PHILIPPIANS 4:6, A VERSE TO INTERNALIZE

Pastor Rick Jackson

 

I. THE POSITIVE POINTS OF A NEGATIVE – “Be careful for nothing but in everything”

1. It is Positive in Its Uniqueness – relinquish worry

2. It is Positive in Its Universality – really exclusive [Mt. 6:25-33, Rm. 8:31-39]

-Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment? Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they? Which of you by taking thought can add one cubit unto his stature? And why take ye thought for raiment? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin: And yet I say unto you, That even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which to day is, and to morrow is cast into the oven, shall he not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith? Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed? (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things. But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.

- If God be for us, who can be against us? He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things? Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God's elect? It is God that justifieth. Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather , that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? As it is written , For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter. Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us. For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

3. It is Positive in Its Underlying Grace – realize Omnipotence – it is inclusive here – everything [3:20-21, 4:4-7, 13, 19, 23]

 

II. THE PARTS OF A WHOLE – “by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving”

1. Prayer – emphasizes devotion- be trusting who He is

2. Supplication – emphasizes details- be thorough – should we bring God small or big problems? Clue- there are no big problems to Him

3. Thanksgiving – emphasizes dedication- be trusting what He does is right

 

III. THE PROFOUNDNESS OF ITS SIMPLICITY – “let your requests be made known unto God”

1. Its Demand of Getting Personal – you must pray, you must decide, you must ask, you must seek

2. Its Demonstration of God’s Power – to God, your Creator, your Heavenly Father

3. Its Destruction of Grand Pettiness – pity parties vs. grace, mercy & love

ONE FOOT IN THE GRAVE, ONE FOOT IN GLORY

PSALM 61

Pastor Rick Jackson

 

     The Bible is very clear that our life on earth is tentative, temporal, and tightly tethered to the grave. Our life is spoken of as a vapor, like the grass that today is and tomorrow is tossed into the fire. That soon most of us will be unremembered by the generations to come. But God.

     The Christian lives that short life here, that one foot in the grave while having one foot in glory. He is already a child of God, a possessor of a royal priesthood, a heavenly citizenship and a home being prepared by Christ Himself.  As I read this Psalm, the title I have given the message popped into my mind. By God’s grace I can communicated it to you in this service.

 

I. THE “WHO” OF BOTH PLACES [v. 1-2]

1. The One Who Intelligently Hears My Cry [v. 1]

2. From His Throne He Attends unto My Prayer [v. 1, 66:19]

3. Lead Me to the Rock that is Higher than I

[v. 2, Dt. 32:4, Jn. 1:1-3]

-He is the Rock, his work is perfect: for all his ways are judgment: a God of truth and without iniquity, just and right is he.

-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. THE WHY OF BOTH PLACES [v. 3-5]

1. He has been both Shelter and a Strong Tower Here [v. 3]

2. I Will Abide with Him Forever [v. 4, 1 Th. 4:17]

-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.

3. Trust & Receive [v. 4-5, 1 Pt. 2:1-10]

 

III. THE WHAT OF BOTH PLACES [v. 6-8]

1. Service Before [v. 6]

2. Eternity Beckons [v.7]

3. Praise in Both [v. 8]

DEALING WITH THE DEVIL

1 PETER 5:8

Pastor Rick Jackson

 

I. REMEMBER

1. His Power – do not underestimate the Devil, nor overestimate yourself [Jude 8-9, 1 Cor. 10:12]

-Yet Michael the archangel, when contending with the devil he disputed about the body of Moses, durst not bring against him a railing accusation, but said, The Lord rebuke thee.

-Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall.

2. His Character – he is a liar and quite clever [Jn. 8:44]

-Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it.

3. His Goal – [2 Cor. 2:11, 4:3-4, 11:3-4]

-Lest Satan should get an advantage of us: for we are not ignorant of his devices.

- But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost: In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.

-But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtlety, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ. For if he that cometh preacheth another Jesus, whom we have not preached, or if ye receive another spirit, which ye have not received, or another gospel, which ye have not accepted, ye might well bear with him.

 

II. RECOGNIZE

1. His Weakness [James 4:7]

Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.

2. His Wiles [Eph. 6:11, 2 Cor. 11:14] “methodeia” LION-obvious, SERPENT-subtle, ANGEL OF LIGHT

- Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil

-And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light.

3. His Wish [Luke 22:31]

And the Lord said, Simon, Simon, behold, Satan hath desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat:

 

III. RESIST

1. In the Faith [1 Pet. 5:6-9]

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. 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.

2. In Humility [James 4:6-10] “pride” is one of Satan’s devices

But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble. Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded. Be afflicted, and mourn, and weep: let your laughter be turned to mourning, and your joy to heaviness. Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up.

3. In God’s Provision [Eph. 6:10-18, Mt. 4, Lk. 4]

Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness; And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace; Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God: Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;

1 TIMOTHY 3:16, A VERSE TO SUMMARIZE

Pastor Rick Jackson

 

I. NO CONTROVERSY [1 Tm. 3:16]

1. It is Great – the greatest subject (salvation) “discussed” by the greatest Highest Authority

2. It is a Mystery – a truth unknowable by human reasoning but only be revelation of God

3. The Mystery of Godliness- how can man be godly, how can God justify sinful man

 

II. GOD WAS MANIFEST IN THE FLESH [1 Tm. 3:16]

1. The Incarnation of Christ [1 Peter 1:20]

Who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you

2. The Substitutionary Death of Christ [1 John 3:5]

And ye know that he was manifested to take away our sins; and in him is no sin.

3. The Resurrection of Christ [John 21:14]

This is now the third time that Jesus shewed himself to his disciples, after that he was risen from the dead.

 

III. JUSTIFIED IN THE SPIRIT [1 Tm. 3:16]

1. Conceived by the Holy Ghost [Matthew 1:20]

the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a dream, saying, Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife: for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost.

2. Empowered by the Holy Ghost [John 3:34]

For he whom God hath sent speaketh the words of God: for God giveth not the Spirit by measure unto him.

3. Raised by the Holy Ghost [Rm. 8:11]

But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you.

 

IV. SEEN OF ANGELS [1 Tm. 3:16]

1. Worshipped at His Birth [Heb. 1:6]

when he bringeth in the firstbegotten into the world, he saith, And let all the angels of God worship him.

2. Aided in His Life [Luke 22:43]

And there appeared an angel unto him from heaven, strengthening him.

3. Announced His Resurrection [Luke 24:23]

And when they found not his body, they came, saying, that they had also seen a vision of angels, which said that he was alive.

 

V. PREACHED UNTO THE GENTILES, BELIEVED ON IN THE WORLD [1 Tm. 3:16]

1. A Universal Situation [Romans 3:23]

For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God

2. A Universal Saviour [Hebrews 2:9]

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.

3. A Universal Salvation [Romans 10:13]

For  whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.

 

VI. RECEIVED UP INTO GLORY

1. The Risen Lord [Luke 24:34]

Saying, The Lord is risen indeed, and hath appeared to Simon.

2. The Glorified Saviour [John 12:16]

These things understood not his disciples at the first: but when Jesus was glorified, then remembered they that these things were written of him, and that they had done these things unto him.

3. The Coming King [Rev. 19:11-16]

And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he doth judge and make war. His eyes were as a flame of fire, and on his head were many crowns; and he had a name written, that no man knew, but he himself. And he was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and his name is called The Word of God. And the armies which were in heaven followed him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean. And out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the nations: and he shall rule them with a rod of iron: and he treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God. And he hath on his vesture and on his thigh a name written, KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS.

3 WHO DISAPPOINTED PAUL

GALATIANS 2:11-14, 3:1-4, 4:8-16

Pastor Rick Jackson

 

I. JOHN MARK

1. He had Gone with Paul & Barnabas as an Assistant [Acts 12:25-13:5]

2. He had Left Them Abruptly Disappointing Paul [Acts 13:13, 15:35-40]

3. He Redeemed Himself in Paul’s Eyes [Col. 4:10, 2 Tm. 4:11]

- Aristarchus my fellowprisoner saluteth you, and Marcus, sister's son to Barnabas, (touching whom ye received commandments: if he come unto you, receive him)

-Only Luke is with me. Take Mark, and bring him with thee: for he is profitable to me for the ministry.

 

II. DEMAS

1. Once Considered a Co-Worker [Phile. 1:24]

-Marcus, Aristarchus, Demas, Lucas, my fellowlabourers.

2. Considered a Christian Brother though apparently Not a Worker [Col. 4:10-14]

-Aristarchus my fellowprisoner saluteth you, and Marcus, sister's son to Barnabas, (touching whom ye received commandments: if he come unto you, receive him;) And Jesus, which is called Justus, who are of the circumcision. These only are my fellowworkers unto the kingdom of God, which have been a comfort unto me. Epaphras, who is one of you, a servant of Christ, saluteth you, always labouring fervently for you in prayers, that ye may stand perfect and complete in all the will of God. For I bear him record, that he hath a great zeal for you, and them that are in Laodicea, and them in Hierapolis. Luke, the beloved physician, and Demas, greet you.

3. Called Out as a Carnal Christian [2 Tm. 4:10]

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

 

But the biggest disappointment to the Apostle Paul is found in Romans 7

III. PAUL HIMSELF

1. A Weak Man [Rm. 7:14-17]

2. A Wretched Man [Rm. 7:18-24]

3. But a Willing Man [Rm. 7:25, 18, 8:1-14]

THIS IS THE VICTORY

1 JOHN 5:4

Pastor Rick Jackson

 

I. THERE IS VICTORY IN SALVATION

1. There Is Victory in Knowing Who Jesus Is [v. 1, 5]

2. There is Victory in Knowing Jesus [v. 3-4]

3. There is Victory in Knowing We Are the Family of God [v. 1-2]

 

II. THERE IS VICTORY IN SECURITY

1. We Have the Witness of God [v. 6-9]

2. We Have the Witness Within [v. 10a]

3. We Have the Witness of the Word [v. 10b-13]

 

III. THERE IS VICTORY IN SERVICE

1. Serving God in Supplication (Prayer) [v. 14-16, Jm. 5:16]

The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.

2. Serving God in Separation “From” [v. 4-5, 16-19, 21, 2 Cor. 6:17]

Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you,

3. Serving God in Separation “Unto” [v. 20, Acts 13:2, Rm. 1:1-7]

1 THESSALONIANS 4:17, A VERSE TO GO

Pastor Rick Jackson

 

I. WITH THEM

1. The Old Testament Saints [Mt. 8:11]

And I say unto you, That many shall come from the east and west, and shall sit down with Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, in the kingdom of heaven.

2. The New Testament Saints [Jn. 11: 24]

Martha saith unto him, I know that he shall rise again in the resurrection at the last day.

3. The Saints of All Ages that Have Gone On Before Us

[v. 13-17]

 

II. WE

1. It is Exclusive – “we” not “them” [v. 12-17]

without Christ, without hope, without God- Revelation 22:15 For without are dogs, and sorcerers, and whoremongers, and murderers, and idolaters, and whosoever loveth and maketh a lie.

2. It is Inclusive – “we which are alive and remain” [v. 17]

not “we the perfect” or “we the Baptists” or “we the snooty”

3. It is Elusive – [v. 17, Mt. 24:36]

But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only.

Paul expected to be alive, so do I, it’s how Jesus told us to do

 

III. WITH THE LORD

1. Oh-the Privilege to Meet the Lord without Dying [v. 17]

2. Oh-the Passage to Meet the Lord in the Air [v. 17]

3. Oh-the Permanence to Ever Be with the Lord [v. 17]