“For their rock is not as our Rock”

Deuteronomy 32:1-43                

 

Pastor Rick Jackson

 

We must have FAITH IN THE ROCK OF AGES! The Christian has problems just like the world, but the Christian HAS something the world doesn’t have because the Christian has Someone the world doesn’t have! The Christian has Christ! The Christian has the indwelling Holy Spirit! The Christian has the Heavenly Father! The Christian has the Word of God! Therefore, no matter what happens, who happens, or when it happens, the Christian should have faith! Obviously, we cannot name every situation and every particular problem every person is facing but let us see something that can help every one of us! God’s plans have not changed. God’s purpose has not wavered. God is not limited. So…

 

I. HAVE FAITH IN GOD!                In Mark 11:22 Jesus said this very thing, “Have faith in God!”

 

1. Have Faith in His Unfailing Goodness [2 Chronicles 6:41] Arise, O LORD God, …and let thy saints rejoice in goodness.

 

2. Have Faith in His Abundant Mercy [Micah 7:18] … he delighteth in mercy.

 

3. Have Faith in His Amazing Grace [1 Corinthians 15:10] But by the grace of God I am what I am: and his grace which was bestowed upon me was not in vain; but I laboured more abundantly than they all: yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me.

 

4. Have Faith in His Loving Kindness [Psalm 63:3] Because thy lovingkindness is better than life, my lips shall praise thee.

5. Have Faith in His Matchless Power [Psalm 62:11] God hath spoken once; twice have I heard this; that power belongeth unto God.

6. Have Faith in His Immeasurable Wisdom [Romans 11:33] O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding out!

7. Have Faith in His Gracious Guidance [Psalm 48:14] For this God is our God for ever and ever: he will be our guide even unto death

 

Have faith in God!

 

II. HAVE FAITH IN CHRIST!

 

Once again, we have the words of the Saviour ringing to us down through the ages. In John 14:1, Jesus said, “Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me.” Do you know when He specifically said that? Right after He told the disciples that He was leaving them for a while. Right after He told Peter that Peter would deny Christ three times. Then He spoke these words of comfort, hope and faith! Have faith in Christ!

 

1. Have Faith in His Sinless Life [1 Peter 2:22] Who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth:

 

2. Have Faith in His Vicarious Death [1 Pet. 2:24] Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed.

 

3. Have Faith in His Victorious Resurrection [Romans 8:34] 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.

 

4. Have Faith in His Full Salvation [Jonah 2:9] Salvation is of the LORD.

 

5. Have Faith in His Faithful Presence [Hebrews 13:5] Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.

 

6. Have faith in His Never-Ending Advocacy [1 John 2:1] My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous:

 

7. Have Faith in His Coming Again [John 14:3] I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.                                  

 

Have Faith in Christ!

 

III. HAVE FAITH IN THE SWEET SPIRIT OF GOD!

 

In those dark hours before the cross, those hours when Jesus told them He was going away, those hours Jesus told them they would scatter from him, that hour in which he told Peter of his upcoming failure Jesus also said in John 14:16-17, ”And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever; Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.”

 

1. Have Faith in His Inerrant Word [2 Peter 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. Have Faith in His Impressive Empowerment [Acts 1:8] But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me

 

3. Have Faith in His Loving Leadership [Matthew 4:1] Then was Jesus led up of the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil.

Acts 8:29 Then the Spirit said unto Philip, Go near, and join thyself to this chariot.

Acts 11:12 And the Spirit bade me go with them, nothing doubting.

Acts 16:7 After they were come to Mysia, they assayed to go into Bithynia: but the Spirit suffered them not.

Romans 8:14 For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.

 

4. Have Faith in His Blessed Indwelling [1 John 4:4] Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world.

 

5. Have Faith in His Perfect Guidance [John 16:13] Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth:

 

6. Have faith in His Ultimate Comfort [Acts 9:31] Then had the churches rest throughout all Judaea and Galilee and Samaria, and were edified; and walking in the fear of the Lord, and in the comfort of the Holy Ghost, were multiplied.

BE LIKE THE DONKEY!

 

 

Isaiah 1:3                  The ox knoweth his owner, and the ass his master's crib: but Israel doth not know, my people doth not consider.

 

Pastor Rick Jackson

 

The donkey or ass… is a domesticated member of the horse family. A male donkey or ass is called a jack, a female a jenny or jennet; a young donkey is a foal. Jack donkeys are often used to produce mules. Asses were first domesticated around 3000 BC and have spread around the world. They continue to fill important roles in many places today. As beasts of burden and companions, asses and donkeys have worked together with humans for millennia.

 

 I. THE SAVED DONKEY [Ex. 34:20]

 

But the firstling of an ass thou shalt redeem with a lamb: and if thou redeem him not, then shalt thou break his neck. All the firstborn of thy sons thou shalt redeem. And none shall appear before me empty.

 

If you could have asked a donkey in Israel why he worked so hard he’d probably say, “Are you kidding me? I have been redeemed. I had the sentence of death upon myself but was saved by the blood of the Lamb. I am working because I have been redeemed. I don’t work to be redeemed- I work because I am redeemed.”

 

II. THE SPEAKING DONKEY [2 Peter 2:15-16]

 

Which have forsaken the right way, and are gone astray, following the way of Balaam the son of Bosor, who loved the wages of unrighteousness; But was rebuked for his iniquity: the dumb ass speaking with man's voice forbad the madness of the prophet

A man’s life was saved because of this donkey. When we give the Words of Life souls can be saved for all eternity [Acts 5:20] We can also speak to help those that are saved [2 Corinthians 5:11]

Go, stand and speak in the temple to the people all the words of this life.

Knowing therefore the terror of the Lord, we persuade men; but we are made manifest unto God; and I trust also are made manifest in your consciences.

 

 III. THE SURRENDERED DONKEY [Mark 11:1-10]

 

 No rebellion here, no kicking at what God asks, no braying and complaining- just simple submission to the will of God.

 

 IV. THE SACRIFICED DONKEY [Judges 15:14-16]

 

And when he came unto Lehi, the Philistines shouted against him: and the spirit of the Lord came mightily upon him, and the cords that were upon his arms became as flax that was burnt with fire, and his bands loosed from off his hands. And he found a new jawbone of an ass, and put forth his hand, and took it, and slew a thousand men therewith. And Samson said, With the jawbone of an ass, heaps upon heaps, with the jaw of an ass have I slain a thousand men.

 

 This donkey did more after death it seems than in life. We serve the Lord better by dying to self.

John 12:24 Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abideth alone: but if it die, it bringeth forth much fruit.

1 Corinthians 15:31 I protest by your rejoicing  which I have in Christ Jesus our Lord, I die daily.

JOHN R. RICE QUOTES OF THE WEEK

 Don't think of Heaven as a ghostly, unreal, indefinite state. It is a real place, a place as literal and concrete as the house you sit in today, as physically real as the city where you live. ― John R. Rice, Bible Facts About Heaven

I heard a preacher one time say to a congregation, "If any sinner will come to this mourner's bench three nights in succession, I guarantee that he will be saved." That was a foolish thing for any man to say, because he could not back up that offer from the Bible. I have an offer a billion times better than that. If any sinner in the world will one fraction of a second turn to Jesus and trust Him, depending on Him for forgiveness and salvation, he will have everlasting life that moment! "He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life," says John the Baptist in John 3:36. "Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me hath everlasting life," said Jesus in John 6:47. "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved," said Paul and Silas to the Philippian jailor in Acts 16:31. The very instant one puts his trust in Jesus he has everlasting life. He is already saved. - John R. Rice [Revival Appeals, pg. 110]

I do not know that the dying thief had any flash of ecstasy. I do not suppose that he shouted with joy. I do not have any idea how he felt. I just know he called on Jesus in simple faith, and I know that he was forgiven and saved at once. I know that day he went to paradise with Jesus. What could be better than that? Salvation is not a long, drawn-out process. It need not involve any waiting, any pleading, any probation. When you put your trust in Jesus honestly, with the whole heart, then you are saved. - John R. Rice [Revival Appeals, pg. 110]

Revelation 21 and 22 tell us something of this wonderful place that Jesus is preparing for His saints, "the holy city," "that great city, the holy Jerusalem." Oh, the shining brightness of it! "Having the glory of God: and her light was like unto a stone most precious, even like a jasper stone, clear as crystal"! It is a literal city with walls of shining jasper, 144 cubits high. The streets are pure gold, and the foundations of the wall of the city are decorated with every kind of precious stone. The city has twelve great gates, each one a pearl. ― John R. Rice, Bible Facts About Heaven

Remember that in six days Christ made the heavens and earth and all that in them is. "Without him was not any thing made that was made" (John 1:3). If He made so many wonders in six days, then what beauties and marvels He has surely prepared during these 1900 years in which He has been preparing our mansions in the Father's House! ― John R. Rice, Bible Facts About Heaven

If we cannot earn our salvation by works, we cannot earn it by tears. If we cannot earn our salvation by days of labor, we cannot earn it by nights of prayer. There is no long, drawn-out process to salvation. The instant one receives the Saviour he is saved. - John R. Rice [Revival Appeals, pg. 115]

A mother travails in birth, but the babe does not. So Christ suffered to pay for the sins of sinners, but the sinner goes free, without suffering, when he trusts Christ. His sins are already paid for on the cross. We need not pay for what Christ has already paid for. - John R. Rice [Revival Appeals, pg. 115]

5 QUALITIES A GOOD CHRISTIAN SHOULD ILLUSTRATE

2 Timothy 2:1-7

 

Pastor Rick Jackson

 

I saw a news story once about a woman who was fired for selling Girl Scout cookies while on the job. She said it wasn’t fair- it’s not like she was making money off it- she was just trying to help her daughter. But wait- was she wrong? She stole her employer’s time to promote her daughter. She stole her employer’s business [she worked in a food store]. She made her employer to promote a cause he might not back. She broke the rules. Who knows what else? An occupation or relationship implies certain restrictions. For instance- I am a married man- therefore I should not live a single lifestyle. I pastor this church so I should not be absent from my own pulpit to go to an entertainment event.

 

 I. SON – A RELATIONSHIP REMEMBERED [v. 1, Heb. 12:6]

 

 “in Christ,” in this special relationship, there is strength and grace.

 

 II. TEACHER – A RESPOSIBILITY REFERENCED [v. 2]

 

 It must be learned [heard], understood, and [taught] passed on to be taught again.

 

 III. SOLDIER – A REASON REINFORCED [v. 3-4]

 

 Endure hardness – to please God [being a good Christian is not easy, a sissy can’t do it]

 

 IV. ATHELETE – A PRINCIPLE RETAINED [v. 5]

 

 Sacrifice for the goal – cheaters will not win.

 

 V. FARMER – A PATIENCE REWARDED [v. 6-7]

 

 There are worthwhile fruits to be enjoyed- now and later.

THE CHRISTIAN’S “NOT TO”

PSALM 37          

 

Pastor Rick Jackson

 

When our kids were little and would do something their mother or I had told them was wrong they would inevitably be caught, corrected, and chastened. Oft times we would ask them what we had said about the offending behavior and quite often the answer would come back, “Not to.” “What did I say about playing with Mommy’s make-up?” “Not to.” Well, my friends, there are some things God has told His children, “Not to.”

 

I. WHAT DOES GOD’S WORD SAY ABOUT FRETTING? NOT TO!

[v. 1-11]

 

 1. Your Fret is Foolish [v. 1-2, 9-10]

 

2. Your Focus is Faith [v. 3-8]

 

3. Your Future is Fixed [v. 11]

 

II. WHAT DOES GOD’S WORD SAY ABOUT FEARING? NOT TO!

[v. 12-22, Luke 12:32]

Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom.

 

1. Consider What God Knows about the Wicked [v. 12-15]

 

2. Consider What God Knows about the Righteous [v. 16-19]

 

3. Consider What God Knows about the Future [v. 20-22]

 

III. WHAT DOES GOD’S WORD SAY ABOUT FORGETTING? NOT TO! [v. 23-40, Psalms 103:2]

Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits:

 

 1. Live the Life of Delighting [v. 23-31]

 

2. Live the Life of Waiting [v. 32-36]

 

3. Live the Life of Trusting [v. 37-40]

JOHN R. RICE QUOTES OF THE WEEK

 Jesus Himself also said, "He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life" (John 3:36). When you trusted Jesus Christ, He saved you. I will pray for you that you will believe God and quit depending on your feelings and emotions. It would be wrong for me to be praying for God to give you the kind of feeling you want. That is not the way we are to know we are saved. We know we are saved because God said it and we have faith to believe it. Faith takes God's Word as true and relies upon it. ― John R. Rice, Dr. Rice, Here Are More Questions

If you came to Christ, that was saving faith. Now then He wants you to have faith in His Word for assurance. That is simply to leave the matter with God and believe what He said. - John R. Rice, Dr. Rice, Here Are More Questions

God is ready and waiting to receive sinners who put their heart's trust in Jesus and want to be saved, and to pretend that He requires a long period of mourning and sorrow before He will accept a sinner and save him is contrary to the teaching of the Bible. ― John R. Rice, Dr. Rice, Here Are More Questions

Revelation 22:17 says, "And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely." One who is athirst may come and is invited to come. And if you "willed" to come, then that is all God requires. It is not walking down an aisle, nor joining a church, nor feeling light as a feather, nor having some great emotional experience that saves one. It is simply turning one's case over to Jesus Christ.

― John R. Rice

“In the Sweet By and By," "When We All Get to Heaven," "Oh, Come, Angel Band," the magnificent "Glory Song" sung around the world in the Torrey-Alexander meetings, had their tremendous hold on people, no doubt because of the happy hope they expressed for Heaven. The human heart longs for an assurance of a blessed, immortal place where those made righteous, the forgiven, the blessed are at home with God; when sin, disappointment, human failure, heartache, disease and death are forever ended!

― John R. Rice, Bible Facts About Heaven

The so-called "social gospel" lays stress upon this life, not on the next. In many quarters it is now regarded as very old-fashioned and passe' to urge people to prepare to die. Social security, better housing, relief for tenant farmers, better living conditions for the poor and the care of underprivileged children—these have occupied so much of the teaching and preaching of these modern days, that preachers have left hungry-hearted people ignorant about Heaven.

― John R. Rice, Bible Facts About Heaven

This world is only an anteroom of the next. This short life is incidental compared with eternity. This world is not home to the Christian. ― John R. Rice, Bible Facts About Heaven

KEY CHAPTERS OF THE BIBLE - HEBREWS 11

All of the Bible is God’s Word. All of the Bible is important. But not all of the Bible is as important as other parts of the Bible. The names of the various kings of Israel and Judah are not as important as the Gospel of Christ. Jesus said in Matthew 23:23, Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin, and have omitted the weightier matters of the law, judgment, mercy, and faith: these ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone. With that in mind, I start a series of sorts, entitled, “KEY CHAPTERS OF THE BIBLE.” This is not a series that will follow every week but from time to time, as the Lord leads, we will examine another key chapter. We begin tonight with Hebrews 11.

 

Pastor Rick Jackson

 

I. FAITH’S PROVISIONS

 

1. Faith can Provide Understanding [v. 1-3, Rm. 1:20]

 

For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse:

 

2. Faith can Procure Salvation [v. 4. Eph. 2:8-9]

 

For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.

 

3. Faith can Provide Strength [v. 11, 27 endurance]

 

II. FAITH’S PEOPLE

 

1. Ordinary People [shepherds, carpenters, fishermen, farmers, tax collectors, soldiers, mothers]

 

2. Fearful People [v. 7]

 

3. Fallen People [not perfect people] Noah got drunk; Abraham, Isaac & Jacob lied; Moses lost his temper; Gideon was afraid, Jonah was prejudiced, David committed adultery…

 

III. FAITH’S POSSIBILITIES

 

1. Faith makes it Possible to Please God [v. 5-6]

 

2. Faith makes it Possible to Work Righteousness [v. 33-38]

 

3. Faith makes it Possible to Obtain a Good Report [v. 2, 39-40]