WHEN THE HEATHEN RAGE

Psalm 2:1 Why do the heathen rage, and the people imagine a vain thing?

Acts 4:25 Who by the mouth of thy servant David hast said, Why did the heathen rage, and the people imagine vain things?

Pastor Rick Jackson

 

What should we do when the heathen rage? Hide? Hibernate? Capitulate? Stick our heads in the sand? No- we do our job. We do our duty. We do right.

 

I. WE FOLLOW THE EXAMPLE OF DANIEL

1. We Purpose in Our Hearts [1:8]

But Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself with the portion of the king's meat, nor with the wine which he drank: therefore he requested of the prince of the eunuchs that he might not defile himself.

2. We Premeditatedly Live for God [6:3-5]

 Then this Daniel was preferred above the presidents and princes, because an excellent spirit was in him; and the king thought to set him over the whole realm. Then the presidents and princes sought to find occasion against Daniel concerning the kingdom; but they could find none occasion nor fault; forasmuch as he was faithful, neither was there any error or fault found in him. Then said these men, We shall not find any occasion against this Daniel, except we find it against him concerning the law of his God.

3. We Pray to Our God [6:10]

Now when Daniel knew that the writing was signed, he went into his house; and his windows being open in his chamber toward Jerusalem, he kneeled upon his knees three times a day, and prayed, and gave thanks before his God, as he did aforetime.

 

II. WE FOLLOW THE EXAMPLE OF PAUL [2 Tm. 4:7]

1. We Fight the Good Fight [v. 7, 1 Tm. 6:12]

Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art also called, and hast professed a good profession before many witnesses.

2. We Finish Our Course [v. 7, Acts 13:25, 20:24]

-And as John fulfilled his course, he said, Whom think ye that I am? I am not he. But, behold, there cometh one after me, whose shoes of his feet I am not worthy to loose.

-But none of these things move me, neither count I my life dear unto myself, so that I might finish my course with joy, and the ministry, which I have received of the Lord Jesus, to testify the gospel of the grace of God.

3. We Keep the Faith [v. 7, Rm. 3:3, 14:12]

-For what if some did not believe ? shall their unbelief make the faith of God without effect?

-So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God.

 

III. WE FOLLOW THE EXHORTATION OF CHRIST

1. Be Salt [Mt. 5:13]

Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men.

2. Be Light [Mt. 5:14-16]

Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid. Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.

3. Be Witnesses [Acts 1:6-9]

When they therefore were come together, they asked of him, saying, Lord , wilt thou at this time restore again the kingdom to Israel? And he said unto them, It is not for you to know the times or the seasons, which the Father hath put in his own power. But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth. And when he had spoken these things, while they beheld, he was taken up; and a cloud received him out of their sight.

SAFE

Psalm 119:117 Hold thou me up, and I shall be safe: and I will have respect unto thy statutes continually.

Pr. 18:10 The name of the LORD is a strong tower: the righteous runneth into it, and is safe.

Pastor Rick Jackson

I once saw on a truck’s mud flaps the words “THINK SAFE, ACT SAFE, BE SAFE.” The message, though possibly unintentional, was Scriptural. If these things are true in the secular world which today is, and tomorrow will be gone, how much more are they true on the spiritual plane.

 

I. THINK SAFE – to think safe is to think right

1. Think right About Yourself [Gal. 6:3]

For if a man think himself to be something, when he is nothing, he deceiveth himself.

2. Think right About Christ [John 5:39]

Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me.

3. Think Right About Life [1 Cor. 8:2]

And if any man think that he knoweth any thing, he knoweth nothing yet as he ought to know.

 

II. ACT SAFE thinking safe is just the start- one may think straight but not follow through in his actions

1. Actually Trust Christ [Heb. 4:2]

For unto us was the gospel preached, as well as unto them: but the word preached did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in them that heard it.

2. Actually Follow Christ [John 1:43]

-The day following Jesus would go forth into Galilee, and findeth Philip, and saith unto him, Follow me.

-Mt. 9:9 And as Jesus passed forth from thence, he saw a man, named Matthew, sitting at the receipt of custom: and he saith unto him, Follow me. And he arose, and followed him.

-Mt. 16:24 Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.

3. Actually Do What Christ Commands [Jm. 1: 21-25]

 Wherefore lay apart all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness, and receive with meekness the engrafted word, which is able to save your souls. But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves. For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass: For he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was. But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed.

 

III. BE SAFE

1. Safe from the Penalty of Sin {Rm. 6:23]

For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

2. Be Safe from the Prominence of Sin [Ps. 119:9-12]

Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way? by taking heed thereto according to thy word. With my whole heart have I sought thee: O let me not wander from thy commandments. Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee. Blessed art thou, O LORD: teach me thy statutes.

3. Be Safe from the Pushers of Sin [Pr. 29:25]

The fear of man bringeth a snare: but whoso putteth his trust in the LORD shall be safe.

BECAUSE OF JESUS WE KNOW

REVELATION 1:1-4

Pastor Rick Jackson

 

I. BECAUSE OF JESUS WE KNOW WE HAVE A SUFFICIENT SAVIOUR [v. 5-6, 17-18, John 6:37]

“him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out.”

1. “him”= any him, rich/poor, weak/strong, cultured/vulgar, male/female, any “race,” any language, from anywhere

2. “that cometh”= not worketh, not payeth, not joineth, not “is baptized” – this breaks pride

3. “to Me”= Jesus! Not Buddha, Confucius, Sun Myung Moon, Joseph Smith, L. Ron Hubbard, Steven Hawking

4. “I will”= receive not cast out. Jesus can say “I will” because “He would” and “He did”

5. “in no wise cast out”- no way, no-no!, Once in- in for good [Rm. 5:8-11]

 

II. BECAUSE OF JESUS WE KNOW WE HAVE A TRUSTWORTHY TESTIMONY [v. 5, 10-11, 16, 19]

 

1. We have a Book That Warns [Ezek. 3:17-20, 1 Cor. 4:14, Col. 1:28, 1 Th. 5:14]

-Son of man, I have made thee a watchman unto the house of Israel: therefore hear the word at my mouth, and give them warning from me. When I say unto the wicked, Thou shalt surely die; and thou givest him not warning, nor speakest to warn the wicked from his wicked way, to save his life; the same wicked man shall die in his iniquity; but his blood will I require at thine hand. Yet if thou warn the wicked, and he turn not from his wickedness, nor from his wicked way, he shall die in his iniquity; but thou hast delivered thy soul. Again, When a righteous man doth turn from his righteousness, and commit iniquity, and I lay a stumblingblock before him, he shall die: because thou hast not given him warning, he shall die in his sin, and his righteousness which he hath done shall not be remembered; but his blood will I require at thine hand.

- I write not these things to shame you, but as my beloved sons I warn you.

- Whom we preach, warning every man, and teaching every man in all wisdom; that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus:

-Now we exhort you, brethren, warn them that are unruly, comfort the feebleminded, support the weak, be patient toward all men

2. We have a Book That Washes [v. 5, Eph. 5:26]

- That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word,

3. We have a Book That Works [Isaiah 55:11, 1 Pet. 1:23-25]

- So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it

-Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever. For all flesh is as grass, and all the glory of man as the flower of grass. The grass withereth, and the flower thereof falleth away: But the word of the Lord endureth for ever. And this is the word which by the gospel is preached unto you.

Unbeliever- “We can’t Believe any book where the author is unknown”

Believer-“ Do you know who wrote the multiplication table? No? Then I suppose you don’t believe it?”

Unbeliever- “Well, I believe it because it works!”

Believer- “So does the Bible!”

 

 III. BECAUSE OF JESUS WE KNOW WE HAVE A CONQUERING CHRIST [v. 7-8, 13-18]

 

1. He is Sufficient to Destroy the Works of the Devil [1 John 3:8]

He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil.

2. He is Sufficient to Do Away with the Wages of Sin [Romans 3:23-28, 1 John 2:2, 4:10]

-For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus: Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God; To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus. Where is boasting then? It is excluded. By what law? of works? Nay: but by the law of faith. Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law.

-And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.

-Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.

3. He is Sufficient to Deliver Us from the World [Galatians 1:4, 6:14]

- Who gave himself for our sins, that he might deliver us from this present evil world, according to the will of God and our Father:

- But God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world.

HOW TO PRAY A USELESS PRAYER

LUKE 16:19, 22-31

Pastor Rick Jackson

 

I. PRAY IT AT THE WRONG TIME [v. 22-24, Is. 59:2]

v. 25 “thy lifetime” –But your iniquities between you and your God, and your sins have hid his face from you, that He will not hear.

 

II. PRAY IT TO THE WRONG PERSON [v. 24, 27, 1 Tm. 2:5]

For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus. [not Abraham, Mary, saints, angels, Buddha, et cetera]

 

III. PRAY AGAINST GOD’S WORD [v. 24-26, Heb. 9:27]

It is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment.

 

IV. PRAY FOR THE WRONG MEANS [v. 27-29, Isa. 8:19-20]

-And when they shall say unto you, Seek unto them that have familiar spirits, and unto wizards that peep, and that mutter: should not a people seek unto their God? For the living to the dead? To the law and to the testimony: if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them. (Religious experience over Revelation)

 

V. PRAY FROM THE WRONG MINDSET [v. 30-31, Ps. 66:18, Rm. 3:4]

The mindset of I know better than God, I’m right

-If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear me.

-Let God be true, but every man a liar.

THE MAN

PSALM 128:4

Pastor Rick Jackson

 

For many years there have been expressions concerning “the man.” Some of these were considered negative and some of them were considered positive. In the 1960s “The Man” often referred to someone in authority – a policeman, a mayor, a governor. If someone didn’t like the way things were going, they might say, “The man is trying to keep me down” and this became a way to hide one’s own failure. Perhaps, in some cases, it was even true. But times changed and people wanted to be “the man.” For decades Time Magazine has had a “Man of the Year.” In some cases, there has been a person recognized as “the man of the hour.” Father’s Day became a national holiday to recognize and honor Fathers as the man of the family.  

In the spiritual realm it is a little different. Moses was God’s man to lead Israel out of Egyptian bondage. Josua was God’s man to lead Israel into the promised land. More importantly, what does it take to be the person that God blesses? What does it take to be “the man” God blesses? Or, what does it take to be “the woman” God blesses? Let’s find out.

I. TO BE “THE MAN” YOU HAVE TO KNOW “THE MAN”

1. THE MAN Who was Prophesied [Zech. 6:12]

And speak unto him, saying, Thus speaketh the Lord of hosts, saying, Behold the man whose name is The BRANCH; and he shall grow up out of his place, and he shall build the temple of the LORD:

2. THE MAN Who was Crucified [John 19:5]

-Then came Jesus forth, wearing the crown of thorns, and the purple robe, and Pilate saith unto them, Behold the man!

3. THE MAN Who was Specified [1 Tm. 2:5]

For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus.

 

II. TO BE “THE MAN” YOU HAVE BE SAVED BY “THE MAN”

1. You Have to “Hear” about THE MAN [Acts 8:29-37, Rm. 10:13-17]

2. You Have to Trust in THE MAN [Ps. 34:8]

O taste and see that the LORD is good: blessed is the man that trusteth in Him.

3. You Have to Belong to THE MAN [Ps. 32:2, Rm. 4:6-8]

-Blessed is the man unto whom the LORD imputeth not iniquity and in whose spirit there is no guile.

-Even as David also describeth the blessedness of the man, unto whom God imputeth righteousness without works, saying, BLESSED ARE THEY WHOSE INIQUITIES ARE FORGIVEN, AND WHOSE SINS ARE COVERED. Blessed is the man to whom the LORD will not impute sin.

 

III. TO BE “THE MAN” YOU HAVE TO DELIGHT IN “THE MAN”

1. Delight in the Word of God [Ps. 1:1-2, 112:1]

-Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful. But his delight is in the law of the LORD and in His law doth he meditate day and night.

-Blessed is the man that feareth the LORD, that delighteth greatly in His commandments.

2. Delight in the Will of God [Ps. 40:8]

I delight to do thy will, O my God: yea, thy law is within my heart.

3. Delight in the Person of God [Ps. 37:4]

Delight thyself also in the Lord; and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart.

IN CONCLUSION, PSALM 128:4 Behold, that thus shall the man be blessed the feareth the LORD.

ARE YOU IN YOUR RIGHT MIND?

Titus 2:6                              

Pastor Rick Jackson

 

“Young men likewise exhort to be sober minded”.

“Likewise” refers to those he’s already mentioned. Aged men, aged women, young women and now young men. “Young men likewise exhort to be sober minded”.

 

I. THINK RIGHT ABOUT YOURSELF

 

1. Think Right About Your Reliance [Matthew 3:9] “my grandpa was a preacher”

-And think not to say within yourselves, We have Abraham to our father: for I say unto you, that God is able of these stones to raise up children unto Abraham.

2. Think Right About Your Repentance [Luke 13:4]

Or those eighteen, upon whom the tower in Siloam fell, and slew them, think ye that they were sinners above all men that dwelt in Jerusalem? I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.

3. Think Right About Your Rightness [Romans 12:3, 1 Cor. 10:12, Gal. 6:3]

-For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith.

- Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall.

- For if a man think himself to be something, when he is nothing, he deceiveth himself.

 

II. THINK RIGHT ABOUT JESUS CHRIST

 

1. His Person [Mt. 22:42, Jn. 5:39, 2 John 1:9]

-Saying, What think ye of Christ? whose son is he? They say unto him, The son of David.

-Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me.

- Whosoever transgresseth, and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God. He that abideth in the doctrine of Christ, he hath both the Father and the Son.

2. His Purpose [Mt. 5:17, 10:34, Lk. 19:10]

-Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil.

-Think not that I am come to send peace on earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword.

- For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost.

3. His Plan [Mt. 24:44]

Therefore be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh.

 

III. THINK RIGHT ABOUT THE CHRISTIAN LIFE

 

1. Think Right About Prayer “LIFE IS FRAGILE-HANDLE WITH PRAYER”

 Matthew 6:7 But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen do: for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking.

1 Peter 4:7 But the end of all things is at hand: be ye therefore sober, and watch unto prayer.

2. Think Right About Behavior [1 Cor. 4:6, 8:2, 13:5]

-And these things, brethren, I have in a figure transferred to myself and to Apollos for your sakes; that ye might learn in us not to think of men above that which is written, that no one of you be puffed up for one against another.

-And if any man think that he knoweth any thing, he knoweth nothing yet as he ought to know.

- Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil;

3. Think Right About Suffering [1 Peter 4:12-13, Rm. 8:18]

-Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you: But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ's sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy.

- For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us

THE SAVIOUR’S SILENCING QUESTION

MT. 22:41-46

Pastor Rick Jackson

They were silenced, in part, because to answer would be to admit some uncomfortable truths.

 

I. THE TRUTH OF THE TRINITY

1. The Scripture’s are God-breathed [2 Tm. 3:16]

2. The Men Who Wrote the Scripture were “Moved” by the Holy Spirit [2 Peter 1:21]

For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.

3. “David in Spirit” Spoke of Christ and the Father [v. 43-44]

 

II. THE TRUTH OF THE INCARNATION

1. Christ is a Physical Descendant of David [v. 41-42]

2. David by the Spirit Calls Christ Lord [v. 43-44]

3. Christ Must be Both Man and God [v. 45-46, 1 Timothy 3:16]

And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory.

 

III. THE TRUTH OF THE SECOND COMING OF CHRIST

1. Christ Must Come to Seek and to Save [Luke 19:10]

2. Christ Must Complete His Work of Salvation and Return to Heaven [v. 44, Acts 2:29-33]

Men and brethren, let me freely speak unto you of the patriarch David, that he is both dead and buried, and his sepulchre is with us unto this day. Therefore being a prophet, and knowing that God had sworn with an oath to him, that of the fruit of his loins, according to the flesh, he would raise up Christ to sit on his throne; He seeing this before spake of the resurrection of Christ, that his soul was not left in hell, neither his flesh did see corruption. This Jesus hath God raised up, whereof we all are witnesses. Therefore being by the right hand of God exalted, and having received of the Father the promise of the Holy Ghost, he hath shed forth this, which ye now see and hear.

3. Christ Must Conquer His Foes & Judge Them [v. 43-44, Acts 2:34-36]

For David is not ascended into the heavens: but he saith himself, The Lord said unto my Lord, Sit thou on my right hand, Until I make thy foes thy footstool. Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that God hath made that same Jesus, whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ.