Christ death on the cross and resurrection., God will bring judgment onto every one of us, just as your human parents did, in love for those who are His. Why? Because He wants you to grow in His nature and His ways. He wantsto spend eternity with His children and cannot abide sin in our lives. God disciplines on two levels, first in correction and then in final judgment. Question? How much can you push God, by repeating the same sins over and over and not have correction andfinal judgment? Yes, God is a God of mercy and patience, but there is a time when God's patience runs out. 11 "Because sentence against an evil work is not executed speedily, therefore the heart of the sons of men is fully set in themto do evil. 12 Though a sinner do evil an hundred times, and his days be prolonged, yet surely I know that it shall be well with them thatfear God, which fear before him: 13 But it shall not be well with the wicked, neither shall he prolong his days, which are as a shadow; because he feareth notbefore God." (Ecclesiastes 8:11-13) Those who have no fear of God and have no need for God, think they can do whatever they please, as they rely on themselves. Godlyfear is a product of wisdom and those who do not fear God out of respect and reverence, God calls a fool. I didn't say it, GOD does. 1 "The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God. They are corrupt, they have done abominable works, there is none that doethgood. 2 The LORD looked down from heaven upon the children of men, to see if there were any that did understand, and seek God. 3 They are all gone aside, they are all together become filthy: there is none that doeth good, no, not one."(Psalms 14:1-3) BLESSINGS AND CURSES Looking back at the bible's example of a people most blessed, and those most cursed because of their disobedience, we look atIsrael who disobeyed God and did not continue to fear Him. 1 And it shall come to pass, if thou shalt hearken diligently unto the voice of the LORD thy God, to observe and to do all hiscommandments which I command thee this day, that the LORD thy God will set thee on high above all nations of the earth: 2 And all these blessings shall come on thee, and overtake thee, if thou shalt hearken unto the voice of the LORD thy God.(Deuteronomy28:1-2) As you read this passage, God explains to the nation of Israel the blessings they will receive if they hearken unto the voiceof God and follow His commands. But beginning in verses 15 to the end of the chapter, God warns them of not following His commandments. The curses and judgments are staggering 15 But it shall come to pass, if thou wilt not hearken unto the voice of the Lord thy God, to observe to do all his commandmentsand his statutes which I command thee this day; that all these curses shall come upon thee, and overtake thee: 16 Cursed shalt thou be in the city, and cursed shalt thou be in the field. 17 Cursed shall be thy basket and thy store. 18 Cursed shall be the fruit of thy body, and the fruit of thy land, the increase of thy kine, and the flocks of thy sheep. 19 Cursed shalt thou be when thou comest in, and cursed shalt thou be when thou goest out. 20 The Lord shall send upon thee cursing, vexation, and rebuke, in all that thou settest thine hand unto for to do, until thoube destroyed, and until thou perish quickly; because of the wickedness of thy doings, whereby thou hast forsaken me. 21 The Lord shall make the pestilence cleave unto thee, until he have consumed thee from off the land, whither thou goest to possessit. 22 The Lord shall smite thee with a consumption, and with a fever, and with an inflammation, and with an extreme burning, andwith the sword, and with blasting, and with mildew; and they shall pursue thee until thou perish. Read the entire chapter of blessing and curses, but God will discipline those who rebel against Him until God says: 65 "And among these nations shalt thou find no ease, neither shall the sole of thy foot have rest: but the Lord shall give theethere a trembling heart, and failing of eyes, and sorrow of mind: 28:66 And thy life shall hang in doubt before thee; and thou shalt fear day and night, and shalt have none assurance of thy life"(Deuteronomy 28:65-66) Israel's disobedience to the voice of God affected the national character, until many years into the future, God had had enoughof their disobedience of His Word and His people, the nation of Israel were sent into exile, not once, but twice until modern day revival of that nation. So it was with them, so it is with us...God does not change and the man who is wise follows after Him,as a sheep after a Good Shepard. JESUS, GOD OF THE OLD TESTAMENT ON EARTH Travel with me, many years into their future, after Israel had been returned to their homeland to be rebuilt at the end of theBabylonian exile into the time of the coming of our Lord, Jesus Christ on earth. When Jesus began to teach, one of the most memorable of His sermons was the Sermon on the Mount. Here Jesus explained what was meant in the Old Testament of the commandments givento their fathers. What did Jesus say ? 5:18 "For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till allbe fulfilled. 5:19 Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least inthe kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven."(Matthew 5:18-19) In this sermon, our Lord developed what was written in the Old Testament, known to them as the Torah, or Teachings. These werethe commandments given by this same God standing before them having fleshed them out in their spiritual intent so it could be understood plainly. A CLARIFICATION OF MEANING Let me make something very plain to the reader who may misunderstand. This is not about Law keeping, as no one can keep the Law.Paul spoke of this very fact, they were are not subject to the Law and it's penalties, because we have been saved by grace and the Law has no effect on us....in penalty. What does Jesus mean then when He spoke of the commandments of God, emphasized by Himselfand preached with authority? Jesus was saying that if you follow the commandments as a way of life, to trust God that He knows what is best for each of us, then blessing will result. If we do not, then curses will follow. Let me illustrate. Look at any prisoner in our penal system. Have any of these people followed the commandments of God? Of course not, as they havebroken norms of society that are based on law. Man made laws came from one authority, Almighty God and based on the Ten Commandments and His judgments. If you follow the law, you will have blessings such as guaranteed by the Bill of Rights and our Constitution,but if you break the laws, as each of these prisoners did, then you have lost your rights and have been cursed and are incarcerated for a predetermined amount of time. You have lost your freedom, your property, possibly your family, and ultimately some loosetheir life. Turning to the born again Christian who follows after Jesus in belief and faith. What has happened to this person? They have becomea new creature in Christ Jesus and they follow His example. What is His example? Following what He said beginning with the Law of God handed down to mankind and ultimately to His sermon on the mount. Jesus gave us commandments to follow for a reason. It isthe recipe for a productive and meaningful life. The world follows after their own lust and do what is right in their own eyes. Right or wrong, they follow their own humanistic idea of what is good for them. They have no need for God. Why? Because they donot trust Him. They don't wish to know Him because they love their sinful ways. We who are called of God, have put our trust in our Heavenly Father and our Lord Jesus who knows the beginning from the end, and ultimately what is best and right for each of us. Each of us choose consciously who we will follow. Jesus said: 6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. 7 If ye had known me, ye should have known my Father also: and from henceforth ye know him, and have seen him."(John 14:6-7) Our Father in Heaven, God Almighty, knew that we could not keep the letter of the Law. It is not in our nature or character toseek God or to know Him. 10:3 "For the wicked boasteth of his heart's desire, and blesseth the covetous, whom the LORD abhorreth. 4 The wicked, through the pride of his countenance, will not seek after God: God is not in all his thoughts. 5 His ways are always grievous; thy judgments are far above out of his sight: as for all his enemies, he puffeth at them."(Psalms10:3-5) Man by nature, who is mortal, and prone to sin, does not follow after God or search for Him. God seeks us and draws us to Himself,through the work of the Holy Spirit to see Jesus, the only payment for the sins that we commit. 10 "As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one: 11 There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God. 12 They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; there is none that doeth good, no, not one. 13 Their throat is an open sepulchre; with their tongues they have used deceit; the poison of asps is under their lips: 14 Whose mouth is full of cursing and bitterness: 15 Their feet are swift to shed blood: 16 Destruction and misery are in their ways: 17 And the way of peace have they not known: 18 There is no fear of God before their eyes."(Romans 3:10-18) But God's Holy Spirit is at work in this world, calling all who will heed the call: 44 "No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day. 45 It is written in the prophets, And they shall be all taught of God. Every man therefore that hath heard, and hath learned ofthe Father, cometh unto me."(John 6:44-45) When we accept Jesus Christ by faith, as our Savior and Redeemer, we use that faith and belief to follow His way of life. Whydo we follow His example and live His commandments? Because we TRUST Him! To follow after Jesus produces blessing in this life, and all of eternity. To not follow after Jesus, accept Him as personal Savior by faith, leads to the flip side of this life, cursesin this life and for all eternity. Follow Jesus produces right living and being obedient to His command produces another by product of our belief......character. Through trials and life's never ending struggle to put on the new man and avoid evil, we becomemore like Jesus Christ and less like the world. It will never be complete in this life, but will be accomplished finally when our Savior and Lord changes us into what He is....Immortal Spirit. 1 Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ: 2 By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. 3 And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience; 4 And patience, experience; and experience, hope: 5 And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us."(Romans5:1-5) "Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knowethus not, because it knew him not. 2 Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, weshall be like him; for we shall see him as he is. 3 And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure."(1st John 3:1-3) NATIONAL DISOBEDIENCE As the individual decides to follow or to not follow after God, it permeates into all of society when a society has thrown thecommandments of God to the curb. I have seen what I never thought I would see, but I have. What I have seen in our nation is an apathy for doing what is rightin political office. Never would I have thought to have seen that the office of the past so called "leader" of the most powerful nation on earth, the President of the USA be given a pass over lewd behavior, or lying to the people, or trampling on our freedoms.It didn't just start with this past "Idiot in chief" president, but has been going on for decades. We saw Bill Clinton who had an affair while in office and nobody held him accountable, they even glorified his behavior stating "When Clinton lied, nobody died"meaning GW Bush was guilty of lying and then gave a pass for a Liberal President for sexual misconduct and lying while in office. OH, Bush had his grievous errors in judgment and people blame him for starting unneeded wars, but this President that graced ourTV's most every night, by and far, took the cake. And we the people, do not hold our elected officials that are supposed to be speaking for us to a higher standard of conduct.This includes our Congressman, our Senators, and our local officials at the state levels. No, we have become them. They are a reflection of the moral decay and the departure from common decency and following after God's commandments, and the commands of ourLord and Savior Jesus Christ in both halves of the Holy Book we call the Bible. Remember what we just quoted in Deuteronomy 28 concerning blessing and curses? The national tone is one of moral bankruptcy and a decline in righteous living. No other nation hasbeen given so much, as to require even the more. 48, " But he that knew not, and did commit things worthy of stripes, shall be beaten with few stripes. For unto whomsoever muchis given, of him shall be much required: and to whom men have committed much, of him they will ask the more."(Luke 12:48) All the world knows better but ignores the God of the Bible. As for mentioning the USA, she has turned her back on the benefactorwho made her great. Nation after nation has fallen because they did not follow the ways of God and chose not to honor or reverence Him. The USA is not any different. She has been blessed more abundantly than any nation on earth. She has had her zenith andher star has shown to the ends of the earth, but she has rejected her God and taken on pagan gods of idolatry and filth of perversions. Just look what is going on right now in this country with rioting, looting, murder, thievery, burning down property, thedestruction of statues and even a call to demolish Mount Rushmore, as symbol of our history. Evil is growing rampant in this country with attempts to bring in Socialism/Communism all leading to a New World Order, or One World Government which will ultimatelylead to the Anti-Christ. It all starts with you and is a reflection of our national tragedy. You who read this, are you following the commandments of God?Have you followed His way of living based on the life of Jesus Christ? Have you believed in your heart, repented and decided that you have no hope apart from Jesus Christ and His sacrifice on Calvary's cross to be the substitute for what you and I both deserve,which is death? Put your trust in the only hope you have for blessings in this life and the next. If you feel down, depressed, hooked on drugs or alcohol to numb that empty feeling of hopelessness you feel inside, then look up from the bottom of that pit youare living in and see the outstretched arms of God in the flesh, Jesus the Christ. He seeks to deliver you from the life you are living and only wishes to fold you in His arms. Feel and listen to that still small voice who speaks to your inner being? Jesusis the way, the only way and there is NO other way to be saved. OBEDIENCE BY FAITH! Obey His voice and His calling by faith. Accept His invitation to repent of those sins you have committed and will commit in thismortal life. Stand before Him with a broken heart and a contrite spirit and ask for forgiveness and mercy to cleanse you from all unrighteousness...You know what? He will do as you ask. 37 "All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out. 38 For I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of him that sent me. 39 And this is the Father's will which hath sent me, that of all which he hath given me I should lose nothing, but should raiseit up again at the last day"(John 6:37-39) Paul the apostle wrote in Romans 23 "for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, (ALL OF US, my emphasis) 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 (substitution) through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for theremission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God; 26 To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus."(Romans3:23-26) 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 thedead, 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) 3:16 "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but haveeverlasting 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 inthe name of the only begotten Son of God. 19 And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deedswere evil. 20 For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved. 21 But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God."(John 3:16-21) Romans 8:38-39 For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers,neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord. I firmly believe that this coming election is the most important election of our lifetime. It will determine if we follow thepath that God and our Fore-Fathers laid down to create this nation, or we will have a government that will lead us into loss of freedoms, and the rise of Socialism/Communism with "Big Brother watching you". But nationally, we have a choice to make, although I don't see it happening, as I believe we are that close to the coming of ourLord Jesus Christ in the coming rapture of His church, the Bride of Christ...but just in case, the Father who knows best lets this go on for a few years, then we as a nation need to commit to following our Heavenly Father and the Savior of the world, JesusChrist. 14 "If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wickedways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land."(2nd Chronicles 7:14) Revelation 22:17 The Spirit and the bride say, "Come!" And let him who hears say, "Come!" Whoever is thirsty, let him come; and whoever wishes,let him take the free gift of the water of life. That Water of Life, is Jesus Christ. He paid the penalty for disobedience to His righteous law that convicts us all. To come toHim, is to make a personal choice to follow Him, to trust Him, by faith and actions to live as He lived to the best of our mortal ability TILL HE COMES. SO COME LORD JESUS. This is pastor Mike Taylor, praying you obey that still small voice calling you to repentance and accepting Jesus as your personalSavior, by FAITH. If you need prayer, counseling, or just a listening ear, email me at pastormiketaylor@yahoo.com . God bless you, till we meetat Jesus feet.