YOU THINK YOU HAVE TROUBLES?

2 SAMUEL 15                                                                                                     

               

Pastor Rick Jackson

 

I. THE CONSPIRACY [v. 1-12]

 

1. The Fawning Politician [v. 1-6]

 

2. The False Profession [v. 7-9]

 

3. The Foolish Procession [v. 10-12]

 

II. THE COMMANDER [v. 13-23]

 

1.  David Takes Charge [v. 13-18a]

 

2. David Takes Courage [v. 18b-22]

 

3. David Takes Care [v. 23]

 

III. THE CHALLENGE [v. 25-37]

 

1. Honor God Always [v. 25-27]

 

2. Contact God Often [v. 28-31]

 

3. Watch God Work [v. 32-33]

ARE YOU GOING TO GIVE UP OR LOOK UP?

PSALM 3

 

Pastor Rick Jackson

 

I. PEOPLE PROBLEMS [v. 1-3]

1. The Works of Others [v. 1]

2. The Words of Others [v. 2]

3. The Wrongness of Others [v. 3]

 

II. A PRESENT HELP [v. 4-6] Psalm 46:1 God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.

 

1.  Pray to God [v. 4]

2. Presence of God [v. 5]

3. Peace of God [v. 6]

 

III. PRACTICAL TRUTHS [v. 7-8]

 

1. God Encourages Prayer [v. 7a, Psalm 81:10]

I am the LORD thy God, which brought thee out of the land of Egypt: open thy mouth wide, and I will fill it.

2. God Promotes Righteousness [v. 7b, Psalm 66:18]

If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear me:

3. God Blesses Believers [v. 8]

Question of the Week: Why should we celebrate fulfilled prophecy?

 

answersingenesis.org | newsletter archives | contact us December 29, 2012 a weekly look at answersingenesis.org
In this issue . . . Q&A: Why should we celebrate fulfilled prophecy? Video: Genesis: Today's Answer to Racism Get Equipped: The Authentic Christ DVD Blog Highlights News to Note Year-end 2012 After Eden Answers ... with Ken Ham Q: Why should we celebrate fulfilled prophecy? A: Millions of Christians around the world choose to celebrate the birth of Jesus during this time of year—some on December 24 or 25 and others around January 7—while some choose not to celebrate at all. Whenever a Christian decides to celebrate, or if he elects not to celebrate His birth, we can all rejoice in the fact that, by putting on humanity, the Son of God became one of us to deal with our sin by dying in our place before conquering death when He rose from the dead. The Gospel of Matthew gives us another reason to be thankful. The events associated with the birth of Jesus fulfilled numerous Old Testament prophecies given centuries before the events they described. Matthew 1:22 introduces a common statement in his work. He wrote, "So all this was done that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the Lord through the prophet." Since he used this phrasing in at least a dozen passages, Matthew knew it was important to point out to his readers that many of the events he described fulfilled specific prophecies. Let's take a look at some of these ancient proclamations before explaining why these give us a cause to celebrate. Get Equipped The Authentic Christ DVD Discover the fulfillment of Old Testament prophecies and how these prophecies point to the coming of Christ. This essential DVD will help Christians understand as never before the amazing significance of Jesus of Nazareth and all that His death means for us. News to Note Year-end 2012 The Doctor's dinosaurs: What's wrong with this picture? (Evolutionists critique Doctor Who.) Walking up the evolutionary tree: Are we human because we learned to walk on our own two feet . . . or do we walk upright because we're human? Brain food: Cooking: the key to evolutionary success Starburst: A bright blue galaxy: is it bursting with new stars? Gene genesis: Evolutionists claim to have demonstrated the evolution of a new function through gene duplication. After Eden Answers ... with Ken Ham radio program Focus on the Gospel Is Tiktaalik the Missing Link? Mars, Curiosity, and Life Misconceptions about Christmas, Part 5 (December 25) Misconceptions about Christmas, Part 4 (Should We Celebrate?)	This Week . . . Feedback: Weeping for Humanity (Dec 28) 7.3 Danger No 3: Loss of the Key for Finding God (Dec 27) ARJ Highlights: first half of 2012 (Dec 26) Do You Fear the Birth of Jesus? (Dec 25) Fulfilled Prophecies at the Birth of Christ (Dec 24) Winter Answers sneak peek: Sixth Senses (Dec 23) Video On Demand Genesis: Today's Answer to Racism Watch Video Blog Highlights Ken Ham: The "Christ-less" Christmas Carol Ken Ham: Secularists Are Targeting the Youth! Ken Ham: Now It's the "Queen James Bible"! Pray for AiG Praise God for well over $2.5 million in year-end donations to the Ark Encounter project! Read the latest update to stay current on other requests and praises. Resources Kingdom Chronicles VBS: Super Starter Kit: Contemporary The Genius of Ancient Man 2013 Creation Calendar Connect with Us Answers in Genesis Creation Museum Answers in Genesis Creation Museum Answers in Genesis Creation Museum See all networks
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Life in Christ

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Life in Christ   "In him was life; and the life was the light of men." (John 1:4)   A host of biochemists and other scientists have tried for over a century to determine how life evolved from non-life. Such a quest is absurdly impossible, for the simplest imaginary self-replicating system would be infinitely more complex than the most elaborate machine ever designed by man. Life can come only from life. The first human life, indeed the first living system of any kind, could only have come by special creation from the living God. "For I am fearfully and wonderfully made" (Psalm 139:14).   Thus, "in him we live, and move, and have our being," and He is "not far from every one of us" (Acts 17:28, 27). The Lord Jesus Christ is the one "by whom also He made the worlds" and who now is "upholding all things by the word of his power" (Hebrews 1:2-3). The beating of our hearts, the breathing of our lungs, the very atoms of our bodies, are continually sustained by Him. Were He to withdraw His power for a moment, life would cease and all light would become darkness. Even those who reject Him and blaspheme His name owe their very existence to His power and grace.   "As the Father hath life in himself; so hath he given to the Son to have life in himself" (John 5:26). Life is "in him"; He alone can conquer death and raise the dead. "As the Father raiseth up the dead, and quickeneth them; even so the Son quickeneth whom he will" (v. 21), for as "the first man Adam was made a living soul; the last Adam was made a quickening spirit" (1 Corinthians 15:45).   Thus, "He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life" (1 John 5:12). Through faith in His sacrificial death and resurrection life, "ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God." Henceforth is Christ Himself "our life" (Colossians 3:3-4). HMM   Print this article | More Days of Praise articles     Institute for Creation Research | 1806 Royal Lane | Dallas | TX | 75229

The 4 Covenants

Thank you for reading my Prophetic Daily Devotionals!   Please visit my website to learn more Bible prophecies being fulfilled in these last days.    Acts 3:21 Whom the heaven must receive until the times of restitution of all things, which God hath spoken by the mouth of all his holy prophets since the world began.   For further study - Acts 3:12-26   This extended devotional reading for today is the record of Peter's second sermon given after the Lord had gone back to heaven. This sermon has great prophetic significance and it is important for each of us to realize what the sermon is saying to the Jews and thus to the church as well.   This sermon, by the way, is an excellent proof text that the Lord has not finished with the Jewish people. He has a program for the Jews that will play out in the last days. This is a great argument against "replacement theology" which states that the Church, the body of Christ, has replaced the Jews in God's program for today.   Peter's sermon is given to the Jews, "ye men of Israel", verse 12. Peter tells the Jews that God has given His Son as the fulfillment of promises to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob and they had killed the "Prince of Life" but God had raised Him from the dead, verses 13-15.   Peter tells the men of Israel that Jesus, because of His death, burial, and resurrection, was indeed the long-awaited for Messiah and Savior of the world.   God the Father sent His Son to die and fulfill all Old Testament prophecies about the coming Messiah. He also stated that Jesus would return to the heavenlies for a period of time before He would "fulfill all things which God had spoken by the mouth of all His holy prophets since the world began", verse 21.   To fulfill all promises or prophecies given by God to the Jews would be a part of the end time scenario that would unfold, leading up to and, at the return of Jesus Christ back to the earth. The Lord has given four covenants to the Jews that must, and will be fulfilled at that time.   The four covenants include the "Abrahamic Covenant", a promise that there would be a Jewish nation with a piece of real estate that would belong to them forever, Genesis 12 and 15. The "Land Covenant", Deuteronomy 30, would guarantee land in the Middle East, 10 times the amount of land that the Jews now have in their possession.   The "Davidic Covenant", II Samuel 7, is God's promise of a king on a throne in a temple in Jerusalem, forever. The King of that kingdom who will be seated on the throne will be Jesus Christ in an earthly kingdom yet to come.   The last covenant to be fulfilled is the "New Covenant", Jeremiah 31:31 that is given to the Jewish people. It will be a forever covenant and will include all of the other covenants, as the Jewish people become His people and He becomes their God.   These covenants must be fulfilled; therefore, God does have a plan and program for the Jewish people that is in the process of being played out in our world today.   It is because He keeps these covenants, these promises to the Jews, that we can trust the Lord to keep His promise to us - His promise of eternal life.   However, before any of the end time prophecies that pertain to the Jewish people can be fulfilled the Rapture of the Christians must take place. With all the prophecies for the Jews at the point of being fulfilled, the Rapture must be close, perhaps today.   PRAYER THOT: Thank you, Lord, for being a covenant-keeping God and giving me the proof of that truth in the Jewish people.

Visit our website at http:/www.prophecytoday.com

Shofar Communications | PO Box 2510 | Chattanooga | TN | 37409

DANIEL 11 - BACK TO THE FUTURE

Pastor Rick Jackson

 

10:1 tells of yet another vision that God gave Daniel. Chapter 10 is a preface to the actual vision, chapter 11 is the vision, and chapter 12 is a practical application of the vision. Chapter 10 gives us another look behind the scenes.

 

I. THE SOURCE OF TRUTH

 

1. The Angel’s Introduction [10:18-20]

2. The Scripture’s Inspiration [10:21

3. The Prophecy’s Revelation [11:1-2a]

 

II. THE EMPIRES STRIKE BACK

 

1. The Media-Persian Empire [v. 1-2]

2. The Grecian Empire [v. 3-20]

3. The Emperor Antiochus Epiphanes [v. 21-35]

 

III. THE ANTICHRIST

 

1. The Spiritual Nature of the Antichrist [v. 36-39] “Blasphemer”

2. The National Nature of the Antichrist [v. 40-44] “Destroyer”

3. The Ultimate Nature of the Antichrist [v. 45] “Loser”

God's Son in God's Word

Isaiah 7:14  "Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel."       To Whom does Isaiah 7:14 refer?  Certainly, the ultimate fulfillment of this verse is found in a child, God Incarnate, who is literally "God with us."  The Lord gave a sign to those in Isaiah's day-specifically King Ahaz-that God was made flesh.  Christ was the literal, physical fulfillment of God's written promise!   Like the people in Isaiah 7, can I encourage you to see God's Son in God's Word?  The truth is, if you do not see His Son in His Word, you are not likely to see Him in your day either.  How do you see God's Son?  First, you see Him by observation.  It is always good to think as you read the Bible.  Have you ever found yourself thinking, after reading a passage, "Now what did that say?"  My mind wanders easily!  Pay attention to what the Bible says, and see Christ in the Bible by observation.   Second, you see God's Son in God's Word by inspiration.  That is, God's Son and God's Word rise and fall together.  Matthew 1:21-23 quotes God's promise in Isaiah 7:14.  Matthew wasn't giving his thoughts on what God might have meant; He gave exactly what God meant because God inspired both Isaiah and Matthew!  You can't discount the Virgin Birth but embrace "God with us."   Jesus Christ is God's Incarnate Word.  The Bible is God's written Word.  God's Book is truly about God's Son.  If you will look for Christ in the Bible, you will find Christ in your life.  The same Christ present at Creation and present one day at Armageddon is the same Christ mentioned in Isaiah 7:14, and you can take God at His word on that.       * Find out if a Ranch evangelist will be in your area in the New Year!  Click here to view 2013 itineraries.     Read more devotionals, listen to sermon audio, and read thought-provoking articles on our website!

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

DYING FOR CHRISTMAS

LUKE 2:21-35                                                     

 

Pastor Rick Jackson

 

People sometimes say strange things. “That food is to die for.” Really? “If Christmas doesn’t get here soon I’m going to die!” Really? But here we have a man who actually said he was ready to die after he learned about the first Christmas. Are you dying for Christmas?    

 

I. ARE YOU READY TO DIE?

 

1. Do You Know the God-sent Saviour? [v. 30, Jn. 4:10, 22, 25, 29, 32, 42]

2. Have You Finished the Will of God for Your Life? [v. 26-29, 2 Tm. 4:6-8]

3. Are You Content to Let God Choose the Time? [v. 28-29, Col. 3:15] Let God be God!

 

II. ARE YOU READY TO LIVE BY DYING TO SELF?

 

1. It is God’s Salvation [v. 30-31, Jn. 14, Jonah 2:9]

2. It is God’s Solution [v. 32a]

3. It is God’s Glory [v. 32b]

 

III. ARE YOU READY TO WIN BY SURRENDERING

 

1. The Choice is Between Falling or Rising [v. 334, Dan. 12:2, Mt. 3:11]

2. The Choice is Believing or Rejecting [v. 34b]

3. The Choice is to Be a Bible Christian or a Hypocrite [v. 35, Heb. 4:12]

3 WISE GUYS

2 SAMUEL 14                                                                                                                    

               

Pastor Rick Jackson

 

I. JOAB THE POT WITH THE PLAN

 

1. The Plan Joab Adapted [v. 1-3]

 

2. The Part of the Woman [v. 4-11]

 

3. The Point of the Parable [v. 12-17]

 

II. DAVID THE KETTLE OFF HIS METTLE

 

1.  David’s Question Asked [v. 18-20]

 

2. David’s Questionable Answer [v. 21-22]

 

3. David’s’ Qualified Actions [v. 23-24]

 

III. ABSALOM THE NARCISTIC NE’ER-DO-WELL

 

1. A Man of Outer Beauty [v. 25-27]

 

2. A Man of Inner Ugliness [v. 28-31]

 

3. A Man of Unresolved Conflicts [v. 32-33]

QUESTION OF THE WEEK: Did it rain before the Flood?

 

answersingenesis.org | newsletter archives | contact us December 22, 2012 a weekly look at answersingenesis.org
In this issue . . . Q&A: Did it rain before the Flood? Video: How to Survive Secular College Get Equipped: Wild, Wild Weather Blog Highlights News to Note Quick Look After Eden Answers ... with Ken Ham Q: Did it rain before the Flood? A: The answer is obvious. Yes, it did! No, it didn't! Wait, which answer is right, or is a third option possible? Scripture says tantalizingly little about climate conditions before the Flood. Based on a few indirect verses, early creationists speculated that a vapor canopy covered the earth until the first rain fell during the Flood. In time, this view became dogma for some Christians. Later, when mathematical modeling failed to support the canopy theory, many creationists abandoned the idea of a canopy and no-rain-before-the-Flood. In time, the belief that it rained before the Flood became a new dogma. Was there rain before the Genesis Flood? I don't believe there was, at least near the Garden of Eden. But only time will tell if modeling efforts are successful in supporting a canopy prior to the Flood. If the modeling is not successful, then rain probably fell before the Flood, at least far from the Garden of Eden. Whatever explanation is true, the Bible's accuracy is not in question. Any combination of these models would be consistent with the biblical account, or perhaps an alternative set of conditions, which we have not yet discovered, drove the pre-Flood climate. Read more about whether there was rain before the Flood. Get Equipped Wild, Wild Weather How does the Ice Age fit into the biblical timeframe? Dr. Vardiman gives compelling answers . . . based on the book of Genesis and a biblical model of the Flood's impact on worldwide weather. News to Note Quick Look Christmas "myth": "Times Square billboard declares "Keep the MERRY!" while portraying Christ's crucifixion with the words "Dump the MYTH." Black Sea deluge: Regional flood around the Black Sea was not the biblical global Flood. Homo antecessor: Homo diversity versus Homo ancestry: asking the right question "Oldest" dinosaur: Deepest dino-parts emerge from the fossil record. Storytelling about homosexuality: Despite mathematical manipulation of assumptions, homosexuality remains a sinful choice, not an inherited mandate. After Eden Answers ... with Ken Ham radio program Misconceptions about Christmas, Part 3 (We Three Kings) Misconceptions about Christmas, Part 2 (A Stable) Misconceptions about Christmas, Part 1 (Introduction) Cain and His Sister Cosmic Super-Mom	This Week . . . Feedback: Christians Celebrating Christmas at Christmas Town (Dec 21) Are You Ready for the End of the World? (Dec 20) Evolutionary Psychology: Why It Fails as a Science and Is Dangerous (Dec 19) Letter from Ken, December 2012 (Dec 18) Prayer Requests and Praises, December 2012 (Dec 17) Winter Answers sneak peek: Did It Rain Before the Flood? (Dec 16) Video On Demand How to Survive Secular College Watch Video Blog Highlights Ken Ham: Does Evolution Hurt the Gospel? Part 2 Ken Ham: Is Genesis an "Etiological Account"? Part 1 Answers Worldwide: Lessons from Daniel Pray for AiG Please pray for volunteers in Christmas Town at the Creation Museum, and for those visiting. Read the latest update to stay current on other requests and praises. Resources The Pilgrim's Progress Collection: Exclusive Edition Kingdom Chronicles VBS: Super Starter Kit The Genius of Ancient Man Connect with Us Answers in Genesis Creation Museum Answers in Genesis Creation Museum Answers in Genesis Creation Museum See all networks
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