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]

I LOVE THE LORD

PSALM 116:1

Pastor Rick Jackson

 

I. FOR THE TRANSACTION

1. The Preservation of the Saints [v. 6, 2 Tm. 1:12, 1 Pt. 1:5]

-For the which cause I also suffer these things: nevertheless I am not ashamed: for I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day.

-Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.

2. The Prominence of Simplicity [v. 6, 19:7, 1 Cor. 1:26-31, Luke 18:17]

-The law of the LORD is perfect, converting the soul: the testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple.

-For ye see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called: But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty; And base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to nought things that are: That no flesh should glory in his presence. But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption: That, according as it is written, He that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord.

- Verily I say unto you, Whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little child shall in no wise enter therein.

3. The Path of Salvation [v. 5-6, 79:8]

O remember not against us former iniquities: let thy tender mercies speedily prevent us: for we are brought very low.

 

II. FOR THE TRACK

1. Return to Rest [v. 7, 1-4, Mt. 11:28]

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

2. Realize it’s Personal [v. 7, 1-4, 6-7, Rm. 10:8-13]

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.

3. Redeemed by the Bountiful Lord [v. 1-7]

 

III. FOR THE THREE-FOLD DELIVERANCE

1. Soul from Death [v. 8-9, 3-4, Rm. 6:23, Rev. 2:11, 20:6]

- For the wages of sin is death;

- He that overcometh shall not be hurt of the second death.

- Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power,

2. Eyes from Tears [v. 8, Isaiah 25:8, Rev. 7:17, 21:4]

- He will swallow up death in victory; and the Lord GOD will wipe away tears from off all faces; and the rebuke of his people shall he take away from off all the earth: for the LORD hath spoken it.

- For the Lamb which is in the midst of the throne shall feed them, and shall lead them unto living fountains of waters: and God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes

- And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.

3. Feet from Falling [v. 8-9, 56:13, 1 Cor. 10:12-13, Jude 24]

- For thou hast delivered my soul from death: wilt not thou deliver my feet from falling, that I may walk before God in the light of the living?

- Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall. There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.

- Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy,

SAUL’S MYSTERIES SOLVED [Part 2]

1 SAMUEL 28:7-20

Pastor Rick Jackson

 

When you read the history of King Saul in the Bible you will find three mysteries that baffle many minds. Last week we learned he was indeed saved. What about the encounter with the witch of Endor? And finally, was Saul killed or did he kill himself? Let us open the Word of God and find those answers.

 

I. WHAT HAPPENED AT ENDOR? [1 Sm. 28:7-20] 3 Possibilities:

1. Human Trickery is Unlikely in this Case [v. 12-14]

2. Demonic Trickery is Unlikely in this Case [1 Sm. 28:12, 15-16, 20]

3. Divine Sovereignty is Likely [v. 12-20] note the clear language of the Scripture

 

II. WAS SAUL’S DEATH REGICIDE OR SUICIDE? [1 Sm. 31, 2 Sm. 1]

1. Saul Wanted Death [1 Sm. 31:1-4]

2. Scriptures Are Straightforward He Committed Suicide [1 Sm. 31:4b-6]

3. Scriptures Infallibly Report the Amalekite’s Lies [2 Sm. 1:1-16]

SORROW NOT AS OTHERS

1 THESS. 4:13-18

Pastor Rick Jackson

 

Facing life is sometimes harder than personally facing death. I have heard many say they were ready to face death but had a hard time when someone else died. For the Christian, that is normal. How do we face life when someone we love has faced death? Let me give you three Bible examples.

 

 I. DAVID’S WAY FOR THE “SAFE” [2 Sam. 12:15-23]

1. Take Care of Your Appearance [v. 20a]

helps psychologically if nothing else

2. Take Care of Your Spiritual Needs [v. 20b, 1 Th. 5:18]

In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.

3. Take Care of Your Physical Needs [v. 20c-23]

By the way- after David was comforted he was able to comfort others [like his wife in the next verse]

 

 II. PAUL’S WAY FOR THE SAVED [1 Th. 4:13-18]

1. Be Knowledgeable [v. 13] at least 9 times

2. Be Different [v. 13b, Eph. 2]

3. Be Expectant [v. 14-18] also expect to comfort others

 

III. JESUS’ WAY FOR THE LIVING [John 11:11-33]

1. We Can Learn From Him [v. 11-22, Jn. 14:1-6]

2. We Can Listen to Him [v. 23-26, Rm. 10:17]

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

3. We Can Live for Him [v. 27-45, Phil. 1:20-21]

According to my earnest expectation and my hope, that in nothing I shall be ashamed, but that with all boldness, as always, so now also Christ shall be magnified in my body, whether it be by life, or by death. For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.

THE TIME IS SHORT

1 COR. 7:20-31

Pastor Rick Jackson

 

I. THE TIME IS SHORT TO BE SAVED

1. It Involves Limited Time On Earth [James 4:14]

Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away.

2. It Involves a Limited Time Offer [Gn. 6:3]

And the LORD said, My spirit shall not always strive with man

3. It Involves a Limited Time Opportunity [Isaiah 55:6]

Seek ye the LORD while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near:

 

II. THE TIME IS SHORT TO SUFFER

1. God Uses It Now [1 Peter 5:10, Rm. 8:26-30]

-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.

 

- Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for: we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but: the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God. And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren. Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified.

2. God Uses It Later [Rm. 8:18]

For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.

3. Man Has a Duty Now [Eccl. 12:1-3, 13]

-Remember now thy Creator in the days of thy youth, while the evil days come not, nor the years draw nigh, when thou shalt say, I have no pleasure in them; While the sun, or the light, or the moon, or the stars, be not darkened, nor the clouds return after the rain: In the day when the keepers of the house shall tremble, and the strong men shall bow themselves, and the grinders cease because they are few, and those that look out of the windows be darkened…

-Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man.

 

III. THE TIME IS SHORT TO SERVE

1.We Don’t Know the Time [Mark 13:33]

Take ye heed, watch and pray: for ye know not when the time is.

 

2. We Do Know the Task [Acts 1:7-8, Eph. 5:15-16]

And he said unto them, It is not for you to know the times or the seasons, which the Father hath put in his own power. But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.

- See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise, Redeeming the time, because the days are evil.

 

3. We Know the Saviour [John 9:4, Rm. 13:11, 14

-I must work the works of him that sent me, while it is day: the night cometh, when no man can work.

-And that, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep: for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed.

-Wherefore he saith, Awake thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light.

SAUL’S MYSTERIES SOLVED [Part 1]

1 SAMUEL 9:1-2

Pastor Rick Jackson

 

When you read the history of King Saul in the Bible you will find three mysteries that baffle many minds. Was he saved? What about the witch of Endor? Was he killed or did he kill himself? Let us open the Word of God and find the answers.

 

I. WAS SAUL SAVED?

Good men like J.R. Rice and J.V. McGee used to be on opposite sides of the fence on this question. No doubt that is no longer the case since the three of them have possibly met in glory by this time. I obviously believe that Saul was saved and I base this on many things.

1. God Chose Saul to be the First King of Israel

[1 Sm. 9:16-17, 27-10:1, 24]

2. God’s Spirit Came Upon Saul Turning Him into another Man [1 Sm. 10:6-13]

3. The Spirit Came on Him Like the Judges [1 Sm. 11:6]

Judg. 13:25 And the spirit of the LORD began to move him [Samson] at times …

Judg. 14:6 And the spirit of the LORD came mightily upon him…

Judg. 14:19 the spirit of the LORD came upon him…

4. Saul was Following the Lord [1 Sm. 12:14]

5. Saul Lost the Kingdom, David Lost Joy, Neither Lost Salvation [1 Sm. 13:13-14]

 

NEXT WEEK: LORD WILLING

II. WHAT HAPPENED AT ENDOR?

[1 Sm. 28:7-20] 3 Possibilities:

III. WAS IT REGICIDE OR SUICIDE?

[1 Sm. 31, 2 Sm. 1]

ANOTHER STORM

MATTHEW 14:22-33

Pastor Rick Jackson

 

I. BASIC TRUTHS

1. You Can Be in the Lord’s Will in a Storm [v. 22-24]

2. The Storm Cannot Separate You from Jesus [v. 25]

3. Don’t Let the Storm Steer You from the Bible [v. 26-27]

 

II. BASIC ACTIONS

1. Seek the Lord Before Stepping Out [v. 28]

2. Act Boldly on God’s Word [v. 29]

3. Be Quick to Pray when Sinking! [v. 30]

 

III. BASIC ERRORS (TO AVOID)

1. Don’t Take Your Eyes Off the Lord [v. 30]

2. Don’t Doubt God’s Word [v. 31]

3. Don’t Fail to Worship Jesus [v. 32-33]