FRIENDS OF FAITH 4

THE BEST FRIEND

Pastor Rick Jackson

Amos 3:3 Can two walk together, except they be agreed?

I. CHRIST THE FRIEND

1. The Friend of Sinners [Matthew 11:19, Zechariah 13:6]

-The Son of man came eating and drinking, and they say, Behold a man gluttonous, and a winebibber, a friend of publicans and sinners. But wisdom is justified of her children.

- And one shall say unto him, What are these wounds in thine hands? Then he shall answer, Those with which I was wounded in the house of my friends.

2. The Friend of Savages [Psalm 41:9, Matthew 26:47-50]

- Yea, mine own familiar friend, in whom I trusted, which did eat of my bread, hath lifted up his heel against me.

- And while he yet spake, lo, Judas, one of the twelve, came, and with him a great multitude with swords and staves, from the chief priests and elders of the people. Now he that betrayed him gave them a sign, saying, Whomsoever I shall kiss, that same is he: hold him fast. And forthwith he came to Jesus, and said, Hail, master; and kissed him. And Jesus said unto him, Friend, wherefore art thou come? Then came they, and laid hands on Jesus, and took him.

3. The Friend of the Saved Dead [John 11:11]

These things said he: and after that he saith unto them, Our friend Lazarus sleepeth; but I go, that I may awake him out of sleep.

II. CHRIST OUR FRIEND

1. Tells the Truth [Proverbs 27:6, 9]

- Faithful are the wounds of a friend; but the kisses of an enemy are deceitful.

-Ointment and perfume rejoice the heart: so doth the sweetness of a man's friend by hearty counsel.

2. Sticks Closer than a Brother [Proverbs 17:17, 18:24]

- A friend loveth at all times, and a brother is born for adversity.

- A man that hath friends must show himself friendly: and there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother.

3. Laid Down His Life [John 15:13]

Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.

III. FRIENDS OF CHRIST

1. Rejoice in His Words [John 3:29]

He that hath the bride is the bridegroom: but the friend of the bridegroom, which standeth and heareth him, rejoiceth greatly because of the bridegroom's voice: this my joy therefore is fulfilled.

2. Do His Commands [John 15:14-15]

Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you. Henceforth I call you not servants; for the servant knoweth not what his lord doeth: but I have called you friends; for all things that I have heard of my Father I have made known unto you.

3. Reject the World’s Friendship [James 4:4-10]

Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God. Do ye think that the scripture saith in vain, The spirit that dwelleth in us lusteth to envy? But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble. Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded. Be afflicted, and mourn, and weep: let your laughter be turned to mourning, and your joy to heaviness. Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up.

GOD LOVES YOU BUT DOES GOD LIKE YOU?

 

1 CHR. 28:4       Howbeit the Lord God of Israel chose me before all the house of my father to be king over Israel for ever: for he hath chosen Judah to be the ruler; and of the house of Judah, the house of my father; and among the sons of my father he liked me to make me king over all Israel:                                                                      

Pastor Rick Jackson

 

Of course, we know, according to the Bible, God loves you. God loved us poor sinners so much [Jn. 3:16]. And Romans 5 reminds us that if God loved us enough to die for us as sinners how much more will He do for us who are now His children. But the question is not one of “love”, the question here is one of “like”. We are to love lost sinners even as God does but do we have to like them? Nay, nay, I say thee nay.

 

I. WHAT MADE GOD LIKE THE YOUNG DAVID?

 

1. I Believe God liked David because David had Faith in God [1 Sam. 17:37, Mk. 11:22, Heb. 11:6]

-David said moreover, The Lord that delivered me out of the paw of the lion, and out of the paw of the bear, he will deliver me out of the hand of this Philistine. And Saul said unto David, Go, and the Lord be with thee.

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

-But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.

 

2. I Believe God liked David because David had Faith in God’s Guidance [1 Sam. 17:39-40]

-And David girded his sword upon his armour, and he assayed to go; for he had not proved it. And David said unto Saul, I cannot go with these; for I have not proved them. And David put them off him. And he took his staff in his hand, and chose him five smooth stones out of the brook, and put them in a shepherd's bag which he had, even in a scrip; and his sling was in his hand: and he drew near to the Philistine.

3. I Believe God liked David because David wanted Others to Know God [1 Sam. 17:46]

-This day will the Lord deliver thee into mine hand; and I will smite thee, and take thine head from thee; and I will give the carcases of the host of the Philistines this day unto the fowls of the air, and to the wild beasts of the earth; that all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel.

 

II. WHAT MADE GOD LIKE THE MAN DAVID?

 

1.  I Believe God Liked David because God likes Uprightness [1 Chr. 29:17]

-I know also, my God, that thou triest the heart, and hast pleasure in uprightness. As for me, in the uprightness of mine heart I have willingly offered all these things: and now have I seen with joy thy people, which are present here, to offer willingly unto thee.

 

2. I Believe God Liked David because God likes Willing Hearts [1 Chronicles 29:9, Rm. 12:1]

-Then the people rejoiced, for that they offered willingly, because with perfect heart they offered willingly to the LORD: and David the king also rejoiced with great joy.

-I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.

 

3.  I Believe God Liked David because God likes Joyful Worshippers [29:17, Jn. 4:23]

 

III. WHAT MADE GOD LIKE THE REPENTANT DAVID? [Ps. 51]

 

1. I Believe God Liked David because God likes Truth [v. 1-6]

 

2. I Believe God Liked David because God likes a Broken Spirit [v. 7-17a]

 

3. I Believe God Liked David because God likes Broken Heart [v. 17b-19, Mt. 5:4]

Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted.

HALF A CENTURY WITH CHRIST – MY TESTIMONY OF GOD’S GRACE

1 Corinthians 1:26-31

Pastor Rick Jackson

 

I was thinking of how next spring will mark 50 years since I graduated from high school and then the Lord impressed upon me that several more significant anniversaries should be noted.

 

I. THE BEST DECISION A SINNER EVER MADE [1 Cor. 15:3-6]

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;

It was my Freshman year of High School [1970-72] that I came to know the Saviour.

 

1. I Saw My Sin [Romans 3:23, 6:23; Ezekiel 18:4]

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

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

- The soul that sinneth, it shall die.

 

2. I Saw the Saviour [John 1:29, 36]

- The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.

- And looking upon Jesus as he walked, he saith, Behold the Lamb of God!

 

3. I Sincerely Received the Saviour [John 1:12]

But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:

 

II. THE BEST DECISION A SAINT EVER MADE [Matthew 18:19-20]

Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.

It was my Junior year of High School that the sweet Holy Spirit moved me out of spiritual kindergarten.

 

1. Read the Bible [Isaiah 34:16, 55:11, 2 Peter 3:18]

- Seek ye out of the book of the Lord, and read: no one of these shall fail, none shall want her mate: for my mouth it hath commanded, and his spirit it hath gathered them

-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.

- But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever. Amen.

 

2. Respond to the Bible

-find a Bible church [1 Timothy 3:15]

But if I tarry long, that thou mayest know how thou oughtest to behave thyself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth.

-baptism [Mt. 28:18]

-get involved [Eph. 2:8-10]

For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.

-everything else [pray, give, worship, et cetera]

 

3. Represent the Bible

-you are an ambassador [2 Corinthians 5:20]

Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ's stead, be ye reconciled to God.

-you are a witness [Acts 1:8]

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.

-you are a saint [1 Cor. 1:2]

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:

-you are a student [2 Tm. 2:15]

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

-you are a soldier [2 Tm. 2:3-4]

Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. No man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of this life; that he may please him who hath chosen him to be a soldier.

-you are a planter/farmer [1 Corinthians 3:6]

I have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase.

HALF A CENTURY WITH CHRIST – A DROP IN THE BUCKET

FRIENDS OF FAITH 3

FRIENDS OF A FEATHER [Peter and John]     

Amos 3:3 Can two walk together, except they be agreed?                     

Pastor Rick Jackson

 

I know what you may be thinking, “But Brother Rick, these guys were in the Inner Circle with James.” Yes, but there came a time when Jesus separated these two from James [not permanently] and then we see these two together without James more than we see the three of them together.

 

I. UNITED IN A COMMON CHRIST

 

1. A Specified Task [Luke 22:8-13] And he sent Peter and John, saying, Go and prepare us the passover, that we may eat. And they said unto him, Where wilt thou that we prepare? And he said unto them, Behold, when ye are entered into the city, there shall a man meet you, bearing a pitcher of water; follow him into the house where he entereth in. And ye shall say unto the goodman of the house, The Master saith unto thee, Where is the guestchamber, where I shall eat the passover with my disciples? And he shall show you a large upper room furnished: there make ready. And they went, and found as he had said unto them: and they made ready the passover.

 

2. A Special Talk [John 13:21-26] When Jesus had thus said, he was troubled in spirit, and testified, and said, Verily, verily, I say unto you, that one of you shall betray me. Then the disciples looked one on another, doubting of whom he spake. Now there was leaning on Jesus' bosom one of his disciples, whom Jesus loved. Simon Peter therefore beckoned to him, that he should ask who it should be of whom he spake. He then lying on Jesus' breast saith unto him, Lord, who is it? Jesus answered, He it is, to whom I shall give a sop, when I have dipped it. And when he had dipped the sop, he gave it to Judas Iscariot, the son of Simon.

3. A Series of Trips [John 18: 15-16, 20:1-10, 21:1-7]

-And Simon Peter followed Jesus, and so did another disciple: that disciple was known unto the high priest, and went in with Jesus into the palace of the high priest. But Peter stood at the door without. Then went out that other disciple, which was known unto the high priest, and spake unto her that kept the door, and brought in Peter.

- THE first day of the week cometh Mary Magdalene early, when it was yet dark, unto the sepulchre, and seeth the stone taken away from the sepulchre. Then she runneth, and cometh to Simon Peter, and to the other disciple, whom Jesus loved, and saith unto them, They have taken away the Lord out of the sepulchre, and we know not where they have laid him. Peter therefore went forth, and that other disciple, and came to the sepulchre. So they ran both together: and the other disciple did outrun Peter, and came first to the sepulchre. And he stooping down, and looking in, saw the linen clothes lying; yet went he not in. Then cometh Simon Peter following him, and went into the sepulchre, and seeth the linen clothes lie, And the napkin, that was about his head, not lying with the linen clothes, but wrapped together in a place by itself. Then went in also that other disciple, which came first to the sepulchre, and he saw, and believed. For as yet they knew not the scripture, that he must rise again from the dead. Then the disciples went away again unto their own home.

- AFTER these things Jesus showed himself again to the disciples at the sea of Tiberias; and on this wise showed he himself. There were together Simon Peter, and Thomas called Didymus, and Nathanael of Cana in Galilee, and the sons of Zebedee, and two other of his disciples. Simon Peter saith unto them, I go a fishing. They say unto him, We also go with thee. They went forth, and entered into a ship immediately; and that night they caught nothing. But when the morning was now come, Jesus stood on the shore: but the disciples knew not that it was Jesus. Then Jesus saith unto them, Children, have ye any meat? They answered him, No. And he said unto them, Cast the net on the right side of the ship, and ye shall find. They cast therefore, and now they were not able to draw it for the multitude of fishes. Therefore that disciple whom Jesus loved saith unto Peter, It is the Lord. Now when Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he girt his fisher's coat unto him, (for he was naked,) and did cast himself into the sea.

II. UNITED IN A COMMON CAUSE [Acts 3]

 

1. United in Prayer [v. 1-7]

 

2. United in Praise [v. 8-11]

 

3. United in Preaching [3:12-4:2]

 

III. UNITED IN A COMMON CONDITION [Acts 4]

 

1. United in the King’s Business [v. 1-4]

 

2. United in the Spirit’s Boldness [v. 5-13]

 

3. United in the Christian’s Bottom Line [v. 14-20]

PRAISE HIM ONCE MORE… WITH FEELING

PSALM 146                                                        

Pastor Rick Jackson

 

I. BECAUSE OF WHO HE IS… [v. 1-4]

 

1. Praise the Self-Existent One [v. 1]

 

2. Praise the God You Can Know Personally [v. 2]

 

3. Trust the Eternal God Not Temporal Men [v. 3-4]

 

II. BECAUSE OF WHAT WE FIND IN HIM… [v. 5]

 

1.  Happiness [v. 5, John 13:17]

If ye know these things, happy are ye if ye do them.

 

2. Help [v. 5, Heb. 4:16]

Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.

 

3.  Hope [v. 5, Romans 15:13, Col. 1:27, 1 Pet. 1:3]

-Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that ye may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost.

- To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory:

- Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,

 

III. BECAUSE OF WHAT HE DOES… [v. 6-10]

 

1. Past Creation [v. 6]

 

2. Present Conversions & Care [v. 7-9]

 

3. Future Coronation [v. 10]

THE WELL-KNOWN SECRET OF SUCCESS

Pastor Rick Jackson*

 

The word “success” is only found in one verse of the Scripture, though the truth of success is found all through the pages of Holy Writ. People have strange ideas about success. Many folks have an idea that success is popularity – looks – riches – prestige – power – and such like. They also tend to think that if you have a lot of problems, you are not a success. But we find that these ideas are not correct. Consider these truths:

 

I. SUCCESS IS NOT THE ABSENCE OF MISTAKES [PS. 37:23-24]

The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord: and he delighteth in his way. Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down: for the Lord upholdeth him with his hand.

“I have not failed. I've just found 10,000 ways that won't work.”  - Thomas A. Edison

“I would rather fail in the cause that someday will triumph than triumph in a cause that will someday fail. “ – Wilson

“Success is having the right perspective of failure.” – Wm. T. Monroe

 

II. SUCCESS IS NOT THE POSSESSION OF GREAT RICHES [PS. 37:16]

A little that a righteous man hath is better than the riches of many wicked.

In 1923 nine of the world’s richest men met at a famous Chicago Hotel. Their combined financial power was greater than the Federal Reserve Bank. 25 years later one was living on borrowed money, one was in a mental asylum, two were running from the law, 2 just got out of prison, three had committed suicide and died penniless

 

III. SUCCESS IS NOT THE PRESENCE OF GREAT PERSONAL GIFTS [Acts 12:21-23, 1 Corinthians 4:7]

- And upon a set day Herod, arrayed in royal apparel, sat upon his throne, and made an oration unto them. And the people gave a shout, saying, It is the voice of a god, and not of a man. And immediately the angel of the Lord smote him, because he gave not God the glory: and he was eaten of worms, and gave up the ghost.

-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?

Jimi Hendrix, Stephen Foster, Hitler

 

IV. SUCCESS IS NOT THE ABSENCE OF PAIN OR GREAT TESTING [2 Cor. 11:23-28, 12:7-9]

-Are they ministers of Christ? (I speak as a fool) I am more; in labours more abundant, in stripes above measure, in prisons more frequent, in deaths oft. Of the Jews five times received I forty stripes save one. Thrice was I beaten with rods, once was I stoned, thrice I suffered shipwreck, a night and a day I have been in the deep; In journeyings often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils by mine own countrymen, in perils by the heathen, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren; In weariness and painfulness, in watchings often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness. Beside those things that are without, that which cometh upon me daily, the care of all the churches.

-And lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure. For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me. And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.

 

 V. SUCCESS IS TO BE SAVED, TO BE SURRENDERED & TO BE SERVING. [Joshua 1:8, 2 Tm. 4:6-8]

-This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success.

--For I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand. I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing.

 

No one who goes to Hell forever can be considered a success.

“In God’s will- there can be no failure, outside God’s will- there can be no success.” – Wm. T. Monroe

*inspired by Pastor Wm. T. Monroe

John R. Rice Quotes of the Week

 If Matthew copied anything, he did it only under the clear instruction of the Holy Spirit, and we have not a hint in the Scriptures themselves that Matthew copied. The Holy Spirit gave the matter; the Holy Spirit gave the words, so Matthew did not need to rely upon his own judgment, his memory, the testimony of eyewitnesses, upon manuscripts before him, or any other human source. If he used any human source, he did it by divine inspiration which would correct all the mistakes and make a perfect, infallibly accurate part of the divine revelation, the Word of God. - John R. Rice [Matthew, pg. 17-18]

You demand to be free from the letter of the Scriptures, but actually what you think is freedom is bondage. How could there be any freedom when you are enslaved to your own will, enslaved to the opinions of men--poor, human, fallible creatures like yourself? No, the Lord Jesus taught that the only true freedom is under divine authority, the authority of God in Christ and in the divinely inspired Bible. - John R. Rice [Great Controversial Subjects Settled from the Bible, pg. 347]

Christ ate with publicans and sinners, but He never played with them. He never went into business with them. The only time that Jesus ever had fellowship with poor lost, wicked men was when He was earnestly trying to win and to bless them. Yes, we ought to love sinners, we ought to weep over them, pray for them, visit them, teach them, plead with them! But we ought not to call them our brethren, we ought not to bind ourselves with them in business or pleasure or marriage. - John R. Rice [Lot, pg. 15-16]

It is a sad thing, but here is a church. They say, "Here is a professor in a college nearby. (Oh, he has a Ph.D. degree. I can almost see that little crown of glory on his head, that halo.) Let him teach the Bible to us." He is an infidel if he hasn't been converted, if he doesn't believe the Bible, if he doesn't have Christ in his heart as his own Saviour. But you say, "He has been to college, then to the seminary, and has written books." Then all the more he is a wolf in sheep's clothing. And the fact he is in sheep's clothing ought to make you even more scared of him. You ought not to have him in your church, you are not to hear him speak, you are not to have him teach your class and God knows, you are not to have him in your pulpit. The Bible plainly says, "He that biddeth him God speed is partaker of his evil deeds." - John R. Rice

When we come to read or study the Bible then, we should be conscious of the Spirit's presence. We should always ask Him to teach us the Word of God. Many times when I write an article or preach a sermon, I earnestly pray for the Spirit to bring to my remembrance the Scriptures on the subject and to help me understand them. And strangely, often when I am in the pulpit, in the midst of a sermon, Scriptures come to mind that I did not think about when I prepared the sermon. And oftentimes after I have read the Scriptures in the pulpit, there comes to me such light on the Word of God as I did not have in the study and preparation. But that only happens, of course, as I am led by the Spirit of God and when I am surrendered to Him and have an open receptive heart. He is the Comforter, the Guide, and the Teacher of the Christian. - John R. Rice [Twelve Tremendous Themes, pg. 117]

Can you be a secret disciple? Yes, but it is a sorry business, a cowardly way. Joseph of Arimathea was a disciple of Jesus but secretly for fear of the Jews. What a sorry kind of Christian, a very unhappy kind of Christian. - John R. Rice [Great Controversial Subjects Settled from the Bible, pg. 72]

False teachers have written that they would hate a God who would send a sinner to Hell to be tormented forever. And others have said that God is too good to send a sinner to Hell. Well, we know nothing about how good God is except by the Bible. I had rather one line from Jesus Christ about what kind of Hell sinners go to than to have all the theories in the world formulated by men as to what they think God would do or would not do. - John R. Rice [Twelve Tremendous Themes, pg. 193]

FRIENDS OF FAITH 2

Amos 3:3             Can two walk together, except they be agreed?

 

Pastor Rick Jackson

 

I. FAITHFUL FRIENDS IN AN UNFAMILIAR PLACE [DANIEL 1-3]

 

1. Friends Willing to Stand with You  [Daniel 1:8-17]

 

2. Friends Willing to Pray with You  [Daniel 2:17-23, 48-49]

 

3. Friends Willing to Stand without You  [Daniel 3:12-18, 24-25]

 

II. FAITHFUL FRIENDS IN AN UNUSUAL PERFORMANCE [MARK 2]

 

You perhaps have heard the song “My Name is Lazarus” that suggests as an “illustration” that three of the men were all healed by Jesus [from blindness, a withered hand, and leprosy] but they all doubted if Jesus could heal their lame friend – but the fourth man, Lazarus, had no doubts because Jesus had brought him back from the dead. Well, the song isn’t scriptural in that [1] all these men had faith Christ could heal, and [2] this was early in Christ’s ministry whereas Lazarus was much later. A better song, by the same group is “He’d Still Been God” which reminds us that it’s not about what He did, it’s all about who He was/is.

Strangely enough I found this idea of who the men might be in a sermon by D.L. Moody [who died in 1899] in which he imagines the men to all having been healed by Jesus [blindness, lameness, leprosy and from being deaf/dumb]. In any case what we see from these faith-full friends [v. 5].

 

1. They Were Willing to Bear the Burden [v. 1-3]

 

2. They Were Willing to Bear the Cost [v. 4]

 

3. They Were Willing to Bear the Reproach [v. 4-12]

WHAT’CHA GOING TO DO BROTHER?

1 Kings 19

Pastor Rick Jackson

 

I. BE AN EXAMPLE [1 Timothy 4:12] Let no man despise thy youth; but be thou an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity.

 

1. Be an Example in Word and Lifestyle

 

2. Be an Example in Love and Attitude

 

3. Be an Example in Faith and Purity

 

II. BE AN EVANGELIST [2 Timothy 4:5] do the work of an evangelist

 

1. Speak [Acts 5:20] Go, stand and speak in the temple to the people all the words of this life.

 

2. Send [Acts 13:1-4] Now there were in the church that was at Antioch certain prophets and teachers; as Barnabas, and Simeon that was called Niger, and Lucius of Cyrene, and Manaen, which had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch, and Saul. As they ministered to the Lord, and fasted, the Holy Ghost said, Separate me Barnabas and Saul for the work whereunto I have called them. And when they had fasted and prayed, and laid their hands on them, they sent them away. So they, being sent forth by the Holy Ghost, departed unto Seleucia; and from thence they sailed to Cyprus.

3. Support [Philippians 4:14-16, 3 John 5-8]

-Notwithstanding ye have well done, that ye did communicate with my affliction. Now ye Philippians know also, that in the beginning of the gospel, when I departed from Macedonia, no church communicated with me as concerning giving and receiving, but ye only. For even in Thessalonica ye sent once and again unto my necessity.

- Beloved, thou doest faithfully whatsoever thou doest to the brethren, and to strangers; Which have borne witness of thy charity before the church: whom if thou bring forward on their journey after a godly sort, thou shalt do well: Because that for his name's sake they went forth, taking nothing of the Gentiles. We therefore ought to receive such, that we might be fellowhelpers to the truth.

 

III. BE AN ENCOURAGER

1. Encourage Yourself in the Lord [1 Samuel 30:6]

And David was greatly distressed; for the people spake of stoning him, because the soul of all the people was grieved, every man for his sons and for his daughters: but David encouraged himself in the Lord his God.

 

2. Encourage Yourselves in the Battle [Judges 20: 22, Hebrews 10:24-25]

-And the people the men of Israel encouraged themselves, and set their battle again in array in the place where they put themselves in array the first day.

- And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works: Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.

 

3. Encourage Others by Your Lifestyle [Acts 4: 36-37]

And Joses, who by the apostles was surnamed Barnabas, (which is, being interpreted, The son of consolation,) a Levite, and of the country of Cyprus, Having land, sold it, and brought the money, and laid it at the apostles' feet.

BITTER WATERS . . .

Pastor Rick Jackson

 

I. THE PICTURE OF CHANGE [EXODUS 15:22-27]

 

1. The Curse of Bitter Waters [v. 22-24]

 

2. The Cross of Divine Cleansing [v. 25, Gal. 3:13, Dt. 21:23]

- 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:

- His body shall not remain all night upon the tree, but thou shalt in any wise bury him that day; (for he that is hanged is accursed of God;) that thy land be not defiled, which the Lord thy God giveth thee for an inheritance.

 

3. The Challenge of the Holy Healer [v. 26-27, Jn. 5:14, 8:10-11]

- Afterward Jesus findeth him in the temple, and said unto him, Behold, thou art made whole: sin no more, lest a worse thing come unto thee.

- When Jesus had lifted up himself, and saw none but the woman, he said unto her, Woman, where are those thine accusers? hath no man condemned thee? She said, No man, Lord. And Jesus said unto her, Neither do I condemn thee: go, and sin no more.

II. THE PERSONS OF CHANGE [JOHN 7:37-39]

 

1. Come to the Saviour [v. 37]

 

2. Change From Within [v. 38]

 

3. Change of Ownership [v. 39, 1 Cor. 6:17-20]

But he that is joined unto the Lord is one spirit. Flee fornication. Every sin that a man doeth is without the body; but he that committeth fornication sinneth against his own body. What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's.

 

III. THE POSSIBILITIES OF CHANGE [JAMES 3:6-14]

 

1. The Untamable Can Now Be Tamed [v. 6-8]

 

2. The Unnatural Can Now Be Natural [v. 9-12]

 

3. The Evil Work Can Now Be Fruits of Righteousness [v. 13-18]

John R. Rice Quotes of the Week

Notice [in I Peter 1:10-12] these very prophets "who prophesied of the grace that should come unto you," inquired and searched diligently into their own prophecies, into the Scriptures they themselves had written, "searching what, or what manner of time the Spirit of Christ which was in them did signify, when it testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ, and the glory that should follow." These prophets search their own writings, earnestly desiring to find out what the Holy Spirit meant when He, the Holy Spirit, testified through their pen of the first and second coming of Christ and such matters written down in the Bible!

These human writers knew (vs. 12), had it revealed to them from God, that they were simply agents ministering to us and not unto themselves the things which the Holy Ghost gave them to write down. - John R. Rice [Twelve Tremendous Themes, pg. 21]

The words of the Bible are God's words. Those who believe the Bible must believe in verbal inspiration. The only intelligent alternative is complete repudiation of the Bible -- infidelity; and yet that, God knows, is not very intelligent. - John R. Rice [Twelve Tremendous Themes, pg. 29-30]

There may be some things about the Bible you cannot explain. But your ignorance is a sorry excuse for criticizing the blessed Word of God. Other men, more devout than you, more scholarly than you, older in experience than you, greater soul winners than you, have been able to believe in the Bible. Do not let your youth or your ignorance or your pride or your friendship for modernists and unbelievers lead you into the terrible sin of adding to or taking from the words of the Bible. - John R. Rice [Twelve Tremendous Themes, pg. 34]

It ought to check your smirky complacency, your smug self-righteousness, to know that God sees your heart and that though your life may be beautiful like a white-washed sepulchre, He knows that inwardly you are full of iniquity, like the rotting flesh and crawling maggots in the tomb.

Unless you have been born again, unless you have been cleansed in the blood, you are a poor, wicked, Hell-deserving sinner like Paul. God is not impressed with your outward morality and self-righteous boasting. You see, God knows your sinful heart! - John R. Rice [Soul-Saving Sermons for Sinners, pg. 134]

All reac

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There is no judgment between death and Heaven for a Christian. There is up in Heaven a judgment seat of Christ where Christians will be rewarded according to their works. It is true that rewards will be different for different Christians, depending on how each lived, but the salvation question and the getting-to-Heaven question is already settled forever. Paul cried in in Romans 8:34, "Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us." I thank God that one can know he is going to Heaven. - John R. Rice

I confess that I seek no friendship of hypocrites who pretend to love the Lord Jesus, pretend to be Christians, and then deny every fundamental of the Christian Faith, and stab Christ in the back and try to wreck the faith of the young and innocent and ignorant. I say frankly that I am trying to be true to Christ; I am not especially striving for what you call "human civility." If I talk as the Lord Jesus talked about His detractors and deniers, it will not appear polite. If I pronounce the anathema that Paul pronounced on those untrue to Christ, I will not appear civil. If I follow the plain instructions (inspired of God) of the beloved Apostle John, I will not please infidels in the church, who want the friendship and the money of honest Christians while they deny the deity of Jesus Christ. - John R. Rice [Great Controversial Subjects Settled from the Bible, pg. 339]

Let it be understood also that I do not believe God has ever had more than one plan of salvation nor that He will have any other. Unsaved Jews who died without Christ are lost without remedy, just as is every other person who has died without Christ. The plan of salvation to be offered Jews through the tribulation time and afterward will be exactly the same as offered Jews and Gentiles today. - John R. Rice [Matthew, pg. 13-14]

FRIENDS OF FAITH

 Amos 3:3       

Can two walk together, except they be agreed?

Pastor Rick Jackson

 

I. THE MINORITY REPORT [JOSHUA & CALEB]

 

1. They Were in the Minority But They Were Recognized

[Numbers 13:6-8, 13, 25-33]

 

2. They Were in the Minority But They Were Right

[Numbers 14:1-10]

 

3. They Were in the Minority But They Were Rewarded

[Numbers 14:22-30]

 

II. THE MOVERS & SHAKERS [DAVID & JONATHAN] 2 Timothy 4:7

I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith:

 

1. They Fought the Good Fight [1 Samuel 14:6-12, 17:26, 37, 45]

 

2. They Finished the Course

[1 Samuel 31:1-6, 1 Kings 2:1-4, 10-11]

 

3. They Kept the Faith [1 Samuel 23:16-17, 1 Kings 15:5]

- And Jonathan Saul's son arose, and went to David into the wood, and strengthened his hand in God. And he said unto him, Fear not: for the hand of Saul my father shall not find thee; and thou shalt be king over Israel, and I shall be next unto thee; and that also Saul my father knoweth.

-Because David did that which was right in the eyes of the Lord, and turned not aside from any thing that he commanded him all the days of his life, save only in the matter of Uriah the Hittite.

 

III. FRIENDLY FRIENDS [ANDREW & PHILIP] Proverbs 18:24

A man that hath friends must shew himself friendly: and there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother.

 

1. They Followed Jesus [John 1:35-37]

 

2. They Focused on Jesus [John 1:38-39]

 

3. They Found Others [John 1:40-49]

SEVEN IMPOSSIBLES TO MAKE ANOTHER IMPOSSIBLE POSSIBLE

Hebrews 6:17-20

Pastor Rick Jackson

 

There are two kinds of impossible things mentioned in the Bible. Firstly, things that are impossible for men, in and of themselves. It is impossible for men to go to Heaven. [Matthew 19:26] But Jesus beheld them, and said unto them, With men this is impossible; but with God all things are possible.

Then there is that that is truly impossible because of the character and person of God. Our text says, Wherein God, willing more abundantly to show unto the heirs of promise the immutability of his counsel, confirmed it by an oath: That by two immutable things, in which it was impossible for God to lie, we might have a strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold upon the hope set before us: Which hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and stedfast, and which entereth into that within the veil; Whither the forerunner is for us entered, even Jesus, made an high priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec.

For a saved person to lose his salvation is one of the truly impossible things. At least eight truly impossible things would have to occur for this other impossible thing to even have a chance of happening. So it is impossible. Totally, empirically, unequivocally impossible.

 

I. A PERSON WITH THE INDWELLING HOLY SPIRIT WOULD HAVE TO GO TO HELL [Eph. 1:13-14, 4:30]

- In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise, Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory.

- And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption.

 

II. GOD THE FATHER WOULD HAVE TO IGNORE THE PRAYER OF JESUS [Jn. 11:41-42, 17:11]

- Then they took away the stone from the place where the dead was laid. And Jesus lifted up his eyes, and said, Father, I thank thee that thou hast heard me. And I knew that thou hearest me always: but because of the people which stand by I said it, that they may believe that thou hast sent me.

- 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.

 

III. GOD’S WORD WOULD HAVE TO BE BROKEN [2 Tm. 1:12-13, John 10:35]

- 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. Hold fast the form of sound words, which thou hast heard of me, in faith and love which is in Christ Jesus.

-… the scripture cannot be broken;

 

IV. YOU WOULD HAVE TO BE UNBORN [Jn. 3:3, 5-6, 1 Peter 1:23]

Death and being unborn are not the same. Matthew 26:24 The Son of man goeth as it is written of him: but woe unto that man by whom the Son of man is betrayed! it had been good for that man if he had not been born.

- Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God. Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter the second time into his mother's womb, and be born? Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again.

-Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever.

 

V. EVERLASTING WOULD HAVE TO MEAN TEMPORARY [Jn. 3:16, 5:24]

-For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

-Verily, verily, I say unto you, [m] He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.

 

VI. GOD (FATHER, SON, AND HOLY SPIRIT) WOULD HAVE TO LOSE THEIR STRENGTH [1 Pt. 1:5, Jn. 10:28-30, 1 John 4:4]

-Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.

-And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father's hand. I and my Father are one

-Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world.

 

VII. GOD WOULD HAVE TO LIE [Heb. 6:17-18, Rm. 3:4, 10:8-13]

-Wherein God, willing more abundantly to show unto the heirs of promise the immutability of his counsel, confirmed it by an oath: That by two immutable things, in which it was impossible for God to lie, we might have a strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold upon the hope set before us:

-let God be true, but every man a liar;

-But what saith it? The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is, the word of faith, which we preach; That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed. For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him. For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.