A.C. Gaebelein noticed a unique sign in a clothes dyeing establishment which read:
PHILIPPIANS 1:4, 3:1, 4:4
Pastor Rick Jackson
A rejoicing Christian is a good testimony. A rejoicing
Christian is sometimes a rare commodity. A rejoicing Christian is a Bible
Christian. A rejoicing Christian is a less likely to get into sin. A rejoicing
Christian is more likely to give God the glory. A rejoicing Christian is a
person who enjoys life. A rejoicing Christian appreciates the blessings of God.
A rejoicing Christian realizes God allows certain things in our lives for our
good even when they may not be pleasant. Be a rejoicing Christian!
I. WHAT ARE SOME BARRIERS TO BEING A REJOICING CHRISTIAN?
Not hardships, suffering, separation from loved ones or
imminent death. No the barriers to rejoicing are:
1. A Self-serving Attitude [1:12-18, 2:2-4, 21]
2. An Argumentative Ungracious Attitude [4:2-6]
3. A Carnal Sinful Lifestyle [3:2-3, 18]
II. WHAT IS THE BASIS OF BEING A REJOICING CHRISTIAN?
1. A Saving Relationship with Jesus Christ [1:1-6]
2. A Walking Relationship with Jesus Christ [1:5-6, 10-11,
19-21, 29] “And He walks with me…”
3. A Working relationship with Jesus Christ [1:22, 27;
2:12-13, 30]
III. WHAT IS THE BENEFIT OF BEING A REJOICING CHRISTIAN?
1. Rejoicing is Good for Us Personally [4:7-13, Pr. 17:22]
A merry heart doeth good like a medicine: but a broken
spirit drieth the bones.
2. Rejoicing is Good for Others [1:3-4, 25-26]
3. Rejoicing Glorifies God [1:9-11, 2:11, 4:20]
LUKE 9:20-27
Pastor Rick
Jackson
I. LET’S
TALK
1. A
Prophecy Fulfilled [v. 27-32]
2. An
Ignorance Revealed [v. 33-34]
3. A
Relationship Reinforced [v. 35-36]
II. LET’S
TEACH
1. Folks in
Heaven are Known [v. 30, 33, 1 Cor. 13:12]
For now we
see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but
then shall I know even as also I am known.
2. Folks in
Heaven are Knowing [v. 31, 10:20-24, 16:30, 1 Pt. 1:10-11]
Of which
salvation the prophets have inquired and searched diligently, who prophesied of
the grace that should come unto you: 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.
3. Folks in
Heaven are Not Asleep (though their bodies may be) [v. 30-32, Dt. 34:5-6, Jude
1:9]
-The real
Moses & Elijah were not in the grave though Moses’ body was at that moment!
- So Moses
the servant of the LORD died there in the land of Moab, according to the word
of the LORD. And he buried him in a valley in the land of Moab, over against
Bethpeor: but no man knoweth of his sepulchre unto this day.
-Yet Michael
the archangel, when contending with the devil he disputed about the body of
Moses, durst not bring against him a railing accusation, but said, The Lord
rebuke thee.
III.
LET’S THINK
1. Moses and
Elijah are Representative of Saved in Heaven Not the Grave [2 Cor. 4:1-8]
For we know
that if our earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved, we have a building
of God, an house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. For in this we
groan, earnestly desiring to be clothed upon with our house which is from
heaven: If so be that being clothed we shall not be found naked. For we that
are in this tabernacle do groan, being burdened: not for that we would be
unclothed, but clothed upon, that mortality might be swallowed up of life. Now
he that hath wrought us for the selfsame thing is God, who also hath given unto
us the earnest of the Spirit. Therefore we are always confident, knowing that,
whilst we are at home in the body, we are absent from the Lord: (For we walk by
faith, not by sight:) We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent
from the body, and to be present with the Lord.
2. Moses and
Elijah are Representative of the Dead and the Raptured [Josh. 1:1-2, 2 Ki. 2:11]
- Now after
the death of Moses the servant of the LORD it came to pass, that the LORD spake
unto Joshua the son of Nun, Moses minister, saying, Moses my servant is dead;
now therefore arise, go over this Jordan, thou, and all this people, unto the
land which I do give to them, even to the children of Israel.
- And it
came to pass, as they still went on, and talked, that, behold, there appeared a
chariot of fire, and horses of fire, and parted them both asunder; and Elijah
went up by a whirlwind into heaven.
3. Moses and
Elijah Representative the Law and the Prophets [Luke 24:44]
-And he said
unto them, These are the words which I spake unto you, while I was yet with
you, that all things must be fulfilled, which were written in the law of Moses,
and in the prophets, and in the psalms, concerning me.
John 1:45 Philip findeth Nathanael, and saith
unto him, We have found him, of whom Moses in the law, and the prophets, did
write, Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.
Acts
13:15 And after the
reading of the law and the prophets the rulers of the synagogue sent unto them,
saying, Ye men and brethren, if ye have any word of exhortation for the people,
say on.
Acts
24:14 But this I
confess unto thee, that after the way which they call heresy, so worship I the
God of my fathers, believing all things which are written in the law and in the
prophets:
Acts
28:23 And when they
had appointed him a day, there came many to him into his lodging; to whom he
expounded and testified the kingdom of God, persuading them concerning Jesus,
both out of the law of Moses, and out of the prophets, from morning till
evening.
Romans
3:21 But now the
righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law
and the prophets;
LUKE 9:20-27
Pastor Rick
Jackson
I. MOSES THE MOUNTAIN MAN
[Sinai, Pisgah, Transfiguration]
1. His
Previous Concern [Dt. 3:23-27]
And I
besought the LORD at that time, saying, O Lord GOD, thou hast begun to shew thy
servant thy greatness, and thy mighty hand: for what God is there in heaven or
in earth, that can do according to thy works, and according to thy might? I
pray thee, let me go over, and see the good land that is beyond Jordan, that
goodly mountain, and Lebanon. But the LORD was wroth with me for your sakes,
and would not hear me: and the LORD said unto me, Let it suffice thee; speak no
more unto me of this matter. Get thee up into the top of Pisgah, and lift up
thine eyes westward, and northward, and southward, and eastward, and behold it
with thine eyes: for thou shalt not go over this Jordan.
2. His
Present Concern [Lk. 9:30-31] Christ’s Purpose
3. His Proper
Concern [Lk. 9:30-31] Christ’s Person
II. PETER
THE MAN IN NEED
1. The Need
of Prayer [27-32, 1 Pt. 4:7]
But the end
of all things is at hand: be ye therefore sober, and watch unto prayer.
2. The Need
of Perspective [v. 32-35, 2 Pt. 1:14-18]
Knowing that
shortly I must put off this my tabernacle, even as our Lord Jesus Christ hath
shewed me. Moreover I will endeavour that ye may be able after my decease to
have these things always in remembrance. For we have not followed cunningly
devised fables, when we made known unto you the power and coming of our Lord
Jesus Christ, but were eyewitnesses of his majesty. For he received from God
the Father honour and glory, when there came such a voice to him from the
excellent glory, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. And this
voice which came from heaven we heard, when we were with him in the holy mount.
3. The Need
of Patience [v. 36, 1 Pt. 5:6-11]
-Humble
yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due
time: Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you. Be sober, be
vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about,
seeking whom he may devour: Whom resist stedfast in the faith, knowing that the
same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world. But
the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ
Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish,
strengthen, settle you. To him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.
III. CHRIST
THE MAN OF GLORY
1. The Glory
of His Birth [Lk. 2:9, 14, 32]
-And, lo,
the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round
about them: and they were sore afraid .
-Glory to
God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.
- A light to
lighten the Gentiles, and the glory of thy people Israel.
2. The Glory
of His Person [Lk. 9:28-32]
3. The Glory
of His Uniqueness [Jn. 1:10-14]
JUDE 12-25
Pastor Rick
Jackson
I. SINNERS
& SAINTS MEET THE JUDGE [v. 12-18]
1. The Judgment
is Determined [v. 12-13]
2. The Judge
is Coming [v. 14]
3. The
Judgment is Irrefutable, Intrinsic, and Inescapable [v. 15-18]
II. SINNERS
& SAINTS MEET THE SPIRIT [v. 19-23]
1. Those Judged
Have Not the Spirit [v. 19, Rm. 8:8-9]
So then they
that are in the flesh cannot please God. But ye are not in the flesh, but in
the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have
not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.
2. Those Not
in this Judgment Have the Spirit, the Saviour & the Father [v. 20-21, Rm.
8:10-11]
And if
Christ be in you, the body is dead because of sin; but the Spirit is life
because of righteousness. But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from
the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also
quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you.
3. Those Not
in this Judgment Have a Mission [v. 22-23]
III. SINNERS
& SAINTS MEET THE SAVIOUR [v. 24-25]
1. He Does
the Keeping [v. 24, Jn. 17:11, 2 Tm. 1:12, 1 Pt. 1:3-5]
- 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.
-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.
- 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, To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that
fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you, Who are kept by the power of God
through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.
2. He
Presents Saints Faultless [v. 24, Eph. 5:27, Col. 1:22]
-That he
might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or
any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.
-In the body
of his flesh through death, to present you holy and unblameable and
unreproveable in his sight:
3. He Gets
the Glory [v. 25]
LUKE 7:11-18
Pastor Rick
Jackson
I. THE
DISCERNMENT OF JOHN THE BAPTIST [LUKE 7:18-20]
1. He Knew
the Problem of Misguided Hero Worship
[Lk. 7:18-20,
Mt. 9:14-15, Jn. 3:22-30]
Then came to
him the disciples of John, saying, Why do we and the Pharisees fast oft, but
thy disciples fast not? And Jesus said unto them, Can the children of the
bridechamber mourn, as long as the bridegroom is with them? but the days will
come, when the bridegroom shall be taken from them, and then shall they fast.
2. He Knew
the Prophecy of Messiah’s Human Witness [Jn. 1:14-23]
3. He Knew
the Path to Messianic Holy Worship
[Jn.
1:24-34]
II. THE
DISCERNMENT OF WITNESSING THE WORD [Jn. 1:1-14]
1. The
Witness of His Works [Lk. 7:21]
2. The
Witness of His Way [Lk. 7:22]
3. The
Witness of His Works [Lk. 7:23, Psalm 34:8]
O taste and
see that the LORD is good: blessed is the man that trusteth in him.
III. THE
DISCERNMENT OF JESUS THE CHRIST
[Lk. 7:24-30]
1. He Knew
John’s Stand [Lk. 7:24, Jn. 3:30-36]
2. He Knew
John’s Stedfastness [Lk. 7:25-27, Jn. 3:30]
3. He Knew
John’s Stature [Lk. 7:28-30]
In summary:
John realized some of his disciples saw him rather than Jesus, so he sent them
to Jesus to see for themselves. Jesus understood what John was doing and made
sure they learned the lesson John sent them to learn. John didn’t have doubts
about Jesus and Jesus didn’t have doubts about John.
MATTHEW 20:20-28
Pastor Rick
Jackson [idea by Norris Belcher]
I. THE
EMPHASIS OF CHRIST [Mt. 20:17-19]
1. God’s
Plan for Mankind [v. 17-18, Acts 2:23]
Him, being
delivered by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God, ye have taken,
and by wicked hands have crucified and slain:
2. God’s
Payment for Man’s Sin [v. 19, Acts 2:23-24]
Him, being
delivered by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God, ye have taken,
and by wicked hands have crucified and slain: Whom God hath raised up, having
loosed the pains of death: because it was not possible that he should be holden
of it.
3. God’s
Power for Man’s Salvation [v. 19, Rm. 1:16, 1 Cor. 15]
For I am not
ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to
every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.
II. THE
EMPHASIS OF MAN [Mt. 20:20-28]
1. Position
[v. 20-21]
But wait, “Somebody’s
got to get the donkey!”
2.
Perception [v. 22, 26:56]
Then all the
disciples forsook him, and fled.
3. Potential
[v. 23-28]
III. THE
EMPHASIS OF GOD’S SERVANT [Mt. 21:1-11]
1. Listen
[v. 1-5, 20:25-28]
2. Obey [v.
6, Luke 6:46]
And why call
ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say?
Because
“Somebody’s got to get the donkey!”
3. Give God
the Glory [v. 7-11]
IF YOU’RE CERTAIN
JUDE 4-10
Pastor Rick Jackson
I. CERTAIN MEN [v. 4]
1. Creeps [v. 4, Gal. 2:4, 2 Tm. 3:5-6]
- And that because of false brethren unawares brought in,
who came in privily to spy out our liberty which we have in Christ Jesus, that
they might bring us into bondage:
-Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof:
from such turn away. For of this sort are they which creep into houses, and
lead captive silly women laden with sins, led away with divers lusts,
2. Condemned [v. 4, 2 Pt 2:1-3]
But there were false prophets also among the people, even as
there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable
heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves
swift destruction. And many shall follow their pernicious ways; by reason of
whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of. And through covetousness shall
they with feigned words make merchandise of you: whose judgment now of a long
time lingereth not, and their damnation slumbereth not.
3. Corrupt [v. 4, Gal. 1:6, 2 Pt. 2:1, 1 Jn. 2:22-23]
- I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called
you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel:
-But there were false prophets also among the people, even
as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable
heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves
swift destruction.
-Who is a liar but he that denieth that Jesus is the Christ?
He is antichrist, that denieth the Father and the Son. Whosoever denieth the
Son, the same hath not the Father: (but) he that acknowledgeth the Son hath the
Father also.
II. CERTAIN CONDEMNATION [v. 5-7]
1. Unbelieving men [v. 5, Heb. 3:18 & 11:31]
- And to whom sware he that they should not enter into his
rest, but to them that believed not?
-By faith the harlot Rahab perished not with them that
believed not, when she had received the spies with peace.
2. Unfaithful Angels [v. 6, 2 Pt. 2:4,
1 Cor. 6:3]
-For if God spared not the angels that sinned, but cast them
down to hell, and delivered them into chains of darkness, to be reserved unto
judgment;
-Know ye not that we shall judge angels? how much more
things that pertain to this life?
3. Unnatural Uses [v. 7, Rm. 1:24-28]
- Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the
lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves:
Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature
more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen. For this cause God gave
them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use
into that which is against nature: And likewise also the men, leaving the
natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another ; men with
men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompense
of their error which was meet. And even as they did not like to retain God in
their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things
which are not convenient;
III. CERTAIN SINS [v. 8-10]
1. Defile the Flesh [v. 8, 2 Pt. 2:10, 18]
-And many shall follow their pernicious ways; by reason of
whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of.
-For when they speak great swelling words of vanity, they
allure through the lusts of the flesh, through much wantonness, those that were
clean escaped from them who live in error.
2. Despise Dominion [v. 8, 2 Pt. 2:10, Ps. 2:1-3]
-But chiefly them that walk after the flesh in the lust of
uncleanness, and despise government. Presumptuous are they, selfwilled, they
are not afraid to speak evil of dignities.
-Why do the heathen rage, and the people imagine a vain
thing? The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel
together, against the LORD, and against his anointed, saying, Let us break
their bands asunder, and cast away their cords from us.
3. Defame Dignities [v. 8-10, 2 Pt. 2:2, 10, 12]
-And many shall follow their pernicious ways; by reason of
whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of.
-But chiefly them that walk after the flesh in the lust of
uncleanness, and despise government. Presumptuous are they, selfwilled, they
are not afraid to speak evil of dignities.
-But these, as natural brute beasts, made to be taken and
destroyed, speak evil of the things that they understand not; and shall utterly
perish in their own corruption;
WHAT IS
EXPECTED OF US
1 COR.
15:57-58
Pastor Rick
Jackson
I. BE
MOTIVATED
1. Be
Thankful [v. 57, Ps. 100:4, Col. 3:15]
-Enter into
his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto
him, and bless his name.
- And let
the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one
body; and be ye thankful.
2. Be Steady
[v. 58, Col. 1:23]
-If ye
continue in the faith grounded and settled, and be not moved away from the hope
of the gospel, which ye have heard, and which was preached to every creature
which is under heaven; whereof I Paul am made a minister;
3. Be
Abounding in the Work [v. 58]
II. BE
FAITHFUL [1 Cor. 4:2]
1. Be
Generous with God’s Bounty [16:1-4]
2. Be Open
to God’s Will [16:5-9]
3. Be
Supportive of God’s Men [16:10-12]
III. BE
REAL
1. Be Strong
[v. 13]
2. Be Right
[v. 14]
3. Be
Addicted [v. 15-18]
1 COR. 15:51-58
Pastor Rick
Jackson
I. THE MYSTERY
UNVEILED
1. Not All
Christians Will Die [v. 1-2, 51, 1 Th. 4:15-17]
For this we
say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto
the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep. For the Lord
himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the
archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:
Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the
clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.
2. All
Christians Will Be Changed [v. 51, 1 John 3:2]
Beloved, now
are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we
know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as
he is.
3. The
Change Will Be Quick [v. 52] moment=atomos, unlike false purgatory
II. THE
VICTORY UNVEILED
1. Corruptible
Becomes Incorruptible [v. 52-54]
2. Mortal
Becomes Immortal [v. 53-54]
3. Death Is Swallowed
in Victory [v. 54, Mt. 23:24, 2 Cor. 5:4, Heb. 11:29, 1 Pt. 5:8]
-Ye blind
guides, which strain at a gnat, and swallow a camel.
- For we
that are in this tabernacle do groan, being burdened: not for that we would be
unclothed, but clothed upon, that mortality might be swallowed up of life.
- By faith
they passed through the Red sea as by dry land: which the Egyptians assaying to
do were drowned.
- Be sober,
be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh
about, seeking whom he may devour:
III. THE
STING REMOVED
1. Death’s
Sting & the Grave’s Victory are Missing [v. 55]
2.
Separation is Defeated by Unification [v. 56, 1 Th. 4:17, Job. 19:25-27]
- Then we
which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds,
to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.
- 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: Whom I shall see for myself, and mine eyes shall behold, and not
another; though my reins be consumed within me.
3. Christ
Took the Sting & Secured the Victory [v. 57]
-it’s Given
by God [Eph. 2:8-9]
-In Christ [Romans
6:9] Christ removed the stinger
Knowing that
Christ being raised from the dead dieth no more; death hath no more dominion
over him.
by the late evangelist, Robert L. Sumner [from the book "Hebrews- Streams of Living Waters"]
