Pastor Rick Jackson
I. I FAIL TO SEE...
"I fail to see what that has to do with anything" is a phrase we use when we don't quite connect the dots someone has laid out before us. If they have a point and help us to "see" it then we go beyond seeing and observe the truth they proclaim. When it comes to Jesus many think they know him, when in actuality, they don't know Him.
1. THEY DON'T SEE HIS RELATIONSHIP TO THE FATHER AS AN EQUAL [6:41-46]
2. THEY DON'T SEE THEIR RELATIONSHIP TO THE FATHER IS EQUAL TO THEIR RELATIONSHIP WITH HIM [6:47-65]
3. THEY DON'T SEE THEIR RELATIONSHIP TO THE WORLD IS EQUAL TO THEIR LACK OF SEEING HIM CLEARLY [6:66-7:9]
II. I WANT TO SEE!
When you are a child and you hear people talking about something fabulous you naturally want to see it. I remember years ago when I was ill and my fist motorcycle was delivered to our home. Naturally my brother Bruce, a gifted mechanic, wanted to check it out. I saw him ride by the window. My sister rode by the window later. Then I heard laughing and screaming and I so wanted to see (bad enough I was too ill to ride) what caused the uproar. I later learned my mother had taken a ride! I missed it!
1. JESUS SEES US CLEARLY [7:19-21]
2. WE NEED TO SEE HIS WORD CLEARLY [7:22-24]
2 Timothy 2:15 Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.
3. TO SEE HIM CLEARLY WE NEED THE EYEGLASSES OF FAITH [7:33-39]
III. I SEE YOU!
Remember "Peekabo, I see you!"? What don't always see what we think we see. Years ago I decided to play a trick on my sister. She was taking a shower in the master bathroom. I saw that the bed in the master bedroom had not been made. I fixed the pillows under the covers and then got under the bed. She came out and said, "I see you under the covers" and when she moved closer to yank the covers off I reached out and grabbed her ankle. She did not see what she thought she saw.
Read John 8:1-10. Note:
1. JESUS SEES US AS AN INDIVIDUAL [v. 10]
2. SEE THAT JESUS IS NO ORDINARY MAN [v. 10b-11]
3. FOLLOWING JESUS PROVIDES LIGHT TO SEE CLEARLY [v. 11b-12]
Wednesday, April 30, 2008
Tuesday, April 29, 2008
PEOPLE ARE FUNNY
Several years ago while in special service I heard a preacher say he knew a man that when asked, "How are you?" always replied, "Better than I deserve!" The more I thought about it the more I liked it! So, unless I just forget, "Better than I deserve!" has become my standard answer to the question, "How are you doing?"
I was in a doctor's office some months back and was asked by someone I know, "How are you doing?" I really didn't think they wanted a litany of my infirmities so I gave the most honest answer there is to that question... you guessed it... "Better than I deserve." Later this person was criticizing me behind my back to other mutual acquaintances for my "stupid" answer. They should know better. If I had said "Fine" no doubt they would have been happy with my answer even though it would have been dishonest on so many levels. Most Christians I know "get it" when they hear this response. They realize that apart from the grace of God we all deserve to be in Hell right now but by God's grace those who have received (Jn. 1:12) the Lord Jesus Christ are not only not there now, but they are not going there... ever!
Some people who take exception to the comment at least have the intestinal fortitude to comment to my face and more than once this has opened up the opportunity to share Christ with them. Christians should know better. People are funny.
I was in a doctor's office some months back and was asked by someone I know, "How are you doing?" I really didn't think they wanted a litany of my infirmities so I gave the most honest answer there is to that question... you guessed it... "Better than I deserve." Later this person was criticizing me behind my back to other mutual acquaintances for my "stupid" answer. They should know better. If I had said "Fine" no doubt they would have been happy with my answer even though it would have been dishonest on so many levels. Most Christians I know "get it" when they hear this response. They realize that apart from the grace of God we all deserve to be in Hell right now but by God's grace those who have received (Jn. 1:12) the Lord Jesus Christ are not only not there now, but they are not going there... ever!
Some people who take exception to the comment at least have the intestinal fortitude to comment to my face and more than once this has opened up the opportunity to share Christ with them. Christians should know better. People are funny.
Make It as Sure as You Can
"Pilate said unto them, Ye have a watch: go your way, make it as sure as ye can. So they went, and made the sepulchre sure, sealing the stone, and setting a watch." (Matthew 27:65, 66)
Pilate had endured many strange experiences leading up to the crucifixion of Christ. Both he and some close to him (v. 19) had wanted to release Him, finding no fault in Him (v. 23). But, for political expediency, willing to pacify the Jewish leaders and quell a potential riot, Pilate had agreed to the execution. But once Christ was dead and in the grave, Pilate's troubles did not end.
Perhaps we are justified in reading a tone of sarcasm and impatience in Pilate's words. "Make it as sure as you can." What is there to fear from a dead man? Guard the tomb if you want. But just perhaps Pilate was hounded by unexplained doubts; maybe a guard could prevent the bizarre fears from becoming reality.
From our perspective, however, we can see divine irony in these words. Satan had seemingly won a great victory on the cross, for the Heir had been slain. Thus, the one act which he had to prevent was that of the actual resurrection, for all of Christ's message depended on His victory over death.
Note the limitation in the words "as sure as you can." How tightly sealed and well-guarded must a tomb be to contain the Creator of all things? If His purpose was to die and rise from the dead, would man's or Satan's efforts be able to thwart it? "As sure as you can" was surely not sure enough!
Today we know that the tomb's sealed entrance was breached, not so much to allow Him out, but to allow us to see inside. Satan's henchmen still deny the resurrection, but their efforts are just as futile as those who tried to keep Him inside. The fact remains, He left the tomb, triumphantly offering eternal life to all who believe! JDM
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INSTITUTE FOR CREATION RESEARCH www.icr.org
April 29, 2008
Pilate had endured many strange experiences leading up to the crucifixion of Christ. Both he and some close to him (v. 19) had wanted to release Him, finding no fault in Him (v. 23). But, for political expediency, willing to pacify the Jewish leaders and quell a potential riot, Pilate had agreed to the execution. But once Christ was dead and in the grave, Pilate's troubles did not end.
Perhaps we are justified in reading a tone of sarcasm and impatience in Pilate's words. "Make it as sure as you can." What is there to fear from a dead man? Guard the tomb if you want. But just perhaps Pilate was hounded by unexplained doubts; maybe a guard could prevent the bizarre fears from becoming reality.
From our perspective, however, we can see divine irony in these words. Satan had seemingly won a great victory on the cross, for the Heir had been slain. Thus, the one act which he had to prevent was that of the actual resurrection, for all of Christ's message depended on His victory over death.
Note the limitation in the words "as sure as you can." How tightly sealed and well-guarded must a tomb be to contain the Creator of all things? If His purpose was to die and rise from the dead, would man's or Satan's efforts be able to thwart it? "As sure as you can" was surely not sure enough!
Today we know that the tomb's sealed entrance was breached, not so much to allow Him out, but to allow us to see inside. Satan's henchmen still deny the resurrection, but their efforts are just as futile as those who tried to keep Him inside. The fact remains, He left the tomb, triumphantly offering eternal life to all who believe! JDM
Print this article
INSTITUTE FOR CREATION RESEARCH www.icr.org
April 29, 2008
Monday, April 28, 2008
GOODBYE ESAU, HELLO FUTURE
Genesis 36
Pastor Rick Jackson
I will not lie to you. Reading this chapter may seem like a waste of time but it's not. I know it's not because "All Scripture is given by inspiration of God and is profitable" and I need no other assurance than that. Several of the commentaries I usually use to study Genesis ignored it completely with no explanation. A few others gave the whole chapter a paragraph basically saying there wasn't much to it. Wasn't much to it? If we don't get something out of it maybe we have not put enough into it. Do gold nuggets usually lie on the surface or do they have to be dug out of the soil?
Hebrews 12:16 Lest there be any fornicator, or profane person, as Esau, who for one morsel of meat sold his birthright.
I. THE REBELLION OF THE LIVING [v. 1-8]
1. Marriage does not always meet God's standard [v. 1-5]
2. Riches do not indicate God's blessings [v. 6-7]
3. People do not really change without God [v. 8, 25:30]
II. THE REALITY OF LIFE [v. 9-31]
1. Like Father, like sons [v. 9-12]
2. History has a habit of repeating itself [v. 13-19]
Edom, the elder twin-brother of Jacob; hence the region (Idumaea) occupied by him:--Edom, Edomites, Idumea. "
The final issue between Esau and Jacob is seen in two men in the New Testament.. The Lord Jesus Christ, a son of Israel according to the flesh, stood before Herod, a son of Esau (Luke 23:6-12). - JVM
"The family of the Herods was Idumaean." - Ryle
"The Lord Jesus Christ had no word for him. He had identified him as 'that fox' (Lk. 13:32)." - JVM
3. Christians like to imitate the world [v. 20-31]
III. THE RELIABILITY OF THE LORD [v. 32-43]
1. God is no respecter of persons [v. 32-33]
Acts 10:34 Then Peter opened his mouth, and said, Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons:
2. Death comes to all men [v. 34-42]
3. Salvation is an individual truth [v. 43]
Ezekiel 18:4 Behold, all souls are mine; as the soul of the father, so also the soul of the son is mine: the soul that sinneth, it shall die.
Ezekiel 18:19 Yet say ye, Why? doth not the son bear the iniquity of the father? When the son hath done that which is lawful and right, and hath kept all my statutes, and hath done them, he shall surely live.
Ezekiel 18:20 The soul that sinneth, it shall die. The son shall not bear the iniquity of the father, neither shall the father bear the iniquity of the son: the righteousness of the righteous shall be upon him, and the wickedness of the wicked shall be upon him.
Pastor Rick Jackson
I will not lie to you. Reading this chapter may seem like a waste of time but it's not. I know it's not because "All Scripture is given by inspiration of God and is profitable" and I need no other assurance than that. Several of the commentaries I usually use to study Genesis ignored it completely with no explanation. A few others gave the whole chapter a paragraph basically saying there wasn't much to it. Wasn't much to it? If we don't get something out of it maybe we have not put enough into it. Do gold nuggets usually lie on the surface or do they have to be dug out of the soil?
Hebrews 12:16 Lest there be any fornicator, or profane person, as Esau, who for one morsel of meat sold his birthright.
I. THE REBELLION OF THE LIVING [v. 1-8]
1. Marriage does not always meet God's standard [v. 1-5]
2. Riches do not indicate God's blessings [v. 6-7]
3. People do not really change without God [v. 8, 25:30]
II. THE REALITY OF LIFE [v. 9-31]
1. Like Father, like sons [v. 9-12]
2. History has a habit of repeating itself [v. 13-19]
Edom, the elder twin-brother of Jacob; hence the region (Idumaea) occupied by him:--Edom, Edomites, Idumea. "
The final issue between Esau and Jacob is seen in two men in the New Testament.. The Lord Jesus Christ, a son of Israel according to the flesh, stood before Herod, a son of Esau (Luke 23:6-12). - JVM
"The family of the Herods was Idumaean." - Ryle
"The Lord Jesus Christ had no word for him. He had identified him as 'that fox' (Lk. 13:32)." - JVM
3. Christians like to imitate the world [v. 20-31]
III. THE RELIABILITY OF THE LORD [v. 32-43]
1. God is no respecter of persons [v. 32-33]
Acts 10:34 Then Peter opened his mouth, and said, Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons:
2. Death comes to all men [v. 34-42]
3. Salvation is an individual truth [v. 43]
Ezekiel 18:4 Behold, all souls are mine; as the soul of the father, so also the soul of the son is mine: the soul that sinneth, it shall die.
Ezekiel 18:19 Yet say ye, Why? doth not the son bear the iniquity of the father? When the son hath done that which is lawful and right, and hath kept all my statutes, and hath done them, he shall surely live.
Ezekiel 18:20 The soul that sinneth, it shall die. The son shall not bear the iniquity of the father, neither shall the father bear the iniquity of the son: the righteousness of the righteous shall be upon him, and the wickedness of the wicked shall be upon him.
Sunday, April 27, 2008
ARE YOU JUST SEEING OR OBSERVING? [# 1]
Dr. Watson once asked Sherlock Holmes why he didn't get as much from seeing something as Homes did when his eyes were every bit as good. Holmes replied, "You see, but you do not observe. The distinction is clear. For example, you have frequently seen the steps which lead up from the hall to this room."
"Frequently."
"How often?"
"Well, some hundreds of times."
"Then how many are there?"
"How many? I don't know."
"Quite so! You have not observed. And yet you have seen.That is just my point. Now, I know that there are seventeen steps, because I have both seen and observed."
What rings true in fiction is what is true in fact. In life many see while others observe. A trained musician gets more out of reading musical notes than I do.
Matthew 16:1-4 The Pharisees also with the Sadducees came, and tempting desired him that he would shew them a sign from heaven. He answered and said unto them, When it is evening, ye say, It will be fair weather: for the sky is red. And in the morning, It will be foul weather to day: for the sky is red and lowering. O ye hypocrites, ye can discern the face of the sky; but can ye not discern the signs of the times? A wicked and adulterous generation seeketh after a sign; and there shall no sign be given unto it, but the sign of the prophet Jonas. And he left them, and departed
I. SEEING HIS PERSON [JOHN 6:1-14]
1. Some see the miracles [v. 1-2]
2. The Lord sees opportunities [v. 3-13]
3. Some see the Messiah [v. 14]
II. SEEING HIS POWER [JOHN 6:15-25]
1. The Lord sees our wicked hearts [v. 15]
2. Some see the Lord in the midst of the storm [v. 16-21]
How unwilling we are to go into the storms of life but the storm is how we see the Lord is greater than our situation!
3. Some see evidence of His power but don't observe it for what it is. [v. 22-25]
III. SEEING HIS PURPOSE [JOHN 6:26-40]
1. Some fail to see the importance of the eternal over the temporal [v. 26-27]
2. Some fail to see the simplicity of the Gospel [v. 28-30]
3. Some fail to see the sufficiency of Christ and His work [v. 31-40ff]
"Frequently."
"How often?"
"Well, some hundreds of times."
"Then how many are there?"
"How many? I don't know."
"Quite so! You have not observed. And yet you have seen.That is just my point. Now, I know that there are seventeen steps, because I have both seen and observed."
What rings true in fiction is what is true in fact. In life many see while others observe. A trained musician gets more out of reading musical notes than I do.
Matthew 16:1-4 The Pharisees also with the Sadducees came, and tempting desired him that he would shew them a sign from heaven. He answered and said unto them, When it is evening, ye say, It will be fair weather: for the sky is red. And in the morning, It will be foul weather to day: for the sky is red and lowering. O ye hypocrites, ye can discern the face of the sky; but can ye not discern the signs of the times? A wicked and adulterous generation seeketh after a sign; and there shall no sign be given unto it, but the sign of the prophet Jonas. And he left them, and departed
I. SEEING HIS PERSON [JOHN 6:1-14]
1. Some see the miracles [v. 1-2]
2. The Lord sees opportunities [v. 3-13]
3. Some see the Messiah [v. 14]
II. SEEING HIS POWER [JOHN 6:15-25]
1. The Lord sees our wicked hearts [v. 15]
2. Some see the Lord in the midst of the storm [v. 16-21]
How unwilling we are to go into the storms of life but the storm is how we see the Lord is greater than our situation!
3. Some see evidence of His power but don't observe it for what it is. [v. 22-25]
III. SEEING HIS PURPOSE [JOHN 6:26-40]
1. Some fail to see the importance of the eternal over the temporal [v. 26-27]
2. Some fail to see the simplicity of the Gospel [v. 28-30]
3. Some fail to see the sufficiency of Christ and His work [v. 31-40ff]
Saturday, April 26, 2008
Are peppered moths proof of evolution?
This tale is about one of the sacred cows of evolution: the peppered moth. The story of this moth has been set forth for decades as the prime example of evolution in action. It is a fascinating story about how, due to a combination of environmental changes and selective predation, a moth turned into, well, a moth.
The peppered moth, scientifically known as Biston betularia, exists in two primary forms, one light colored with spots and one almost black. As the tale goes, in the mid 1800s, the lighter variety of the moth (typica) predominated. During the Industrial Revolution, the lichen on tree trunks died, soot got deposited on trees, and as a result trees got darker. As this change occurred, the population of darker moths (carbonaria) increased, presumably due to the camouflage offered by the darker trees. Bird predators could not see the dark moths against the dark bark. As the darker moth population increased, the lighter moth population decreased.
This story has been touted for years as a great example of Darwinian evolution in action. Countless textbooks are lavishly illustrated with photographs of light and dark moths resting on light and dark tree trunks to teach the wonders of evolution. “It is the slam dunk of natural selection, the paradigmatic story that converts high school and college students to Darwin, the thundering left hook to the jaw of creationism.”
Much of the “proof” for this evolutionary change came from the work of a man named Dr. Bernard Kettlewell, a medical doctor-turned-entomologist, at Oxford University. Dr. Kettlewell had been intrigued by changes in the relative populations of the moths. In his experiments he set out to show that the changes were a result of natural selection in response to environmental change and selective predation.
To read the rest of this article, see Much Ado About Moths.
News to Note Quick Look
Myth making: We’ve received more news tips on this story than on any other in recent memory—new research published in the American Journal of Human Genetics purports to describe how humankind diverged, then nearly went extinct, and then finally reunited more than 50,000 years ago. Read more.
A fresh face: A mysterious group of icy objects in our outer solar system are covered in “fresh powdery ice” and look as though they’re “no more than 100 million years old”—a far cry from their supposed age of a billion years. Read more.
Also: one mean chicken and looking for intelligence. Read more.
Get the word out!
Have you seen Ben Stein’s new movie, Expelled: No Intelligence Allowed? We’ve viewed it and agree that it will be a very popular “evolution-busting” tool to expose the lack of academic freedom in America’s schools today. Once you’ve seen the movie, you’ll want to equip yourself and help your friends. That’s why we’ve assembled this incredibly low-priced value pack of Creator-affirming materials; plus, you’ll even receive an exclusive coupon good for $5 off Expelled at our online store as soon as the film is available to us on DVD!
Find out more about the Expelled Movie Action Kit.
Read the movie review on our website: Dr. Dawkins, Tear down This Wall!
This information was provided by Answers In Genesis, an excellent source of material relating to Creation and evolution. Please visit their website using the link in the upper left.
The peppered moth, scientifically known as Biston betularia, exists in two primary forms, one light colored with spots and one almost black. As the tale goes, in the mid 1800s, the lighter variety of the moth (typica) predominated. During the Industrial Revolution, the lichen on tree trunks died, soot got deposited on trees, and as a result trees got darker. As this change occurred, the population of darker moths (carbonaria) increased, presumably due to the camouflage offered by the darker trees. Bird predators could not see the dark moths against the dark bark. As the darker moth population increased, the lighter moth population decreased.
This story has been touted for years as a great example of Darwinian evolution in action. Countless textbooks are lavishly illustrated with photographs of light and dark moths resting on light and dark tree trunks to teach the wonders of evolution. “It is the slam dunk of natural selection, the paradigmatic story that converts high school and college students to Darwin, the thundering left hook to the jaw of creationism.”
Much of the “proof” for this evolutionary change came from the work of a man named Dr. Bernard Kettlewell, a medical doctor-turned-entomologist, at Oxford University. Dr. Kettlewell had been intrigued by changes in the relative populations of the moths. In his experiments he set out to show that the changes were a result of natural selection in response to environmental change and selective predation.
To read the rest of this article, see Much Ado About Moths.
News to Note Quick Look
Myth making: We’ve received more news tips on this story than on any other in recent memory—new research published in the American Journal of Human Genetics purports to describe how humankind diverged, then nearly went extinct, and then finally reunited more than 50,000 years ago. Read more.
A fresh face: A mysterious group of icy objects in our outer solar system are covered in “fresh powdery ice” and look as though they’re “no more than 100 million years old”—a far cry from their supposed age of a billion years. Read more.
Also: one mean chicken and looking for intelligence. Read more.
Get the word out!
Have you seen Ben Stein’s new movie, Expelled: No Intelligence Allowed? We’ve viewed it and agree that it will be a very popular “evolution-busting” tool to expose the lack of academic freedom in America’s schools today. Once you’ve seen the movie, you’ll want to equip yourself and help your friends. That’s why we’ve assembled this incredibly low-priced value pack of Creator-affirming materials; plus, you’ll even receive an exclusive coupon good for $5 off Expelled at our online store as soon as the film is available to us on DVD!
Find out more about the Expelled Movie Action Kit.
Read the movie review on our website: Dr. Dawkins, Tear down This Wall!
This information was provided by Answers In Genesis, an excellent source of material relating to Creation and evolution. Please visit their website using the link in the upper left.
Friday, April 25, 2008
Crash & Call (The inevitable and the intelligent)
Late Thursday night my computer crashed and I lost everything in it! Tracie, our local computer repairer was able to save all my photos but not without saving all approximately 50,000 images that were in my computer. Apparently every time you look at something on the web, say- a book you are considering buying at Amazon.com, your computer records it. You delete it of course BUT... if you ever try to recover files (like my pictures) you recover everything! so now I get to wade through 50,000 pics to find my few hundred or so. Fun, fun, fun. A work in progress.
Tracie gave me some good advice after I told her I thought about calling her when the problem first happened but decided to try to fix it myself first. She said, "Anytime you think about calling me... that's a good time to step back away from the computer and call me."
Does life ever crash around you? Have you ever thought about calling on God at that moment or a thousand other moments. Anytime you think that, that's a good time to step back and call on God!
"Pray without ceasing!"
"Men ought always to pray and not to faint."
Tracie gave me some good advice after I told her I thought about calling her when the problem first happened but decided to try to fix it myself first. She said, "Anytime you think about calling me... that's a good time to step back away from the computer and call me."
Does life ever crash around you? Have you ever thought about calling on God at that moment or a thousand other moments. Anytime you think that, that's a good time to step back and call on God!
"Pray without ceasing!"
"Men ought always to pray and not to faint."
Thursday, April 24, 2008
QUOTES OF THE WEEK!
People say, "Lord, increase our faith." It is not great faith you need, but faith in a GREAT GOD... THE Lord will provide. Let us see to it that we KEEP GOD BEFORE OUR EYES! - Missionary Hudson Taylor
I commend my soul into the hands of God my Creator, hoping and assuredly believing through the only merits of Jesus Christ my Saviour to be made partaker of Life Everlasting. - William Shakespeare (from his will)
God always initiates our returning to Him! - Evangelist Chris Miller
A surrendered heart gives all not just ten percent. - Miller
Are we going to give God what's right or what's left? - Miller
Before you can build somethings "things" have to be broken. This is true in the physical realm AND in the spiritual realm as well. - Miller
Reality and your future are not what you want them to be, they're what you made them to be! - Evangelist Wil Rice
Good doesn't get to Heaven, perfect does! - Rice
I commend my soul into the hands of God my Creator, hoping and assuredly believing through the only merits of Jesus Christ my Saviour to be made partaker of Life Everlasting. - William Shakespeare (from his will)
God always initiates our returning to Him! - Evangelist Chris Miller
A surrendered heart gives all not just ten percent. - Miller
Are we going to give God what's right or what's left? - Miller
Before you can build somethings "things" have to be broken. This is true in the physical realm AND in the spiritual realm as well. - Miller
Reality and your future are not what you want them to be, they're what you made them to be! - Evangelist Wil Rice
Good doesn't get to Heaven, perfect does! - Rice
Wednesday, April 23, 2008
WHY AM I NOT HAPPY? (Blessed Man-Pt. 4)
Pastor Rick Jackson
Deuteronomy 33:29 Happy art thou, O Israel: who is like unto thee, O people saved by the LORD, the shield of thy help, and who is the sword of thy excellency! and thine enemies shall be found liars unto thee; and thou shalt tread upon their high places.
Of course this verse primarily is dealing with Israel but how much more do these principles apply to Christians. Who is like a Christian? Saved by the Lord (Rm. 10:13), our Source of shielding (Ephesians 6:16), help (Hebrews 4:16 Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need), and sword (Ephesians 6:17. Enemies be liars? (Romans 3:4 God forbid: yea, let God be true, but every man a liar; as it is written, That thou mightest be justified in thy sayings, and mightest overcome when thou art judged.) Taking the high places of the enemy? (Ephesians 6:10-12)
So, with all this, why aren't we happy? God doesn't fail. God doesn't lie. God's promises are true! Perhaps the truth is we have not laid hold on the truths as we ought.
Why are we not happy?
I. PERHAPS IT HAS TO DO WITH THE INSTRUCTION OF GOD
1. We don't like and accept it
Psalm 94:12 Blessed is the man whom thou chastenest, O LORD, and teachest him out of thy law;
Psalm 128:1 Blessed is every one that feareth the LORD; that walketh in his ways.
2. We don't live according to it
Ps. 106:3 Blessed are they that keep judgment, and he that doeth righteousness at all times.
Psalm 119:1 Blessed are the undefiled in the way, who walk in the law of the LORD.
3. We don't access and love it
Psalm 112:1 Praise ye the LORD. Blessed [is] the man [that] feareth the LORD, [that] delighteth greatly in his commandments.
Psalm 119:2 Blessed are they that keep his testimonies, and that seek him with the whole heart.
Proverbs 12:1 Whoso loveth instruction loveth knowledge: but he that hateth reproof is brutish.
II. PERHAPS IT HAS TO DO WITH GOD HIMSELF
1. Have we put our hope and trust elsewhere?
Psalm 144:15 Happy is that people, that is in such a case: yea, happy is that people, whose God is the LORD.
Psalm 146:5 Happy is he that hath the God of Jacob for his help, whose hope is in the LORD his God:
Proverbs 16:20 He that handleth a matter wisely shall find good: and whoso trusteth in the LORD, happy is he.
2. Have we quit hearing Him and listened to others?
Proverbs 3:13 Happy is the man that findeth wisdom, and the man that getteth understanding.
Proverbs 8:32 Now therefore hearken unto me, O ye children: for blessed are they that keep my ways.
Proverbs 8:34 Blessed is the man that heareth me, watching daily at my gates, waiting at the posts of my doors.
3. Have we quit walking in His ways and walk contrary to them?
Proverbs 14:21 He that despiseth his neighbour sinneth: but he that hath mercy on the poor, happy is he.
Proverbs 16:20 He that handleth a matter wisely shall find good: and whoso trusteth in the LORD, happy is he.
Proverbs 20:7 The just man walketh in his integrity: his children are blessed after him.
Proverbs 28:14 Happy is the man that feareth alway: but he that hardeneth his heart shall fall into mischief.
III. PERHAPS IT HAS TO DO WITH GOD'S PLANS
1. Have we lost our vision?
Proverbs 29:18 Where there is no vision, the people perish: but he that keepeth the law, happy is he.
2. Have lost our patience?
Isaiah 30:18 And therefore will the LORD wait, that he may be gracious unto you, and therefore will he be exalted, that he may have mercy upon you: for the LORD is a God of judgment: blessed are all they that wait for him.
3. Have we lost our motivation?
Isaiah 32:20 Blessed are ye that sow beside all waters, that send forth thither the feet of the ox and the ass.
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Have we lost our minds? Deuteronomy 33:29 Happy art thou, O Israel: who is like unto thee, O people saved by the LORD, the shield of thy help, and who is the sword of thy excellency! and thine enemies shall be found liars unto thee; and thou shalt tread upon their high places.
Deuteronomy 33:29 Happy art thou, O Israel: who is like unto thee, O people saved by the LORD, the shield of thy help, and who is the sword of thy excellency! and thine enemies shall be found liars unto thee; and thou shalt tread upon their high places.
Of course this verse primarily is dealing with Israel but how much more do these principles apply to Christians. Who is like a Christian? Saved by the Lord (Rm. 10:13), our Source of shielding (Ephesians 6:16), help (Hebrews 4:16 Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need), and sword (Ephesians 6:17. Enemies be liars? (Romans 3:4 God forbid: yea, let God be true, but every man a liar; as it is written, That thou mightest be justified in thy sayings, and mightest overcome when thou art judged.) Taking the high places of the enemy? (Ephesians 6:10-12)
So, with all this, why aren't we happy? God doesn't fail. God doesn't lie. God's promises are true! Perhaps the truth is we have not laid hold on the truths as we ought.
Why are we not happy?
I. PERHAPS IT HAS TO DO WITH THE INSTRUCTION OF GOD
1. We don't like and accept it
Psalm 94:12 Blessed is the man whom thou chastenest, O LORD, and teachest him out of thy law;
Psalm 128:1 Blessed is every one that feareth the LORD; that walketh in his ways.
2. We don't live according to it
Ps. 106:3 Blessed are they that keep judgment, and he that doeth righteousness at all times.
Psalm 119:1 Blessed are the undefiled in the way, who walk in the law of the LORD.
3. We don't access and love it
Psalm 112:1 Praise ye the LORD. Blessed [is] the man [that] feareth the LORD, [that] delighteth greatly in his commandments.
Psalm 119:2 Blessed are they that keep his testimonies, and that seek him with the whole heart.
Proverbs 12:1 Whoso loveth instruction loveth knowledge: but he that hateth reproof is brutish.
II. PERHAPS IT HAS TO DO WITH GOD HIMSELF
1. Have we put our hope and trust elsewhere?
Psalm 144:15 Happy is that people, that is in such a case: yea, happy is that people, whose God is the LORD.
Psalm 146:5 Happy is he that hath the God of Jacob for his help, whose hope is in the LORD his God:
Proverbs 16:20 He that handleth a matter wisely shall find good: and whoso trusteth in the LORD, happy is he.
2. Have we quit hearing Him and listened to others?
Proverbs 3:13 Happy is the man that findeth wisdom, and the man that getteth understanding.
Proverbs 8:32 Now therefore hearken unto me, O ye children: for blessed are they that keep my ways.
Proverbs 8:34 Blessed is the man that heareth me, watching daily at my gates, waiting at the posts of my doors.
3. Have we quit walking in His ways and walk contrary to them?
Proverbs 14:21 He that despiseth his neighbour sinneth: but he that hath mercy on the poor, happy is he.
Proverbs 16:20 He that handleth a matter wisely shall find good: and whoso trusteth in the LORD, happy is he.
Proverbs 20:7 The just man walketh in his integrity: his children are blessed after him.
Proverbs 28:14 Happy is the man that feareth alway: but he that hardeneth his heart shall fall into mischief.
III. PERHAPS IT HAS TO DO WITH GOD'S PLANS
1. Have we lost our vision?
Proverbs 29:18 Where there is no vision, the people perish: but he that keepeth the law, happy is he.
2. Have lost our patience?
Isaiah 30:18 And therefore will the LORD wait, that he may be gracious unto you, and therefore will he be exalted, that he may have mercy upon you: for the LORD is a God of judgment: blessed are all they that wait for him.
3. Have we lost our motivation?
Isaiah 32:20 Blessed are ye that sow beside all waters, that send forth thither the feet of the ox and the ass.
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Have we lost our minds? Deuteronomy 33:29 Happy art thou, O Israel: who is like unto thee, O people saved by the LORD, the shield of thy help, and who is the sword of thy excellency! and thine enemies shall be found liars unto thee; and thou shalt tread upon their high places.
Tuesday, April 22, 2008
Young Men
I dedicate the blogging of this column to one of these young men of God, Pastor David Dunn. He happens to have a blog of his own at:
http://pastorddunn.blogspot.com/
Young Men
"I have written unto you, young men, because ye are strong, and the word of God abideth in you, and ye have overcome the wicked one." (1 John 2:14)
There are two commendations about the "young men" (typically applied to those under forty) that John notes. They are "strong" (vigorious, healthy, both physically and mentally) and the word of God "abides" (remains, endures) in them. These are those who have come through their believing childhood, no doubt guided and counseled by the "fathers" in their lives, who are now active in the "good fight of faith" (1 Timothy 6:12).
Like Abraham, they are "strong in faith" (Romans 4:20), not staggering under the burden of unbelief. Like the leaders in the church at Rome, they are willing to "bear the infirmities of the weak" (Romans 15:1), and to be alert, standing "fast in the faith" (1 Corinthians 16:13). Even though they would have faced opposition from among professing Christians, they were "strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus" (2 Timothy 2:1).
These are the ones who refused to handle the "word of God deceitfuly" (2 Corinthians 4:2), but gladly received it as "it is in truth, the word of God" (1 Thessalonians 2:13). They know that "the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword" (Hebrews 4:12), and have taken time to store the Word in their heart (Psalm 119:11). These "young men" know that if God’s "words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you" (John 15:7).
Those attributes make possible the result: "ye have overcome the wicked one." Safe in the secure saving faith of God, guided by the great truths of the Word of God, these young men have not been "overcome of evil" but have "overcome evil with good" (Romans 12:21). HMM III
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INSTITUTE FOR CREATION RESEARCH www.icr.org
April 22, 2008
http://pastorddunn.blogspot.com/
Young Men
"I have written unto you, young men, because ye are strong, and the word of God abideth in you, and ye have overcome the wicked one." (1 John 2:14)
There are two commendations about the "young men" (typically applied to those under forty) that John notes. They are "strong" (vigorious, healthy, both physically and mentally) and the word of God "abides" (remains, endures) in them. These are those who have come through their believing childhood, no doubt guided and counseled by the "fathers" in their lives, who are now active in the "good fight of faith" (1 Timothy 6:12).
Like Abraham, they are "strong in faith" (Romans 4:20), not staggering under the burden of unbelief. Like the leaders in the church at Rome, they are willing to "bear the infirmities of the weak" (Romans 15:1), and to be alert, standing "fast in the faith" (1 Corinthians 16:13). Even though they would have faced opposition from among professing Christians, they were "strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus" (2 Timothy 2:1).
These are the ones who refused to handle the "word of God deceitfuly" (2 Corinthians 4:2), but gladly received it as "it is in truth, the word of God" (1 Thessalonians 2:13). They know that "the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword" (Hebrews 4:12), and have taken time to store the Word in their heart (Psalm 119:11). These "young men" know that if God’s "words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you" (John 15:7).
Those attributes make possible the result: "ye have overcome the wicked one." Safe in the secure saving faith of God, guided by the great truths of the Word of God, these young men have not been "overcome of evil" but have "overcome evil with good" (Romans 12:21). HMM III
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INSTITUTE FOR CREATION RESEARCH www.icr.org
April 22, 2008
Monday, April 21, 2008
"The most important Mentor, I have given, please read it, if nothing else!"
From: SWemp@aol.com
Sent:Mon 4/21/08 11:20 PM
Learn to learn! We are never to old to learn something. While attending Dallas theological Semnary one thing I learned was that every word in the Bible was there on purpose, put there by God! The last thing Jesus said before leaving was to "Preach the Gospel (every word of it) to every person" Mk 16:15.
I declare unto you the gospel:
1. Christ died for our sins,
2. He was buried,
3. He rose again,
4. and was seen by hundreds."
That is the full gospel, not another gospel (Gal 1:6) for if you do [preach another gospel], God says, "Let him be accursed" (Gal 1:8-9). That is strong language. Paul said, and I join him, "I am set for the defence of the gospel" (Phil 1:16).
Look what can happen when we do preach the full gospel. One of you wrote me.
Dr. Wemp, Wednesday nights I teach through the Book of Exodus. At the end of teaching, I always give an invitation by presenting the Gospel. Well, honestly I had not been sharing that 4 th point how that He was seen, etc. I did that this week and we had 3 salvation decisions. When I presented the Gospel with all 4 points, I couldn't believe it...they raised their hands and then got up and came forward so altar workers could work with them. WOW! Thank you so much, Pastor
Way to often there are two facts left out that I feel are vital.
1. Christ died for our sins.Listen carefully and you will hear, Christ died on the cross. So did those two thieves die on a cross. That is not the gospel. O you will hear, "Christ died for us" those military people are dying for us. That is not the gospel. The problem is we have all sinned, and the wages of sins is death. The good news is Christ died for our sins, paid our debt in full.
2. He was buried" proof He was dead.
3. He rose again and is alive forever more to be our Savior.
4. "He was seen by hundreds" This is hardly every mentioned and yet before Peter could preach at Pentecost they had to elect another one to take Judas place, (read Acts 1:3, :22, 25) and be a witness that He is alive and was seen by hundreds. No other "savior" was seen alive after he once died. Look up how many times it says "He was seen" . Read 1 Cor 15:5-8. It will surprise you and may wake you up to preach the full gospel and see more saved.
Remember, "the gospel is the power of God unto salvation to everyone who believes" (Rom 1:16). It is not "cheap believism" it believing what God told us to preach and so many do not do it or preach only part. God’s gift of salvation did not come cheap. The Lord Jesus suffered and died for our sins and it is what people need to know, "understand" and believe, trust, to get them to heaven. Selah.
ABC Sumner
Go to www.sumnerwemp.com read the illustration, I am sure you will use it very soon, every day when I give someone "Your ticket to Heaven" at least one person will say, "I need that" One did today and I always say "we all do, read it and do what it says from your heart at the end. Call 1-877-872-2871, ask for "sales" to order them. I get NOTHING
Preach the true gospel, all four points, how that
1. Christ died for our sins
2. He was buried
3. He rose again
4. He was seen by hundreds.
This full gospel is the power of God unto salvation to those who believe this gospel will save and prays to receive the Lord Jesus as his personal Savior. Please do it now and write us about it.
All Because of Calvary, C. Sumner Wemp.
Call 1-877-872-2871 to order my tract "Your Ticket to Heaven"
Sent:Mon 4/21/08 11:20 PM
Learn to learn! We are never to old to learn something. While attending Dallas theological Semnary one thing I learned was that every word in the Bible was there on purpose, put there by God! The last thing Jesus said before leaving was to "Preach the Gospel (every word of it) to every person" Mk 16:15.
I declare unto you the gospel:
1. Christ died for our sins,
2. He was buried,
3. He rose again,
4. and was seen by hundreds."
That is the full gospel, not another gospel (Gal 1:6) for if you do [preach another gospel], God says, "Let him be accursed" (Gal 1:8-9). That is strong language. Paul said, and I join him, "I am set for the defence of the gospel" (Phil 1:16).
Look what can happen when we do preach the full gospel. One of you wrote me.
Dr. Wemp, Wednesday nights I teach through the Book of Exodus. At the end of teaching, I always give an invitation by presenting the Gospel. Well, honestly I had not been sharing that 4 th point how that He was seen, etc. I did that this week and we had 3 salvation decisions. When I presented the Gospel with all 4 points, I couldn't believe it...they raised their hands and then got up and came forward so altar workers could work with them. WOW! Thank you so much, Pastor
Way to often there are two facts left out that I feel are vital.
1. Christ died for our sins.Listen carefully and you will hear, Christ died on the cross. So did those two thieves die on a cross. That is not the gospel. O you will hear, "Christ died for us" those military people are dying for us. That is not the gospel. The problem is we have all sinned, and the wages of sins is death. The good news is Christ died for our sins, paid our debt in full.
2. He was buried" proof He was dead.
3. He rose again and is alive forever more to be our Savior.
4. "He was seen by hundreds" This is hardly every mentioned and yet before Peter could preach at Pentecost they had to elect another one to take Judas place, (read Acts 1:3, :22, 25) and be a witness that He is alive and was seen by hundreds. No other "savior" was seen alive after he once died. Look up how many times it says "He was seen" . Read 1 Cor 15:5-8. It will surprise you and may wake you up to preach the full gospel and see more saved.
Remember, "the gospel is the power of God unto salvation to everyone who believes" (Rom 1:16). It is not "cheap believism" it believing what God told us to preach and so many do not do it or preach only part. God’s gift of salvation did not come cheap. The Lord Jesus suffered and died for our sins and it is what people need to know, "understand" and believe, trust, to get them to heaven. Selah.
ABC Sumner
Go to www.sumnerwemp.com read the illustration, I am sure you will use it very soon, every day when I give someone "Your ticket to Heaven" at least one person will say, "I need that" One did today and I always say "we all do, read it and do what it says from your heart at the end. Call 1-877-872-2871, ask for "sales" to order them. I get NOTHING
Preach the true gospel, all four points, how that
1. Christ died for our sins
2. He was buried
3. He rose again
4. He was seen by hundreds.
This full gospel is the power of God unto salvation to those who believe this gospel will save and prays to receive the Lord Jesus as his personal Savior. Please do it now and write us about it.
All Because of Calvary, C. Sumner Wemp.
Call 1-877-872-2871 to order my tract "Your Ticket to Heaven"
Sunday, April 20, 2008
WHEN DEATH STRIKES THRICE
Genesis 35
Pastor Rick Jackson
1 Corinthians 15:26 The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death.
Billions and perhaps trillions are spent each year to try and cheat, avoid, or delay death but to no avail. Death comes. Romans 5:12 declares- Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned:
None but One has beaten death and beaten it thoroughly and that One is the Lord Jesus Christ. He died in our place but death and the grave couldn't hold Him. 3 days later He rose triumphantly from the dead, never to die again. And... and He offers to everyone who will commit their soul to Him the same victory! [Romans 5:15] But not as the offence, so also is the free gift. For if through the offence of one many be dead, much more the grace of God, and the gift by grace, which is by one man, Jesus Christ, hath abounded unto many.
He takes the sting out of death by removing the cause. Sin is the cause as we have seen and to those who will receive Him the Lord Jesus takes their sin and gives them His righteousness as a free gift! [Romans 5:19] For as by one man's disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous.
Israel was a man that put his trust in God. In Genesis 35 he faces death not once but three times but he does so with faith in God, may we face the inevitable with as much grace.
I. DEATH AND THE PRESENCE OF GOD [v. 1-15]
1. The Blessing of Genuine Preparation [v. 1-7]
2. The Blessing of Good People [v. 8]
Allon-bachuth means "oak of weeping"
3. The Blessing of God's Presence [v. 9-15]
II. DEATH AND THE PROMISES OF GOD [v. 16-20]
1. God Promised Sin Would Bring Sorrow [v. 16, Gen. 3:16a]
Unto the woman he said, I will greatly multiply thy sorrow and thy conception; in sorrow thou shalt bring forth children;
Jeremiah 31:15 Thus saith the LORD; A voice was heard in Ramah, lamentation, and bitter weeping; Rahel weeping for her children refused to be comforted for her children, because they were not.
2. God Promised Sin Would Bring Death [v. 17-18a, Gen. 2:17]
But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die.
Matthew 2:17-18 Then was fulfilled that which was spoken by Jeremy the prophet, saying, In Rama was there a voice heard, lamentation, and weeping, and great mourning, Rachel weeping for her children, and would not be comforted, because they are not.
3. God Promised a Saviour Would Bring Victory [v. 18b-20, Gen. 3:15]
(God told Satan in Adam & Eve's presence) And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel.
Genesis 12:3 And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed.
Galatians 3:16 Now to Abraham and his seed were the promises made. He saith not, And to seeds, as of many; but as of one, And to thy seed, which is Christ.
Genesis 22:8 And Abraham said, My son, God will provide himself a lamb for a burnt offering: so they went both of them together.
Micah 5:2 But thou, Bethlehem Ephratah, though thou be little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of thee shall he come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting.
Mark 14:62 And Jesus said, I am: and ye shall see the Son of man sitting on the right hand of power, and coming in the clouds of heaven.
Mark 16:19 So then after the Lord had spoken unto them, he was received up into heaven, and sat on the right hand of God.
Acts 7:55-56 But he, being full of the Holy Ghost, looked up stedfastly into heaven, and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing on the right hand of God, And said, Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of man standing on the right hand of God.
Romans 8:34 Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us.
Ephesians 1:20 Which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places,
Colossians 3:1 If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God.
Hebrews 1:3 Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high;
Hebrews 8:1 Now of the things which we have spoken this is the sum: We have such an high priest, who is set on the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the heavens;
Hebrews 10:12 But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God;
Hebrews 12:2 Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.
1 Peter 3:22 Who is gone into heaven, and is on the right hand of God; angels and authorities and powers being made subject unto him.
III. DEATH AND THE PURPOSE OF GOD [v. 21-29]
1. Sin Cannot Ruin the Purpose of God [v. 21-26, 49:3-4, 9-11]
2. Death Cannot Ruin the Purpose of God [v. 27-29a, Luke 16:22]
And it came to pass, that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels into Abraham's bosom: the rich man also ° died, and was buried;
3. Time Cannot Ruin the Purposeof God [v. 29b]
Matthew 1:2 Abraham begat Isaac; and Isaac begat Jacob; and Jacob begat Judas and his brethren;
Matthew 8:11 And I say unto you, That many shall come from the east and west, and shall sit down with Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, in the kingdom of heaven.
Matthew 22:32 I am the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob? God is not the God of the dead, but of the living.
Mark 12:26 And as touching the dead, that they rise: have ye not read in the book of Moses, how in the bush God spake unto him, saying, I am the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob?
Luke 13:28 There shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth, when ye shall see Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, and all the prophets, in the kingdom of God, and you yourselves thrust out.
Luke 20:37 Now that the dead are raised, even Moses shewed at the bush, when he calleth the Lord the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.
Acts 3:13 The God of Abraham, and of Isaac, and of Jacob, the God of our fathers, hath glorified his Son Jesus; whom ye delivered up, and denied him in the presence of Pilate, when he was determined to let him go.
Pastor Rick Jackson
1 Corinthians 15:26 The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death.
Billions and perhaps trillions are spent each year to try and cheat, avoid, or delay death but to no avail. Death comes. Romans 5:12 declares- Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned:
None but One has beaten death and beaten it thoroughly and that One is the Lord Jesus Christ. He died in our place but death and the grave couldn't hold Him. 3 days later He rose triumphantly from the dead, never to die again. And... and He offers to everyone who will commit their soul to Him the same victory! [Romans 5:15] But not as the offence, so also is the free gift. For if through the offence of one many be dead, much more the grace of God, and the gift by grace, which is by one man, Jesus Christ, hath abounded unto many.
He takes the sting out of death by removing the cause. Sin is the cause as we have seen and to those who will receive Him the Lord Jesus takes their sin and gives them His righteousness as a free gift! [Romans 5:19] For as by one man's disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous.
Israel was a man that put his trust in God. In Genesis 35 he faces death not once but three times but he does so with faith in God, may we face the inevitable with as much grace.
I. DEATH AND THE PRESENCE OF GOD [v. 1-15]
1. The Blessing of Genuine Preparation [v. 1-7]
2. The Blessing of Good People [v. 8]
Allon-bachuth means "oak of weeping"
3. The Blessing of God's Presence [v. 9-15]
II. DEATH AND THE PROMISES OF GOD [v. 16-20]
1. God Promised Sin Would Bring Sorrow [v. 16, Gen. 3:16a]
Unto the woman he said, I will greatly multiply thy sorrow and thy conception; in sorrow thou shalt bring forth children;
Jeremiah 31:15 Thus saith the LORD; A voice was heard in Ramah, lamentation, and bitter weeping; Rahel weeping for her children refused to be comforted for her children, because they were not.
2. God Promised Sin Would Bring Death [v. 17-18a, Gen. 2:17]
But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die.
Matthew 2:17-18 Then was fulfilled that which was spoken by Jeremy the prophet, saying, In Rama was there a voice heard, lamentation, and weeping, and great mourning, Rachel weeping for her children, and would not be comforted, because they are not.
3. God Promised a Saviour Would Bring Victory [v. 18b-20, Gen. 3:15]
(God told Satan in Adam & Eve's presence) And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel.
Genesis 12:3 And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed.
Galatians 3:16 Now to Abraham and his seed were the promises made. He saith not, And to seeds, as of many; but as of one, And to thy seed, which is Christ.
Genesis 22:8 And Abraham said, My son, God will provide himself a lamb for a burnt offering: so they went both of them together.
Micah 5:2 But thou, Bethlehem Ephratah, though thou be little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of thee shall he come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting.
Mark 14:62 And Jesus said, I am: and ye shall see the Son of man sitting on the right hand of power, and coming in the clouds of heaven.
Mark 16:19 So then after the Lord had spoken unto them, he was received up into heaven, and sat on the right hand of God.
Acts 7:55-56 But he, being full of the Holy Ghost, looked up stedfastly into heaven, and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing on the right hand of God, And said, Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of man standing on the right hand of God.
Romans 8:34 Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us.
Ephesians 1:20 Which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places,
Colossians 3:1 If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God.
Hebrews 1:3 Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high;
Hebrews 8:1 Now of the things which we have spoken this is the sum: We have such an high priest, who is set on the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the heavens;
Hebrews 10:12 But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God;
Hebrews 12:2 Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.
1 Peter 3:22 Who is gone into heaven, and is on the right hand of God; angels and authorities and powers being made subject unto him.
III. DEATH AND THE PURPOSE OF GOD [v. 21-29]
1. Sin Cannot Ruin the Purpose of God [v. 21-26, 49:3-4, 9-11]
2. Death Cannot Ruin the Purpose of God [v. 27-29a, Luke 16:22]
And it came to pass, that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels into Abraham's bosom: the rich man also ° died, and was buried;
3. Time Cannot Ruin the Purposeof God [v. 29b]
Matthew 1:2 Abraham begat Isaac; and Isaac begat Jacob; and Jacob begat Judas and his brethren;
Matthew 8:11 And I say unto you, That many shall come from the east and west, and shall sit down with Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, in the kingdom of heaven.
Matthew 22:32 I am the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob? God is not the God of the dead, but of the living.
Mark 12:26 And as touching the dead, that they rise: have ye not read in the book of Moses, how in the bush God spake unto him, saying, I am the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob?
Luke 13:28 There shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth, when ye shall see Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, and all the prophets, in the kingdom of God, and you yourselves thrust out.
Luke 20:37 Now that the dead are raised, even Moses shewed at the bush, when he calleth the Lord the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.
Acts 3:13 The God of Abraham, and of Isaac, and of Jacob, the God of our fathers, hath glorified his Son Jesus; whom ye delivered up, and denied him in the presence of Pilate, when he was determined to let him go.
Saturday, April 19, 2008
QUESTION OF THE WEEK! - Where did morality come from?
Morality is a very difficult problem for the evolutionary worldview. This isn’t to say that evolutionists are somehow less moral than anyone else. Most of them adhere to a code of behavior. Like the biblical creationist, they do believe in the concepts of right and wrong. The problem is that evolutionists have no logical reason to believe in right and wrong within their own worldview. Right and wrong are Christian concepts which go back to Genesis. By attempting to be moral, therefore, the evolutionist is being irrational; for he must borrow biblical concepts which are contrary to his worldview.
The Bible teaches that God is the Creator of all things (Genesis 1:1; John 1:3). All things belong to God (Psalm 24:1) and thus, God has the right to make the rules. So, an absolute moral code makes sense in a biblical creation worldview. But if the Bible were not true, if human beings were merely the outworking of millions of years of mindless chemical processes, then why should we hold to a universal code of behavior? Could there really be such concepts as right and wrong if evolution were true?
Some might respond, “Well, I believe in right and wrong, and I also believe in evolution; so, obviously they can go together.” But this does not follow. People can be irrational; they can profess to believe in things that are contrary to each other. The question is not about what people believe to be the case, but rather what actually is the case. Can the concepts of right and wrong really be meaningful apart from the biblical God? To put it another way, is morality justified in an evolutionary worldview?
Read the rest of this article on our website: Evolution and the Challenge of Morality
News to Note Quick Look
48 million years in six weeks: Regular News to Note readers may remember that it was only six weeks ago that old-earth-believing scientists reported the Grand Canyon’s age at not 6 million years old (the previous view), but rather 17 millions years old. And now, in the short span of six weeks, the canyon has gained another 48 million years! Read more.
We can’t help it: A recent experiment set out to determine whether we subconsciously make our choices before we consciously make them—that is, whether when our conscious mind makes decisions, it merely reflects subconscious decision-making beyond our control. But is there more bluster than facts? Read more.
Also: a milestone release, a talking Neanderthal, a tree older than the earth, and dusty DNA. Read more.
New online book
Every Thursday, AiG publishes a new chapter from a free online book. In the past, we’ve featured such books as The New Answers Book, Evolution Exposed, War of the Worldviews, and Taking Back Astronomy. If you missed any of our free online books, you can review them all on our Online Resources page.
This week we are excited to announce the serial publication of Ken Ham’s How Could a Loving God . . . ? This book provides solid, biblical, clear, and comforting answers to some of life’s greatest questions. With sensitivity to the person whose perception of God has been calloused by tragedy, Ken makes clear the hope-giving answers found in the pages of Scripture.
Read the first chapter and learn more: How Could a Loving God . . . ?
The Bible teaches that God is the Creator of all things (Genesis 1:1; John 1:3). All things belong to God (Psalm 24:1) and thus, God has the right to make the rules. So, an absolute moral code makes sense in a biblical creation worldview. But if the Bible were not true, if human beings were merely the outworking of millions of years of mindless chemical processes, then why should we hold to a universal code of behavior? Could there really be such concepts as right and wrong if evolution were true?
Some might respond, “Well, I believe in right and wrong, and I also believe in evolution; so, obviously they can go together.” But this does not follow. People can be irrational; they can profess to believe in things that are contrary to each other. The question is not about what people believe to be the case, but rather what actually is the case. Can the concepts of right and wrong really be meaningful apart from the biblical God? To put it another way, is morality justified in an evolutionary worldview?
Read the rest of this article on our website: Evolution and the Challenge of Morality
News to Note Quick Look
48 million years in six weeks: Regular News to Note readers may remember that it was only six weeks ago that old-earth-believing scientists reported the Grand Canyon’s age at not 6 million years old (the previous view), but rather 17 millions years old. And now, in the short span of six weeks, the canyon has gained another 48 million years! Read more.
We can’t help it: A recent experiment set out to determine whether we subconsciously make our choices before we consciously make them—that is, whether when our conscious mind makes decisions, it merely reflects subconscious decision-making beyond our control. But is there more bluster than facts? Read more.
Also: a milestone release, a talking Neanderthal, a tree older than the earth, and dusty DNA. Read more.
New online book
Every Thursday, AiG publishes a new chapter from a free online book. In the past, we’ve featured such books as The New Answers Book, Evolution Exposed, War of the Worldviews, and Taking Back Astronomy. If you missed any of our free online books, you can review them all on our Online Resources page.
This week we are excited to announce the serial publication of Ken Ham’s How Could a Loving God . . . ? This book provides solid, biblical, clear, and comforting answers to some of life’s greatest questions. With sensitivity to the person whose perception of God has been calloused by tragedy, Ken makes clear the hope-giving answers found in the pages of Scripture.
Read the first chapter and learn more: How Could a Loving God . . . ?
Friday, April 18, 2008
Thursday, April 17, 2008
Rejoicing Greatly
"Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations." (1 Peter 1:6)
Our lives today are continually badgered by various trials, or "manifold temptations." The trials are to bring about a pure and effective faith, pleasing to God. But the apostle Peter is not referring to trials or their results when he declares: "Wherein ye greatly rejoice." On the contrary, he is summing up a list of blessings given in the preceding three verses. As we delineate them, let us rejoice as well.
"His abundant mercy" (v. 3). Mercy implies a compassionate act on one who is in desperate need. In context, God's mercy was granted to us in salvation when there was nothing we could do to save ourselves.
"Begotten us again" (v. 3). We have been born again! We are now His children, born into His family. We now have spiritual life--eternal life.
"A lively hope" (v. 3)--not just a living hope--it is much more than that. We have a hope that is actively, vibrantly alive. This "lively" state was accomplished in and through the bodily "resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead." Our eventual, eternal resurrection is thus assured.
"An inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you" (v. 4). This inheritance could not be more secure or more glorious.
"Kept by the power of God" (v. 5). The protection of God extends far beyond the inheritance; it encompasses the individual heir also--the one who has tasted of His mercy "through faith unto salvation."
"To be revealed in the last time" (v. 5). Though the saved are now freed from the penalty and power of sin, there will be a final deliverance from the presence of sin. Indeed, there is much about which to "greatly rejoice." JDM
Print this article
INSTITUTE FOR CREATION RESEARCH www.icr.org
April 17, 2008
Our lives today are continually badgered by various trials, or "manifold temptations." The trials are to bring about a pure and effective faith, pleasing to God. But the apostle Peter is not referring to trials or their results when he declares: "Wherein ye greatly rejoice." On the contrary, he is summing up a list of blessings given in the preceding three verses. As we delineate them, let us rejoice as well.
"His abundant mercy" (v. 3). Mercy implies a compassionate act on one who is in desperate need. In context, God's mercy was granted to us in salvation when there was nothing we could do to save ourselves.
"Begotten us again" (v. 3). We have been born again! We are now His children, born into His family. We now have spiritual life--eternal life.
"A lively hope" (v. 3)--not just a living hope--it is much more than that. We have a hope that is actively, vibrantly alive. This "lively" state was accomplished in and through the bodily "resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead." Our eventual, eternal resurrection is thus assured.
"An inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you" (v. 4). This inheritance could not be more secure or more glorious.
"Kept by the power of God" (v. 5). The protection of God extends far beyond the inheritance; it encompasses the individual heir also--the one who has tasted of His mercy "through faith unto salvation."
"To be revealed in the last time" (v. 5). Though the saved are now freed from the penalty and power of sin, there will be a final deliverance from the presence of sin. Indeed, there is much about which to "greatly rejoice." JDM
Print this article
INSTITUTE FOR CREATION RESEARCH www.icr.org
April 17, 2008
Wednesday, April 16, 2008
LIVING THE LIFE OF THE BLESSED MAN (Pt. 3)
Pastor Rick Jackson
For several weeks we have been talking about the blessed man. We saw in Ps. 1 the blessed man gets a charge out of life. In Mt. 5 we saw the blessed man gets the most out of life. Here we find the basics to LIVING THE LIFE OF THE BLESSED MAN. We will find that the lessons are repetitive to some degree but the emphasis is slightly different.
To live the life of the blessed man you must be:
I. A SAVED, SECURE MAN
1. The blessed man has placed his trust in Christ [Ps. 2:12]
2. The blessed man has perpetual forgiveness [Ps. 32:1]
3. The blessed man has permanent righteousness [Ps. 32:2]
II. A SANCTIFIED, SETTLED MAN
1. The blessed man continues to trust Christ [Ps. 34:8-9]
2. The blessed man continues to follow Christ [Ps. 40:4-11]
Thomas A Kempis wrote a book called "The Imitation of Christ", the songwriter expressed it, "Oh to be like thee", Peter simply said, (1 Peter 2:21) For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps:
3. The blessed man continues to exhibit Christ [Ps. 40:1-4]
III. A SPIRITUAL, SURRENDERED MAN
1. The blessed man responds to God's call [Ps. 65:1-5]
2. The blessed man relies on God's care [Ps. 84]
3. The blessed man rejoices in God's character [Ps. 89:5-18]
For several weeks we have been talking about the blessed man. We saw in Ps. 1 the blessed man gets a charge out of life. In Mt. 5 we saw the blessed man gets the most out of life. Here we find the basics to LIVING THE LIFE OF THE BLESSED MAN. We will find that the lessons are repetitive to some degree but the emphasis is slightly different.
To live the life of the blessed man you must be:
I. A SAVED, SECURE MAN
1. The blessed man has placed his trust in Christ [Ps. 2:12]
2. The blessed man has perpetual forgiveness [Ps. 32:1]
3. The blessed man has permanent righteousness [Ps. 32:2]
II. A SANCTIFIED, SETTLED MAN
1. The blessed man continues to trust Christ [Ps. 34:8-9]
2. The blessed man continues to follow Christ [Ps. 40:4-11]
Thomas A Kempis wrote a book called "The Imitation of Christ", the songwriter expressed it, "Oh to be like thee", Peter simply said, (1 Peter 2:21) For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps:
3. The blessed man continues to exhibit Christ [Ps. 40:1-4]
III. A SPIRITUAL, SURRENDERED MAN
1. The blessed man responds to God's call [Ps. 65:1-5]
2. The blessed man relies on God's care [Ps. 84]
3. The blessed man rejoices in God's character [Ps. 89:5-18]
Tuesday, April 15, 2008
NAILS IN THE FENCE
I had heard a different version of this some 20 years ago. Michelle sent me this one. I like it too.
There once was a little boy who had a bad temper. His Father gave him a bag of nails and told him that every time he lost his temper, he must hammer a nail into the back of the fence.
The first day the boy had driven 37 nails into the fence.
Over the next few weeks, as he learned to control his anger, the number of nails hammered daily gradually dwindled down. He discovered it was easier to hold his temper than to drive those nails into the fence.
Finally the day came when the boy didn't lose his temper at all. He told his father about it and the father suggested that the boy now pull out one nail for each day that he was able to hold his temper.
The days passed and the young boy was finally able to tell his father that all the nails were gone. The father took his son by the hand and led him to the fence. He said, "You have done well, my son, but look at the holes in the fence. The fence will never be the same. When you say things in anger, they leave a scar just like this one. You can put a knife in a man and draw it out. But It won't matter how many times you say I'm sorry, the wound will still be there. A verbal wound is as bad as a physical one. Remember that friends are very rare jewels, indeed. They make you smile and encourage you to succeed. They lend an ear, they share words of praise and they always want to open their hearts to us."
Proverbs 18:24 A man that hath friends must shew himself friendly: and there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother.
There once was a little boy who had a bad temper. His Father gave him a bag of nails and told him that every time he lost his temper, he must hammer a nail into the back of the fence.
The first day the boy had driven 37 nails into the fence.
Over the next few weeks, as he learned to control his anger, the number of nails hammered daily gradually dwindled down. He discovered it was easier to hold his temper than to drive those nails into the fence.
Finally the day came when the boy didn't lose his temper at all. He told his father about it and the father suggested that the boy now pull out one nail for each day that he was able to hold his temper.
The days passed and the young boy was finally able to tell his father that all the nails were gone. The father took his son by the hand and led him to the fence. He said, "You have done well, my son, but look at the holes in the fence. The fence will never be the same. When you say things in anger, they leave a scar just like this one. You can put a knife in a man and draw it out. But It won't matter how many times you say I'm sorry, the wound will still be there. A verbal wound is as bad as a physical one. Remember that friends are very rare jewels, indeed. They make you smile and encourage you to succeed. They lend an ear, they share words of praise and they always want to open their hearts to us."
Proverbs 18:24 A man that hath friends must shew himself friendly: and there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother.
Monday, April 14, 2008
Things Not to Say to a Cop When You're Pulled Over...
My future son-in-law, a future Cop, sent me this one... Thanks Kev!
I only had one officer Mr. Keg..
Back off Barney, I've got a piece.
Want to race to the station, Sparky?
I'm surprised you stopped me, Dunkin Donuts has a 3 for 1 special!
Hey, you must've been doing' about 125mph (200km/h) to keep up with me! Good job!
Sorry, Officer, I didn't realize my radar detector wasn't plugged in.
I thought you had to be in relatively good physical condition to be a Police Officer.
You know, I was going to be cop, but I decided to finish high school instead.
"Bad Cop! No Donut!"
I was trying to keep up with traffic.
You're NOT gonna check the trunk, are you?
Didn't I see you get beat up on "COPS" last week on TV?
I bet I could grab that gun before you finish writing my ticket
So, uh, you "on the take", or what?
That's terrific. The police officer yesterday only gave me a warning too!
Do you know why you pulled me over? Good, at least one of us does.
Hey is that a 9 mm? That's nothing compared to this .44 magnum.
Aren't you one of the Village People?
I only had one officer Mr. Keg..
Back off Barney, I've got a piece.
Want to race to the station, Sparky?
I'm surprised you stopped me, Dunkin Donuts has a 3 for 1 special!
Hey, you must've been doing' about 125mph (200km/h) to keep up with me! Good job!
Sorry, Officer, I didn't realize my radar detector wasn't plugged in.
I thought you had to be in relatively good physical condition to be a Police Officer.
You know, I was going to be cop, but I decided to finish high school instead.
"Bad Cop! No Donut!"
I was trying to keep up with traffic.
You're NOT gonna check the trunk, are you?
Didn't I see you get beat up on "COPS" last week on TV?
I bet I could grab that gun before you finish writing my ticket
So, uh, you "on the take", or what?
That's terrific. The police officer yesterday only gave me a warning too!
Do you know why you pulled me over? Good, at least one of us does.
Hey is that a 9 mm? That's nothing compared to this .44 magnum.
Aren't you one of the Village People?
Sunday, April 13, 2008
THE CURE OF REVIVAL
GENESIS 34:1-35:15
Pastor Rick Jackson
I. THE WAY OF THE WORLD [34:1-12]
1. The World Is Seductive [v. 1-2]
2. The World Is Blind [v. 3-7]
3. The World is Warped [v. 8-12]
II. THE WAY OF THE FLESH [34:13-31]
1. The Way of the Flesh is Deceptive [v. 13-17]
Jeremiah 17:9 The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it
2. The Way of the Flesh is Greedy [v. 18-24]
Galatians 5:16 This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh.
3. The Way of the Flesh is Destructive [v. 25-31]
Romans 8:13 For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live.
Galatians 6:8 For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting.
III. THE WAY OF REVIVAL [34:30-35:15]
1. There Must Be A Recognition & Forsaking of Sin [34:30-35:2]
1 John 1:8-9 If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
2. There Must Be A Recognition & Turning Toward God [35:3-7]
2 Chronicles 7:14 If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.
3. There Must Be An Answer from Heaven [35:8-15]
Pastor Rick Jackson
I. THE WAY OF THE WORLD [34:1-12]
1. The World Is Seductive [v. 1-2]
2. The World Is Blind [v. 3-7]
3. The World is Warped [v. 8-12]
II. THE WAY OF THE FLESH [34:13-31]
1. The Way of the Flesh is Deceptive [v. 13-17]
Jeremiah 17:9 The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it
2. The Way of the Flesh is Greedy [v. 18-24]
Galatians 5:16 This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh.
3. The Way of the Flesh is Destructive [v. 25-31]
Romans 8:13 For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live.
Galatians 6:8 For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting.
III. THE WAY OF REVIVAL [34:30-35:15]
1. There Must Be A Recognition & Forsaking of Sin [34:30-35:2]
1 John 1:8-9 If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
2. There Must Be A Recognition & Turning Toward God [35:3-7]
2 Chronicles 7:14 If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.
3. There Must Be An Answer from Heaven [35:8-15]
FOR THIS I HAVE JESUS
John 15:4 Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me.
Pastor Rick Jackson
Many years ago in a small church in Ireland a message was given in which the minister said that Jesus' words "Abide in me, and I in you," mean to simply say in every circumstance, "For this I Have Jesus," and Jesus will say," For This You Have Me."
While he was speaking, a telegram was delivered to the young pianist. It read: "Mother very ill, take first train home."
At the conclusion of the message she shared the telegram with us,and she added: "I have never traveled alone, but, ' For This I Have Jesus. I must take a midnight train, but, 'For This I Have Jesus.'I must cross the channel and make connections on the other side, but, 'For This I Have Jesus.' Then I take a long train trip to the south of England, but 'For This,' and all the suspense along the way, 'I Have Jesus'." As she spoke these words, we saw the Light of Heaven upon her face.
Several weeks later a letter came from her which was a song of praise. She wrote, "As I traveled that long sorrowful journey, I continued to say, 'For This I have Jesus,' and He answered, 'For This You Have Me.'
"As I reached home my sister fell sobbing on my shoulder saying, 'Oh, if you had come ten minutes sooner you would have seen Mother who so longed to see you.' Instantly I looked up and said, 'For This I Have Jesus,' and He came between me and my sorrow, and vain regrets had no power over me. We had never had a death or funeral in our family, and they all depended on my for every decision. Acknowledging my ignorance I said softly, 'For This I Have Jesus', and He gave me His wisdom for every detail. There was also His perfect peace for all legal matters that needed attention.
"Now life has become joyous and victorious as in every circumstance I continued to say, 'For This I Have Jesus'.
Consider Paul and Silas in the Philippian jail, beaten without cause, placed in the stocks, cruelly treated without a trial. Is there any doubt they said in effect, "For this I have Jesus,' and He said, "For this you have Me." And at midnight --- they sang praises.
Consider Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego as they refused to bow to an image even though a death sentence hung over them like Damocles sword. Did they not say. "For this we have Jesus" and did not He reply "For this you have Me"? When the king looked in the burning fiery furnace He saw four men, and the fourth, he said, "is like the Son of God."
Consider David as he faced the opposition of his brother, of the king, of Goliath himself. We know what he thought because the Scriptures tell us what he told that big galoot! He basically said, You come to me with sword and spear but for this I have Jesus! And Jesus replied in deed and er know what David knew, "For this you have Me."
Consider Stephen as the angry mob gnashed on him with their teeth after he preached unto them Jesus, he must have thought, "For this I have Jesus", and Jesus allowed Stephen to see Him standing on the right hand of God, was Jesus not saying in effect, "For This you have Me!"?
Consider John on the Isle of Patmos. All of his fellow disciples have died for the faith. Lonely, he stares out to sea but wait, it's the Lord's day, the weekly commemoration of the bodily resurrection of Jesus. John must have thought many time, "For this I have Jesus" and the answer must have come back to him, as surely as the waves breaking on the island, "For this you have Me." On this Lord's day he is in the spirit and the Lord Jesus appears to him and gives him a great revelation. It's not the revelation of St. John the Divine but rather it is
The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave unto him, to shew unto his servants things which must shortly come to pass; and he sent and signified it by his angel unto his servant John: Who bare record of the word of God, and of the testimony of Jesus Christ, and of all things that he saw.
Consider... yourself
1. SALVATION - When you come to the realization that you are a poor lost sinner, knowing because of your sin you deserve to go to a devil's Hell -consider this. Jesus, God in the flesh, left Heaven's glory to be born of a virgin. He lived a sinless life, He died a substitutionary death on your behalf on an old rugged cross. He was buried but three days later He rose from the dead in victory proving He was Who He said He was and that He had accomplished what He came to do. Receive Him as your Saviour. Then you can say with every blood washed, Heaven-bound believer, For This I Have Jesus!
2. SANCTIFICATION - How can God use me, a sinner saved by grace? Say dear friend, "For this I have Jesus" and He will reply "For this you have Me!" 1 Corinthians 1:30 But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and, sanctification, and redemption:
3. SORROW - Here we are with heart breaking, how can we face the future, the world, the day at hand. Look up and say, "For this I have Jesus" and He will reply "For this you have Me!"
1 Thessalonians 4:13-14 But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him.
4. SITUATIONS UNKNOWN - "Pastor, you don't know the future." No, but I know Who does! "But you can't begin to know my situation." No, but I know who does.
Psalm 121:1-2 I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help. My help cometh from the LORD, which made heaven and earth. What do you suppose the Psalmist was saying in effect?
"... What is the circumstance in you life today that is beyond your control? Is it sorrow, sickness, suffering, fear,unsaved relatives, disappointment, discouragement, guidance, finances, misunderstanding, or another trial? You, also, can look into His face and say, "For This I Have Jesus," and He will say, "For This you have Me."
Luke 12:27, 28 Consider the lilies how they grow: they toil not, they spin not; and yet I say unto you, that Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. If then God so clothe the grass, which is to day in the field, and to morrow is cast into the oven; how much more will he clothe you, O ye of little faith?
Heb. 13:5-8 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. Remember them which have the rule over you, who have spoken unto you the word of God: whose faith follow, considering the end of their conversation. Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever.
Story in italics taken from a tract published by the Gospel Tract Society, Inc.
Pastor Rick Jackson
Many years ago in a small church in Ireland a message was given in which the minister said that Jesus' words "Abide in me, and I in you," mean to simply say in every circumstance, "For this I Have Jesus," and Jesus will say," For This You Have Me."
While he was speaking, a telegram was delivered to the young pianist. It read: "Mother very ill, take first train home."
At the conclusion of the message she shared the telegram with us,and she added: "I have never traveled alone, but, ' For This I Have Jesus. I must take a midnight train, but, 'For This I Have Jesus.'I must cross the channel and make connections on the other side, but, 'For This I Have Jesus.' Then I take a long train trip to the south of England, but 'For This,' and all the suspense along the way, 'I Have Jesus'." As she spoke these words, we saw the Light of Heaven upon her face.
Several weeks later a letter came from her which was a song of praise. She wrote, "As I traveled that long sorrowful journey, I continued to say, 'For This I have Jesus,' and He answered, 'For This You Have Me.'
"As I reached home my sister fell sobbing on my shoulder saying, 'Oh, if you had come ten minutes sooner you would have seen Mother who so longed to see you.' Instantly I looked up and said, 'For This I Have Jesus,' and He came between me and my sorrow, and vain regrets had no power over me. We had never had a death or funeral in our family, and they all depended on my for every decision. Acknowledging my ignorance I said softly, 'For This I Have Jesus', and He gave me His wisdom for every detail. There was also His perfect peace for all legal matters that needed attention.
"Now life has become joyous and victorious as in every circumstance I continued to say, 'For This I Have Jesus'.
Consider Paul and Silas in the Philippian jail, beaten without cause, placed in the stocks, cruelly treated without a trial. Is there any doubt they said in effect, "For this I have Jesus,' and He said, "For this you have Me." And at midnight --- they sang praises.
Consider Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego as they refused to bow to an image even though a death sentence hung over them like Damocles sword. Did they not say. "For this we have Jesus" and did not He reply "For this you have Me"? When the king looked in the burning fiery furnace He saw four men, and the fourth, he said, "is like the Son of God."
Consider David as he faced the opposition of his brother, of the king, of Goliath himself. We know what he thought because the Scriptures tell us what he told that big galoot! He basically said, You come to me with sword and spear but for this I have Jesus! And Jesus replied in deed and er know what David knew, "For this you have Me."
Consider Stephen as the angry mob gnashed on him with their teeth after he preached unto them Jesus, he must have thought, "For this I have Jesus", and Jesus allowed Stephen to see Him standing on the right hand of God, was Jesus not saying in effect, "For This you have Me!"?
Consider John on the Isle of Patmos. All of his fellow disciples have died for the faith. Lonely, he stares out to sea but wait, it's the Lord's day, the weekly commemoration of the bodily resurrection of Jesus. John must have thought many time, "For this I have Jesus" and the answer must have come back to him, as surely as the waves breaking on the island, "For this you have Me." On this Lord's day he is in the spirit and the Lord Jesus appears to him and gives him a great revelation. It's not the revelation of St. John the Divine but rather it is
The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave unto him, to shew unto his servants things which must shortly come to pass; and he sent and signified it by his angel unto his servant John: Who bare record of the word of God, and of the testimony of Jesus Christ, and of all things that he saw.
Consider... yourself
1. SALVATION - When you come to the realization that you are a poor lost sinner, knowing because of your sin you deserve to go to a devil's Hell -consider this. Jesus, God in the flesh, left Heaven's glory to be born of a virgin. He lived a sinless life, He died a substitutionary death on your behalf on an old rugged cross. He was buried but three days later He rose from the dead in victory proving He was Who He said He was and that He had accomplished what He came to do. Receive Him as your Saviour. Then you can say with every blood washed, Heaven-bound believer, For This I Have Jesus!
2. SANCTIFICATION - How can God use me, a sinner saved by grace? Say dear friend, "For this I have Jesus" and He will reply "For this you have Me!" 1 Corinthians 1:30 But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and, sanctification, and redemption:
3. SORROW - Here we are with heart breaking, how can we face the future, the world, the day at hand. Look up and say, "For this I have Jesus" and He will reply "For this you have Me!"
1 Thessalonians 4:13-14 But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him.
4. SITUATIONS UNKNOWN - "Pastor, you don't know the future." No, but I know Who does! "But you can't begin to know my situation." No, but I know who does.
Psalm 121:1-2 I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help. My help cometh from the LORD, which made heaven and earth. What do you suppose the Psalmist was saying in effect?
"... What is the circumstance in you life today that is beyond your control? Is it sorrow, sickness, suffering, fear,unsaved relatives, disappointment, discouragement, guidance, finances, misunderstanding, or another trial? You, also, can look into His face and say, "For This I Have Jesus," and He will say, "For This you have Me."
Luke 12:27, 28 Consider the lilies how they grow: they toil not, they spin not; and yet I say unto you, that Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. If then God so clothe the grass, which is to day in the field, and to morrow is cast into the oven; how much more will he clothe you, O ye of little faith?
Heb. 13:5-8 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. Remember them which have the rule over you, who have spoken unto you the word of God: whose faith follow, considering the end of their conversation. Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever.
Story in italics taken from a tract published by the Gospel Tract Society, Inc.
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