WELL KNOWN PRAYER “SECRETS”

Pastor Rick Jackson

 

I. PRAYER IS HARD WORK [Col. 4:2-3, 12]

 

Continue in prayer, and watch in the same with thanksgiving; Withal praying also for us, that God would open unto us a door of utterance, to speak the mystery of Christ, for which I am also in bonds:

Epaphras, who is one of you, a servant of Christ, saluteth you, always labouring fervently for you in prayers, that ye may stand perfect and complete in all the will of God.

 

1. A Work of Co-operation [2 Cor. 1:9-11]

 

But we had the sentence of death in ourselves, that we should not trust in ourselves , but in God which raiseth the dead: Who delivered us from so great a death, and doth deliver: in whom we trust that he will yet deliver us; Ye also helping together by prayer for us, that for the gift bestowed upon us by the means of many persons thanks may be given by many on our behalf.

 

2. A Work of Concentration [Lk. 11:1 shows it can be taught and thus learned]

 

And it came to pass, that, as he was praying in a certain place, when he ceased, one of his disciples said unto him, Lord, teach us to pray, as John also taught his disciples.

 

3. A Work of Patience [Dan. 10:1-14]

 

II. PRAYER IS HEART WORK

 

1. God's Heart Encourages Our Hearts [2 Sam. 7:27]

 

For thou, O LORD of hosts, God of Israel, hast revealed to thy servant, saying, I will build thee an house: therefore hath thy servant found in his heart to pray this prayer unto thee.

 

2. Sin Impedes the Process, Righteousness Propels It [Ps. 66:18, James 4:1-6]

 

If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear me:

From whence come wars and fightings among you? come they not hence, even of your lusts that war in your members? Ye lust, and have not: ye kill, and desire to have, and cannot obtain: ye fight and war, yet ye have not, because ye ask not. Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts. 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.

 

3. The Heart can be Trained [Ps. 37:4, Rm. 10:1]

 

Delight thyself also in the LORD; and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart.

Brethren, my heart's desire and prayer to God for Israel is, that they might be saved.

 

III. PRAYER IS HEARD WORK

 

1. We Can Have God's Merciful Attention [Ps. 66:16-20]

 

Come and hear, all ye that fear God, and I will declare what he hath done for my soul. I cried unto him with my mouth, and he was extolled with my tongue. If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear me: But verily God hath heard me; he hath attended to the voice of my prayer. Blessed be God, which hath not turned away my prayer, nor his mercy from me.

 

2. We Can Have God's Gracious Attention [Ps. 34:15, 1 Peter 3:12]

 

The eyes of the LORD [are] upon the righteous, and his ears [are open] unto their cry.

For the eyes of the Lord are over the righteous, and his ears are open unto their prayers: but the face of the Lord is against them that do evil.

 

3. We Can Have God's Great Answers [Jer. 33:3, Eph.3:20]

 

Call unto me, and I will answer thee, and shew thee great and mighty things, which thou knowest not.

Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us,

BUNCHES OF TIMES

JOHN 13:1-11

 

Pastor Rick Jackson

 

While visiting in Tn. many years ago, I asked a man who rarely attended church, “Have you ever trusted Christ, have you ever been saved?” He said, “Yeh, I been saved bunches of times!” You’d think he’d got it right one of those times.

A few years later I heard about a Sunday School teacher, soul-winning lady who worked at a Christian school getting saved - for the third time. In the same meeting another lady made her fourth profession of faith. I had heard her second or third testimony and it sure sounded like they understood that time.

Is this practice of making a new profession of salvation over and over right or wrong? What can be done about it? We will seek to clear up some misconceptions by rightly dividing the Word of Truth.

 

I. THE CARELESSNESS OF A WRONG EMPHASIS

 

1. Feelings over Facts & Faith [Ps. 51:1-12] Feel married during an argument?

 

2. Assuming Sin is Proof they are Lost when they are Backslidden [1 Jn. 1:6-10]

 

3. Continuing as Before their Profession [Eph 4:17ff] Baptism? Restitution? Changing?

 

II. THE CONFUSION OF WRONG EDUCATION

 

1. The Teaching that Salvation can be Lost [1 Pt. 1:3-5]

 

2. The Teaching that Saints can’t commit some Sins [2 Pet. 2:7-9]

 

3. The Teaching of Self-appointed Fruit Judges [Mt. 7:1]

 

“I know you can’t judge but you can examine their fruit and know…” In other words, “You can’t judge but you can judge” [Mt. 7:1 Rice note, v. 15-20=false teachers, v. 21-23=God has to judge concerning salvation. We can judge actions or teachings by the Bible but cannot see the heart]

 

III. THE CORRECTION OF RIGHTLY DIVIDING [2 Tm. 2:15]

 

1. We are Encouraged to be Sure “We” are Saved [2 Cor. 13:5]

 

Did I trust Christ? Who do I doubt? – only 2 possibilities.

 

2. We are Discouraged from Judging Others Salvation except as it differs from the Gospel

 

[1 Sam. 16:7, Mt. 7:1, Rm. 1:16]

 

3. We are Encouraged as Christians to confess & forsake sin to keep fellowship open while realizing the relationship cannot be broken [1 Jn. 1:9, Jn. 6:37-40, 13:1-11]

WHAT IS THAT?

LUKE 18

 

Pastor Rick Jackson

 

I. THAT WHICH GOD HONORS [v. 1-17]

 

1. God Honors Prayer [v. 1-8]

 

2. God Honors Humility [v. 9-14]

 

3. God Honors Childlike Faith [v. 15-17]

 

II. THAT WHICH CHRIST TEACHES [v. 18-30]

 

1. The Proper Use of Language [v. 18-19]

 

2. The Proper Use of Law [v. 20-22]

 

3. The Proper Use of Life [v. 23-30]

 

III. THAT WHICH BLINDS [v. 31-43]

 

1. Stubbornness [v. 31-34]

 

2. Silence [v. 35-39, James 4:2]

 

Ye lust, and have not: ye kill, and desire to have, and cannot obtain: ye fight and war, yet ye have not, because ye ask not.

 

3. Self (unbelief) [v. 40-43, Matthew 13:58] And he did not many mighty works there because of their unbelief.

JOHN R. RICE QUOTES OF THE WEEK

   You must see that every word in the Bible points to Jesus. You must love Him and trust Him. Do you want to be righteous? Then Jesus keeps the law for you, and He will help you to be righteous. He will put His righteousness within your heart. Trust Him, the perfect One, to meet God's requirements and fulfill the law, for Christ is the answer to the Mosaic law, and "Christ is the end of the law for ...righteousness to every one that believeth." When Jesus said on the cross, "It is finished!" He meant that now you need not circumcise any more boys; that points to circumcision of heart, the new birth. Now you need not offer any more animal sacrifices; the one Sacrifice has now been offered. Now you need not a priesthood anymore, for Jesus Christ, our High Priest, is forever interceding for those who trust Him. - John R. Rice

You know we used to talk about a God-fearing man. And "The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom" (Ps. 111:10). Well, it is not a bad thing to be afraid of God. Oh, to be afraid we will displease Him, to be afraid of His wrath, yes, and to be afraid of His shame, if we do wrong! There must ever be a holy fear mixed with the Christian's joy. So then, "Serve the Lord with fear, and rejoice with trembling." Oh, that men would tremble before the Lord, and rejoice in His blessing. - John R. Rice

"My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?" Do you know the answer to that question? I am the answer to it and so are you. Why was He forsaken? In order that I might not be forsaken. - John R. Rice

  Here are two things about God. Don't ever say about Jesus, that He loves but never hates. Don't ever say He rewards righteousness unless you say He punishes sin. "Thou lovest righteousness, and hatest wickedness: therefore God, thy God, hath anointed thee with the oil of gladness above they fellows." If the rest of us were like Jesus, if always we loved righteousness and always hated sin, if always we took sides for the right and against the wrong, then the Lord would give us such power and blessing, too. - John R. Rice

Notice this: "the oil of gladness." The anointing of the Holy Spirit when Jesus came the first time was not at once, not immediately, and not to make Him happy and glad. The anointing in the New Testament brought tears and a burden for a lost world. It brought trouble to Paul - jail and beating and shipwreck and slander. And with us it will mean persecution. The Lord Jesus never won a soul until H...e was filled with the Spirit after His baptism in the River Jordan. We read this in Luke, chapter 3. I say until that time Jesus had never worked a miracle, had never preached a sermon, had never won a soul. And He began, oh, with heartbreak and tears for a dying world. And not with the oil of gladness. It is the oil of the Holy Spirit power. - John R. Rice

I was having a book published by Moody Press some years ago, The Soul-Winner's Fire. Good Dr. Norman said, Brother Rice, we don't put a capital H in heaven."

I said, "Do you spell Chicago with a capital C?"

"Yes."

"Do you spell New York with a capital N.Y.?"

"Yes."

"Do you spell Dallas with a capital D?"

"Yes."

"Well, let's spell Heaven with a capital H. It is a real place."

And so it was done! - John R. Rice

 It isn't what church; it is what Saviour. It is not what doctrine, it is what Saviour. And in John 1:11 and 12 we read, "He came unto his own, and his own received him not. But as many as received him, to them gave he power...." Those who received Jesus. Received whom? The preacher? No, Jesus. Received what church? No, not a church - Jesus. What doctrine? Not a doctrine - Jesus.

You say, "How did they feel?" I don't know. They received Jesus. Never mind about the feeling.

One who has Jesus has salvation. - John R. Rice

THE IMMINENT RETURN OF JESUS CHRIST

1 Th. 4:13-18

 

Pastor Rick Jackson

 

Recently, on a Facebook page I manage with over 2800 followers, I posted this quote:

 

“Christ's coming is imminent. That means Jesus may come at any moment. That means there is no other prophesied event which must occur before Christ's coming. Nothing else needs to happen before Jesus may come. No signs need to precede it. Jesus may come today. He could come at any time since Pentecost. It is a glad event hanging over us for which we should expectantly await. The coming of Christ is imminent.” - John R. Rice

 

Someone commented on the quote by saying, “This is partially false. Their (sic) is prophesy (sic) that has not taken place yet.” There is prophecy that has not taken place yet but NOT in relation to the Rapture. The commentator is wrong, Dr. Rice is right. Let me read Dr. Rice’s quote again. [see above] Biblical, solid, sensible, reasonable, rational and 100% true.

 

I. WE ARE COMMANDED TO WATCH ALWAYS FOR CHRIST’S IMMINENT COMING

 

1. The Definite Commands of Jesus [Mt. 24:42-44, 25:1-13,  Mk. 13:33-37]

 

2. Scripture Commands Us to Look for Christ Not Signs [1 Th. 4:13-18]

 

Phil. 3:20-21 For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ: Who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body, according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself.

1 Th. 1:9-10 For they themselves shew of us what manner of entering in we had unto you, and how ye turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God; And to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, even Jesus, which delivered us from the wrath to come.

1 Tm. 6:14 That thou keep this commandment without spot, unrebukeable, until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ:

Titus 2:11-13  For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly , righteously, and godly, in this present world; Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ;

 

3. Paul’s Expectation [1 Cor. 15: 51-54. 1 Th. 4:16-17]

 

II. NO ONE KNOWS, OR CAN KNOW, WHEN CHRIST WILL RETURN

 

1. Jesus said No One, even He on earth, Knew the Time of His Coming [Mt. 24:36, 43-44, Mk. 13:32-33]

 

2. The Risen Saviour Warned the Apostles [Acts 1:4-7]

 

3. The Secret Things belong Unto God [Deuteronomy 29:29]

 

The secret things belong unto the LORD our God: but those things which are revealed belong unto us and to our children for ever, that we may do all the words of this law.

 

III. SIGNS OF CHRIST’S COMING ARE NOT FOR THE RAPTURE BUT FOR THE TOUCH-DOWN COMING

 

We must rightly divide the Word of Truth. Think about it, once the Rapture hits the clock starts ticking again.

 

1. The 70th Week of Daniel [Dan. 9:24-27]

 

2. The Tribulation and the Touchdown Coming [Mt. 24:29-30]

 

3. Signs of the Whole Age [Mt. 24:3-7] note the end of verse 6

WHAT ABOUT THE STORM?

MATTHEW 14:22-34

 

Adapted from Evangelist Fred Brown by Pastor Rick Jackson

 

I. THE SAVIOUR

 

1. Jesus Sent Them Into the Storm [v. 22]

 

Did He know there would be a storm? Yes. Then why did He send them into it? God tests His people. He does not tempt them but He tests them. We find out two things in testing- (1) our weakness (2) His power.

 

2 Corinthians 12:9 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.

 

Jesus sent them into the storm but where did He go? Up on the mountain. What did He do there?

 

2. Jesus Prayed for Them In the Storm [v. 23]       Why?

 

3. Jesus Saw Them in the Storm [v. 24, Mark 6:47-48]

 

And when even was come, the ship was in the midst of the sea, and he alone on the land. And he saw them toiling in rowing; for the wind was contrary unto them...

Does God know everything that would befall us in life when I get saved? Every heartbreak, every tear, every sorrow?

What did He do? He ascended up on high. What's He doing? Praying. For who? Us.

No storm can overthrow you while He prays for you and you are NEVER out of His sight!

 

II. THE STORM

 

1. Their Position [v. 24a]

 

"In the midst" It is 7 miles across and they are smack in the middle after all their toil. They are the furthest they have been from land all night.

 

2. Their Predicament [v. 24b-25a]

 

They were tired, troubled and in the darkest part of the night- right before dawn.

 

3. Their Perception [v. 25b-27]

 

Somewhat confused weren't they? Think about it- what was troubling them? The sea.

What did Jesus come to them on? The sea.

He came to them on their trouble. If they didn't have any trouble they would not have seen Him. Our troubles give us the opportunity to see God.

 

III. THE SAINT

 

1. He Tried [v. 28]

 

Peter did what no one else even thought of. Can you imagine Thomas' reaction- "You'll never make it. Sit down and quit making a fool of yourself"

 

2. He Cried [v. 29-30]

 

We do Peter a disservice by picturing him neck deep in the water. The Bible clearly says "Beginning to sink". He felt it and he responded. He was very aware of beginning to sink. How do we know when you are beginning to sink? We are beginning to sink when we don't pray every day. When we don't open this blessed Book every day. When we don't witness when the Lord gives us opportunity. When we don't give to His work.

By the way- what kind of prayer is a good prayer?

When it's the right length? -some people pray around the world when it's time to eat. "Much speaking"

When it has the right content? - what should Peter have added? what could he have left out?

When it comes from the heart? - you probably won't find a more sincere prayer than Pete's

 

3. He Relied [v. 28, 30, 31-33]

 

You'll never know what you can do with the Lord/for the Lord until you try. Peter is the only man to ever walk on water. Don't you imagine the other disciples wondered for the rest of their lives if they could have done it? Don't you imagine they wish they had taken that opportunity? We can do anything the Lord tells us to do- step out on faith and do it!

HATING EVERY FALSE WAY

PSALM 119:97-104

 

Pastor Rick Jackson

 

If we are going to love Christ, we must hate the Devil. If we are to love Truth we must hate lies. If we are to love righteousness, we must hate unrighteousness. There is no such thing, as some people believe, “good God and good Devil.” The Bible says we are to “hate every false way.”

 

I. THE PATH TO HOLY HATRED

 

1. Love the Word of God [v. 97, 103-104]

 

2. Meditate on the Word of God [v. 97, 99]

 

3. Keep the Word [v. 100-101]

 

II. THE PERSON TO TOTALLY TRUST

 

1. God Has Given His Word [v. 97-104]

 

2. God Teaches Through His Word [v. 102]

 

3. God Gives Understanding of and by His Word [v. 104]

 

III. THE POTENTIAL TO ACTUALLY ACHIEVE

 

1. Be Wiser than your Enemies [v. 98]

 

2. Be More Intelligent than your Teachers [v. 99]

 

3. Be More Perceptive than the Ancient [v. 100]

JOHN R. RICE QUOTES OF THE WEEK

 So in Psalm 37:4 the Lord says, "Delight thyself also in the LORD; and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart." Whatever your heart desires.

Mark 11:24, "Therefore I say unto you, What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them."

Again John 15:7, "If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you."

Oh, ask what you will. I know we should come to God with the heart attitude, "Lord, if this is wrong, You show me and I will change my prayer." I know we ought to come and say, "Lord, I am not trying to go against You, but I want this."

I have a little trade with God- I am going to tell Him whatever I want and I am going to tell him, "Lord, this is what I want, and I think it is all right, but if it is wrong, You fix my 'wanter,' and I will want the right thing." You see, I ought to ask for whatever I want from God. So should you. We are God's dear children and He is our dear Father. But we ought to come with a loving heart, willing to have whatever he gives. - John R. Rice

God promises everlasting life to the believer, and that everlasting life is a PRESENT POSSESSION of the believer. John 3:36 says: "He that believeth on the Son HATH EVERLASTING LIFE." In modern English it simply says: "He that believes [or trusts] on the Son HAS EVERLASTING LIFE." That is literally what the Bible says. I have trusted Him, so I HAVE IT. THANK GOD, I HAVE EVERLASTING LIFE! The Scripture does not say that the believer WILL HAVE everlasting life, but says the believer HAS IT NOW.

The same thing is repeated again and again in the Bible. - John R. Rice

Many Christians think this blessed teaching is too good to be true and some call it a dangerous doctrine to say a saved man cannot be lost. But one is never on dangerous ground when he takes the promises of God.

What, then, is the basis for this great salvation? It is all in the merits of Christ. - John R. Rice

Many people suppose that Jesus did set up His kingdom when He was here on earth, that is, the prophesied restoration of the kingdom of David. They ignore some Scriptures and explain away others in trying to prove their point. Such people say that the promises in the Old Testament given to Jerusalem, Zion and Israel, must not be taken literally. They make all these promises refer to "the church." But that is a very great mistake. Mount Zion is the hill upon which Jerusalem is built. Zion, Jerusalem, and Israel never mean the church. The promised kingdom is not the church. Do not explain away the Bible, take it at face value. God's word says what it means and means what it says! And it plainly says that Christ will have a kingdom on this earth. That kingdom has not yet been set up. - John R. Rice

Something good is ahead. Something good is going to happen in 1979: God's daily care for His people; God saving those who come repenting and trusting in Him for salvation; God answering prayer for those who tell Him their needs. Yes, good things are ahead. I do not face the future with any sorrow or trouble of heart. Although I do not know the future, I know Him who holds and controls the future. - John R. Rice

The miracles of God are beyond your human comprehension. There are lots of things you don't understand. I don't understand how the three Hebrew children walked in the fiery furnace in the days of Nebuchadnezzar and came out alive, without even the smell of smoke on their garments. But that is in the realm of the miraculous and the eternal. Where you and I do not know enough to speak, we take what God says. - John R. Rice

Christ's coming is imminent. That means Jesus may come at any moment. That means there is no other prophesied event which must occur before Christ's coming. Nothing else needs to happen before Jesus may come. No signs need to precede it. Jesus may come today. He could come at any time since Pentecost. It is a glad event hanging over us for which we should expectantly await. The coming of Christ is imminent. - John R. Rice

John R. Rice Quotes of the Week

 Psalm 119:63 says, "I am a companion of all them that fear thee, and of them that keep thy precepts." Let us analyze that. Let us say that I am a companion of all those who are saved and those who go by the Bible. God and the Bible. Let's put it a little further- Christ and the Bible. "I am a companion of all them that fear thee, and of them that keep thy precepts."

That verse is very sweet to me ...because on the authority of that verse I decided not to be just a Baptist evangelist, though I am a Baptist, but to be an evangelist to all God's people. I determined I would say what John Wesley said, "The world is my parish," and that I would be for the man who is for Christ and the Bible. So I work with all people of God who are born-again and live like it and believe the Bible and who are willing to work with other Christians.
"I am a companion of all them that fear thee, and of them that keep thy precepts." - John R. Rice

 

I am told that not long ago a man on the streetcar rose and offered his seat to a woman, and she was so surprised she fainted! When she recovered consciousness she said, "Thank you!" and then he fainted! I say, the honor, the deference, the courtesy, the protectiveness that practically all men, good and bad, once offered to good women, has almost disappeared. - John R. Rice

 

I do not think it is always God's will to heal the sick. Sometimes a Christian ought to die and go to Heaven. I know sins sometime bring trouble on us and we need to wait on God till we get things right, in order to be healed. And sometimes God wants people to be willing to suffer, to be poor, to be weak, to have sorrow for Jesus instead of having perfect healing now. But one of these days when the trumpet sounds and the rapture comes, then, thank God, all our sores will be healed! The limps will be gone! Our gray hair, decayed teeth will be no more. And the inside wickedness and shame and heartbreak that comes from our failures will be perfectly healed one day. But we can have daily healing now in many, many things. So Christians ought to pray.
James 5:13-15 says, "Is any among you afflicted? Let him pray....Is any sick among you? let him call for the elders of the church; and let them pray over him anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord: And the prayer of faith shall save the sick." If God gives the faith, God will give the healing. If it is not God's will to heal, God will not give the faith. - John R. Rice

What else then? Make it a life of trust and peace. Take every burden to the Lord. Has somebody wronged you? Forget it. Don't hold a grudge but forgive it and be happy.

Let's make this a time of winning souls. I would set out to seek the will of God and win souls this year. Oh, may God give you a good year with Christmas all the year. - John R. Rice [Christmas Now and All the Year, pg. 24]

Happiness is not something found as you seek for happiness. As Dr. Bob Jones, Sr., used to say, "Happiness is something you stumble over in the road of duty." You do right and God will make you happy. You be a blessing to others, and you will be happy also.

- John R. Rice [Christmas Now and All the Year, pg. 23-24]

In Springfield, Missouri, a young college girl came to me after I had preached on "Put Christ First in Everything," letting Him have the say, letting Him run the whole business. She said, "I will do that for everything but one thing. I want to select the man I marry myself."

I said, "You will make a mistake if you do--if you don't let Jesus help you and bring that thing right out so you are marrying in the will of God."

But she said, "I would like to have my own way about that."

She went away weeping, but later came back to say, "Yes, that is right. I am going to let Jesus have the first place in everything."

So why don't you claim that, "Seek ye first the kingdom of God and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you"? And you can have every need supplied all the time. - John R. Rice [Christmas Now and All the Year, pg. 23-24]

Christian, why don't you make this a year of going to God and getting what you need and being happy? I would put Him first in the giving business. Remember in Matthew 6:33 He has just said not to worry about your food. He said, '. . .take no thought for tomorrow, what you shall wear.' He said, 'The birds of the air are cared for. Your Heavenly Father feeds them.' He said, 'Solomon in all his glory wasn't dressed up like a wild flower that God gas cared for. And aren't you worth more than flowers and worth more than birds?'

So He said in Matthew 6:33, "But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you."

Why don't you this year put Jesus first? Can you say, "I am going to put Him first so I won't be covetous. What money I have belongs to Him. What I possess, God possesses or any talent or gift or friend or loved one--whatever. I am going to let Jesus be in charge"? - John R. Rice [Christmas Now and All the Year, pg. 23]

HEBREWS LETTUCE

HEBREWS 6:1

 

Pastor Rick Jackson

 

Have you ever heard of romaine lettuce? Iceberg lettuce? Boston lettuce. Looseleaf, butterhead, crisphead and other various types. How about Hebrews lettuce? Hebrews lettuce? Never heard of it. What? It is mentioned numerous times in the book of Hebrews. How have you not heard of it?

 

I. DON'T STAGNATE

 

Salvation is not just the end of the old life, it is the beginning of the new life. We should not be satisfied with just being saved, as wonderful as that is. God has more in mind for us. Otherwise, the Saviour might just as well take us Home immediately after our trusting Him.

 

1. Let Us Study [Heb. 6:1-3, 2 Tm. 2:15]

 

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

 

2. Let Us Submit [Heb. 10:22, James 4:7] Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.

 

3. Let Us Stand [Heb. 10:23, 1 Corinthians 16:13] Watch ye, stand fast in the faith, quit you like men, be strong.

 

2 Corinthians 1:24 Not for that we have dominion over your faith, but are helpers of your joy: for by faith ye stand.

Galatians 5:1 Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage.

Ephesians 6:11 Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.

 

II. DON'T BE SELFISH

 

1. Let Us Consider Others [Heb. 10:24-25, Phil. 2:1-5]

 

If there be therefore any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any bowels and mercies, Fulfil ye my joy, that ye be likeminded , having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind. Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves. Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others. Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:

 

2. Let Us Consider Self [Heb. 12:1]

 

3. Let Us Consider God [Heb. 12:28-29, Col. 3:17]

 

And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him.

 

III. DON'T STOP [Heb. 13:1-12]

 

1. Let Us Live for Him [Heb. 13:13]

 

2. Let Us Look for Him [Heb. 13:14, 12:2-4]

 

3. Let Us Love Him [Heb. 13:15-16, John 14:15] If ye love me, keep my commandments

THE WITNESS GOD DESIRES in 2022

ACTS 1:8, 5:17-18

 

Pastor Rick Jackson

 

I. GOD DESIRES A CONSISTENT WITNESS

 

1. Must Have a Consistent Message [v. 17-20, Rm. 1:16]

 

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.

 

2. Must Have a Consistent Method [v. 18-21, 25] “Speak”  Lifestyle evangelism is only valid as the life backs up the lips

 

3. Must Have a Consistent Ministry [Mt. 28:18-20 no quitters in this group, no retirement from the will of God]

 

And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. 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.

 

II. GOD DESIRES A COURAGEOUS WITNESS

 

1. Has a Courage made of Conviction [v. 19-20, 29] God Had Spoken!

 

2. Has a Courage Rooted in Consecration [v. 29]

 

3. Has a Courage Based on Cooperation [v. 32]

 

III. GOD DESIRES A CHRIST CENTERED WITNESS

 

1. Has a Message of Death [v. 30, 28]

 

2. Has a Message of Life [v. 20, 31, Rm. 1:1-4, 4:25]

 

Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, separated unto the gospel of God, (Which he had promised afore by his prophets in the holy scriptures,) Concerning his Son Jesus Christ our Lord, which was made of the seed of David according to the flesh; And declared to be the Son of God with power, according to the spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead:

Who was delivered for our offences, and was raised again for our justification.

 

3. Has a Message of Opportunity [v. 31-33]

JOHN R. RICE QUOTES OF THE WEEK

 Let your heart be revived at Christmastime.

It is hard to have a great revival in your church at Christmas, because people are thinking about something else. But it is not hard to have revival in your heart.

I was a boy about 15 [1910]. Christmastime came in the ranch country in West Texas. All the rest of the family went to Decatur, Texas, to Grandpa Bella's (my stepmother's father). I was left alone. Someone had to feed the horses, milk the cows and take care of the little stock farm and the ranch while the others were gone. So I was left alone for a whole week. I got to reading the Bible. I found out what is true in Jeremiah 15:16, "Thy words were found, and I did eat them; and thy word was unto me the joy and rejoicing of mine heart." Oh, I learned to enjoy the Bible. How sweet and good it was!

At Christmastime, why don't you have a little time of spiritual revival, a little extra time to pray, a little extra time to sing the choruses and happy anthems of Christmastime-"Joy to the World," etc.? You can have a wonderful time of blessing at Christmas. Have a revival in your heart. - John R. Rice {Christmas and Jesus, pg. 8]

We have eternal salvation. You remember that "God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life." Oh, you didn't get life for a day, or for a week. You didn't get salvation until you do wrong, or if you hold out. You got everlasting life when you got Jesus. - John R. Rice [Christmas Now and All the Year, pg. 21]

You got everlasting life when you got Jesus.

You mean the next day a fellow is just as much saved? Yes, sir. Whether he works like he ought to? Well, you don't have to put a "whether" about that, for every person who hears me today is falling short of the perfect will of God. You needn't tell me you are sinless and blameless. You needn't tell me you are as good as Jesus Christ. You needn't tell me that you never omitted one single thing you ought to do nor ever crossed over the line in the thing you ought not to say or didn't say. I am just saying that everybody who hears me has failed, and if God doesn't have salvation for sinners that keeps them, we would sure be a ruined bunch, all going to Hell. But it is everlasting life that God gives freely. Everlasting life. - John R. Rice [Christmas Now and All the Year, pg. 21]

In I Corinthians 6:19, 20 we read, "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." My body is a temple of God, not because I am worthy; not because I hold out faithful; I didn't start faithful. There has never been anything good about me that could earn salvation nor pay back God for the awful cost of the death of His Son on the cross. No, I got salvation free because Jesus loved me and died for me and offered it free, and I accepted it. - John R. Rice [Christmas Now and All the Year, pg. 21-22]

Thank God for everlasting life! So I can say like Paul said in II Timothy 1:12, "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."

If I had a lot of money (I don't have) and if I had a lock box at a bank (I don't have), and I would go and deposit $50,000 in bonds in that locked box, they would keep it safe for me. But I have a locked box in Heaven and the Lord Jesus Christ has my eternal welfare in His hands, my High Priest, and He can be perfectly trusted "to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day," the Scripture said.

He didn't say, "I AM committing." He said, I HAVE committed." Paul didn't say, "I WILL BE believing." He said, "I have believed." And so have I, and I have salvation. - John R. Rice [Christmas Now and All the Year, pg. 22]

I read again this morning where the Scripture said, ". . .we have now received the atonement." I have already received it. My sins are already paid for.

Somebody says, "You might sin again." Yes, not only might, I have. I am so sorry. But then, do you think the Lord Jesus is going to come back and die again to pay for my sins? No, He did it all by one offering forever. No, thank God. I have eternal salvation and "am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord." I have everlasting life. That would be just as much Christmas in the middle of the year as December 25. - John R. Rice [Christmas Now and All the Year, pg. 22]

I have not only eternal salvation, but I have peace with God. "Oh, the peace the Saviour gives! Peace I never knew before." You can trust Jesus. He said, "My peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid." Jesus said in John 14:2, "In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you." He said, "Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid." I have peace with God. - John R. Rice [Christmas Now and All the Year, pg. 22]

Christian, why don't you make this a year of going to God and getting what you need and being happy? I would put Him first in the giving business. Remember in Matthew 6:33 He has just said not to worry about your food. He said, '. . .take no thought for tomorrow, what you shall wear.' He said, 'The birds of the air are cared for. Your Heavenly Father feeds them.' He said, 'Solomon in all his glory wasn't dressed up like a wild flower that God gas cared for. And aren't you worth more than flowers and worth more than birds?'

So He said in Matthew 6:33, "But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you."

Why don't you this year put Jesus first? Can you say, "I am going to put Him first so I won't be covetous. What money I have belongs to Him. What I possess, God possesses or any talent or gift or friend or loved one--whatever. I am going to let Jesus be in charge"? - John R. Rice [Christmas Now and All the Year, pg. 23]

THE NEW YEAR APPROACHES, ARE YOU PREPARED?

LUKE 16

 

Pastor Rick Jackson

 

I. ARE YOU PREPARED TO INVEST WISELY? [v. 1-13]

 

1. Invest in Your Future [v. 1-8]

 

2. Invest in Eternity [v. 9]

 

3. Invest in God’s Will [v. 10-13]

 

II. ARE YOU PREPARED TO BE REVEALED? [v. 14-18]

 

1. God Reveals your Heart [v. 14-15]

 

2. God Revealed His Word [v. 16-17]

 

3. God Reveals His Will [v. 18]

 

III. ARE YOU PREPARED TO BE DEAD? [v. 19-31]

 

1. Death Comes to All [v. 19-23]

 

2. The Destination is Final [v. 24-26]

 

3. Death Does Not Change Your Mind [v. 27-31]

BETTER LATE THAN NEVER

MATTHEW 2:1-16

 

Pastor Rick Jackson

 

As far as being in time for the first Christmas the wise men were about 2 years late. But that didn’t let it stop them and it shouldn’t stop you. You can, like them, be a wise man by being better late than never. How?

 

I. Study the Scriptures [2:1-2, Daniel 9:25]

 

Know therefore and understand, that from the going forth of the commandment to restore and to build Jerusalem unto the Messiah the Prince shall be seven weeks, and threescore and two weeks: the street shall be built again, and the wall, even in troublous times.

Genesis 49:10 The sceptre shall not depart from Judah, nor a lawgiver from between his feet, until Shiloh come; and unto him shall the gathering of the people be.

Numbers 24:17 I shall see him, but not now: I shall behold him, but not nigh: there shall come a Star out of Jacob, and a Sceptre shall rise out of Israel, and shall smite the corners of Moab, and destroy all the children of Sheth .

 

II. Give Time to your Soul’s Welfare [2:2, Lk. 12:16-21]

 

And he spake a parable unto them, saying, The ground of a certain rich man brought forth plentifully: And he thought within himself, saying, What shall I do, because I have no room where to bestow my fruits? And he said, This will I do: I will pull down my barns, and build greater; and there will I bestow all my fruits and my goods. And I will say to my soul, Soul, thou hast much goods laid up for many years; take thine ease, eat, drink, and be merry. But God said unto him, Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee: then whose shall those things be, which thou hast provided? So is he that layeth up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God.

 

III. Follow the Light that God Gives You [2:2]

 

Jn. 1:9 That was the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world.

John 3:19 And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.

 

IV. Seek More Light [2:2, 7-9]

 

Rm. 1:21-22 Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened. Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools,

 

V. Rejoice in God’s Leading [2:10, Romans 2:4]

 

Or despisest thou the riches of his goodness and forbearance and longsuffering; not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance?

 

VI. Recognize & Receive Christ [2:11]

 

Gold for the King who must be served, Frankincense for God Who deserves prayer & praise, Myrrh for the Saviour who pays for sin with His own life, Worship of God in the flesh.

1 Timothy 2:5 For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus;

 

VII. Obey God Rather than Man [2:8, 12, 16]

 

Saul of Tarsus came late but he came. Here’s what he said in 1 Cor. 15:1-10;

 

Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand; By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain. 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; of whom the greater part remain unto this present, but some are fallen asleep. After that, he was seen of James; then of all the apostles. And last of all he was seen of me also, as of one born out of due time. For I am the least of the apostles, that am not meet to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God. But by the grace of God I am what I am: and his grace which was bestowed upon me was not in vain; but I laboured more abundantly than they all: yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me.

HE CAME FROM HEAVEN

Pastor Rick Jackson

 

JOHN 3:11-18

 

Verily, verily, I say unto thee, We speak that we do know, and testify that we have seen; and ye receive not our witness. If I have told you earthly things, and ye believe not, how shall ye believe, if I tell you of heavenly things? And no man hath ascended up to heaven, but he that came down from heaven, even the Son of man which is in heaven. And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up: That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life. 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. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.

 

I. JESUS CAME TO REVEAL THE FATHER [Jn. 14:7-11, 10:30]

 

If ye had known me , ye should have known my Father also: and from henceforth ye know him, and have seen him. Philip saith unto him, Lord, shew us the Father, and it sufficeth us. Jesus saith unto him, Have I been so long time with you, and yet hast thou not known me, Philip? he that hath seen me hath seen the Father; and how sayest thou then, shew us the Father? Believest thou not that I am in the Father, and the Father in me? the words that I speak unto you I speak not of myself: but the Father that dwelleth in me, he doeth the works. Believe me that I am in the Father, and the Father in me: or else believe me for the very works sake.

I and my Father are one.

 

1. God’s Love [Jn. 3:16] 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.

 

2. God’s Interest [1 Peter 5:7 Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you]

 

Ps. 8:4 What is man, that thou art mindful of him? and the son of man, that thou visitest him?

 

3. God’s Purpose [1 Tm. 2:3-4] For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour; Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth.

 

II. JESUS CAME TO REVEAL HEAVEN [Jn. 14:1-3]

 

1. Where Saints Live Forever [Jn. 10:28] And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.

 

2. Where Saints Understand [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.

 

3. Where Saints Dwell Joyfully [Rev. 21:4] And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.

 

III. JESUS CAME TO REDEEM MANKIND

 

1. He Knew the Condition of Man [Lk. 19:10] For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost.

 

2. He Knew the Cost of Redemption [Galatians 3:13]

 

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:

1 Peter 1:18 Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers;

Revelation 5:9 And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation;

 

3. He Knew the Call of Salvation [Rom. 10:9-13] 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.

JOHN R. RICE QUOTES OF THE WEEK

 Man isn't saved by man living. Man is saved by Christ dying! -John R. Rice

Wouldn't it be a pity for you to go through Christmas and still be unsaved? You are in God's world which He made and you don't love Him.

You will celebrate Christmas but the Christ of Christmas Himself you will ignore or reject and go your wicked way without Him. What sin! What folly! What tragedy! Why don't you this Christmas love Jesus Christ? This Christmas have peace in your heart. This Christmas trust Jesus. Give Him your heart, your life, your soul. Trust Him today. - John R. Rice [Christmas Now and All the Year, pg. 19]

"And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord." -Luke 2:10, 11

A Saviour! Not just salvation, but the Saviour Himself! Jesus is a Saviour, and Christmastime is having Jesus, and you can have Jesus all the year. And all the blessings He gives are so much better than any incidental blessings that accompany Christmas. - John R. Rice [Christmas Now and All the Year, pg. 19]

I remember one time I sent as a present a good book to a pastor who had wanted me for a revival. I could not find time to go, but I sent him with love a new book autographed and said, "I want you to have this new book as a token of my affection."

He sent it back, saying, "I don't want your old book. You wouldn't come to my church for revival, so I don't want your old book." He sent it back. That doesn't mean that I didn't love him and didn't give it. It meant he wouldn't receive it.

God gives salvation to everybody. And if one won't receive it, it is still the gift of God. And as far as His love and provision and atonement are concerned, He is the Saviour for the whole world. "And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for our's only, but also for the sins of the whole world." - John R. Rice [Christmas Now and All the Year, pg. 20]

Remember in Matthew 28:19, 20 Jesus gave the Great Commission and then said, "And, lo, I am with you alway , even unto the end of the world." Oh, Christ is always with us. And Hebrews 13:5, 6 says, "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. So that we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me." Not the "Lord WAS my helper" when I got saved; He "IS my helper" and He has said, "I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee." That means Christmas all the year and all the years-plural-down on until we get to Heaven.

We can rejoice in that kind of salvation can't we? - John R. Rice [Christmas Now and All the Year, pg. 21]

It is good to remember the birth of Christ. Of course, the main thing to remember is that Jesus Christ must be first with Christians. So I would much rather tell little children that Jesus was born; tell that wonderful story of shepherds on the hillside and the angels coming to announce the birth; tell about Mary and how glad when the angel came and said, "Mary, you are going to have a Son. At long last God is sending the Saviour and you are to have a Son born without a human father." That is a much more wonderful story than Santa. - John R. Rice [Christmas Now and All the Year, pg. 9]

Let your heart be revived at Christmastime.

It is hard to have a great revival in your church at Christmas, because people are thinking about something else. But it is not hard to have revival in your heart.

I was a boy about 15 [1910]. Christmastime came in the ranch country in West Texas. All the rest of the family went to Decatur, Texas, to Grandpa Bella's (my stepmother's father). I was left alone. Someone had to feed the horses, milk the cows and take care of the little stock farm and the ranch while the others were gone. So I was left alone for a whole week. I got to reading the Bible. I found out what is true in Jeremiah 15:16, "Thy words were found, and I did eat them; and thy word was unto me the joy and rejoicing of mine heart." Oh, I learned to enjoy the Bible. How sweet and good it was!

At Christmastime, why don't you have a little time of spiritual revival, a little extra time to pray, a little extra time to sing the choruses and happy anthems of Christmastime-"Joy to the World," etc.? You can have a wonderful time of blessing at Christmas. Have a revival in your heart. - John R. Rice {Christmas and Jesus, pg. 8]