POSITIVELY NOT

JOHN 14:18-29                         

Pastor Rick Jackson

 

I. FRET NOT – HE LOVES YOU

 

1. He Wants You [Acts 17:30, 2 PT. 3:9 – the example of Zaccheus, Saul, Judas]

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

-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. He Died for You [Is. 53:6, 1 Corinthians 15:3, 2 Corinthians 5:14-15]

- All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.

-For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures;

-For the love of Christ constraineth us; because we thus judge, that if one died for all, then were all dead: And that he died for all, that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto him which died for them, and rose again.

3. He Lives For You [John 14:19, Hebrews 7:25]

- Yet a little while, and the world seeth me no more; but ye see me: because I live, ye shall live also.

- Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them.

 

II. FAINT NOT – HE HOLDS YOU [Ps. 139]

 

1. He Knows Who You Are [v. 1-6, John 10:27]

- My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me:

2. He Knows Where You Are [v. 7-12, Job 23:10]

- But he knoweth the way that I take: when he hath tried me, I shall come forth as gold.

3. He Holds You [v. 10, Jn. 6:37-40]

- All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out. For I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of him that sent me. And this is the Father's will which hath sent me, that of all which he hath given me I should lose nothing,  but should raise it up again at the last day. And this is the will of him that sent me, that every one which seeth the Son, and believeth on him, may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the last day

 

III. FEAR NOT – HE KEEPS YOU [Ps. 121]

 

1. He Will Help You [v. 1-2, Psalm 54:4, Hebrews 13:5-6]

- Behold, God is mine helper

- 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.

2. He Will Keep You [v. 3-6, 1 Pet. 1:3-5]

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you, Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.

3. He Will Preserve You [v. 7-8, 2 Tm. 4:18] shamar- to hedge about (as with thorns)

-And the Lord shall deliver me from every evil work, and will preserve me unto his heavenly kingdom: to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.

MY GOD, MY GOD, WHY HAST THOU FORSAKEN ME?

MARK 15:25-36

Pastor Rick Jackson

 

I. IT WAS PATHETIC TO SEE

1. The Haters [v. 29-32a]

2. The Ignorant [v. 32b, 35]

3. The Thrill-seekers [v. 36]

 

II. IT WAS PROPHETIC TO A TEE [an expression meaning perfectly, exactly] [Ps. 22]

1. The Place of Sinners [Ps. 22:1-3]

2. The Presence of Scoffers [Ps. 22:4-18]

3. The Power of Salvation [Ps. 22:19-31]

 

III. IT WAS PERSONAL TO ME

1. The Gospel Truth [1 Cor. 15:3-6]

For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures: And that he was seen of Cephas, then of the twelve: After that, he was seen of above five hundred brethren at once; of whom the greater part remain unto this present, but some are fallen asleep.

2. The Great Truth [Jn. 3:14-16, 15:13; 1 John 4:10]

-And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up: That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life. For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

-Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.

-Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.

3. The Gracious Truth [Eph. 2:1-10]

And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins:; Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience: Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others. But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus: That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus. 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.

WOMAN, BEHOLD THY SON!

 

WOMAN, BEHOLD THY SON!

JOHN 19:25-27

Pastor Rick Jackson

 

I. HIS MOTHER

1. His Mother’s Place [v. 25]

2. His Mother’s Partners [v. 25, Mk. 15:40]

There were also women looking on afar off: among whom was Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James the less and of Joses, and Salome;

3. His Mother’s Pain [v. 25, Luke 2:34-35]

And Simeon blessed them, and said unto Mary his mother, Behold, this child is set for the fall and rising again of many in Israel; and for a sign which shall be spoken against; (Yea, a sword shall pierce through thy own soul also,) that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed.

 

II. THE SAVIOUR

1. Christ Dying [v. 23-24, 28, 36-37]

2. Christ Divesting [v. 26, 2:4, Lk. 2:48-51, 8:19-21]

- Jesus saith unto her, Woman, what have I to do with thee? mine hour is not yet come

- And when they saw him, they were amazed: and his mother said unto him, Son, why hast thou thus dealt with us? behold, thy father and I have sought thee sorrowing. And he said unto them, How is it that ye sought me? wist ye not that I must be about my Father's business? And they understood not the saying which he spake unto them. And he went down with them, and came to Nazareth, and was subject unto them: but his mother kept all these sayings in her heart.

- Then came to him his mother and his brethren, and could not come at him for the press. And it was told him by certain which said, Thy mother and thy brethren stand without, desiring to see thee. And he answered and said unto them, My mother and my brethren are these which hear the word of God, and do it.

3. Christ Directing [v. 27, 1 Timothy 5:8]

But if any provide not for his own, and specially for those of his own house, he hath denied the faith, and is worse than an infidel.

 

III. THE DISCIPLE

1. A Man of Courage [v. 25-26]

2. A Man of Compassion [v. 25-26]

3. A Man of Commitment [v. 27, 18:15-16, Mk. 1:19-20, Acts 1:10-14]

-And Simon Peter followed Jesus, and so did another disciple : that disciple was known unto the high priest, and went in with Jesus into the palace of the high priest. But Peter stood at the door without. Then went out that other disciple, which was known unto the high priest, and spake unto her that kept the door, and brought in Peter.

- And when he had gone a little farther thence, he saw James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother, who also were in the ship mending their nets. And straightway he called them: and they left their father Zebedee in the ship with the hired servants, and went after him.

- And while they looked stedfastly toward heaven as he went up , behold, two men stood by them in white apparel; Which also said, Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven. Then returned they unto Jerusalem from the mount called Olivet, which is from Jerusalem a sabbath day's journey . And when they were come in, they went up into an upper room, where abode both Peter, and James, and John, and Andrew, Philip, and Thomas, Bartholomew, and Matthew, James the son of Alphaeus, and Simon Zelotes, and Judas the brother of James. These all continued with one accord in prayer and supplication, with the women, and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brethren.

THREE PERSONALITIES IN THE BOOK OF JOB

Pastor Rick Jackson

 

I. THE DEVIL DEALS

1. He Rambles Around Looking for Victims [1:7, 2:2, 1 Pt. 5:8]

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

2. He Recognized God’s “Hedge of Protection” [1:10, 2 Chronicles 16:9]

For the eyes of the LORD run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to shew himself strong in the behalf of them whose heart is perfect toward him. – Hanani the Seer

3. He Reasoned Man’s Self-centeredness was his greatest Weakness [2:4-5, Luke 22: 3-6]

Then entered Satan into Judas surnamed Iscariot, being of the number of the twelve. And he went his way, and communed with the chief priests and captains, how he might betray him unto them. And they were glad, and covenanted to give him money. And he promised, and sought opportunity to betray him unto them in the absence of the multitude.

 

II. THE RELIGIONIST RECEIVES

1. He May be Religious but He is Not Spiritual [4:12-20, 1 John 4:1]

Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world.

2. He Thinks His Opinion is the Truth [8:5-7, 2 Tm. 3:1-9]

3. He Thinks Men of Old had the Answer [8:8-10, 2 Tm. 3:14-17]

 

III. THE SPIRITUAL STAND

1. He Knows Personally the Redeemer [19:25, 2 Timothy 1:12]

For the which cause I also suffer these things: nevertheless I am not ashamed: for I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day.

2. He Knows the Promise of Resurrection [19:25-26, Revelation 20:6]

Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years.

3. He Knows the Power of Repentance [42:1-10, 2 Cor. 7:9-11]

Now I rejoice, not that ye were made sorry, but that ye sorrowed to repentance: for ye were made sorry after a godly manner, that ye might receive damage by us in nothing. For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of: but the sorrow of the world worketh death. For behold this selfsame thing, that ye sorrowed after a godly sort, what carefulness it wrought in you, yea, what clearing of yourselves, yea, what indignation, yea, what fear, yea, what vehement desire, yea, what zeal, yea, what revenge! In all things ye have approved yourselves to be clear in this matter.

TODAY SHALT THOU BE WITH ME

TODAY SHALT THOU BE WITH ME

LUKE 23:33-43

Pastor Rick Jackson

I. THE PLAN OF SALVATION

1. The Position of Salvation [v. 33-40, Luke 18:13]

And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner.

2. The Person of Salvation [v. 33-42, John 14:6, Acts 4:12, 1 Timothy 2:5]

-Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given 

among men, whereby we must be saved.

-For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus;

3. The Pace of Salvation [v. 43, 2 Cor. 6:2]

(For he saith, I have heard thee in a time accepted, and in the day of salvation have I succoured thee: behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.)

II. THE PATTERN OF SALVATION

1. The Price of Salvation [v. 33, 1 Cor. 6:20, 7:23, 15:3-4, 1 Peter 1:18-19]

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

-Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot:

2. The Perspective of Salvation [v. 42]

3. The Paradise of Salvation [v. 43, 2 Corinthians 12:1-4]

It is not expedient for me doubtless to glory . I will come to visions and revelations of the Lord. I knew a man in Christ above fourteen years ago, (whether in the body, I cannot tell; or whether out of the body, I cannot tell: God knoweth;) such an one caught up to the third heaven.
 And I knew such a man, (whether in the body, or out of the body, I cannot tell: God knoweth;)

 How that he was caught up into paradise, and heard unspeakable words, which it is not lawful for a man to utter.

III. THE PERFECTION OF SALVATION [v. 43]

1. The promise of a Gentleman – “And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee”

2. The Personhood of Grace – “I say unto thee, To day shalt thou be”

1 John 3:2

 Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.

3. The Presence of God – “with me” [1 Th. 4:16-17]

For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are 

alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.

"FATHER, FORGIVE THEM..."

LUKE 23:32-34

Pastor Rick Jackson

 

I. NOTE THEIR ACTIONS [v. 32-33]

1. They Came to Calvary [v. 33, Mt. 27:33, Mk. 15:22] Calvary kranion, Gr.  a skull ("cranium") Aramaic-Golgotha

- And when they were come unto a place called Golgotha, that is to say, a place of a skull,

- And they bring him unto the place Golgotha, which is, being interpreted, The place of a skull.

2. They Crucified Christ “Him” [v. 33, Acts 2:36, 1 Cor. 1:23, 2:2]

not Judas or someone else

-Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that God hath made that same Jesus, whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ.

- But we preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumblingblock , and unto the Greeks foolishness;

- For I determined not to know any thing among you, save Jesus Christ, and him crucified.

3. They Crucified Criminals “malefactors” [v. 33, 40-41]

worthless workers of evil [Rm. 5:8]

- But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.

II. NOTE HIS PRAYER [v. 34]

1. Directed to the Father [the distinction in the Godhead-denies modalism-the doctrine that the persons of the Trinity represent only three modes or aspects of the divine revelation, not distinct and coexisting persons in the divine nature.]

2. Directed for the Soldiers

[designees of the work, v. 34, 1 Cor. 2:8, Rm. 13:1-4]

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

- Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God : the powers that be are ordained of God.
Whosoever therefore resisteth the power, resisteth the ordinance of God: and they that resist shall receive to themselves damnation.
 For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to the evil. Wilt thou then not be afraid of the power? do that which is good, and thou shalt have praise of the same: For he is the minister of God to thee for good. But if thou do that which is evil, be afraid; for he beareth not the sword in vain: for he is the minister of God, a revenger to execute wrath upon him that doeth evil.

 3. Direction for the Request

[this action- not all their sins, that forgiveness is theirs upon accepting Him]

 

 III. NOTE OUR LESSONS

1. Jesus Knows Us

[1 Sam. 16:7, Jer. 17:10, Jn. 2:24-25] –like Zaccheus

- the LORD seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the LORD looketh on the heart.

- I the LORD search the heart, I try the reins, even to give every man according to his ways, and according to the fruit of his doings.

- But Jesus did not commit himself unto them, because he knew all men, And needed not that any should testify of man: for he knew what was in man.

2. Jesus Wants to Forgive Us [2 Peter 3:9, Acts 5:31, 13:38, 26:18]

- 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.

- Him hath God exalted with his right hand to be a Prince and a Saviour, for to give repentance to Israel, and forgiveness of sins.

Be it known unto you therefore, men and brethren, that through this man is preached unto you the forgiveness of sins:

- 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.

3. Jesus Will Save Us if we Receive Him [v. 47, Mk. 15:39, Jn. 1:12]

- And when the centurion, which stood over against him, saw that he so cried out, and gave up the ghost, he said, Truly this man was the Son of God.

- 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: