The Word from Mountain View

Trust in His Unfailing Love - Mar 29, 2020

Pastor Jayson Martindale

Trust in His unfailing love 

Text: 1 Samuel 21:10-22:2 & Psalm 13

Thesis: “But I trust in your unfailing love; my heart rejoices in your salvation. I will sing the Lord’s praise, for he has been good to me.”

• Psalm 13:5-6

 

“What has been will be again, what has been done will be done again; there is nothing new under the sun (Ecclesiastes 1:9).”

1. How Long?
   1. David was dealing with some struggles out of his control.
   2. Like David, it is easy to wonder if God has forsaken us.
   3. Jesus too expressed a sense of forsakenness on the cross.
      1. “ And at three in the afternoon Jesus cried out in a loud voice, “Eloi, Eloi, lema sabachthani?” which means “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me”? (Mark 15:34)
   4. Jesus, the suffering servant, is very much in tune with our struggles in the world today.
      1. “He was despised and rejected by mankind, a man of suffering, and familiar with pain. Like one from whom people hide their faces he was despised, and we held him in low esteem (Isaiah 53:3).”
2. Look on Me and Answer!
   1. In the midst of his turmoil, David makes an appeal of help to the Lord.
   2. David’s request is two part:
      1. The restoration of physical strength (Give light to my eyes).
      2. Refuge from his adversary and trouble (my foes will rejoice when I fall).
   3. It is alright to share our frustrations with God. He can take it.
      1. “Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you (1 Peter 5:7).”
   4. All of our anxiety - fear, anger, frustration, worry, trouble, dread, misery, etc.
   5. When it comes to trouble in the world, God is looking for us to respond, not retreat.
      1. I woke up this morning Saw a world full of trouble now. I thought, "How'd we ever get so far down?" And "How's it ever gonna turn around?" So, I turned my eyes to Heaven, I thought, "God, why don't You do something?"... He said, "I did." Yeah. "I created you."    - Matthew West, “Do Something”
3. But I trust…
   1. David had no idea if he would get relief from his troubles. He put his hope and confidence in the Lord anyway.
      1. “But I trust in your unfailing love; my heart rejoices in your salvation (Psalm 13:5).”
   2. God was with David through his difficult times, and he is with us now.
      1. “David was thirty years old when he became king, and he reigned forty years (2 Samuel 5:4).”
      2. “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose (Romans 8:28).”
      3. “The reason why relief does not come is doubtless often hidden… but the Psalm teaches the beautiful lesson that the true believer in God will not be shaken in his faith, however severe the strokes.” - W.O.E. Oesterley
      4.  “All those who were in distress or in debt or discontented gathered around him (1 Samuel 22:2).”
4. Now more than ever, God is calling us to be his hands and feet. Do Something!

Online Worship Service Video Podcast - Mar 22, 2020

ONLINE WORSHIP SERVICE video and audio recorded live at Mountain View Church on March 22, 2020.

Find Sermon Notes here.

Find Bulletin here.

Don't Be Afraid, Just Believe - Mar 22, 2020

“Don’t be Afraid, just believe”

Text: Mark 5: 21-24; 35-43

Thesis: “Perfect love casts out all fear” and God loves us perfectly! (1 John 4:18)

 

1. Jairus received some terrible news… “Your daughter is dead.” (vs. 35)
2. Jairus had come personally to Jesus and had explained to him that his daughter was very sick. (Read vss. 22-23 again)
3. Jairus must have been frustrated that Jesus’ travels to his home were interrupted. (see last week’s sermon- “A Healing within a Healing”)
4. We must confess that we do not like when it appears that God is not responding to our prayers.
5. However, Jairus’ Faith in Jesus must have been strengthened by Jesus power to heal the Woman in need.
6. Then Jairus received the bad news, “Your daughter is dead.” (vs 35)

 

1. Jesus ignores the messengers of the obvious, who only can see with their physical eyes. (vs 36)
2. Jesus with the eye of Faith speaks hope into the heart of Jairus, “Don’t be afraid; just believe.”
3. The eye of Faith views life differently. A God-World View recognizes that God loves them and there is HOPE in Jesus Christ.

• “I can do all things through Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 4:13)
• “Jesus looked at them and said, "With man this is impossible, but not with God; all things are possible with God." (Mark 10:27)
• “The Apostle Paul said, ‘If God be for you, who can be against you.” (Romans 8:31b)

1. Jesus took control of the situation and would not allow the scoffing crowds to go with him. He only took Peter, James and John to go to Jairus’ house.
2. We must totally surrender our situation over to the control of God.

• Job states, “Though he slay me, yet will I hope in him;” (Job 13:15)
• The Apostle’s resolve, “For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain.”

1. Jesus arrives at Jairus’ house and finds it full of hopeless people that are hysterical. (Listen to vs38 to 39)
2. “But they laughed at Him (Jesus) , so “Jesus put them all out.” (vs 40)
3. Have you caught on that Jesus is not impressed with scoffers? They even rob others of their faith. (example is when Moses sent the 12 spies out and only two came back with a good report-see Numbers 13)

 

III. Jesus then raises the little girl to life. (40b-43)

1. In an intimate setting with only the parents and the three disciples present, Jesus speaks life into the little girl.

      “He took her by the hand and said to her, "Talitha koum!" (which        means    "Little girl, I say to you, get up!"). Immediately the girl stood up and began to         walk around (she was twelve years old). At this they were completely aston-           ished” (Mark 5:41-42)
B. Jesus gave some final practical instruction. (vs 43)

 

Jesus said, “Don’t Be Afraid, Just Believe”

A Healing Within a Healing - Mar 15, 2020

A Healing Within a Healing

Text: Mark 5:21-31

Thesis: Jesus’ power to heal is so great, to even touch the hem of his garment brought healing.

 

1. As Jesus was on His way to the home of Jairus, to heal his daughter, a certain woman was healed. (21-29)
2. This event reveals that God is never too busy for our personal needs.
3. Jesus gives invitation, “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.” (Matthew 11:28-29)
4. Mark identifies the woman as someone who has reached the end of herself, physical resources and was without hope. “She had suffered a great deal under the care of many doctors and had spent all she had, yet instead of getting better she grew worse.” (vs. 26)
5. Dr. A.E. Sanner states, “the plight of the woman was pathetic-presumably a chronic hemorrhage, debilitating, embarrassing...impoverishing...discouraging.” (BBC, Mark, page 312)
6. The Levitical law, due to her type of continuous bleeding, recognizes her as ceremonially unclean. (see Lev. 15:19-32)
7. The woman was socially, physically, financially and religiously hopeless.
8. The woman sees in Jesus real hope.

 

1. The woman knowing of Jesus’ reputation to heal attempts to extract a healing from Jesus privately.
2. The woman recognized in Jesus the power of God.
3. Part of Jesus’ mission was to reveal to every sincere person that He is God.
4. Jesus even questioned his disciple saying, “Who do the people say the Son of Man is?” (Matt. 16:13-20)
5. Jesus proclaims to His disciples also, “If you have seen me you have seen the father.” (John 14:9)
6. Jesus still today wants the general public to know He is God.
7. The woman not wanting to reveal her “uncleanness” devised a secret faith plan. (see verses 27-28)
8. She was right about Jesus’ ability to heal her but wrong in that her actions would not be known.

 

III. Jesus immediately had knowledge of what took place by the woman’s actions. (vs. 30)

1. The woman was immediately healed, and she was aware of the change in her body. “Immediately her bleeding stopped, and she felt in her body that she was freed from her suffering.” (vs. 29)
2. Jesus, however, was immediately aware that power had left him. “At once Jesus realized that power had gone out from him. He turned around in the crowd and asked, “Who touched my clothes?” (vs. 30)
3. A relationship with Jesus must be personal but public, not private. “Whoever is ashamed of me and my words, the Son of Man will be ashamed of them when he comes in his glory and in the glory of the Father and of the holy angels.” (Luke 9:26)
4. “But Jesus kept looking around to see who had done it?” (vs. 32)

“For the eyes of the LORD range throughout the earth to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to him.” (2 Chronicles 16:9)

3. The woman comes forward and confesses everything. (see verse 33)
4. Jesus responded by blessing her. (vs. 34)

 

 

Spiritual Warfare - Mar 8, 2020

Spiritual Warfare

 

Text: Mark 5:1-20

Thesis: Jesus in the “Lord’s Prayer” taught us to pray “and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one” (Matthew 6:13)

 

1. Jesus demonstrates His power over Satan by healing a man who was possessed by numerous evil spirits. (vs.1-13)
2. Jesus is confronted by a man possessed by evil spirits. (vs6-7)
3. The evil spirit knew exactly who Jesus was. (vs 7)
4. Jesus had confronted the evil spirit.

“For Jesus was saying to him, ‘Come out of this man, you evil spirit.” (vs8)

1. Jesus demanded the name of the evil spirit and the evil spirit replied, “My name is Legion, …for we are many.” (vs 9)
2. The evil spirit begged to be sent into a herd of pigs and Jesus gave them permission. (vs10-13)
3. Satan is under the authority of God.
4. Jesus healed the demon possessed man.

“When they came to Jesus, they saw the man who had been possessed by the legion of demons, sitting there, dressed and in his right mind; and they were afraid.” (vs15)

 

1. There were those in this region that were more concerned about economics than the salvation of their neighbor. (vs11-13)

“The herd (of pigs), about two thousand in number, rushed down the steep bank into the lake and drowned.” (Vs13)

1. The people were informed about the healing of the demon possessed man and the drowning of the pigs. (vs16)
2. The peopled were not excited about the healing but distraught and Pleaded with Jesus to leave the region. (vs17) (If Jesus came to spend a day at your house, I wonder what you would do?)
3. The man that was healed begged to go with Jesus but Jesus told him to go home to his family and “tell them how much the Lord has done for you, and how he has had mercy on you.” (vs19)

 

III. Jesus is fighting our spiritual battles.

1. When it comes to our salvation Jesus defeated Satan on the cross.
2. Jesus is interceding for us this very day.

• “After the Lord Jesus had spoken to them, he was taken up into heaven and he sat at the right hand of God.” (Mark 16:19
• “Christ Jesus who died--more than that, who was raised to life--is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us.” ( Romans 8:34)

1. Jesus warned the disciples, “That Satan desires to sift you like wheat.”
2. Jesus also told them, “but I have prayed for you.”
3. The Apostle Paul reminds his listeners that our battle is not against flesh and blood but against Satan. (See Ephesians 6: 10-20)

 

Jesus Calms the Storm - Mar 1, 2020

Jesus Calms the Storm
Mark 4:35-41
Thesis: Jesus’ words, “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world" (John 16:33) are a realistic approach to facing trouble in a victorious manner!

I. Jesus seeks solitude with his disciples. (35-37)
A. There are times to break away from the regular crowd and be with family. (example- Family Camp-July 24-
26,2020)
1. Jesus said, “Let’s go over to the other side.”
2. They left “the crowd behind.”
3. Jesus was physically tired and found time to rest.
II. In the normal routine of sailing a sudden “furious storm came up”. (vs 37)
A. In the normal routine of life sudden, horrible events will occur in life that may not be a result of bad choices.
1. There are many Christians who think they must have sinned or done something wrong to cause the crisis
in their life.
a. In the book of Job, his friends tried to convince him that he must have sinned and that was the
reason for his calamities. However, the writer of Hebrews makes it clear that Job was in great
standing with God.
b. Do not fall prey to Satan’s false accusations in the times of calamity but lean heavy on the Lord.
2. Jesus makes it clear that in this world we will have difficulties and that we must “take heart” and not lose
heart.
“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take
heart! I have overcome the world" (John 16:33)
B. The disciples responded to the storm like most humans do, with fear and panic.
1. Their first thought was that Jesus didn’t care if they perished. They questioned Jesus’ love. Big
mistake!!!
“Jesus was in the stern, sleeping on a cushion. The disciples woke him and said to him, "Teacher, don't you care
if we drown?" (vs38)
C. Jesus’ reaction to the storm was totally different than the disciples.
1. Jesus was able to sleep in peace during the storm.
“Jesus was in the stern, sleeping on a cushion.” (vs38)
2. Jesus instead of being fearful, took charge by “rebuking the wind and said to the waves, ‘Quiet! Be
Still.” (vs39)
a. We must take charge of the negative situation or crisis by giving it to God in prayer.
“Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.” (1Peter 5:7
b. Paul instructs young Timothy, “But you, keep your head in all situations.” (2 Tim. 4:5)
c. Paul also reminds Timothy, “For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of
power, love, and self-discipline.” (1 Timothy 1:7)
D. Jesus was alarmed at the disciple’s fearful reaction to the storm.
Jesus asked, “Why are you so afraid?” (vs40a)
E. Jesus associated the disciples great fear to having a lack of faith.
“Do you still have no faith?” (vs40b)
1. The writer to the Hebrews explains, “Without faith it is impossible to please God.” (Hebrews 11:6)
2. The Apostle Paul explains, “The righteous will live by faith” (Romans 1:17c)
F. Jesus Calms the Storm!
“Hold on my child joy comes in the morning
Weeping only last for the night
Hold on my child Joy comes in the morning
The darkest hour means dawn is just in sight.”
Bill Gather

Get on Board with God 'This Very Day' - Feb 23, 2020

Get on Board with God, “This very Day”!

Text: John 5:16-19

Thesis: God is presently at work building His magnificent Kingdom and He desires for us to joyfully join Him “this very day” (vs17)!

 

1. Jesus in defending His actions, makes it very clear that “My Father is always at his work to this very day, and I, too, am working.” (vs17)
2. Jesus pauses four times in this brief sentence to strongly emphasize a major understanding.

      1^st Jesus is saying, “God the Father” is His Father and he doesn’t take a vacation.

 2^nd Jesus is saying “and I”, meaning he is one with the Father.                            (see John 1:1)

         “For this reason, they tried all the more to kill him; not only was he breaking the Sabbath, but he was even calling God his own Father, making himself equal with God.” (Vs 18)

3^rd Jesus is saying “too”, meaning he and God are in lock step in carrying out God’s will. (see vs 19-23&30)

4^th Jesus is saying, “am working”, meaning that he doesn’t take time off either in building the Kingdom of God.

1. The question for the Christian is not “is God at work today”, but am I on board with what God is doing “this very day” (vs17)?
2. Jesus teaches his disciples that they are to be like “little children.”

(Little children can not wait to go with their parents.)

 

1. The religious leaders Jesus was addressing did not have “the concerns of God in mind” but selfish desires.
2. Jesus speaks to his own Disciples about this issue.

“He then began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders, the chief priests and the teachers of the law, and that he must be killed and after three days rise again. He spoke plainly about this, and Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him. But when Jesus turned and looked at his disciples, he rebuked Peter. "Get behind me, Satan!" he said. "You do not have in mind the concerns of God, but merely human concerns.” (Matthew 16:21-23.)

1. As Christian’s we are called to “have the concerns of God in mind”.

“Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.” (Colossians 3:1-2)

1. The religious leaders with all their theological training could not recognize Jesus as “Immanuel-God with Us”. Their minds were not on the concerns of God but on self.

"The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel"-which means "God with us". (Mathew 1:23)

III. Jesus’ Kingdom is being built one person at a time as they come to know Jesus as their personal savior.

1. Mountain View’s mission statement is “To know Christ, share His love and make Him known to others” (See front of bulletin)
2. People not knowing Jesus, is a major concern of God.
3. As a Church Family we must continue to “Get on board with God.”
4. As a Church we must stay in the Word through personal study, small group study and Sunday morning Worship. (Be involved in at least one worship service and one small group a week.)
5. As a Church we must “be wise as serpents and gentle as doves” in reaching a lost world for Christ. (Implement and use the best sound and media technology available)
6. As the Church we want to continue, through Christ to “Seek and save that which is lost.” (Introduce a friend or neighbor to Christ or invite them to Church so they can hear about Jesus.)
7. As a Church we want to find an area to Serve in. (check opportunities in booklet 2A-3C)

The Promise - Feb 16, 2020

Guest Speaker: Rev Bob Donahue

Scripture Passage: Joel 2:28-32a

Theme: The Promise

 

Baptism - Feb 9, 2020

Baptism

Text: Acts 2:36-41; Mark 1:9-10

Thesis: To be Baptized is to follow in the practice and teaching of Jesus. “Therefore, go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,” Matthew 28:9

I. Baptism is an outward Sign of what has inwardly taken place. (Acts 2: 38)

• Peter replied, "Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.” (Acts 2:38)

• “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!” (2Cor. 5:17)

II. Baptism is a Declaration of your choice to serve God. (Mark 1:9)

A. Jesus was without sin but was baptized to declare his choice to follow God’s will.
• “Then Jesus said to his disciples, "Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me.” (Mathew 16:24)

III. Baptism is God’s Confirmation that “He loves you, you are his child, and He is well pleased with you”. (Mark 1:10-11)

A. God’s love is not based on your performance.

 

The Sower, The Seed and The Soil - Feb 2, 2020

The Sower, The Seed and The Soil

Text: Mark 4:1-20
Thesis: In the building of the Kingdom of God, Jesus uses a farming metaphor to reveal three keys to producing growth.

I. The Farmer sows the seed. (vs 3 &14)

A. Jesus, while not specifically identifying who the farmer is, specifically states there is someone who sows the seed.

1. God has graciously chosen to use his followers as ambassadors to share the “Good News”.
“We are therefore Christ's ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ's behalf: Be reconciled to God.” (2 Cor. 5:20)

2. The Apostle further proclaims, “For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes: first to the Jew, then to the Gentile.” (Romans 1:16)
B. Have fun in sowing the seed and don’t be frugal! 😊

II. The “seed” is the “word” of God (Vs 3&14)

A. It is important to note that the “seed” is perfect. Never does Jesus attribute the failure of the crop to the seed.

B. Jesus in scripture is identified as the personification of the “word” of God which is the seed.
“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace truth.” (John 1:1 & 14)

C. Jesus is perfect and so is his teaching.

D. Jesus has the power to save and transform lives if people are willing.
“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!” (2Cor.5:17)

1. Trust in the power of the seed or Word.

III. There are four types of soil that represent the hearts of mankind. (vs 4-8; &15-20)

1st The first type of soil is the hardened life. (vs4&15)
“As soon as the word is sown…As soon as they hear it Satan comes and takes away the word that was sown in them.”
Action Step: As Spiritual farmers we need to pray and work to soften their hearts through Christ-like love.

2nd The second type of soil is the shallow life. (vs5-6;16-17)
1. These individuals “received the word at once with joy”
2. However, “when trouble came because of the word, they fell away.”
3. Jesus points out “they withered because they had no root.”

Action step: We need to have our roots deep in Christ, His word and his Church, and encourage others to do the same.

“Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful. And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another--and all the more as you see the Day approaching.” (Hebrews 10:23-25)

3rd The third type of soil is the crowded life.(vs7&18-19)
1. These individuals “hear the word” and develop into spiritual “plants” (vs7) but because of the “worries of this life and the deceitfulness of wealth and the desires for other things come and choke the word making it unfruitful.”

Action Step: We must put our trust totally in God and do not seek after the things of this world to satisfy our basic needs.

“You adulterous people, don't you know that friendship with the world means enmity against God? Therefore, anyone who chooses to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God.” (James 4:4)

4th The fourth type of soil is the receptive life. (8&20)

1. This individual “hears the word, accepts it and produces a crop-thirty, sixty or even a hundred times what was sown.”

Action Step: This individual not only confesses their sins and are saved but consecrates their life to God and are Sanctified Holy.

“May God himself, the God of peace, sanctify you through and through. May your whole spirit, soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. The one who calls you is faithful, and he will do it.” (1 Thes. 5:23-24)