As I pondered this message today God clearly placed in my spirit these words Tis so sweet to trust in Jesus, Just to take him at his word, Just to rest upon his promise, Just to know, Thus saith the Lord. Jesus, Jesus, how I trust him! How I’ve proved him o’er and o’er! Jesus, Jesus, precious Jesus! O for grace to trust Him more! As I listen to this song the desire within me became as an appetite to TASTE not just the savory food at the table and not just the flavorful sweetness of the dessert. What comes to mind is the desire and longing to be in the presence of Jesus. For it is in that presences we truly begin to TASTE and SEE that the LORD is GOOD.
Now the book of Psalms is the Book of Prayers and Praise unto our LORD it is in this book that is considered the ancient Hymnal for when we go to the book of Psalms we can find every kind of prayer imaginable and also exuberant praises cries for help, spontaneous songs of thanksgiving and carefully constructed statements of the DIVINE truth, many expressions of trust, pleas for justice but there is also national laments and individual confessions. Yet no matter what it is true that this book in the bible can soothe the very state of your soul whether it is sorrow, doubt, joy, anger, gratitude, guilt or wonder the writers of the book of Psalms expressed the teaches unto your heart with honestly authentically and thoroughly. Therefore the key in today’s message is such this O’ TASTE which is a SEVEN COURSE PLAN.
As I walk deeper in this word for you today it is important that I first break down a seven course meal. Now at a formal dinner engagement there are seven courses for the evening’s event that have to be prepared. The first that is serviced to the guest is the Appetizers Course which can be considered your finger foods, the second is the Soup Course, third is the Salad Course, Forth is called the Transitional Course, Fifth is the Intermezzo Course which clears your palate and prepares you for the Sixth which is the Main Course where your vegetables, and meats are served and finally Seventh is the Sweetest Course the Dessert. Therefore in this particular scripture the key is to O TASTE! For in the word Taste is a colorful seven course process with our Lord.
1. Taste of Truth
a. Bestow Honor
2. Taste of Assurance
a. Declare Allegiance
3. Taste of Salvation and Sanctification
a. To Signal God’s Presence
b. To be a Touch Point of Faith
4. Taste of Trustworthiness
a. To direct Warfare an Praise
5. Taste of Everlasting
a. To Herald an Event
b. To Boast in Victory
Let us think about this point when a baby first learns to eat solid foods things that do not have a pleasant taste they tend to spit it out the food and when you give them something sweet they reach for more. Now each of these words will make up the symbolization of how we long to TASTE the sweetness of our Lord. For in Proverbs 24:13 My son, eat thou honey, for it is good; And the droppings of the honeycomb, which are sweet to thy taste.
Bestow Honor upon us O Lord for it is in the Appetizer course of the meal where we begin the first stage of the meal. Therefore in this particular course of the meal we will address the importance of Tasting the Truth of God in our lives. For in Psalms 119:103 How sweet are they words unto my taste! Yea, sweeter than honey to my mouth! The objective in this course of the meal is a hors d'oeuvre, appetizer, or starter is a small dish served before a meal. Some hors d'oeuvres are served cold, others hot. It is at this point when we socialize with each other walking around the room greeting each other showing humanity and revealing the grace of God. Now as we dive into the word itself TRUTH we must understand that in this is the sweet nectar of the honeycomb for in Proverbs 24:13-14 My Child, eat honey for it is Good, and the honeycomb is sweet to the taste, in the same way wisdom is sweet to your soul. In truth it is both bitter and sweet yet today we are gaining the understanding of how the word of God displays the sweetness in the word. Just like the appetizers in the course of the meal Truth is never changing for in this course we learn that in our Taste we gain the Truth. Let me expound on just the word TRUTH for a moment. For it is in truth that we understand things are always timely for it applies to today and the future. Let us think about this when we look at history of the past and how things of today are similar yet different due to technology changes has anything really changed because it is connected with God’s changeless character. See in this point of the course in the meal over time appetizers are considered the social hour of the event yet the variety of the foods may change but the place in the course never changes. Therefore we have to understand that we are challenged by the word of God to be absorbed in the sweetness of the Word for in the word Truth has withstand the test of time generations to generation. Yet it still matches the teachings of Jesus for in Luke 9:35 A voice from the cloud said, This is my Son, my chosen one, Listen to him. One important note about Truth is that Jesus is the one who is TRUTH. Not just by his teachings, not just by his lifestyle but for the mere fact that is the SON OF GOD. See in TRUTH is provided many factors in life
1. Truth gains strength under pressure
2. Truth is not nullified by compromise or wrongdoing
3. Truth sets us free
4. Truth challenges us to submit to its demands
It is in this Course of the meal which by no happenstance is a reason for it being the first course for in Christ Jesus by the word of God becomes our nectar unto our soul for it continuously fulfills our yearning for TRUTH. Therefore in this scripture to taste the honey which is so sweet unto our soul we then can say O taste an see that the LORD IS GOOD for in that statement God speaks to us all in the sweetness of consolation of his holy word. We must be willing with no hesitation to embracing all of God’s word to fully enjoy the sweetness of the honeycomb which cannot be selected buffet style yet as true chef would plan the appetizer based of the main course.
Now that we have tasted the appetizers with the word of God’s nectar it is clear that in 1 Peter 1: 2-3 As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby: If so be ye have tasted that the Lord is gracious. Now at this point of the meal we are at stage two where we enjoy a nice sit down meal with a nice soup which could be cream of potatoes, tomato, broccoli or even wedding soup depending on the occasion for the gathering. It is at this stage of the meal we relish the different taste from the appetizers into the soup course and as we savor each spoonful we realize the warm sensations that stimulate with in our taste buds are so similar to the sensations we get when we taste the goodness of the Lord in our lives. Let me ask this question who has not tasted the Goodness of GOD? Whether you have a personal relationship with the Jesus right now today or if you are seeking to gain that personal relationship with him understand that at some point in your life walk you have enjoyed the Goodness of the Lord which is in Assurance. See in the word TASTE we have learned of Truth now we are gaining a clearer view of our Assurance in God. Yes O Taste and see is important in our assurance for here is where we declare our allegiance in Christ Jesus. Keep in mind that the texture of the soup is important in this process it must have the proper consistence for the taste to overtake the appetizers which we have enjoyed. When you think of a cream style soup the texture is thick and robust in flavor with the ability to overtake your taste buds and give a new flavor within your very being. Such is the same as the words of God understand that throughout the word of God we are to be firm and planted in the thickness of his word. We are to rid ourselves of evil by standing strong in our daily walk. We are to continuously crave the thickness of the word of God and above all strive every day to grow wiser in our spiritual walk with him. See in each of these stages of the word of God are we to nurture our spirits with in the word. Now in order for our assurance to be rid of evil we have to reference Ephesian 4: 25-29 Therefore each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully to his neighbor, for we are all members of one body. In your anger do not sin: do not let the sun go down while you are still angry and do not give the devil a foothold. He who has been stealing must steal no longer, but must work, doing something useful with his own hands, that out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.
Nevertheless to TASTE the richness of GOD gives us both Truth and Assurance yet we still are lacking some more important courses in the occasion. We are now approaching the Salad and transitional courses and in these courses we have both the Salvation and Sanctification within this course. When you think of a salad do you just think of lettuce and tomatoes with ranch dressing? No there are many variety of salads that can be served at the Dinner we have the Caesar Salad, Fruit and chicken salad, Greek salad and so forth but in this course we signal a the presence of the GOD for in Song of Solomon 5:1 I am come into my garden, my sister , my spouse: I have gathered my myrrh with my spice; I have eaten my honeycomb with my honey; I have drunk my wine with my milk: eat, O friends; drink, yea drink abundantly, O beloved. See in this scripture we reverence in the presence of GOD as a banner of Love, a banner of hope, a banner of blesses for in this course of the meal we enjoy the crispy taste of the salad with the dressing generating multiple flavors unto our palates making us each yearn for more. Yet in our gaining more we gain salvation in Christ Jesus. One thing about salvation it is just like the old time favorite joke which is simply this
Knock, knock, who’s there Long as I; Long as I who: Long as I got Got King Jesus!
See in our salvation is in King Jesus for he is standing at the door knocking asking to come into your lives to generate his love and peace unto each of us. Yet many of us come to church but do not truly have Christ within in our very souls. And in order to have his true Salivation we have to understand that
Matt7:7 Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you:
Revelation 3: 20 Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hears my voice, and opens the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.
God has been knocking at your door all of your life because in our salvation he knocks upon our heart asking us to let him dwell within each of us; Just as a little child in the pureness of their innocence gladly yields themselves unto the Lord when his Holy Spirit Knocks. Which brings me to the transitional course in the meal it is hear where we apply our Truth, Assurance and Salvation and walk in Faith for it is in Ps 63:5 My soul shall be satisified as with marrow and fatness; and my mouth shall praise thee with joyful lips. See in our Sanctification the primary objective is that we seek to continuously glorify our LORD never doubting him in his plan for each of us. C.S. Lewis puts best “Our Lord finds our desires not too strong, but too weak.” See understand that just as we enjoy a seven course dinner we are half-hearted creatures that find joy in the worlds perception of Faith yet in True Faith where we have infinite joy that is offered unto us we allow ourselves to be consumed by this world. Therefore in this walk of life we must do just as the word says 1 Corinthians 13:11 When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things.
So far we have obtained the 4 courses of the meal Truth, Assurance, Salvation, and Sanctification we are now coming to the main course which in real terms is considered the meat and potatoes of the meal. Yet before we can truly savor the flavors of the main course we must clear our palate which is the Intermezzo course of the meal now at this course is where we remove the entire flavor that we have tasted by having a small scoop of sorbet. For it is at this course of the meal when God begins to clear our palates therefore as he clears our palates he clearly displays here that I am removing the mess of this world from you so that I can truly Bless you. That when we are going through a cleansing process and in that cleansing process God directs us unto in to direct a Warfare and Praise this is where we have Trustworthiness. For in Hebrew 6:4-5 For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost, And have tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come. Let me make this point clear in this portion of the message first of all in order to win a war we must be ready for the battle for in this world we are in a Spiritual battle. Truth, Assurance, Salvation and Sanctification are important at this stage but Trustworthiness is a key for us to direct the warfare through our exuberant Praise unto our heavenly father. See in that praise we have already begun to taste the Goodness of the LORD. In our praise we are able to stand like Joshua in the battle of Jericho, in our praise we are able to rise up against the spiritual warfare during the times of segregation, in our praise we are able to stand strong in the battle field for our Lord. See as we are in this phase of the seven course process is when we realize that Praise and warfare walk hand in hand with TASTE for in TASTE we really accepting the fullness of God.
The main course of the meal is when we have understanding that we must Trust in the LORD, rest in our Assurance, savor our Salvation and Sanctification, walk in Trustworthiness unto our LORD to come to Herald in the EVENT and to Boast in Victory which is when we Taste our Everlasting relationship with God. In this point I must join two points into one. First Song of Solomon 2:3-4 As the apple tree among the tress of the wood, so is my beloved among the sons. I sat down under his shadow with great delight, and his fruit was sweet to my taste. He brought me to the banqueting house and his banner over me was love. In this scripture we where we rejoice in the event in the main course; God promises unto us all is that we come to the banqueting table ready to walk in our eternal glory for in John 14:1-4 “Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God; believe also in me. My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. You know the way to the place where I am going.” In our eternal life Jesus should energize us to overcome obstacles or events in our daily lives by standing in the situation strong in the word of GOD which is our Main course for life see we have the meat and potatoes at this point yet we overcome by just seating down in the shadows of GOD and being delighted in the midst of it all.
Therefore as we herald the event we also must boast in the victory for in 1 John 1:1-3 That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked at and our hands have touched—this we proclaim concerning the Word of life. The life appeared; we have seen it and testify to it, and we proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and has appeared to us. We proclaim to you what we have seen and heard, so that you also may have fellowship with us. And our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son, Jesus Christ. For the important fact is that we TASTE the LORD’s GOODNESS every day in our lives. So as we walk in our VICTORY is where we are truly walking in the sweetest portion of the meal. For it is in this sweetness which is eternal victory for each us due to God sending Jesus with a mission to the world. In this mission Jesus heralds the event which is our main course by teaching the 12 disciples the good news, the Gospel of God’s love and how we can have our Truth, Assurance, Salvation and Sanctification, and Trustworthiness in the Kingdom of GOD. It was on the cross where he stated “IT IS FINISHED” which was the beginning for the 11 disciples to continue what he had started with mankind. It was at that moment they transitioned from just disciples to the Apostles which is known as the sent ones. See gaining our everlasting in eternity is important for in the commentary on the Gospel of John written by William Barclay; and I quotes “Jesus had come with a message for all men and now he was going back to his Father. His message could never be taken to all men, unless the Church took it. The church was to be a mouth to speak for Jesus, feet to run upon his errands, hands to do his work… Jesus is dependent on his church” now with that quote we have to realize best that we are now the ones that are called upon to teach others about the Goodness of JESUS. So therefore we are to simply offer the 7 course meal to all mankind. Teaching them the importance of how we can TASTE the Spirit of GOD in our lives. See we can
1. Taste of Truth
2. Taste of Assurance
3. Taste of Salvation and Sanctification
4. Taste of Trustworthiness
5. Taste of Everlasting and Eternal
Therefore when we TASTE each course in the process we must savor the flavors for in the flavors we gain a new relationship with our LORD and Savior Jesus Christ. As we gain the understanding to just simply TASTE the word of GOD will begin to fulfill our journey as a true believer in Christ. So look at O TASTE as a challenge for in that challenge Think of something you’re facing right now in your life that you may consider a big challenge. You have to make a decision or solve the problem but it is up to you to consider TASTE as a factor to guide you in the direction of the LORD. Keep in mind that when we Trust in God, have Assurance of his promises, Rest in his Salvation and know that through his holy spirit we have Sanctification, holding strong by living a Trustworthy life for the LORD, and knowing that through Christ Jesus we have our EVERLASTING Life. Now in life challenges if we turn to the Bible as our guide to success. Is where we actually gain understanding that God’s perspective of the situation is not our perspective? Rest assured that after challenging ourselves to let GOD handle all problems in our lives the outcome would be Greater for the word of GOD states this that our Latter will be Greater which is found in Haggi 2:9 The glory of this latter house shall be greater than of the former, saith the Lord of hosts: and in this place will I give peace, saith the Lord of hosts.
