MORE THAN A PROPHET

LUKE 7:11-18

Pastor Rick Jackson

 

I. THE DISCERNMENT OF JOHN THE BAPTIST [LUKE 7:18-20]

1. He Knew the Problem of Misguided Hero Worship

[Lk. 7:18-20, Mt. 9:14-15, Jn. 3:22-30]

Then came to him the disciples of John, saying, Why do we and the Pharisees fast oft, but thy disciples fast not? And Jesus said unto them, Can the children of the bridechamber mourn, as long as the bridegroom is with them? but the days will come, when the bridegroom shall be taken from them, and then shall they fast.

2. He Knew the Prophecy of Messiah’s Human Witness [Jn. 1:14-23]

3. He Knew the Path to Messianic Holy Worship

[Jn. 1:24-34]

 

II. THE DISCERNMENT OF WITNESSING THE WORD [Jn. 1:1-14]

1. The Witness of His Works [Lk. 7:21]

2. The Witness of His Way [Lk. 7:22]

3. The Witness of His Works [Lk. 7:23, Psalm 34:8]

O taste and see that the LORD is good: blessed is the man that trusteth in him.

 

III. THE DISCERNMENT OF JESUS THE CHRIST

[Lk. 7:24-30]

1. He Knew John’s Stand [Lk. 7:24, Jn. 3:30-36]

2. He Knew John’s Stedfastness [Lk. 7:25-27, Jn. 3:30]

3. He Knew John’s Stature [Lk. 7:28-30]

 

In summary: John realized some of his disciples saw him rather than Jesus, so he sent them to Jesus to see for themselves. Jesus understood what John was doing and made sure they learned the lesson John sent them to learn. John didn’t have doubts about Jesus and Jesus didn’t have doubts about John.

WHAT ARE YOU DOING FOR HEAVEN’S SAKE?

MATTHEW 20:20-28

Pastor Rick Jackson [idea by Norris Belcher]

 

I. THE EMPHASIS OF CHRIST [Mt. 20:17-19]

1. God’s Plan for Mankind [v. 17-18, Acts 2:23]

Him, being delivered by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God, ye have taken, and by wicked hands have crucified and slain:

2. God’s Payment for Man’s Sin [v. 19, Acts 2:23-24]

Him, being delivered by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God, ye have taken, and by wicked hands have crucified and slain: Whom God hath raised up, having loosed the pains of death: because it was not possible that he should be holden of it.

3. God’s Power for Man’s Salvation [v. 19, Rm. 1:16, 1 Cor. 15]

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.

 

II. THE EMPHASIS OF MAN [Mt. 20:20-28]

1. Position [v. 20-21]

But wait, “Somebody’s got to get the donkey!”

2. Perception [v. 22, 26:56]

Then all the disciples forsook him, and fled.

3. Potential [v. 23-28]

 

III. THE EMPHASIS OF GOD’S SERVANT [Mt. 21:1-11]

1. Listen [v. 1-5, 20:25-28]

2. Obey [v. 6, Luke 6:46]

And why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say?

Because “Somebody’s got to get the donkey!”

3. Give God the Glory [v. 7-11]

IF YOU'RE CERTAIN

 

IF YOU’RE CERTAIN

JUDE 4-10

Pastor Rick Jackson

 

I. CERTAIN MEN [v. 4]

1. Creeps [v. 4, Gal. 2:4, 2 Tm. 3:5-6]

- And that because of false brethren unawares brought in, who came in privily to spy out our liberty which we have in Christ Jesus, that they might bring us into bondage:

-Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away. For of this sort are they which creep into houses, and lead captive silly women laden with sins, led away with divers lusts,

2. Condemned [v. 4, 2 Pt 2:1-3]

But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction. And many shall follow their pernicious ways; by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of. And through covetousness shall they with feigned words make merchandise of you: whose judgment now of a long time lingereth not, and their damnation slumbereth not.

3. Corrupt [v. 4, Gal. 1:6, 2 Pt. 2:1, 1 Jn. 2:22-23]

- I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel:

-But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction.

-Who is a liar but he that denieth that Jesus is the Christ? He is antichrist, that denieth the Father and the Son. Whosoever denieth the Son, the same hath not the Father: (but) he that acknowledgeth the Son hath the Father also.

 

II. CERTAIN CONDEMNATION [v. 5-7]

1. Unbelieving men [v. 5, Heb. 3:18 & 11:31]

- And to whom sware he that they should not enter into his rest, but to them that believed not?

-By faith the harlot Rahab perished not with them that believed not, when she had received the spies with peace.

2. Unfaithful Angels [v. 6, 2 Pt. 2:4, 1 Cor. 6:3]

-For if God spared not the angels that sinned, but cast them down to hell, and delivered them into chains of darkness, to be reserved unto judgment;

-Know ye not that we shall judge angels? how much more things that pertain to this life?

3. Unnatural Uses [v. 7, Rm. 1:24-28]

- Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves: Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen. For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature: And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another ; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompense of their error which was meet. And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient;

 

III. CERTAIN SINS [v. 8-10]

1. Defile the Flesh [v. 8, 2 Pt. 2:10, 18]

-And many shall follow their pernicious ways; by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of.

-For when they speak great swelling words of vanity, they allure through the lusts of the flesh, through much wantonness, those that were clean escaped from them who live in error.

2. Despise Dominion [v. 8, 2 Pt. 2:10, Ps. 2:1-3]

-But chiefly them that walk after the flesh in the lust of uncleanness, and despise government. Presumptuous are they, selfwilled, they are not afraid to speak evil of dignities.

-Why do the heathen rage, and the people imagine a vain thing? The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the LORD, and against his anointed, saying, Let us break their bands asunder, and cast away their cords from us.

3. Defame Dignities [v. 8-10, 2 Pt. 2:2, 10, 12]

-And many shall follow their pernicious ways; by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of.

-But chiefly them that walk after the flesh in the lust of uncleanness, and despise government. Presumptuous are they, selfwilled, they are not afraid to speak evil of dignities.

-But these, as natural brute beasts, made to be taken and destroyed, speak evil of the things that they understand not; and shall utterly perish in their own corruption;

WHAT IS EXPECTED OF US

 

WHAT IS EXPECTED OF US

1 COR. 15:57-58

Pastor Rick Jackson

 

I. BE MOTIVATED

1. Be Thankful [v. 57, Ps. 100:4, Col. 3:15]

-Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name.

- And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful.

2. Be Steady [v. 58, Col. 1:23]

-If ye continue in the faith grounded and settled, and be not moved away from the hope of the gospel, which ye have heard, and which was preached to every creature which is under heaven; whereof I Paul am made a minister;

3. Be Abounding in the Work [v. 58]

 

II. BE FAITHFUL [1 Cor. 4:2]

1. Be Generous with God’s Bounty [16:1-4]

2. Be Open to God’s Will [16:5-9]

3. Be Supportive of God’s Men [16:10-12]

 

III. BE REAL

1. Be Strong [v. 13]

2. Be Right [v. 14]

3. Be Addicted [v. 15-18]

WHAT WE CAN EXPECT

1 COR. 15:51-58

Pastor Rick Jackson

 

I. THE MYSTERY UNVEILED

1. Not All Christians Will Die [v. 1-2, 51, 1 Th. 4:15-17]

For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep. 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.

2. All Christians Will Be Changed [v. 51, 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 Change Will Be Quick [v. 52] moment=atomos, unlike false purgatory

 

II. THE VICTORY UNVEILED

1. Corruptible Becomes Incorruptible [v. 52-54]

2. Mortal Becomes Immortal [v. 53-54]

3. Death Is Swallowed in Victory [v. 54, Mt. 23:24, 2 Cor. 5:4, Heb. 11:29, 1 Pt. 5:8]

-Ye blind guides, which strain at a gnat, and swallow a camel.

- For we that are in this tabernacle do groan, being burdened: not for that we would be unclothed, but clothed upon, that mortality might be swallowed up of life.

- By faith they passed through the Red sea as by dry land: which the Egyptians assaying to do were drowned.

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

 

III. THE STING REMOVED

 

1. Death’s Sting & the Grave’s Victory are Missing [v. 55]

2. Separation is Defeated by Unification [v. 56, 1 Th. 4:17, Job. 19:25-27]

- 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.

- For I know that my redeemer liveth, and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth: And though after my skin worms destroy this body, yet in my flesh shall I see God: Whom I shall see for myself, and mine eyes shall behold, and not another; though my reins be consumed within me.

3. Christ Took the Sting & Secured the Victory [v. 57]

-it’s Given by God [Eph. 2:8-9]

-In Christ [Romans 6:9] Christ removed the stinger

Knowing that Christ being raised from the dead dieth no more; death hath no more dominion over him.

Christian Quotes

by the late evangelist, Robert L. Sumner [from the book "Hebrews- Streams of Living Waters"]

Someone says, I thought He [Jesus] went to Hell and suffered an additional three days and three nights." Then you thought wrong. His testimony is that His vicarious atonement was completed on the cross, finished forever. We will not quote them again here, but go back and reread Hebrews 9, especially verses 25, 26 and 28. Our Lord will not offer up Himself again. Nor can anyone else offer Him. - Robert L. Sumner

It is either a "once-for-all" salvation or a "not-at-all" salvation. There is no middle ground. - Robert L. Sumner

But He is a God of love only as far as His justice, holiness, and righteousness will permit! His justice never contradicts His love and His love is in perfect harmony with his justice. If your doctrine makes them oppose one another, your theology is out of sync with Scripture.  - Robert L. Sumner

Almighty God has promised judgment and threatened eternal punishment for all Christ-rejecters. To break His word would be sin and God cannot sin.  - Robert L. Sumner

Abel was also the first of the human family to experience physical death- and it was through murder! He suffered death because of another's sin, the transgression of his elder brother Cain, who, in a fit of rage, killed him in cold blood. At the same time, thanks to faith in the sin-offering, he overcame death. The first man to descend into the Valley of the Shadow of Death was the first one to triumphantly march straight through it into the Paradise of Glory. He stepped from the excruciating pain of mortal manslaughter's hate into the exquisite land of eternal delights prepared by the Father's love! He led the way, like a pioneer, for all subsequent generations of men and women of faith throughout human history.  - Robert L. Sumner

One cannot walk very close to God when he is holding hands with the Devil, obviously. - Robert L. Sumner

God will judge those who treat lightly their marriage vows, or who engage in other forms of sexual impurity, saying: "whoremongers and adulterers God will judge." There is no such thing as "safe immorality," known erroneously today as "safe sex." It doesn't work. - Robert L. Sumner

CREEPY UNGODLY DENIERS

JUDE 3-4, 8, 10-11                                       

Pastor Rick Jackson

 

I. THE WAY OF CAIN [v. 11, Gen. 4]

1. Faithless [Heb. 11:4, 6; Eph. 2:8-9, Rm. 10:17]

- By faith Abel offered unto God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, by which he obtained witness that he was righteous, God testifying of his gifts: and by it he being dead yet speaketh.

- 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

- For by grace are ye saved through faith

- So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.

2. Bloodless [Heb. 9:22, 12]

- without shedding of blood is no remission.

- 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.

3. Worthless [Heb. 11:4, Pr. 14:12, Eph. 2:12]

it is worthless because it is Christless

-By faith Abel offered unto God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, by which he obtained witness that he was righteous, God testifying of his gifts: and by it he being dead yet speaketh.

-There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death

-That at that time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world:

 

 II. THE ERROR OF BALAAM [v. 11]

1. Motivated by Greed not God

[2 Pt. 2:15, 1 Tm. 6:10]

-Which have forsaken the right way, and are gone astray, following the way of Balaam the son of Bosor, who loved the wages of unrighteousness;

-For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.

2. Cast Stumbling Blocks Before Others [Rev. 2:14, Mark 9:42, Is. 56:11]

- But I have a few things against thee, because thou hast there them that hold the doctrine of Balaam, who taught Balac to cast a stumblingblock before the children of Israel, to eat things sacrificed unto idols, and to commit fornication.

- And whosoever shall offend one of these little ones that believe in me, it is better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and he were cast into the sea.

- Yea, they are greedy dogs which can never have enough, and they are shepherds that cannot understand: they all look to their own way, every one for his gain, from his quarter.

3. Desire Earthly rather than Heavenly Rewards [v. 11, Mt. 6:19-20]

- Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal:

 

III. THE GAINSAYING OF KORAH (CORE) [v. 11]

1. Rebel Against God-given Authority [Num. 16:19]

-And Korah gathered all the congregation against them unto the door of the tabernacle of the congregation: and the glory of the LORD appeared unto all the congregation.

2. Replacing God-given Authority with Self [3 Jn. 9-11]

- I wrote unto the church: but Diotrephes, who loveth to have the preeminence among them, receiveth us not. Wherefore, if I come, I will remember his deeds which he doeth, prating against us with malicious words: and not content therewith, neither doth he himself receive the brethren, and forbiddeth them that would, and casteth them out of the church. Beloved, follow not that which is evil, but that which is good. He that doeth good is of God: but he that doeth evil hath not seen God.

3. Results in Destruction for Both Leader & Followers [Matthew 21:40-42, Num. 16:32-35]

- When the lord therefore of the vineyard cometh, what will he do unto those husbandmen? They say unto him, He will miserably destroy those wicked men, and will let out his vineyard unto other husbandmen, which shall render him the fruits in their seasons. Jesus saith unto them, Did ye never read in the scriptures, The stone which the builders rejected, the same is become the head of the corner: this is the Lord's doing, and it is marvellous in our eyes?

- And the earth opened her mouth, and swallowed them up, and their houses, and all the men that appertained unto Korah, and all their goods. They, and all that appertained to them, went down alive into the pit, and the earth closed upon them: and they perished from among the congregation. And all Israel that were round about them fled at the cry of them: for they said, Lest the earth swallow us up also. And there came out a fire from the LORD, and consumed the two hundred and fifty men that offered incense.