THERE IS A GOD IN HEAVEN [2]

DANIEL 2:17-28

Pastor Rick Jackson

 

I. THERE IS A GOD IN HEAVEN SO PRAY & PRAISE [Dan. 2:16-19, 28]

 

II. THERE IS A GOD IN HEAVEN SO WATCH YOUR MOUTH

[Ecc. 5:2, Mt. 12:36]

-Be not rash with thy mouth, and let not thine heart be hasty to utter any thing before God: for God is in heaven, and thou upon earth: therefore let thy words be few.

- But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment.

 

III. THERE IS A GOD IN HEAVEN SO PREPARE TO MEET THY GOD [Amos 4:12-13, Acts 17:22-34, Rm. 1:18, 1 Th. 4:16-17]

-Therefore thus will I do unto thee, O Israel: and because I will do this unto thee, prepare to meet thy God, O Israel. For, lo, he that formeth the mountains, and createth the wind, and declareth unto man what is his thought, that maketh the morning darkness, and treadeth upon the high places of the earth, The LORD, The God of hosts, is his name.

-

-For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness;

-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.

 

IV. THERE IS A GOD IN HEAVEN SO LIVE LIKE IT [Phil. 1:21-23]

-For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain. But if I live in the flesh, this is the fruit of my labour: yet what I shall choose I wot not. For I am in a strait betwixt two, having a desire to depart, and to be with Christ; which is far better:

 

V. THERE IS A GOD IN HEAVEN SO GO TO HIM FOR HELP

[Phil. 4:13, 19, Heb. 4:14-16]

-But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.

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

-Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession. For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.

THERE IS A GOD IN HEAVEN

DANIEL 2:11-28

Pastor Rick Jackson

 

Daniel and all the wise men were under a death sentence because the senior wise men only knew the false gods and of course didn't have a personal relationship with them (v. 11) since they did not exist. Nor did they have a relationship with the One True God. But Daniel did, his three friends did, and they prayed for help. Note again Daniel's explanation in v. 27-28.

Daniel answered in the presence of the king, and said, The secret which the king hath demanded cannot the wise men, the astrologers, the magicians, the soothsayers, shew unto the king; But there is a God in heaven that revealeth secrets, and maketh known to the king Nebuchadnezzar what shall be in the latter days.

 

I. MEN CANNOT REASON WHO GOD IS BUT…

[Dt. 4:33-39, 29:29]

- Did ever people hear the voice of God speaking out of the midst of the fire, as thou hast heard, and live? Or hath God assayed to go and take him a nation from the midst of another nation, by temptations, by signs, and by wonders, and by war, and by a mighty hand, and by a stretched out arm, and by great terrors, according to all that the LORD your God did for you in Egypt before your eyes? Unto thee it was shewed, that thou mightest know that the LORD he is God; there is none else beside him. Out of heaven he made thee to hear his voice, that he might instruct thee: and upon earth he shewed thee his great fire; and thou heardest his words out of the midst of the fire. And because he loved thy fathers, therefore he chose their seed after them, and brought thee out in his sight with his mighty power out of Egypt; To drive out nations from before thee greater and mightier than thou art, to bring thee in, to give thee their land for an inheritance, as it is this day. Know therefore this day, and consider it in thine heart, that the LORD he is God in heaven above, and upon the earth beneath: there is none else.

-The secret things belong unto the LORD our God: but those things which are revealed belong unto us and to our children for ever, that we may do all the words of this law.

 

II. MEN CANNOT IMAGINE HOW GOD CAN BE KNOWN BUT…

[Josh. 2:9-12, Rm. 10:17, Heb. 11:31]

- And she said unto the men, I know that the LORD hath given you the land, and that your terror is fallen upon us, and that all the inhabitants of the land faint because of you. For we have heard how the LORD dried up the water of the Red sea for you, when ye came out of Egypt; and what ye did unto the two kings of the Amorites, that were on the other side Jordan, Sihon and Og, whom ye utterly destroyed. And as soon as we had heard these things, our hearts did melt, neither did there remain any more courage in any man, because of you: for the LORD your God, he is God in heaven above, and in earth beneath. Now therefore, I pray you, swear unto me by the LORD, since I have shewed you kindness, that ye will also shew kindness unto my father's house, and give me a true token:

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

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

 

III. MEN CANNOT UNDERSTAND HOW ISRAEL SURVIVES BUT…

[2 Chr. 20:5-7, Rm. 11:1-2, 5]

-And Jehoshaphat stood in the congregation of Judah and Jerusalem, in the house of the LORD, before the new court, And said, O LORD God of our fathers, art not thou God in heaven? and rulest not thou over all the kingdoms of the heathen? and in thine hand is there not power and might, so that none is able to withstand thee? Art not thou our God, who didst drive out the inhabitants of this land before thy people Israel, and gavest it to the seed of Abraham thy friend for ever?

- I say then, Hath God cast away his people? God forbid. For I also am an Israelite, of the seed of Abraham, of the tribe of Benjamin. God hath not cast away his people which he foreknew.… Even so then at this present time also there is a remnant according to the election of grace.

 

IV. MEN DON’T REALIZE HOW GOVERNMENTS RISE BUT…

[2 Chronicles 36:23, Hos. 13: 9-11]

-Thus saith Cyrus king of Persia, All the kingdoms of the earth hath the LORD God of heaven given me; and he hath charged me to build him an house in Jerusalem, which is in Judah. Who is there among you of all his people? The LORD his God be with him, and let him go up.

-O Israel, thou hast destroyed thyself; but in me is thine help. I will be thy king: where is any other that may save thee in all thy cities? and thy judges of whom thou saidst, Give me a king and princes? I gave thee a king in mine anger, and took him away in my wrath.

 

V. MEN CANNOT FATHOM THE WORK OF GOD ON EARTH BUT…

[Nehemiah 2:20, ACTS 17:24-27]

-Then answered I them, and said unto them, The God of heaven, he will prosper us; therefore we his servants will arise and build:

-God that made the world and all things therein , seeing that he is Lord of heaven and earth, dwelleth not in temples made with hands; Neither is worshipped with men's hands, as though he needed any thing, seeing he giveth to all life, and breath, and all things; And hath made of one blood all nations of men for to dwell on all the face of the earth, and hath determined the times before appointed, and the bounds of their habitation; That they should seek the Lord, if haply they might feel after him, and find him, though he be not far from every one of us:

BECAUSE HE DOESN’T CHANGE

MALACHI 3:1-6

Pastor Rick Jackson

 

We sometimes sing “Because He lives I can face tomorrow.” Part of facing tomorrow because He lives is because He doesn’t change. He doesn’t need to change because He is perfect. Everything He does is perfect. Everything He thinks is perfect. He doeth all things well. So, He is perfect and He doesn’t change. Because He is perfect and doesn’t change He has made it so some things don’t change. The fact these things don’t change are part of why we can face tomorrow in the face of other things changing. Let us seek to understand with a little study.

 

I. BECAUSE HE DOESN’T CHANGE SCRIPTURE HAS NOT CHANGED [PS. 119:89]

For ever, O LORD, thy word is settled in heaven.

1. The History Written in Advance Has Not Changed [Isaiah 46:10, Daniel]

Declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times the things that are not yet done, saying, My counsel shall stand, and I will do all my pleasure:

2. The Science Has Not Changed [Is. 40:22, Daniel 1:4, 1 Tm. 6:20]

- It is he that sitteth upon the circle of the earth, and the inhabitants thereof are as grasshoppers; that stretcheth out the heavens as a curtain, and spreadeth them out as a tent to dwell in:

- Children in whom was no blemish , but well favoured, and skilful in all wisdom, and cunning in knowledge, and understanding science, and such as had ability in them to stand in the king's palace, and whom they might teach the learning and the tongue of the Chaldeans.

-O Timothy, keep that which is committed to thy trust, avoiding profane and vain babblings, and oppositions of science falsely so called:

3. The Theology Has Not Changed [Gn. 1, Rm. 1]

 

II. BECAUSE HE DOESN’T CHANGE SALVATION HAS NOT CHANGED [JONAH 2:9]

-Salvation is of the LORD.

1. The Work Determined Has Not Changed [Acts 2:23, Heb. 4:3, Rev. 13:8]

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

-For we which have believed do enter into rest, as he said, As I have sworn in my wrath, if they shall enter into my rest: although the works were finished from the foundation of the world.

-And all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him, whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.

2. The Word’s Declaration Has Not Changed [1 Peter 1:18-25]

3. The Way’s Deliverance Has Not Changed [Jn. 14:6, Col. 1:13, 1 Thessalonians 1:10]

-Jesus saith unto him, I am the way , the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.

- Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son

- And to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, even Jesus, which delivered us from the wrath to come.

 

III. BECAUSE HE DOESN’T CHANGE SOUL-WINNING HAS NOT CHANGED [Ps. 51:13]

Then will I teach transgressors thy ways; and sinners shall be converted unto thee.

1. The Master Has Not Changed [Acts 10:38-40]

How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power: who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with him. And we are witnesses of all things which he did both in the land of the Jews, and in Jerusalem; whom they slew and hanged on a tree: Him God raised up the third day, and shewed him openly

2. The Message Has Not Changed [Acts 10:43]

To him give all the prophets witness, that through his name whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of sins.

3. The Method Has Not Changed [Ps. 126:5-6, Pr. 11:30, Dan. 12:3, Mt. 28:19-20]

- They that sow in tears shall reap in joy. He that goeth forth and weepeth, bearing precious seed, shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with him.

- The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life; and he that winneth souls is wise.

- And they that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament; and they that turn many to righteousness as the stars for ever and ever.

- Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.

 

These things have not changed and these things WILL NOT change!

THE LAST BIRTHDAY OF MOSES

DEUTERONOMY 31

Pastor Rick Jackson

 

I. MOSES’ COMMENCEMENT [v. 1-6]

1. The End of Moses Earthly Life [v. 1-2a]

2. The End of Moses’ Earthly Ministry [v. 2b, 2 Tm. 4:6-8]

For I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand. I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing.

3. The Never-ending Work of Moses’ Lord [v. 3-6]

 

II. MOSES’ CHALLENGE [v. 7-13, 19-22]

1. Follow God’s Man [v. 7-8]

2. Follow God’s Word [v. 9-13]

3. Follow God’s Music [v. 19-22]

 

III. MOSES’ CHARGES [v. 14-18, 23-30]

1. From God [v. 14-18]

2. To Joshua [v. 23, 2 Tm. 4:1-5]

I charge thee therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom; Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine. For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables. But watch thou in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, make full proof of thy ministry.

3. To Israel [v. 24-30]

HOW ABOUT NO?

JOHN 19:8-22

Pastor Rick Jackson

 

In this short account during the passion of our Lord we can clearly see (1) the arrogance of men thinking they have power (2) the Sovereignty of God despite appearances to the contrary and (3) the blindness of sinners as they reject their only Hope- the Lord Jesus Christ. I’d like to illustrate these truths through the simple use of the word “No.”

 

I. THE INCARNATION OF CHRIST

1. NO Room [Luke 2:7]

And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn.

2. NO Fault [Luke 23:4, 13-15]

- Then said Pilate to the chief priests and to the people, I find no fault in this man.

- And Pilate, when he had called together the chief priests and the rulers and the people, Said unto them, Ye have brought this man unto me, as one that perverteth the people: and, behold, I, having examined him before you, have found no fault in this man touching those things whereof ye accuse him: No, nor yet Herod: for I sent you to him; and, lo, nothing worthy of death is done unto him.

3. NO Corruption [Ps. 16:10, Acts 13:33-39]

- For thou wilt not leave my soul in hell; neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption.

- God hath fulfilled the same unto us their children, in that he hath raised up Jesus again; as it is also written in the second psalm, Thou art my Son, this day have I begotten thee. And as concerning that he raised him up from the dead, now no more to return to corruption, he said on this wise, I will give you the sure mercies of David. Wherefore he saith also in another psalm, Thou shalt not suffer thine Holy One to see corruption. For David, after he had served his own generation by the will of God, fell on sleep, and was laid unto his fathers, and saw corruption: But he, whom God raised again, saw no corruption. Be it known unto you therefore, men and brethren, that through this man is preached unto you the forgiveness of sins: And by him all that believe are justified from all things, from which ye could not be justified by the law of Moses.

 

II. THE EXCELLENCE OF CHRIST

1. NO Greater [Heb. 6:13, John 8:56]

-For when God made promise to Abraham, because he could swear by no greater, he sware by himself,

-Your father Abraham rejoiced to see my day: and he saw it, and was glad.

2. NO Change (His Personal Attributes) [Mal. 3:6, Heb. 13:8, 2 Tm. 2:11-13]

-For I am the LORD, I change not; therefore ye sons of Jacob are not consumed.

-Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever.

-It is a faithful saying: For if we be dead with him, we shall also live with him: If we suffer, we shall also reign with him: if we deny him, he also will deny us: If we believe not, yet he abideth faithful: he cannot deny himself.

3. NO Darkness [John 1:1-9, 8:12, 9:5]

-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. In him was life; and the life was the light of men. And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not. There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. The same came for a witness, to bear witness of the Light, that all men through him might believe. He was not that Light, but was sent to bear witness of that Light. That was the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world.

-Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.

-As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world.

 

III. THE ACCEPTANCE OF CHRIST

1. NO Respecter of Persons [Dt. 10:17, Acts 10:34-36, Rm. 2:11-12]

- For the LORD your God is God of gods, and Lord of lords, a great God, a mighty, and a terrible, which regardeth not persons, nor taketh reward:

- Then Peter opened his mouth, and said, Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons: But in every nation he that feareth him, and worketh righteousness, is accepted with him. The word which God sent unto the children of Israel, preaching peace by Jesus Christ: (he is Lord of all:)

- For there is no respect of persons with God. For as many as have sinned without law shall also perish without law: and as many as have sinned in the law shall be judged by the law;

2. NO Man but by Christ [Jn. 14:6, 1 Tm. 2:5]

-Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.

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

3. NO One Turned Down [John 6:37-40]

All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out. For I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of him that sent me. And this is the Father's will which hath sent me, that of all which he hath given me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up again at the last day. And this is the will of him that sent me, that every one which seeth the Son, and believeth on him, may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the last day.

LIFE, DEATH AND THE MYSTERY OF MOSES

DEUTERONOMY 34

Pastor Rick Jackson

 

I. LIFE’S LESSONS [v. 1-4]

1. God’s People Sin [v. 1-4, 1 Jn. 1:8-10]

-If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.

2. Sin has Consequences [v. 4, Gal. 6:7, Num. 32:23]

-Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.

-be sure your sin will find you out.

3. God has Compassion [v. 1-3, Ps. 103:13-14]

-Like as a father pitieth his children, so the LORD pitieth them that fear him. For he knoweth our frame; he remembereth that we are dust.

 

II. MYSTERIES OF MOSES [v. 5-8]

1. Who Wrote of His Death? [v. 4-5, 2 Pt. 1:21]

For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.

2. Where was He Buried? [v. 6-7, Ps. 90:12, Lk. 9:28-31, Jude 9 (Satan limited), Rev. 11:3ff]

-So teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom.

-And it came to pass about an eight days after these sayings , he took Peter and John and James, and went up into a mountain to pray. And as he prayed, the fashion of his countenance was altered, and his raiment was white and glistering. And, behold, there talked with him two men, which were Moses and Elias: Who appeared in glory, and spake of his decease which he should accomplish at Jerusalem.

3. How Long is Long Enough? [v. 8, Eccl. 3:4, 1 Th. 4:13]

-A time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance;

-But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope.

 

 

III. DEATH’S LESSONS [v. 9-12]

1. No One is Irreplaceable [v. 9, Acts 13:36]

-For David, after he had served his own generation by the will of God, fell on sleep, and was laid unto his fathers, and saw corruption:

2. The Servant is Not above the Master [v. 10, Mt. 10:24, Heb. 3:1-5]

- The disciple is not above his master, nor the servant above his lord.

- Wherefore, holy brethren, partakers of the heavenly calling, consider the Apostle and High Priest of our profession, Christ Jesus; Who was faithful to him that appointed him, as also Moses was faithful in all his house. For this man was counted worthy of more glory than Moses, inasmuch as he who hath builded the house hath more honour than the house. For every house is builded by some man; but he that built all things is God. And Moses verily was faithful in all his house, as a servant, for a testimony of those things which were to be spoken after;

3. The Will of God is Paramount [v. 11-12, Rm. 12:2, Eph. 6:6, 1 Pt. 4:1-2, 19]

- 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.

- Not with eyeservice, as menpleasers; but as the servants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart;

- Forasmuch then as Christ hath suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves likewise with the same mind: for he that hath suffered in the flesh hath ceased from sin; That he no longer should live the rest of his time in the flesh to the lusts of men, but to the will of God.

- Wherefore let them that suffer according to the will of God commit the keeping of their souls to him in well doing, as unto a faithful Creator.

DECISIONS AT THE DOOR

REVELATION 3:20

Pastor Rick Jackson

 

Probably one of the most famous “at the door” passages is the one we read as our text. But there are a few others that mention that someone, or something, is at the door.

 

I. SIN MAY BE AT THE DOOR [Gen. 4:7]

1. When You Want God to Accept Your Way while You Refuse His [4:3-7]

2. When You Embrace Evil and Attack Righteousness [1 John 3:12, Isaiah 5:20]

-Not as Cain, who was of that wicked one, and slew his brother. And wherefore slew he him? Because his own works were evil, and his brother's righteous.

-Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!

3. Sin Lieth at the Door when You Ignore God’s Word [Heb. 11:4, Rm. 10:17; Jude 10-11]

-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.

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

-But these speak evil of those things which they know not: but what they know naturally, as brute beasts, in those things they corrupt themselves. Woe unto them! for they have gone in the way of Cain,

 

II. THE JUDGE MAY BE AT THE DOOR [James 5:9]

1. The Judge Will - Punish Evil [v. 1-6]

2. The Judge Waits – but not for long [v. 7-9]

3. The Judge Watches – so be ready [v. 10ff]

 

III. THE LORD IS AT THE DOOR [REV. 3:20]

1. You Have a Condition [v. 14-17]

2. You Have a Choice [v. 18-20]

3. You Have a Chance [v. 20-22]