Who Owns You?

 

Job 42:2 "I know that thou canst do everything, and that no thought can be withholden from thee."       How many problems do you own? Your number of problems probably correlates to your number of possessions! The more "stuff" you have, the more likely you are to have problems. However, if God owns you, He owns your problems. Job was reminded of this truth when God called him "my servant Job" four times in the last chapter of Job. Because God owned Job's possessions, He owned Job's problems. In short, God owned Job.     Oftentimes, we hold with a tight grasp what we own. If you own your possessions, guess what? You own your problems! When you remember God's ownership of you, it brings a wonderful balance and stability to life. God is in control.     God reminded Job-and He reminds us through Job-that in a moment, everything a man possesses can be taken away. God owns it all to begin with! God's ownership gives perspective to our problems. God owned Job and Job's problems. That is not a bad thing at all!     It might be a good idea to begin each day by reminding yourself that God owns you. That means that He owns everything you have, and He owns your problems. Don't struggle through each day and each trial trying to own your problems. In prosperity and in poverty, God owns it all. God owns you. Job learned that, and we ought to as well!     Looking for more devotionals?  Visit the archives here

Bill Rice Ranch | 627 Bill Rice Ranch Road | Murfreesboro | TN | 37128

THE LORD IS TEACHING- ARE WE LEARNING?

LUKE 13:10-35

Pastor Rick Jackson

I. THE HEALING ON THE SABBATH [v. 10-17]

1. The Woman of Faith [v. 10-13]

2. The Man of Hypocrisy [v. 14]

3. The Lord of Truth [v. 15-17]

II. THE KINGDOM OF GOD [v. 18-30]

1. Mustard Seed [v. 18-19]

2. Meal [v. 20-21]

3. Gate [v. 22-30]

III. THE MINISTRY OF JESUS [v. 31-35]

1. Christ’s Detractors [v. 31-32]

2. Christ’s Determination [v. 33]

3. Christ’s Desire [v. 34-35]

GIVING THE DEVIL HIS DUE

ACTS 16:16-34

Pastor Rick Jackson

I. THE WICKED WORLD [v. 16-24]

1. Accepts Devilish Bounty [v. 16]

2. Mocks The Faith [v. 17-18]

3. Embraces the Lie [v. 19-24]

II. THE CHRISTIAN WARRIOR [v. 25-32]

1. Prays [v. 25a]

2. Praises [v. 25b]

3. Prioritizes [v. 26-32, Mt. 6:33, II Tm. 2:3-4]

III. THE GOOD CONVERT [v. 33-34]

1. Follows Christ in Baptism [v. 33]

2. Shares Christ with Others [v. 34]

3. Supports the Work of God [v. 34]

Question of the Week: Did God create disease-causing microbes?

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answersingenesis.org | newsletter archives | contact us October 29, 2011 a weekly look at answersingenesis.org
In this issue . . . Q&A: Did God create disease-causing microbes? Video On Demand: Artificial Authority, Part 3 (Sidebar) Ken's Blog (Sidebar) News to Note Quick Look Answers ... with Ken Ham After Eden Network with Us! Job Opportunities at Answers in Genesis (Sidebar) Q: Did God create disease-causing microbes? A: Based on the creation account in Genesis, it appears that God originally made microbes to perform only beneficial functions. If so, one would expect many present-day bacteria to continue to perform their "very good" functions. Creation biologists predicted this and have documented examples. What mechanism caused some microbes to go bad? Did God directly modify them, or did they change over time? At least three possible changes may have occurred, or a combination of all three: Displacement. Microbes were originally designed to perform beneficial functions in restricted places, but after the Fall they spread to other places and began to cause disruption and disease. Modification. Microbes were physically modified to become pathogenic (disease-causing). Uncontrolled growth. Their numbers were designed to remain within safe ranges, but now they fluctuate, causing either under- or over-population that results in disease and disruption of a once-balanced system. Continue reading to further consider each of these possibilities and their biblical implications. News to Note Quick Look iSteve: Steve Jobs and the innovations his creativity and determination have brought into this millennium abound. His recent death at 56 called to mind his 2005 speech when he said, "Remembering that I'll be dead soon is the most important tool I've ever encountered to help me make the big choices in life." Read more. Flapping robots: Tiny ground-based six-legged reconnaissance robots have trouble scrambling over inclines and obstacles, so Berkeley engineers Ronald Fearing and Kevin Peterson have been working on "a hybrid locomotion mode, where flapping wings and legs combine to propel the robot." Not content with peeking into the future, the engineers decided to team up with paleobiologist Robert Dudley for a peek into the past. Read more. Also: The not-so-mighty meteorite Serpentine paternity Great Oxidation Event And Don't Miss . . . Answers ... with Ken Ham radio program "Train up a child"—evolutionists do it, too! Destroying human clones—now, it's wrong! Music—evolution just can't explain it! Now beware the word "creationist"! Satan—now when did he fall? After Eden Network with Us! Answers in Genesis Answers in Genesis Creation Museum Creation Museum Ark Encounter Ark Encounter Answers Magazine   Note: Facebook and Twitter are both social networking sites with user-contributed content. Children should not visit the sites without parental supervision.  Free app for iPhone / iPod Touch / iPad	This Week . . . Feedback: Grand Canyon Elevation (Oct 28) Chapter 2: Sunday School Syndrome (Oct 27) Adam, Free Choice, and the Cause of Sin: A Creationist Response to a Christian Evolutionist (Oct 26) Creationist Students Armed for Battle (Oct 25) Prayer Requests and Praises, October 2011 (Oct 24) Good Designs Gone Bad (Oct 23) Video On Demand Artificial Authority, Part 3 Watch Video Ken's Blog First-ever Creationist College Expo Large Canadian Group Visits It's Rare—It's a Creationist Seminary! Thousands at AiG Conference in Cordova (Memphis) Foundations Series in Russia! Previous entries Prayer Requests Visit our prayer site to keep track of and pray for current ministry needs. Resources Answers Magazine Subscription: United States Big Book of History Answers Book For Teens IndoctriNation (public schools documentary) More current bestsellers Upcoming Events California Sacramento - Psalm 119 Conference, November 4–5 California Modesto, November 5–7 South Carolina Teach Them Diligently Conference, March 15–17 Minnesota Answers in Genesis Conference, April 29–30 More events Job Opportunities Seasonal Customer Service Associate Internship Opportunities Seasonal Food Service Support Staff Seasonal Warehouse Specialist
This information provided by: Answers in Genesis 2800 Bullittsburg Church Road, Petersburg, KY 41080 Customer service: 1-800-778-3390

Quotes by Vance Havner

We are the salt of the earth, mind you, not the sugar. Our ministry is to truly cleanse and not just to change the taste.

Too many churches start at eleven o'clock sharp, and end at twelve o'clock dull.

Plenty of church members are shaky about what they believe, while not many are shaken by what they believe.

Some preachers ought to put more fire into their sermons, or more sermons into the fire.

The church is a hospital for sinners, and not a museum for saints.


If they had a social gospel in the days of the prodigal son, somebody would have given him a bed and a sandwich and he never would have gone home.

People get so used to the dark that they think it is growing brighter.

Most church members live so far below the standard, you would have to backslide to be in fellowship with them.

We may never be martyrs but we can die to self, to sin, to the world, to our plans and ambitions. That is the significance of baptism; we died with Christ and rose to new life.


God uses broken things. It takes broken soil to produce a crop, broken clouds to give rain, broken grain to give bread, broken bread to give strength. It is the broken alabaster box that gives forth perfume. It is Peter, weeping bitterly, who returns to greater power than ever.


If you are a Christian, you are not a citizen of this world trying to get to heaven; you are a citizen of heaven making your way through this world.

The vision must be followed by the venture. It is not enough to stare up the steps, we must step up the stairs.

We are not going to move this world by criticism of it nor conformity to it, but by the combustion within it of lives ignited by the Spirit of God.

We are suffering today from a species of Christianity as dry as dust, as cold as ice, as pale as a corpse, and as dead as King Tut. We are suffering not from a lack of correct heads but of consumed hearts.

A soft and sheltered Christianity, afraid to be lean and lone, unwilling to face the storms and brave the heights, will end up fat and foul in the cages of conformity.

QUOTES OF THE WEEK

Worry does not empty tomorrow of its sorrow. It empties today of its strength. - Corrie Ten Boom

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There is a great difference between making a living and making a life. - Warren W. Wiersbe

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Dates have been set again and again when teachers confidently affirmed the Saviour would return. All have failed. No one knows. No one is supposed to know. ...Those who set dates for Christ's coming do great harm to the cause of Christ. - John R. Rice [1971]

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Between one and two there is often a difference of millions. - G.K. Chesterton

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A congregation of one takes every word in a direct and personal sense; but, in a congregation of two, each auditor takes it for granted that the preacher is referring to the other. - F.W. Boreham

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All temptation is ultimately doubting the goodness of God. - Mike Cocoris

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LET US STRENGTHEN OUR HANDS

NEHEMIAH 2:11-18

Pastor Rick Jackson

I. THE NEED FOR STRENGTH [v. 17]

1. When God's People are in Distress

2. When God's Place Lies Waste

3. When God's People are in Reproach

II. THE METHODS FOR OBTAINING STRENGTH

1. The Support of Acceptance [v. 18]

2. The Support of Action [Ezra 1:2-6]

3. The Support of Articulation [Job 4:3-4]

Behold, thou hast instructed many, and thou hast strengthened the weak hands. Thy words have upholden him that was falling, and thou hast strengthened the feeble knees.

III. THE SOURCES OF STRENGTH

1. God Himself [1 Samuel 23:16-17]

And Jonathan Saul's son arose, and went to David into the wood, and strengthened his hand in God. And he said unto him, Fear not: for the hand of Saul my father shall not find thee; and thou shalt be king over Israel, and I shall be next unto thee; and that also Saul my father knoweth.

2. Prayer to God [Eph. 3:14-21]

3. The Knowledge of God [Col. 1:9-12ff]

One Thing You Can't Lose

Job 27:5 "God forbid that I should justify you: till I die I will not remove mine integrity from me." One Thing You Can't Lose What do you have that cannot be lost or taken away from you? Well, anything you could have, Job did have; and anything you could lose, Job lost! He lost health, wealth, family, and even his reputation with his friends. In all of his trouble, Job maintained integrity and consistency. He said, "God forbid that I should justify you: till I die I will not remove mine integrity from me." While you can lose all the things Job lost, you can keep the one thing Job kept: integrity. No one can take away your integrity! Satan tried to attack Job's integrity. Job's wife questioned his integrity by saying, "Dost thou still retain thine integrity? curse God, and die." Job's own friends accused him of compromising his integrity. Despite all of this, Job could say, "Till I die I will not remove mine integrity from me." There should only be one "you." There should not be a "church you", a "free time you", and a "private you." In essence, integrity is when there is only one "you"! Integrity means a singleness of heart and action, not a duplicity. Integrity can be sold, but it cannot be bought. Proverbs 22:1 reminds us that "a good name is rather to be chosen. . . ." You cannot buy a good reputation, but you sure can sell it. When you sell your integrity and your good name, you sell it for a price that you cannot afford! Integrity is absolutely vital and basic to everyday life. Nothing is worth anything without integrity. What good is money if the guy who owns it is not honest? Would you trust him to invest your hard-earned money? What good is power without integrity? Have you ever heard of a corrupt politician or government leaders? When it comes down to it, someone can take everything you have, except for your integrity. There should be only one "you." Don't sell your integrity for anything! Prayer Requests: 1. Services tonight in Fairmont, WV; Thomasville, GA; and Lubbock, TX 2. BRR Men's Retreat this weekend (10.28-29) Looking for more devotionals? Visit the archives here

Bill Rice Ranch 627 Bill Rice Ranch Road Murfreesboro TN 37128

What's Better than Knowing Why?

Job 23:10 "But he knoweth the way that I take: when he hath tried me, I shall come forth as gold."   What's Better than Knowing Why?   Stephen Hawking is a well-known British physicist in our day. He is a brilliant man, but for everything he does know, the one thing he does not know is that there is a God. At the end of the day, the man who has discovered much about the Black Hole has revealed that the greatest black hole in the universe is the one in the unbelieving human heart. Mr. Hawking is starting a series on television to try to answer life's deepest questions. But how in the world do you answer life's deepest questions without the Answer? Even a man as brilliant as Stephen Hawking cannot answer the deepest questions of the human heart.   Even when Job could not find God or understand the path He was on, he could say, "But he [God] knoweth the way that I take. . . ." If I had my choice, I would rather that God know about me than I know about Him! The truth is, knowing God is better than knowing why. I would like to know why; but if I knew why but did not know God, I would be sunk! While not knowing why, Job could say, "When he hath tried me, I shall come forth as gold."   While he didn't know why, Job did know God's way. He said in verse 11, "My foot hath held his steps, his way have I kept, and not declined." His knowing God's way was based on his knowing God's Word. "Neither have I gone back from the commandment of his lips. . . ." Job didn't have the complete Word of God like we do today. He didn't know how his story was going to end! God's words were precious to Job; are they precious to you? His Word is complete and is everything you need for life and godliness. You can't possibly know God's way when you haven't read God's Word!   Job said, "I have esteemed the words of his mouth more than my necessary food." How important is food to you? Well, you probably either just finished eating or are looking forward to the next meal! Food is important to you and me because we can't survive without it! Can I make the obvious connection to the Bible? Knowing what God has said is a matter of absolute survival. You cannot always know why God is working in the way He is, but you can always know His way through His Word. Knowing God is better than knowing why!        Prayer Requests:  1. Services tonight in Fairmont, WV and Thomasville, GA 2. BRR Men's Retreat this weekend (10.28-29)     Looking for more devotionals?  Visit the archives here

Bill Rice Ranch | 627 Bill Rice Ranch Road | Murfreesboro | TN | 37128

UNHEEDED IS NOT UNNEEDED

LUKE
12:13-59

Pastor
Rick Jackson

I. AN OCCASION TO WARN
[v. 13-31]

1. Against Covetousness [v. 13-15]

2. Against Carelessness [v. 16-21]

3. Against Carnality [v. 22-31]

II. AN ADMONITION TO WATCH
[v. 32-40]

1. Kingdom Investments [v. 32-34]

2. Kingdom Invitations [v. 35]

3. Kingdom Inspiration [v. 36-40]

III. AN INSTRUCTION TO WISDOM
[v. 41-59]

1. Prepare for the Judgment [v. 41-48]

2. Pattern of Division [v. 49-53]

3. Perception of Reality [v. 54-59]

HEAVEN’S HEROES

ACTS 26:1-15

Pastor Rick Jackson

I. LIVE DIFFERENT

1. By Faith rather than by Sight [v. 4-7]

2. By Faith rather than by Feelings [v. 8-11]

3. By Faith rather than by Consensus [v. 12-15]


II. LOOK DIFFERENT

1. Reflecting a Change of Ownership [Luke 8:27, 35]

2. Reflecting a Change of Location [Luke 8:29, 38-39]

3. Reflecting a Change of Language [Luke 8:28, 39]


III. LOVE DIFFERENT

1. Love the Lord [1 Corinthians 16:22]

If any man love not the Lord Jesus Christ, let him be Anathema Maranatha.

2. Love the Lost [Romans 10:1]

Brethren, my heart's desire and prayer to God for Israel is, that they might be saved.

3. Love the Lord’s [Philemon 1:5]

Hearing of thy love and faith, which thou hast toward the Lord Jesus, and toward all saints;

Question of the Week: Can we know when Jesus will return?

answersingenesis.org | newsletter archives | contact us October 22, 2011 a weekly look at answersingenesis.org
In this issue . . . Q&A: Can we know when Jesus will return? Video On Demand: Artificial Authority, Part 2 (Sidebar) Ken's Blog (Sidebar) News to Note Quick Look Answers ... with Ken Ham After Eden Network with Us! Q: Can we know when Jesus will return? A: May 21 came and went. There was no worldwide earthquake. There was no rapture. The Lord did not choose that day to return. Harold Camping once again demonstrated the biblical truth, "You know neither the day nor the hour in which the Son of Man is coming" (Matthew 25:13). Unfortunately, like so many false prophets before him, Camping refuses to admit he was wrong. Instead, he has stated that Judgment Day really did occur—it was just a "spiritual" judgment—and Christ will actually return on October 21. Harold Camping has given us a clear example of the absurdities one must go to in defense of an allegorical interpretation of the Bible. We urge you to simply take the Bible as it is written and to interpret a given passage according to the principles consistent with its particular genre. When we try to spiritualize a historical account or add in a double-meaning not clearly stated in scripture, we do injustice to the Word of God. Continue reading about how to discern the difference between sound biblical teaching and eisegesis (reading ideas into the text). News to Note Quick Look Dinosaur tracks and people?: The ambiguous headline announcing a paper published in the Geological Bulletin of China has caused some folks to do a double take. Something was gained in the translation! Of course, the intended meaning is that humans coexist with the tracks. Read more. Human clones: Remember Dolly? Dolly the sheep started life as an embryonic clone produced by somatic cell nuclear transfer. SCNT is a process in which the genome of an oocyte (egg cell) is replaced with the genome from a body cell. Researchers trying to find alternative sources of human embryonic stem cells have been trying to do the same thing, although their plan is to destroy the embryos while harvesting their stem cells, not to grow a cloned person. Read more. Also: Vestigial vestigials Panda indigestion Ancient oceans And Don't Miss . . . Answers ... with Ken Ham radio program Bonobos—they justify permissiveness! America—it's becoming like Sodom! Evolution and abortion—there is a link! "Clothing-optional" beaches—on the increase! Trust the scientists—or trust the Bible? After Eden Network with Us! Answers in Genesis Answers in Genesis Creation Museum Creation Museum Ark Encounter Ark Encounter Answers Magazine   Note: Facebook and Twitter are both social networking sites with user-contributed content. Children should not visit the sites without parental supervision.  Free app for iPhone / iPod Touch / iPad	This Week . . . Feedback: Can We Know When Jesus Will Return? (Oct 21) Chapter 1: Already Gone (Oct 20) Lightning Bugs: The Beetle Beacons (Oct 19) Christ-Centered College Choice (Oct 18) Letter from Ken, October 2011 (Oct 17) Design in the Curse (Oct 16) Video On Demand Artificial Authority, Part 2 Watch Video Ken's Blog The Big Surprise Singing with the Saints Shot Taken at Aig by Nazarene Professor in New York Times Op-ed "Legacy Five" Family at Creation Museum A Distinctive Homeschool Meeting Previous entries Prayer Requests View the current prayer requests to keep track of and pray for current ministry needs. Resources Big Book of History IndoctriNation (public schools documentary) Answers Magazine Subscription: United States 2012 Creation Calendar More current bestsellers Upcoming Events Tennessee Cordova, October 23–24 Tennessee College Speaking - Mid America Baptist Theological Seminary, October 25 California Sacramento - Psalm 119 Conference, November 4–5 California Modesto, November 5–7 California Answers in Genesis Conference, January 28–30 More events
This information graciously provided by: Answers in Genesis 2800 Bullittsburg Church Road, Petersburg, KY 41080 Customer service: 1-800-778-3390

Quotes of the Week

Finally, the scribes were guilty of robbing the common people of the knowledge of the Word of God. It was bad enough that they would not enter the kingdom themselves, but they were hindering other from going in! It is a serious thing to teach God's Word and not everyone is supposed to do it [James 3:1]. Unfortunately, what some people call "Bible study" is too often just a group of unprepared people exchanging their ignorance. - Warren W. Wiersbe

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You may say, "I'm just a dirt-digger. I'm a farmer. I'm a dairyman. I'm a business man." Whatever you may be, if you're in the will of God and doing what He tells you to do, then you can rest secure and be assured that He's going to help you. - Lester Roloff

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It costs you to jump the gun on God. I believe it is just about as dangerous to run ahead of God as it is to run behind Him. - Roloff

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We have a tendency to interpret disasters as what we believe God is telling us. We must be careful in thinking we know all the details that God knows and we see in them what we want to see. - Gene Price

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Vengeance is none of my business, but it's God business, and I'm glad that Jesus still loves us and stands by us! - Roloff

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It's not God's will for our lives but our life for God's will. - Tom Sexton

Water in Your Soul

 

Psalm 69:1 "Save me, O God; for the waters are come in unto my soul."       I remember being four years old and in over my head in the Ranch swimming pool. I don't remember what events led up to that point, but I can distinctly remember the sheer panic that I felt!   In life, have you ever had the feeling of being in over your head? Sometimes we can be overwhelmed in life because we are in the water; other times, we can be overwhelmed because the water is in us. In other words, it is a bad thing to be in water over your head; it's even worse when the water gets in your lungs! The everyday problems of life can build into a greater problem-water in our souls.   David knew the kind of desperation and panic of drowning in a sea of life's problems. He prayed, "Save me, O God; for the waters are come in unto my soul." What should we do when we have "water in our souls"? First, ask God for help. The first words of this psalm are "save me"! God knows what your problems are, and He knows what to do about them. As a friend, I might not know that you are drowning on the inside, but God does. Whether or not you tell another person about it, be sure you tell God about it!   Second, wait on God for help. David said, "I am weary of my crying . . . mine eyes fail while I wait for my God." Waiting on God is not some passive thing you do when you can't do anything else. Waiting in the Bible is a particular kind of trust-patient trust. Once you ask God for help, patiently wait for His help!   Third, thank God for His help. At the end of Psalm 69, David says, "I will praise the name of God with a song, and will magnify him with thanksgiving." Thanking and praising God is pleasing to Him! Once you have asked God for help and have patiently waited for His help, don't forget to thank Him for His help.   I don't know what situation you find yourself in this morning. It may be that you are in over your head. Maybe life's problems have poured into your soul. While it is true that you cannot choose the problems you get, you can choose what you will do about them. If you have a problem in your heart today, tell God about it. Keep asking Him about it as you wait for His help. When God does answer, make sure you thank Him!  Looking for more devotionals?  Visit the archives here

Bill Rice Ranch | 627 Bill Rice Ranch Road | Murfreesboro | TN | 37128