Starke Reality: December 2018

Sunday, December 30, 2018

KNOW THE 3 R's FOR NOW & THE NEW YEAR

Philippians 3:13-15

Pastor Rick Jackson

As we stand on the threshold of a new year let us be mindful of the three Rs. No, I don't mean "readin', 'ritin', and 'rithmetic". I do mean "Resolutions, Revolutions, & Revelations"! Let's think first about:

I. RESOLUTIONS

The inspiration for this message was when someone told me they never made resolutions. Now, everybody should make resolutions and I think probably most of us do. We may not make "New Years" resolutions but anytime you resolve to quit doing something you shouldn't, or you resolve to do something you ought do... you are making resolutions! I have failed at many resolutions over the years but then again I have succeeded in enough that I will continue to strive to be better to the glory of God.

Is that not what the Holy Spirit meant for us when he spake through the old warrior Paul, "Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. Let us therefore, as many as be perfect, be thus minded: and if in any thing ye be otherwise minded, God shall reveal even this unto you."?

1. Let Us Then Resolve to Believe [Acts 27:25]

Wherefore, sirs, be of good cheer: for I believe God, that it shall be even as it was told me.

2. Let Us Then Resolve to Behave [Micah 6:8]

He hath shewed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the LORD require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God?

3. Let Us Then Resolve to Beseech [Psalm 116:4] Then called I upon the name of the LORD; O LORD, I beseech thee, deliver my soul.

-Beseech the Lord! [Psalm 118:25] Save now, I beseech thee, O LORD: O LORD, I beseech thee, send now prosperity.

-Beseech Christians! [Romans 12:1] I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.

-Beseech sinners! [2 Corinthians 5:20] Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ's stead, be ye reconciled to God.

Not only should we think of Resolutions we should consider the right kind of:

II. REVOLUTIONS

1. Revolt against the World system! [1 John 2:15] Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.

2. Revolt against the Devil! [James 4:7] Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.

3. Revolt against the Flesh, the old nature! [Gal. 5: 16] This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh.

That brings us to the third "R". Let us consider:

III. REVELATIONS

1. God has Revealed Himself in the Word Inscripturated [Rm. 16:25-27]

Now to him that is of power to stablish you according to my gospel, and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery, which was kept secret since the world began, But now is made manifest, and by the scriptures of the prophets, according to the commandment of the everlasting God, made known to all nations for the obedience of faith: To God only wise, be glory through Jesus Christ for ever. Amen .

2. God has Revealed Himself in the Word Incarnate! [1 Timothy 3:16]

And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory.]

3. Let God be Revealed by putting His Word In Action [2 Corinthians 4:11]

For we which live are alway delivered unto death for Jesus sake, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our mortal flesh.

Friday, December 28, 2018

JOHN R. RICE QUOTES OF THE WEEK

Jesus is Jehovah God come into this world to be our Saviour and to be a Substitute for wicked men and and to suffer for wicked sinners like us and pay the debt and save sinners.- John R. Rice

I always rejoice when Christmas time draws near. I am glad to preach about the coming of Christ. I want you to think about it with me. Don't be browbeaten by unscholarly infidels who would take away the deity of Jesus Christ. Don't be impressed by their ignorance and ranting. - John R. Rice

The main thing to remember is that Jesus Christ must be first with Christians. So I would much rather tell little children that Jesus was born; tell that wonderful story of the shepherds on the hillside and the angels coming to announce the birth; tell of Mary and how glad when the angel came and said, "Mary, you are going to have a Son. At long last God is sending the Saviour and you are to have a Son without a human father." That is a much more wonderful story than Santa. - John R. Rice

Lets put Christ at the head and top of Christmastime. Let us love Him. Let me suggest this. Be sure that in your private devotions in your time alone with the Bible, your heart is happy. Make sure you thank God for Jesus Christ, His coming as Saviour. Let your heart run over with joy. - John R. Rice

“But Brother Rice, if one doesn't get drunk, wouldn't it be all right to have a social glass? No. Anywhere liquor is served, somebody does get drunk. One who doesn't get drunk now will get drunk tomorrow. Do you know what they make alcoholics and drunkards out of? Those 'occasional drinkers,' those moderate drinkers.” A Christian out to be against the dirty liquor business. It is the Biblical position. -John R. Rice

Catholics says that when Jesus said, "Thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church" (Matt. 16:18), He meant that the church would be built on Peter. That is not true. That is not what the Scripture says nor means. Peter had just said, "Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God." And Jesus said, "Thou are Peter," a small loose stone. But on "this rock," Christ, the great bedrock, the "Son of the living God. . .I will build my church." The church is built on Christ, not on Peter. The Scripture expressly says in 1 Corinthians 3:11, "For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ." Christ is the Rock on which the salvation of everybody in the world who gets saved must depend. - John R. Rice

The word "church" in the Bible, ecclesia, never means a denomination; it means a called out assembly. ...
It is used about ninety times about a local congregation of Christians, like "the church of God at Corinth," "the churches of Galatia," "the seven churches of Asia." Remember that more than one congregation is always spoken of as plural "churches," not a church. The term "church" is never used in the Bible about a denomination. That is a false, man-made use based on a false doctrine and tradition. - John R. Rice

Wednesday, December 26, 2018

BE OF GOOD FEAR!

[Heb. 11:7] By faith Noah, being warned of God of things not seen as yet, moved with fear, prepared an ark to the saving of his house; by the which he condemned the world, and became heir of the righteousness which is by faith.

Pastor Rick Jackson

I. SENSE OF FEAR

1. Salvation [Isaiah 12:2]

Behold, God is my salvation; I will trust, and not be afraid: for the LORD JEHOVAH is my strength and my song; he also is become my salvation.

2. Sovereignty [Psalm 111:10]

The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: a good understanding have all they that do his commandments: his praise endureth for ever.

Proverbs 1:7 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction.

Proverbs 9:10 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the holy is understanding.

3. Situations [Psalm 56:3] What time I am afraid, I will trust in thee

II. CHRISTMAS FEAR [Luke 1:50]

1. Fear God, Accept Grace [Luke 1:30] “His mercy is on them that fear him from generation to generation.” - Mary

2. Don't Fear the Gospel Message Is Not For You [Luke 2:10] And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.

3. Let the Word of God Override Your Fear [Matthew 1:20] But while he thought on these things, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a dream, saying, Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife: for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost.

III. FEARFUL THINGS

1. Fear the Shelf [Rm. 11:19-22, 1 Corinthians 9:27]

Thou wilt say then, The branches were broken off, that I might be grafted in. Well; because of unbelief they were broken off, and thou standest by faith. Be not highminded, but fear: For if God spared not the natural branches, take heed lest he also spare not thee. Behold therefore the goodness and severity of God: on them which fell �, severity; but toward thee, goodness, if thou continue in his goodness: otherwise thou also shalt be cut off.

But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway.

2. Fear the Staff [2 Corinthians 5:11, 1 Timothy 5:20]

Knowing therefore the terror of the Lord, we persuade men; but we are made manifest unto God; and I trust also are made manifest in your consciences.

Them that sin rebuke before all, that others also may fear.

3. Fear Self (the flesh)

1 Corinthians 2:3 And I was with you in weakness, and in fear, and in much trembling.

2 Corinthians 7:1 Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.

2 Corinthians 7:11 For behold this selfsame thing, that ye sorrowed after a godly sort, what carefulness it wrought in you, yea, what clearing of yourselves, yea, what indignation, yea, what fear, yea, what vehement desire, yea, what zeal, yea, what revenge! In all things ye have approved yourselves to be clear in this matter.

Philippians 2:12 Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.

Hebrews 12:21 And so terrible was the sight, that Moses said, I exceedingly fear and quake:)Hebrews 12:28 Wherefore we receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved, let us have grace, whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear:

Hebrews 13:6 So that we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me.

Saturday, December 22, 2018

Question of the Week: Did Mary know what was to come?

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


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Call Him "Jesus"

The angel told Joseph to name Mary's son Jesus, and the Bible often discusses the significance of this name. So is there some holy significance to this sequence of letters or sounds?

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Mary, Did You Know?

Mary was given certain information about the birth of the Savior, but how much did she really know about her son, Jesus?

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All Gifts Doubled Until December 31

What a fantastic year of impact we've been blessed with at Answers in Genesis! And as we approach the end of the year, we've been additionally blessed with another great opportunity to impact millions of souls through God's provision of a generous end-of-year matching gift.

Once again, several supporters have committed to a $1.25 million year-end matching gift to fund new Children's Adventure Areas at the Ark Encounter and Creation Museum, and the exciting new exhibits in the next phase of the museum upgrade. This means that any gift received by December 31 will be matched dollar-for-dollar up to $1.25 million.

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