a New Years Wish

May peace break into your house and may thieves come to steal your debts. May the pockets of your jeans become a magnet for $100 bills. May love stick to your face like Vaseline and may laughter assault your lips! May your clothes smell of success like smoking tires and may happiness slap you across the face and may your tears be that of joy. May the problems you had, forget your home address! In simple words ............ May 2017 be the best year of your life!!!

DID THE ROMANS ROAD BY-PASS ISRAEL?

ROMANS 11      

Pastor Rick Jackson

I. ISRAEL IS NOT CAST AWAY [v. 1-7]

1. The Example of Paul [v. 1-2a]

2. The Explanation to Elijah [v. 2b-4]

3. The Election of Grace [v. 5-7]

II. ISRAEL IS NOT CURRENTLY ACCEPTING (as a whole) [v. 7-15]

1. Blindness [v. 7-10]

2. Jealousy [v. 11-14]

3. Blessing [v. 15]

III. ISRAEL IS NOT COMING APART [v. 16-36]

1. The Focus on the Grafting [v. 16-24] (groups not individuals in mind here, i.e., Jews & Gentiles)

2. The Future of the Gospel [v. 25-31, 1:16]

3. The Faithfulness of God [v. 32-36]

Question of the Week: The Gender Revolution—How Should We Respond?

From the highly recommended: Answers in Genesis <www.answersingenesis.org>

 

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The Gender Revolution The first issue of National Geographic for 2017 subscribers has recently grabbed headlines. The cover features Avery Jackson, a nine-year-old transgender girl, dressed in pink, staring proudly into the camera. The caption reads "Special Issue Gender Revolution," followed by Avery's quote, "The best thing about being a girl is, now I don't have to pretend to be a boy." Let's take a look at the main points for each of the major articles throughout the issue and then turn to God's Word to see how believers should understand and respond to these matters.   Find Out More →   Get Equipped One Generation Away Pack Shop Now 〉

Buddhism As one of history's oldest surviving global religions, Buddhism is one of the fastest growing faiths, and currently boasts almost half a billion adherents. Noah's Ark: Fairy Tale and Anti-Science? People who do not follow God have no reverence for God's commands like the ninth of the 10 Commandments—which says not to lie. Abortion Issues Forefront in the United States January 22 was the 44th anniversary of Roe v. Wade, the day the United States Supreme Court legalized abortion—the day the abortion holocaust began here. 5 Reasons to Join a Dinosaur Dig This Summer Here are five reasons you should consider making the Dinosaur Dig with Buddy Davis (July 24–28, 2017) part of your family vacation this year.

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John R. Rice Quotes of the Week

A Holiness woman preacher said, "Brother Rice, I am praying that you will be filled with the Holy Ghost." I replied, "I am glad you are. Keep on praying for that. As God is my witness, I pray more for the power of the Holy Ghost than for anything else." But I told her, as I tell you, that I was not seeking what would meet her standards but what would meet the Bible standards in the power of God and souls saved. - John R. Rice

It has always been true that in great times of revival blessing when multitudes are saved, God did some wonderful things in answer to prayer. Oh, I have seen it, thank God, many times - the healing of the sick, the control of the weather, even sometimes the taking out of the way by death men who oppose the work of God. I do not believe God ever intended wonderful, amazing answers to prayer and manifestations of God's power to go with nonchalant, lukewarm, halfhearted Christians. These blessings follow those that obey the Great Commission. It would not be right to teach that the coldhearted, the unfaithful, the backslidden Christian could have the same kind of blessings as those believers who are in the will of God and have the power of God to win souls. - John R. Rice

Every time God answers a prayer and brings about something that would not have occurred had we not appealed to God - that means a divine intervention, a controlling of the forces of nature so that it is not ordinary but extraordinary, not natural but supernatural. It is a miracle for God to intervene in the affairs of men even to answer prayer. The Christian religion is a miracle religion. Oh, how sad is the state of those who leave out a miracle-working God from Christianity today! - John R. Rice

My wife felt greatly bereft when our six married daughters and theirs husbands moved away from us. Now gone were the big Sunday dinners with all the chattering, happy group together!
We soon moved to Murfreesboro and she said, "I don't like Murfreesboro! I am not happy here!"
I said to her, "You will not be happy anywhere until you get accustomed to being without your daughters."
Once she said to me seriously, "My back jurts! The doctor says there is nothing wrong with me but I know there is! What shall I do?
Her distress was real but I knew the problem. I said, "Go visit one of the girls and it will be well!"
She made the visit an was well and happy as a result.- John R. Rice

They do great harm who teach falsehood about anything. And they play with griefs and broken hearts of people in trouble when they teach people to expect what God did not promise and when they claim what God does not give, that is, He does not give always healing to everyone who calls upon Him the best he can. It is not always God's will to heal the sick. And those who teach so do great harm and cause great suffering. - John R. Rice

I am distressed everywhere I go. I know people are building great soul-winning churches and they are going out house to house spending hours to build up a bus ministry and bring people in. I am glad they are.
You can do all that, but if you do not raise godly children, if you do not have old-time, heartfelt Bible-preaching, Bible-reading religion in the home, the family altar kind and the disciplined kind, then another generation is going to find we have gone to Hell in America for lack of good homes. - John R. Rice

You ask, "Was Eli to blame?" Yes, he was, for the Bible says, "... his sons made themselves vile, and he [Eli] restrained them not."
And God sent a prophet to say to Eli, I chose you out of all Israel to be of the priesthood with your family to serve Me forever. But, you honored your sons above Me, to make yourselves fat with the chiefest of all the offerings." He said, "Your sons made themselves vile and you did not restrain them, so there is a curse on your family forever."
Yes, God said Eli was to blame. And whoever hears me today has as well face it. Quit lying and excusing yourself. If your children turn out bad, you are to blame. You could have raised them right, with praying and burden and discipline and teaching and example, making it sure your children walk after the Lord. - John R. Rice

WHO ARE YOU REALLY?

                            Col. 1:1                                                

Pastor Rick Jackson

I. FOR PURPOSES OF IDENTIFICATION

1.Question- Who are you?

Answer- Not "Saul" the proud, but Paul "the little" (Acts 13:9). No indication of a divine name change like some (Abram, Sarai, Jacob, Simon) but a personal preference perhaps. How do you see yourself? Call me "Mister", "Doctor", "Reverend", "Father" There is a time and place for titles "your honor" "officer" but sometimes it's pride, which God hates.

2. Q.- What are you?

A.- "an apostle of Jesus Christ". Paul had not yet been to Colossae (2:1) so it's important they know his word carries weight. An apostle was a sent one. In this case, one sent with special authority (Eph. 4:11). By stating this he shows his authority, like a policeman identifying himself with his badge. What are you? A child of God, an ambassador for the King, a church member, etc. "Who do you think you are?" No brag, just fact here.

3. Q.- Why are you?

A.- "By the will of God" Paul was not elected to the office of apostle by men but was so designated by Jesus Christ. Why am I a preacher? Not because I chose to be. I was going in a different vocational direction. I may be pastor here because the church voted to call me to the place after seeking the will of God and I accepted after seeking the will of God but, my friends, I was a preacher long before that by the will of God! "Why are you?"

A bartender is not a bartender by the will of God ... Habakkuk 2:15 Woe unto him that giveth his neighbour drink, that puttest thy bottle to him, and makest him drunken also, that thou mayest look on their nakedness!

A lost person is not lost by the will of God... 2 Peter 3:9 The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.

If you are not what you are by the will of God it behooves you to let God change you! To be conformed to His will...

Romans 12:2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

II. FOR FURTHER CLASSIFICATION

The New Dictionary of Cultural Literacy, Third Edition. 2002. "A man is known by the company he keeps." Our character is reflected in our choice of friends.

This particular way of saying it is from Aesop's Fables. A man wanted to purchase a donkey, and agreed with its owner that he should try out the animal before he bought him. He took the donkey home and put him in with his other donkeys, upon which the new animal left all the others and at once joined the one that was most idle and the greatest eater of them all. Seeing this, the man put a halter on him and led him back to his owner. On being asked how, in so short a time, he could have made a trial of him, he answered, "I do not need a trial; I know that he will be just the same as the one he chose for his companion."

As a former teacher for 13 years, and as a pastor for over 30 years, I can attest to the truth of this proverb. What is more important is the testimony of the Word of God. "Amnon had a friend."

1. Choose Providentially!

Psalm 119:63 I am a companion of all them that fear thee, and of them that keep thy precepts.

2. Choose purposefully!

Proverbs 13:20 He that walketh with wise men shall be wise: but a companion of fools shall be destroyed.

3. Choose positively!

Proverbs 28:7 Whoso keepeth the law is a wise son: but he that is a companion of riotous men shameth his father.

Daniel 2:17-18 Then Daniel went to his house, and made the thing known to Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah, his companions: That they would desire mercies of the God of heaven concerning this secret; that Daniel and his fellows should not perish with the rest of the wise men of Babylon.

This is how Paul chose Timothy as a companion and friend

Acts 16:1-3 Then came he to Derbe and Lystra: and, behold, a certain disciple was there, named Timotheus, the son of a certain woman, which was a Jewess, and believed; but his father was a Greek: Which was well reported of by the brethren that were at Lystra and Iconium. Him would Paul have to go forth with him; and took and circumcised him because of the Jews which were in those quarters: for they knew all that his father was a Greek.

Acts 19:22So he sent into Macedonia two of them that ministered unto him, Timotheus and Erastus...

Romans 16:21 Timotheus my workfellow...

1 Corinthians 4:17 For this cause have I sent unto you Timotheus, who is my beloved son, and faithful in the Lord...

1 Corinthians 16:10 Now if Timotheus come, see that he may be with you without fear: for he worketh the work of the Lord, as I also do.

2 Corinthians 1:19 For the Son of God, Jesus Christ, who was preached among you by us, even by me and Silvanus and Timotheus...

1 Thessalonians 3:2 And sent Timotheus, our brother, and minister of God, and our fellowlabourer in the gospel of Christ, to establish you, and to comfort you concerning your faith:

For purposes of identification- who are you? what are you? why are you?

For further classification- who are your companions?

Laugh for the day

The Old Pastor's Last Request

An old pastor lay dying. He sent a message for an IRS agent and his lawyer to come to the hospital.

When they arrived, they were ushered up to his room. As they entered the room, the pastor held out

his hands and motioned for them to sit on each side of the bed. The pastor grasped their hands, sighed

contentedly, smiled, and stared at the ceiling. For a time, no one said anything. Both the IRS agent

and lawyer were touched and flattered that the old man would ask them to be with him during his

final moments. They were also puzzled because the pastor had never given any indication that he

particularly liked either one of them. Finally, the Lawyer asked, "Pastor, why did you askthe two of

us to come here?"The old pastor mustered all his strength, then said weakly, "Jesus died between two

thieves, and that's how I want to go."

DID THE ROMANS ROAD BY-PASS ISRAEL?

ROMANS 11                                                                      

Pastor Rick Jackson

I. ISRAEL IS NOT CAST AWAY [v. 1-7]

1. The Example of Paul [v. 1-2a]

2. The Explanation to Elijah [v. 2b-4]

3. The Election of Grace [v. 5-7]

II. ISRAEL IS NOT CURRENTLY ACCEPTING (as a whole) [v. 7-15]

1. Blindness [v. 7-10]

2. Jealousy [v. 11-14]

3. Blessing [v. 15]

III. ISRAEL IS NOT COMING APART [v. 16-36]

1. The Focus on the Grafting [v. 16-24] (groups not individuals in mind here, i.e., Jews & Gentiles)

2. The Future of the Gospel [v. 25-31, 1:16]

3. The Faithfulness of God [v. 32-36]

ISN’T IT GREAT?

PSALM 145:1-10

Pastor Rick Jackson

I. GREAT SALVATION

1. It is Great Because of the Author of It [1 Sam. 14:45, 19:5; Is. 19:20; Titus 2:13]

2. It is Great Because of the Extent of It [2 Cor. 1:10, Rev. 20:14]

3. It is Great Because of the Uniqueness of It [Heb. 2:3]

II. GREAT PEACE

1. There is Great Peace in Loving God’s Word [Psalm 119:65]

2. There is Great Peace in Knowing the Lord [Is. 54:13-14]

3. There is Great Peace in the Midst of Tribulation [John 14:1, 27, 16:33]

III. GREAT JOY

1. There is Great Joy in Salvation [Luke 2:10-11]

2. There is Great Joy in Other’s Salvation [Acts 15:3]

3. There is Great Joy in Leading Others to Him [Ps. 126:5-6]

Question of the Week: Can Monkeys Speak? 🐵

From the highly recommended: Answers in Genesis <www.answersingenesis.org>

Subject: Can Monkeys Speak? 🐵

 

Scientists are discovering the surprising secrets of monkey chatter. (View in Browser)

Are Monkey Brains Wired for Language? Monkeys can—and do—say a lot more than scientists have previously given them credit for. That's the conclusion from two lines of research that have reassessed the sound-generating capabilities of the monkey vocal tract and deciphered differing "dialects" of alarm calls in two monkey populations. But do these discoveries support evolutionary claims about the origin of human language?   Find Out More →   Get Equipped The Hairy Truth DVD Pack Shop Now 〉

Fighting Abortion—The Measure of a Just Society Should God's Word or man's feckless opinion rule in our lives and laws? Clearly, evil will rule if God's people remain silent. Can Forensic Science Trace the World's Origins? One of the most popular facets of science right now is forensics. But no investigative science is more accurate than an eyewitness account. How to Make America Great Again Donald Trump, who will become President Trump on Inauguration Day, has promised to make America great again. God's Word tells us exactly how to do that! Spend the Night with Noah Have you ever wondered what it would be like to sleep on Noah's Ark? Now you can find out with our new overnight program!

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