John R. Rice Quotes of the Week

Some people foolishly say, "I can turn to Christ any time I get ready." No, the simple truth is you can't even get ready or get willing unless the Spirit of God moves you. A heart that continually hardens itself cannot suddenly soften itself. A man who decides again and again to drink will, after awhile, get to where he cannot decide yes or no but has a compulsion for drink. Oh, the time before your heart is hardened, before God is angered by your delay and rejection, before sin so utter deceives and distorts your mind so you cannot understand the truth or be impressed with the urgency of it - that is the day to be saved. Today is "the day of salvation." - John R. Rice

Is there a man who goes to Hell because he wants to go to Hell? I think not, not even Judas Iscariot. Though torn by the awfulness of his sin, yet he was so hardened that he could not turn to Christ and would not turn. So Judas was in despair as he hung himself and died "to go to his own place," the Scripture says. I am sure the rich man in Hell did not intend to go to Hell. He just neglected salvation. Neglect is the main traveled road to Hell. - John R. Rice

Only Christ in the heart can make a father's love always good and never selfish, or make a mother's love holy and without undue possessiveness or self-will. The happy, settled character that Christ gives can make the marriage ship safe in the storm. There is no settled happiness, long-term happiness, without Christ. young people without Christ may be hopeful, expectant, exuberant, with an eager thirst for life and confidence. But all too soon they find that Satan has no happy old people. - John R. Rice

Why do we not plainly rejoice that our disappointments are His appointments, that God's train never comes in late, that God will never leave His own? No, a Christian walking in the presence of God and in the will of God can truly say, "This is the house of God, this is the gate of Heaven." And we ought to say, "God is in this place," and we ought to believe it. - John R. Rice

Why did Jesus speak in parables? So that those who would not seek would not be compelled to see. Those who did not want to love God would not be compelled to love Him. Those who did not open their mouths for blessing would not receive blessings. What is God saying? He is saying the richest mines of spiritual truths are there for God's people, but they are not visible, they are not discernible to those who have unbelieving and uninterested hearts. Jesus said again and again, "He that hath ears to hear let him hear." Surely He meant that only those whose ears are tuned to the truth will get it, and that was by God's choice. - John R. Rice

God could convince every infidel in the world that He is the Saviour, that the Bible is the Word of God. Strangely He does not seek to do so. You see, the trouble with an infidel is not head trouble but heart trouble. God feels no obligation to reveal Himself to the stubborn, rebellious heart. - John R. Rice

Miracles are not often apparent. The Lord Jesus is a little jealous about His power; and so when Jesus would raise from the dead the little twelve-year old maiden, He took the father and mother of the damsel and Peter, James and John and went in and closed the door, and then said to the maiden, "I say unto thee, arise," and He delivered her to her mother. But the unbelieving crowd outside that scoffed did not see the miracle. - John R. Rice

BUGS, A BOY & GOD

ACTS 2, 4-5, 7                                                                    

Pastor Rick Jackson

Before December 4, 2002 Shoko (a young Japanese lady) thought Jesus was only a hero in some long-ago folk tale. As a young adult, she had lived a messed-up life, being crushed as she went from one problem to the next. During one emotional moment, she grabbed a New Testament and hastily looked for comfort and "stumbled" upon 1 Cor. 10:13:

“No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it.”

She reasoned that the problems she had were lessons from God. Surely He would prepare a way out. From then on she remembered this verse, whenever going through difficult times.

Because she didn’t believe in Jesus and didn’t really understand the Bible, she quickly turned back to the gods of the temples and the shrines of her ancestors. At her lowest point, she was involved in many distressing situations and had been lied to so many times that she was emotionally exhausted. She used antidepressants and sleeping pills to get by. She said, "I had no dreams, no hope, and no light in my life. I couldn’t trust anyone and couldn’t even laugh anymore. One day I cried out, 'I don’t want this struggle anymore! I don’t want the pain!'” With that she decided there was no better time than on her birthday, July 15, to commit suicide.

Not long after making this decision, Mr. and Mrs. Aida came to her real estate office. They told her that through ABWE missionary Natalie Beck they had heard about her office and were seeking an apartment for a Mr. Tago. Shoko had first met Natalie when showing her a house. Later there was an unusual outbreak of cockroaches and a host of them raided Natalie’s home. Shoko hired an exterminator and went to her home to check up on the progress, and while there Shoko and Natalie became friends.

She had been turning away new customers because of her planned suicide. But since Natalie referred Mr. Aida to her, she agreed to help. Mr. Tago would not arrive until August, so she decided to postpone her suicide. August came and she found an apartment for Mr. Tago. The day his contract was complete was to be the last day of her life. She canceled her cell phone and prepared her suicide letter.

The day came, and with everything all set she sat in the middle of her room, quieted her heart, and closed her eyes. Then, suddenly, the doorbell rang, and a boy’s familiar voice cried out, “Sister!” She opened the door to her friend’s son. “What’s wrong?” she asked. “Mom had to leave for the day, and she told me to buy something to eat, so I also bought something for you.”

Hastily, he handed her a package of sushi, then ran away. Shoko was overjoyed that he would do something like this for her, but then thought, “What if I die leaving this behind? He would think I didn’t want it.” She realized she was running away from reality. She remembered 1 Cor. 10:13 and was overwhelmed with all that she had prepared to do. She cried as she ate the sushi—the best she'd ever tasted. Without the love of a little boy and I Corinthians 10:13 seared in her memory she surely would have been dead.

Natalie invited her to a singles meeting. She was nervous about meeting Christians, but their love and welcome made a big impression upon her. She was amazed when the missionary lady quoted 1 Corinthians 10:13 and said, “We all experience troubles and tribulations in our lives. But this Bible is for us when we have troubles and we don’t know what to do. If we read it, God can lead us in the right direction.” Later, Natalie asked her if she wanted to be part of a Bible study. Shoko cringed at first, but since she was constantly looking for new insights to her problems, she thought a Bible study might actually be a positive thing.

Shoko said, "Throughout the study, Natalie explained that I am a sinner and that Jesus gave His life for me. She asked me if I wanted to believe. It took awhile, but I finally answered, ‘Yes, I believe,’ and an unusual peace swept over me and made my heart at rest. I prayed to God with Natalie, and He forgave my sins and made me His child.”

As I thought about all my sins being forgiven, I was overjoyed! I felt like a puppet whose strings were finally cut. I kept asking Natalie, “Are you sure my sins are forgiven?” She would answer, “All of your sins are forgiven and today is your new birthday.”

Even when I chose death, God was working through my friends to save me. Had Mr. and Mrs. Aida not come to my office, had they not mentioned Natalie’s name, had Mr. Tago come a day later—if even one of these events had happened differently—I believe I would be dead today. Had Natalie’s house been free of cockroaches, we would have not become friends. And I would not have studied the Bible or been introduced to Christ. From the bottom of my heart, I’m thankful that He provided my way of escape.

(Adapted from http://message.abwe.org/vol55no01/My-Way-of-Escape.html)

Shoko's story illustrates some truths for us that the Bible expounds over and over. Let's look in the book of Acts for some Biblical examples of three great truths.

I. GOD'S WAY MAY NOT BE WHAT YOU EXPECT BUT IT'S ALWAYS RIGHT! [Acts 2]

1. God uses the Willing [v. 14-22]

2. God uses the Wicked [v. 23]

3. God uses the Word [v. 24-31]

4. God uses the Witnesses [v. 32-37]

II. GOD'S WORK MAY NOT BE WHAT YOU EXPECT BUT IT'S ALWAYS RIGHT! [Acts 4]

1. Not everyone is delighted when you do God's work [v. 1-17]

2. Not everyone is dedicated enough to do God's work [v. 18-20]

3. No One can do God's work without God's help! [v. 29-33]

III. GOD'S WILL MAY NOT BE WHAT YOU EXPECT BUT IT'S ALWAYS RIGHT! [Acts 5, 7]

1. The will of God mainly involves obedience [5:25-29]

2. The will of God may involve suffering [5:40-42]

3. The will of God might involve death [7:54-60]

Quotes of the Week

It doesn't matter, really, how great the pressure is, it only matters where the pressure lies. See that it never comes between you and the Lord - then, the greater the pressure, the more it presses you to His breast. - Hudson Taylor

What do we do when a harsh word is spoken to us? We usually shout louder. The recent argument in your home lasted as long as it did because one of you kept yelling. Arguments are never a one-way street. They run in twos; sometimes in packs. If you want to stop an argument, close your mouth. The other person will usually just run down. If you want to keep the argument going, answer the complaint or criticism in a harsh way. - Charles Swindoll

In every genuine revival in history, two major thrusts have always appeared.First, there has always been proclamation of the Bible, God's Word; second, there has always been the responsive mobilization of believers, God's people. - Charles Swindoll

Strange as it may sound, a revival does not relate directly to the unsaved. You cannot revive the lost. You can revive the saved. Revival occurs as God ignites the fire of His Word and mobilizes His people to go and win the lost. - Charles Swindoll

Some people come to meetings or church services and it does nothing. In fact, it turns them off. Others cannot get enough. Just like sponges, they get bigger and bigger - spiritually. They get more of the Water of Life and grow larger and larger. I see them and think, "Man, there's no end to this. This is the most exciting thing I have ever seen!" What's the difference? It's the attitude. They have a teachable spirit. The soil has been prepared and their heart is open, saying, "Welcome God. Speak to me." And when He speaks, what a remarkable change! But the person with an unteachable attitude, a closed heart, will never gain insight until the "internals" are changed. The longer I live, the more I value the importance of attitude. - Charles Swindoll

Thinking is the hardest work there is, which is the probable reason why so few engage in it." - Henry Ford

THE WALLS DEDICATION

NEHEMIAH 12

Pastor Rick Jackson

I. DEDICATED PROFESSIONS [v. 1-23]

1. Priests and Levites [v. 1-9]

2. Priestly Line [v. 10-21]

3. Levitical Line [v. 22-23]

II. DEDICATED POSITIONS [v. 24-26]

1. Praising and Thanking [v. 8, 24, Hebrews 13:15]

2. Porters and Doorkeepers [v. 25, Psalm 84:10]

3. Leaders [v. 26]

III. DEDICATED PEOPLE [v. 27-47]

1. Purified People [v. 27-30, 1 Th. 1:5, 9-10]

2. Participating People [v. 31-43, 1 Th. 1:3]

3. Joyful People [v. 44-47, 1 Th. 1:6-8]

ENJOY YOUR FAITH

PS. 118:21-24, I Th. 5:16                                                               

Pastor Rick Jackson

Far too many Christians seem to endure their faith rather than enjoying it. Some think God delights in the dour, somber, and pathetic displays of sadness. That's NOT what the Bible teaches! Enjoy your faith as the Bible says. What about when things go bad? Enjoy your faith as the Bible says. What about when loved ones go to be with Jesus? Enjoy your faith as the Bible says.  What about when people don't understand you? Enjoy your faith as the Bible says. What about when people leave the church? Enjoy your faith as the Bible says. What about "whatever" or "blah blah blah" or "this or that"? Enjoy your faith as the Bible says. God helping us, we can to rejoice in:

I. SALVATION

1. The Relationship with Him (Lk. 1:46-47, 10:20, Phil. 3:3)

And Mary said, My soul doth magnify the Lord, And my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour.

Notwithstanding in this rejoice not, that the spirits are subject unto you; but rather rejoice, because your names are written in heaven.

For we are the circumcision, which worship God in the spirit, and rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh.

2. The Fellowship with Him (1 Jn. 1:3-4)

That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you, that ye also may have fellowship with us: and truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ. And these things write we unto you, that your joy may be full.

3. The Lordship of Him (Joel 2:23, Ph. 3:1, 4:4, 10)

Be glad then, ye children of Zion, and rejoice in the LORD your God:

Finally, my brethren, rejoice in the Lord. To write the same things to you, to me indeed is not grievous, but for you it is safe.

Rejoice in the Lord alway: and again I say, Rejoice.

But I rejoiced in the Lord greatly, that now at the last your care of me hath flourished again; wherein ye were also careful, but ye lacked opportunity.

II. TRIBULATION

1. For His sake (Mt. 5:11-12)

Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake.  Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you.

2. For His work (Ph. 2:17-18)

Yea, and if I be offered upon the sacrifice and service of your faith, I joy, and rejoice with you all. For the same cause also do ye joy, and rejoice with me.

3. For Him (I Pet. 4:12-13)

Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you: But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ's sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy.

III. EXPECTATION

1. God's leading (Mt. 2:10, 2 Jn. 4)

When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceeding great joy.

I rejoiced greatly that I found of thy children walking in truth, as we have received a commandment from the Father.

2. God's Working (Lk. 10:21, 19:37, II Cor. 7:7)

In that hour Jesus rejoiced in spirit, and said, I thank thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent, and hast revealed them unto babes: even so, Father; for so it seemed good in thy sight.

And when he was come nigh, even now at the descent of the mount of Olives, the whole multitude of the disciples began to rejoice and praise God with a loud voice for all the mighty works that they had seen;

And not by his coming only, but by the consolation wherewith he was comforted in you, when he told us your earnest desire, your mourning, your fervent mind toward me; so that I rejoiced the more.

3. God's Glory (Jn. 15:8, Ps. 126:5-6)

Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples.

They that sow in tears shall reap in joy. He that goeth forth and weepeth, bearing precious seed, shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with him.

John R. Rice Quotes of the Week

In a moment that poor dying thief who begged Christ to remember him got forgiveness. He who wasn't fit for earth and admitted it, in a moment was made fit for Heaven. And in one moment, you, too, can turn your heart from sin, can trust Christ to save you and be over the Divide, assured of Heaven. In a moment you can have a new heart, can have the Holy Spirit move into your body, can be made "partakers of the divine nature." In a moment you can have a home prepared in Heaven for you. But it must be your own honest decision. You must decide to turn from your sin, decide to trust Christ for forgiveness and do it now. - John R. Rice

First Corinthians 2:14 says, "But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned." That is why one must have the blessed Spirit of God to some way awaken him, to some way tune him in, to some way give him a heart to listen to the Bible. Carnal-minded, wicked men read the Bible but go on in infidelity. They do not get the truth of the Bible because they do not want the truth. They are enemies of God, enemies of the Bible. They approach it with a bias that shuts up the truth from them. They read a parable of Jesus and do not see the truth. - John R. Rice

People choose not to trust in Christ because of the wickedness of heart which they love and to which they cling! I do not wonder that God is angry with the wicked every day. I do not wonder that one who persists in unbelief lands in Hell. It is a deliberate choice not to trust in Christ. He does not want to believe what He says. he does not want to know Him in forgiveness. He does not want his old heart changed and learn to love the things of God. So unbelief in the heart is wickedness. Oh, take care lest you have "an evil heart of unbelief." - John R. Rice

It is true that the little child has Adam's taint in his nature and so a tendency to sin when he becomes accountable, when he comes to know right from wrong. But no one goes to Hell for Adam's sin. Rather, whatever was lost in Adam is regained by the death of Christ, for I Corinthians 15:22 says, "For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive." And although the little child is bent by nature, yet there is a certain freshness, a plastic state of mind and heart that makes him not far away from God and it is not hard for him to learn about God and to turn to God if he be taught and won. - John R. Rice

When Judas Iscariot heard the call of Christ to follow Him and set out to be with the Saviour as a learner, a student, a prospective apostle, who would suppose that he first started with an awful hardened heart and inclining toward betraying the Lord Jesus for money! No, no! He saw the miracles, he heard the teaching, but always he delayed the question of conversion. He became more covetous, and as he carried the bag, he began to steal. Then money became such an obsession that at last he would sell the Son of God for thirty pieces of silver. I say, the unsaved always go father and farther away from the conviction and calling of the Spirit of God, as did Judas and as did the children of Israel. - John R. Rice

The anger of God is a part of His righteousness. Every positively good man has some holy indignation against wrong, injustice, and gratitude. We do not have the authority nor the wisdom to be entrusted to bring upon men the catastrophes and disease and other things that take us suddenly out of this world. But God, who has not only the righteousness but the mercy to temper it, has a holy indignation against sin, and at long last He unsheaths His glittering sword, at long last He makes bare His mighty arm and brings judgment and punishment. He did to Israel. - John R. Rice

All Satan's apples have worms; every promise of Satan is a lie; all Satan's good times end in heartbreak. - John R. Rice

Blast from the Past [April 2006]

THE BLOOD

Pastor Rick Jackson

With all the other things in the world to talk about why would anyone talk about The Blood? Couldn’t we avoid that subject for something less controversial, less grotesque, less politically incorrect? You know something more upbeat, something more appealing, something more in tune with our enlightened times? We could try, many do… but we won’t! It’s only controversial if you don’t believe the Bible, it’s only grotesque if you haven’t experienced it, and it’s only politically incorrect if you are theologically incorrect. What could be more upbeat than escaping the wages of sin? What could be more appealing than the abundant life coupled with eternal life?

And what could be more enlightening than the light shining through the darkness to show the way? Why preach the blood?



I. THE EXAMPLE OF THE APOSTLES!



1. Paul preached it! (Rm. 3:25, 5:9; Eph. 1:7, 2:13; Col. 1:20-22)



2. Peter proclaimed it! (Acts 5:19-20, 25-32; I Pet. 1:18-19)



3. John taught it! (I Jn. 1:7)



II. IT IS THE EXPRESS MESSAGE OF THE BIBLE



1. Before the law (Gn. 3:21, 4:4, 8:20, 22:1-14, esp. 13-14)



2. During the law (Lev. 17:11)


3. After the law (Acts 20:28)



III. IT IS THE EXTREME SOLUTION FOR AN EXTREME PROBLEM



1. Bloodless solutions merely multiply rebellion (Gn. 4:3-8, Heb. 11:4, Rm. 10:17)



2. Christ’s blood is the ONLY solution (Heb. 9:14, 22, 24-28, 10:19, 28-29)



3. His love & His blood give a song to the saved! (Rev. 1:5, 5:9-10)

THE RELEVANCE OF A 3000-YEAR-OLD SONG

PSALM 5

Pastor Rick Jackson

The saying, "A picture is worth a thousand words" explains the title of this message. David gives us considerably less than 3000 words in this Psalm but in it he paints three pictures that have stood the test of time. Here are three pictures that have spoken volumes to multitudes and should they fail to impress you the fault would be explained by the third picture. Before we get there let's look at the first two pictures presented to us in this Psalm.

I. THE MAJESTIC PICTURE OF GOD [v. 1-6]

A little boy was drawing a picture and his mom asked him what he was drawing and he replied, "God." She said, "Honey, nobody knows what God looks like." He said, "They will when I get done." The Psalmist David, under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit shows us a much more accurate picture than any camera could take or any artist conceive.

1. We see an Awe-inspiring God [v. 1-2]

In verse one He is called "LORD" in all caps. That means it is the name "Yahweh" or, as some pronounce it, "Jehovah". It is derived from the Hebrew word "havah" meaning "to be" or "being" speaking of existence or rather, self-existence. Thus, Yahweh is the eternal, self-existent One without beginning or end. (Heb. 13:8, Rev. 4:8) This is how He revealed Himself to Moses in Ex. 3:14 and how Jesus revealed Himself to the Jews in John 8:58.

In verse 2 David calls Him "My King" and "my God". Elohim is derived from two root words. "El" meaning unlimited energy, might, power, strength (Gn. 1:1) It celebrates the divine attribute known as Omnipotence. (Heb. 1:3, Ps. 19:1). "Alah" meaning "to swear". It celebrates the divine attribute of truth and activity of giving His Word. The covenant making and keeping God. (Num. 23:19, Heb. 6:17-18, Jn. 14:6, 17:17). "Elohim" is a plural noun. (Gn. 1:26, 3:22, 11:7) This fits in perfectly with the doctrine of the Trinity expounded in the O.T. and N.T. alike (Ps. 2, Mt. 28:19, II Cor. 13:14)

Here's a truth the Apostle Thomas grasped when he saw the resurrected Lord and exclaimed with the psalmist, "My Lord and my God!" (Jn. 20:28). Thomas condensed a thousand words into five English words but what a picture!

Not only an awe-inspiring God but...

2. We see a Prayer-hearing God [v. 1-3]

Oh, the compassion of God. Oh, the grace of God. oh, the goodness of God! No wonder the Bible says, [Romans 2:4] Or despisest thou the riches of his goodness and forbearance and longsuffering; not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance?

And then...

3. We see a Sin-hating God [v. 4-6]

Pr. 6:16-19 These six things doth the LORD hate: yea, seven are an abomination unto him: A proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood, An heart that deviseth wicked imaginations, feet that be swift in running to mischief, A false witness that speaketh lies, and he that soweth discord among brethren.

The next picture is...

II. THE MATURE PICTURE OF A WISE BELIEVER [v. 7-8]

1. We see a Person Unashamedly Embracing God's Mercy [v. 7a]

2. We see a Person Worshipping God Openly [v. 7b]

3. We see a Person Wisely Seeking God's Leading [v. 8]

III. THE MERCIFUL PICTURE OF THE UNBELIEVER [v. 9-12]

1. See the Inner Character of the Wicked [v.9]

2. See the Impending Consummation of the Wicked [v. 10]

3. See the Only Chance of the Wicked [v. 11-12]

Blast from the Past [Friday, April 28, 2006 to be exact]

BE SURE YOU'RE RIGHT, AND THEN GO AHEAD!

LUKE 2:52

Rick Jackson

In 1820 a new congressman stood before the House and said, "Mr. Speaker: The Gentleman from Massachusetts talks about summing up the merits of the
question, but I'll sum up my own."

"In one word, I'm a screamer. I've got the roughest racing horse, the
prettiest sister, the surest rifle and the ugliest dog in the District! My
father can whip any man in Tennessee, and I can whip my father. I can give
any man on this floor two hours start and outspeak him!

"I can run faster, dive deeper, stay under longer, and come up drier than
any man this side of the big swamp. I can outgrin a panther and outstare a
flash of lightning, tote a steamboat on my back and play at rough and tumble
with a lion, with a kick now and then from a zebra!"

Thus congress heard the first speech from the new representative from
Tennessee, David Crockett. As you study the life of Davy Crockett you learn
he had a life motto, BE SURE YOU'RE RIGHT, AND THEN GO AHEAD! He applied
this to all areas of his life. In shooting he said, "Be sure you're right
and then go ahead and pull the trigger!" In marriage, in fighting, and even
in politics:

"If I'm the only member of the house to vote against this bill--- yes, if
I'm the only man in the whole country against it, I'll still vote against
it! It'll be a matter of rejoicing to me till the day I die that I've voted
as I intend."

I don't know if Davy came up with his motto from the Scriptures but the
plain truth is, it is Scriptural! Eph. 5:10 says, "Proving what is
acceptable unto the Lord!" Now using the pattern of our Lord from Luke 2:52

let's see how it might work.

I. BE SURE YOU'RE RIGHT INTELLECTUALLY, AND THEN GO AHEAD!

1. God is the author of truth (Pr. 1:7, Jn. 14:6, 17:17, Rm. 1:18-25, 3:4)

2. Guard your mind with truth (Phil. 4:8, Col. 2:8)

3. Grasp the fullness of truth (I Tm. 6:12-21)

II. BE SURE YOU'RE RIGHT PHYSICALLY, AND THEN GO AHEAD!

1. God is more important than the physical (Mt. 6:25-33)

2. God has a place for the physical (I Tm. 4:8)

3. God has guidelines for the physical (I Cor. 6:18-20)

III. BE SURE YOU'RE RIGHT SPIRITUALLY, AND THEN GO AHEAD!

1. God has given His Word (Jo. 1:8, II Tm. 3:16-17)

2. God has revealed Himself in His Word (Is. 42:5-9)

3. God has revealed Himself as the Word (Is. 42:1-4, Jn. 1, Acts 10:43)

IV. BE SURE YOU'RE RIGHT SOCIALLY, AND THEN GO AHEAD!

1. Watch your crowd (Ps. 1:1-2, I Co. 5:9-11)

2. Watch your choice (I Co. 7:39b)

3. Watch your character (Gal. 5:16-26, 6:7-10)

THE PURPOSE OF THE WALL STILL STANDS [Part 2]

NEHEMIAH 11 

I. JERUSALEM’S POPULATION PROBLEM [v. 1-19]

1. The Lot [v. 1]

2. The Volunteers [v. 2, 7:1-4]

3. The List [v. 3-19]

II. ISRAEL’S POPULATION PATTERN [v. 20-36]

1. Levites and Nethinims [v. 20-22]

2. The King’s Provision [v. 23-24]

3. The Population at Large [v. 25-36]

III. CHRISTIANS’ POWERFUL EXAMPLE

1. Be Willing to Answer the Call [v. 1]

Matthew 4:19 And he saith unto them, Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.

Matthew 9:9 And as Jesus passed forth from thence, he saw a man, named Matthew, sitting at the receipt of custom: and he saith unto him, Follow me. And he arose, and followed him.

Luke 9:23 And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me.

John 1:43 The day following Jesus would go forth into Galilee, and findeth Philip, and saith unto him, Follow me.

John 10:27 My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me:

John 21:19 This spake he, signifying by what death he should glorify God. And when he had spoken this, he saith unto him, Follow me.

2. Be a Volunteer for Jesus [Isaiah 6:8]

Matthew 8:19-22 And a certain scribe came, and said unto him, Master, I will follow thee whithersoever thou goest. And Jesus saith unto him, The foxes have holes, and the birds of the air have nests; but the Son of man hath not where to lay his head. And another of his disciples said unto him, Lord, suffer me first to go and bury my father. But Jesus said unto him, Follow me; and let the dead bury their dead.

Luke 18:18-30

John 12:26 If any man serve me, let him follow me; and where I am, there shall also my servant be: if any man serve me, him will my Father honour.

3. Be Certain God Knows You and Your Labor [1 Corinthians 15:58]

Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.

1 Thessalonians 1:3 Remembering without ceasing your work of faith, and labour of love, and patience of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ, in the sight of God and our Father;

Hebrews 6:10 For God is not unrighteous to forget your work and labour of love, which ye have shewed toward his name, in that ye have ministered to the saints, and do minister.

HOW TO HAVE A GREAT FATHER’S DAY

Ephesians 1:1-14

Pastor Rick Jackson

I. HAVE A GREAT FATHER [Ephesians]

1. Great in His Grace [Eph. 1:2-3, 6-7; 2:5-9; 6:24]

2. Great in His Love [Eph. 1:4; 2:4; 3:19; 6:23]

3. Great in His Power [1:19, 6:10; John 10:29]

 My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father's hand.

4. Great in His Mercy [Eph. 2:4]

II. BE PART OF THE GREAT ESCAPE

1. All Saved Have Experienced a Great Salvation [Hebrews 2:3]

How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation; which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed unto us by them that heard him;

2. All Saved Before the Rapture Escape the Great Tribulation [Matthew 24:21, Revelation 6:17, 14:19]

For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be.

For the great day of his wrath is come; and who shall be able to stand?

And the angel thrust in his sickle into the earth, and gathered the vine of the earth, and cast it into the great winepress of the wrath of God.

3. All Saved Escape the Great White Throne Judgment [Revelation 20:5-6, 11-12]

But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection. Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years.

And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them. And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works.

III. HAVE A GREAT FUTURE

1. Some Saved Will Have Great Reward [Mt. 5:11-12]

2. All Saved Will Experience a Great Day [Acts 2:20] because we have been Delivered from a Great Death [2 Cor. 1:10]

The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before that great and notable day of the Lord come:

Who delivered us from so great a death, and doth deliver: in whom we trust that he will yet deliver us;

3. All Saved Should Look Forward to the Blessed Hope [Titus 2:13]

Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ;

1 John 2:28 And now, little children, abide in him; that, when he shall appear, we may have confidence, and not be ashamed before him at his coming.

John R. Rice Quotes of the Week

Jesus came to deliver the spiritually blind, too. This is a part of salvation. All healing of the body is temporary and somewhat incidental. Even if one were raised from the dead, he would eventually die again, unless the rapture came. And if one is sick and healed in answer to prayer, he will get sick again. Now all healing of the body is temporary. Oh, but the healing of the soul can be forever. - John R. Rice

One who rejects the Light may become spiritually blind. There were some in Christ's day to whom He talked in parables lest they should be convinced against their will of the truth while they still hated Him. And in John 9:39 we find, "And Jesus said, For judgment I am come into this world, that they which see not might see; and they which see might be made blind." - John R. Rice

Why don't lost men love righteousness instead of evil? They do not see it as righteousness. They do not see the beauty of Jesus. They do not understand because they are spiritually blind. Ephesians 4:17, 18 tells us about many heathen people who walk "in the vanity of their mind, Having the understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart." Blindness of heart! - John R. Rice

Whatever the trouble, the Lord Jesus can bring peace to the aching heart, can make the sun shine again and the flowers bloom again. He can make a garden of joy out of whatever desolate place we find ourselves in. One can suffer and be happy. One can be poor and find himself rich in spirit. One can be healed in heart from the ravages that accidents, circumstances and enemies or loved ones leave. Jesus Christ can bring peace to the troubled, peace that the world cannot give. He comes to give deliverance to those who are bruised or crushed. - John R. Rice

The Scripture says, "To day if ye will hear his voice, Harden not your hearts." Remember that "now is the day of salvation." One is foolish indeed if he has some pleasant thought that "some day" he will be saved. Some day never comes. "The road of By-and-By leads to the town of Never." And "procrastination is the thief of time." The only time to be saved is now. - John R. Rice

Let us not deceive ourselves. Sin is an all-pervasive fact in all mankind. Every man, every woman, every child, if we got our just deserts, would already be in Hell. The man who has blood on his hands and the man who has anger in his heart are alike. The street-walking prostitute and the woman who gladly shows her thighs and her breasts to entice the lustful looks of men are the same bedraggled, Hell-deserving sinners in God's sight. - John R. Rice

The other day on a plane a middle-aged, cultured woman, the mother of three grown sons, a church woman, protested to me, "Well, perhaps people don't know whether the Bible is really true or not," and, "How do we know what translation is correct? And people have different standards about sin." But I hushed all that with a simple word: "You have a conscience. You know you are a sinner. You do not have any assurance you are ready to meet God. You know you are not ready to die. Your body is getting old, your hair is turning grey, you have to die and meet God and you know you are a sinner." Her complaints and arguments were hushed and she bowed her head to ask the Lord Jesus into her heart. - John R. Rice

POEM OF THE WEEK

“Feelings come and feelings go,
And feelings are deceiving;
My warrant is the Word of God--
Naught else is worth believing.

Though all my heart should feel condemned
For want of some sweet token,
There is One greater than my heart
Whose Word cannot be broken.

I'll trust in God's unchanging Word
Till soul and body sever,
For, though all things shall pass away,
HIS WORD SHALL STAND FOREVER!”


― Martin Luther

PAUL’S PARTING WORDS

COLOSSIANS 4:2-18                                                        

Pastor Rick Jackson

I. SPECIFIC INSTRUCTIONS [v. 2-6]

1. Specific Instructions Concerning Prayer [v. 2-4]

-persevere in prayer (“continue” means to give constant attention to a thing) [v. 2, I Th. 5:17]

-watch in prayer (“watch” means to give strict attention to) [v. 2]

-add thanksgiving to prayer [v. 2]             

Paul, Oliver B. Greene, John Rice, and others point out that thanksgiving is not prayer but it should

often accompany prayer. Prayer is asking.

Phil. 4:6 Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.

-be specific in prayer [v. 3-4]

2. Specific Instructions Concerning your Christian life [v. 5]

-walk in wisdom (to order one's behavior) [Eph. 5:15 See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise]

-walk as a testimony [1 Th. 4:12 That ye may walk honestly toward them that are without...]

-walk as a redeemer of time (buy up the opportunity for oneself) [Eph. 5:16 Redeeming the time, because the days are evil.]

3. Specific Instructions Concerning your speech [v. 6]

"A judge says a few words, and a man's life is saved or condemned. A doctor speaks a few words, and a patient either rejoices ecstatically or gives up in despair. Whether the communication is oral or written, there is great power in words. I am told that for every word in Mein Kampf, 125 persons lost their lives in World War II." -Warren Wiersbe

-speak with grace (en chariti -gracious, pleasant)

-season it with salt (salt prevents corruption & flavors items) [Eph. 4:29 Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers.]

-use wisdom (Pr. 26:4-5)

II. SUPPORT PERSONNEL              No-one, not even Paul, could do it all alone!

1. Tychicus & Onesimus- communicators [v. 7-9]

2. Aristarchus, Marcus & Justus- Jewish coworkers [v. 10-11]

3. Epaphras- prayer warriors [v. 12-13, 1:7-8]

4. Luke & Demas- helpers [v. 14]

III. SINCERE SALUTATIONS

1. Greet the Brethren [v. 15]

2. Share the Word [v. 16]

3. Encourage the Servant [v. 17]

4. Remember the Bound [v. 18, Heb. 13:3]

Remember them that are in bonds, as bound with them; and them which suffer adversity, as being yourselves also in the body.

THE PURPOSE OF THE WALL STILL STANDS

NEHEMIAH 10

THE PURPOSE OF THE WALL STILL STANDS

Pastor Rick Jackson

I. THOSE THAT SEALED [9:38-10:28]

1. They “Signed” [9:38-10:27]

2. They Knew [v. 28]

3. They Understood [v. 28]

II. SEALED IN THEIR DISTINCTIVE HOMELIFE [v. 28-30]

1. A Separated Home Life [v. 28, 2 Corinthians 6:11-18]

2. A Scriptural Home Life [v. 29, Dt. 6:6ff]

3. A Serious Home Life [v. 30, Ephesians 6:4]

III. SEALED IN THEIR DISTINCTIVE BUSINESS PRACTICES [v. 31] obedience and faith “trust & obey”

IV. SEALED IN THEIR DISTINCTIVE WORSHIP [v. 32-39]

1. Support for the House of God [v. 32-33, 1 Cor. 3:16, Mk. 2:26, 1 Timothy 3:15, 1 Corinthians 9:14]

2. Decently and In Order [v. 34, 1 Cor. 14:40]

3. Putting First Things First [v. 35-36, Mt. 6:33]

4. Not Forsaking [v. 37-39, Heb. 10:25]

WITH CHRIST IN THE SCHOOL OF PRAYER

LUKE 11:1-13

Pastor Rick Jackson

I. GREAT PRAYING [v. 1]

1. The Lord’s Example [v. 1, Luke 3:21, 5:16, 6:12, 9:18, 9:28-29, 22:41, 22:44]

2. The Disciple’s Prayer [v. 1]

3. The Two-fold Purpose [v. 1]

II. GRADE SCHOOL PRAYING [v. 2-4]

1. Get Realigned [v. 2]

2. Get Real [v. 3]

3. Get Right [v. 4]

There is nothing wrong with what you learned in grade school. Much of what you know, do, believe, etc. is based on it.

III. GRAD SCHOOL PRAYING [v. 5-13]

1. The Power of Specific Importunity [v. 5-8]

2. The Power of Soulful Petition [v. 9-10]

3. The Power of the Spirit of God [v. 11-13]

Question of the Week: Are gospel traces hidden in ancient Egyptian religion?

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

Subject: Are gospel traces hidden in ancient Egyptian religion?

 

The ancient Egyptians were very religious. (View in Browser)

Ancient Egyptian Religion Egyptians were quite conscious of their sinful hearts and recognized the threat their guilty hearts posed to their chances for eternal bliss. There were elements in the Egyptian religion that predisposed Egyptians two millennia ago to understand both their need for Christ and God's plan of salvation. What made Egyptians some of the most receptive people to the gospel once it came to them?   Read Now →   Get Equipped World Religions Conference in Florence, Kentucky Learn More & Register 〉

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