LOVEST THOU ME?

MARK 14:18-19

Pastor Rick Jackson

 

I. DO WE HEED THE WARNINGS?

1. The Warning of Being Offended [v. 26-29] skandalizo

2. The Warning of Denial [v. 30-31]

3. The Warning to Pray [v. 32-37]

 

II. DO WE FAIL THE TESTS?

1. Failing to Pray [v. 38-41]

2. Are We Offended? [v. 42-50]

3. Do We Deny Him? [v. 66-72]

 

III. DO WE UNDERSTAND? [JOHN 21]

We don’t always heed the warnings. We often fail the tests, but do we understand?

1. We are His Still [v. 1-14]

2. He Desires Our Love [v. 15-17]

3. He Desires Us to Follow Him Still [v. 18-22, Mt. 4:19]

THE LORD LOOKETH ON THE HEART

LUKE 5:18-26

Pastor Rick Jackson

1 Samuel 16:7 Man looketh on the outward appearance, but the LORD looketh on the heart.

 

I. THE CHARACTERS

1. Four Men Wanted their Friend Healed [v. 17-20, Mk. 2:3]

2. The Friend actually Wanted Salvation [v. 20-25]

3. The Crowd Witnessed God at Work [v. 26]

 

II. THE CRITICS

1. Critics are Like Broken Cisterns [v. 17, Jer. 2:13]

For my people have committed two evils; they have forsaken me the fountain of living waters, and hewed them out cisterns, broken cisterns, that can hold no water.

2. Critics are Like Broken Records [v. 21a]

“Critics are a dime a dozen. Any fool can criticize.” -Lee Roberson

3. Critics are Like a Broken Clock [v. 22b]

Even a broken clock is right twice a day

 

III. THE CHRIST

1. Christ Knows the Thoughts of Men [v. 22]

He knew the critics’ thoughts, the friends’ thoughts, the infirm man’s thoughts.

2. Christ Knows the Limitations of Men [v. 23]

3. Christ Knows What We Need to Know [v. 24-26]

ISN’T HE WONDERFUL?

1 JOHN 2:21-3:2

Pastor Rick Jackson

 

I. THE TRUTH OF GOD IS WONDERFUL [1 JOHN 1:21, Ps. 31:5]

Into thine hand I commit my spirit: thou hast redeemed me, O LORD God of truth.

1. The Spirit is Truth [John 14:17, 15:26, 16:13, 1 Jn. 5:6]

- Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.

- But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, he shall testify of me:

- Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth:

-it is the Spirit that beareth witness, because the Spirit is truth.

2. The Bible is Truth [Jn. 17:17, 2 Co. 6:7; Eph. 1:13, 1 Th. 2:13, Jm. 1:18]

- Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.

-By the word of truth, by the power of God

-In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation:

-For this cause also thank we God without ceasing, because, when ye received the word of God which ye heard of us, ye received it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which effectually worketh also in you that believe.

-Of his own will begat he us with the word of truth

3. The Saviour is Truth [Jn. 1:14, 17, 14:6]

-And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth

-For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ.

-Jesus saith unto him, I am the way , the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.

 

II. THE EXPOSING OF SIN IS WONDERFUL [Jer. 5:30-31]

A wonderful and horrible thing is committed in the land; The prophets prophesy falsely, and the priests bear rule by their means; and my people love to have it so: and what will ye do in the end thereof?

1. A Denier that Jesus is the Christ is a Liar & an Antichrist [1 Jn. 2:22]

-the Bible says Jesus is Christ [John 20:31] But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name.

-the Spirit says Jesus is Christ [Acts 18:5] And when Silas and Timotheus were come from Macedonia, Paul was pressed in the spirit, and testified to the Jews that Jesus was Christ.

-the Father says Jesus is Christ [Acts 2:36] Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that God hath made that same Jesus, whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ.

2. A Denier that Jesus is the Christ denies the Father and the Son [v. 22-23a, John 5:23]

That all men should honour the Son, even as they honour the Father. He that honoureth not the Son honoureth not the Father which hath sent him.

3. A Believer in Jesus Christ has the Father and the Son [v. 23b-24]

 

III. THE EXPECTATION OF THE BELIEVER IS WONDERFUL [I JOHN 2]

1. Abide in Truth [v. 24-27, John 3:36]

He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.

2. Abide in Christ [v. 28]

3. Abide in Confidence [v. 28-29, Jn. 15:4-7]

Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me. I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing. If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned. If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you.

THE PRACTICAL POWER OF JESUS

MATTHEW 12:1-14

Pastor Rick Jackson

 

I. THE ACCUSATION OF THE PHARISEES [v. 1-2]

1. The Allowance of the Lord [v. 1] He surely knew they were hungry

2. The Dinner of the Disciples [v. 1]

3. The Perversion of the Pharisees [v. 2]

 

II. THE ANSWER OF THE LORD [v. 3-8]

1. He Cited the Historical Books Concerning David [v. 3-4, 1 Sam. 21]

2. He Cited the Law Pentateuch Concerning the Priests [v. 5-6, Num. 28:9-10]

And on the sabbath day two lambs of the first year without spot, and two tenth deals of flour for a meat offering, mingled with oil, and the drink offering thereof: This is the burnt offering of every sabbath, beside the continual burnt offering, and his drink offering.

3. He Cited the Prophets Concentrating on Hosea [v. 7, Hosea 6:6]

For I desired mercy, and not sacrifice; and the knowledge of God more than burnt offerings.

4. He Cited His Authority Concerning His Deity [v. 6, 8; Gen. 2:1-3]

Thus the heavens and the earth were finished, and all the host of them. And on the seventh day God ended his work which he had made; and he rested on the seventh day from all his work which he had made. And God blessed the seventh day, and sanctified it: because that in it he had rested from all his work which God created and made.

 

III. THE PRACTICING OF WHAT HE PREACHED [v. 9-14]

1. The Pharisees Tried to Trap Jesus [v. 10]

2. The Profit Margin Explained [v. 11-13, James 4:17]

Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin.

3. The Pharisees Dilemma [v. 14]

-they couldn’t argue with the Scriptures Jesus gave

-they couldn’t argue with the Logic Jesus used

-they wouldn’t agree with Jesus

-they resorted to violence

ONE OF THE GREATEST DAYS EVER!

JOHN 20

Pastor Rick Jackson

 

I. CHRISTIANS ARE INDIVIDUALS [v. 1-11]

1. Mary Wept in Ignorance [v. 1-2]

2. Peter Investigated in Confusion [v. 2-7, 9-10]

3. John Believed in Providence [v. 2-10]

 

II. CHRIST IS UNIQUELY RESPONSIVE [v. 11-18]

1. Jesus Reassured Mary Personally [v. 11-16]

2. Jesus Taught Mary [v. 17]

3. Jesus Commissioned Mary [v. 17-18]

 

III. CHRIST IS RISEN! [v. 19-22]

1. Jesus Restores their Joy

[v. 19-20, John 16:16-22]

2. Jesus Reiterates Their Mission [v. 21]

3. Jesus had Them Receive Their Comforter

[v. 22, 14:16-20, 15:26-27, 7:38-39]

-And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever; Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you. I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you. Yet a little while, and the world seeth me no more; but ye see me: because I live, ye shall live also. At that day ye shall know that I am in my Father, and ye in me, and I in you.

-But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, he shall testify of me: And ye also shall bear witness, because ye have been with me from the beginning.

-He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water. (But this spake he of the Spirit, which they that believe on him should receive: for the Holy Ghost was not yet given; because that Jesus was not yet glorified.)

OH, IT IS WONDERFUL

1 JOHN 1:1-2

Pastor Rick Jackson

 

I. WE CAN HAVE IT [1 JOHN 1]

1. Full Fellowship [v. 3, 5-7]

2. Full Joy [v. 4, Philippians 3:1, 3, 4:4]

-Finally, my brethren, rejoice in the Lord. To write the same things to you, to me indeed is not grievous, but for you it is safe.

-For we are the circumcision, which worship God in the spirit, and rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh.

-Rejoice in the Lord alway: and again I say, Rejoice.

3. Full Forgiveness and Cleansing [v. 7-10]

 

II. WE HAVE IT [I JOHN 2]

1. Heaven’s Undefeated Lawyer [2:1]

2. His Unlimited Atonement [2:2, 2 Cor. 5:14, Rm. 5:18, Jn. 3:16]

-For the love of Christ constraineth us; because we thus judge, that if one died for all, then were all dead.

- Therefore as by the offence of one judgment came upon all men to condemnation; even so by the righteousness of one the free gift came upon all men unto justification of life.

3. His Unvarnished Truth [2:3, 2 Tm. 1:12]

 

III. WE CAN KNOW [I JOHN 2]

1. We can Know Him [2:1-3a, 5:13] (that’s relationship)

2. We can Know His Presence [2:3-5, 1:6-7] (that’s fellowship)

3. We can Know His Truth [2:18-21, Jn. 15:13-19, Jm. 4:4] (that’s friendship)

- Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends. Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you. Henceforth I call you not servants; for the servant knoweth not what his lord doeth: but I have called you friends; for all things that I have heard of my Father I have made known unto you. Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you. These things I command you, that ye love one another. If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you. If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you.

- Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God

 

DAVID'S SERVICE, OUR SERVICE

ACTS 13:22-23, 34-36

Pastor Rick Jackson

 

I. THE COMPONENTS OF SERVICE

1. A Heart to do God’s Will [v. 22, Rm. 12:1]

I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.

2. A Saviour to Trust [v. 23, P3. 63:1]

O God, thou art my God; early will I seek thee: my soul thirsteth for thee, my flesh longeth for thee in a dry and thirsty land, where no water is.

3. A Message to Share [v. 32-35, Ps. 2, Ps. 16:10]

 

II. THE COMPUNCTION OF SERVICE

1. The Will of God [v. 22, 36, Rm. 12:2]

And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

2. General Sanctification [1 Thessalonians 4:3-4]

For this is the will of God, even your sanctification, that ye should abstain from fornication: That every one of you should know how to possess his vessel in sanctification and honour;

3. Specific Tasks [v. 22, 33, 35, Acts 9:6]

And he trembling and astonished said, Lord, what wilt thou have me to do? And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go into the city, and it shall be told thee what thou must do.

 

III. THE COMPLETION OF SERVICE [v. 36]

1. Find the Will of God [point II above]

2. Fulfill the Will of God [v. 22, 25, 27, 29, 33, 2 Tm. 4:6-7]

For I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand. I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith:

3. Finish the Will of God [2 Tm. 4:7-8]

I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing.

 

“All to Jesus I Surrender”