THE TRIPLE DARE OF HEBREWS CHAPTER 11

HEBREWS 11:1-3

 

Pastor Rick Jackson

 

I. DARE TO LIVE BY FAITH [v. 4-7]

 

1. Dare to Take God’s Plan of Salvation [v. 4]

 

2. Dare to Seek Closeness to God [v. 5-6, Ps. 73:28, Jm. 4:8, 1 Jn. 1:3-7]

 

But it is good for me to draw near to God: I have put my trust in the Lord GOD, that I may declare all thy works.

Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you.

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. This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth: But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another , and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.

 

3. Dare to Obey God No Matter What [v. 7]

 

II. DARE TO WALK BY FAITH [v. 8-16]

 

1. Dare to Answer God’s Call [v. 8]

 

2. Dare to Act on God’s Promises [v. 9-13]

 

3. Dare to Anticipate God’s Preparation [v. 14-16, Jn. 14:1-4]

 

Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also. And whither I go ye know, and the way ye know.

 

III. DARE TO WITNESS BY FAITH [v. 17-31]

 

1. Dare to Witness to the Accuracy of God’s Word [v. 17-22]

 

2. Dare to Witness to the Presence of God in Our Daily Walk [v. 23-27]

 

3. Dare to Witness to the Saving Power of God [v. 28-31]

John R. Rice Quotes of the Week

 We are told that anybody who does not stand true to this doctrine that Christ Himself, God's Son, is come in the flesh to save people, that He died and rose again -- anyone who does not receive that doctrine does not have God. He is not a Christian. He is a Hell-bound, wicked sinner. The curse of God is upon him. No Christian should ever go to hear any such man preach. No Christian should ever give a penny to his support. Such a man should not even be entertained in your home. You should never bid him Godspeed. To support him, to lend your encouragement, to give him fellowship, is to be a partaker of his wicked deeds in damning souls by denying the true Gospel. - John R. Rice [Great Truths for Soul Winners, pg. 130]

No Christian should ever support or encourage or receive to his home a modernist preacher, one who does not believe the Bible and who has not trusted in the Christ of the Bible, the virgin-born Son of God who died for our sins and rose bodily from the grave and ascended to Heaven and is coming again. One who does not believe this Gospel is not a Christian and is not fit to preach. - John R. Rice [Great Truths for Soul Winners, pg. 130-131]

The first essential thing about preaching is that it is to be Gospel preaching, true to the blood, true to the Bible teaching of salvation by faith in Christ who died an atoning death and rose from the grave to be our Saviour. Oh, beloved preachers, preach Christ and His blood and His salvation freely offered to dying sinners! - John R. Rice [Great Truths for Soul Winners, pg. 131]

In every church in the land where there are sincere Christians they should immediately oust any preacher who does not preach the Gospel of salvation by the blood. If they cannot oust the preacher, they should themselves leave and never give another penny to the support of such a church and such a modernist, unbelieving infidel. - John R. Rice [Great Truths for Soul Winners, pg. 131]

One never has to sell out the Gospel in order to get people to hear it. People never have to betray Christ and His great standards in order to get more people saved. - John R. Rice [I Am a Fundamentalist, pg. 146]

It is never right to do wrong in order to get to do good. The Bible plan is still right that Christians should not yoke up together with unbelievers. - John R. Rice [I Am a Fundamentalist, pg. 146]

Jesus Himself also said, "He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life" (John 3:36). When you trusted Jesus Christ, He saved you. I will pray for you that you will believe God and quit depending on your feelings and emotions. It would be wrong for me to be praying for God to give you the kind of feeling you want. That is not the way we are to know we are saved. We know we are saved because God said it and we have faith to believe it. Faith takes God's Word as true and relies upon it. ― John R. Rice, Dr. Rice, Here Are More Questions

A BIBLE MYSTERY

EPHESIANS 3:1-12

 

Pastor Rick Jackson

 

I. THE MYSTERY IN THE WORD

 

1. Delivered [v. 1-3]

 

2. Defined [v. 4-5]

 

3. Detailed [v. 6]

 

II. THE MINISTER IN THE WORK

 

1. We Serve by Grace [v.7]

 

2. We are Saved by Grace [v. 8]

 

3. We “See” by Grace [v. 9a]

 

III. THE MANIFOLD WISDOM OF GOD

 

1. Could Be of Interest to Men [v. 9b]

 

2. Would Be of Interest to the Angels [v. 10, 1 Peter 1:9-13]

 

Receiving the end of your faith, even the salvation of your souls. Of which salvation the prophets have inquired and searched diligently, who prophesied of the grace that should come unto you: Searching what, or what manner of time the Spirit of Christ which was in them did signify, when it testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ, and the glory that should follow. Unto whom it was revealed, that not unto themselves, but unto us they did minister the things, which are now reported unto you by them that have preached the gospel unto you with the Holy Ghost sent down from heaven; which things the angels desire to look into. Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ;

 

3. Should Be of Interest to the Church [v. 10b-12]

JESUS AT THE DOOR

REV. 3:20

 

Pastor Rick Jackson

 

I. THE PERSON

 

1. “Behold” – Give Jesus Your Attention

 

2. “I” – Give Jesus Your Adoration [v. 20, 14]

 

3. “Stand” – Give Jesus Your Activity [v. 20, Acts 7:56]

 

II. THE PRESENCE

 

1. The Presence of Jesus at the Door Speaks of His Interest

 

2. The Presence of Jesus at the Door Speaks of His Inaccessibility

 

3. The Presence of Jesus at the Door Speaks of His Gentlemanliness

 

III. THE PETITION

 

1. Jesus Petitions Us to Hear Him

 

2. Jesus Petitions Us to Honor Him

 

3. Jesus Petitions Us to Host Him

John R. Rice Quotes of the Week

 Our Arminian friends who think that one who has been saved may lose salvation do not really understand what salvation means. "Oh," they may say, "but if your faith fails or if you turn back from serving God, you do not deserve salvation." No indeed, one would not deserve salvation then. But none deserved salvation in the beginning either! You see, if unworthiness could keep one from salvation, it would already keep everybody in the universe from salvation for all are unworthy. If God can not keep people who do not deserve it, then He could not save people who do not deserve it. You must remember that salvation by grace is wholly of God, of grace, and not of works. The God who does the saving does the keeping. The keeping is part of the salvation. - John R. Rice [Great Truths for Soul Winners, pg. 83]

It is true that repentance is a part of saving faith. Inevitably one who honestly turns to Christ for a new heart is tired of the old way. One who does not want to have a good heart would not be asking God to cleanse him. So when the sinner turns in his heart from his sin, he turns toward Jesus. Or to put the saying the other way: one who comes to Jesus Christ for mercy is thus coming from his sinfulness. There is no way to separate repentance from faith. But we must not make these separate steps in salvation, for the very moment one turns to Christ and trusts in Him, he has repented. Or the very moment one has honestly turned forever from his sins, he has turned to Christ for mercy. I speak here, as God does, of a heart attitude, not primarily of a change of outward life. Heart repentance takes place the instant one decides to turn to Christ and trust Him for salvation. - John R. Rice [Great Truths for Soul Winners, pg. 85]

Dr. H. C. Morrison was a good Methodist Holiness preacher. When someone asked him, "Dr. Morrison, have you got to where you can't sin yet?" He answered sadly, "No, but I have gotten to where I can't enjoy it." - John R. Rice [Great Truths for Soul Winners, pg. 83]

Years ago a preacher who thought that baptism was essential to salvation, but who seem to know little about the new birth, scoffed at the idea of eternal salvation, saying, "If I believed that one who has been saved could never lose his salvation, you know what I would do> I would first believe in the Lord Jesus Christ and get saved, and then I would just go out and have my fill of sin!"

And I said to him very seriously, "If you have not already had your fill of sin, I doubt if you know what I am talking about at all." The new heart has an inward rebuke for sin and God adds His own chastening hand. - John R. Rice [Great Truths for Soul Winners, pg. 90]

We are plainly told in Psalm 66:18, "If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear me." Sometimes sin in the heart, unlamented, unconfessed, unforsaken hinders the power of God and brings deadness onto the whole church and failure to our best efforts. Oh, in Jesus' dear name, Christian reader, forsake that sin that grieves God and hinders His power! Turn from it with penitent tears. Make right the wrong! Correct the fault before God, then expect His blessing. - John R. Rice [Great Truths for Soul Winners, pg. 90]

We should consider that salvation is a miracle. Those who talk blandly of growing little children into Christian character, without the new birth, talk tommyrot. They talk heresy. They talk infidelity. They have forgotten that every unconverted sinner is dead in trespasses and sins. - John R. Rice [Great Truths for Soul Winners, pg. 116]

Any man who preaches salvation by character is a condemned, lost sinner with the curse of Almighty God upon him! Any man who preaches a so-called "social gospel" which is no gospel at all, "let him be accursed," let him be damned. He is a doomed, Christ-rejecting sinner. He is not even a Christian and he has no right to preach. He is a blind leader of the blind. He is a wolf in sheep's clothing, Jesus Christ Himself being witness. To men like him Jesus said, "Ye serpents, ye generation of vipers, how can ye escape the damnation of hell?" (Matt. 23:33). - John R. Rice [Great Truths for Soul Winners, pg. 129-130]

AINT’S, SAINTS, & TAINTS

EPHESIANS 2:1-3

 

Pastor Rick Jackson

 

I. THE AIN’TS

 

“Ain't” is a colloquialism and contraction for "am not" [I ain’t gonna do it], "is not" [he ain’t gonna do it], "are not" [they ain’t gonna do it], "has not" [he ain’t ever driven a stick], and "have not" [they ain’t ever driven a stick] in the common vernacular. The usage of ain't is a perennial issue in English. Widely used by many people, its use is nevertheless commonly considered to be improper. For our purposes it is theologically correct. You see, The Ain’ts refers to the natural man, the unsaved man, They ain’t got Jesus so…

 

1. They Ain’t Safe - without the Saviour [2:11-12a]

 

2. They Ain’t Sure - without the Scriptural Promises [2:12b]

 

3. They Ain’t Secure - without Salvation they are condemned already [2:12c]

 

II. THE SAINTS

 

For our purposes here we are referring to the spiritual man, saved by, and serving, the Lord

 

1. Set Apart by God because of their Relationship to the Saviour [1 Cor. 1:2]

 

Unto the church of God which is at Corinth, to them that are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints, with all that in every place call upon the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, both theirs and ours:

 

2. Set Apart to God because of their Relationship to the Scriptures [1 Cor. 2:9-16]

 

But as it is written , Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him. But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God. For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God. Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God. Which things also we speak, not in the words which man's wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth ; comparing spiritual things with spiritual. 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. But he that is spiritual judgeth all things, yet he himself is judged of no man. For who hath known the mind of the Lord, that he may instruct him? But we have the mind of Christ.

 

3. Set Apart for God because of their Relationship to the Spirit [1 Cor. 6:19-20]

 

What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's.

 

III. THE TAINTS

 

Noun- 1. a trace of something bad, offensive, or harmful. 2. a trace of infection, contamination, or the like. 3.a trace of dishonor or discredit. For our purposes, the carnal man, a Christian- saved but not serving- tainted by the world, the flesh, and the Devil.

 

1. Tainted so they Ain’t Growing Right [1 Cor. 3:1-2]

 

And I, brethren, could not speak unto you as unto spiritual, but as unto carnal, even as unto babes in Christ. I have fed you with milk, and not with meat: for hitherto ye were not able to bear it, neither yet now are ye able.

 

2. Tainted so they Ain’t Acting Right [1 Cor. 3:3-4]

 

For ye are yet carnal: for whereas there is among you envying, and strife, and divisions, are ye not carnal, and walk as men? For while one saith, I am of Paul; and another, I am of Apollos; are ye not carnal?

 

3. Tainted so they Ain’t Rewarded Right [1 Cor. 3:13-23]

 

Every man's work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man's work of what sort it is. If any man's work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward. If any man's work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire. Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you? If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are. Let no man deceive himself. If any man among you seemeth to be wise in this world, let him become a fool, that he may be wise. For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God. For it is written, He taketh the wise in their own craftiness. And again, The Lord knoweth the thoughts of the wise, that they are vain. Therefore let no man glory in men. For all things are yours; Whether Paul, or Apollos, or Cephas, or the world, or life, or death, or things present, or things to come; all are yours; And ye are Christ's; and Christ is God's.

WHAT A WONDERFUL CHANGE

EPHESIANS 2:11-22

 

Pastor Rick Jackson

 

I. THE GENTILE BELIEVER’S PAST [v. 11-13a]

 

1. Counted Out [v. 11]

 

2. Doing Without [v. 12, Romans 3:9]

 

What then? are we better than they? No, in no wise: for we have before proved both Jews and Gentiles, that they are all under sin;

 

3. Way Out [v. 13a] I almost called this “The Outer Limits”

 

II. THE GENTILE BELIEVER’S PRESENT [v. 13-22]

 

1. Made Nigh [v. 13-17]

 

2. Given Access [v. 18-19]

 

3. Perfect Fit [v. 19-22, 4:16]

 

III. THE GENTILE BELIEVER’S ALL [the Jewish Believer’s all as well]

 

1. It’s All Grace [v. 5, 7, 2:8-9] 12 times in this epistle “grace” is mentioned

 

2. It’s All Good [v. 10, 1:5, 9; 4:28-29, 6:7-8]

 

3. It’s All God [v. 4-8, 10, 13-22]

THE UNDISPUTED CHAMPION OF LOVE

Pastor Rick Jackson

 

There have been many so-called champions of love. When you ask people who the greatest lovers in history or literature have been you would get a lot of different answers: Casanova, Valentino, Romeo & Juliet, Victoria & Albert, Cleopatra & Marc Anthony, and the list goes on and on. But, without fear of knowledgeable contradiction, the undisputed champion of love is God. God? God. Let me prove it to anyone with a brain and a heart.

 

I. GOD IS THE UNDISPUTED CHAMPION OF LOVE BECAUSE OF WHO HE LOVES [Rm. 5:8]

 

But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.

 

1. He Loves “Us” – “the world” [Rm. 5:8, Jn. 3:16] For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

 

2. He Loves “We” – “sinners” [Rm. 5:8]

 

3. He Loves “We” – “reconciled sinners” {Rm. 5:9-10, 8:35-39] Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him. For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life.

Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? As it is written , For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter. Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us. For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

 

II. GOD IS THE UNDISPUTED CHAMPION OF LOVE BECAUSE OF HOW HE LOVES [Jn. 3:16]

 

1. He Loves Actively – “He gave”

 

2. He Loves Generously – “He gave His only begotten Son”            He gave Heaven’s Best, “the Darling of Heaven”

 

3. He Loves Universally – “the World” [Jn. 3:16, 1 Jn. 2:2] And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.

 

III. GOD IS THE UNDISPUTED CHAMPION OF LOVE BECAUSE OF WHY HE LOVES

 

1. He Loves Because of Who He Is [Jn. 3:16, 1 Tm. 1:17]

 

“For God…”

“Now unto the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only wise God, be honour and glory for ever and ever. Amen.”

 

2. He Loves Because of What He Is [1 Jn. 4:7-8, 2 Timothy 2:13]

 

Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God. He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love.

If we believe not, yet he abideth faithful: he cannot deny himself.

 

3. He Loves Because of How He Is [1 Jn. 4:9-21]

 

In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him. Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another.

No man hath seen God at any time. If we love one another, God dwelleth in us, and his love is perfected in us. Hereby know we that we dwell in him, and he in us, because he hath given us of his Spirit. And we have seen and do testify that the Father sent the Son to be the Saviour of the world.

Whosoever shall confess that Jesus is the Son of God, God dwelleth in him, and he in God. And we have known and believed the love that God hath to us. God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him.

Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as he is, so are we in this world. There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment . He that feareth is not made perfect in love. We love him, because he first loved us. If a man say , I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar: for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath not seen? And this commandment have we from him, That he who loveth God love his brother also.

John R. Rice Quotes of the Week

 May I say as gently as I may, that all human claims to sin-free holiness must be grievously offensive to God who says that "boasting is excluded."

And God has arranged it that in the heavenly kingdom the one who will get the praise is Jesus Christ. - John R. Rice [Great Truths for Soul Winners, pg. 74]

I have a secret agreement with the Angel Gabriel that when we get to Heaven we are going to listen carefully. How proud and glad we will be for everyone that tells of the grace of God, and of the tender mercy of Jesus, of how He sought and found and brought in many a lost sheep! But we have agreed that the first one who starts to boast, "Look at me! I made it! I held out faithful and I got here!" we are going to pitch him over the banisters. No, in Heaven Jesus Christ must have the glory. And so God has arranged all the saving must be done by His loving grace without human works "lest any man should boast." - John R. Rice [Great Truths for Soul Winners, pg. 74]

Those who think that good works and holy living are proper for a Christian are right. But those who think good works and holy living obtain salvation have missed the whole point of God's Word on salvation. How can anyone walk a Christian walk without Christian feet? How can anyone exercise Christian love without a Christian heart? How can anyone act like a Christian until he is already, by God's merciful miracle, made a Christian? - John R. Rice [Great Truths for Soul Winners, pg. 74-75]

Is one ever to be justified by works then? Yes, in the sight of men. In James 2:18 we are told, "Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works." So then if we are to show our faith to others, it is to be revealed by good works. In the sight of men we give the evidence of salvation and thus justify ourselves by good works. But in the sight of God, justification comes upon faith and precedes good works. There is no conflict here. Man cannot see the heart. So if man is to come to an opinion as to whether one is saved or not, he must judge by some outward works. That is a frail and unsure method sometimes. But as far as showing ourselves to to others as Christians, faith without works is dead. And men must depend upon what they can see for evidence of heart faith. This does not change the matter that with God human works have nothing to do with justifying a sinner. - John R. Rice [Great Truths for Soul Winners, pg. 76]

If Abraham earned his salvation, it was a debt that God would have to pay him. But if it was the free gift of God to a guilty sinner, then that would be grace. The two are mutually exclusive.

Romans 4:5 says, "But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness." - John R. Rice [Great Truths for Soul Winners, pg. 76]

One cannot claim his own righteousness and claim the mercy of Christ.

All you priests then, away with your masses! One sacrifice forever has paid all that sin's debt requires. To try to add one penny's worth to the sacrifice Jesus Christ has already made is blasphemous and wicked. - John R. Rice [Great Truths for Soul Winners, pg. 78]

Man's nature is so tainted that "the plowing of the wicked is sin" (Prov. 21:4). That is, even the ordinary daily life of an unconverted man is in wickedness, alienated from God, perverted, tainted and sinful. - John R. Rice [Great Truths for Soul Winners, pg. 82]

DOES JESUS? [From a worried father’s point of view]

MARK 5:21-43

 

Pastor Rick Jackson

 

I. DOES JESUS CARE? [v. 21-24]

 

1. Jairus Had a Great Need [v. 21-23]

2. Jairus Went to a Great Place [v. 22]

3. Jairus Received a Great Response [v. 24]

 

Does Jesus Care? - Lyrics ~ Frank E. Graeff, Music ~ J. Lincoln Hall

Does Jesus care when my heart is pained

Too deeply for mirth and song;

As the burdens press, and the cares distress,

And the way grows weary and long?

 

Does Jesus care when my way is dark

With a nameless dread and fear?

As the daylight fades into deep night shades,

Does He care enough to be near?

 

Does Jesus care when I've tried and failed

To resist some temptation strong;

When for my deep grief I find no relief,

Tho my tears flow all the night long?

 

Does Jesus care when I've said goodbye

To the dearest on earth to me,

And my sad heart aches till it nearly breaks ­

Is it aught to Him? Does He see?

 

Chorus:

O yes, He cares- I know He cares!

His heart is touched with my grief;

When the days are weary,

The long nights dreary,

I know my Savior cares. (He cares.)

 

 

II. DOES JESUS KNOW? [v. 25-34]

 

1. Jairus must Wonder about this Lesser Need [v. 25-29]

2. Jairus must Wonder about this Lingering Needlessly [v. 30-33]

3. Jairus must Wonder about this Loving Knowledge [v. 34]

 

He Maketh No Mistake  by A. M. Overton

 

My Father's way may twist and turn,

My heart may throb and ache,

But in my soul I'm glad I know

He maketh no mistake.

 

My cherished plans may go astray,

My hopes may fade away,

But still I'll trust my Lord to lead

For He doth know the way.

 

Tho' night be dark and it may seem

That day will never break,

I'll pin my faith, my all in Him;

He maketh no mistake.

 

There's so much now I cannot see,

My eyesight's far too dim;

But come what may, I'll simply trust

And leave it all to Him.

 

For by and by the mist will lift,

And plain it all He'll make.

Through all the way, tho' dark to me,

He made not one mistake.

 

III. DOES JESUS HAVE THE POWER? [V. 35-43]

 

1. Jairus Must Fear the Cold Sentence [v. 35]

2. Jairus Must Hear the Comforting Saviour [v. 36]

3. Jairus Must Cheer the Commanding Sovereign [v. 37-43]

 

Oh Lord, my God, when I in awesome wonder                                                   

Consider all the worlds Thy hands have made                                                     

I see the stars, I hear the rolling thunder                                                               

Thy power throughout the universe displayed                                                   

 

Chorus:

Then sings my soul, my Savior God to Thee

How great Thou art, how great Thou art

Then sings my soul, my Savior God to Thee

How great Thou art, how great Thou art

THE THREE WORLDS OF A BELIEVER

EPHESIANS 2:1-10

 

Pastor Rick Jackson

 

I. THE BELIEVER’S FRIGHTFUL PAST [v. 1-3]

 

1. Worldly Zombies [v. 1a]

 

2. Satanically Energized [v. 1b-2]

 

3. Children of Wrath [v. 3]

 

II. THE BELIEVER’S BLESSED PRESENT [v. 4-6, 8-10]

 

1. Recipients of God’s Mercy [v. 4-5a]

 

2. Recipients of God’s Grace [v. 5b]

 

3. Positioned in Christ [v. 6, 8-10]

 

III. THE BELIEVER’S WONDERFUL FUTURE [v. 7]

 

1. The Purpose

 

2. The Providence

 

3. The Person

UNMOVEABLE

ACTS 20:17-24

 

Pastor Rick Jackson

 

Paul says he expects trouble if he goes to Jerusalem, but he is going just the same. Many folks would quit if they knew they were facing a lot less than that, but Paul says, “None of these things move me.” Paul was not moved to quit by critics. Lee Roberson used to tell us, “Critics are a dime a dozen. Any fool can criticize.”

Paul was not moved to quit by hardships – not loneliness, sickness, infirmity, lack of support and certainly not persecution. You may think, “that’s great, but that’s Paul, I am not called to that… am I?” Glad you asked.

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.

So, what made Paul steady? What made Paul unmoveable? Can we have it?

 

I. SALVATION MADE PAUL UNMOVEABLE! The greatest event in your life is when you are born again!

 

1. Salvation Will Change your Life! [2 Cor. 5:17] Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.

It brought Saul of Tarsus joy, satisfaction & peace! Rm. 5: 1-5 Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ: By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience; And patience, experience; and experience, hope: And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.

 

2. Salvation Can Change Your Occupation! Paul went from tentmaker to missionary. What was his occupation previously became a way to pay expenses [Acts 18]. His major became his minor. Don’t believe it? You think he made missionary trips to sell tents?

 

3. Salvation should Change Your Attitude! [Galatians 1:23-24] But they had heard only, That he which persecuted us in times past now preacheth the faith which once he destroyed. And they glorified God in me. He went from being a harsh critic of Christians to being a loving servant of Jesus Christ, from a persecutor to a preacher, from a cynic to a saint!

 

Have you been born-again? Have you trusted Christ – the virgin-born, sinless, holy, crucified and risen Saviour? Salvation made Paul unmoveable - but that’s not all.

 

II. SUBMISSION TO THE WILL OF GOD MADE PAUL UNMOVEABLE! [Gal. 2:20] I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.

 

1. A Holy Abandonment to the Plan of Christ! “I am crucified with Christ:” “I die daily”

 

2. A Holy Abandonment to the Person of Christ! “nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me”

 

3. A Holy Abandonment to the Personification of Christ! “and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.”

[Galatians 4:19 My little children, of whom I travail in birth again until Christ be formed in you]

 

III. SUBSTITUTION OF THE MIND OF CHRIST MADE PAUL UNMOVEABLE! [Phil. 2:5] Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:

 

1. A Concern for Others [v. 1-7]

 

If there be therefore any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any bowels and mercies, Fulfil ye my joy, that ye be likeminded , having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind. Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves. Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others. Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men:

 

2. A Concern for the Lost [v. 8]

 

And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.

 

3. A Concern for the Kingdom [v. 9-11]

 

Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

John R. Rice Quotes of the Week

 God can bring the pressure of loving invitation or stern warnings, to cause a man to weigh the consequences and the moral issues and decide. But God can not make all the moral decisions without leaving Himself to be the only moral being in the universe. When He creates other moral beings, accountable, subject to laws and subject to rewards and punishments, then God Himself thus deliberately limits His control over those beings. Without understanding this, one cannot understand the problem of evil in this world. If God did not leave man's will uncoerced to choose right or wrong, then God Himself would be responsible for the sin and evil in the world. - John R. Rice [Predestined for Hell? No!, pg.92]

We have already seen that in some sense Christ, lifted up, draws all men in the world to Him (John 12:32). We have seen that He is the "Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world" (John 1:9). But God goes further than that. He makes sure that everyone who follows what light he has can have more light. Everyone whose heart is open to truth hears the truth. Oh, God goes to such length to save everyone who would be saved that it is wicked to blame Him if any man remains lost! - John R. Rice [Predestined for Hell? No!, pg.94]

Hyper-Calvinism is the enemy of soul winning, of missions, it tends to satisfy the heart not willing to pay the price for soul winning. It appeals to the arrogant, the proud, and tends toward spiritual ruin for individuals. - John R. Rice [Predestined for Hell? No!, pg103]

Soul winning is the dearest thing to the heart of God. It is the one thing for which Jesus came into the world and died (I Tim. 1:10, Luke 19:10). It is the one great matter that causes rejoicing to everybody in Heaven (Luke 15:7, 10). - John R. Rice [Great Truths for Soul Winners, pg. 40]

If there were in apostolic times any so-called "Bible teachers" who felt called to "gather around the Word" and to teach the letter of the Scriptures, without feeling called to plead with sinners, or to hold revivals, or to win souls, God counts them as nobodies. They are not mentioned. There is no approval on anybody in the New Testament as a fervent Christian pleasing to God except those who were soul winners! I challenge any reader to find one person greatly praised or held up as an example or given favorable spiritual prominence in the New Testament times who was not an ardent and successful soul winner. - John R. Rice [Great Truths for Soul Winners, pg. 45]

In Romans, chapter 3, after giving fourteen indictments of the wickedness of the whole human race (vss. 9-18), God says in verse 19, "Now we know that what things soever the law saith, it saith to them who are under the law: that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God."

What does God want, sinner? He wants you to shut your mouth! He wants you to make not a single excuse. He does not want any alibis. He does not want you to claim one bit of merit. And so He continues after telling of the wonderful grace of God which justifies "freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus" (vs. 24). He says in verse 27, "Where is boasting then? It is excluded." God is determined to shut out boasting on the matter of salvation. So God will do it all. Man does none of it. He has no claim on God's mercy except his sinful need of mercy. - John R. Rice [Great Truths for Soul Winners, pg. 73]

I take no pleasure in people who stand in prayer meeting and declare, "I am determined to make Heaven my home." Determination will not do it! I am not pleased when people ask others, "Pray for me that I will hold out faithful to the end." As far as salvation is concerned, no sinner was ever faithful any ten minutes of his life and never will be until he awakes in the likeness of Christ. We are not saved by our faithfulness or our holding out. All dependence on human faithfulness, human merit or human zeal is wicked and tends to boasting. - John R. Rice [Great Truths for Soul Winners, pg. 74]

TWO OF THE SWEETEST WORDS IN THE BIBLE

MATTHEW 6:7-9

 

Pastor Rick Jackson*

 

There are many sweet words found in the blessed Word of God. Words like: love, joy, peace, grace, mercy, salvation, forgiveness, Heaven come to mind quickly and or course there are many others. Two of the sweetest words in the Bible are found in our text, the words, “Our Father.” This simple powerful phrase is made sweeter still in that the words are a reference to Almighty God. You might think this phrase appears all through the Bible but in reality, it is found less than 25 times in the Bible. Only twice in the Old Testament, in one book, Isaiah. Twice in the Gospels, and almost 20 times in the epistles of Paul.

 

This phrase, when applied to God and used correctly designates certain truths, it demands certain actions, and it delivers in certain ways. Let us explore this.

 

I. IT DESIGNATES CERTAIN TRUTHS

 

1. “Our Father” Designates the Truth of Relationship [Matthew 6:9] After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.

 

2. “Our Father” Designates the Truth of Companionship [2 Thessalonians 2:16] Now our Lord Jesus Christ himself, and God, even our Father, which hath loved us, and hath given us everlasting consolation and good hope through grace,

Romans 8:15 For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father.

Galatians 4:6 And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father.

 

3. “Our Father” Designates the Truth of Ownership [Isaiah 63:16]

Doubtless thou art our father, though Abraham be ignorant of us, and Israel acknowledge us not: thou, O LORD, art our father, our redeemer; thy name is from everlasting.

 

4. “Our Father” Designates the Truth of Stewardship (or responsibility) [Isaiah 64:8]

But now, O LORD, thou art our father; we are the clay, and thou our potter; and we all are the work of thy hand.

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;

 

II. IT DEMANDS CERTAIN ACTIONS

 

1. “Our Father” Demands We Know Him [1 Thessalonians 1:1]

Paul, and Silvanus, and Timotheus, unto the church of the Thessalonians which is in God the Father and in the Lord Jesus Christ: Grace be unto you, and peace, from God our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ.

We know THE Way to God [Jn. 14:6] without God, without Christ- man is lost

We Know the Love of God [Heb. 12:5-10] chastening us, guiding us

We Know the Power of God [2 Tm. 1:2, 12] Unto Timothy, my own son in the faith: Grace, mercy, and peace, from God our Father and Jesus Christ our Lord.

For the which cause I also suffer these things: nevertheless I am not ashamed: for I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day.

 

2. “Our Father” Demands We Talk to Him [Luke 11:2]

And he said unto them, When ye pray, say, Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done, as in heaven, so in earth.

Luke 11:9 And I say unto you, Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you.

Rest on His Promises- 2 Corinthians 1:20 For all the promises of God in him are yea, and in him Amen, unto the glory of God by us.

Meet His Requirements- Jn. 15:7 If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you.

 

3. “Our Father” Demands We Walk with Him [1 Thessalonians 3:11-13]

Now God himself and our Father, and our Lord Jesus Christ, direct our way unto you. And the Lord make you to increase and abound in love one toward another, and toward all men, even as we do toward you: To the end he may stablish your hearts unblameable in holiness before God, even our Father, at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ with all his saints.

 

We Walk to Him – Salvation – John 6:37 All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out.

We Walk With Him – Separation - 2 Cor. 6:17-18  Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you, And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.

We Walk For Him – Expectation – 1 Jn. 3:1-3 Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not. Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is. And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure.

 

III. IT DELIVERS IN CERTAIN WAYS

 

1. “Our Father” Delivers Power [Romans 1:7, 16]

 

To all that be in Rome, beloved of God, called to be saints: Grace to you and peace from God our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ.

For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.

 

Jn. 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:

Mt. 28:18-20 - And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway , even unto the end of the world. Amen.

Acts 1:7-8 - And he said unto them, It is not for you to know the times or the seasons, which the Father hath put in his own power. But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.

 

2. “Our Father” Delivers Peace [1 Corinthians 1:3]

 

Grace be unto you, and peace, from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ.

2 Corinthians 1:2 Grace be to you and peace from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ.

Ephesians 1:2 Grace be to you, and peace, from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ.

Philippians 1:2 Grace be unto you, and peace, from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ.

Colossians 1:2 To the saints and faithful brethren in Christ which are at Colosse: Grace be unto you, and peace, from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

2 Thessalonians 1:2 Grace unto you, and peace, from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

Philemon 1:3 Grace to you, and peace, from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

 

3. “Our Father” Delivers with Prayer [Matthew 6:6-13, Luke 11:1-4]

 

2 Cor. 1:10 Who delivered us from so great a death, and doth deliver: in whom we trust that he will yet deliver us;

Galatians 1:4 Who gave himself for our sins, that he might deliver us from this present evil world, according to the will of God and our Father:

If this looks familiar it is because we only finished point "I" last week and will finish the rest tonight [Lord willing}

THE “IN” CROWD IN TROUBLESOME TIMES

EPHESIANS 1:15-23

 

Pastor Rick Jackson

 

 

Let’s be practical. We got problems. New Testament Christians had problems. Paul was in prison. The year was about 60 AD. [27 years after Christ’s resurrection and 10 years before the fall of Jerusalem]. While in prison Paul wrote 4 epistles to send to churches and individuals in Asia Minor [present day Turkey]. Colossians, Philippians, Philemon and, of course, Ephesians. For obvious reasons these four books are sometimes called the Prison Epistles.

Face it, true believers, troublesome times will come. But again, let’s be practical. The Bible Believing Christian, especially the Bible practicing Christian has:

 

 

I. PRACTICAL PEACE [v. 9-14]

 

1. Insider Information [v. 9-10]

 

2. Predestined Perfection [v. 11-12]

 

3. Indisputable Inheritance [v. 13-14]

 

 

II. PRACTICAL PRAISE [v. 15-16a]

 

1. For Their Upward Testimony [v. 15a]

 

2. For Their Outward Testimony [v. 15b]

 

3. For God’s Obvious Working [v. 16a]

 

Can you thank God for others? For God blessing in their lives?

 

III. PRACTICAL PRAYER [v. 16b-18]

 

1. Wisdom Plus [v. 17a, 1 Corinthians 8:1]

 

Now as touching things offered unto idols, we know that we all have knowledge. Knowledge puffeth up, but charity edifieth.

 

2. Knowledge of Him [v.17b, John 14:8-11, Philippians 3:10]

 

That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death;

 

3. Understanding [v. 18, 1 Chronicles 12:32]

 

And of the children of Issachar, which were men that had understanding of the times, to know what Israel ought to do; the heads of them were two hundred; and all their brethren were at their commandment.

 

IV. PRACTICAL PURPOSE [v. 18b-23]

 

1. Know the Future Glory [v. 18]

 

2. Know the Present Power [v. 19-20a, Philippians 3:10]

 

3. Know the Preeminent Person [v. 20b-23]

 

It’s not about us. It’s not about you! It’s all about Him! [1:6, 12]