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]

THE MIDNIGHT RIDES OF PAUL REVERED

ACTS 16:25

Pastor Rick Jackson

 

I. HOW TO SING PRAISES AT MIDNIGHT [ACTS 16]

1. Be About the Father’s Business [v. 16-19, Luke 2:49]

-And he said unto them, How is it that ye sought me? wist ye not that I must be about my Father's business?

Sooner or later the Father’s business is going to disturb the Devil’s business [v. 16]

2. Be About the Saviour’s Message [v. 17-21, 1 Cor. 1:23, 2:2]

salvation & separation

-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. Be About the Spirit’s Filling [v. 22-25, Eph. 5:17-20]

Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is. And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit; Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord; Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ;

 

II. RAISING THE DEAD AT MIDNIGHT [ACTS 20]

1. Note the Change of Service [v. 7, Heb. 7:11-19]

-If therefore perfection were by the Levitical priesthood, (for under it the people received the law,) what further need was there that another priest should rise after the order of Melchisedec, and not be called after the order of Aaron? For the priesthood being changed, there is made of necessity a change also of the law. For he of whom these things are spoken pertaineth to another tribe, of which no man gave attendance at the altar. For it is evident that our Lord sprang out of Juda; of which tribe Moses spake nothing concerning priesthood. And it is yet far more evident: for that after the similitude of Melchisedec there ariseth another priest, Who is made, not after the law of a carnal commandment, but after the power of an endless life. For he testifieth, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec. For there is verily a disannulling of the commandment going before for the weakness and unprofitableness thereof. For the law made nothing perfect, but the bringing in of a better hope did; by the which we draw nigh unto God.

2. Note the Challenge of Services [v. 8-9]

3. Note the Comforting of Saints [v. 9-12]

 

III. THE REVIVAL AROUND MIDNIGHT [ACTS 27]

1. Caused by Ignoring Sound Advice [v. 9-15, 20]

2. Changeable by Accepting Solid Exhortation [v. 21-25]

3. Corrected by Acknowledging Solid Instruction [v. 27, 30-36, 39, 42-44]

WHAT HAPPENS WHEN JESUS PASSES BY

LUKE 18:35-43

Pastor Rick Jackson

 

I. IF YOU LET HIM PASS YOU BY

1. You May Miss the Meaning [v. 31-34, Mk. 4:12]

That seeing they may see, and not perceive; and hearing they may hear, and not understand; lest at any time they should be converted, and their sins should be forgiven them.

2. You Might Miss the Miracle [v. 41-42, Mt. 13:58, Jn. 20:24]

-And he did not many mighty works there because of their unbelief.

-But Thomas, one of the twelve, called Didymus, was not with them when Jesus came.

3. You Will Miss the Moment [v. 31-32, 41; Heb. 3:7, 15, 4:7; 2 Cor. 6:2]

- Wherefore (as the Holy Ghost saith, To day if ye will hear his voice,

- While it is said, To day if ye will hear his voice, harden not your hearts, as in the provocation.

- Again, he limiteth a certain day, saying in David, To day, after so long a time; as it is said, To day if ye will hear his voice, harden not your hearts.

-(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. IF YOU CALL UPON HIM

1. You Will Find Opposition [v. 39, Acts 13:8-12]

But Elymas the sorcerer (for so is his name by interpretation) withstood them, seeking to turn away the deputy from the faith. Then Saul, (who also is called Paul,) filled with the Holy Ghost , set his eyes on him, And said, O full of all subtlety and all mischief, thou child of the devil, thou enemy of all righteousness, wilt thou not cease to pervert the right ways of the Lord? And now, behold, the hand of the Lord is upon thee, and thou shalt be blind, not seeing the sun for a season. And immediately there fell on him a mist and a darkness; and he went about seeking some to lead him by the hand. Then the deputy, when he saw what was done, believed, being astonished at the doctrine of the Lord.

2. You Will Find Him Waiting [v. 40, Jer. 33:3, Mt. 11:28, Jn. 6:37, Jm. 4:8]

- Call unto me, and I will answer thee, and shew thee great and mighty things, which thou knowest not.

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

- All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out.

- Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you

3. You Will Find Him Able [v. 41-42, 5:24]

- But that ye may know that the Son of man hath power upon earth to forgive sins, (he said unto the sick of the palsy,) I say unto thee, Arise, and take up thy couch, and go into thine house.

 

III. IF YOU HAVE TRUSTED HIM

1. You are Saved by Faith [v. 38-39, 42]

2. You Should Follow Him [v. 43; 5:11, 27-28; 9:23, 1 Cor. 11:1]

- And when they had brought their ships to land, they forsook all, and followed him.

- And after these things he went forth, and saw a publican, named Levi, sitting at the receipt of custom: and he said unto him, Follow me. And he left all, rose up, and followed him.

- And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily , and follow me.

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

3. You Should Glorify God [v. 43, Mt. 5:16, Jn. 15:8, 1 Cor. 6:19-20]

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

- Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples.

- 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.

CHOOSING TO TRUST

1 Th. 5:16     Rejoice evermore.

Pastor Rick Jackson

 

We cannot always choose what will happen to us. We may plan one thing, but our circumstances are not always under our control but… how we respond to those circumstances generally is. I’m not saying life is easy. I’m not saying the choice is always good or better. But there is much to be said about how we choose to respond. We can always trust God. John Newton, writer of Amazing Grace, said, “Everything is needful that He sends; Nothing is needful that He withholds.” He chose trust. Even after he went blind and was losing his memory, he said, "My memory is nearly gone, but I remember two things: that I am a great sinner, and that Christ is a great Savior." He chose trust.

1 Sm. 30:6 And David was greatly distressed; for the people spake of stoning him, because the soul of all the people was grieved, every man for his sons and for his daughters: but David encouraged himself in the LORD his God.

Matthew 26:30 And when they had sung an hymn, they went out into the mount of Olives.

Acts 16:25 And at midnight Paul and Silas prayed, and sang praises unto God: and the prisoners heard them.

 

 

I. THE CHOICE TO KNOW [v. 1-4]

II. THE CHOICE TO BEHAVE LIKE WHAT YOU ARE [v. 5-8]

III. THE CHOICE TO ASSEMBLE [v. 9-13, 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.

IV. THE CHOICE TO BEHAVE WISELY TOWARD OTHERS [v. 14-15]

V. THE CHOICE TO REJOICE [v. 16]

VI. THE CHOICE TO PRAY [v. 17]

VII. THE CHOICE TO GIVE THANKS [v. 18]

VIII. THE CHOICE TO SUBMIT TO THE HOLY SPIRIT [v. 19]

IX. THE CHOICE TO PROVE THINGS [v. 20]

Rm. 12:2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

Eph. 5:10 Proving what is acceptable unto the Lord.

1 Jn. 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.

X. THE CHOICE TO ABSTAIN FROM THE APPEARANCE OF EVIL [v. 21]

HALLELUJAH

Psalm 146

Pastor Rick Jackson

 

I. HAVE A LITTLE TALK WITH YOURSELF [v. 1-2]

1. Who Should You Praise? [v. 1a, Psalm 147:1]

Praise ye the LORD: for it is good to sing praises unto our God; for it is pleasant; and praise is comely.

2. Who Should Praise? [v. 1b, Psalm 33:1]

Rejoice in the LORD, O ye righteous: for praise is comely for the upright.

3. When Should You Praise? [v. 2]

 

II. HAVE A LITTLE TALK WITH JESUS

1. The Limitations of Mankind [v. 3-4]

2. The Lord’s My Help and My Hope [v. 5, Is. 50:9]

- Behold, the Lord GOD will help me; who is he that shall condemn me? lo, they all shall wax old as a garment; the moth shall eat them up.

3. The Lord’s Might [v. 6, 121:1-2]

-I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help. My help cometh from the LORD, which made heaven and earth.

 

III. HAVE FAITH IN GOD [Mark 11:22, Jn. 14:1]

-And Jesus answering saith unto them, Have faith in God.

- Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me.

 

1. He Loosens Our Bonds [v. 7]

2. He Loves His Children [v. 8-9, Jn. 1:12]

3. He Lives Forever [v. 10]

 

Rejoice, rejoice, O Christian,

  Lift up your voice and sing

Eternal hallelujahs

  To Jesus Christ the King!

The Hope of all who seek Him,

  The Help of all who find,

None other is so loving,

  So good and kind.

 

He lives, He lives, Christ Jesus lives today!

NO EXCEPTIONS

JOHN 3:2-5

Pastor Rick Jackson

 

I. THE NEED OF NICODEMUS

1. It Was an Urgent Need [v. 1-2, 19:39]

And there came also Nicodemus, which at the first came to Jesus by night

2. It Was a Universal Need [v. 3, Rm. 5:12]

Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned:

3. It Was a Misunderstood Need [v. 4, 9-10]

 

II. THE NECESSITY OF THE NEW BIRTH

1. It is Necessarily a Spiritual rather than a Physical Birth [v. 3-6]

2. It Necessitates the Work of the Holy Spirit [v. 5-8, 6:63]

It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life.

3. It Necessitates the Ministries of the Father and the Son [v. 16]

 

III. THE UNIQUENESS OF THE SAVIOUR

1. The Incarnation of Christ [v. 9-13]

2. The Vicarious Death of Christ [v. 14-17]

3. The Necessity of Receiving the Risen Saviour [v. 18-21]

Rm. 10:6-13 - But the righteousness which is of faith speaketh on this wise, Say not in thine heart, Who shall ascend into heaven? (that is, to bring Christ down from above:) (cp. John 3:13) Or, Who shall descend into the deep? (that is, to bring up Christ again from the dead.) But what saith it? The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is, the word of faith, which we preach; That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed. For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him. For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.