THIS FINAL HOUR

1 Corinthians 11:17-34

 

Pastor Rick Jackson

 

I realize this is not the final hour of 2020 though it is not far off. But this is, unless something extraordinary happens, the final hour of a Bradford Baptist Church service in 2020. It could be the final hour of my life. It could be the final hour of your life. So many have died in recent days. Local people. Famous people. Strangers. Every hour is someone’s final hour. I praise God you have chosen to spend this final hour here. Whatever hour this may be. In a few moments time we will have the Lord’s Supper for the first and last time of this year. That is unusual, but this has been an unusual year. Now we come to this hour. What kind of hour will it be? Let this Hour be:

 

I. THE HOUR OF REFLECTION

 

1. A Reflection of God’s Faithfulness [v. 23-26]

 

2. A. Reflection of Our Failures [v. 27-29]

 

3. A Reflection of the World’s Fears [v. 30-32]

 

II. THE HOUR OF DEDICATION

 

1. Christ’s Willingness as Our Example [v. 23-25]

 

2. Our Willingness as Our Expression [v. 28]

 

Isiah said, “Here am I, send me”, Paul said, “Lord, what will Thou have me to do?” John the Baptist said, “He must increase, I must decrease”, Billy Sunday said, “I want to be a giant for God”, William Carey said, “The future is as bright as the promises of God.”

What are you saying?

What am I saying?

 

3. God’s Willingness to use Us as Our Expectation [v. 28-31]

 

III. THE HOUR OF DECISION

 

1. Let God Be Glorified by Your Living For Him [Phil. 1: 20-21]

 

According to my earnest expectation and my hope, that in nothing I shall be ashamed, but that with all boldness, as always, so now also Christ shall be magnified in my body, whether it be by life, or by death. For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.

 

2. Let God Be Glorified by Your Dying to Self [John 12:24]

 

Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abideth alone: but if it die, it bringeth forth much fruit.

1 Corinthians 15:31-32 I protest by your rejoicing which I have in Christ Jesus our Lord, I die daily . If after the manner of men I have fought with beasts at Ephesus, what advantageth it me, if the dead rise not? let us eat and drink; for to morrow we die.

 

3. Let God Be Glorified by Your Pointing Others to Him [John 15:8]

 

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

WHY CAN’T EVERY DAY BE LIKE CHRISTMAS?

Psalm 118:24 This is the day which the LORD hath made; we will rejoice and be glad in it.

 

Pastor Rick Jackson

 

If you try to boil Christmas down to 3 basic ingredients in a general sense, I think you would find those ingredients to be The Gifts of Christmas, the Spirit of Christmas, and the Celebration of Christmas though not necessarily in that order. Even the world acknowledges these 3 aspects but we Christians hopefully lean toward a more spiritual version. In answer to the question, Every day can be like Christmas. The Gifts, the Spirit and the Celebration of Christmas can continue.

 

I. THE GIFTS OF CHRISTMAS [2 Corinthians 9:15]                 Thanks be unto God for his unspeakable gift.

 

1. God Daily Offers Salvation

 

Isaiah 49:8 Thus saith the LORD, In an acceptable time have I heard thee, and in a day of salvation have I helped thee: and I will preserve thee, and give thee for a covenant of the people, to establish the earth, to cause to inherit the desolate heritages;

2 Corinthians 6:2 (For he saith, I have heard thee in a time accepted, and in the day of salvation have I succoured thee: behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.)

 

2. God Daily Gives [Psalm 68:19]

 

Blessed be the Lord, who daily loadeth us with benefits, even the God of our salvation. Selah.

 

3. God Daily Hears our Prayers [Psalm 86:3]

 

Be merciful unto me, O Lord: for I cry unto thee daily.

Psalm 88:9 Mine eye mourneth by reason of affliction: LORD, I have called daily upon thee, I have stretched out my hands unto thee.

 

4. God Daily Gives Us Bread [Matthew 6:11, 25-34] Give us this day our daily bread.

 

 

5. God Daily Speaks Through the Gift of His Word [Pr. 8:33-34]

 

Hear instruction, and be wise, and refuse it not. Blessed is the man that heareth me, watching daily at my gates, waiting at the posts of my doors.

 

II. THE SPIRIT OF CHRISTMAS [Gal. 5:13-26]

 

The cheerfulness, the joy, the love, the peace on earth… Not only can we have it- we are commanded to have it!

 

III. THE CELEBRATION OF CHRISTMAS [Col. 3:12-13]

 

1. Giving & Receiving [v. 14-15]

 

2. Singing [v. 16]

 

3. Decorations [v. 17]             

 

What better decorations than letting our light shine [Mt. 5:14-15]

 

Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid. Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house.

And to let our life be decorated with good works [v. 16] Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.

 

So, Christmas can be celebrated on a daily basis. As Ebenezer Scrooge said in Dickens’ A Christmas Carol in repentance, “I will honor Christmas in my heart and try to keep it all the year.”

And Dickens closes by saying, Scrooge was better than his word. He did it all and infinitely more… and it was always said of him that he knew how to keep Christmas well if any man alive possessed the knowledge. May that be truly said of us, and all of us!”

WHY GOOD THINGS HAPPEN TO BAD PEOPLE - THREE FACTS:

Pastor Rick Jackson

 

Psalm 53:1 Corrupt are they, and have done abominable iniquity: there is none that doeth good.

Psalm 53:3 Every one of them is gone back: they are altogether become filthy; there is none that doeth good, no, not one.

Micah 7:2 The good man is perished out of the earth: and there is none upright among men:

Romans 3:12 They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; there is none that doeth good, no, not one.

 

Some years ago, a Jewish Rabbi wrote a book entitled “Why Do Bad Things Happen to Good People?” after his 14-year-old son died. Of course, the theme is older than that by thousands of years but there are three facts that should cause us to realize the question ought be, “why do good things happen to bad people”?

 

I. FACT #1: THERE ARE NO GOOD PEOPLE

 

1. All of Us Are Sinners [Rm. 3:10, Ecclesiastes 7:20]                          As it is written , There is none righteous, no, not one:

For there is not a just man upon earth, that doeth good, and sinneth not.

 

2. All Sinners Owe a Sin Debt [Ezekiel 18:20, Rm. 6:23]                     The soul that sinneth, it shall die.

For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Revelation 20:14 And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death.

 

3. No Sinner Can Save Himself of Any Other [Rm. 5:6-8]

For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die. But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.

 

II. FACT #2: A LOVING GOD PROVIDES GOOD THINGS FOR BAD PEOPLE

 

1. The Ultimate Saviour- God Himself [Acts 20:28]

 

Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood.

Genesis 22:8 And Abraham said, My son, God will provide himself a lamb for a burnt offering: so they went both of them together.

2. The Ultimate Sacrifice- Christ Paid Our Hell [Is. 53, 2 Corinthians 5:21]

For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.

Hebrews 9:12 Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us.

Hebrews 13:12 Wherefore Jesus also, that he might sanctify the people with his own blood, suffered without the gate.

 

3. The Ultimate Salvation- Ours for the Asking [Jn. 1:12, Revelation 2:11]

But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:

He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; He that overcometh shall not be hurt of the second death.

1 John 5:5 Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God?

Revelation 20:6 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.

 

III. FACT #3: THERE IS AN OBLIGATION TO LIVE RIGHT

Since it has no bearing on us attaining Heaven why should we live right? To ask the question shows the old nature is still active within our bodies. But the answer is easily obtained.

 

1. The Creator Has Every Right to Expect His Creation to Obey Him [Mark 1:27]

And they were all amazed, insomuch that they questioned among themselves, saying, What thing is this? what new doctrine is this? for with authority commandeth he even the unclean spirits, and they do obey him.

Mark 4:41 And they feared exceedingly, and said one to another, What manner of man is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?

 

2. The Redeemer Has Every Right to Expect His People, Property and Purchased Possession Obey Him [1 Cor. 6:20]

For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's.

1 Corinthians 7:23 Ye are bought with a price; be not ye the servants of men.

 

3. The God of Heaven has Promised a Blessing though It May Not Be What We Expect [1 Samuel 12:14]

If ye will fear the LORD, and serve him, and obey his voice, and not rebel against the commandment of the LORD, then shall both ye and also the king that reigneth over you continue following the LORD your God:

Psalm 116:15 Precious in the sight of the LORD is the death of his saints.

Acts 5:41 And they departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for his name.

John R. Rice Quotes of the Week

 The miraculous prophecies of the Old Testament now wonderfully fulfilled in the New Testament prove that the Bible is what it claims to be - the very Word of God. They prove, also, that Jesus is what He claims to be, God in human form, the virgin-born, bodily-resurrected Saviour, the God-man. - John R. Rice [The Birth of the Saviour, pg. 117-118]

Jesus, the Son of God, through all eternity, has now become "the Son of man." And that is the title He used of Himself most often on earth. He became a man, was tempted in all points like as we are. Adam, the first head of the race, sinned and lost for all his descendants the inherent purity in which he was created. Now Jesus will buy the race back to God. "As in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive" (I Cor. 15:22). Since Jesus was born as a baby and later died for the sins of the world, every baby born is exonerated from the guilt of Adam, in the records of God, and every little child, though tainted by inherited sin, is thus kept safe until he becomes a deliberate sinner, a conscious sinner. No one ever goes to Hell for Adam's sin. Jesus paid for all that. Now if a conscious deliberate sinner will turn to Christ for mercy, his owns sins, too, are blotted out. Jesus became a model man, the Son of man, the God-man. - John R. Rice [The Birth of the Saviour, pg. 120]

Jesus was the Son of Mary. He was also the Son of the Jewish race. Revelation, chapter 12, pictures Israel as a woman, and Christ, the man-child, as Israel's Son. But He is also the Son of the whole human race. The Gospel of Matthew pictures Jesus as the Son of David and the Son of Abraham (Matt. 1:1). But the Gospel of Luke pictures Him as the Son of Adam (Luke 3:38).

So, at Christmastime, every person in the human race can say gladly, "Unto us a child is born." Jesus was born the Son of the human race, has entered into human sorrows, has met and defeated human weakness, and stands for us a new responsible Head of the human race. - John R. Rice [The Birth of the Saviour, pg. 120-121]

How sweet it is that this Son is given unto us. "UNTO US a child is born, UNTO US a son is given" [Is. 9:6]. Jesus is given to the Jewish nation. Jesus is given to the whole human race. Jesus is given to any poor sinner who will have Him. Better yet, Jesus is given to ME, and He is offered as MY SAVIOUR!

Oh, Christmas will have a sorry flavor for those who think of a Saviour but do not know Him as their own Saviour! Christmas will fall short of the proper joys and blessings intended if we do not make this blessed Son of man our own!

It is a wonderful Saviour who is given, and thank God, He is freely given to us. - John R. Rice [The Birth of the Saviour, pg. 124]

Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John wrote the Gospels, the brief biographical sketches of the life and death of Jesus in the New Testament. But Isaiah wrote a Gospel of the Old Testament. With the divine Spirit of God upon him in mighty power, Isaiah was led to break into holy exalted prophecy, "And his name shall be called Wonderful, Counselor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace." What wonderful names and what a wonderful character our Saviour has! - John R. Rice [The Birth of the Saviour, pg. 130-131]

One who would read the Gospels and try to explain away the miracles so plainly written therein is a fool. He is a wicked, calloused, perverse-hearted, unbelieving fool! And here I speak in the language which Jesus Himself used of such unbelief. He said to those who did not believe He had risen from the dead, "O fools, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken." Those who do not believe in His bodily resurrection are fools, because such such a Saviour must inevitably rise from the dead. Those who do not believe in His virgin birth are fools because such a Saviour had come into this world untainted by the carnal and accursed inheritance of normal men and women. Oh, the Scripture rightly says that "his name shall be called Wonderful"! - John R. Rice [The Birth of the Saviour, pg. 131]

May the joyful message of the angels given at the first Christmas ring in your heart, ". . . a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord"! Shepherds, wise men, the holy family - you may be as happy as any of them, and I pray that you may be, at this glad season. . . .

In His dear name, happy Christmas! - John R. Rice [The Birth of the Saviour, pg. 3]

CAROLS OF THE KING - WHAT CHILD IS THIS? [3]

MT. 1:1-2 The book of the generation of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham. Abraham begat Isaac; and Isaac begat Jacob; and Jacob begat Judas and his brethren;

 

Pastor Rick Jackson

 

I. The Everlasting Father from the Father of the Jews [Is. 9:6, Romans 4:1, Mt. 1:1]

 

For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.

What shall we say then that Abraham our father, as pertaining to the flesh, hath found?

The book of the generation of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham.

 

II. The Promised Son from the Promised Son to make us Sons of promise [v. 2]

 

Romans 9:7 Neither, because they are the seed of Abraham, are they all children: but, In Isaac shall thy seed be called.

Galatians 4:28 Now we, brethren, as Isaac was, are the children of promise.

Hebrews 11:17-18 By faith Abraham, when he was tried, offered up Isaac: and he that had received the promises offered up his only begotten son. Of whom it was said, That in Isaac shall thy seed be called:

 

III. The Supplier from the Supplanter [v. 2, Gn. 25:26, Phil 4:19]

 

And after that came his brother out, and his hand took hold on Esau's heel; and his name was called Jacob: and Isaac was threescore years old when she bare them.

But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.

 

IV. The One Who is Worthy of All Praise from the One Named praise [Genesis 29:35]

 

And she conceived again, and bare a son: and she said, Now will I praise the LORD: therefore she called his name Judah; and left bearing.

1 Peter 4:11 If any man speak, let him speak as the oracles of God; if any man minister, let him do it as of the ability which God giveth: that God in all things may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom be praise and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.

 

V. The Kinsman Redeemer from a Kinsman Redeemer [v. 5, Lev. 25, Dt. 25]

 

Mt. 1:5 And Salmon begat Booz of Rachab; and Booz begat Obed of Ruth; and Obed begat Jesse;

Ruth 2:20 And Naomi said unto her daughter in law, Blessed be he of the LORD, who hath not left off his kindness to the living and to the dead. And Naomi said unto her, The man is near of kin unto us, one of our next kinsmen.

 

A kinsman redeemer needed to be:

 

1. Kin- Lev. 25:48-49 After that he is sold he may be redeemed again; one of his brethren may redeem him: Either his uncle, or his uncle's son, may redeem him, or any that is nigh of kin unto him of his family may redeem him; or if he be able, he may redeem himself.

Hebrews 2:16-18 For verily he took not on him the nature of angels; but he took on him the seed of Abraham. Wherefore in all things it behoved him to be made like unto his brethren, that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make reconciliation for the sins of the people. For in that he himself hath suffered being tempted, he is able to succour them that are tempted.

 

2. Able- Hebrews 4:15 For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.

 

3. Willing- John 10:15-18 As the Father knoweth me, even so know I the Father: and I lay down my life for the sheep. And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold, and one shepherd. Therefore doth my Father love me, because I lay down my life, that I might take it again. No man taketh it from me, but I lay it down of myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This commandment have I received of my Father.

 

4. Accepted- John 1:12 But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:

CAROLS OF THE KING - WHAT CHILD IS THIS? [2]

MATTHEW 1:18-25

 

Pastor Rick Jackson

 

I. THIS IS THE CHILD OF THE MIRACLE BIRTH [v. 18-20]

 

1. As revealed in Genesis 3:14-15

 

And the LORD God said unto the serpent, Because thou hast done this, thou art cursed above all cattle, and above every beast of the field; upon thy belly shalt thou go, and dust shalt thou eat all the days of thy life: And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel.

 

There are many miracle births in the Bible but only one like this.

 

2. As revealed in 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 .

 

3. As revealed in Jeremiah 31:22

 

the LORD hath created a new thing in the earth, A woman shall compass a man.

 

II. THIS IS THE CHILD OF THE MIRACLE WORK [v. 21]

 

1. The Defeat of Satan [Gn. 3:15, 1 John 3:8]

 

And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel.

…the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil.

2. The Salvation of Souls [v. 21, Luke 19:10]

 

For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost.

 

3. The Fulfiller of Prophecy [v.22, Acts 3:18]

 

But those things, which God before had shewed by the mouth of all his prophets, that Christ should suffer, he hath so fulfilled.

 

III. THIS IS THE CHILD OF THE DIVINE NATURE [v. 22]

 

1. God with Us [Is. 7:14, 9:6]

 

Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel .

For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.

 

2. The Word made Flesh [John 1:1-15]

 

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made. In him was life; and the life was the light of men. And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not. There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. The same came for a witness, to bear witness of the Light, that all men through him might believe. He was not that Light, but was sent to bear witness of that Light. That was the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world. He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not. He came unto his own, and his own received him not. But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God. And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth. John bare witness of him, and cried, saying, This was he of whom I spake, He that cometh after me is preferred before me: for he was before me.

 

3. The Fullness of God [Jn 1:16, Colossians 1:19, 2:9]

John R. Rice Quotes of the Week

 Oh, weak, stumbling Christians, how foolish for us not to see that Christ with us can solve every problem! He is the Creator of the worlds. We are plainly told, "All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made" (John 1:3). In Hebrews 1:2, we are plainly told that it was "by his Son," Jesus Christ, "by whom also he made the worlds." How can we fear hunger when the Creator of all the fields of the earth, the One from whose providential and loving hand every living creature in the universe is fed, is with us as our beloved, literally God with us and God within! How can we fear circumstances when the God of all circumstances is "the God of all grace," and He is with us! How can we fear sorrow and trouble when "the God of all comfort" is with us! Oh, the riches of love in Christ Jesus! Oh, the wealth of every Christian who has Christ! At Christmastime, every one of us might muse and meditate on the wonderful gift that God gave and say with the inspired apostle, "Thanks be unto God for his unspeakable gift" (II Cor. 9:15). We have Immanuel! We have God with us! - John R. Rice [The Birth of the Saviour, pg. 89-90]

All Christianity, I say, stands or falls with the Bible doctrine of the virgin birth of Christ. The doctrine of the virgin birth and the doctrine of the deity of Christ are one and the same. The doctrine of the virgin birth and the doctrine of the blood atonement are so interrelated that they cannot be separated. They are Siamese-twin doctrines and neither doctrine can stand without the other. The virgin birth of Christ and His Saviourhood are one and the same doctrine. - John R. Rice [The Birth of the Saviour, pg. 98-99]

Anybody who denies the virgin birth of Christ is an infidel. He has already rejected Christianity. He has already denied the inspiration of the Bible. He has already denied the blood atonement of Christ. The man who denies the virgin birth of Christ may be counted a minister of the Gospel, but actually he is a brother of Bob Ingersoll and Tom Paine, a brother of every infidel and Christ-denier and Bible-hater in the world. - John R. Rice [The Birth of the Saviour, pg. 99]

If anybody says the deity of Christ is not essential, then he does not even know what essential Christianity is. To deny the virgin birth is to deny Christ Himself! - John R. Rice [The Birth of the Saviour, pg. 99]

Jesus is wonderful, but most wonderful as our Saviour. He made all life, and yet He chose to be born the Seed of the woman, chose to be carried in a woman's body, born in a woman's sorrow, nursed at a woman's breast! He Himself planted a mother's love instinctively in the heart of women, yet He had a human mother! He who is God of very God, one with the Father, became a man. He who made all the wealth in the world became poor, lived as a peasant, had not a home, was born in a borrowed stable and buried in a borrowed grave, and left no estate but a seamless robe. Yet this wonderful Saviour is on the right hand of the Father, assumes the management of the universe, hears every prayer, sees every need, loves every sinner, offers mercy to every heart! Wonderful Jesus! - John R. Rice [The Birth of the Saviour, pg. 116]

You can never truly enjoy Christmas until you can look up into the Father's face and tell him you have received his Christmas gift. -- John R. Rice [internet search]

The predictive prophecy in the Old Testament in hundreds of verses foretold the coming of the Saviour, foretold that He would be born in Bethlehem (Mic. 5:2), His cry on the cross (Ps. 22:1), and a multitude of details of His birth, life, death and resurrection. One who reads the Old Testament and does not see some of the many, many miraculous Scriptures that prophesy of Jesus to come must surely read with a calloused, unspiritual, and indifferent heart! It is not intelligent, it is not scholarly, it is not even ordinary honesty, for one to read the Old Testament and not find there prophecies which have been wonderfully fulfilled. It is only the bias of unconverted and perverted hearts that keep people from seeing that this wonderful Jesus was foretold in the Old Testament. - John R. Rice [The Birth of the Saviour, pg. 117]

O HOLY NIGHT

LUKE 1:35                                                                           

 

Pastor Rick Jackson

 

There is a marked lack of reverence concerning Christmas, but it is nothing new. Even an old film like “It’s a Wonderful Life” shows characters drinking to celebrate the birth of the Holy One of Israel. This is not the standard Heaven holds, nor is it the standard God expects citizens of Heaven, whilst they sojourn on Earth, to hold. So, what is so Holy about Christmas?

 

I. THE HOLY PLAN

 

1. Conceived by the Thrice Holy LORD [Is. 6:1-7, Revelation 4:8]

 

In the year that king Uzziah died I saw also the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up, and his train filled the temple. Above it stood the seraphims: each one had six wings; with twain he covered his face, and with twain he covered his feet, and with twain he did fly. And one cried unto another, and said, Holy, holy, holy, is the LORD of hosts: the whole earth is full of his glory. And the posts of the door moved at the voice of him that cried, and the house was filled with smoke. Then said I, Woe is me! for I am undone; because I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips: for mine eyes have seen the King, the LORD of hosts. Then flew one of the seraphims unto me, having a live coal in his hand, which he had taken with the tongs from off the altar: And he laid it upon my mouth, and said, Lo, this hath touched thy lips; and thine iniquity is taken away, and thy sin purged.

And the four beasts had each of them six wings about him; and they were full of eyes within: and they rest not day and night, saying, Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, which was, and is, and is to come.

 

2. Communicated by the Holy Scriptures [Rm. 1:1-4, 2 Timothy 3:15]

Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, separated unto the gospel of God, (Which he had promised afore by his prophets in the holy scriptures,) Concerning his Son Jesus Christ our Lord, which was made of the seed of David according to the flesh; And declared to be the Son of God with power, according to the spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead:

And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.

 

3. Carried Out by the Holy Jesus [Acts 4:24-31]

And when they heard that, they lifted up their voice to God with one accord, and said, Lord, thou art God, which hast made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and all that in them is: Who by the mouth of thy servant David hast said, Why did the heathen rage, and the people imagine vain things? The kings of the earth stood up, and the rulers were gathered together against the Lord, and against his Christ. For of a truth against thy holy child Jesus, whom thou hast anointed, both Herod, and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles, and the people of Israel, were gathered together, For to do whatsoever thy hand and thy counsel determined before to be done. And now, Lord, behold their threatenings: and grant unto thy servants, that with all boldness they may speak thy word, By stretching forth thine hand to heal; and that signs and wonders may be done by the name of thy holy child Jesus. And when they had prayed, the place was shaken where they were assembled together; and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and they spake the word of God with boldness.

 

II. THE HOLY PERSON

1. Conceived by the Holy Ghost [Luke 1:35]

And the angel answered and said unto her, The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God.

 

2. Corruption Could Not Touch Him [Acts 2:22-32]

 

3. Completion of His Mission Will Be Fulfilled [Is. 41:14, Titus 2:11-15]

Fear not, thou worm Jacob, and ye men of Israel; I will help thee, saith the LORD, and thy redeemer, the Holy One of Israel.

For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly , righteously, and godly, in this present world; Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ; Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works. These things speak, and exhort, and rebuke with all authority. Let no man despise thee.

 

III. THE HOLY PURPOSE

 

1. Fulfill Scripture [Lk. 1:67-79]

 

And his father Zacharias was filled with the Holy Ghost, and prophesied, saying, Blessed be the Lord God of Israel; for he hath visited and redeemed his people , And hath raised up an horn of salvation for us in the house of his servant David; As he spake by the mouth of his holy prophets, which have been since the world began: That we should be saved from our enemies, and from the hand of all that hate us; To perform the mercy promised to our fathers, and to remember his holy covenant; The oath which he sware to our father Abraham, That he would grant unto us, that we being delivered out of the hand of our enemies might serve him without fear, In holiness and righteousness before him, all the days of our life. And thou, child, shalt be called the prophet of the Highest: for thou shalt go before the face of the Lord to prepare his ways; To give knowledge of salvation unto his people by the remission of their sins, Through the tender mercy of our God; whereby the dayspring from on high hath visited us, To give light to them that sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace.

 

2. Procure Salvation For All [Is. 49:5-8, Lk. 2:32, 2 Cor. 6:2]

 

And now, saith the LORD that formed me from the womb to be his servant, to bring Jacob again to him, Though Israel be not gathered, yet shall I be glorious in the eyes of the LORD, and my God shall be my strength. And he said, It is a light thing that thou shouldest be my servant to raise up the tribes of Jacob, and to restore the preserved of Israel: I will also give thee for a light to the Gentiles, that thou mayest be my salvation unto the end of the earth. Thus saith the LORD, the Redeemer of Israel, and his Holy One, to him whom man despiseth, to him whom the nation abhorreth, to a servant of rulers, Kings shall see and arise, princes also shall worship, because of the LORD that is faithful, and the Holy One of Israel, and he shall choose thee. Thus saith the LORD, In an acceptable time have I heard thee, and in a day of salvation have I helped thee: and I will preserve thee, and give thee for a covenant of the people, to establish the earth, to cause to inherit the desolate heritages;

A light to lighten the Gentiles, and the glory of thy people Israel.

(For he saith, I have heard thee in a time accepted, and in the day of salvation have I succoured thee: behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.)

 

3. To Make a Holy People [1 Peter 2:5, 9; Rev. 20:6]

 

Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ.

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.

WHAT DO YOU WANT TO BE FOR CHRISTMAS?

JOHN 1:1-9

 

Pastor Rick Jackson

 

I realize that this question might make you think I have confused Christmas with Halloween but let me explain. When I was a kid, I liked toys that allowed me to be someone different than who I was. One Christmas I got a cowboy hat, holster & guns, western shirt & gloves, etc. It was a cowboy Christmas. One Christmas I got a plastic army helmet and a mounted machine gun … another Christmas I got a 007 attaché case. But what about now, what should we want to be for Christmas?

 

I. WE SHOULD WANT TO BE A “GOOD” SON

 

1. A “Good” Son Has Received the Incarnated Christ [John 1:10-18]

 

2. A “Good” Son Has Redemption in the Incarnated Christ [Luke 2:38, Romans 3:24]

 

And she coming in that instant gave thanks likewise unto the Lord, and spake of him to all them that looked for redemption in Jerusalem.

Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus:

 

3. A “Good” Son Has Reconciliation through the Incarnated Christ [2 Corinthians 5:18-19, Hebrews 2:17]

 

And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation; To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation.

Wherefore in all things it behoved him to be made like unto his brethren, that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make reconciliation for the sins of the people.

 

II. WE SHOULD WANT TO BE A GOOD SERVANT [Romans]

 

1. The Servant of Christ Should Please Christ [Romans 1:1, Galatians 1:10]

 

 Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, separated unto the gospel of God,

For do I now persuade men, or God? or do I seek to please men? for if I yet pleased men, I should not be the servant of Christ.

 

2. The Servant of Christ Should Obey the Word of God [Romans 6:16-17]

 

Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness? But God be thanked, that ye were the servants of sin, but ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you.

 

3. The Servant of Christ Should Yield to Righteousness [Romans 6:19-20]

 

I speak after the manner of men because of the infirmity of your flesh: for as ye have yielded your members servants to uncleanness and to iniquity unto iniquity; even so now yield your members servants to righteousness unto holiness. For when ye were the servants of sin, ye were free from righteousness.

 

III. WE SHOULD WANT TO BE A GOOD SOLDIER [2 Tm. 2:3-4]

 

1. Endure Hardness [v. 3] “If it was easy, everybody would be doing it!”

 

2 Timothy 2:9 Wherein I suffer trouble, as an evil doer, even unto bonds; but the word of God is not bound.

2 Timothy 4:5 But watch thou in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, make full proof of thy ministry.

James 5:13 Is any among you afflicted? let him pray. Is any merry? let him sing psalms.

 

2. Avoid Entanglements [v. 4, 1:18

 

3. Please Jesus [v. 4b, Romans 8:8] So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God.

 

1 Thessalonians 2:4 But as we were allowed of God to be put in trust with the gospel, even so we speak; not as pleasing men, but God, which trieth our hearts.

1 Thessalonians 4:1 Furthermore then we beseech you, brethren, and exhort you by the Lord Jesus, that as ye have received of us how ye ought to walk and to please God, so ye would abound more and more.

 

Really now, what do you want to be for Christmas?

JESUS, THE JOY OF CHRISTMAS

HEB. 1:9               gladness=agalliasis,  ag-al-lee'-as-is;  exultation; specially, welcome:--gladness, (exceeding) joy.

 

Pastor Rick Jackson

 

I. THE GREAT WORKS OF JESUS [v. 1-3]

 

1. The Expression of God [v. 1-3a]

 

2. The Creation of the Universe [v. 2-3, 10]

 

3. The Redemption of Sinners [v. 3]

 

II. THE GREAT WORSHIP OF JESUS [v. 3-6]

 

1. The Expression of Excellence [v. 3-4]

 

2. The Relationship and the Resurrection [v. 5, 5:5, Ps. 2:7, Acts 13:30-37]

 

I will declare the decree: the LORD hath said unto me, Thou art my Son; this day have I begotten thee.

[the great theologian Paul said] But God raised him from the dead: And he was seen many days of them which came up with him from Galilee to Jerusalem, who are his witnesses unto the people. And we declare unto you glad tidings, how that the promise which was made unto the fathers, God hath fulfilled the same unto us their children, in that he hath raised up Jesus again; as it is also written in the second psalm, Thou art my Son, this day have I begotten thee. And as concerning that he raised him up from the dead, now no more to return to corruption, he said on this wise , I will give you the sure mercies of David. Wherefore he saith also in another psalm, Thou shalt not suffer thine Holy One to see corruption. For David, after he had served his own generation by the will of God, fell on sleep, and was laid unto his fathers, and saw corruption: But he, whom God raised again, saw no corruption.

 

3. The Incarnation and the Divine Edict [v. 6, Luke 2: 13-14]

 

And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.

 

III. THE GREAT WORTHINESS OF JESUS [v. 6-

 

1. The Declaration of Deity by Deity [v. 6-8]

 

2. The Characterization of Character by God [v. 8-9]

 

3. The Anointing of Joy by a Father Well Pleased [v. 9]

 

The Bible declares that the Saviour, our Lord, is “a Man of War” [Ex. 15:3]. The Scriptures express that the Saviour is

“a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief” [Is. 53:3]. But my friends, the Scriptures also declare the Saviour has been anointed “with the oil of gladness” above all men [Heb. 1:9]! Think about it!

 

JOY AT HIS BIRTH - Luke 1:14 And thou shalt have joy and gladness; and many shall rejoice at his birth.

JOY AT HIS INCEPTION/INCARNATION - Luke 1:44 For, lo, as soon as the voice of thy salutation sounded in mine ears, the babe leaped in my womb for joy.

JOY AT HIS RESURRECTION - Acts 2:46 And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart,

JOY AT HIS CHARACTER - Hebrews 1:9 Thou hast loved righteousness, and hated iniquity; therefore God, even thy God, hath anointed thee with the oil of gladness above thy fellows.

JOY AT HIS ABILITY TO SAVE TO THE UTTERMOST - Jude 1:24 Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy,

 

Yes, JESUS is THE JOY OF CREATION, JESUS is THE JOY OF CHRISTMAS, JESUS is THE JOY OF EASTER, JESUS is THE JOY OF the SECOND COMING, JESUS is THE JOY OF HEAVEN! Do you have Joy?

John R. Rice Quotes of the Week

 Dear reader, God is not concerned about your pious platitudes as you commend the teachings of Jesus in the sermon on the mount. He turns His face with disdain when you speak of the crucifixion as "the martyrdom" of "a good man" who "died for his ideals." There is no way under Heaven that any man can approach God in peace except he come with prayer and praise to Jesus Christ as one who is very God, Creator, Saviour, one to be loved and worshipped, one who answers prayer, one who is worthy of all praises that can fall from human lips! - John R. Rice [The Birth of the Saviour, pg. 54]

Now, if the baby born that day was to be King and worthy of the gifts of gold, and was to be Deity and worthy of the frankincense representing praise and prayer, but if He were not to be an atoning Saviour, then all of God's plan is gone awry, and mankind is left in darkness and shadow of death! Thank God, when the wise men had given their gold and given their frankincense, they could also bring myrrh, by faith in the suffering, atoning, dying Saviour who paid once for all for man's sins and tore away the veil in the temple so that man could approach God in peace.! - John R. Rice [The Birth of the Saviour, pg. 58]

And out of the deep treasures of your heart will you give the Lord Jesus His due as God? Will you offer Him all the praises of your heart? Will you name His blessings, will you acknowledge your indebtedness, will you thank Him as Creator and Upholder of all things, the One from whose bountiful hand every blessing flows? This is what the wise men meant when they offered Him the frankincense of praise and prayer. Why not make it the settled policy of your life that your heart will overflow with praise? Whether thanks at the table or a grateful prayer on rising, or public testimony when opportunity affords, or the simple, never-ceasing adoration of a grateful heart - oh, I beg you, give Jesus Christ, our Lord, His due as deity, as God, a good God, a bountiful God, a loving God. - John R. Rice [The Birth of the Saviour, pg. 59-60]

All who understand the simplest, plainest doctrines in the Bible will understand why the Saviour must be born of a virgin. Men are tainted with sin. The whole race is fallen since Adam and Eve sinned in the Garden of Eden. Every child ever born comes into this world with the curse of sin upon him. Every child is born but to die. And if Jesus were to be without the taint of sin, He needed to be conceived and born in a way different from the usual course of mankind. He was conceived and born of a virgin. Jesus had no human father! - John R. Rice [The Birth of the Saviour, pg. 78]

Christmastime is a time to honor Christ, God's unspeakable Gift to men. Christmastime is a time to praise His name, to glorify Him, to give the dear Lord Jesus the honor which is His due. And no one can give Christ any proper honor who does not admit His virgin birth and, therefore, His deity. - John R. Rice [The Birth of the Saviour, pg. 81-82]

One who does not believe in the virgin birth of Christ should simply say, "I am not a Christian. I do not believe the Bible. I do not believe in the deity of Christ. I do not trust in His atoning blood. I am an infidel, a pagan." One who denies the virgin birth and pretends to be a Christian is a deliberate deceiver, using feigned words to accept a salary or to maintain a position of honor or to get other gain by this false and wicked pretension of Christianity without a supernatural Christ. At Christmas time, it is well for us to remember that we wish all men well but accept no one as a Christian who does not take Jesus Christ for all He claims to be, the virgin-born Son of God. - John R. Rice [The Birth of the Saviour, pg. 82]

Immanuel is "God with us." God with the whole human race. In II Corinthians 5:19, the Scripture says, "To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto Himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation." There is a sense in which Christ is not only God with Christians, but He is God with mankind. There is a sense in which the whole world is reconciled unto God. Let us say, rather, that a bridge has been made between God and men, a bridge for the whole race to cross upon, if they will. Let us say that all the sinners who reject Christ and go to Hell were loved of God and sought of God and bought by the sacrifice of Calvary the same as the rest of us who have trusted and received the Saviour. - John R. Rice [The Birth of the Saviour, pg. 86-87]

Christmas Critics Answered from the Word of God

 

ANSWERING THE CHRISTMAS CRITICS (1)

I love the Christmas season. Each one is precious to me. Already the politically correct (but theologically incorrect) people are out to ruin Christmas for everyone. Here's a blog I ran based on a sermon I preached (both a few years ago).

ROMANS 14:1-12

Rick Jackson

There was an interesting letter on the editorial page of the Bradford County Telegraph last year (12-1-05). A lady, whom to my knowledge I do not know, wrote,

The following is "Just My Opinion" but I would like to know - "What do you think, are you willing to change?"

My answer is “no”. I am not willing to change because of someone’s opinion. I am willing to conform to the Word of God. Romans 3:4

What is wrong with Christians celebrating the birth of Jesus on his "real" birthday? Why don't Christians just let the world have their "Happy Holidays" their "Santa Clauses," their lighted trees and all the other traditions" that go with Dec. 25? Guys, believe it or not, this is not the day Jesus was born and I can tell you exactly when it was.

It will take a major portion of this sermon to discount this statement But let’s see how her opinion continued.

It was Tishri 15 (that is a Jewish feast day, their New Year or Rosh Hashanah). Jesus fulfilled every one of the Jewish Feast Days. On the exact days those feast happened, in the time of Jesus, those feast were fulfilled. The only feast left to fulfill is the Feast of Trumpets, and that is the Rapture.

There is not one hint in the Scriptures that Jesus was born on Rosh Hashanah. There would have been a lot of Jewish rituals going on during that time and none is indicated by either Luke or Matthew. Matthew’s silence is deafening since his purpose was to present Christ as the King of the Jews and this would certainly have bolstered that claim.

Now, do you understand why the Shepherds were out watching their sheep by night? It was not cold weather in September.

Dr. Mark Cambron, respected Bible scholar had heard this unsubstantiated claim that it is too cold for the sheep in December. We must remember Israel is not North Dakota or even Ohio. Dr. Cambron was at the shepherds’ field in Bethlehem one Christmas eve and noticed there were shepherds present. He asked them, “Why are sheep here and not in folds. Isn’t it too cold?” They replied, “This is when the grass grows best, so we graze here!” Then he noticed the grass was indeed thick and over knee high. Hearsay destroyed by eyewitnesses!

If Christians go to the "real" birth of Jesus and celebrate it, then all those people who are fighting over not having "their" symbols displayed, or the ACLU fighting to eliminate every thing religious, would perhaps stop. No other religion will be allowed to put up their symbol on our special day. It doesn't belong to them, it belongs to the Christians.

That’s a rather naïve view isn’t it? II Th. 1:4, II Tm. 3:11-12

See, right now, they are telling us that Dec. 25 does not belong to Christians, it belongs to those who worship Santa Clause. And you know what? They are right. Separating the two times of the year, would also help teach your child the truth about Jesus, especially if you are a Christian.

I never had a problem teaching my kids the truth about Jesus or Santa. Dt. 6:4-7, Eph. 6:4

See, here is the Christians problem (as I see it). We have put our Lord and Saviors birth right up there with "pagan" beliefs.

Actually Satan constantly tries to get people to believe his lie rather than God’s truth. Jn. 8:44

Does God approve of this? Does God back us in our efforts to keep Jesus as our symbol for this paganism day of worship?

Does she really believe we shouldn’t worship Jesus on any day someone else has set aside for paganism? I worship Jesus on Dec. 25th, July 4th, October 31st and every other day of the year! Jn. 4:24, Rm. 14:5

Now, if you want to support Santa Clause and all that goes with it, I see no problem with that, but just remember - this is not the birth of Jesus. Don't let the attributes of Santa Clause become the same as Jesus' attributes.

Which is it? Does she have a problem with it or does she not? I personally have a problem with it. Is. 42:8, I Cor. 2:8, Ps. 24

Separating of the two times, will put a stop to this.

No. It won’t. Why would it?

The Jewish celebration on or near Dec. 25, called Hanukkah (celebration of lights) has nothing to do with the birth of Jesus. Now, I know this is not pagan; this is a true event for them, the Jews. But it is still not Christmas.

Celebrating God’s light is closer to Christmas than Rosh Hashanah. Jn. 1:1-5, 9-12, 8:12, 9:5

Here is my second problem I see with the Christian community. They are not willing to make any changes, even if it is making a change for the "truth."

Her truth or God’s truth? She hasn’t proved anything. “My problem” “Christian community” Who’s that?

They would rather sit right where they are and let the ACLU and all the other religions of the world dictate to us, about the birth of our Savior; and send money to organizations to fight to keep Dec. 25 for Jesus.

I haven’t sent anyone any money. But if I did it would be to preserve our right to celebrate Christmas in a Christ honoring fashion.

If this world's system eventually gets to the point where there is no "Merry Christmas" and it all becomes "Happy Holidays," guys, don't panic, just remember: It isn't the birth of Jesus any way. Just my opinion.

The last three words are the truest thing she has said in her whole letter. The rest reminds me of the Texas longhorn… a point here and a point there and a lot of bull in-between So can we pinpoint Christmas to December at least. Let’s see.

Bible fact # 1 In I Chr. 24:1-19 David organized the priests for the Temple. There were 24 orders for the 12 months, two orders per month (v. 18-19). Note in the fourth month, the latter part of the month is the order of Abijah (v. 10).

Bible fact # 2 In Ex. 12:2, 13:4 God says the month Nisan is the first month of the Jewish calendar. Nisan falls in our Mar. /Apr. which puts the order of Abijah in our July.

Bible Fact # 3 Zechariah was serving in July. (Lk. 1:5-7) Not yet 50 but advanced in years (people age differently, in US pioneer days the average lifespan was 35). Luke 1:8-23. He went home in August and John the Baptist was conceived in August or September (1:24). Her first month would be Sept. or Oct. Her 6th month would be Feb.-March. (1:26-36 Mary conceived in Elisabeth’s 6th month so her first month would be March-April. Count it out. April, May, June, July, Aug., Sept., Oct., Nov., December.

Late December is when the shepherds are out in their fields to watch their sheep by night. The night the angels came. Luke 2:8-15. The night, Christ was born. I for one am not going to let the Devil steal my Christmas.

1. Worship in Spirit and truth Jn. 4:24

2. Be fully persuaded in your own mind. Rm. 14:5-6

3. Whatever ye do, do it unto the Lord Col. 3:17-25

CAROLS OF THE KING - WHAT CHILD IS THIS?

MT. 1:1-2

 

Pastor Rick Jackson

 

I. JESUS CHRIST [Mt. 1:1]

 

1. Jesus - Jehovah Saves- Immanuel [v. 1, 21, Is. 7:14]

 

2. Jesus- the Lord of Battle named "after" Joshua the great General [Psalm 24:8]

 

Who is this King of glory? The LORD strong and mighty, the LORD mighty in battle.

 

3. Jesus- High Priest and King named after Joshua the Crowned Priest [Zech. 3:1, 8-10; 6:11-13]

-And he shewed me Joshua the high priest standing before the angel of the LORD, and Satan standing at his right hand to resist him.

-Hear now, O Joshua the high priest, thou, and thy fellows that sit before thee: for they are men wondered at: for, behold, I will bring forth my servant the BRANCH. For behold the stone that I have laid before Joshua; upon one stone shall be seven eyes: behold, I will engrave the graving thereof, saith the LORD of hosts, and I will remove the iniquity of that land in one day. In that day, saith the LORD of hosts, shall ye call every man his neighbour under the vine and under the fig tree.

-Then take silver and gold, and make crowns, and set them upon the head of Joshua the son of Josedech, the high priest; And speak unto him, saying, Thus speaketh the LORD of hosts, saying, Behold the man whose name is The BRANCH; and he shall grow up out of his place, and he shall build the temple of the LORD: Even he shall build the temple of the LORD; and he shall bear the glory, and shall sit and rule upon his throne; and he shall be a priest upon his throne: and the counsel of peace shall be between them both.

 

4. Christ, Messiah, Anointed [Ps. 2, Luke 4:14-21, Isaiah 61:1]

 

The spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me; because the LORD hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek; he hath sent me to bind up the brokenhearted , to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound;

 

II. THE SON OF DAVID

 

1. The King of Kings from Israel’s Great King [1 Timothy 6:14-16; Revelation 17:14, 19:16]

 

That thou keep this commandment without spot, unrebukeable, until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ: Which in his times he shall shew, who is the blessed and only Potentate, the King of kings, and Lord of lords; Who only hath immortality, dwelling in the light which no man can approach unto; whom no man hath seen, nor can see: to whom be honour and power everlasting. Amen.

These shall make war with the Lamb, and the Lamb shall overcome them: for he is Lord of lords, and King of kings: and they that are with him are called, and chosen, and faithful.

And he hath on his vesture and on his thigh a name written, KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS.

 

2. The Good, Great, Chief Shepherd from the Famous Shepherd

 

John 10:11 I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep.

John 10:14 I am the good shepherd, and know my sheep, and am known of mine.

Hebrews 13:20 Now the God of peace, that brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant,

1 Peter 2:25 For ye were as sheep going astray; but are now returned unto the Shepherd and Bishop of your souls.

1 Peter 5:4 And when the chief Shepherd shall appear, ye shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away.

 

3. The Subject of Songs from the Sweet Psalmist of Israel [2 Sam. 23:1, Ps. 22]

 

Now these be the last words of David. David the son of Jesse said, and the man who was raised up on high, the anointed of the God of Jacob, and the sweet psalmist of Israel, said,

 

III. THE SON OF ABRAHAM

 

1. Abraham’s Scriptural Saviour [Gal. 3:1-13]

 

Jn. 8:56 Your father Abraham rejoiced to see my day: and he saw it, and was glad.

 

2. Abraham’s Physical Seed [Gal. 3:14-19]

 

3. Abraham’s Spiritual Seed [Gal. 3:20-29]

WHEN “CHRISTMAS” COMES EARLY

JOB 38:1-38                                                         

Pastor Rick Jackson

 

Job finds getting the answer to your prayers may not be like you anticipated as the questioner becomes the questioned.

 

I. THE WORLD BEFORE THE END OF THE FLOOD [v. 1-12]

 

1. “Who Speaks Out of Ignorance?” [v. 1-3]

 

2. “Were you There at Creation? [v. 4-7]

 

3. “Were you There at the Flood? [v. 8-11]

 

II. THE WORLD OF BIG QUESTIONS [v. 12-17]

 

1. The Work of the Sun [v. 12-15]

 

2. The Vastness of the Sea [v. 16]

 

3. The Mystery of Death [v. 17]

 

III. THE WORLD OF MANY QUESTIONS [v. 18-38]

 

1. Land [v. 18]

 

2. Light [v. 19-21]

 

3. Weather [v. 22-30]

 

4. Stars [v. 31-33]

 

5. Control [v. 34-38]

A MERRY LITTLE CHRISTMAS‏

Zechariah 4:10 For who hath despised the day of small things? for they shall rejoice, and shall see the plummet in the hand of Zerubbabel with those seven; they are the eyes of the LORD, which run to and fro through the whole earth.

Matthew 18:10 Take heed that ye despise not one of these little ones; for I say unto you, That in heaven their angels do always behold the face of my Father which is in heaven.

Acts 26:22 Having therefore obtained help of God, I continue unto this day, witnessing both to small and great, saying none other things than those which the prophets and Moses did say should come:

Revelation 20:12 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.

 Pastor Rick Jackson

Have you ever considered how the Lord uses little things to bring big blessings? Like the little fish and the little bit of bread the Lord used to feed the multitudes. Then again, the Lord warns us how the wrong little things can cause big problems- the tongue is a small member but can cause great strife. Consider to today how to have a merry little Christmas.

 

I. LITTLE PLACES

 

1. The Little Country of Israel [Amos 2:2,5]

 

I said, O Lord GOD, forgive, I beseech thee: by whom shall Jacob arise? for he is small.

Then said I, O Lord GOD, cease, I beseech thee: by whom shall Jacob arise? for he is small.

 

2. The Little Town of Bethlehem [Micah 5:2]

 

But thou, Bethlehem Ephratah, though thou be little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of thee shall he come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting .

 

3. The Little Manger [Luke 2:7]

 

And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn.

 

II. LITTLE PEOPLE [Dt. 7:7-9]

 

1. The Shepherds- men of little reputation [Lk. 2:8-20]

 

2. Simeon- a man with little time [Lk. 2:25-35]

 

3. Anna- a woman with little of this world's goods [Luke 2:36-38]

 

III. LITTLE THINGS

 

1. Have a Little Faith [Mt. 17:20, Rm. 10:17]

 

And Jesus said unto them, Because of your unbelief: for verily I say unto you, If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you.

So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.

 

2. Avoid Even Little Deviations [Gal. 5:7-9]

 

Ye did run well; who did hinder you that ye should not obey the truth? This persuasion cometh not of him that calleth you. A little leaven leaveneth the whole lump.

 

3. Realize Little Time is Available [Heb. 10:37, James 4:14]

 

For yet a little while , and he that shall come will come, and will not tarry.

Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away.

 

Have yourself a merry little Christmas     Let your heart be light    Next year all our troubles will be out of sight

Have yourself a merry little Christmas     Make the yuletide gain  Next year all our troubles will be miles away

Songwriters: Blane Ralph, Martin Hugh

Who Started CHRISTmas?

From the writings of the late Sumner Wemp

Who started Christmas?

 

A woman who was out Christmas shopping with her two children. After hours of hearing both her children asking for everything they saw on those many shelves, she finally made it to the elevator with her two kids.
 
Finally the elevator doors opened and there was already a crowd in the car. She pushed her way into the car and dragged her two kids in with her and all the bags of stuff. When the doors closed she couldn't take it anymore and stated, "Whoever started this whole Christmas thing should be found, strung up and shot."
 
From the back of the car everyone heard a quiet calm voice respond, "Don't worry we already crucified him." For the rest of the trip down the elevator it was so quiet you could have heard a pin drop.
 
"But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart" Lk 2:19.
 
O dear people, ponder this illustration, ponder what is happening to Christmas. Christ is almost completely left out. It is now a holiday, not a HOLYday. Ponder what is happening to God in the whole world. In America we are about to see freedom FROM religion not freedom OF religion. Wake up world! All this is all the more reason we must study prophecy and read the "signs."

John R. Rice Quotes of the Week

 "It pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe" (I Cor. 1:21). It does not please God to save people by praying, without preaching. It does not please God to save people any way in the world that leaves out a presentation of the Gospel to the individual heart. Preaching here, of course, means the preaching of a mother to her child, of a man to his neighbor, just as much as the preaching of an ordained minister in the pulpit. The point is that though it may seem foolish to the world, God will not save people except that some human being takes them the Gospel! You can pray until you are black in the face, but God will not change His plan. Your prayer in that case is a wicked rebellion against God's own plan, and God's clear commands! The Christian must go after people and must take the Gospel to them if he would have them saved. And when we pray, we must pray with the plan of God and in obedience to God's command instead of praying contrary to His plan and in rebellion against His command. I am for praying, if you do something about it. - John R. Rice [Golden Path of Successful Personal Soul Winning, pg. 97]

The other day a dear man wrote to me and said that he was praying day and night to be filled with the Holy Spirit. He has never won a soul he said, but as soon as he felt the mighty power of God upon him, he was going out to win souls. Let me tell you, along with this dear brother, that you ought not to wait even for the fullness of the Spirit. How will you know whether the Spirit of God is with you in soul-winning power unless you do what God has said? And why should you expect God to be willing to give you His Holy Spirit when you are not doing the one business that the fullness of the Holy Spirit comes to aid? I say, go ahead and try with all your heart to win souls. Go in Jesus' name. Use the Word of God. Weep over sinners. Call on God to do His part. And I doubt not that more and more as you go, the Spirit of God will go with you and give you soul-winning power. - John R. Rice [Golden Path of Successful Personal Soul Winning, pg. 109]

Thousands, when they think of Pentecost, assume wrongly that it was simply a dispensational matter, never to be repeated and having only doctrinal importance. They are wrong. In the first place, the day Jesus rose from the dead He breathed on the disciples and said, "Receive ye the Holy Ghost" (John 20:22). So the indwelling of the Spirit promised when Christ should be glorified (John 7:37-39) was fulfilled on the day of the resurrection, and not at Pentecost.

In the second place, if the church, the body of Christ, began at Pentecost, then the Bible never mentions it. In fact, that "general assembly and church of the firstborn, which are written in heaven," of Hebrews 12:22, 23, seems certainly to contain all who will be called out at the rapture, including Old Testament saints, too - all "whose names are written in heaven." - John R. Rice [Golden Path of Successful Personal Soul Winning, pg. 143]

These shepherds [Luke 2:15-20] were ignorant, but they believed the words of the angel, the message sent from Heaven! And in my heart this Christmas season I praise the Lord for millions of common people who still believe all the story of the Babe who was born in Bethlehem, believe that the angels really appeared, that the Glory of God shone round about, that Jesus was born of the virgin Mary as the Scripture says. Other people may have believed after they went to see, but the shepherds believed before they went! ... Sin is back of all the unbelief about the Lord Jesus Christ and the Bible and God's revelation about salvation. One reason the angels brought the message to those shepherds is that they knew the shepherds would believe it. - John R. Rice [The Birth of the Saviour, pg. 37]

Too many people sit out in the field in the darkened night and say, "I do not believe that any Baby was born of a virgin in Bethlehem. I do not believe what the angels promised. I do not believe that Jesus is a Saviour. I do not believe that He brings good news, glad tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people." Well, as long as you sit out in the field and do not go to the manger to see for yourself, you only prove the stubbornness of your self-will and the sinfulness of your heart that does not want a Saviour. These shepherds WANTED a Saviour. They were GLAD that Jesus was born. So they went, and straightway, and with glad, believing hearts; and all their expectations were met! - John R. Rice [The Birth of the Saviour, pg. 39]

The wise men came from the East! They came in glad expectancy. They came with treasures all ready to give. They were willing to follow the Word of God, as far as it led, and then they rejoiced when they saw that the star backed up the Word of God. And how glad they were when they say the Baby Jesus and opened up their treasures and gave Him gold, frankincense and myrrh! - John R. Rice [The Birth of the Saviour, pg. 39]

Dear reader, God is not concerned about your pious platitudes as you commend the teachings of Jesus in the sermon on the mount. He turns His face with disdain when you speak of the crucifixion as "the martyrdom" of "a good man" who "died for his ideals." There is no way under Heaven that any man can approach God in peace except he come with prayer and praise to Jesus Christ as one who is very God, Creator, Saviour, one to be loved and worshipped, one who answers prayer, one who is worthy of all praises that can fall from human lips! - John R. Rice [The Birth of the Saviour, pg. 54]