THE GREAT INVITATION

MATTHEW 11:25-30                            

 

Pastor Rick Jackson

 

I. CONSIDER THE GREAT MESSAGE

 

1. It is a Purposeful Message [v. 28-30]

-this message has God’s interest for you- Psalms 8:4...What is man, that thou art mindful of him? and the son of man, that thou visitest him? [quoted in Hebrews 2 in relation to the incarnation]

-this message has God’s purpose for your life – salvation- John 6:37...All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out.

-this message has God’s pattern for your life-His Yoke- Eph. 2:8-10 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.

 

2. It is a Powerful Message [v. 28-30] this message has life-changing, destiny-altering, eternal implications

-life changing- 2 Corinthians 5:17… Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.

-destiny altering- Col. 1:13-14… Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son: In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins:

-eternal implications- Ephesians 2:7... That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus.

 

3. It is a Personal Message [v. 28, Acts 4:12, John 1:12, 14:6]

-Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.

-But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name…           -Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.

II. CONSIDER THE GREAT MASSES “all ye that labour and are heavy laden”

 

1. It is Universal –“All ye” for all the masses

- John 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

- Acts 17:30...And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent

- 2 Peter 3:9... The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.

 

2. It is Utilitarian, that is, It works because you can’t

- Isaiah 64:6... But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away.

- Titus 3:5... Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost;

 

3. It is Useful – it does for us what we cannot do for ourselves-removes our sin

- Ephesians 2:13...in context

But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ.

- 1 John 1:7... But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.

- Revelation 1:5... Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood

 

III. CONSIDER LASTLY, THE GREAT MASTER [v. 27-28]

 

1. He is Willing [Mark 1: 40-42]

And there came a leper to him, beseeching him, and kneeling down to him, and saying unto him, If thou wilt, thou canst make me clean. And Jesus, moved with compassion, put forth his hand, and touched him, and saith unto him, I will; be thou clean. And as soon as he had spoken, immediately the leprosy departed from him, and he was cleansed.

 

2. He is Able [Mark 2:7-12]

Why doth this man thus speak blasphemies? who can forgive sins but God only? And immediately when Jesus perceived in his spirit that they so reasoned within themselves, he said unto them, Why reason ye these things in your hearts? Whether is it easier to say to the sick of the palsy, Thy sins be forgiven thee; or to say, Arise, and take up thy bed, and walk? But that ye may know that the Son of man hath power on earth to forgive sins, (he saith to the sick of the palsy,) I say unto thee, Arise, and take up thy bed, and go thy way into thine house. And immediately he arose, took up the bed, and went forth before them all; insomuch that they were all amazed, and glorified God, saying, We never saw it on this fashion.

 

3. He is Compassionate

Mark 1:41... And Jesus, moved with compassion, put forth his hand, and touched him, and saith unto him, I will; be thou clean.

Mark 5:19... Howbeit Jesus suffered him not, but saith unto him, Go home to thy friends, and tell them how great things the Lord hath done for thee, and hath had compassion on thee.

Mark 6:34... And Jesus, when he came out, saw much people, and was moved with compassion toward them, because they were as sheep not having a shepherd: and he began to teach them many things.

JOHN R. RICE QUOTES OF THE WEEK

 Did I say in the paragraph above, "God the Holy Spirit"? Yes, and that is exactly who He is. The Holy Spirit is GOD, just as Jesus, God's Son, is GOD and just as God the Father is GOD. - John R. Rice [The Power of Pentecost, pg. 39]

When a stone is put into the wall of a building and then covered over with mortar and other stones, it is submerged or buried or covered in the wall. It is "baptized" in the wall. in that sense the Holy Spirit baptizes every new convert into the body of Christ, makes him a part of this body, the group of Christians who will be called out when Jesus comes. - John R. Rice [The Power of Pentecost, pg. 44]

The fact that God put restrictions on what they were doing at Corinth shows us that what they were doing was wrong. When God rebukes what they were doing, it shows it is not miraculous, not God-given. God never gave a miracle and then rebuked somebody for the way he used it. God never gives somebody a miraculous gift and then be angry with the way they use it. No, miraculous gifts don't need rebuking, don't need a restraint put on them; but they did in the use of natural languages over in Corinth. - John R. Rice

If America is to have the blessing of God in the future as it has had by mercy in the past, then Christians should return to the historic Christian faith. It is still true that "the Bible is the bulwark of our liberties" as General Grant, President Lincoln, Daniel Webster, President Woodrow Wilson, President Theodore Roosevelt and many another great Americans believed. American greatness is based on the Bible as the very Word of God. The way to God's continued blessing is for those who take the name of Christ to go back to the Bible and to the Christ of the Bible. - John R. Rice [Great Preaching on Patriotism, pg. 77]

To be baptized into the body of Christ simply means that one is regenerated by the Holy Spirit, has the Holy Spirit living in his body, and is now destined to be called out at the rapture of the general assembly and church of the first-born, when Jesus comes for His own. To be filled and covered or baptized with the Holy Spirit for service is another matter, as we will prove elsewhere. But to be buried, baptized into the body of Christ, is the usual and ordinary work of the Holy Spirit, which He does for every single person ever converted. The fullness of the Holy Spirit is another matter which many Christians never do receive, although they should. Every Christian is put into the body of Christ by the Holy Spirit. - John R. Rice [The Power of Pentecost, pg. 44-45]

There is no varying in the way the Holy Spirit regenerates, the way He dwells in the body of a Christian, the way He puts a convert into the body of Christ and makes him a member of that body. There is no difference in the way He Himself is the seal of redemption. But as the Christian life continues, the Holy Spirit will do more for the Christian--as much as the Christian permits. We might say that every Christian goes to the same school, but some learn more than others from the same teacher. - John R. Rice [The Power of Pentecost, pg. 46]

We are prone to forget what we read. But if we submit ourselves to the Holy Spirit, He will bring to our remembrance the things that Jesus said. - John R. Rice [The Power of Pentecost, pg. 47]

ARE YOU A STEWARD? WHAT KIND?

1 PETER 4

Pastor Rick Jackson

 

I. FOR THE CHRISTIAN, LIFE IS A MINDSET [v. 1-7]

 

1. Christ is Our Example [v. 1]

2. This Present Life is Our Timeframe [v. 1-4]

3. Pleasing Christ is Our Focus [v. 5-7]

 

II. FOR THE CHRISTIAN, LIFE IS A MINISTRY [v. 7-11]

 

1. We Should Have Fervent Charity [v. 7-9]

2. We Should “Work” Our Gifts [v. 10-11]

3. We Should “Give God the Glory” [v. 11]

 

III. FOR THE CHRISTIAN, LIFE IS A MORTIFICATION [v. 12-19]

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.

Colossians 3:5 - Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry:

 

1. “Die to Self” and Rejoice in Christ’s Reproach [v. 12-14] 

“If it was easy, everyone would be doing it.” – Bill Rice

2. “Die to Self” and Live Above Shame for Sin [v. 15-18]

 “I die daily” - Paul

3. “Die to Self” and Trust God for the Outcome [v. 19]

FIREWORKS DON’T LAST

Psalm 78:39 - For he remembered that they were but flesh; a wind that passeth away, and cometh not again.

Psalm 89:47 - Remember how short my time is: wherefore hast thou made all men in vain?

Pastor Rick Jackson

We often want good times or good things to last forever. We conversely are glad that bad times and/or bad things don’t last. Like the man who said his favorite verse of the Bible was “it came to pass” and he used that to comfort himself in troubled times. Fireworks are beautiful and exciting, eliciting oohs and aahs from appreciative onlookers, but they don’t last. Some things do, some things don’t.

I. THINGS THAT DON’T LAST PASS AWAY EVENTUALLY

1. The fashions of this world [1 Cor. 7:31]

the fashion of this world passeth away.

2. The lifetime of men [James 4:14]

Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away.

3. The world as it is [2 Pt. 3:10]

But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up.

II. THINGS THAT LAST ARE ETERNAL

1. The souls of mankind [Mt. 25:46, Lk. 16, Rev. 20]

And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal.

2. Damnation in Hell [Daniel 12:2]

And many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt.

3. Salvation in Christ [Mt. 25:46] 

And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal.

Jn. 3:15 That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life.

Jn. 10:28 And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.

III. DECISIONS MADE HERE AFFECT ETERNITY

1. What you do with Christ [Rm. 6:23, Jn. 1:12]

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

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

2. What you do for Christ [1 Cor. 3:10-13]

According to the grace of God which is given unto me, as a wise masterbuilder, I have laid the foundation, and another buildeth thereon. But let every man take heed how he buildeth thereupon. For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ. Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble; Every man's work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man's work of what sort it is.

Only one life, ’twill soon be past,

Only what’s done for Christ will last.

AMERICA HAS A PROBLEM

 

AMERICA HAS A PROBLEM

ROMANS 1:13-17

Pastor Rick Jackson

 

I. AMERICA HAS A PROBLEM BECAUSE OF THE WRATH OF GOD AGAINST UNGODLINESS & UNRIGHTEOUSNESS [v. 18]

 

Think of ungodliness as fighting the very image of God in which man was made. Unrighteousness speaks of the acts men commit while knowing the truth. 1 Jn. 5:17 declares, “All unrighteousness is sin.”

 

1. The Truth is that God Is [v. 19, Heb. 11:6]

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

 

2. The Truth is that God Is Creator [v. 20]

 

3. The Truth is that God is Worthy to be Glorified (recognized, honoured) [v. 21]

 

II. AMERICA HAS A PROBLEM BECAUSE OF THE FOOLISHNESS OF MEN

 

1.  Promoting the Creature while denigrating the Creator [v. 21-23]

 

2.  Perverting their Bodies [v. 24-27]

 

3.  Perverting their Minds [v. 28-32]

 

III. AMERICA HAS A PROBLEM BECAUSE OF THE PERFECT PRONOUNCEMENT OF GOD

 

1. No Excuse [2:1-2]

 

2. No Escape [2:3-5]

 

3. No Exceptions [2:6-12]

 

IV. GOD HAS THE SOLUTION [6:23]

 

1. God Has the Solution For the Individual [Rm. 1:16, 10:9-13]

- For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.

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

 

2. God Has the Solution for the Nation [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.

JOHN R. RICE QUOTES OF THE WEEK

 You say, "Wickedness is so great. There is so much sin." Yes, but wherever there is sin there is heartbreak. And heartbroken people are easier to win than the self-satisfied. The old Devil is always overstepping himself. God makes the wrath of men to praise Him. God sometimes lets the Devil do some of his work in order to get sinners ready to be saved. "Where sin abounded, grace did much more abound" (Rom. 5:20). I say, the fact is, sin never satisfies anybody. - John R. Rice [Ten Messages That Changed Ten Thousand Lives, pg. 260]

Do you want to know why I am bold in my preaching? I will tell you why. People may look very mad and talk very sharp, but I know one thing about them: there is something inside that says, "You fool! That preacher is right. You are getting nowhere. You are going to cause your home to break up if you don't watch out. You will lose your job. Then you will wake up in Hell if you don't watch out. That preacher is right!" When I preach sharp, plain and hard messages some people don't like it. But there is something down inside that says, "You had better listen, old boy, to God's man. That fellow is right!" Conscience is a friend of the Gospel. - John R. Rice [Ten Messages That Changed Ten Thousand Lives, pg. 261]

Many long for revival and pray for revival. As solemnly as I know how I urge that there cannot possible be any great revival except by a mighty moving of the Holy Spirit as God's people seek his power and wait upon Him for enduement from on high. And I believe that revival is the only hope of survival for Bible Christianity in the churches. O God, send upon us the power of Pentecost that we may see the revival for which we have so longed prayed and for which we now devoutly yearn! - John R. Rice {The Power of Pentecost, pg. 10]

Satan has no happy old people. - John R. Rice

It is startling to realize the work that the Holy Spirit does for a human being. It is the Holy Spirit who convicts a sinner, the Holy Spirit who regenerates one who trusts in Christ, the Holy Spirit who makes him a new creature. It is the Holy Spirit who comforts a Christian, who brings the witness and assurance of salvation into his heart. It is the Holy Spirit who helps a Christian to understand the Bible, helps a Christian to pray, brings to his memory the commands of Christ. It is the Holy Spirit who works out and develops and produces the fruit of the Spirit, the Christian graces, in the Christian's life: "love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance" (Gal. 5:22, 23). - John R. Rice [The Power of Pentecost, pg. 37]

Many people thoughtlessly speak of the Holy Spirit as "it." Perhaps when the matter is called to their attention they say, "Oh, I know better." Well, in one's head one may know better, but actually one has not come to realize that the Holy Spirit is a blessed and real and familiar person, if he speaks of the Holy Spirit as an impersonal, neuter "it." No woman who loves her husband ever speaks of him as "it" because she does not feel that way about him. She knows him as a living, loving person and so calls him by the masculine pronoun. And Christians everywhere who learn to know the Holy Spirit intimately speak about Him and speak to Him with the greatest reverence and with the masculine pronoun, just as we refer to God the Father and just as we refer to our Saviour Jesus Christ, God's Son. The Holy Spirit is a blessed and wonderful person with whom the Christian should become very intimately acquainted. - John R. Rice [The Power of Pentecost, pg. 38]

The Holy Spirit is the one person of the Godhead with whom the Christian has the most intimate and daily contact. For Christ, with a glorified, resurrected body, is in Heaven, sitting at the right hand of the Father, interceding for us. But God the Holy Spirit literally lives within the body of the Christian, is with him all the time and represents the Father and represents Jesus Christ. - John R. Rice [The Power of Pentecost, pg. 39]

ARE YOU A RIGHTLY DIVIDING CHRISTIAN?

1 Peter 3:15-22

 

Pastor Rick Jackson

 

Located within these verses are two unnecessarily complex questions with rather simple but strong Biblical solutions. I am reminded of how Jesus once told the Sadducees, "Ye do err, not knowing the scriptures, nor the power of God." This is somewhat the case herein. Some, having heard the off-the-wall explanations of some early interpreters repeated the same mistakes until they snowballed into semi-widely held viewpoints that are unreasonably mystical and unmistakably unscriptural. Just because a large number of people believe something doesn't make it accurate. Most people wrongly believe Heaven can be attained by good works. Salvation is the "gift of God" [Rm. 6:23, Eph. 2:8-9].

 

I. DID JESUS GO TO HELL TO PREACH? [18-20]

 

Variations of this theme have Jesus suffering in Hell for 3 days, being beat up for 3 days by the Devil and his demons, being locked up for three days and then demanding the keys and leaving. Another view has paradise and hades both together in the center of the earth but segregated. Jesus later moving paradise to Heaven and taking with Him a contingent of others.

Forgetting for the moment the weirdness of these many views let us look at the one thought to be taught here exclusively. That is the view that Jesus, sometime after His death, before His resurrection, went to Hell and preached to the lost souls that had lived in Noah's day.

 

1. The problems are immediate!

-what would be preached to lost souls in Hell? Another chance of salvation? Or was this a "ha-ha, look at you, you blew it!"

-why just those particular spirits--- why not all the lost in Hell?

-this view also opens the door for many weird views (some already mentioned)

 

2. The solution is Biblical!

The Bible is always the best interpreter of the Bible. Apply basic laws of Biblical interpretation here (as well as everywhere else). #1 Check the context. #2 Compare Scripture with Scripture. #3 If the plain sense makes good sense seek no other sense. #4 Always interpret unclear passages by clear passages not vice-versa.

 

Here's the solution: Christ, by the spirit, preached through Noah while Noah was building the ark. This puts the time in place in Noah's lifetime. Christ through the Holy Spirit offered salvation to a lost and dying world for 120 years. Their refusal of God's mercy culminated in the flood.

 

Does this meet the rules of Bible interpretation mentioned. Yes! On all counts.

-1 Peter 1:10-12 establishes the Spirit of Christ was in the Old Testament prophets.

 

-Heb. 9:27 establishes there are no second chances after death

it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment:

 

-Rev. 20:11-15 establishes when the lost will be judged (not made fun of) for their sin

 

-Lk. 23:43, 46 establish Christ went to paradise and was in the hands of the Father not the devil.

v. 43 And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, To day shalt thou be with me in paradise…   v. 46 And when Jesus had cried with a loud voice, he said, Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit: and having said thus, he gave up the ghost.

-Mt. 25:41, Rev. 20:10 establish when the Devil is cast into Hell and that he won't be in charge there "Better to rule in Hell than serve in Heaven is not Biblical nor true!

-Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels:

-And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever.

 

-Mt. 10:28, Rev. 1:18 establish Christ has always had the keys to Hell and death

-And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.

-I am he that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death.

 

-Jn. 19:30 and Luke 23:46  establish that Jesus finished paying for our sins on the cross and didn't have to go to Hell for three days

-When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, he said, It is finished: and he bowed his head, and gave up the ghost.

-And when Jesus had cried with a loud voice, he said, Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit: and having said thus, he gave up the ghost.

 

-the “raptures” of Enoch (Gn. 5) and Elijah ( 2 Kings 2) establish the abode of the saved dead "up" in Heaven rather than in the belly of the earth even before Christ's resurrection

 

other Scriptural interpretations of Eph. 4 are possible without resorting to fanciful speculations

 

II. DOES BAPTISM WASH AWAY SINS? [v. 21]

 

The problems are immediate & the solution is Biblical!

 

1. Simply put, baptism is a work of righteousness [Mt. 3:15, Titus 3:5]

 

2. Christ's blood (not baptismal waters) wash away sin [Rev. 1:5]

 

3. Baptism is not part of the saving Gospel [Rm. 1:16, 1 Cor. 1:14-17, 15:1-4]

 

4. The verse expressly says it doesn't get rid of sin! [v. 21]

The like figure whereunto even baptism doth also now save us (not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God,) by the resurrection of Jesus Christ:

 

III. ARE YOU AN OBEDIENT CHRISTIAN?

 

1. Are You Rightly Dividing the Bible [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.

 

2. Do You Understand the Meaning of Baptism? [Rm. 6:1-12]

 

3. Have You Obeyed the Lord and Been Scripturally Baptized After Being Saved? [Mt. 28:18-20]

THE LORD IS THY KEEPER

PSALM 121:5

                                                                 

Pastor Rick Jackson

 

I. THE HILLS THAT REMIND [v. 1]

 

1. Sinai reminds us of the Law [Nehemiah 9:13, Gal. 4:21-25]

- Thou camest down also upon mount Sinai, and spakest with them from heaven, and gavest them right judgments, and true laws, good statutes and commandments:

- Tell me, ye that desire to be under the law, do ye not hear the law? For it is written, that Abraham had two sons, the one by a bondmaid, the other by a freewoman. But he who was of the bondwoman was born after the flesh; but he of the freewoman was by promise. Which things are an allegory: for these are the two covenants; the one from the mount Sinai, which gendereth to bondage, which is Agar. For this Agar is mount Sinai in Arabia, and answereth to Jerusalem which now is, and is in bondage with her children.

 

2. Jerusalem reminds us of the Promise [Gal. 4:26-28]

But Jerusalem which is above is free, which is the mother of us all. For it is written, Rejoice, thou barren that bearest not; break forth and cry, thou that travailest not: for the desolate hath many more children than she which hath an husband. Now we, brethren, as Isaac was, are the children of promise.

 

3. Calvary reminds us of Grace [Luke 23:33]

And when they were come to the place, which is called Calvary, there they crucified him, and the malefactors, one on the right hand, and the other on the left.

II. THE HELP THAT REMOVES [v. 2-6] The Help that comes from the Creator removes:

 

1.  Instability [v. 2-3, 2 Thessalonians 3:3]

But the Lord is faithful, who shall stablish you, and keep you from evil.]

 

2.  Uneasiness [v. 4, Philippians 4:7]

And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

 

3.  Insecurity [v. 5-6, John 17:11]

Holy Father, keep through thine own name those whom thou hast given me…

 

III. THE HOPE THAT REMAINS [v. 7-8]

 

1. Preservation from Satan [v. 7a, John 17:15]

I pray not that thou shouldest take them out of the world, but that thou shouldest keep them from the evil.

 

2. Preservation of the Soul [v. 7b, Jude 1:24, 2 Timothy 1:12, 1 Peter 1:5]

-Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding Joy

-I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day.

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

 

3. Preservation Forever [v. 8, 2 Timothy 4:18]

WHO’S IN CHARGE?

EZEKIEL 28

 

Pastor Rick Jackson

 

I. NOT THE WISE [v. 1-10, 1 Corinthians 1:19]

For it is written, I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and will bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent.

 

1. Pride Unrecognized Brings Delusion [v. 1-6, 1 Corinthians 10:12]

Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall.

 

2. Pride Unrestrained Brings Destruction [v. 7-8, Proverbs 16:18]

Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall.

 

3. Pride Unrepented Brings Death [v. 9-10, Rev. 20:14]

And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death.

 

II. NOT THE WICKED ONE [v. 11-19, Matthew 13:38]

The field is the world; the good seed are the children of the kingdom; but the tares are the children of the wicked one;

 

1. The Perfect Creation [v. 11-15]

 

2. The Prideful Corruption [v. 16-17]

 

3. The Public Condemnation [v. 18-19]

WHO’S IN CHARGE?

 

III. NOTABLY, THE WISE SOVEREIGN [1 Timothy 1:17]

Now unto the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only wise God, be honour and glory for ever and ever. Amen.

 

1. The Lord Who is Sovereign Speaks [v. 1-2, 6, 10, 11-12]

 

2. The Lord Who is Sovereign Sees [v. 2, 6, 17, 1 Samuel 16:7]

… the Lord seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the Lord looketh on the heart.

 

3. The Lord Who is Sovereign Saves [v. 25-26, Joel 2:32, Rm. 10:13]

-And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be delivered: for in mount Zion and in Jerusalem shall be deliverance, as the Lord hath said, and in the remnant whom the Lord shall call.

- For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.

 

4. The Lord Who is Sovereign Judges [Rev. 20:11-13]

And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them. And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works. And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works.

 

5. The Lord Who is Sovereign Reigns [Revelation 11:15]

JOHN R. RICE QUOTES OF THE WEEK

 Later they [the disciples] said, "There is a storm at sea." They said, "Jesus, wake up! We are about to sink! Don't you care if we perish?" He said, "But where is your faith?" Do you think that boat can go down with the Creator of Heaven and earth in it? Do you THINK any storm can get Jesus? If you do, you have another THINK coming. Where is your faith? The one thing that would decide whether you are scared or not more than everything else put together would be your faith. Oh, how we must grieve Him with no faith! "Have faith in God." - John R. Rice [Ten Messages That Changed Ten Thousand Lives, pg. 153]

A woman wrote me: "I have read your book on Prayer. I have read others of your books and I know you are a man of faith. I am asking you to pray about. . . ." and she named what she wanted me to pray about. I write a book on Prayer and so somebody says, "Oh, I see that you have a pull with God." I didn't write a book to say what a great pray-er I am; I wrote a book to show what a great answer-er to prayer God is. You may not believe it, but God would as willingly answer your prayers as those of George Muller, Elijah, D. L. Moody, or anybody else. "O thou that hearest prayer, unto thee shall all flesh come," says Psalm 65:2. All right, then "whosoever"--all flesh-- is to come in prayer. - John R. Rice [Ten Messages That Changed Ten Thousand Lives, pg. 153-154]

Remember the demon-possessed boy? Jesus came down form the Mount of Transfiguration and with Him were Peter, James and John. And as the mobs and commotion grew, Jesus said, "What is going on?" A man said, "It's my boy! My poor boy! The old Devil throws him in the water and the fire and tries to kill him. He can't talk. He is devil-possessed. I brought him to the disciples and they couldn't do anything. Maybe you can't either."

Jesus said, "You've got the 'if' in the wrong place. If thou canst believe, all things are possible to him that believeth" (Mark 9:23). He said, "O faithless and perverse generation, how long shall I be with you? how long shall I suffer you? bring him hither to me" (Matt. 17:17), He healed the boy and gave him to his father. - John R. Rice [Ten Messages That Changed Ten Thousand Lives, pg. 176]

When you come out of the water, picturing new life, you didn't get that new life in the water. It is an object lesson picturing the new life. You can go into the water a dry sinner and come up a wet sinner. Baptism ought to picture something that has happened already. Do not think that baptism secures salvation. It does not. Baptism pictures salvation. - John R. Rice [Ten Messages That Changed Ten Thousand Lives, pg.196]

Baptism pictures salvation. It not only ought to picture that this old man is now dead to sin but also that he is alive to newness of life. New life. New power. Walking like Jesus. Wanting what Jesus wants. Going in His power. Jesus lived and died to save sinners; so that must be the Christian's aim. - John R. Rice [Ten Messages That Changed Ten Thousand Lives, pg.196]

Let me tell you, this pussyfooting generation has scholarship but not the power of God. This pussyfooting generation says the only real vital issue is love. Love everybody, pat the Devil's crowd on the back and tell them how nice they are. That is not New Testament Christianity. New Testament Christianity is bold against sin, bold to attack it, bold to expect the hand of God to intervene to save sinners. So our great lack is the fullness of the Spirit, which gives boldness to our testimony. - John R. Rice [Ten Messages That Changed Ten Thousand Lives, pg. 203]

I was saved in a Baptist church, and I grew up to love Baptist people. And I suspect I absorbed a lot of Baptist prejudice. Not that it is wrong to be a Baptist, but it is wrong to believe that Baptists are the only people in the world going to Heaven. It ought to be Jesus and the Bible first.

I believe one ought to be baptized by immersion. I believe one ought not be baptized until he is saved. I believe nobody should be a member of the church but saved people. I believe it is wrong to sprinkle babies. I believe when Jesus saves us, we are saved forever. All that is Baptist doctrine. So I am a Baptist.

But some people foolishly claim that it means more than that. Some claim it is loyalty to the denomination, that Baptists are THE people, etc. I do not believe one's loyalty should be to a denomination but to Christ and the Bible. - John R. Rice [Ten Messages That Changed Ten Thousand Lives, pg. 230]

ARE YOU A TESTIMONY? WHAT KIND?

1 PETER 3

 

Pastor Rick Jackson

 

I. WHAT KIND OF WIFE ARE YOU?

 

1. The Kind Who Accepts God’s Will for Your Role? [v. 1-2]

 

2. The Kind Who Accepts God’s Way for Your Role? [v. 3-4]

 

3. The Kind Who Accepts God’s Wisdom for Your Role? [v. 5-6]

 

II. WHAT KIND OF HUSBAND ARE YOU? [v. 7]

 

1. Are You the Kind Who Knows God? [2 Peter 3:18]

 

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

 

2. Are You the Kind Who Honors Your Wife and Her Place? [Num. 16:9-11]

 

Seemeth it but a small thing unto you, that the God of Israel hath separated you from the congregation of Israel, to bring you near to himself to do the service of the tabernacle of the Lord, and to stand before the congregation to minister unto them? And he hath brought thee near to him, and all thy brethren the sons of Levi with thee: and seek ye the priesthood also? For which cause both thou and all thy company are gathered together against the Lord: and what is Aaron, that ye murmur against him?

 

3. Are You the Kind Who Recognizes You are Heirs Together?

 

III. WHAT KIND OF TESTIMONY ARE YOU?

 

1. Are You of One Mind? [v. 8-14, Phil. 2:5]

 

Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:

 

2. Are You Ready? [v. 15-17]

 

3. Are You Obedient? [v. 18-22, 1:10-12]

 

Of which salvation the prophets have inquired and searched diligently, who prophesied of the grace that should come unto you: Searching what, or what manner of time the Spirit of Christ which was in them did signify, when it testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ, and the glory that should follow. Unto whom it was revealed, that not unto themselves, but unto us they did minister the things, which are now reported unto you by them that have preached the gospel unto you with the Holy Ghost sent down from heaven; which things the angels desire to look into.

MEASURING GREATNESS

MATTHEW 11

 

Pastor Rick Jackson

 

"Be not afraid of greatness: some men are born great, some achieve greatness and some have greatness thrust upon them." ~ William Shakespeare

One modern wag paraphrased this quote and said, "Some men are born mediocre, some men achieve mediocrity, and some men have mediocrity thrust upon them."

 

Here's a question for you. Outside of the Lord Jesus, who, in your opinion, was the greatest person to ever live? Noah? Moses? Joshua? Ruth? David? Elijah? Elisha? Esther? Isaiah? Daniel? One of the twelve? Peter, Paul or Mary?

Note one answer which the Lord Jesus Christ would give in verse 11, Verily I say unto you, Among them that are born of women there hath not risen a greater than John the Baptist: notwithstanding he that is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.

 

How can there be none born of woman greater than John and yet the least in the kingdom be greater than him? As always the Scriptures have the answer. Brother Roloff once said, "There is not a question asked in the Scriptures that is not also answered in the Scripture." I have never found that statement to be wrong in my experience and study.

 

I. WHY THE WORLD OFTEN MISSES GREATNESS

 

1. They Have Rejected the Standard of Greatness  [v. 11-15]

 

2. They Want It Their Way NOT the Right Way [v. 16-17]

 

3. They Are Wildly Inconsistent and Hypocritical [v. 18-19]

 

II. THINGS THAT MADE JOHN GREAT [v. 2-11]

 

1. He Endeavored Honorably to Settle His Doubts [v. 2-6]

Mark 9:24 And straightway the father of the child cried out, and said with tears, Lord, I believe help thou mine unbelief.

 

2. He Endured Hardship to Serve His Master [v. 7-9]

2 Timothy 2:3 Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ

 

3. He Endeared Himself to the Saviour with His Attitude [v. 10-11a]

John 3:30 He must increase, but I must decrease.

 

III. THE GREATNESS OF THE LEAST [v. 11]

 

1. A New Nature Without Competition [Rm. 7:14-25]

Galatians 5:17 For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would.

 

2. A New Mind Without Carnality or Limitations [Rm. 8:6-7]

1 Corinthians 13:12 For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known.

 

3. A New Body Without Corruption [Rm. 8:21-23, 1 Cor. 15:50-54]

Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption. Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory.

AN ORDINARY DAD WITH AN EXTRAORDINARY GOD

MARK 9:14-27

 

Pastor Rick Jackson

 

I. A FATHER'S HORROR

 

1. Distractions [v. 14-15]

 

2. Delays [v. 16]

 

3. Disappointments [v. 17-18]

 

II. A FATHER'S HEART

 

1. The Perception of Care [v. 19-22a]

 

2. The Prayer of Compassion [v. 22]

 

3. The Passionate Confession [v. 23-24]

 

III. A FATHER'S HELP

 

1. The Lord Who Can [v. 22-23] You’ve got the “if” in the wrong place!

 

2. The Lord Who Cares [v. 19, 24, Matthew 14:14]

And Jesus went forth, and saw a great multitude, and was moved with compassion toward them, and he healed their sick.

 

3. The Lord Who Will [v. 25-27, Hebrews 4:14-16]

 

Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession. For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.

JOHN R. RICE QUOTES OF THE WEEK

 There are Christians here tonight who have never read the Bible through once. There are preachers here tonight who do not read ten chapters a day in the Bible; and that is your life's work. No doubt some preachers are here tonight who have not read all the Bible through at all. Then you wonder why you have no power! - John R. Rice [Ten Messages That Changed Ten Thousand Lives, pg. 125-126]

I tell you, we had better begin to live in this Book. - John R. Rice [Ten Messages That Changed Ten Thousand Lives, pg. 126]

Nobody can understand the Bible if you have a thousand detours, if you don't put first things first. Millions have varying theories and tomfool ideas about Pentecost. Some talk about it being the "birthday of the church." Others talk about a new dispensation; others, about social reforms. The only reform God talks about is just keeping people out of Hell. Three thousand saved in one day is a good example! If you get concerned about what God is talking about, you won't go wrong in doctrine. You won't be led astray by every shifting wind. - John R. Rice [Ten Messages That Changed Ten Thousand Lives, pg. 141]

"Brother Rice, I don't believe there are any more miracles performed." You don't? What do you think conversions is? What do you think regeneration is? We are talking about things that are supernatural, things only God can do; not ordinary but extraordinary; not human but Divine' not explainable but inexplicable. "The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth" (John 3:8). That is the way people are born again. . - John R. Rice [Ten Messages That Changed Ten Thousand Lives, pg. 145]

Prayer is asking; the answer to prayer is receiving. - John R. Rice

You say, "Brother Rice, the day of physical miracles is over." Who told you so? You may have read it in some geography book. Or Darby said it, didn't he? I use a Scofield Bible-the best reference Bible in the world-but on the matter of dispensationalism, it is wrong for anyone to teach that miracles are not for us, that they were just for the Jews. Now God has a plan for the Jews all right, but when it comes to the nature of God, answered prayer, the Holy Ghost, the supernatural intervention in the lives of men, God is talking as much to John R. Rice as he is to Elijah, and anybody else. He sure is! - John R. Rice [Ten Messages That Changed Ten Thousand Lives, pg. 145-146]

Preachers and Christian workers, if you don't have miracles, then it is worthless. Some say it is getting hard to have revivals. It is not getting hard; it has always been hard, in fact, impossible unless God steps in. You say that sinners' hearts are so hard, that sinners are deaf. They are not deaf; they are DEAD. And if you don't have a God who raises the dead, then shut up and go plow corn, or be a plumber, or a schoolteacher. You have to have miracles to win souls. If you don't have a God who can make a drunkard sober when Alcoholics Anonymous can't, if you don't have a God who can make a harlot pure when there is no other power that can, if you don't have a God who can make an infidel into a happy believer when all the arguments can't, if you don't have a God who can make a sinner bound for Hell into a child of God, then shut your mouth; you are not called to preach. You haven't got anything to say. - John R. Rice [Ten Messages That Changed Ten Thousand Lives, pg. 146-147]

Later they [the disciples] said, "There is a storm at sea." They said, "Jesus, wake up! We are about to sink! Don't you care if we perish?" He said, "But where is your faith?" Do you think that boat can go down with the Creator of Heaven and earth in it? Do you THINK any storm can get Jesus? If you do, you have another THINK coming. Where is your faith? The one thing that would decide whether you are scared or not more than everything else put together would be your faith. Oh, how we must grieve Him with no faith! "Have faith in God." - John R. Rice [Ten Messages That Changed Ten Thousand Lives, pg. 153]