WHEN SHOULD SOMEBODY DO THAT?

LUKE 2:52

Pastor Rick Jackson

 

One of the great questions in life is “when?”. When should I go to school? When should I get a job? Get Married? Buy a house? Ad nauseum. Here are 3 of the most important “when” questions answered from the Book of Books, the Bible.

 

I. WHEN SHOULD SOMEBODY GET SAVED?

1. Get Saved as a Child [Mt. 19:14, 2 Tm. 3:15]

- But Jesus said, Suffer little children, and forbid them not, to come unto me: for of such is the kingdom of heaven.

- And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.

2. Get Saved as an Adult [Acts 8:35-37, 16:30-31]

- Then Philip opened his mouth, and began at the same scripture, and preached unto him Jesus. And as they went on their way, they came unto a certain water: and the eunuch said, See, here is water; what doth hinder me to be baptized? And Philip said, If thou believest with all thine heart, thou mayest. And he answered and said, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.

-And brought them out, and said, Sirs, what must I do to be saved? And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house.

3. Get Saved as a Senior Citizen [2 Chron. 33:1-2, 10-13]

-Manasseh was twelve years old when he began to reign, and he reigned fifty and five years in Jerusalem: But did that which was evil in the sight of the LORD, like unto the abominations of the heathen, whom the LORD had cast out before the children of Israel.

-And the LORD spake to Manasseh, and to his people: but they would not hearken. Wherefore the LORD brought upon them the captains of the host of the king of Assyria, which took Manasseh among the thorns, and bound him with fetters, and carried him to Babylon. And when he was in affliction, he besought the LORD his God, and humbled himself greatly before the God of his fathers, And prayed unto him: and he was entreated of him, and heard his supplication, and brought him again to Jerusalem into his kingdom. Then Manasseh knew that the LORD he was God.

In short, get saved now! [2 Cor. 6:2] behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.

 

II. WHEN SHOULD SOMEBODY TAKE A STAND FOR GOD?

1. Take a Stand as a Child [Dan. 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. Take a Stand as an Adult [Heb. 11:24]

By faith Moses, when he was come to years, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter;

3. Take a Stand as a Senior Citizen [Josh. 23:1, 24:15]

- And it came to pass a long time after that the LORD had given rest unto Israel from all their enemies round about, that Joshua waxed old and stricken in age.

- And if it seem evil unto you to serve the LORD, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD

In short, take a stand for God now! [Eph. 6:13] Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.

 

III. WHEN SHOULD SOMEBODY BE A WITNESS FOR GOD?

1. Be a Witness as a Child [2 Kings 5:1-4, Mt. 21:16]

- Now Naaman, captain of the host of the king of Syria, was a great man with his master, and honourable, because by him the LORD had given deliverance unto Syria: he was also a mighty man in valour, but he was a leper. And the Syrians had gone out by companies, and had brought away captive out of the land of Israel a little maid; and she waited on Naaman's wife. And she said unto her mistress, Would God my lord were with the prophet that is in Samaria! for he would recover him of his leprosy. And one went in, and told his lord, saying, Thus and thus said the maid that is of the land of Israel.

- And said unto him, Hearest thou what these say? And Jesus saith unto them, Yea; have ye never read , Out of the mouth of babes and sucklings thou hast perfected praise?

2. Be a Witness as an Adult [John 1:6-8, 15]

-There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. The same came for a witness, to bear witness of the Light, that all men through him might believe. He was not that Light, but was sent to bear witness of that Light.

- John bare witness of him, and cried, saying, This was he of whom I spake, He that cometh after me is preferred before me: for he was before me.

3. Be a Witness as a Senior Citizen [Lk. 2:25-38, Phile. 1:9]

- Yet for love's sake I rather beseech thee, being such an one as Paul the aged, and now also a prisoner of Jesus Christ.

In short, be a witness for God now! [Ps. 107:2] Let the redeemed of the LORD say so, whom he hath redeemed from the hand of the enemy;

WHO ARE YOU?

ACTS 19:13-20

Pastor Rick Jackson

 

I. DEMONS ARE KNOWLEDGEABLE [v. 13-15]

1. Demons Know Who God Is [v. 13-15, Jm. 2:19, Hosea 11:9, Mk. 1:24]

- Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble.

(No atheistic demons)

- I will not execute the fierceness of mine anger, I will not return to destroy Ephraim: for I am God, and not man; the Holy One in the midst of thee: and I will not enter into the city.

- Saying, Let us alone; what have we to do with thee, thou Jesus of Nazareth? art thou come to destroy us? I know thee who thou art, the Holy One of God.

2. Demons Know What Christ Will Do [Matthew 8:29, 25:41

-And, behold, they cried out, saying, What have we to do with thee, Jesus, thou Son of God? art thou come hither to torment us before the time?

-Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels:

3. Demons Know Some People [v. 15]

 

II. PAUL WAS KNOWLEDGEABLE

1. Paul Knew the Devil’s Devices [2 Cor. 2:11]

Lest Satan should get an advantage of us: for we are not ignorant of his devices.

2. Paul Knewe the Devil’s Design [2 Cor. 4:4]

In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.

3. Paul Knew the Devil’s Defeat [Rm. 16:20]

And the God of peace shall bruise Satan under your feet shortly . The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. Amen.

 

III. BUT WHO ARE YE? [v. 15]

1. Are You One Who is Saved by Knowing Christ Personally? [2 Tm. 1:12]

For the which cause I also suffer these things: nevertheless I am not ashamed: for I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day.

2. Are You One Who Studies? [2 Tm. 2:15, 2 Cor. 11:3]

-Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.

- But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtlety, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ.

3. Are You One Who Stands? [Eph. 6:11-13]

- Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.

THREE R’s

JUDE 1-3                  

Pastor Rick Jackson

 

I. RELATIONSHIP OF CHRISTIAN SAINTS [v. 1-2]

 

1. Sanctified in Salvation [v. 1-2, 1 Cor. 1:2-4]

Unto the church of God which is at Corinth, to them that are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints, with all that in every place call upon the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, both their's and our's: Grace be unto you, and peace, from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ. I thank my God always on your behalf, for the grace of God which is given you by Jesus Christ;

 

2. Sanctified to Stewardship [v. 1a, 1 Cor. 4:1-2]

Let a man so account of us, as of the ministers of Christ, and stewards of the mysteries of God. Moreover it is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful.

 

3. Sanctified with Security [v. 1b, John 17:11-12, 17, 19]

-And now I am no more in the world, but these are in the world, and I come to thee. Holy Father, keep through thine own name those whom thou hast given me, that they may be one, as we are. While I was with them in the world, I kept them in thy name: those that thou gavest me I have kept, and none of them is lost, but the son of perdition; that the scripture might be fulfilled.

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

- And for their sakes I sanctify myself, that they also might be sanctified through the truth

 

II. REPRESENTATION OF COMMON SALVATION [v. 3]

 

1. Same Need for All [v. 3, Rm. 3:9-12, 23]

-What then? are we better than they? No, in no wise: for we have before proved both Jews and Gentiles, that they are all under sin; As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one: There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God. They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; there is none that doeth good, no, not one.

-For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;

 

2. Same Source Available for All [v. 3, 2 Cor. 5:14]

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

 

3. Same Singular Solution for All [v. 3, 1 Tm. 2:3-6]

For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour; Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth. For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus; Who gave himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time.

 

III. RECORD OF CONTINUAL SUPPORT [v. 3]

 

1. Intention [v. 3a, Acts 16:6-10]

Now when they had gone throughout Phrygia and the region of Galatia, and were forbidden of the Holy Ghost to preach the word in Asia, After they were come to Mysia, they assayed to go into Bithynia: but the Spirit suffered them not. And they passing by Mysia came down to Troas. And a vision appeared to Paul in the night; There stood a man of Macedonia, and prayed him, saying, Come over into Macedonia, and help us. And after he had seen the vision, immediately we endeavoured to go into Macedonia, assuredly gathering that the Lord had called us for to preach the gospel unto them.

 

2. Inspiration [v. 3b, 2 Pet. 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. Contention [v. 3c, Col. 1:29, 4:12] “striving”-Col. 1:29, “laboring fervently”=Col. 4:12

- Whereunto I also labour, striving according to his working, which worketh in me mightily.

-Epaphras, who is one of you, a servant of Christ, saluteth you, always labouring fervently for you in prayers, that ye may stand perfect and complete in all the will of God.

WHEN CHRISTIANS CLEAN HOUSE

1 PETER 1:17

Pastor Rick Jackson

WHEN CHRISTIANS CLEAN HOUSE WE:

 I. BLESS GOD [v. 3-5]

1. For His Abundant Mercy [v. 3, Micah 7:18]

Who is a God like unto thee, that pardoneth iniquity, and passeth by the transgression of the remnant of his heritage? he retaineth not his anger for ever, because he delighteth in mercy.

2. For Our Living Hope in Jesus Christ

[v. 3, Heb. 7:25]

Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them.

3. For Keeping Our Inheritance [v. 4-5]

 

II. GREATLY REJOICE [v. 6-12]

1. Through Trials of a Temporary Nature [v. 6]

2. Through Trials Ending in Triumph [v. 7-9]

3. Through the Prophesied Trials of Christ

[v. 10-12]

 

III. WE GIRD UP [v. 13-25]

1. We Mentally Prepare [v. 13, 5:1, Romans 8:18]

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.

2. We Spiritually Pattern [v. 14-16]

3. We Continually Pursue [v. 17-25]

WHEN JESUS CLEANS HOUSE

John 2:12-25

Pastor Rick Jackson

 

I. WHEN JESUS CLEANS HOUSE IT IS NECESSARY [v. 12-17]

1. The Sad Situation [v. 12-14]

2. The Son’s Solution [v. 15-16]

3. The Scriptural Sanction [v. 17, Ps. 69:9]

For the zeal of thine house hath eaten me up; and the reproaches of them that reproached thee are fallen upon me.

 

II. WHEN JESUS CLEANS HOUSE IT IS NEEDFUL [v. 18-21]

1. The Need is Shown by the Ironic Question [v. 18]

2. The Need is Shown by the Prophetic Answer [v. 19]

3. The Need is Shown by the Spirit’s Explanation [v. 20-21]

Jesus’ answer was “intended to reveal truth to the faithful and to hid it from the hostile.” – H.H. Hobbs

 

III. WHEN JESUS CLEANS HOUSE IT IS KNOWLEDGEABLE [v. 22-25]

1. He Knows the Power of His Word [v. 22]

2. He Knows the Power of His Work [v. 23]

3. He Knows the Pattern of Mankind [v. 24-25]

BROTHERS (AND SISTERS)

JUDE 1:1

Pastor Rick Jackson

 

I. MEET THE HUMAN AUTHOR’S FAMOUS FULL BROTHER [v. 1]

1. Once an Unbelieving Half-Brother to Jesus, Jude’s Full Brother [Mt. 13:54-58, John 7:1-5]

- And when he was come into his own country, he taught them in their synagogue, insomuch that they were astonished, and said, Whence hath this man this wisdom, and these mighty works? Is not this the carpenter's son? is not his mother called Mary? and his brethren, James, and Joses, and Simon, and Judas? And his sisters, are they not all with us? Whence then hath this man all these things? And they were offended in him. But Jesus said unto them, A prophet is not without honour, save in his own country, and in his own house. And he did not many mighty works there because of their unbelief.

- After these things Jesus walked in Galilee: for: he would not walk in Jewry, because, the Jews sought to kill him.  Now the Jews feast of tabernacles was at hand. His brethren therefore said unto him, Depart hence, and go into Judaea, that thy disciples also may see the works that thou doest. For there is no man that doeth any thing in secret, and he himself seeketh to be known openly . If thou do these things, shew thyself to the world. For neither did his brethren believe in him.

2. Not One of the 12

1] Not the Brother Of John [Mk. 3:17, Acts 12:1-2, 16-17]

-And James the son of Zebedee, and John the brother of James; and he surnamed them Boanerges, which is, The sons of thunder:

-Now about that time Herod the king stretched forth his hands to vex certain of the church. And he killed James the brother of John with the sword.

-But Peter continued knocking: and when they had opened the door, and saw him , they were astonished. But he, beckoning unto them with the hand to hold their peace, declared unto them how the Lord had brought him out of the prison. And he said, Go shew these things unto James, and to the brethren. And he departed, and went into another place.

2] Not James the Less [Mk. 3:18, 15:40]

-And Andrew, and Philip, and Bartholomew, and Matthew, and Thomas, and James the son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus, and Simon the Canaanite,

-There were also women looking on afar off: among whom was Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James the less (mikros) and of Joses, and Salome;

3. James was Saved after the Resurrection & Served Christ [1 Cor. 15:1-7, James 1:1, Acts 15:13, 21:18, Gal. 1:9, 2:9, 2:12]

Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand; By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain. For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures: And that he was seen of Cephas, then of the twelve: After that, he was seen of above five hundred brethren at once; of whom the greater part remain unto this present, but some are fallen asleep. After that, he was seen of James; then of all the apostles.

- James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ,

 

II. MEET THE HUMAN AUTHOR

1. Once an Unbelieving Half-Brother to Jesus, James’ Full Brother [Mark 6:3]

Is not this the carpenter, the son of Mary , the brother of James, and Joses, and of Juda, and Simon? and are not his sisters here with us? And they were offended at him.

2. Then a Believer in Jesus Christ [Jude 1:1]

3. Then a Servant of Jesus Christ [Jude 1:1]

 

III. MEET THE OTHER BROTHERS & SISTERS [Jude 1:1]

1. Those Sanctified by Faith in Christ [1 Cor. 1:2, 6:11]

-Unto the church of God which is at Corinth, to them that are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints, with all that in every place call upon the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, both theirs and ours:

-And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.

2. Those Preserved in Jesus Christ [Jude 1:1, 1 Th. 5:23]

And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.

3. Those Called to be Saints [Jude 1:1, Rm. 1:1-6]

Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, separated unto the gospel of God, (Which he had promised afore by his prophets in the holy scriptures,) Concerning his Son Jesus Christ our Lord, which was made of the seed of David according to the flesh; And declared to be the Son of God with power, according to the spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead: By whom we have received grace and apostleship, for obedience to the faith among all nations, for his name: Among whom are ye also the called of Jesus Christ:

REMEMBERING LOT’S WIFE

LUKE 17:26-32

Pastor Rick Jackson

 

I. MARY, THE WOMAN WHO KNOWN FOR WORSHIPPING JESUS

1. She Sat at Jesus feet to hear His Word [Luke 10:38-42]

2. She Fell at Jesus Feet in Sorrow [John 11:19-36]

3. She Knelt at Jesus feet in Devotion [John 12:1-11]

Mark 14:8-9 She hath done what she could: she is come aforehand to anoint my body to the burying. Verily I say unto you, Wheresoever  this gospel shall be preached throughout the whole world, this also that she hath done shall be spoken of for a memorial of her.

 

II. ANDREW, THE MAN KNOWN FOR BRINGING PEOPLE TO JESUS

1. He Brought Family to Jesus [John 1:40-42]

2. He Brought Children to Jesus [John 6:5-9]

3. He Brought Strangers to Jesus [John 12:20-23]

 

III. BE REMEMBERED FOR JESUS IN YOUR LIFE [Mt. 22:34-46]

1. Love Christ Supremely Like Mary [Matthew 22:34-38]

2. Love People to Christ like Andrew [Matthew 22:39-40]

3. Recognize Christ as God Incarnate [Matthew 22:41-46] (note the Trinity here)