Thursday, May 31, 2012

Biblical ABC’s: C is for – Creation

For many years my wife has been conducting a Ladies Bible Study and I have been after her to let me post some of the messages she has given. Here is the third in a series she is conducting. Lord willing this will be a regular feature of this blog. - Rick Jackson
We’re going to begin tonight at the beginning. Turn in your Bibles to the book of Genesis. Did you know that the word “genesis” means “beginnings” or “origins?” I told you before how important I think it is for us to have a foundational understanding of creation. Ken Ham, the great creationist/founder of Answers in Genesis says that “All biblical doctrines, including the gospel itself, are ultimately rooted in the first book of the Bible.” These doctrines include the following:
So, what does the first verse of the Bible say? Genesis 1:1, “In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.” My question to you, then, is: Why did God create the heavens and the earth? I have come up with 5 reasons:
  1. For His glory – In Psalm 19: 1-3 it says, “The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth his handiwork. Day unto day uttereth speech, and night unto night sheweth knowledge. There is no speech nor language, where their voice is not heard.”
  1. For man to glorify God – In Isaiah 43:7 we read,Even every one that is called by my name: for I have created him for my glory, I have formed him; yea, I have made him.”
  1. For the world to be inhabitedIsaiah 45:18 says, “For thus saith the LORD that created the heavens; God himself that formed the earth and made it; he hath established it, he created it not in vain, he formed it to be inhabited: I am the LORD; and there is none else.”
  1. To show His character and that He is God – In Romans 1:20 we see, “For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse:
  1. And, finally, as an act of His will – It says in Revelation 4:11, “Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created.”
So, tonight, I would like us to concentrate on the six days of creation. The Bible tells us that NOTHING is too hard for God. I shared this verse with you when we were in the letter “A,” Ah Lord GOD! behold, thou hast made the heaven and the earth by thy great power and stretched out arm, and there is nothing too hard for thee: (Jeremiah 32:17). We begin at the beginning. In the beginning God created. What does created mean? “Created” means “to make out of nothing.” Hebrews 11:3 says, “Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear.” God made our world from nothing. And can you easily recall what God created on each and every day? That is our task tonight – to help you easily recall.
Keep your Bibles open to Genesis, chapter one, take your papers and follow me. What we’re going to do is draw the six days of creation on one side of one sheet of paper with two colors. There are pencils on the table, pick only two colors, and to begin with, you will only need ONE! Are you ready? Okay. Here we go. We begin by drawing two horizontal lines across our page. This is what I teach my Sunday School class every year, and they always tell me “I can’t do this!” but after we finish, they’re really excited and always want to teach the new kids, so I think you’ll enjoy it, too!   http://www.answersingenesis.org/articles/2002/02/20/drawing-lesson-i-creation-days1
So, who remembers, first, without looking at their Bible, what God created on Day One?
Day Two?
Day Three?
Day Four?
Day Five?
And, Day Six?
Now, do you think you could do that again and remember?

Wednesday, May 30, 2012

RISING ABOVE AVERAGE

2 KINGS 4:8-37                                                   Pastor Rick Jackson


I. THE TASK OF FAITH [v. 8-16]



1. To Be Supportive of God’s People [v. 8-10, Galatians 6:10]

As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith.

2. To Be Content [v. 11-13, Hebrews 13:5]

Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor  forsake thee.

3. To Realize Its Weakness [v. 14-16, Mark 9:24]

And straightway the father of the child cried out, and said with tears, Lord, I believe; help thou mine unbelief.



II. THE TRIALS OF FAITH [v. 14-20]



1.  The Trial of Doing Without [v. 14-16]



2. The Trial of Doing With [v. 17-19]



3.  The Trial of Losing What You Had [v. 20]



III. THE TRIUMPH OF FAITH [v. 22-37]



1. Confidence [v. 22-23, Ephesians 3:12 In whom we have boldness and access with confidence by the faith of him.]



2. Boldness [v. 24-30, Ephesians 3:12 In whom we have boldness and access with confidence by the faith of him.]



3. Worship [v. 31-37, Philippians 3:3, 7-17]

Tuesday, May 29, 2012

Quotes of the Week

If I could hear Christ praying for me in the next room, I would not fear a million enemies. Yet distance makes no difference. He is praying for me. —Robert Murray McCheyne

It is a good way in dealing with God, and if you are not quite sure of His will, to say that you will stay where you are, or go on doing what you have been doing, until He makes quite clear what He wants and empowers you to do it. Roll the responsibility of your way on God, and expect that He will make known to you any alteration which He desires in a way which is unmistakable. -  FB Meyer


I can no longer live the way I once lived because I no longer am who I once was. - Elmer Delancey


Christians ought not to live according to the way things look. - Russell Larramore

But no one is so good that they can save themselves, and no one is so bad that God can't save them. - Bernhard Langer


Just this reminder - to "prosper" is not necessarily to be "wealthy". That is not what the Lord has in mind. The Lord's idea of "prosper" is to "fulfill the will of the Lord for our lives and to bring glory to Him". - Jimmy DeYoung

Sunday, May 27, 2012

THREE TIMES GOD CALLED

1 SAMUEL 3



Pastor Rick Jackson



I. THE LACK  [v. 1-9]



1. Samuel Didn’t Recognize [v. 1-6]

2. Samuel Didn’t Know [v. 7]

3 Samuel Didn’t Hesitate [v. 8-9]



II. THE LORD [v. 10]



1.  The Lord Came

2. The Lord Stood

3.  The Lord Called [Jer. 7, Rev. 3:20]



III. THE LIABILITY [v. 11-21]



1. Some Will Hear [v. 11-12]

2. Some Do Not Listen [v. 13-14]

3. Some Do Listen [v. 15-21]

Saturday, May 26, 2012

Question of the Week: Is it good to stay unmarried?


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May 26, 2012

a weekly look at answersingenesis.org

top leftIn this issue . . .

Q: Is it good to stay unmarried?

A: When God created man, He said, "It is not good that man should be alone; I will make him a helper comparable to him" (Genesis 2:18). But the Apostle Paul wrote about being single, "I wish that all men were even as I myself . . . I say to the unmarried and to the widows: it is good for them if they remain even as I am" (1 Corinthians 7:7–8).
There is more to consider here than just marriage. Paul explains that being unattached is better for a Christian so "that you may serve the Lord without distraction." Paul's entire life was absorbed by service to the Lord. It would have been difficult for Paul to have been an undistracted husband and father with his calling.
While we're told to "be fruitful and multiply" in Genesis 1:28, it is also a high calling, albeit not for everyone, to serve the Lord continually, as Anna was able to once she was widowed (Luke 2:36–37).
Continue reading about God's gifts of marriage and singleness to learn more.

Get Equipped

Get EquippedAlready Gone book
Whether you're married or not, you need to be aware of this shocking data. The next generation is calling it quits on the traditional church. And it's not just happening on the nominal fringe; it's at the core of the faith. Find out why they're leaving and how you can help stop the exodus.
Also available on DVD, audio book, ebook, and video download.

News to Note Quick Look

Monkey see, monkey do: Psychologists say observations of chimpanzee and orangutan behavior in zoos support the primates' evolutionary relationship to people.
Brilliant doctor doesn't understand?: Creationist doctor's understanding of science and ethics is called into question.
Jurassic ink: Jurassic squid's ink is chemically identical to melanin in modern cuttlefish.
Tectonic times: Smithsonian's account of tectonic history is significantly short-sighted.

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Raising Godly Children in an Ungodly World
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