BE STRONG IN THE LORD PERSONALLY

EPH. 6:10-13

Pastor Rick Jackson

 

It is true that a church should be strong in the Lord. It is equally true that a nation should be strong in the Lord.

 [2 Chr. 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.]

But, it is also true that an individual should be strong in the Lord. In point of fact, it generally starts with an individual and moves through the family, the church, the community, the nation and one day, the whole world

[Habakkuk 2:14 For the earth shall be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the LORD, as the waters cover the sea.]

 

 

I. THIS SPEAKS OF RELATIONSHIP [EPH. 6:10-13]

1. We Belong to Him [1 Cor. 1:2]

Unto the church of God which is at Corinth,

2. We are Branded as His

to them that are sanctified in Christ Jesus

3. We Bear His “Name”

called to be saints, with all that in every place call upon the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, both theirs and ours:

 

II. THIS SPEAKS OF RELIANCE [EPH. 6:10-13]

1. Faith takes no credit but gives Glory to God [Rm. 4:20, 10:17]

-He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief; but was strong in faith, giving glory to God;

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

2. As Faith Grows God Works [Acts 9:22]

-But Saul increased the more in strength, and confounded the Jews which dwelt at Damascus, proving that this is very Christ.

3. Faith Knows What God Can Do [Ph. 4:13]

-I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.

 

III. THIS SPEAKS OF REALIZATION [EPH. 6:10-13]

1. Realize God Prizes Faithfulness

[1 Tm. 1:12, 1 Cor. 4:2]

-And I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who hath enabled me, for that he counted me faithful, putting me into the ministry

-Moreover it is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful.

2. Realize God Prizes Humility

[Jm. 4:6, Pr. 3:34, 1 Pt. 5:5]

-But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble.

-Surely he scorneth the scorners: but he giveth grace unto the lowly.

-Likewise, ye younger, submit yourselves unto the elder. Yea, all of you be subject one to another, and be clothed with humility: for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble.

3. Realize God Provides Grace [2 Tm. 2:1, 4:17]

-Thou therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus.

-Notwithstanding the Lord stood with me, and strengthened me; that by me the preaching might be fully known, and that all the Gentiles might hear: and I was delivered out of the mouth of the lion.

BELIEVERS’ BAPTISM

MATTHEW 28:16-20

Pastor Rick Jackson

 

Many cults and isms use what they call “baptism” and it means a host of different things to them. But right now, I am not concerned with what they think it means. I want us to look at what baptism means to Bible-believing Christians.

 

I. BELIEVERS’ BAPTISM IS A COMMAND [MATTHEW 28]

1. A Command from the Lord Jesus Christ [Mt. 28:18-20]

2. A Command is an Obligation Not an Option [Mt. 28:18-20]

3. A Command Declined is Sin [Mt. 3:13-15, 1 John 5:17, Jm. 4:17]

- Then cometh Jesus from Galilee to Jordan unto John, to be baptized of him. But John forbad him, saying, I have need to be baptized of thee, and comest thou to me? And Jesus answering said unto him, Suffer it to be so now: for thus it becometh us to fulfil all righteousness. Then he suffered him.

- All unrighteousness is sin:

- Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin.

 

II. BELIEVERS’ BAPTISM IS A CONFESSION [ROMANS 6]

1. A Confession Salvation is Solely the Work of Christ [Rm. 6:1-4, 23]

2. A Confession that One Has Believed the Gospel [Rm. 6:4-5, 1:16, 10:9-13]

3. A Confession that One Intends to Live for Christ [Rm. 6:6-18ff]

 

III. BELIEVERS’ BAPTISM IS A CONNECTION

1. A Connection to New Testament Christianity [Rm. 6:3-4, Mt. 28]

2. A Connection to Current Faithful Believers [Acts 8:36-37]

And as they went on their way, they came unto a certain water: and the eunuch said, See, here is water; what doth hinder me to be baptized? And Philip said, If thou believest with all thine heart, thou mayest. And he answered and said, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.

3. A Connection to a Local Body of Believers [1 Cor. 1:1-2, 9-17; 1 Tm. 3:14-15]

- Paul, called to be an apostle of Jesus Christ through the will of God, and Sosthenes our brother, Unto the church of God which is at Corinth, to them that are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints, with all that in every place call upon the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, both theirs and ours:

- God is faithful, by whom ye were called unto the fellowship of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord. Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you; but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment. For it hath been declared unto me of you, my brethren, by them which are of the house of Chloe, that there are contentions among you. Now this I say, that every one of you saith, I am of Paul; and I of Apollos; and I of Cephas; and I of Christ. Is Christ divided ? was Paul crucified for you? or were ye baptized in the name of Paul? I thank God that I baptized none of you, but Crispus and Gaius; Lest any should say that I had baptized in mine own name. And I baptized also the household of Stephanas: besides, I know not whether I baptized any other. For Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the gospel: not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of none effect.

- These things write I unto thee, hoping to come unto thee shortly: But if I tarry long, that thou mayest know how thou oughtest to behave thyself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth.

WHAT KIND OF VACATION?

Mark 6:31

Pastor Rick Jackson

The Bible is the most practical Book you will ever read. It covers subjects you may never even thought about from a Christian perspective.

 

I. VACATION IN CHRIST

1. The Only Safety is in Christ [Ps. 4:8, Pr. 21:31]

- I will both lay me down in peace, and sleep: for thou, LORD, only makest me dwell in safety.

- The horse is prepared against the day of battle: but safety is of the LORD.

2. The Only Sense is in Christ [1 Cor. 14:33, 2 Cor. 10:5]

-For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace, as in all churches of the saints.

-Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;

3. The Only Serenity is in Christ [Is. 26:3, Jn. 14:27]

- Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee.

- Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.

II. REJUVENATION (REST) IN CHRIST

“rest” to repose (literally or figuratively (be exempt), remain); by implication, to refresh:--take ease, refresh, (give, take) rest

 

1. We Rest in Him for Salvation [Matthew 11:28]

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

 

2. We Rest in Him in Sanctification [1 Th. 4:3-4]

For this is the will of God, even your sanctification, that ye should abstain from fornication: That every one of you should know how to possess his vessel in sanctification and honour;

 

3. We rest in Him Dedication [John 15:10-11, 1 Cor. 10:31, Col. 3:17, 23]

- If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father's commandments, and abide in his love. These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full.

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

- And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him.

-And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men

III. RELAXATION WITH CHRIST (“leisure”)

to have good time, i.e. opportunity or leisure:--have leisure (convenient time), spend time.

 

1. Fun – the enjoyment of God’s Beauty [Gn. 1:31, 2:9a; Ps. 19]

- And God saw every thing that he had made, and, behold, it was very good. And the evening and the morning were the sixth day.

- And out of the ground made the LORD God to grow every tree that is pleasant to the sight

 

2. Food- the enjoyment of God’s Bounty

[Gn. 2:9, 2 Cor. 9:11, 1 Tm. 4:1-5]

- And out of the ground made the LORD God to grow every tree that is pleasant to the sight, and good for food

-Being enriched in every thing to all bountifulness, which causeth through us thanksgiving to God.

-Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils; Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron; Forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from meats, which God hath created to be received with thanksgiving of them which believe and know the truth. For every creature of God is good, and nothing to be refused, if it be received with thanksgiving: For it is sanctified by the word of God and prayer.

3. Fellowship- the enjoyment of God’s Brethren

[Heb. 2:9-12, 1 John 1:6-7]

- But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honour; that he by the grace of God should taste death for every man. For it became him, for whom are all things, and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons unto glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings. For both he that sanctifieth and they who are sanctified are all of one: for which cause he is not ashamed to call them brethren, Saying, I will declare thy name unto my brethren, in the midst of the church will I sing praise unto thee.

-If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth: 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.

A CERTAIN WOMAN

ACTS 16:1-5

Pastor Rick Jackson

 

I. BE CERTAIN [v. 1]

1. Be Certain You are a Believer in God’s Way [v. 1, John 20:27]

- Then saith he to Thomas, Reach hither thy finger, and behold my hands; and reach hither thy hand, and thrust it into my side: and be not faithless, but believing.

2. Be Certain You are a Believer in God’s Word

[v. 1, Rm. 10:17, 1 Th. 2:13]

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

- For this cause also thank we God without ceasing, because, when ye received the word of God which ye heard of us, ye received it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which effectually worketh also in you that believe.

3. Be Certain You are a Believer in God’s Will

[v. 2-5, Acts 21:14, Eph. 5:17, 1 Th. 4:3-4]

-And when he would not be persuaded, we ceased, saying, The will of the Lord be done.

-Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is.

-For this is the will of God, even your sanctification, that ye should abstain from fornication: That every one of you should know how to possess his vessel in sanctification and honour;

 

II. HAVE AN UNFEIGNED FAITH

1. Have a Sincere Faith [2 Tm. 1:5]

2. Have a Shareable Faith [1 Tm. 1:3-5]

As I besought thee to abide still at Ephesus, when I went into Macedonia, that thou mightest charge some that they teach no other doctrine, Neither give heed to fables and endless genealogies, which minister questions, rather than godly edifying which is in faith: so do. Now the end of the commandment is charity out of a pure heart, and of a good conscience, and of faith unfeigned:

3. Have a Solid Faith [2 Tm. 1:18-19]

 

III. BE A BIBLE TEACHER [2 Tm. 3:15]

1. Teach the Bible Plain [2 Tm. 3:14-15a]

2. Teach the Bible Person [2 Tm. 3:15]

3. Teach the Bible Plan [2 Tm. 3:14-17]

WHERE IS HAPPINESS?

 

WHERE IS HAPPINESS?

Not in Unbelief

Voltaire was an infidel of the most pronounced type; he wrote - "I wish I had never been born."

Not in Pleasure

Lord Byron lived a life of pleasure and wrote - "The worm, the canker, and the grief are mine alone."

Not in Money

Jay Gould, the American millionaire, had plenty of money. When dying, he said - "I suppose I am the

most miserable man on earth."

Not in Position and Fame

Lord Beaconsfield enjoyed more than his share of both, and wrote - "Youth is a mistake; manhood a struggle; old age, a regret."

Not in Military Glory

Alexander the Great conquered the known world in his day. Then, he wept in his tent and said -

"There are no more worlds to conquer."

Where, then, is Happiness found?

The answer is CHRIST ALONE

"My soul shall be joyful in the Lord: it shall rejoice in His salvation" - Psalm 35:9

Jesus said - "For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?" -Matt. 16:26

adapted from the PCC Update [Summer 2006]

TRUTH IS ALWAYS RIGHT

JOB 40

Pastor Rick Jackson

 

I. RIGHT ANSWERS RIGHT UNDERSTANDING [v. 1-5]

1. Recognize the Qualification-Omniscience [v. 1-2, Job 38-39]

The story is told of a person who passed out. As a woman tried to help the unconscious person a man pushed her out of the way declaring, “That’s okay lady, I’ll help them. I’ve had CPR training!” The woman replied, “Fine. When you get to the part where you call the doctor- I’ll be standing right here.”

2. Recognize the Disqualification- Sin [v. 4, Ex. 3:4-5, Is. 6:1-5, Luke 5:8]

-God called unto him out of the midst of the bush, and said, Moses, Moses. And he said, Here am I. And he said, Draw not nigh hither: put off thy shoes from off thy feet, for the place whereon thou standest is holy ground

-In the year that king Uzziah died I saw also the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up, and his train filled the temple. Above it stood the seraphims: each one had six wings; with twain he covered his face, and with twain he covered his feet, and with twain he did fly. And one cried unto another, and said, Holy, holy, holy, is the LORD of hosts: the whole earth is full of his glory. And the posts of the door moved at the voice of him that cried, and the house was filled with smoke. Then said I, Woe is me! for I am undone; because I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips: for mine eyes have seen the King, the LORD of hosts.

-When Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus knees, saying, Depart from me; for I am a sinful man, O Lord.

3. Recognize another Option- Silence [23:3-4, 31:37, 40:5]

-Oh that I knew where I might find him! that I might come even to his seat! I would order my cause before him, and fill my mouth with arguments.

-I would declare unto him the number of my steps; as a prince would I go near unto him.

 

II. RIGHT QUESTIONS WITH NO RIGHT ANSWERS [v. 6-14]

1. Should a Man Try to Outdo God? [v. 6-8]

2. Can a Man Be Like God? [v. 9-13]

3. Can a Man Save Himself? [v. 14]

 

III. RIGHT QUESTIONS WITH WRONG INTERPRETATIONS [v. 15-24]

1. The Creation of Behemoth [v. 15, Gn. 1:23-26]

And the evening and the morning were the fifth day. And God said, Let the earth bring forth the living creature after his kind, cattle, and creeping thing, and beast of the earth after his kind: and it was so. And God made the beast of the earth after his kind, and cattle after their kind, and every thing that creepeth upon the earth after his kind: and God saw that it was good. And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth.

2. The Power of Behemoth [v. 16-19]

v. 19 suggests this was the largest land animal God had made.

3. The Care of Behemoth [v. 20-24]

LEARN THE LESSONS OF THE SPARROWS

LUKE 12:1-12

Pastor Rick Jackson

 

I. WHAT SHOULD BE IMPORTANT TO YOU? [v. 1-5]

1. Doctrine is Important [v. 1]

2. Words are Important [v. 2-3]

3. Fearing God is Important [v. 4-5]

 

II. WHAT IS IMPORTANT TO GOD? [v. 6-9]

1. God Knows the Birds [v. 6]

2. God Knows You [v. 7, Ps. 139]

3. God Knows Your Profession [v. 8-9]

 

III. WHAT IS IMPORTANT FOR ETERNITY? [v. 10-12]

1. Your Relationship with Christ [v. 10a]

2. Your Relationship with the Holy Spirit Before Knowing Christ [v. 10b]

3. Your Relationship with the Holy Spirit After Knowing Christ

[v. 11-12]