Thursday, August 17, 2017

Bible Women of Courage - RUTH

by Mrs. Rick Jackson

For those who don’t know, this year our theme has been, Bible Women of Courage. For that reason, I have chosen for our memory verse, Psalm 27:14 –

Wait on the LORD: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the LORD.

I want to take you back to the Old Testament to introduce you to our Woman of Courage – RUTH. I must confess that this is one of my most favorite texts in the Old Testament – the beautiful story of the Kinsman Redeemer. But this will not be our focal point. If you are not familiar with this short but wonderful book, I encourage you to take the time to read all four chapters in one sitting. The time that I have spent here in the past few weeks has been such a renewed blessing to my spirit and I know it will be to yours, too! There is so much to be learned from the Book of RUTH!

I would like us to look together at the first chapter of RUTH.

¹ Now it came to pass in the days when the judges ruled, that there was a famine in the land. And a certain man of Bethlehem-Judah went to sojourn in the country of Moab, he, and his wife, and his two sons.

² And the name of the man was Elimelech, and the name of his wife Naomi, and the name of his two sons Mahlon and Chilion, Ephrathites of Bethlehem-Judah. And they came into the country of Moab, and continued there.

³ And Elimelech Naomi's husband died; and she was left, and her two sons.

⁴ And they took them wives of the women of Moab; the name of the one was Orpah, and the name of the other Ruth: and they dwelled there about ten years.

⁵ And Mahlon and Chilion died also both of them; and the woman was left of her two sons and her husband.

⁶ Then she arose with her daughters in law, that she might return from the country of Moab: for she had heard in the country of Moab how that the LORD had visited his people in giving them bread.

⁷ Wherefore she went forth out of the place where she was, and her two daughters in law with her; and they went on the way to return unto the land of Judah.

⁸ And Naomi said unto her two daughters in law, Go, return each to her mother's house: the LORD deal kindly with you, as ye have dealt with the dead, and with me.

⁹ The LORD grant you that ye may find rest, each of you in the house of her husband. Then she kissed them; and they lifted up their voice, and wept.

¹⁰ And they said unto her, Surely we will return with thee unto thy people.

¹¹ And Naomi said, Turn again, my daughters: why will ye go with me? are there yet any more sons in my womb, that they may be your husbands?

¹² Turn again, my daughters, go your way; for I am too old to have an husband. If I should say, I have hope, if I should have an husband also to night, and should also bear sons;

¹³ Would ye tarry for them till they were grown? would ye stay for them from having husbands? nay, my daughters; for it grieveth me much for your sakes that the hand of the LORD is gone out against me.

¹⁴ And they lifted up their voice, and wept again: and Orpah kissed her mother in law; but Ruth clave unto her.

¹⁵ And she said, Behold, thy sister in law is gone back unto her people, and unto her gods: return thou after thy sister in law.

¹⁶ And Ruth said, Intreat me not to leave thee, or to return from following after thee: for whither thou goest, I will go; and where thou lodgest, I will lodge: thy people shall be my people, and thy God my God:

¹⁷ Where thou diest, will I die, and there will I be buried: the LORD do so to me, and more also, if ought but death part thee and me.

¹⁸ When she saw that she was stedfastly minded to go with her, then she left speaking unto her.

¹⁹ So they two went until they came to Bethlehem. And it came to pass, when they were come to Bethlehem, that all the city was moved about them, and they said, Is this Naomi?

²⁰ And she said unto them, Call me not Naomi, call me Mara: for the Almighty hath dealt very bitterly with me.

²¹ I went out full, and the LORD hath brought me home again empty: why then call ye me Naomi, seeing the LORD hath testified against me, and the Almighty hath afflicted me?

²² So Naomi returned, and Ruth the Moabitess, her daughter in law, with her, which returned out of the country of Moab: and they came to Bethlehem in the beginning of barley harvest.

Ruth, the Moabitess

I want to begin by drawing your attention to that last verse, 22: “So Naomi returned, and Ruth the Moabitess….” In this short book, attention is drawn to the fact that Ruth is not an Israelite. She is here Ruth the Moabitess, again in 2:2, 2:21, 4:5, & 4:10; the Moabitish damsel (2:6); and “stranger” (2:10). If you recall, the Moabites came about from Lot’s relationship with his daughters after the fall of Sodom and Gomorrah. Their relationship with Israel was always tempestuous. Their king Balak was the one who sent for Balaam to curse Israel. Are you getting the picture? We are reminded over and over that Ruth was the outsider, the foreigner, the stranger, the outcast. Keep that in mind as we continue.

Ruth, Part of a Family

So, we know the backdrop. This family from Israel, Elimelech and Naomi, and sons, Mahlon and Chilion, seek relief from famine in the country of Moab. Soon after their flight, Elimelech dies. The boys then go against the teachings of their faith and marry foreigners. It was, after all, the time of the Judges, when, the Bible says, “In those days [there was] no king in Israel, [but] every man did [that which was] right in his own eyes.” (Judges 17:6) Into the family come Ruth and Orpah. And they remained for 10 years until the boys both died, too. Suddenly there are three widows with no means of support. And Naomi hears that the famine at home has gone and she is homesick. What is there left for her in Moab? She is ready to go home!! On their way back towards Bethlehem, Naomi realizes there is no reason for the girls to go on with her. They’re poor, she can’t support them, she’s childless with no way to provide sons who can take care of them, so the girls might as well go on back to their families and start over. Here is an important crossroads. What will they do? Let’s go back to RUTH chapter 1.

¹⁴ And they lifted up their voice, and wept again: and Orpah kissed her mother in law; but Ruth clave unto her.

¹⁵ And she said, Behold, thy sister in law is gone back unto her people, and unto her gods: return thou after thy sister in law.

We see Orpah is quick to decide – I’m going home to Momma! Not only that, but I’m going back to our gods. This is even more sad because the Moabites worshipped the god Chemosh who accepted human sacrifices and encouraged immorality. Sadly, this is what Naomi was encouraging Ruth to also do.

Ruth, Woman of Courage

We don’t always have the right people beside us in making decisions. We must rely on what faith we have. [⁴Behold, his soul which is lifted up is not upright in him: but the just shall live by his faith. Habakkuk 2:4] Ruth had lived with this family for ten years. Surely in this time she had heard about the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. Certainly she had heard the stories of Moses and Joshua. She must have been told how God had opened the Red Sea and they had walked on dry land. She probably heard how the walls of Jericho fell. All this time and all these things had made an impression. Now it was Ruth’s turn.

Sometimes when confronted with a decision, it is helpful to put it in quantifiable terms:

1. WHEN?

2. WHERE?

3. WHy?

4. WHat?

And these “W” Questions Can Easily Be Answered By Replacing The “W” with a “T”.

For Ruth, the answers came quickly:

1. WHEN? Then!

¹⁶ And Ruth said, Intreat me not to leave thee, or to return from following after thee:

2. WHERE? There!

for whither thou goest, I will go; and where thou lodgest, I will lodge:

3. WHy? THy!

thy people shall be my people, and thy God my God:

4. WHat? That!

¹⁷ Where thou diest, will I die, and there will I be buried: the LORD do so to me, and more also, if ought but death part thee and me.

Ruth had made up her mind then and there. She put in with Naomi and the God of Israel. She said it doesn’t matter that we’re poor and there is no one to look after us, we have THE God. And I believe in HIM. So much so, Naomi, that even after you die, I will stay in Israel and worship Him and be buried with you. I am now a believer. There’s no looking back for me! What a testimony! I am reminded of what Jesus said of the centurion in Matthew 8:10 – “…Verily I say unto you, I have not found so great faith, no not in Israel.” Here was a woman who exhibited great courage! It did not end here. Her life continued to be a walk of faith and courage … but that is for you to read at a later date!

Ruth, Ancestor of Jesus

I just want to close with this verse:

Matthew 1:5 – “And Salmon begat Booz of Rachab; and Booz begat Obed of Ruth; and Obed begat Jesse.”

Because of her courage and faithfulness, RUTH is mentioned in the New Testament as one of the five women in the lineage of our Lord Jesus! What a blessing! A Moabitess, an outcast, becomes a named ancestor in the lineage of the Saviour!

We never know how important our decisions can be. Make them prayerfully. Make them by faith.

That’s why it is so important for us to live out our memory verse:

Psalm 27:14 –

Wait on the LORD: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the LORD.

Wednesday, August 16, 2017

THE king IS DEAD, LONG LIVE THE KING!

THE king IS DEAD, LONG LIVE THE KING!

Pastor Rick Jackson

Yesterday marked the 40th anniversary of the death of Elvis Presley, called by many the "king of rock and roll", and by still others, "the king". Some Elvis fans are fond of saying "America has had many presidents but only one king." Truth is, at one time, Memphis, Tn. claimed that 3 kings had homes there... Elvis Presley, B.B. King, and Jerry "the king" Lawler a professional wrestler.

1 Tm. 6:14-16 That thou keep this commandment without spot, unrebukable, until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ: Which in his times he shall shew, who is the blessed and only Potentate, the King of kings, and Lord of lords; Who only hath immortality, dwelling in the light which no man can approach unto; whom no man hath seen, nor can see: to whom be honour and power everlasting. Amen.

Revelation 17:14 These shall make war with the Lamb, and the Lamb shall overcome them: for he is Lord of lords, and King of kings: and they that are with him are called, and chosen, and faithful.

Revelation 19:16 And he hath on his vesture and on his thigh a name written, KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS.

Think about it. We still remember Elvis 40 years after his death, we still worship Jesus almost 2000 years after His death and resurrection.

I. THE TRUTH ABOUT ELVIS

1. He had no claim by a royal pedigree

One of his close friends and co-best man at his wedding said Elvis hated to be called "the King" because Elvis said, "there's only one king and that's Jesus Christ."

2. He had no kingdom (many fans but no kingdom) [John 6:11-15, 24-36ff]

3. He had no control over himself (one secular newspaper labeled him as "1977's poster boy for celebrity excess"). He died of an overdose or prescription medications.

II. THE TRUTH ABOUT JESUS

1. He Can Lay claim to Israel's throne through His birth mother (Lk. 3:23-38) and His step-father (Mt. 1:1-17) Acts 2:29-31

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.

2. He has a Kingdom

John 18:36-37 Jesus answered, My kingdom is not of this world: if my kingdom were of this world, then would my servants fight, that I should not be delivered to the Jews: but now is my kingdom not from hence. Pilate therefore said unto him, Art thou a king then? Jesus answered, Thou sayest that I am a king. To this end was I born, and for this cause came I into the world, that I should bear witness unto the truth. Every one that is of the truth heareth my voice.

Matthew 25:34 Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world:

3. He Was/Is in Perfect Control of Himself as well as Creation.

John 14:30 Hereafter I will not talk much with you: for the prince of this world cometh, and hath nothing in me.

John 10:17-18 Therefore doth my Father love me, because I lay down my life, that I might take it again. No man taketh it from me, but I lay it down of myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This commandment have I received of my Father.

III. THE TRUTH ABOUT JESUS & ELVIS

1. Jesus gave Elvis his musical ability [1 Corinthians 4:7]

For who maketh thee to differ from another? and what hast thou that thou didst not receive? now if thou didst receive it, why dost thou glory, as if thou hadst not received it?

2. Elvis claimed Jesus as His Saviour

As featured in the May 18, 2006 issue of The Alabama Baptist an article by Kathy Dean, Correspondent. "Is Elvis in heaven?” It’s the question that Rick Stanley, one of Elvis's step-brothers is asked most often. For the Baptist evangelist, it’s a question not only into the eternal fate of the King of Rock ‘n’ Roll but also about his stepbrother and the power of salvation.

“When I answer that question, I ask, ‘What makes you think he is; what makes you think he isn’t?’” Stanley said. Some people point to the way Elvis Presley loved and took care of his mother and say surely he is in heaven, while others point to his drug use and sexual promiscuity and say he’s not.

“I answer by saying Elvis was saved at the age of 10 years old at Harrisburg Baptist Church in Tupelo, Miss., at Vacation Bible School,” Stanley said. “Did he have times when he was away from the Lord? Oh yeah. … Twenty or 30 years ago, the prevailing thought was that once you were saved, you don’t have issues. You just love Jesus and you’ll be OK. That sounds good but I know some really wonderful people that love the Lord who struggle with things.”

3. Elvis was apparently a carnal Christian [1 Cor. 3:1-4ff]

Elvis got away from the Lord's teachings, but if he was saved, he was still saved when he died!

Rm. 4:1-8

Gal. 3:1-4 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? This only would I learn of you, Received ye the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?

Are ye so foolish? having begun in the Spirit, are ye now made perfect by the flesh? Have ye suffered so many things in vain? if it be yet in vain.

One of the more popular slogans during the Revolutionary War is one you rarely hear about in history classes at school. The slogan was, "No King but Jesus". Not a bad slogan for now is it?

Tuesday, August 15, 2017

QANTAS' PROBLEMS & SOLUTIONS

[I cannot verify the authenticity of this but I can tell you it is funny]

✈️

After every flight, pilots fill out a form called a gripe sheet, which conveys to the mechanics problems encountered with the aircraft during the flight that need repair or correction. The mechanics read and correct the problem,and then respond in writing on the lower half of the form what remedial action was taken, and the pilot reviews the gripe sheets before the next flight. Never let it be said that ground crews and engineers lack a sense of humor. Here are some actual logged maintenance complaints and problems as submitted by Qantas pilots and the solution recorded by maintenance engineers. By the way, Qantas is the only major airline that has never had an accident.

(P = The problem logged by the pilot.)
(S = The solution and action taken by the mechanics.)

P: Left inside main tire almost needs replacement.
S: Almost replaced left inside main tire.

P: Test flight OK, except auto-land very rough.
S: Auto-land not installed on this aircraft.

P: Something loose in cockpit.
S: Something tightened in cockpit.

P: Dead bugs on windshield.
S: Live bugs on back-order.

P: Autopilot in altitude-hold mode produces a 200 feet per minute descent.
S: Cannot reproduce problem on ground.

P: Evidence of leak on right main landing gear.
S: Evidence removed.

P: DME volume unbelievably loud.
S: DME volume set to more believable level.

P: Friction locks cause throttle levers to stick.
S: That's what they're there for.

P: IFF inoperative.
S: IFF always inoperative in OFF mode.

P: Suspected crack in windshield.
S: Suspect you're right.

P: Number 3 engine missing.
S: Engine found on right wing after brief search.

P: Aircraft handles funny.
S: Aircraft warned to straighten up, fly right, and be serious.

P: Target radar hums.
S: Reprogrammed target radar with lyrics.

P: Mouse in cockpit.
S: Cat installed.

P: Noise coming from under instrument panel. Sounds like a midget pounding on something with a hammer.
S: Took hammer away from midget.

Monday, August 14, 2017

FOR THE GLORY OF THE KING!

MATTHEW 6

THAT’S MY KING

Pastor Rick Jackson

I. GIVING FOR THE KING’S GLORY [v. 1-4]

1. The Motivation of Giving [v. 1]

2. The Glory of Men [v. 2]

3. The Glory of God [v. 3-4]

II. PRAYING FOR THE KING’S GLORY [v. 5-18]

1. The “Presentation” of Prayer [v. 5-8]

2. The Pattern of Prayer [v. 9-13]

3. The Preparation of Prayer [v. 14-18]

III. LIVING FOR THE KING’S CLORY [v. 19-34]

1. Storing Your Treasure [v. 19-23]

2. Serving Your Master [v. 24-32]

3. Setting Your Priorities [v. 33-34]

Sunday, August 13, 2017

THE BLESSING OF TROUBLE

PSALM 27

Pastor Rick Jackson

Trouble is a blessing from God. “What? You like trouble?” I didn't say that. I said, "Trouble is a blessing from God." I don't like it any more than you do but I do try to recognize it for what it is. And what it is, is a blessing from God.

I. TROUBLE CAN HAVE VALUE

1. If it causes us to look up! [v. 1]

Psalm 121:1-2 I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help. My help cometh from the LORD, which made heaven and earth.

2. If it leads us to the Book! [v. 2-3, 11, Rm. 10:17] So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.

Think about it, the Bible starts with: "In the beginning God" and ends with "The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen." We're covered from start to finish.

3. If it causes us to honestly appraise what we have! [v. 10]

Job 1:20-22 Then Job arose, and rent his mantle, and shaved his head, and fell down upon the ground, and worshipped, And said, Naked came I out of my mother's womb, and naked shall I return thither: the LORD gave, and the LORD hath taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD. In all this Job sinned not, nor charged God foolishly.

2:9-10 Then said his wife unto him, Dost thou still retain thine integrity? curse God, and die. But he said unto her, Thou speakest as one of the foolish women speaketh. What? shall we receive good at the hand of God, and shall we not receive evil? In all this did not Job sin with his lips.

Trouble can have value. It wasn't until after his wife left him, taking his little girl away, that Charles Weigle wrote No One Ever Cared Like Jesus -

I would love to tell you what I think of Jesus, Since I found in Him a friend so strong and true. I would tell you how He changed my life completely; He did something no other friend could do.

Chorus: No one ever cared for me like Jesus; There's no other friend so kind as He. No one else could take the sin And darkness from me; O how much He cared for me.

All my life was full of sin when Jesus found me; All my heart was full of misery and woe, Jesus placed His strong arms about me And He led me in the way I ought to go.

Ev'ry day He comes to me with new assurance; More and more I understand His Word of Love. But I'll never know just why He came to save me, Till someday I see His blessed face above.

II. TROUBLE CAN IMPROVE OUR VISION

1. It can give you a goal in life [v. 4]

But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ. Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ...Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. [Ph. 3]

2. It can help us focus on God's purpose [v. 8, Jn. 16:5-7]

But now I go my way to him that sent me; and none of you asketh me, Whither goest thou? But because I have said these things unto you, sorrow hath filled your heart. Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you.

3. It can remind us the best is yet to come [v. 5-6, 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.

Yes, trouble can improve our vision. George Matheson wrote a hymn. When asked about it he said:

My hymn was composed ...on the evening of the 6th of June, 1882, when I was 40 years of age. I was alone ...at that time. It was the night of my sister’s marriage, and the rest of the family were staying overnight in Glasgow. Something happened to me, which was known only to myself, and which caused me the most severe mental suffering. The hymn was the fruit of that suffering. It was the quickest bit of work I ever did in my life. I had the impression of having it dictated to me by some inward voice rather than of working it out myself. I am quite sure that the whole work was completed in five minutes, and equally sure that it never received at my hands any retouching or correction. I have no natural gift of rhythm. All the other verses I have ever written are manufactured articles; this came like a dayspring from on high.

What he wrote was this:

O Love that wilt not let me go, I rest my weary soul in thee; I give thee back the life I owe, That in thine ocean depths its flow May richer, fuller be.

O Joy that seekest me through pain, I cannot close my heart to thee; I trace the rainbow through the rain, And feel the promise is not vain, That morn shall tearless be.

O Cross that liftest up my head, I dare not ask to fly from thee; I lay in dust life’s glory dead, And from the ground there blossoms red Life that shall endless be.

III. TROUBLE CAN BE BORNE TRIUMPHANTLY!

1. Bear it with EXPECTANCY! [v. 7]

Jn. 16:19-22 Now Jesus knew that they were desirous to ask him, and said unto them, Do ye enquire among yourselves of that I said, A little while, and ye shall not see me: and again, a little while, and ye shall see me? Verily, verily, I say unto you, That ye shall weep and lament, but the world shall rejoice: and ye shall be sorrowful, but your sorrow shall be turned into joy. A woman when she is in travail hath sorrow, because her hour is come: but as soon as she is delivered of the child, she remembereth no more the anguish, for joy that a man is born into the world. And ye now therefore have sorrow: but I will see you again, and your heart shall rejoice, and your joy no man taketh from you.

2. Bear it with KNOWLEDGE! [v. 12-13]

I Th. 4:13 But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope.

3. Bear it with FAITH! [v. 14]

After recounting his troubles Job triumphantly proclaims, "For I know that my redeemer liveth, and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth: And though after my skin worms destroy this body, yet in my flesh shall I see God:" [19:25-26]

Rm. 8:28 And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.

Saturday, August 12, 2017

Question of the Week: Do ancient Canaanite remains discredit the Bible?

From the highly recommended: Answers in Genesis <www.answersingenesis.org>

This assertion may appeal to skeptics but it doesn't deal truthfully with the biblical record. (View in Browser)

Do Ancient Canaanite Remains Discredit the Bible?

Ancient Canaanite Remains Analyzed

A recent Independent news article is titled "Bible Says Canaanites Were Wiped out by Israelites but Scientists Just Found Their Descendants Living in Lebanon." The author essentially claims that objective "science" has again successfully contradicted the claims of the Bible. But do these remains really discredit the biblical account?