GOOD CHANCES & BAD CHOICES

2 KINGS 16

Pastor Rick Jackson

 

I. THE WALK OF KING AHAZ [v. 1-4]

1. He Didn’t Walk Like King David [v. 1-2]

2. He Walked Like the Kings of Israel [v. 3a]

3. He Walked Like the Heathen [v. 3-4]

 

II. THE WAR OF KING AHAZ [v. 5-9]

1. The Invasion of Syria & Israel [v. 5-6] v. 6 first usage of “Jews” [note-this reference is not of the tribe of Judah]

2. The Rejection of God [Hos. 1:6-7, Is. 7:1-14ff]

-And she [Hosea’s wife] conceived again, and bare a daughter. And God said unto him, Call her name Loruhamah: for I will no more have mercy upon the house of Israel; but I will utterly take them away [beginning in 2 K. 17]. But I will have mercy upon the house of Judah, and will save them by the Lord their God, and will not save them by bow, nor by sword, nor by battle, by horses, nor by horsemen.

- AND it came to pass in the days of Ahaz the son of Jotham, the son of Uzziah, king of Judah, that Rezin the king of Syria, and Pekah the son of Remaliah, king of Israel, went up toward Jerusalem to war against it, but could not prevail against it. And it was told the house of David, saying, Syria is confederate with Ephraim. And his heart was moved, and the heart of his people, as the trees of the wood are moved with the wind. Then said the Lord unto Isaiah, Go forth now to meet Ahaz, thou, and Shearjashub thy son, at the end of the conduit of the upper pool in the highway of the fuller's field; And say unto him, Take heed, and be quiet; fear not, neither be fainthearted for the two tails of these smoking firebrands, for the fierce anger of Rezin with Syria, and of the son of Remaliah. Because Syria, Ephraim, and the son of Remaliah, have taken evil counsel against thee, saying, Let us go up against Judah, and vex it, and let us make a breach therein for us, and set a king in the midst of it, even the son of Tabeal: Thus saith the Lord God, It shall not stand, neither shall it come to pass. For the head of Syria is Damascus, and the head of Damascus is Rezin; and within threescore and five years shall Ephraim be broken, that it be not a people. And the head of Ephraim is Samaria, and the head of Samaria is Remaliah's son. If ye will not believe, surely ye shall not be established. Moreover the Lord spake again unto Ahaz, saying, Ask thee a sign of the Lord thy God; ask it either in the depth, or in the height above. But Ahaz said, I will not ask, neither will I tempt the Lord. And he said, Hear ye now, O house of David; Is it a small thing for you to weary men, but will ye weary my God also? Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.

3. The Subjection to Assyria [v. 7-9]

 

III. THE WORSHIP OF KING AHAZ [v. 10-20]

1. Started by the Sinful King [v. 10-18]

2. Supported by the Sissy priest [v, 10-11, 15-16, the priest Azariah stood against King Uzziah in 2 Chr. 26:16-20]

3. Stopped by the Sitting Judge [v. 19-20, Heb. 9:27]

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

PRISCILLA – A PARTNER [Ladies of the Bible]

2 Timothy 4:19  Salute Prisca and Aquila, and the household of Onesiphorus.           

Pastor Rick Jackson

 

I. SHE WAS A PARTNER IN HER MARRIAGE [Acts 18:1-4]

1. They Opened Their Home [v. 1-3a, Romans 12:13, Hebrews 13:2]

-Distributing to the necessity of saints; given to hospitality.

-Be not forgetful to entertain strangers: for thereby [m] some have entertained angels unawares.

2. They Opened Their Work [v. 3b]

3. They Opened Their Hearts [v. 4, 16:14]

And a certain woman named Lydia, a seller of purple, of the city of Thyatira, which worshipped God, heard us: whose heart the Lord opened,

 

II. SHE WAS A PARTNER IN MINISTRY [Acts 18:18-28]

1. They Moved with Paul to Ephesus [v. 18-19]

2. They Ministered in Ephesus [v. 24-26a]

3. They Discipled Believers [v. 26b-28]

 

III. SHE WAS A PARTNER INTERNATIONALLY [Rom. 16:3-5, 2 Tm. 4:19]

1. They Moved through Doors God Opened [Rm. 16:3]

Greet Priscilla and Aquila my helpers in Christ Jesus:

2. They Made Headway through Deadly Opposition [Rm. 16:4-5]

Who have for my life laid down their own necks: unto whom not only I give thanks, but also all the churches of the Gentiles. Likewise greet the church that is in their house.

3. They Maintained through Dedicated Obedience [2 Tm. 4:10, 19]

-For Demas hath forsaken me, having loved this present world, and is departed unto Thessalonica; Crescens to Galatia, Titus unto Dalmatia.

-Salute Prisca and Aquila, and the household of Onesiphorus.

MY LORD, MY GOD, MY SAVIOUR

 

JOHN 20:24-31

Pastor Rick Jackson

 

I. THE TROUBLED SAINT

1. Thomas Delinquent [v. 19-24]

2. Thomas Doubtful [v. 25]

3. Thomas Declaring [v. 28]

 

II. THE TREMENDOUS SAVIOUR

1. Jesus Invited Thomas’ Assessment

[v. 24-27]

2. Jesus Accepted Thomas’ Assessment

[v. 28-29a]

3. Jesus Exalted Faith’s Assessment

[v. 29b, 31, 24-25]

 

III. THE TEACHING OF SCRIPTURE

v. 25 “the Lord”, v. 26 “Jesus”, v. 28 “my Lord and my God”, v. 31 “Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God”

1. Bottom Line – in these verses these terms are synonymous, all referring to the same Person [Acts 2:36]

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

2. Fine Line – each title/name has a different emphasis

3. Lifeline – Believe for Life [v. 31]

-spiritual life [Eph. 2:1] AND you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins:

-abundant life [John 10:10] The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.

-eternal, everlasting life [John 3:16, 36] 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.

He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.

John R. Rice Quotes of the Week

 Sometimes young people, well-raised, with godly mothers and fathers who take to heart and put restrictions on young people, say, "Oh, but they don't trust me."

Well, if you have any sense you wouldn't trust yourself. Your native instincts and natural inborn nature and the old Devil taking advantage of you make it so you ought to be on your watch. - John R. Rice [Adultery & Sex Perversion, pg. 10-11]

Thank God. he can save you and make you set apart for Heaven, that is, sanctified. He can justify you. He can make it so you are counted just and clean. You can have peace of mind and know you are forgiven. You can have all that if you will turn from your sins and trust Jesus Christ. You need Him. He wants to help you. And He is ready to do it today. John R. Rice [Adultery & Sex Perversion, pg.23]

Some preachers preach always on the love of God and on trusting in Jesus Christ and those are wonderful themes. But the Bible that says, "God is love," also says "Our God is a consuming fire" (Heb. 12:29), and that "God is angry with the wicked every day" (Psa. 7:11). There is as much in the Bible about Hell as about Heaven; and if we do not preach Hell, sinners will see no reason to seek Heaven. If we do not preach about sin and bring conviction of mind and heart and conscience about sin, men will not repent of sin and cannot trust in Christ as a Saviour from sin. Great revivals from Heaven are always accompanied or proceeded by deep conviction for sin. - John R. Rice [All Have Sinned, pg. 5]

Man simply cannot save himself, cannot be justified by his deeds. Every man, woman, and child is so incurably wicked by nature that he or she cannot be saved except by the mercy of God and through the merit of the atoning blood of Jesus Christ, the righteous One. - John R. Rice [All Have Sinned, pg. 9]

You wonder whether you may have committed the unpardonable sin. No, you have not. First, the unpardonable sin is the sin of a lost person, one who has never accepted Christ, one who has never been saved. One whose sins are forgiven cannot commit the unforgiveable sin. Second, the fact that you are burdened and concerned and want God's blessing is proof that you have not committed the unpardonable sin. One who had committed the unpardonable sin would have no conviction, no burden, and would not want God and salvation. The unpardonable sin is a sin of rejecting Christ, after great enlightenment. Anyone who is trouble about it and trying to be right with God has not committed the unpardonable sin. ― John R. Rice, Dr. Rice, Here Are More Questions

Christ is the sinner's substitute. Christ died, not as an example, not as a martyr, and not as a good man, a victim of circumstances. No, He, the Son of God, the Son of Man, purchased salvation for sinners by His death on the cross. - John R. Rice [All Have Sinned, pg.18]

All of us are sinners; we are all in the same boat. But, thank God, Jesus Christ will save the whole boatload if we let Him! If sin is universal, salvation is offered just as freely and universally. - John R. Rice [All Have Sinned, pg.19]

JOTHAM, JESUS AND YOU

2 KINGS 15:32-38

Pastor Rick Jackson

 

I. START RIGHT [v. 32-34]

1. We Can’t Always Choose Our Situation [v. 32-33, Esther 4:14]

... who knoweth whether thou art come to the kingdom for such a time as this?

2. We Cannot Choose Our Parents [v. 32-33, Ezek. 18:20]

The soul that sinneth, it shall die. The son shall not bear the iniquity of the father, neither shall the father bear the iniquity of the son: the righteousness of the righteous shall be upon him, and the wickedness of the wicked shall be upon him.

3. We Can Choose to Live for the Lord [v. 34, Joshua 24:15, I Kings 18:21]

-And if it seem evil unto you to serve the Lord, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.

-And Elijah came unto all the people, and said, How long halt ye between two opinions? if the Lord be God, follow him: but if Baal, then follow him. And the people answered him not a word.

 

II. WATCH THE LITTLE THINGS [v. 34-35, 2 Chr. 27:2]

 

1. Seek to Please the Lord [v. 34a, Galatians 1:10]

For do I now persuade men, or God? or do I seek to please men? for if I yet pleased men, I should not be the servant of Christ.

2. Seek to Follow a Godly Example [v. 34b, 1 Cor. 11:1]

Be ye followers of me, even as I also am of Christ.

3. Seek to Follow Christ [v. 35a, Philippians 3:12, almost 20 times in the Gospels Jesus said “Follow Me”]

-Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus.

 

III. USE EARLIER SUCCESS TO SERVE THE LORD [v. 35-38]

 

1. Make Much of the Lord’s House [v. 35b, 1 Timothy 3:15, Acts 11:26]

-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.

-And when he had found him, he brought him unto Antioch. And it came to pass, that a whole year they assembled themselves with the church, and taught much people. And the disciples were called Christians first in Antioch.

2. Make Much of the Lord’s Business [v. 36a, Luke 19:13]

And he called his ten servants, and delivered them ten pounds, and said unto them, Occupy till I come.

Occupy - pragmateuomai, to busy oneself with, i.e. to trade:--occupy

3. Make Much of the Lord’s Record-keeping [36b-38,  1 Corinthians 4:1-5]

LET a man so account of us, as of the ministers of Christ, and stewards of the mysteries of God. Moreover it is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful. But with me it is a very small thing that I should be judged of you, or of man's judgment: yea, I judge not mine own self. For I know nothing by myself; yet am I not hereby justified: but he that judgeth me is the Lord. Therefore judge nothing before the time, until the Lord come, who both will bring to light the hidden things of darkness, and will make manifest the counsels of the hearts: and then shall every man have praise of God.

HERODIAS – First Lady of Evil

Mark 6:14-29

Pastor Rick Jackson

There are some wicked women in the Bible. Not really “ladies” mind you but definitely female. Tonight we look at one of those. This is the kind of woman that ought scare you good. She’s evil and she’ll drag you down. Many proverbs have been written about this kind of woman but this one is in the New Testament.

 

I. WHAT SHE HATED -could have helped her

1. She Hated God’s Word [v. 14-19a, Proverbs 12:1, Proverbs 15:10]

-WHOSO loveth instruction loveth knowledge: but he that hateth reproof is brutish.

-Correction is grievous unto him that forsaketh the way: and he that hateth reproof shall die.

2. She Hated God’s Man [v. 19b-20, Ps. 97:10, 101:3] have you noticed- when we hate sin- sinners hate us?

- Ye that love the Lord, hate evil: he preserveth the souls of his saints; he delivereth them out of the hand of the wicked.

-I will set no wicked thing before mine eyes: I hate the work of them that turn aside; it shall not cleave to me.

3. She Hated God’s Way [v. 20-22, Matthew 3:3]

For this is he that was spoken of by the prophet Esaias, saying, The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his paths straight.

II. WHAT SHE “HALLOWED” – what was important to her only hurt her

1. The Flesh [v. 21-23]

2. The Devil [v. 24-25, 27-29]

3. The World [v. 26]

Ephesians 2:2-3 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.

 

III. WHAT SHE HAD… BUT WASTED -will haunt her for eternity

1. Opportunities to be Eternally Saved [v. 20]

2. Opportunities to be Extremely Spiritual [v. 20, Mt. 23:13]

But woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye shut up the kingdom of heaven against men: for ye neither go in yourselves, neither suffer ye them that are entering to go in.

3. Opportunities to Invest Seriously [v. 22-24, Mt. 13:23]

But he that received seed into the good ground is he that heareth the word, and understandeth it; which also beareth fruit, and bringeth forth, some an hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty.

LORD, DOST THOU NOT CARE?

LUKE 10:38-40                                  

Pastor Rick Jackson

 

I. JESUS DOES NOT CARE [Mt. 22:15-22]

1. To Bend the Truth [v. 15-16a]

2. What Popular Opinion “Says” [v. 16b]

3. What Position Someone Holds [v. 17-22]

 

II. JESUS DOES CARE [Mark 4:35-41]

1. Jesus Cares Enough to Direct Us [v. 35]

2. Jesus Cares Enough to Deliver Us [v. 36-39]

3. Jesus Cares Enough to Disciple Us [v. 40-41]

 

III. JESUS CARES TO HELP US [Luke 10:38-42]

1. Clearly Perceive [v. 38-42a]

2. Wisely Prioritize [v. 42b]

3. Humbly Pray [1 Peter 5:6-11]

Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time: Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you. Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour: Whom resist stedfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world. But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you. To him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen