CONSIDER THE RAVENS

GENESIS 8:6-7

Pastor Rick Jackson

 

I. GOD’S PLACE FOR THE RAVENS

1. The Raven was Pronounced Unclean [Lev. 11:13-15]

And these are they which ye shall have in abomination among the fowls; they shall not be eaten, they are an abomination: the eagle, and the ossifrage, and the osprey, And the vulture, and the kite after his kind; Every raven after his kind;

2. The Raven Was Promised a Place [Is. 34:6ff.]

v. 6 The sword of the LORD is filled with blood, it is made fat with fatness, and with the blood of lambs and goats, with the fat of the kidneys of rams: for the LORD hath a sacrifice in Bozrah, and a great slaughter in the land of Idumea [Edom].

v. 8 For it is the day of the Lord's vengeance, and the year of recompenses for the controversy of Zion.

v. 11-16 But the cormorant and the bittern shall possess it; the owl also and the raven shall dwell in it: and he shall stretch out upon it the line of confusion, and the stones of emptiness. They shall call the nobles thereof to the kingdom, but none shall be there, and all her princes shall be nothing. And thorns shall come up in her palaces, nettles and brambles in the fortresses thereof: and it shall be an habitation of dragons, and a court for owls. The wild beasts of the desert shall also meet with the wild beasts of the island, and the satyr shall cry to his fellow; the screech owl also shall rest there, and find for herself a place of rest. There shall the great owl make her nest, and lay, and hatch, and gather under her shadow: there shall the vultures also be gathered, every one with her mate. Seek ye out of the book of the LORD, and read: no one of these shall fail, none shall want her mate: for my mouth it hath commanded, and his spirit it hath gathered them.

3. The Saved Sinner, Once Unclean, Has a Place [1 Cor. 6:11, 19-20]

-And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.

-What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's.

 

II. GOD’S PURPOSE FOR THE RAVENS [1 KINGS 17]

1. To Obey His Word [v. 1-4]

And Elijah the Tishbite, who was of the inhabitants of Gilead, said unto Ahab, As the LORD God of Israel liveth, before whom I stand, there shall not be dew nor rain these years, but according to my word. And the word of the LORD came unto him, saying, Get thee hence, and turn thee eastward, and hide thyself by the brook Cherith, that is before Jordan. And it shall be, that thou shalt drink of the brook; and I have commanded the ravens to feed thee there.

2. To Accomplish His Will [v. 4-5]

And it shall be, that thou shalt drink of the brook; and I have commanded the ravens to feed thee there. So he went and did according unto the word of the LORD: for he went and dwelt by the brook Cherith, that is before Jordan.

3. To Act in His Way [v. 6, Is. 30:21, Acts 18:25-26]

-And the ravens brought him bread and flesh in the morning, and bread and flesh in the evening; and he drank of the brook.

-And thine ears shall hear a word behind thee, saying, This is the way, walk ye in it, when ye turn to the right hand, and when ye turn to the left.

-This man was instructed in the way of the Lord; and being fervent in the spirit, he spake and taught diligently the things of the Lord, knowing only the baptism of John. And he began to speak boldly in the synagogue: whom when Aquila and Priscilla had heard, they took him unto them, and expounded unto him the way of God more perfectly

 

III. GOD’S POINT FOR THE RAVENS [Luke 12]

1. The Future is Beyond Them [v. 24, Acts 1:7-8]

And he said unto them, It is not for you to know the times or the seasons, which the Father hath put in his own power. But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.

2. The Food is Before Them [v. 24, Job 38:41, Ps. 147:9]

-Who provideth for the raven his food? when his young ones cry unto God, they wander for lack of meat.

-He giveth to the beast his food, and to the young ravens which cry.

3. The Faithful are Better than Them [v. 22-32, Rm. 5:8-11]

GOD SPEAKS

ISAIAH 45:18-23                                                    

Pastor Rick Jackson

 

Over 2000 times in the Bible we are told that God spoke. God still speaks today. Primarily He speaks through His infallible, inerrant Word. When God speaks:

 

I. GOD SPEAKS AUTHORITATIVELY

1. His Word is True [Jn. 17:17, Titus 1:1-2]

- Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.

- Paul, a servant of God, and an apostle of Jesus Christ, according to the faith of God's elect, and the acknowledging of the truth which is after godliness; In hope of eternal life, which God, that cannot lie, promised before the world began;

2. His Word is Indestructible [Mt. 24:35]

- Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away.

3. His Word is Powerful [Jer. 23:29, Heb. 4:12]

- Is not my word like as a fire? saith the LORD; and like a hammer that breaketh the rock in pieces?

- For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.

 

II. GOD SPEAKS EXPECTANTLY

1. God Expects Us to Respect His Word [Ps. 119:6, 15, 117]

-I not be ashamed, when I have respect unto all thy commandments.

-I will meditate in thy precepts, and have respect unto thy ways.

-Hold thou me up, and I shall be safe: and I will have respect unto thy statutes continually.

2. God Expects Us to Read His Word

[Neh. 8:8, Mt. 19:4, 1 Th. 5:27]

- So they read in the book in the law of God distinctly, and gave the sense, and caused them to understand the reading.

- And he answered and said unto them, Have ye not read, that he which made them at the beginning made them male and female

- I charge you by the Lord that this epistle be read unto all the holy brethren.

 3. God Expects Us to React to His Word (Lk. 6:46, James 1:22]

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

-But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.

 

III. GOD SPEAKS COMPASSIONATELY

1. He Speaks Tenderly [Matthew 11:28]

-Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.

2. He speaks Rationally [Is. 1:18]

-Come now, and let us reason together, saith the LORD: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.

3. He Speaks Clearly [Jn. 3:16-18]

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. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.

CHARACTERISTICS OF WISE PEOPLE

PSALM 111:10

Pastor Rick Jackson

                    

I. WISE PEOPLE PREPARE

1. Death or the Second Coming of Christ [Heb. 9:27, Mt. 25:13, Amos 4:12]

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

- Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh.

- prepare to meet thy God, O Israel.

2. Heaven or Hell [Lk. 16:22-23, Phil. 1:23]

- the rich man also died, and was buried; And in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments,

- having a desire to depart, and to be with Christ; which is far better:

3. Prepare or Beware [Jn. 3:16-18, Heb. 2:3, 10:29]

- 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. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.

-How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation?

-Of how much sorer punishment, suppose ye, shall he be thought worthy, who hath trodden under foot the Son of God, and hath counted the blood of the covenant, wherewith he was sanctified, an unholy thing, and hath done despite unto the Spirit of grace?

 

II. WISE PEOPLE SERVE

A wise saved person will serve God in gratitude for the wonderful gift of salvation. Not to be saved but because he is saved [2 Co. 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

1. Serve God by church attendance [Heb. 10:25]

Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.

2. Serve God by Bible study [2 Tm. 2:15]

- Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.

3. Serve God by praying [1 Sm. 12:23]

Moreover as for me, God forbid that I should sin against the LORD in ceasing to pray for you:

 

III. WISE PEOPLE WITNESS

The greatest event in your life was salvation, the greatest thing we can do for others is witness.

1. Witness by your works [Mt. 5:16]

- Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.

2. Witness by your words [Acts 5:20]

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

3. Witness by your Worship [John 4:23-24]

But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him. God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.

BY AND BY

HEBREWS 1-2

Pastor Rick Jackson

 

I. GOD THE FATHER

1. Spake by the Bible [1:1, 2 Tim. 3:16]

All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:

2. Spake by the Son [1:2a, Lk. 6: 46-48]

And why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say? Whosoever cometh to me, and heareth my sayings, and doeth them, I will shew you to whom he is like: He is like a man which built an house, and digged deep, and laid the foundation on a rock: and when the flood arose, the stream beat vehemently upon that house, and could not shake it: for it was founded upon a rock.

3. Created (the worlds) by (via) the Son [1:2b, Jn. 1:1-3]

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.

 

II. GOD THE SON

1. Upholds things by His Word [1:3a, Col. 1:17]

And he is before all things, and by him all things consist

2. Purged sins by Himself [1:3b, Mt. 8:17]

That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Esaias the prophet, saying, Himself took our infirmities, and bare our sicknesses.

3. Has better name by inheritance [1:4-14, Phil. 2:10-11]

That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

 

III. GOD’S PEOPLE

1. Spoken to by the Lord [2:1-3]

2. Saved by the Lord [2:9-10]

3. Sanctified by the Lord [2:10-17]

THE POWERFUL PRAYER

Eph. 3:20-21

Pastor Rick Jackson

 

PRAYER IS POWERFUL:

1. WHEN MADE AT THE RIGHT TIME [Is. 49:8, 55:6]

-Thus saith the LORD, In an acceptable time have I heard thee, and in a day of salvation have I helped thee: and I will preserve thee, and give thee for a covenant of the people, to establish the earth, to cause to inherit the desolate heritages;

-Seek ye the LORD while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near

 

2. WHEN MADE TO THE RIGHT PERSON [Jer. 33:3-4]

Call unto me, and I will answer thee, and shew thee great and mighty things, which thou knowest not. For thus saith the LORD, the God of Israel, concerning the houses of this city, and concerning the houses of the kings of Judah, which are thrown down by the mounts, and by the sword;

3. WHEN IT AGREES WITH GOD’S WORD [1 Jn. 5:14-15]

And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us: And if we know that he hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of him

 

4. WHEN IT IS FOR THE RIGHT PURPOSE [Luke 11:2]

And he said unto them, When ye pray, say, Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done, as in heaven, so in earth.

 

5. WHEN IS IT FROM THE RIGHT MINDSET

[1 Cor. 10:31]

Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.

THE POWERLESS PRAYER

LUKE 16:19, 22-31

Pastor Rick Jackson

 

PRAYER IS POWERLESS:

1. WHEN IT IS MADE AT THE WRONG TIME

[v. 22-24, v. 25 “thy lifetime”, Is. 59:2]

But your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid his face from you, that he will not hear.

 

2. WHEN IT IS MADE TO THE WRONG PERSON [

v. 24, 27, 1 Tm. 2:5, 1 Kings 18:26]

Abraham, Confucius, Buddha, Mary, Joseph Smith, saints, Angels, etc. - are all useless when it comes to prayer - sincerity doesn’t help

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

-And they took the bullock which was given them, and they dressed it, and called on the name of Baal from morning even until noon, saying, O Baal, hear us. But there was no voice, nor any that answered. And they leaped upon the altar which was made.

 

3. WHEN IT GOES AGAINST GOD’S WORD

[v. 24-26, Heb. 9:27, 4:16, 10:28]

-And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment: [judgment not mercy for lost after death]

-Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.

-He that despised Moses law died without mercy under two or three witnesses:

 

4. WHEN IT IS FOR THE WRONG MEANS

[v. 27-29, Is. 55:8, Ez. 18:25]

Religious experience over revelation

- For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD.

- Yet ye say, The way of the Lord is not equal. Hear now, O house of Israel; Is not my way equal? are not your ways unequal?

 

5. WHEN IT IS FROM THE WRONG MINDSET

[v. 30-31, Ps. 66:18, Jm. 4:3]

“I’M RIGHT, God’s wrong”

- If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear me:

- Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts.

LEGAL WITHOUT THE LAW

LEGAL WITHOUT THE LAW [of Moses]

GENESIS 15

Pastor Rick Jackson

 

I. THE DECLARATION OF CARE [v. 1-4]

1. The Personal Proclamation of God [v. 1]

2. The Pointless Petition to God [v. 2-3]

3. The Promise Repeated by God [v. 4, 13:14-16]

 

II. THE DAY OF CHRIST [v. 5-6]

1. The Promise of A Heavenly Seed Pictured [v. 5a, Jn. 8:56-58]

-Your father Abraham rejoiced to see my day: and he saw it, and was glad. Then said the Jews unto him, Thou art not yet fifty years old, and hast thou seen Abraham? Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Before Abraham was, I am.

2. The Promise of A Singular Seed Preeminent

[v. 5b, Gal. 3:16-19]

-Now to Abraham and his seed were the promises made. He saith not, And to seeds, as of many; but as of one, And to thy seed, which is Christ. And this I say, that the covenant, that was confirmed before of God in Christ, the law, which was four hundred and thirty years after, cannot disannul, that it should make the promise of none effect. For if the inheritance be of the law, it is no more of promise: but God gave it to Abraham by promise. Wherefore then serveth the law? It was added because of transgressions, till the seed should come to whom the promise was made; and it was ordained by angels in the hand of a mediator.

3. The Power of A Saviour Promised [v. 6, Rm. 4:1-5]

What shall we say then that Abraham our father, as pertaining to the flesh, hath found? For if Abraham were justified by works, he hath whereof to glory; but not before God. For what saith the scripture? Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness. Now to him that worketh is the reward not reckoned of grace, but of debt. But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness.

 

III. THE DETAILS OF THE COVENANT [v. 7-21]

1. Legal preparation [v. 7-11]

2. Lengthy procedure [v. 12-16]

3. Lone Promisor [v. 17-21]