Quotes of the Week

It's Christ righteousness that makes us acceptable to God and it is our righteousness which makes us acceptable with man. The world is looking for a Christlikeness in you and me from day to day. - Dr. J. R. Faulkner

Worrying is unbelief parading in disguise. - Faulkner


There is no future for an unforgiving person, only the baleful, crippling reliving of the past. Go on, forgive them. Release it. Let it go. - Scott Mitchell

Someone has said, "A perfect wife is one who doesn't expect a perfect husband." And the opposite of that is true also! - J. Don Jennings

Experience must be tested by the Word of God. Unfortunately, many folk today are testing the Word of God by their experience. My friend, if your experience is contrary to the Bible, then it is your experience, not the Word of God, which is wrong. - J. Vernon McGee

UNDER THE SUN

ECCLESIASTES 1


Pastor Rick Jackson


I. THE REPITITION OF DAYS [v. 1-11]


1. The Perspective Without God [v. 1-3, I Jn. 2:16-17]


2. The Pattern Without Man [v. 4-10]


3. The Pointlessness of Accomplishment [v. 11, Ex. 1:8, Mt. 16:26]


II. THE EMPTINESS OF WORK [v. 12-15]


1. Life Lived For Subsistence [v. 12-14, Mt. 6:33]


2. Life Permanently Warped [v. 15, Pr. 23:29-35]


3. Life’s Sorrow Increased [v. 16-17, James 3:11-18]


III. THE LIFE OF VALUE


1. An Abundant Life [John 10:10]


I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.


2. A Work Not in Vain [I Cor. 15:58]


3. A Life with Purpose [Philippians 1:2]


For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.

GREAT THINGS

PSALM 126


Adapted From J.R. Faulkner by Pastor Rick Jackson


I. HE HAS LOVED US WITH A GREAT LOVE [Eph. 2:4]


II. HE HAS EXTENDED TO US A GREAT MERCY [Ps. 103:11-12]


III. HE HAS CONFIRMED TO US A GREAT SALVATION [Heb. 2:1-9]


IV. HE HAS DEMONSTRATED TO US A GREAT FAITHFULNESS [Lam. 3:22-23]


V. HE HAS PROMISED TO US GREAT GOODNESS [Ps. 31:19]


VI. HE HAS GIVEN TO US GREAT PROMISES [II Pet. 1:4]


VII. HE HAS PROVIDED FOR US GREAT POWER [Acts 1:8, 4:33]

Question of the Week: Why are young people walking away from our churches?

 

answersingenesis.org | newsletter archives | contact us February 25, 2012 a weekly look at answersingenesis.org
In this issue . . . Q&A: Why are young people walking away from our churches? Video On Demand: Only One Race, 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: Why are young people walking away from our churches? Ken Ham answers: During the past thirty years of traveling the world and speaking in churches, I have been deeply burdened by distraught parents pleading for advice on how to reach their children who were brought up in the church but no longer attend. "How can I reach them? How can we get them back to church?" I have been asked time and time again. As I saw such patterns across America, Australia, Europe, and the United Kingdom, I was sure there must be a connection. Could it be that the lack of teaching apologetics in our churches, youth groups, Sunday schools, and Bible studies is a major reason why young people leave the church? I talked with parents and noticed that an overwhelming number of them admitted they didn't know how to answer their children's questions—whether about dinosaurs, the age of the earth, or the origin of the Bible. I also found that most parents believe their children's Christianity won't come under attack until college. So we contracted with Britt Beemer, from America's Research Group, to formulate questions and survey one thousand twenty-somethings (ages 20–29) who had gone to church regularly as children but no longer attend. They had to have come from a conservative church background so the results would reflect what's happening to children from Bible-believing churches. The study found we are losing our kids in elementary, middle school, and high school rather than college. And overall, it's because of the lack of teaching apologetics. The younger generations are not being raised to be able to answer the skeptical questions of our time, and so they begin doubting from a very early age whether they can trust the Bible. Continue reading to learn the details of this telling study—and what you can do about the problem. News to Note Quick Look Empty schools: Since the days of frontier America, churches and schools have had a tradition of sharing building space. After all, school's out on Sunday. Thousands of churches all over the country rent—that is, pay money for—space in public schools on Sundays. But now, in New York City, that will change. Read more. "He that believeth on the Son . . .": A battle is raging in the world of Bible translation, and the issues are more complex than they at first appear. The questions involve fundamental issues of vocabulary and culture, linguistic accuracy and doctrinal purity, the integrity and availability of God's Word. Read more. Also: Our cratered moon Ultrafast evolution Primordial soup And Don't Miss . . . Answers ... with Ken Ham radio program Jesus—did He believe in six days? Creation—is there room for differing views? Six days of creation—hard to believe? The book of Genesis—does Jesus believe it? Fossils—many are out of sequence! 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: Home School Enrichment Magazine (Feb 24) Defense—"Scientific" Arguments (Feb 23) Giants in the Old Testament (Feb 22) Contradictions: Unacceptable Offering (Feb 21) The Global Epidemic (Feb 20) Going, Going . . . Gone (Feb 19) Video On Demand Only One Race, Part 3 Watch Video Ken's Blog Evangelists from Romania Visit the Museum Compromise with Millions of Years Continues to Permeate the Church Photos from the NRB Convention Eagle Scout a Huge AiG Booster and Rubik's Cube YouTube Star A Pastor Who Really Gets It! Previous entries Prayer Requests Visit our prayer site to keep track of and pray for current ministry needs. Resources Already Gone - Video Download Answers Magazine Subscription: United States Global Warming: A Scientific and Biblical Expose of Climate Change Noah's Ark: Thinking Outside the Box More current bestsellers Upcoming Events Kentucky Paducah - Not Ashamed Creation Conference, March 4–5 South Carolina Teach Them Diligently Conference, March 15–17 Kentucky Children's Ministry Leaders Conference, March 22–23 More events Job Opportunities Business Information Analyst Housekeeping Staff Security Console Operator Seasonal Jobs: Customer Service Associate Food Service Support Staff Housekeeping Staff Internship Opportunities Web Quality Assurance Technician Web Instructional Design Technician, e-Learning Web Store Content Technician Web Digital Graphic & Media Technician
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Jimmy DeYoung's Prophetic Prospective

Here's a sample from one of the leading men on prophecy today. Very sound and solid [unlike some others].

From: jimmydeyoung@prophecytoday.com

February 24, 2012   Thank you for reading my Prophetic Daily Devotionals!   Please visit my website to learn more Bible prophecies being fulfilled in these last days.        Revelation 11:12   And they heard a great voice from heaven saying unto them, Come up hither. And they ascended up to heaven in a cloud; and their enemies beheld them.   For further study - Revelation 11:3-12   As you will notice we have gone to the eleventh chapter of Revelation in our devotions because we are traveling through the book chronologically, not numerically which is the only way to study Revelation and understand the book.   As you read our key verse for today, verse 12, it sounds much like the description of the Rapture, Revelation 4:1-2 and I Thessalonians 4:16-17.   However a study of the context in this passage of Scripture indicates that this call from heaven saying to the "two witnesses", "come up hither", takes place at the mid-way point of the seven year Tribulation Period, while the Rapture takes place before the Tribulation Period begins.   This passage reveals the prophecy of the "two witnesses", verse 3, and what is involved in their 1,260 day ministry.   Briefly, there will be "two men" who will give some type of a testimony, which is what a witness does, during the first half of the Tribulation Period. They will be protected by the Lord through various means so that they can reach out from Jerusalem to everybody on earth with the "gospel of the Kingdom", Matthew 24:14.   These two will be kept out of harms way and given miraculous powers so that their ministry will be effective. After these two witnesses are killed, verse 7, and before being resurrected from the dead, verse 11, their dead bodies lay in the Jerusalem streets so that the entire world will see them, via satellite. The "earth dwellers" will "rejoice over them and make merry and bring gifts one to another", verse 10.   The world will "party" and "send gifts", happy that the two witnesses have died. Revelation 7:4-8 tells us that 144,000 Jews from the "twelve tribes of Israel" will be saved and then spread out across the world to reach "all" seven billion people on earth with the Gospel message, Matthew 24:14. This evangelism will be as a result of the ministry of these "two witnesses".   Revelation 7:9 indicates that a large number of people will be saved during these terrible days of judgment. This great time of evangelism all taking place after the Rapture of the Church.   Malachi 4:5 tells us that one of the two witnesses is going to be "Elijah". I believe the other is the Old Testament Gentile, Enoch, Genesis 5:19-24. Therefore, there will be a "Gentile witness" and a "Jewish witness" for the Gentiles and Jews that are left on the Earth after the Rapture.   I believe these two witnesses, who have never died, were transported into the heavens, while still alive. They will return to Jerusalem where they set up their Temple Mount headquarters. Then at the end of their ministry, they die, as every man who has ever lived on earth must do, Hebrews 9:27. Then they will be taken back to heaven at the end of their three and a half years of ministry.   Luke 24:4 records that "two men in white apparel" at the entrance to the tomb of Jesus, saw the resurrection. Acts 1:10 also records that "two men in white apparel" watched as Jesus entered the heavenlies from the Mount of Olives in Jerusalem.   These two, I believe, were Elijah and Enoch who saw the resurrection and the ascension of Christ into heaven telling the disciples the Lord would come back the same way He had just departed.   The "resurrection" and the "Lord's coming" is the message of the "Gospel of the Kingdom". This will be the message of these two witnesses to the world. Remember, they are the only two witnesses that saw these things happen.   The prophecy pertaining to these two witnesses will be fulfilled, sooner rather than later. The only thing that must happen before the ministry of the two witnesses is the Rapture, which could happen very soon, maybe today.     PRAYER THOT: Help me Lord to be a witness today of Your soon coming to those who need to know You as Lord and Saviour.                                   Visit our website at http:/www.prophecytoday.com

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A SCRIPTURAL PATTERN FOR BIBLE STUDY

ACTS 17:10-14

Adapted From Lehman Strauss by Pastor Rick Jackson

II Tm. 2:15 commands Christians to study the Bible. Most Christians do not read the Bible, let alone study it, but that does not change the command of God. In Acts 17 we have a simple pattern that may help us to know how to study the Bible.

I. WE NEED TO STUDY GOD’S WORD DEVOTIONALLY

That means we study it for our own edification & growth in grace. 17:11 “they received the word with all readiness of mind”. The result of devotional Bible study is THANKSGIVING.

II. WE NEED TO STUDY GOD’S WORD DILIGENTLY

“SEARCHED” 17:11. This type is not easy but it is rewarding. It is the result of TOIL.

III. WE NEED TO STUDY GOD’S WORD DOCTRINALLY

This means to study the great doctrines and the great themes of the Bible. This involves using some TOOLS to aid in your study to understand the Bible. Build your library [or at least your PC skills] II Tm. 4:13, Acts 17:11 “Searched the Scriptures… whether these things were so”

IV. WE NEED TO STUDY GOD’S WORD DAILY

“Read your Bible every day, praying as you read it. It will guide you all the way, if you’ll only heed it.” This, of course, necessitates TIME. Acts 17:11 “Daily”

V. WE NEED TO STUDY GOD’S WORD DEVOUTLY

Acts 17:11 “Received the word… ready mind… whether those things were so”. This indicates a deep TRUST in the Author of the Scriptures.

VI. WE NEED TO STUDY GOD’S WORD DEPENDENTLY

We need others to TEACH us. We can all learn from others but we must compare what they say to what we can read. Acts 17:11

Acts 13:1 Now there were in the church that was at Antioch certain prophets and teachers; as Barnabas, and Simeon that was called Niger, and Lucius of Cyrene, and Manaen, which had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch, and Saul.

1 Corinthians 12:28 And ° God hath set some in the church, first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, diversities of tongues.

Ephesians 4:11 And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;

2 Timothy 4:3 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;

Titus 2:3 The aged women likewise, that they be in behaviour as becometh holiness, not false accusers, not given to much wine, teachers of good things;

Hebrews 5:12 For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again which be the first principles of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat.

2 Peter 2:1 But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction.

A world of difference in what you do

From: sumner@sumnerwemp.com


       

There is a world of difference in what you do to get married and what you do because you are married. You do not start living together and have children and become a father and a mother to get married. You do that when you have gotten married. You must understand that you get a marriage license, go to the preacher who has authority to marry you, he asks if you take this man/woman to be your lawful mate. You must answer from your heart out loud, "I do" and then he pronounces you husband and wife. Then you live with her and do all those things married couples do. In God's eyes and in our eyes it is the same way about getting saved. 

 

 

You must "understand" (Matt 13:23) like the good seed to produce as you ought. Remember the Ethiopian to whom Phillip went, heard him reading the bible and asked if he understood it. He said, How can I except some man should guide me and he invited Phillip to come up and sit with him and "guide him." Many people I find want to know how to get saved. Just yesterday, I had the joy of seeing a lady come to understand how to be saved and had the assurance she was saved and stopped trying to save herself. 

 

 

You do not join a church, get baptized, start tithing, start living a godly life to get saved, you understand the Lord Jesus who knew no sin, suffered and died for your sins on the cross, paid you debt in full, rose again and was seen by hundreds. Remember no one saw Allah or Mohammed nor Buddha nor Confucius pay your debt of sin, rise from the dead and was seen by hundreds of people. Now to be saved you must believe God that Jesus did pay for your sins, rose again and was seen alive by hundreds, then Let God know You believe Him and receive the Lord Jesus as your personal savior. For He is the one authority who can pronounce you saved. Then you confess you have received the Lord Jesus as your Savior, Jesus publicly, get baptized and start living a godly life because you are now saved. Doesn't that make real good sense? "For we are not saved by what we do but by what He did for us. I use thi with almost every person I lead to the Lord and it really helps them understand how to be saved. 

ABC sumner

 

 

Three chapters a day reading schedule:

Wed 2/22 Acts 2-4

Thu 2/23 Acts 5-7

Fri 2/24 Acts 8-10

Sat 2/25 Acts 11-13

 

 

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IN HIS PRESENCE IS GLORY

I CHRONICLES 16:1-7, 27

Pastor Rick Jackson

I. GLORY IN HIS HOLY NAME
We often glory is such shallow things- sports, celebrities, personal achievements, etc.]

1. This Should Be on Our Lips [v. 8-10a]

2. This Should Be in Our Heart [v. 10-11]

3. This Should Be on Our Minds [v. 12-22]

II. DECLARE HIS GLORY

1. The Glory of His Salvation [v. 23-25]

2 The Glory of His Creation [v. 26]

3 The Glory of His Presence [v. 27]

III. GIVE HIM GLORY [John 15:8]

1. Give Self [v. 28-29, Rm. 12:1-2]

2. Give Submission [v. 30-33]

3. Give Thanks [v. 34-36]

INSTRUCTIONS FOR MORE THAN JUST SURVIVING

ROMANS 12:1-12 [Espec. v. 12]

Pastor Rick Jackson

I. REJOICING IN HOPE

1. The Example of Abraham [Jn. 8:56, Rm. 4:18, Heb. 11:8-19]

2. The Example of Jesus [Heb. 12:2]

3. The Example of Paul [Phil. 3:1, 4:4]

II. PATIENT IN TRIBULATION

1. For Others’ Sake [II Tm. 2:10]

2. For Christ’s Sake [II Tm. 2:12, Heb. 12:3]

3. For Your Sake [James 1:12, 5:11]

III. INSTANT IN PRAYER

1. For the Meat of the Word [Acts 6:4]

2. For the Master of the Word [Acts 10:7]

3. For the Ministry of the Word [Col. 4:2-4]

Question of the Week: Do rabbits really "chew the cud"?

 

answersingenesis.org | newsletter archives | contact us February 18, 2012 a weekly look at answersingenesis.org
In this issue . . . Q&A: Do rabbits really "chew the cud"? Video On Demand: Only One Race, Part 2 (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: Do rabbits really "chew the cud"? A: Two places in the Bible include the hare among animals that chew the cud. Deuteronomy 14:7 states, "Nevertheless, of those that chew the cud or have cloven hooves, you shall not eat, such as these: the camel, the hare, and the rock hyrax." In the modern scientific classification system, animals that chew the cud (cattle, sheep, deer, giraffes, and camels) are called ruminants. Ruminants have four stomach compartments. They swallow their food into one stomach compartment where food is partially digested. Then the food is regurgitated back into the mouth, chewed again, and then swallowed into a different stomach compartment. Obviously, rabbits do not share the digestive anatomy of modern ruminants. However, to describe rabbits chewing the cud is not incorrect. Rabbits engage in an activity called cecotrophy, in which small pellets of partially digested food (called cecotropes) are passed through the animal but are then reingested. These cecotropes serve as a very important source of nutrition for the animal. Is this the same as cud? In the final analysis, it is. Cud-chewing completes the digestion of partially digested food. Why would it be strange to think that centuries ago, the idea of "cud" had a somewhat broader meaning than a modern definition? Continue reading to see how Scripture is once again validated as scientifically accurate, even in the details of a rabbit's digestive process. News to Note Quick Look Stripy ones don't look tasty: Move over, Rudyard Kipling. Here's a "Just So Story" extrapolating from Hungarian horseflies and plastic zebras to the evolutionary past of zebras on the African savannah. Read more. Forbid them not: Budget Travel is taking a poll for "15 places every kid should see before 15." Several atheist groups are very upset the Creation Museum recently made it to the top. Read more. Also: Peppered moth again Mother of all living? Epigenetic on-off switches And Don't Miss . . . Answers ... with Ken Ham radio program Six "days" or six "ages"—which was it? Six "days"—what do the scholars say? The age of the earth—what does science say? Six literal days of creation—divisive? Jesus Christ—3,000 years in the grave? 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: Gender-related Moral Implications of the Doctor to Patient Relationship (Feb 17) Final Piece of Land for Full-size Ark Purchased (Feb 16) From Dust to Dust (Feb 15) Contradictions: Do Rabbits Really "Chew the Cud"? (Feb 14) Prayer Requests and Praises, February 2012 (Feb 13) Night Stalker (Feb 12) Video On Demand Only One Race, Part 2 Watch Video Ken's Blog AiG Radio Program Receives Overhaul Atheists Use Unethical Tactics to Attack Creation Museum Keeping Up with Technology Should Christians Plan Ahead? AiG Reaching into Russia Previous entries Prayer Requests Visit our prayer site to keep track of and pray for current ministry needs. Resources Logic and Faith Pocket Guide - eBook Tower of Babel Answers Magazine Subscription: United States 7 C's of History More current bestsellers Upcoming Events Kentucky Covington - Sunday Speaking, February 26 Kentucky Paducah - Not Ashamed Creation Conference, March 4–5 Kentucky College Speaking, March 5 South Carolina Teach Them Diligently Conference, March 15–17 Kentucky Children's Ministry Leaders Conference, March 22–23 More events Job Opportunities Business Information Analyst Customer Service Associate (Seasonal) Housekeeping Staff Internship Opportunities
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True Success

 

John 1:42 "And he brought him to Jesus. And when Jesus beheld him, he said, Thou art Simon the son of Jona: thou shalt be called Cephas, which is by interpretation, A stone."       How do you define success? What will make you successful this year? If you don't know what success is, you may not know it when you have it! In short, success is living up to your God-given potential. In contrast, you can't truly be successful when you live down to your own problems or ambitions. Living up to your potential simply means being the person God created you to be!   Consider Peter. Peter was successful when he lived up to God's plan for him (Pentecost). He ran into trouble when he lived down to his own ambitions and passions (denying Christ). Some of his greatest strengths were also his greatest weaknesses when he was not submitted to Christ!   At Pentecost, Peter was living beyond himself by living up to God's purpose for him. He was living the life God intended for him to live. Is that true of you? Are you living the life God intended for you to live? Every day should begin with the question, "Lord, what do you want me to be today?" Don't define success by past experiences or present expectations. Live up to God's potential for your life today by obeying what He has said!     Prayer Requests: 1. Ranch evangelists preaching this weekend in Branson, MO; Bloomington, IL; Brooksville, FL; Buckeye, AZ; and Goodyear, AZ 2. Sign Language School next week in Dixons Mills, AL                Want more First Light?  View past devotionals here

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