AH, TO BE LIKE JESUS

LUKE 17:1

Pastor Rick Jackson

 

It is depressing, is it not, to think back to something we wished we had not said? To remember when we said something carelessly that hurt someone’s feelings to such a degree it may have changed their life – in a sad way? I am not referring to hard truths people must know but hard hearts that wound with words and actions. Do you realize the Lord Jesus never said an unkind word? He never hurt someone needlessly. He never wounded someone’s spirit. Ah, to be like Jesus. David expressed his desire to be like Jesus when he said, “I shall be satisfied, when I awake, with thy likeness.”

What We Need:

I. CHRISTIAN MANNERS [v. 1-6]

1. Be Circumspect [v. 1-2, James 3]

2. Be Compassionate [v. 3-4, Eph. 4:15]

“Speaking the truth in love”

3. Be Critical of Yourself [v. 5-6, Rm. 10:17, Phil. 3:7-14] Don’t be satisfied with your status quo

THE BEST

LUKE 15:17-22

Pastor Rick Jackson

 

I. THE BEST TRANSACTION

1. The Price Paid [1 Corinthians 6:20]

For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's.

-1 Corinthians 7:23 Ye are bought with a price; be not ye the servants of men.

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

2. The Person Received [John 1:11-12]

He came unto his own, and his own received him not. 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:

3. The Privileges Received [[John 1:12]

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:

 

II. THE BEST TRANSITION

1. From Darkness to Light [Acts 26:18]

To open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in me.

2. From Death unto Life [John 5:24, 1 John 3:14]

-Verily, verily, I say unto you , He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.

-We know that we have passed from death unto life, because we love the brethren. He that loveth not his brother abideth in death.

3. From Lost to Saved [Luke 19:10]

For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost.

 

III. THE BEST TRANSLATION [Hebrews 11:5]

By faith Enoch was translated that he should not see death; and was not found, because God had translated him: for before his translation he had this testimony, that he pleased God.

1. From Earthy to Heavenly [1 Cor. 15:35-50]

2. From Corruptible to Incorruptible [1 Cor. 15:51-53a]

3. From Mortal to Immortality [1 Cor. 15:53b-57]

 

THE BEST LIFE IN RESPONSE – 1 Cor. 15:58 Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.

HE THAT MADE ME WHOLE

JOHN 5:11

Pastor Rick Jackson

 

I. HE KNOWS [John 5:5-8]

1. He Sees Us [v.5-6]

2. He Knows Our Situation [v. 6]

3. He Knows Us [v. 6-8]

 

II. HE CAN [John 5:8-23]

1. He Can Do It [v. 8-9]

2. He Can Defend It [v. 10-17]

3. He Can Defend It [v. 18-23]

 

III. HE WILL [John 5:24-30]

1. He Will Save [v. 24]

2. He Will Raise the Dead [v. 25-26, 21]

3. He Will Judge [v. 22, 27-30]

TRUTH UNDER FIRE

MARK 4:1-2, 9-13

Pastor Rick Jackson

 

I. FOUR SOILS, 3 ENEMIES, 2 TYPES OF PEOPLE

1. The Way Side – Satan & the Unsaved [v. 3-4, 14-15]

2. The Stony Ground – the Flesh & the Unsaved [v. 5-6, 16-17]

3. The Thorny Ground – the Saved & the World [v. 7, 18-19]

4. The Good Ground- the Saved and the Spirit [v. 8-9, 20]

 

II. ENEMIES OF?

1. Enemies of the Saviour [v. 14, Mt. 13:37-39]

He answered and said unto them, He that soweth the good seed is the Son of man; The field is the world; the good seed are the children of the kingdom; but the tares are the children of the wicked one; The enemy that sowed them is the devil; the harvest is the end of the world; and the reapers are the angels.

2. Enemies of the Bible [v. 14-20]

3. Enemies of the Soul [v. 15-19, 1 Pt. 5:8, 2 Cor. 4:3-4]

-Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:

-But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost: In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.

 

III. SIMPLE LESSONS FROM THE SCRIPTURE

1. Every Christian Should Produce Fruit [v. 19]

2. Not Every Christian Produces the Same Amount of Fruit [v. 19-20]

3. God Desires Fruit [v. 20-21, John 15:8, Phil. 4:17]

- Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples.

- Not because I desire a gift: but I desire fruit that may abound to your account.

3 PRAYERS GOD WANTS TO ANSWER IN 2025

PSALM 81:1-10

Pastor Rick Jackson

 

God wants to answer the prayers of the lost – specifically He wants them to pray for receive Christ and save them and God longs for that to happen and He will save. The section we have read is primarily to Israel, but it certainly has application to Christians. God wants us to pray. God wants us to pray big prayers. God wants to answer said “big” prayers. Let us explore three of those big prayers.

 

I. GOD WANTS TO GIVE US GRACE BEYOND OUR EXPECTATIONS [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.

1. Grace Despite His Knowledge of Us [4:12-13]

2. Grace Depending on Our Relationship with Christ [4:14-15]

3. Grace Delivering Mercy, Grace & Help for Our Need [4:16]

 

II. GOD WANTS TO GIVE US WISDOM BEYOND OUR YEARS [Jm. 1:5]

If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.

1. Wisdom based on the Bible [James 1:5-8]

2. Wisdom from Above shown in a Life Below [James 3:13-18]

3. Wisdom from Knowing God [Eph. 1:15-18]

Wherefore I also, after I heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus, and love unto all the saints, Cease not to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers; That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him: The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints,

 

III. GOD WANTS TO GIVE US STRENGTH BEYOND OUR MEANS

they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.

1. Seek His Strength in His Presence [1 Chr. 16:10-11]

Glory ye in his holy name: let the heart of them rejoice that seek the LORD. Seek the LORD and his strength, seek his face continually.

2. Seek His Strength in His Place [1 Chronicles 16:23-27]

Sing unto the LORD, all the earth; shew forth from day to day his salvation. Declare his glory among the heathen; his marvellous works among all nations. For great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised: he also is to be feared above all gods. For all the gods of the people are idols: but the LORD made the heavens. Glory and honour are in his presence; strength and gladness are in his place.

3. Seek His Strength in His Person [Is. 40: 28-31]

Hast thou not known? hast thou not heard, that the everlasting God, the LORD, the Creator of the ends of the earth, fainteth not, neither is weary? there is no searching of his understanding. He giveth power to the faint; and to them that have no might he increaseth strength. Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall: But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.

KEEPING CHRISTMAS ALL YEAR

PSALM 118:24

Pastor Rick Jackson

This is the day which the LORD hath made; we will rejoice and be glad in it.

1. Happy Holidays- Hallowed Holy Days [Ps. 118:24, Rm. 14:5-8]

-This is the day which the LORD hath made; we will rejoice and be glad in it.

- One man esteemeth one day above another : another esteemeth every day alike. Let every man be fully persuaded in his own mind. He that regardeth the day, regardeth it unto the Lord; and he that regardeth not the day, to the Lord he doth not regard it. He that eateth, eateth to the Lord, for he giveth God thanks; and he that eateth not, to the Lord he eateth not, and giveth God thanks. For none of us liveth to himself, and no man dieth to himself. For whether we live, we live unto the Lord; and whether we die, we die unto the Lord: whether we live therefore, or die, we are the Lord's.

2. Christmas Gifts- the Gifts of God [Acts 10:45, Rm. 11:29, 1 Cor. 12:28]

-Acts 10:45 And they of the circumcision which believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because that on the Gentiles also was poured out the gift of the Holy Ghost.

-Romans 11:29 For the gifts and calling of God are without repentance.

-1 Cor. 12:28 And  God hath set some in the church, first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, diversities of tongues.

3. Christmas Presents- Christ’s Presence [Mt. 28:20, Heb. 13:5]

-Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.

-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.

 

4. Christmas Songs- Christian songs [Ephesians 5:19,  Colossians 3:16]

-Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord;

-Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.

 

5. Christmas Proclamation – Christian Proclamations [Is. 61:1-2, Acts 5:20]

The spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me; because the LORD hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek; he hath sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound; To proclaim the acceptable year of the LORD, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all that mourn;

- Acts 5:20 Go, stand and speak in the temple to the people all the words of this life.

6. Christmas Lights- Christian Lights [John 8:12]

Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.

John 9:5 As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world.

Mt. 5:14 Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid.

 

7. Christmas Celebration- Christian Rejoicing [Acts 5:41]

-And they departed  from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for his name.

Acts 8:39 And when they were come up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord caught away Philip, that the eunuch saw him no more: and he went on his way rejoicing.

-Rm. 12:12 Rejoicing in hope; patient in tribulation; continuing instant in prayer;

-2 Cor. 1:12 For our rejoicing is this, the testimony of our conscience, that in simplicity and godly sincerity, not with fleshly wisdom, but by the grace of God, we have had our conversation in the world, and more abundantly to you-ward.

-2 Cor. 6:10 As sorrowful, yet alway rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, and yet possessing all things.

Gal. 6:4 But let every man prove his own work, and then shall he have rejoicing in himself alone, and not in another.

THE EVERLASTING ONE

LUKE 2:21-24

Pastor Rick Jackson

 

I. SIMEON [2:25-35]

1. He was a Man of Piety [2:25] “the quality of being religious or reverent”

2. He was a Man of Patience & Faith [2:26-29, Titus 2:13,  Jude 1:21]

-Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ;

-Keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life.

3. He was a Man of Understanding [2:29-35, 1 Chr. 12:32, Luke 24:44-47]

-And of the children of Issachar, which were men that had understanding of the times, to know what Israel ought to do; the heads of them were two hundred; and all their brethren were at their commandment.

- And he said unto them, These are the words which I spake unto you, while I was yet with you, that all things must be fulfilled, which were written in the law of Moses, and in the prophets, and in the psalms, concerning me. Then opened he their understanding, that they might understand the scriptures, And said unto them, Thus it is written, and thus it behoved Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead the third day: And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.

 

Yes, Simeon was a man of piety, of patience and faith, of understanding: but he was not the Everlasting One.

 

II. ANNA [2:36-38]

1. She was a Woman of Perseverance and Prayer [v. 36-37]

2. She was a Woman of Praise [v. 38]

3. She was a Woman of Proclamation [v. 38]

 

Yes, Anna was a woman of perseverance, prayer, praise and proclamation- and she was old: but she was not the Everlasting One.

 

III. THE EVERLASTING ONE

1. Forty Days Old & “from of Old, from Everlasting” [2:21-24, Micah 5:2, Habakkuk 1:12]

- 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 .

- Art thou not from everlasting, O LORD my God, mine Holy One? we shall not die. O LORD, thou hast ordained them for judgment; and, O mighty God, thou hast established them for correction.

2. The Consolation of Israel [Lk. 2:25, Is. 40:1-5, 1 Cor. 2:8]

- Comfort ye, comfort ye my people, saith your God. Speak ye comfortably to Jerusalem, and cry unto her, that her warfare is accomplished, that her iniquity is pardoned: for she hath received of the Lord's hand double for all her sins. The voice of him that crieth in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the LORD, make straight in the desert a highway for our God. Every valley shall be exalted, and every mountain and hill shall be made low: and the crooked shall be made straight, and the rough places plain: And the glory of the LORD shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together: for the mouth of the LORD hath spoken it.

-Which none of the princes of this world knew: for had they known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.

3. The Lord’s Christ [2:26-29, 11]

4. The Saviour, the Lord’s Salvation [2:30, 3:4-6]

5. A Light to Lighten the Gentiles [2:32, Is. 42:6]

I the LORD have called thee in righteousness, and will hold thine hand, and will keep thee, and give thee for a covenant of the people, for a light of the Gentiles;

6. The Glory of Israel [2:32, Is. 60:1-3]

Arise, shine; for thy light is come, and the glory of the LORD is risen upon thee. For, behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, and gross darkness the people: but the LORD shall arise upon thee, and his glory shall be seen upon thee. And the Gentiles shall come to thy light, and kings to the brightness of thy rising.

7. Redemption [2:38, 1 Corinthians 1:30, Hebrews 9:12]

-But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption:

- Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us.