Sunday, May 11, 2025

IN THE WAY OF HIS MOTHER

1 Kings 22:51-53

Pastor Rick Jackson

 

I. THE CURSE OF A MOTHER’S EVIL COUNSEL

1. Jezebel’s Way was the Way of Injury [1 K. 18, 21]

-1 Kings 18:4 For it was so, when Jezebel cut off the prophets of the LORD, that Obadiah took an hundred prophets, and hid them by fifty in a cave, and fed them with bread and water.)

-1 Kings 18:13 Was it not told my lord what I did when Jezebel slew the prophets of the LORD, how I hid an hundred men of the Lord's prophets by fifty in a cave, and fed them with bread and water?

2. Jezebel’s Way was the Way of Idolatry [2 Kings 9:22, Isaiah 8:19-20]

--And it came to pass, when Joram saw Jehu, that he said, Is it peace, Jehu? And he answered, What peace, so long as the whoredoms of thy mother Jezebel and her witchcrafts are so many?

- 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.

3. Jezebel’s Way was the Way of Immorality [1 K. 21] lying, stealing, murder

-1 Kings 21:7 And Jezebel his wife said unto him, Dost thou now govern the kingdom of Israel? arise, and eat bread, and let thine heart be merry: I will give thee the vineyard of Naboth the Jezreelite.

-1 Kings 21:11 And the men of his city, even the elders and the nobles who were the inhabitants in his city, did as Jezebel had sent unto them, and as it was written in the letters which she had sent unto them.

-1 Kings 21:14 Then they sent to Jezebel, saying, Naboth is stoned, and is dead.

 

II. THE BLESSING OF A MOTHER’S GODLY COUNSEL

1. It Leads to Righteousness [Jochebed- Ex. 2:1-9, Heb. 11:23-24]

-By faith Moses, when he was born, was hid three months of his parents, because they saw he was a proper child; and they were not afraid of the king's commandment. By faith Moses, when he was come to years, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter;

2. It Leads to Jesus [2 Timothy 1:5]

When I call to remembrance the unfeigned faith that is in thee, which dwelt first in thy grandmother Lois, and thy mother Eunice; and I am persuaded that in thee also.

3. It Leads to Helping Others [Judges 4:4-6, 5:1, 7]

- And Deborah, a prophetess, the wife of Lapidoth, she judged Israel at that time. And she dwelt under the palm tree of Deborah between Ramah and Bethel in mount Ephraim: and the children of Israel came up to her for judgment. And she sent and called Barak the son of Abinoam out of Kedeshnaphtali, and said unto him, Hath not the LORD God of Israel commanded, saying, Go and draw toward mount Tabor, and take with thee ten thousand men of the children of Naphtali and of the children of Zebulun?

- Then sang Deborah and Barak the son of Abinoam on that day, saying,

- The inhabitants of the villages ceased, they ceased in Israel, until that I Deborah arose, that I arose a mother in Israel.

 

III. CHOOSE WISELY

1. Be a Praising Christian [Ps. 113:9]

He maketh the barren woman to keep house, and to be a joyful mother of children. Praise ye the LORD.

2. Be Virtuous [Pr. 31:1, 10, 27-31]

-1 The words of king Lemuel, the prophecy that his mother taught him.

-10 Who can find a virtuous woman? for her price is far above rubies.

-27 She looketh well to the ways of her household, and eateth not the bread of idleness. Her children arise up, and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praiseth her. Many daughters have done virtuously, but thou excellest them all. Favour is deceitful, and beauty is vain: but a woman that feareth the LORD, she shall be praised. Give her of the fruit of her hands; and let her own works praise her in the gates.

3. Be Wise [Pr. 1:8, 10:1, 23:22]

-My son, hear the instruction of thy father, and forsake not the law of thy mother:

- The proverbs of Solomon. A wise son maketh a glad father: but a foolish son is the heaviness of his mother.

-Hearken unto thy father that begat thee, and despise not thy mother when she is old.

Wednesday, May 07, 2025

FAITHFUL

Deuteronomy 7:9

Pastor Rick Jackson

Know therefore that the LORD thy God, he is God, the faithful God, which keepeth covenant and mercy with them that love him and keep his commandments to a thousand generations;

 

I. GOD IS FAITHFUL

1. To Finish What He Started [1 Cor. 1:8-9, Phil. 1:6, 1 Th. 5:23-24]

-Who shall also confirm you unto the end, that ye may be blameless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is faithful, by whom ye were called unto the fellowship of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord.

- Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ:

-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. Faithful is he that calleth you, who also will do it.

2. To Not Let Us Be Overly Tempted [1 Cor. 10:13, 2 Th. 3:3]

-There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.

-But the Lord is faithful, who shall stablish you, and keep you from evil.

3. He Cannot Deny Himself [2 Tm. 2:10-13]

Therefore I endure all things for the elect's sakes, that they may also obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory. It is a faithful saying: For if we be dead with him, we shall also live with him: If we suffer, we shall also reign with him: if we deny him, he also will deny us: If we believe not, yet he abideth faithful: he cannot deny himself.

 

II. JESUS THE FAITHFUL [2 Th. 3:3, 2 Tm. 2:13]

1. The Faithful High Priest [Heb. 2:17, 3:1-2, 10:23, 1 John 1:9]

- Wherefore in all things it behoved him to be made like unto his brethren, that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make reconciliation for the sins of the people.

- Wherefore, holy brethren, partakers of the heavenly calling, consider the Apostle and High Priest of our profession, Christ Jesus; Who was faithful to him that appointed him, as also Moses was faithful in all his house.

- Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised;

- If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

2. The Faithful Witness [Rev. 1:5, 3:14]

- And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood,

- And unto the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write; These things saith the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of God;

3. The Faithful Captain [Heb. 2:10, Rev. 19:11]

- For it became him, for whom are all things, and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons unto glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings.

- And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he doth judge and make war.

 

III. CHRISTIANS ARE TO BE FAITHFUL

1. In What God Has Entrusted Us [1 Cor. 4:1-5]

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. But with me it is a very small thing that I should be judged of you, or of man's judgment: yea, I judge not mine own self. For I know nothing by myself; yet am I not hereby justified: but he that judgeth me is the Lord. Therefore judge nothing before the time, until the Lord come, who both will bring to light the hidden things of darkness, and will make manifest the counsels of the hearts: and then shall every man have praise of God.

2. In Giving Out the Word [2 Tm. 2:2]

And the things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also.

3. In Maintaining Good Works [Titus 3:8]

This is a faithful saying, and these things I will that thou affirm constantly, that they which have believed in God might be careful to maintain good works. These things are good and profitable unto men.

Monday, May 05, 2025

RELIGION OR FAITH

2 KINGS 13

Pastor Rick Jackson

 

I. FOXHOLE RELIGION – FOR EMERGENCIES ONLY

1. The Continuation of Sin [v. 1-2]

2. The Consequences of Sin [v. 3, Gal. 6:7-10]

Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting. And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not. As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith.

3. The Compromise of Sin [v. 4-9]

 

II. FASHIONABLE RELIGION – FOR APPEARANCES ONLY

1. Like His Father [v. 9-13]

2. Lackadaisical in His Faith [v. 14-19]

3. “Lucky” in His Fate [v. 24-25]

 

III. FAITH THAT IS REAL – FOR APPLICATION ALWAYS

1. Serving in Sickness [v. 14-19]

2. Serving in “Sleep” [v. 20-21, Heb. 11:4, Rev. 14:13]

- By faith Abel offered unto God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, by which he obtained witness that he was righteous, God testifying of his gifts: and by it he being dead yet speaketh.

- And I heard a voice from heaven saying unto me, Write, Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth: Yea, saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their labours; and their works do follow them.

3. Serving in Scripturalness [v. 22-25, Lk. 6:46-49] God Honours those that honour Him.

And why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say? Whosoever cometh to me, and heareth my sayings, and doeth them, I will shew you to whom he is like: He is like a man which built an house, and digged deep, and laid the foundation on a rock: and when the flood arose, the stream beat vehemently upon that house, and could not shake it: for it was founded upon a rock. But he that heareth, and doeth not, is like a man that without a foundation built an house upon the earth; against which the stream did beat vehemently, and immediately it fell; and the ruin of that house was great.

Sunday, May 04, 2025

EVERYBODY

JOHN 4:46-53

Pastor Rick Jackson

 

I. EVERYBODY HAS ISSUES [v. 46-49]

1. Wealth is NOT an Cure-all [v. 46, 49, 51, 1 Timothy 6:17]

Charge them that are rich in this world, that they be not highminded, nor trust in uncertain riches, but in the living God, who giveth us richly all things to enjoy;

2. Youth is NOT a Guarantee [v. 46] “The old must die, the young do die”.

3. Begging is NOT Receiving [James 4:3]

Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts.

 

II. EVERYBODY OUGHT TO KNOW [v. 48-53]

1. Christ IS Enough [v. 48]

2. Christ’s Word IS Enough [v. 49-50, Acts 5:20]

Go, stand and speak in the temple to the people all the words of this life.

3. Christ IS Waiting [v. 51-53, Rev. 3:20]

Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.

 

III. EVERYBODY HAS OPTIONS

1. Trouble Should Drive Us to Christ [Mt. 11:28-30]

Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.

2. Trouble Should Drive Us to the Bible [Ps. 119:65, John 16:33]

- Great peace have they which love thy law: and nothing shall offend them

-These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.

J.C. Ryle said, “Christ’s Word is as good as Christ’s presence.” Jesus did not go with the man.

3. Trouble Should Drive Us to God’s Plan [Ps. 119:71]

It is good for me that I have been afflicted; that I might learn thy statutes.

Monday, April 28, 2025

JEHOSHAPHAT’S HEART

2 CHR.   17:1-5                              

Pastor Rick Jackson

 

I. HE HAD A HEART FOR GOD [2 CHRONICLES 17:6a]

1. He Separated from the Wrong [v. 6b]

2. He Spread the Word [v. 7-9]

3. He Sought God’s Help [18:1-7, 29-31]

 

II. HE PREPARED HIS HEART [12:14, 30:19]

1. He Received Rebuke [2 Chr. 19:1-3, Proverbs 12:1]

Whoso loveth instruction loveth knowledge: but he that hateth reproof is brutish

2. He Brought People Back to God [2 Chr. 19:4, 7:14]

If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.

3. He Encouraged Leaders to be Men of God [2 Chr. 19:5-11]

 

III. HE ILLUSTRATES OUR SITUATION [2 CHR.]

1. He Made Some Major Mistakes [18:1-3, 29; 19:2; 20:35-37]

2. God Knows Our Hearts [1:11; 6:8, 30]

-And God said to Solomon, Because this was in thine heart…

-But the LORD said to David my father, Forasmuch as it was in thine heart to build an house for my name, thou didst well in that it was in thine heart

-Then hear thou from heaven thy dwelling place, and forgive, and render unto every man according unto all his ways, whose heart thou knowest; (for thou only knowest the hearts of the children of men:)

3. God Wants All of Our Hearts [6:38-39; 16:9, Mk. 12:28-30]

-If they return to thee with all their heart and with all their soul … Then hear thou from the heavens, even from thy dwelling place, their prayer and their supplications, and maintain their cause, and forgive thy people which have sinned against thee.

-For the eyes of the LORD run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to shew himself strong in the behalf of them whose heart is perfect toward him.

- And one of the scribes came, and having heard them reasoning together, and perceiving that he had answered them well, asked him, Which is the first commandment of all? And Jesus answered him, The first of all the commandments is, Hear, O Israel; The Lord our God is one Lord: And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment.

Sunday, April 27, 2025

THE OLD RUGGED CROSS

Galatians 6:12-14

Pastor Rick Jackson

 

I. THE CROSS IS A SYMBOL

1. Of Sin [Galatians 3:1, 10-13]

-O foolish Galatians, who hath bewitched you, that ye should not obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ hath been evidently set forth, crucified among you?

-For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse: for it is written, Cursed is every one that continueth not in all things which are written in the book of the law to do them. But that no man is justified by the law in the sight of God, it is evident: for, The just shall live by faith. And the law is not of faith: but, The man that doeth them shall live in them. Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree:

2. Of Submission [Phil. 2:5-8]

Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.

3. Of Salvation [1 Corinthians 1:18]

For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God.

 

II. THE CROSS IS A PLACE

1. The Place of the Saviour [Heb. 12:2-3]

Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God. For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds.

2. The Place for Sinners [Lk. 23:32-33]

And there were also two other, malefactors, led with him to be put to death. And when they were come to the place, which is called Calvary, there they crucified him, and the malefactors, one on the right hand, and the other on the left.

3. The Place of Satisfaction [Rm. 3:24-26]

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.

 

III. THE CROSS IS!

1. The Subject of Our Preaching [1 Cor. 1:17-24]

For Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the gospel: not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of none effect. For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God. For it is written, I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and will bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent. Where is the wise? where is the scribe? where is the disputer of this world? hath not God made foolish the wisdom of this world? For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe. For the Jews require a sign, and the Greeks seek after wisdom: But we preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumblingblock , and unto the Greeks foolishness; But unto them which are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God.

2. The Station of Our Glory [Galatians 6:14]

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.

3. The Standard for Our Dedication [Luke 9:23, Gal. 2:20]

- And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily , and follow me.

-I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.

 

Monday, April 21, 2025

BEING KNOWN

PROV. 20:11

Even a child is known by his doings, whether his work be pure, and whether it be right.

Pastor Rick Jackson

Everyone is known, to some degree, for something. Some are known for more than one thing, but often one thing is enough. Michael Jordan? Elvis? Pelosi? Noah? Lincoln? Fanny Crosby? What if I called out your name?

I. YOU WILL BE KNOWN FOR YOUR TESTIMONY

1. This Includes Your Doings [Pr. 20:11, Isaiah 1:16, Jeremiah 21:14]

- Wash you, make you clean; put away the evil of your doings from before mine eyes; cease to do evil;

- But I will punish you according to the fruit of your doings, saith the LORD

2. This Includes Your Sayings [Mt. 12:33-35]

- Either make the tree good, and his fruit good; or else make the tree corrupt, and his fruit corrupt: for the tree is known by his fruit. O generation of vipers, how can ye, being evil, speak good things? for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh. A good man out of the good treasure of the heart bringeth forth good things: and an evil man out of the evil treasure bringeth forth evil things.

3. This Includes Your Moderation [Phil. 4:5]

Let your moderation be known unto all men. The Lord is at hand.

 

II. DON’T BE KNOWN FOR SIN! [Hitler, Jack the Ripper, Judas Iscariot]

1. Satan is known for his Rebellion [Jn. 8:44]

Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it.

2. Cain is Known For Murder [1 Jn. 3:12]

Not as Cain, who was of that wicked one, and slew his brother. And wherefore slew he him? Because his own works were evil, and his brother's righteous.

3. Demas is Known for Forsaking Paul [2 Tm. 4:10]

For Demas hath forsaken me, having loved this present world, and is departed unto Thessalonica

 

Don’t let your sin overshadow the rest of your life

 

III. BE KNOWN FOR YOUR FAITH [Heb. 11]

1. Have Faith in God [1 Th. 1:8, Mk. 11:22]

-For from you sounded out the word of the Lord not only in Macedonia and Achaia, but also in every place your faith to God-ward is spread abroad; so that we need not to speak any thing.

- And Jesus answering saith unto them, Have faith in God.

2. Have Faith in Christ [Jn. 14:1]

3. Have Faith in God’s Word [Rm. 10:13-17]

 For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher? And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things! But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Esaias saith, Lord, who hath believed our report? So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.

 
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