A couple was strolling along an ocean side beach and noticed a bottle floating in the water. They waded out toward it and saw it contained a note. They eagerly opened the bottle and read the note. It said: "I’m marooned on a tropical island. There’s no pollution, traffic, noise, politicians, or taxes. Eat your heart out."
Lastly and perhaps most importantly this 8th commandment encourages us to become generous persons. I love the story of the IRS auditor who was talking with a minister on the phone---He asked, “Now this Joe Smith that I’m talking about…does he attend your church?” “Yes, he does,” the preached replied and then asked, “Why do you need to know? Is he in some kind of trouble?” “Well, no, but then again maybe, yes.” the auditor continued, “You see Joe claimed on his taxes that he’s given a large gift to your church. So tell me, has Joe given your church a gift of $5000?” The quick thinking preacher answered, “If he hasn’t---he will!”
How many of us know what time of year it is? TAX TIME!
Some of us are happy because we got returns coming….and some of us are not-so-happy because we have to pay!
Here are some TAX FACTS:
• The first income tax ever was in 1404 in England.
• The first property tax in the United States was in 1798 and it was on land, houses, and slaves.
• The first US income tax started during in the Civil War to help raise money back in 1862.
• Drug Tax Stamps – In at least 23 states there is a tax on illegal drugs. When you buy an illegal drug, like marijuana or even moonshine, in Tennessee, you have 48 hours to report it to the Department of Revenue to pay your tax and get a stamp for the substance. No identification is needed!
• “Jock tax” – Levied on athletes who earn an income competing in a particular city or state. California first levied this tax on athletes from Chicago in 1991 after the Chicago Bulls beat the LA Lakers in the 1991 NBA Finals. What a bunch of sore losers!
• Alabama has a 10 cent tax on a deck of playing cards.
• “Fountain soda drinks” in Chicago are taxed at 9%, if it comes in a bottle or can then it’s only taxed at 3%.
There’s no escaping from it…just like the old saying goes, “The only things that are certain is DEATH and TAXES!”
But is it? Does your walk with Jesus Christ suggest differently?
Separate yourselves from the thought of taxes only being financial concerns…what about the taxing of our spirit, of our heart, of our minds?
In many cases, these taxes are the taking away of something pure that God has intended for our lives. Sin results when we allow the world to debt from us the Holy Spirit’s influence on our lives and weaken our relationship with Jesus.
Satan TAXES our lives by:
ANGER
o James 1:19-20, “My dear brothers, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, for man’s anger does not bring about the righteous life that God desires.”
o Ephesians 4:26, “’In your anger do not sin.’ Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry.”
o Why is that important? Ever heard the phrase ALL HEARTS CLEAR? When we don’t, Satan taxes our PEACE from God!
ANXIETY
o 1 Peter 5:6-7, “Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that He may lift you up in due time. Cast ALL YOUR ANXIETY on Him because HE CARES FOR YOU.”
o Matthew 6:27 & 33-34, “And who of you by being worried can add a single hour to his life?....But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. “So do not worry about tomorrow; for tomorrow will care for itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.”
o Remember the Serenity Prayer?? “God grant me the serenity
to accept the things I cannot change; courage to change the things I can; and wisdom to know the difference.”
o He TAXES God’s control in our lives!
EVIL DESIRES
o Titus 2:11-12, “The grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men. It teaches us to say ‘NO’ to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age.”
o Ephesians 2:4-5, “Because of His great love for us, God, who is rich in MERCY, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by GRACE you have been saved.”
o He TAXES the purity of the cross with the reminders of WHAT WAS LEFT BEHIND!!
FEAR
o Romans 8:15, “You did not receive a spirit that makes you a SLAVE to fear, but you received a Spirit of sonship. And by Him we cry, ‘Abba Father.’”
o 1 John 4:18, “There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with PUNISHMENT. The man who fears is not made perfect in love.”
o He TAXES our TRUST in what Jesus Christ stood for….allowing our lives to accept LESS THAN GRACE’S VALUE!
OBEDIENCE
o Proverbs 13:13, “He who scorns instruction will pay for it, but he who respects a command is rewarded.”
o 1 John 2:3-6, “We know that we have come to know Him if we obey His commands. The man who says, ‘I know him,’ but does not do what He commands is a LIAR, and the truth is not in him. But if anyone OBEYS His word, God’s love is truly made complete in him. This is how we KNOW we are in Him: Whoever claims to live in Him must WALK as Jesus did.”
o WOW! Doesn’t that just get you right there? As far as I know, we ALL claim to know Him here…are we obedient to His truth, or are we allowing Satan to TAX our faith into becoming liars?
So now that we understand that in ALL aspects of our lives we are TAXED….what must we do to keep “Uncle Satan” out of our spiritual pockets??
WE NEED TO QUIT CLAIMING THE DEDUCTIONS!!!!!!!!
*Read Luke 18:9-17*
Big Picture Points:
Pharisee represents the Christian that is SELF-RIGHTEOUS.
The TAX Collector represents the TAXED, REPENTIVE Christian.
Pharisee represents those who TAX God’s grace for their own benefit.
The TAX Collector is humbled by God’s MERCY of recognition!
The Pharisee did pray. He came to God. But he only saw himself. His vision was cluttered with the outward show, with the things he did and did not do. Self-satisfied and self-righteous, he saw neither God nor his own heart clearly.
There was also a tax collector there, too ashamed to even raise his eyes to heaven. Humbling himself before God, this man found forgiveness.
The KEY to TAX FREE?
WE MUST QUIT SPENDING TIME IN THE WORLD THAT IS TAXABLE!
o Surround yourself with God and His people! Make TIME for God! Excuses AWAY from God are acceptance to SIN!
WE MUST APPROACH THE LORD AS CURIOUS AND FEARLESS CHILDREN!
o Verse 16 & 17!! (NOTE: Proper Children actions in church JUDGED)
WE MUST TRUST, REACH OUT, AND TAKE THE FATHER’S OFFERED HAND!
o These “taxes” of sin is a debt that has been already paid for on the cross….so why are you still paying for it?
