Question of the Week: Do Skeptics Really Want Answers to Their Questions?

Maybe the Skeptics Just Aren't Listening The Answers in Genesis website contains literally hundreds of articles demonstrating operational science is consistent with the Bible. The blindness of the skeptic to the many evidences creationists have given them for years proves that the greatest need is for Christians to preach the gospel. How should a Christian respond to the "hardened" skeptic?   Learn More →   Get Equipped "Answering the Skeptics" Answers Mega Conference Register Now 〉

What Is Truth? It seems that truth has become a somewhat dirty word, or at least a corrupted one. In its place we are left with a whole lot of uncertainty. The Latest on "Little Foot's" Bid for Status as Humanity's Most Ancient Ancestor The date evolutionists report for Little Foot is old enough to keep it in the running for human ancestor, but there is no reason to consider the dates reliable. Is Evolution the Foundation of Biology? While well-intentioned, the argument that "evolution is just a theory" is one that we think creationists shouldn't use. What Do We Eat in the Jungle? In our jungle home, we do eat a lot of American foods, but we eat plenty of foods that others back in our home country, the United States, never eat.

Media Always Ready Ken Ham's Foundations

Events

Copyright (C) 2015 Answers In Genesis All rights reserved.

The information in this post was provided by the good folks at Answers In Genesis · 2800 Bullittsburg Church Rd. · Petersburg, KY 41080 · USA

Please visit our help area.

John R. Rice Quotes of the Week

A man came to Mr. D.L. Moody and said, "Mr. Moody, my boy is unsaved. I can't get him saved. I don't get my prayers answered. I wonder what is wrong?"
Mr. Moody said, "What kind of devilment have you been into?"
He said, "I don't know."
Moody said, "Well, if you don't know, guess at it." And Moody said he guessed it the first pop out of the box! - John R. Rice

You have the old carnal nature that you need to watch. Sometimes young people say, "Oh Brother Rice, my parents do not trust me." If you are wise, you will not trust yourself. - John R. Rice

Everyone who serves God chops with a borrowed axe. - John R. Rice

A Campbellite preacher said to me, "Brother Rice do you believe that when one gets saved, he is saved forever?"
I answered, "That depends. If the Lord does the saving, and if He gives me a new heart, and if He makes make a partaker of the Divine Spirit, and if my name is written down in Heaven, and if Jesus is already building a mansion for me, and if He promised everlasting life, and if He carried away my sins as far as the east is from the west and buried in the bottom of the sea and put behind God's back and He forgot all about them, never to remember them again- if He did all that, then I got it for good and forever!"
And that is what the Bible says He did.
This Campbellite man said, "Well, I do not believe that. If I did then I would go out and have my fill of sin."
I said, "If you have not already had your fill of sin, you do not know what I am talking about." - John R. Rice

You say, "Brother Rice, we'd better get people taught in the Word of God first, and Christians revived, then we can win souls." You would have the millennium if you ever got all that. - John R. Rice

And the morrow after they entered into Caesarea. And Cornelius waited for them, and had called together his kinsmen and near friends. Acts 10:24
His (Cornelius') kinsman and all his close friends were over at his house. That fellow not only wanted to get saved but he wanted his whole family saved. Then a wonderful thing happened. Now Peter wanted to preach a good sermon. He said, "These ignorant gentile heathens don't know anything. I am going to have to preach a good sermon to the whole bunch." But he made a mistake; he let the cat out of the bag and told the plan of salvation first, and that broke up the meeting! They all got saved! How do you know he intended to preach on it? Later reporting to the apostles down at Jerusalem, we learn why it was he got these Gentiles saved that he didn't mean to get saved: "And as I began to speak, the Holy Ghost fell on them" (Acts 11:15). That ruined the meeting. They all got saved, and he didn't get to preach that big sermon. - John R. Rice

And at midnight Paul and Silas sang praises to God. I don't know what they did before that. Dr. Roberson, do you reckon they complained a little before midnight? I doubt it. At midnight they were singing praises to God and prayed and the prisoners heard them, Someone else heard them too! Now this part you have to read between the lines. The angel Gabriel stood around the throne fidgeting. The Lord said, "What's the matter? You have ants in your pants?"
"No, but those good men are down there in that jail with their shirts torn off. And the jailers beat them up good. They haven't had any supper."
The Lord said, "Well Gabe, what do you want to do?"
"I want to go down there and get those preachers out of jail!"
So the Lord said, "O.K., but take it easy. Don't hurt anybody."
Now, if you don't think it happened that way, you tell me how it did happen! - John R. Rice

Poem of the Week

I Met the Master Face to Face

by Lorrie Cline

I had walked life's way with an easy tread,
Had followed where comforts and pleasures led,
Until one day in a quiet place,
I met the Master face to face.

With station and rank and wealth for my goal,
Much thought for my body but none for my soul,
I had entered to win in life's mad race,
When I met the Master face to face.

I had built my castles and built them high,
With their domes had pierced the blue of the sky,
I had sworn to rule with an iron mace,
When I met the Master face to face.

I met Him and knew Him and blushed to see,
That His eyes full of sorrow were fixed on me;
And I faltered and fell at His feet that day,
While my castles melted and vanished away.

Melted and vanished, and in their place,
Naught else did I see but the Master's face.
And I cried aloud, "Oh, make me meek,
To follow the steps of Thy wounded feet."

My thought is now for the souls of men,
I have lost my life to find it again,
E'er since one day in a quiet place,
I met the Master face to face.

HOW WILL YOU BE KNOWN? [Part 2]

I COR. 8:3

 

Pastor Rick Jackson

 

 

I. LET YOUR FAITH BE KNOWN AS A SHINING FAITH

 

1. Let It Shine For Christ [Mt. 5:13-16]

 

2. Let It Shine With kindness [Eph. 4:32]

 

3. Let It Shine With Consistency [1 Tm. 4:12-16]

 

II. LET YOUR FAITH BE KNOWN AS A SPEAKING FAITH

 

1. Let It Speak Through your Words [Colossians 4:6, Titus 2:8]

 

2. Let It Speak Through your Deeds [Col. 3:17, 1 Jn. 3:18]

 

3. Let It Speak Through your Life [Romans 6:4, Galatians 2:20, Philippians 1:20]

 

III. LET YOUR FAITH BE KNOWN AS A SHAPING FAITH

 

1. Let Your Faith Shape Your Vision [Pr. 29:18] your vision of the lost world, the great Commission, the coming Saviour

 

2. Let Your Faith Shape Your Separation [2 Cor. 6:14-18]

 

3. Let Your Faith Shape Your Giving [Phil. 4:10-20]

Quotes of the Week

My friend, if you have a Bible-teaching pastor, you ought to run over and put your arm around him. You ought to protect him, because he is valuable. Such men are few and far between. - J. Vernon McGee

Jer. 3:10 They were turning to God in a merely outward manner. They were going to the temple and were going through the rituals, but there heart was not in it at all. It was something Josiah was trying to produce. This reveals that there can be reformation without revival. Reformation without revival is never a genuine change. - J. Vernon McGee

These famous intellectuals who are not real believers are not capable of writing about the Word of God. They do not know God, and you must know Him in order to know His Book. It is interesting that you can read a human book and understand it without knowing the author of the book. A human book by a human author can be understood by another human being. But if you want to know the Bible, you need to know the Author and have Him as your Teacher. Only the Spirit of God can make the Word of God real to you. - J. Vernon McGee

If Jeremiah was faithful and obedient, if he spoke God's words with boldness and clarity, then it didn't matter if those words produced results. It did not matter if the people repented, if the nation came back to God or not. Results are God's department. Obedience was Jeremiah's department. As long as he kept in view the goal of obedience to God, he would be depression-proof. The same is true for you and me. - Ray C. Stedman

You may have God-given talents but have you given those talents to God? - Rick Jackson

You will never finish what God gave you to do unless you stay in the will of God, because God won't help you finish His will outside His will. You are going to have to get inside the will of God, which means inside the Word of God, and you're going to have to stay with the Bible. - Evangelist Lester Roloff

GOD LEAVES NO LOOSE ENDS [conclusion]

JEREMIAH 52

Pastor Rick Jackson

 

I. THE PATH TO JERUSALEM’S DEFEAT [v. 1-11]

 

1. Wrong Pattern in Zedekiah’s Life [v. 1-2]

 

2. Wrong Politics in Zedekiah’s Life [v. 3-6, Proverbs 14:34]

 

3. Wrong Priorities in Zedekiah’s Life [v. 7-11, 2 Corinthians 12:14, 1 Tm. 5:1-16]

 

II. THE PRELIMINARIES OF JERUSALEM’S DESTRUCTION [v. 12-23]

 

1. Burning & Breaking [v. 12-14]

 

2. Removing & Repurposing [v. 15-16]

 

3. Breaking & Taking [v. 17-23, 2 Peter 3:10-13]

 

III. THE PATTERN OF JERUSALEM’S DISPERSAL [v. 24-34]

 

1. Death [v. 24-27]

 

2. Deportation [v. 28-30]

 

3. Diet [v. 31-34]

HOW WILL YOU BE KNOWN?

                                                                                     I COR. 8:3, II COR. 3:3, PHIL. 4:5

 

Pastor Rick Jackson

 

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

 

I. YOU WILL BE KNOWN FOR YOUR TESTIMONY

 

1. You Will Be Known for Your Doings [Pr. 20:11, Isaiah 1:16, 3:8; Jeremiah 18:11, 21:14]

 

2. You Will Be Known for Your Sayings [Mt. 12:33-37, Colossians 4:6]

 

3. You Will Be Known for Your Moderation [Phil. 4:5, 1 Timothy 3:3 “patient”, Titus 3:2 “gentle”]

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

III. BE KNOWN FOR YOUR FAITH 1 Th. 1:1-10, Heb. 11]

 

1. Have Faith in God [Mk. 11:22, Heb. 11:6] His wisdom, His goodness, His working

 

2. Have Faith in Christ [Jn. 14:1, 2 Pet. 3:3-4] His Person, His Vicarious Death, His Resurrection, His Coming Again

 

3. Have Faith in God’s Word [Rm. 10:17, Is. 55:11] It’s Authorship, It’s Accuracy, It’s Accomplishments

Question of the Week - In Soul-winning, How Can you Always Qualify Your Prospect?

Always Qualify Your Prospect   One of the most sensitive areas of personal soul winning is qualifying the prospect.  That is, determining whether the person is saved or lost.  We refer to this in soul winning as "screening the prospect."   This is a most important step.  For if in dealing with someone you decide he is saved when he is lost, you have lost the opportunity to present Christ; and he remains in his sin with no Gospel presentation.  Oh, how many are presumed to be saved who are really lost!   I do not believe that they are trying to be deceitful or purposefully being dishonest.  Rather, many have a religious vocabulary.  They answer our questions just "good enough" for us to feel that they are saved.   How sad!  Many would come to Christ if only we had the wisdom to see that they are lost, then proceed to make a solid Gospel presentation.   In training in this area of soul winning, I instruct the soul winner to ask the question, "If you should die right now, are you absolutely sure that you would go to Heaven?"  Now, follow me closely.  Never become critical or argue with the response.  At this point you are only determining, Is this person saved or lost?   It is not best to try to teach one that he is trusting works at this point.  Remember, you are only determining, Is this person saved or lost?   For example, in response to your question, the person may say, "I hope so."   At this you would cordially smile and say something like this:  "Is that right?"  then proceed with your Gospel presentation.   Perhaps he says, "I've done the best I know how."   Then respond with, "I understand," then proceed with, "Could I take a moment to show you how you can know for sure?"   Then as you lead him down the Romans Road it becomes very clear that salvation is only in Christ.   If his first answer to your first question is not sufficient to give you a definite "yes" or "no" then you would ask additional questions until you have a clear understanding of his spiritual condition.   For example, he might respond, "I believe I would."   Then simply say, "That's great.  Tell me, when were you saved?"   At this point he might say, "I have always believed in Jesus and wanted to do my best."   Here you would consider him lost and proceed with the plan.   Recently, after bringing a message in a crusade, God blessed with numbers saved and many Christians taking steps of growth and dedication to God.  There was a spirit of conviction and brokenness.  At the close of the service a dear lady came and asked to speak with me.  We stepped out of the crowd, and she said, "Pray for me.  I really want to give God my all."   My first thought was to say, "God bless you." then to encourage her as a Christian.  Instead, I looked right at her and said, "It's wonderful that you want to live for God.  Tell me, are you absolutely sure that you have been saved?  I mean, if you should die today, are you sure you would go to Heaven?"  She began to weep and acknowledged she did not know for sure.  I had the privilege of sharing the Gospel and leading this dear lady to Christ.  The point: I could have assumed she was saved and just confused her more.  How sad this would have been!   I pray that these few simple suggestions will help you to always qualify your prospect.  Never presume about anyone's salvation.  Remember, their eternity is at stake!      If you would like to hear Witnessing helps please visit us at www.dwministries.org/audio

This message was provided by the highly recommended David Wood | davidwood@dwministries.org | David Wood Ministries | www.dwministries.org | PO Box 1490 | Panama City, FL 32402

   

John R. Rice Quotes of the Week

My brother Bill has a ranch, fifteen hundred acres, and a great youth work out there; but I have a little forty-acre farm where I can keep saddle horses and raise a beef every year. I have no time to farm. But one day I saddled my horse MacArthur, (His real name is General of the Armies Douglas MacArthur II or III. But I call him Mac, for short. He is a Tennessee Walker and rides like a rocking chair.) I saddled my horse, rode down to the pasture, and rode up to a fine polled, white-faced Hereford cow. And she was very gentle. We had handled her a good deal. So I rode up about ten feet from her and I talked to her. She didn't talk back but she listened very attentively. That is the difference between talking to a woman and talking to a cow! - John R. Rice

I believe that Jesus was not crucified on Friday, but on Wednesday. Preachers have usually accepted the Roman Catholic teaching that He was crucified on Friday and have never investigated what the Bible teaches on that subject. All Bible evidence proves that Jesus was crucified on Wednesday, buried that night, and arose from the dead some time Saturday night, before sunrise Sunday morning. Remember that the Jewish day began at sundown and the night was counted a part of the following day.
Matthew 12:40 plainly says that Jesus would be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth, or the grave, like Jonah was three days and three nights in the whale's belly. If Jesus were crucified Friday and raised Saturday night, or before sunrise Sunday morning, He would have been in the grave one day and part of two nights. Certainly that would not fulfill His plain promise.

Many people have supposed that John 19:31 was evidence that Jesus was crucified on Friday since the Jews wished to take His body down before the Sabbath. Notice, however, that "that Sabbath day was an high day." It was not an ordinary weekly Sabbath, but an annual Sabbath, the one mentioned in Exodus 12:16. It was a day of rest, the first of seven days of eating of unleavened bread, the day on which the Passover lamb was eaten.
So Jesus was crucified on Wednesday, was taken down from the cross before sunset Wednesday (John 19:31)... Jesus stayed in the grave fully seventy-two hours, three days and three nights, and arose then some time Saturday night, that is, part of Sunday, the first day of the week which began at sundown. - John R. Rice

I will tell you this secret: I do not mean it unkindly, but one reason some people do not like me is that I am so dogmatic. There are some things I just KNOW; some things I have proved. I am not guessing about them; I KNOW about them. Thank God, I know God answers prayer and takes care of His own. - John R. Rice

I will tell you what God wants you to do. God wants you to say, "Lord Jesus, I will not hide a thing from You. I am going to tell You everything I think and everything I want. If there is anything wrong with what I want, You fix my "wanter"; but I am going to take You into my confidence and take 'everything to God in prayer.' " The Bible says specifically again and again that you are to pray about "what things soever you desire." It says, "Delight thyself also in the Lord; and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart." - John R. Rice

You can be a Christian without being a very good one, but you cannot be a real good disciple unless you work at it and pay a price for it. - John R. Rice

Then what does prayerlessness prove about Christians? First, it shows you don't really believe the promises of the Bible. "Oh, Dr. Rice. I believe the Bible from cover to cover." I know, and you occasionally open the cover, don't you?  - John R. Rice

Then one day, David said, "I shall be satisfied, when I awake with thy likeness" (Ps. 17:15). I am looking for the time your president, Dr. Cummons*, says, "I declare, I didn't know that ugly, old John R. Rice looked so much like Jesus!" But we will awake in His likeness! This crooked nose that got broken playing college football will be straightened. And a lot of things about me more crooked than my nose are going to be straightened out! I will be like Jesus when I awake in His likeness. - John R. Rice

*Dr. Rice was speaking at Massillon Baptist College where Dr. Bruce Cummons was the president

HE’S UP!

Pastor Rick Jackson

 

I had heard of a church sign that was changed for Easter that said two words: “HE”S UP!” While I was waiting for the men’s prayer group I wrote that on a board in room. Then I started writing some random things about it. Then I realized the random things were not just random things but they had a Biblical basis. My friend’s… He’s up!

 

I. HE’S UP LITERALLY

 

1. Up on the Cross He Paid our Debt [John 3:13-16, 12:31-36]

 

2. Up From the Grave [Acts 2:24, 32; 10:40, 13:33]

 

3. Up from the Earth [Acts 1:1-11, 22]

 

II. HE’S HIGH AND LIFTED UP [Isaiah 6:1]

 

1. He’s Raised Up of God [Acts 3:22, 26; 5:30, 7:37,

 

2. He’s Up on His Father’s Throne [Mark 16:19, Acts 2:30

 

3. He’s Ascended Up to Heaven [John 3:11-13]

 

III. HE’S UP AND AT ‘EM [and I say this reverently]

 

1. He is the Lifter Up of my Head [Ps. 3:1-3ff.]

 

2. He is the Upper Taker [John 6:44, 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18]

 

3. He is Up Against His Enemies [Psalm 68:1 Let God arise, let his enemies be scattered: let them also that hate him flee before him.]