JOHN R. RICE QUOTES OF THE WEEK

 A curse is on the land that does not execute the murderer. A curse is on the land where innocent blood is shed and not avenged. The captivity of Judah was partly because of innocent bloodshed. Second Kings 24:3 and 4 says:

"Surely at the commandment of the LORD came this upon Judah, to remove them out of his sight, for the sins of Manasseh, according to all that he did; And also for the innocent blood that he shed: for he filled Jerusalem with innocent blood; which the LORD would not pardon."

What about the nearly one million innocent unborn murdered every year in America? No wonder American blood stained the soil of Korea and Vietnam! God must have vengeance for innocent blood shed. - John R. Rice [Genesis, pg. 206-207] 1975

Thank God, Jesus is the Way. He said, I am the way, the truth and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me."

"What church shall I join?" Just join Jesus, then join some church to serve Him. But don't join any church to be saved; join Jesus Christ.

"What way shall I be baptized?" Don't be baptized to get to Heaven; get baptized after you have Jesus and salvation.

"What is the true doctrine?" No doctrine will take you to Heaven. the thing you need to do is come to Jesus and depend on Him. And when you take Him, you have it. - John R. Rice

One may speak against Christ and have forgiveness, but "whosoever speaketh against the Holy Ghost, it shall not be forgiven him," we are told. I do not think He means simply saying some word about the Holy Spirit; I think that here the Lord Jesus meant that confrontation when the Spirit presses upon a man's conscience his need, his guilt, his awful danger, and when a man eventually, after long pleading, and after saying "No" many times, at last, so definitely, so deliberately, fights off the Holy Spirit that his will is hardened, his sinful state is congealed permanently, and the Holy Spirit at last, offended, goes away never to warn again. That is the unpardonable sin. - John R. Rice

Oh, these walls of jasper, those foundation stones of precious jewels! Those gates of pearl, those streets of gold! Oh, thou pure river of water of life flowing down from the throne, with the trees of life on either side bringing forth twelve manner of fruit, a fruit every month! Oh, that city where there is no night and no sin, no sorrow, no weeping any more! that city where the roses never fade, where old age never stiffens the limbs and dull the memory and dim the eye! that city where there is no need for the sun, for the Lord God and the Lamb are the light of it! Oh, beautiful, heavenly city prepared for all the saints of God! Heaven is calling. God wants you there, dear sinner. - John R. Rice

When a gift is offered free, you may do one of two things: you may take it gladly and say, "Thank you," or if you hate the one who offers it, you may turn it down- and that is what wicked men do when they reject salvation. But salvation is free, and Jesus knocks at your heart's door today, holding out to you salvation and forgiveness and eternal life and a home in Heaven. Oh, take it, friend, today; it is free! - John R. Rice

There is no use to try to live a Jesus-life without a Jesus-heart. To make New Year's resolutions and try to be good without having God fix the heart is like tying a different kind of fruit on the same old tree and claiming that the crab apple tree is now a Stark's Delicious. To expect to conquer sin and failure and frustration in one's life without a cure for the heart is like a wolf putting on a sheepskin and claiming to be a sheep. - John R. Rice

The poor, dissatisfied woman of Samaria at the well in Sychar had found no satisfaction in her five husbands and then in an affair with a man to whom she was not married. Whoever drinks of that water, like the water of Jacob's well, will thirst again. So, although the apostles could not understand why Jesus would talk to this shabby Samaritan woman, His heart saw her, convicted her, led her to see her sin and her need, and saved her. The compassionate Saviour is always seeking the heart that wants forgiveness and the man who wants a new heart and a new life. - John R. Rice

WELL KNOWN PRAYER “SECRETS”

Pastor Rick Jackson

 

I. PRAYER IS HARD WORK [Col. 4:2-3, 12]

 

Continue in prayer, and watch in the same with thanksgiving; Withal praying also for us, that God would open unto us a door of utterance, to speak the mystery of Christ, for which I am also in bonds:

Epaphras, who is one of you, a servant of Christ, saluteth you, always labouring fervently for you in prayers, that ye may stand perfect and complete in all the will of God.

 

1. A Work of Co-operation [2 Cor. 1:9-11]

 

But we had the sentence of death in ourselves, that we should not trust in ourselves , but in God which raiseth the dead: Who delivered us from so great a death, and doth deliver: in whom we trust that he will yet deliver us; Ye also helping together by prayer for us, that for the gift bestowed upon us by the means of many persons thanks may be given by many on our behalf.

 

2. A Work of Concentration [Lk. 11:1 shows it can be taught and thus learned]

 

And it came to pass, that, as he was praying in a certain place, when he ceased, one of his disciples said unto him, Lord, teach us to pray, as John also taught his disciples.

 

3. A Work of Patience [Dan. 10:1-14]

 

II. PRAYER IS HEART WORK

 

1. God's Heart Encourages Our Hearts [2 Sam. 7:27]

 

For thou, O LORD of hosts, God of Israel, hast revealed to thy servant, saying, I will build thee an house: therefore hath thy servant found in his heart to pray this prayer unto thee.

 

2. Sin Impedes the Process, Righteousness Propels It [Ps. 66:18, James 4:1-6]

 

If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear me:

From whence come wars and fightings among you? come they not hence, even of your lusts that war in your members? Ye lust, and have not: ye kill, and desire to have, and cannot obtain: ye fight and war, yet ye have not, because ye ask not. Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts. Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God. Do ye think that the scripture saith in vain, The spirit that dwelleth in us lusteth to envy? But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble. Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded. Be afflicted, and mourn, and weep: let your laughter be turned to mourning, and your joy to heaviness. Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up.

 

3. The Heart can be Trained [Ps. 37:4, Rm. 10:1]

 

Delight thyself also in the LORD; and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart.

Brethren, my heart's desire and prayer to God for Israel is, that they might be saved.

 

III. PRAYER IS HEARD WORK

 

1. We Can Have God's Merciful Attention [Ps. 66:16-20]

 

Come and hear, all ye that fear God, and I will declare what he hath done for my soul. I cried unto him with my mouth, and he was extolled with my tongue. If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear me: But verily God hath heard me; he hath attended to the voice of my prayer. Blessed be God, which hath not turned away my prayer, nor his mercy from me.

 

2. We Can Have God's Gracious Attention [Ps. 34:15, 1 Peter 3:12]

 

The eyes of the LORD [are] upon the righteous, and his ears [are open] unto their cry.

For the eyes of the Lord are over the righteous, and his ears are open unto their prayers: but the face of the Lord is against them that do evil.

 

3. We Can Have God's Great Answers [Jer. 33:3, Eph.3:20]

 

Call unto me, and I will answer thee, and shew thee great and mighty things, which thou knowest not.

Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us,

BUNCHES OF TIMES

JOHN 13:1-11

 

Pastor Rick Jackson

 

While visiting in Tn. many years ago, I asked a man who rarely attended church, “Have you ever trusted Christ, have you ever been saved?” He said, “Yeh, I been saved bunches of times!” You’d think he’d got it right one of those times.

A few years later I heard about a Sunday School teacher, soul-winning lady who worked at a Christian school getting saved - for the third time. In the same meeting another lady made her fourth profession of faith. I had heard her second or third testimony and it sure sounded like they understood that time.

Is this practice of making a new profession of salvation over and over right or wrong? What can be done about it? We will seek to clear up some misconceptions by rightly dividing the Word of Truth.

 

I. THE CARELESSNESS OF A WRONG EMPHASIS

 

1. Feelings over Facts & Faith [Ps. 51:1-12] Feel married during an argument?

 

2. Assuming Sin is Proof they are Lost when they are Backslidden [1 Jn. 1:6-10]

 

3. Continuing as Before their Profession [Eph 4:17ff] Baptism? Restitution? Changing?

 

II. THE CONFUSION OF WRONG EDUCATION

 

1. The Teaching that Salvation can be Lost [1 Pt. 1:3-5]

 

2. The Teaching that Saints can’t commit some Sins [2 Pet. 2:7-9]

 

3. The Teaching of Self-appointed Fruit Judges [Mt. 7:1]

 

“I know you can’t judge but you can examine their fruit and know…” In other words, “You can’t judge but you can judge” [Mt. 7:1 Rice note, v. 15-20=false teachers, v. 21-23=God has to judge concerning salvation. We can judge actions or teachings by the Bible but cannot see the heart]

 

III. THE CORRECTION OF RIGHTLY DIVIDING [2 Tm. 2:15]

 

1. We are Encouraged to be Sure “We” are Saved [2 Cor. 13:5]

 

Did I trust Christ? Who do I doubt? – only 2 possibilities.

 

2. We are Discouraged from Judging Others Salvation except as it differs from the Gospel

 

[1 Sam. 16:7, Mt. 7:1, Rm. 1:16]

 

3. We are Encouraged as Christians to confess & forsake sin to keep fellowship open while realizing the relationship cannot be broken [1 Jn. 1:9, Jn. 6:37-40, 13:1-11]

WHAT IS THAT?

LUKE 18

 

Pastor Rick Jackson

 

I. THAT WHICH GOD HONORS [v. 1-17]

 

1. God Honors Prayer [v. 1-8]

 

2. God Honors Humility [v. 9-14]

 

3. God Honors Childlike Faith [v. 15-17]

 

II. THAT WHICH CHRIST TEACHES [v. 18-30]

 

1. The Proper Use of Language [v. 18-19]

 

2. The Proper Use of Law [v. 20-22]

 

3. The Proper Use of Life [v. 23-30]

 

III. THAT WHICH BLINDS [v. 31-43]

 

1. Stubbornness [v. 31-34]

 

2. Silence [v. 35-39, James 4:2]

 

Ye lust, and have not: ye kill, and desire to have, and cannot obtain: ye fight and war, yet ye have not, because ye ask not.

 

3. Self (unbelief) [v. 40-43, Matthew 13:58] And he did not many mighty works there because of their unbelief.

JOHN R. RICE QUOTES OF THE WEEK

   You must see that every word in the Bible points to Jesus. You must love Him and trust Him. Do you want to be righteous? Then Jesus keeps the law for you, and He will help you to be righteous. He will put His righteousness within your heart. Trust Him, the perfect One, to meet God's requirements and fulfill the law, for Christ is the answer to the Mosaic law, and "Christ is the end of the law for ...righteousness to every one that believeth." When Jesus said on the cross, "It is finished!" He meant that now you need not circumcise any more boys; that points to circumcision of heart, the new birth. Now you need not offer any more animal sacrifices; the one Sacrifice has now been offered. Now you need not a priesthood anymore, for Jesus Christ, our High Priest, is forever interceding for those who trust Him. - John R. Rice

You know we used to talk about a God-fearing man. And "The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom" (Ps. 111:10). Well, it is not a bad thing to be afraid of God. Oh, to be afraid we will displease Him, to be afraid of His wrath, yes, and to be afraid of His shame, if we do wrong! There must ever be a holy fear mixed with the Christian's joy. So then, "Serve the Lord with fear, and rejoice with trembling." Oh, that men would tremble before the Lord, and rejoice in His blessing. - John R. Rice

"My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?" Do you know the answer to that question? I am the answer to it and so are you. Why was He forsaken? In order that I might not be forsaken. - John R. Rice

  Here are two things about God. Don't ever say about Jesus, that He loves but never hates. Don't ever say He rewards righteousness unless you say He punishes sin. "Thou lovest righteousness, and hatest wickedness: therefore God, thy God, hath anointed thee with the oil of gladness above they fellows." If the rest of us were like Jesus, if always we loved righteousness and always hated sin, if always we took sides for the right and against the wrong, then the Lord would give us such power and blessing, too. - John R. Rice

Notice this: "the oil of gladness." The anointing of the Holy Spirit when Jesus came the first time was not at once, not immediately, and not to make Him happy and glad. The anointing in the New Testament brought tears and a burden for a lost world. It brought trouble to Paul - jail and beating and shipwreck and slander. And with us it will mean persecution. The Lord Jesus never won a soul until H...e was filled with the Spirit after His baptism in the River Jordan. We read this in Luke, chapter 3. I say until that time Jesus had never worked a miracle, had never preached a sermon, had never won a soul. And He began, oh, with heartbreak and tears for a dying world. And not with the oil of gladness. It is the oil of the Holy Spirit power. - John R. Rice

I was having a book published by Moody Press some years ago, The Soul-Winner's Fire. Good Dr. Norman said, Brother Rice, we don't put a capital H in heaven."

I said, "Do you spell Chicago with a capital C?"

"Yes."

"Do you spell New York with a capital N.Y.?"

"Yes."

"Do you spell Dallas with a capital D?"

"Yes."

"Well, let's spell Heaven with a capital H. It is a real place."

And so it was done! - John R. Rice

 It isn't what church; it is what Saviour. It is not what doctrine, it is what Saviour. And in John 1:11 and 12 we read, "He came unto his own, and his own received him not. But as many as received him, to them gave he power...." Those who received Jesus. Received whom? The preacher? No, Jesus. Received what church? No, not a church - Jesus. What doctrine? Not a doctrine - Jesus.

You say, "How did they feel?" I don't know. They received Jesus. Never mind about the feeling.

One who has Jesus has salvation. - John R. Rice

THE IMMINENT RETURN OF JESUS CHRIST

1 Th. 4:13-18

 

Pastor Rick Jackson

 

Recently, on a Facebook page I manage with over 2800 followers, I posted this quote:

 

“Christ's coming is imminent. That means Jesus may come at any moment. That means there is no other prophesied event which must occur before Christ's coming. Nothing else needs to happen before Jesus may come. No signs need to precede it. Jesus may come today. He could come at any time since Pentecost. It is a glad event hanging over us for which we should expectantly await. The coming of Christ is imminent.” - John R. Rice

 

Someone commented on the quote by saying, “This is partially false. Their (sic) is prophesy (sic) that has not taken place yet.” There is prophecy that has not taken place yet but NOT in relation to the Rapture. The commentator is wrong, Dr. Rice is right. Let me read Dr. Rice’s quote again. [see above] Biblical, solid, sensible, reasonable, rational and 100% true.

 

I. WE ARE COMMANDED TO WATCH ALWAYS FOR CHRIST’S IMMINENT COMING

 

1. The Definite Commands of Jesus [Mt. 24:42-44, 25:1-13,  Mk. 13:33-37]

 

2. Scripture Commands Us to Look for Christ Not Signs [1 Th. 4:13-18]

 

Phil. 3:20-21 For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ: Who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body, according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself.

1 Th. 1:9-10 For they themselves shew of us what manner of entering in we had unto you, and how ye turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God; And to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, even Jesus, which delivered us from the wrath to come.

1 Tm. 6:14 That thou keep this commandment without spot, unrebukeable, until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ:

Titus 2:11-13  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;

 

3. Paul’s Expectation [1 Cor. 15: 51-54. 1 Th. 4:16-17]

 

II. NO ONE KNOWS, OR CAN KNOW, WHEN CHRIST WILL RETURN

 

1. Jesus said No One, even He on earth, Knew the Time of His Coming [Mt. 24:36, 43-44, Mk. 13:32-33]

 

2. The Risen Saviour Warned the Apostles [Acts 1:4-7]

 

3. The Secret Things belong Unto God [Deuteronomy 29:29]

 

The secret things belong unto the LORD our God: but those things which are revealed belong unto us and to our children for ever, that we may do all the words of this law.

 

III. SIGNS OF CHRIST’S COMING ARE NOT FOR THE RAPTURE BUT FOR THE TOUCH-DOWN COMING

 

We must rightly divide the Word of Truth. Think about it, once the Rapture hits the clock starts ticking again.

 

1. The 70th Week of Daniel [Dan. 9:24-27]

 

2. The Tribulation and the Touchdown Coming [Mt. 24:29-30]

 

3. Signs of the Whole Age [Mt. 24:3-7] note the end of verse 6

WHAT ABOUT THE STORM?

MATTHEW 14:22-34

 

Adapted from Evangelist Fred Brown by Pastor Rick Jackson

 

I. THE SAVIOUR

 

1. Jesus Sent Them Into the Storm [v. 22]

 

Did He know there would be a storm? Yes. Then why did He send them into it? God tests His people. He does not tempt them but He tests them. We find out two things in testing- (1) our weakness (2) His power.

 

2 Corinthians 12:9 And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.

 

Jesus sent them into the storm but where did He go? Up on the mountain. What did He do there?

 

2. Jesus Prayed for Them In the Storm [v. 23]       Why?

 

3. Jesus Saw Them in the Storm [v. 24, Mark 6:47-48]

 

And when even was come, the ship was in the midst of the sea, and he alone on the land. And he saw them toiling in rowing; for the wind was contrary unto them...

Does God know everything that would befall us in life when I get saved? Every heartbreak, every tear, every sorrow?

What did He do? He ascended up on high. What's He doing? Praying. For who? Us.

No storm can overthrow you while He prays for you and you are NEVER out of His sight!

 

II. THE STORM

 

1. Their Position [v. 24a]

 

"In the midst" It is 7 miles across and they are smack in the middle after all their toil. They are the furthest they have been from land all night.

 

2. Their Predicament [v. 24b-25a]

 

They were tired, troubled and in the darkest part of the night- right before dawn.

 

3. Their Perception [v. 25b-27]

 

Somewhat confused weren't they? Think about it- what was troubling them? The sea.

What did Jesus come to them on? The sea.

He came to them on their trouble. If they didn't have any trouble they would not have seen Him. Our troubles give us the opportunity to see God.

 

III. THE SAINT

 

1. He Tried [v. 28]

 

Peter did what no one else even thought of. Can you imagine Thomas' reaction- "You'll never make it. Sit down and quit making a fool of yourself"

 

2. He Cried [v. 29-30]

 

We do Peter a disservice by picturing him neck deep in the water. The Bible clearly says "Beginning to sink". He felt it and he responded. He was very aware of beginning to sink. How do we know when you are beginning to sink? We are beginning to sink when we don't pray every day. When we don't open this blessed Book every day. When we don't witness when the Lord gives us opportunity. When we don't give to His work.

By the way- what kind of prayer is a good prayer?

When it's the right length? -some people pray around the world when it's time to eat. "Much speaking"

When it has the right content? - what should Peter have added? what could he have left out?

When it comes from the heart? - you probably won't find a more sincere prayer than Pete's

 

3. He Relied [v. 28, 30, 31-33]

 

You'll never know what you can do with the Lord/for the Lord until you try. Peter is the only man to ever walk on water. Don't you imagine the other disciples wondered for the rest of their lives if they could have done it? Don't you imagine they wish they had taken that opportunity? We can do anything the Lord tells us to do- step out on faith and do it!

HATING EVERY FALSE WAY

PSALM 119:97-104

 

Pastor Rick Jackson

 

If we are going to love Christ, we must hate the Devil. If we are to love Truth we must hate lies. If we are to love righteousness, we must hate unrighteousness. There is no such thing, as some people believe, “good God and good Devil.” The Bible says we are to “hate every false way.”

 

I. THE PATH TO HOLY HATRED

 

1. Love the Word of God [v. 97, 103-104]

 

2. Meditate on the Word of God [v. 97, 99]

 

3. Keep the Word [v. 100-101]

 

II. THE PERSON TO TOTALLY TRUST

 

1. God Has Given His Word [v. 97-104]

 

2. God Teaches Through His Word [v. 102]

 

3. God Gives Understanding of and by His Word [v. 104]

 

III. THE POTENTIAL TO ACTUALLY ACHIEVE

 

1. Be Wiser than your Enemies [v. 98]

 

2. Be More Intelligent than your Teachers [v. 99]

 

3. Be More Perceptive than the Ancient [v. 100]

JOHN R. RICE QUOTES OF THE WEEK

 So in Psalm 37:4 the Lord says, "Delight thyself also in the LORD; and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart." Whatever your heart desires.

Mark 11:24, "Therefore I say unto you, What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them."

Again John 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."

Oh, ask what you will. I know we should come to God with the heart attitude, "Lord, if this is wrong, You show me and I will change my prayer." I know we ought to come and say, "Lord, I am not trying to go against You, but I want this."

I have a little trade with God- I am going to tell Him whatever I want and I am going to tell him, "Lord, this is what I want, and I think it is all right, but if it is wrong, You fix my 'wanter,' and I will want the right thing." You see, I ought to ask for whatever I want from God. So should you. We are God's dear children and He is our dear Father. But we ought to come with a loving heart, willing to have whatever he gives. - John R. Rice

God promises everlasting life to the believer, and that everlasting life is a PRESENT POSSESSION of the believer. John 3:36 says: "He that believeth on the Son HATH EVERLASTING LIFE." In modern English it simply says: "He that believes [or trusts] on the Son HAS EVERLASTING LIFE." That is literally what the Bible says. I have trusted Him, so I HAVE IT. THANK GOD, I HAVE EVERLASTING LIFE! The Scripture does not say that the believer WILL HAVE everlasting life, but says the believer HAS IT NOW.

The same thing is repeated again and again in the Bible. - John R. Rice

Many Christians think this blessed teaching is too good to be true and some call it a dangerous doctrine to say a saved man cannot be lost. But one is never on dangerous ground when he takes the promises of God.

What, then, is the basis for this great salvation? It is all in the merits of Christ. - John R. Rice

Many people suppose that Jesus did set up His kingdom when He was here on earth, that is, the prophesied restoration of the kingdom of David. They ignore some Scriptures and explain away others in trying to prove their point. Such people say that the promises in the Old Testament given to Jerusalem, Zion and Israel, must not be taken literally. They make all these promises refer to "the church." But that is a very great mistake. Mount Zion is the hill upon which Jerusalem is built. Zion, Jerusalem, and Israel never mean the church. The promised kingdom is not the church. Do not explain away the Bible, take it at face value. God's word says what it means and means what it says! And it plainly says that Christ will have a kingdom on this earth. That kingdom has not yet been set up. - John R. Rice

Something good is ahead. Something good is going to happen in 1979: God's daily care for His people; God saving those who come repenting and trusting in Him for salvation; God answering prayer for those who tell Him their needs. Yes, good things are ahead. I do not face the future with any sorrow or trouble of heart. Although I do not know the future, I know Him who holds and controls the future. - John R. Rice

The miracles of God are beyond your human comprehension. There are lots of things you don't understand. I don't understand how the three Hebrew children walked in the fiery furnace in the days of Nebuchadnezzar and came out alive, without even the smell of smoke on their garments. But that is in the realm of the miraculous and the eternal. Where you and I do not know enough to speak, we take what God says. - John R. Rice

Christ's coming is imminent. That means Jesus may come at any moment. That means there is no other prophesied event which must occur before Christ's coming. Nothing else needs to happen before Jesus may come. No signs need to precede it. Jesus may come today. He could come at any time since Pentecost. It is a glad event hanging over us for which we should expectantly await. The coming of Christ is imminent. - John R. Rice

John R. Rice Quotes of the Week

 Psalm 119:63 says, "I am a companion of all them that fear thee, and of them that keep thy precepts." Let us analyze that. Let us say that I am a companion of all those who are saved and those who go by the Bible. God and the Bible. Let's put it a little further- Christ and the Bible. "I am a companion of all them that fear thee, and of them that keep thy precepts."

That verse is very sweet to me ...because on the authority of that verse I decided not to be just a Baptist evangelist, though I am a Baptist, but to be an evangelist to all God's people. I determined I would say what John Wesley said, "The world is my parish," and that I would be for the man who is for Christ and the Bible. So I work with all people of God who are born-again and live like it and believe the Bible and who are willing to work with other Christians.
"I am a companion of all them that fear thee, and of them that keep thy precepts." - John R. Rice

 

I am told that not long ago a man on the streetcar rose and offered his seat to a woman, and she was so surprised she fainted! When she recovered consciousness she said, "Thank you!" and then he fainted! I say, the honor, the deference, the courtesy, the protectiveness that practically all men, good and bad, once offered to good women, has almost disappeared. - John R. Rice

 

I do not think it is always God's will to heal the sick. Sometimes a Christian ought to die and go to Heaven. I know sins sometime bring trouble on us and we need to wait on God till we get things right, in order to be healed. And sometimes God wants people to be willing to suffer, to be poor, to be weak, to have sorrow for Jesus instead of having perfect healing now. But one of these days when the trumpet sounds and the rapture comes, then, thank God, all our sores will be healed! The limps will be gone! Our gray hair, decayed teeth will be no more. And the inside wickedness and shame and heartbreak that comes from our failures will be perfectly healed one day. But we can have daily healing now in many, many things. So Christians ought to pray.
James 5:13-15 says, "Is any among you afflicted? Let him pray....Is any sick among you? let him call for the elders of the church; and let them pray over him anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord: And the prayer of faith shall save the sick." If God gives the faith, God will give the healing. If it is not God's will to heal, God will not give the faith. - John R. Rice

What else then? Make it a life of trust and peace. Take every burden to the Lord. Has somebody wronged you? Forget it. Don't hold a grudge but forgive it and be happy.

Let's make this a time of winning souls. I would set out to seek the will of God and win souls this year. Oh, may God give you a good year with Christmas all the year. - John R. Rice [Christmas Now and All the Year, pg. 24]

Happiness is not something found as you seek for happiness. As Dr. Bob Jones, Sr., used to say, "Happiness is something you stumble over in the road of duty." You do right and God will make you happy. You be a blessing to others, and you will be happy also.

- John R. Rice [Christmas Now and All the Year, pg. 23-24]

In Springfield, Missouri, a young college girl came to me after I had preached on "Put Christ First in Everything," letting Him have the say, letting Him run the whole business. She said, "I will do that for everything but one thing. I want to select the man I marry myself."

I said, "You will make a mistake if you do--if you don't let Jesus help you and bring that thing right out so you are marrying in the will of God."

But she said, "I would like to have my own way about that."

She went away weeping, but later came back to say, "Yes, that is right. I am going to let Jesus have the first place in everything."

So why don't you claim that, "Seek ye first the kingdom of God and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you"? And you can have every need supplied all the time. - John R. Rice [Christmas Now and All the Year, pg. 23-24]

Christian, why don't you make this a year of going to God and getting what you need and being happy? I would put Him first in the giving business. Remember in Matthew 6:33 He has just said not to worry about your food. He said, '. . .take no thought for tomorrow, what you shall wear.' He said, 'The birds of the air are cared for. Your Heavenly Father feeds them.' He said, 'Solomon in all his glory wasn't dressed up like a wild flower that God gas cared for. And aren't you worth more than flowers and worth more than birds?'

So He said in Matthew 6:33, "But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you."

Why don't you this year put Jesus first? Can you say, "I am going to put Him first so I won't be covetous. What money I have belongs to Him. What I possess, God possesses or any talent or gift or friend or loved one--whatever. I am going to let Jesus be in charge"? - John R. Rice [Christmas Now and All the Year, pg. 23]

HEBREWS LETTUCE

HEBREWS 6:1

 

Pastor Rick Jackson

 

Have you ever heard of romaine lettuce? Iceberg lettuce? Boston lettuce. Looseleaf, butterhead, crisphead and other various types. How about Hebrews lettuce? Hebrews lettuce? Never heard of it. What? It is mentioned numerous times in the book of Hebrews. How have you not heard of it?

 

I. DON'T STAGNATE

 

Salvation is not just the end of the old life, it is the beginning of the new life. We should not be satisfied with just being saved, as wonderful as that is. God has more in mind for us. Otherwise, the Saviour might just as well take us Home immediately after our trusting Him.

 

1. Let Us Study [Heb. 6:1-3, 2 Tm. 2:15]

 

Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.

 

2. Let Us Submit [Heb. 10:22, James 4:7] Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.

 

3. Let Us Stand [Heb. 10:23, 1 Corinthians 16:13] Watch ye, stand fast in the faith, quit you like men, be strong.

 

2 Corinthians 1:24 Not for that we have dominion over your faith, but are helpers of your joy: for by faith ye stand.

Galatians 5:1 Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage.

Ephesians 6:11 Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.

 

II. DON'T BE SELFISH

 

1. Let Us Consider Others [Heb. 10:24-25, Phil. 2:1-5]

 

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:

 

2. Let Us Consider Self [Heb. 12:1]

 

3. Let Us Consider God [Heb. 12:28-29, Col. 3:17]

 

And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him.

 

III. DON'T STOP [Heb. 13:1-12]

 

1. Let Us Live for Him [Heb. 13:13]

 

2. Let Us Look for Him [Heb. 13:14, 12:2-4]

 

3. Let Us Love Him [Heb. 13:15-16, John 14:15] If ye love me, keep my commandments

THE WITNESS GOD DESIRES in 2022

ACTS 1:8, 5:17-18

 

Pastor Rick Jackson

 

I. GOD DESIRES A CONSISTENT WITNESS

 

1. Must Have a Consistent Message [v. 17-20, Rm. 1:16]

 

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.

 

2. Must Have a Consistent Method [v. 18-21, 25] “Speak”  Lifestyle evangelism is only valid as the life backs up the lips

 

3. Must Have a Consistent Ministry [Mt. 28:18-20 no quitters in this group, no retirement from the will of God]

 

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.

 

II. GOD DESIRES A COURAGEOUS WITNESS

 

1. Has a Courage made of Conviction [v. 19-20, 29] God Had Spoken!

 

2. Has a Courage Rooted in Consecration [v. 29]

 

3. Has a Courage Based on Cooperation [v. 32]

 

III. GOD DESIRES A CHRIST CENTERED WITNESS

 

1. Has a Message of Death [v. 30, 28]

 

2. Has a Message of Life [v. 20, 31, Rm. 1:1-4, 4:25]

 

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:

Who was delivered for our offences, and was raised again for our justification.

 

3. Has a Message of Opportunity [v. 31-33]

JOHN R. RICE QUOTES OF THE WEEK

 Let your heart be revived at Christmastime.

It is hard to have a great revival in your church at Christmas, because people are thinking about something else. But it is not hard to have revival in your heart.

I was a boy about 15 [1910]. Christmastime came in the ranch country in West Texas. All the rest of the family went to Decatur, Texas, to Grandpa Bella's (my stepmother's father). I was left alone. Someone had to feed the horses, milk the cows and take care of the little stock farm and the ranch while the others were gone. So I was left alone for a whole week. I got to reading the Bible. I found out what is true in Jeremiah 15:16, "Thy words were found, and I did eat them; and thy word was unto me the joy and rejoicing of mine heart." Oh, I learned to enjoy the Bible. How sweet and good it was!

At Christmastime, why don't you have a little time of spiritual revival, a little extra time to pray, a little extra time to sing the choruses and happy anthems of Christmastime-"Joy to the World," etc.? You can have a wonderful time of blessing at Christmas. Have a revival in your heart. - John R. Rice {Christmas and Jesus, pg. 8]

We have eternal salvation. You remember that "God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life." Oh, you didn't get life for a day, or for a week. You didn't get salvation until you do wrong, or if you hold out. You got everlasting life when you got Jesus. - John R. Rice [Christmas Now and All the Year, pg. 21]

You got everlasting life when you got Jesus.

You mean the next day a fellow is just as much saved? Yes, sir. Whether he works like he ought to? Well, you don't have to put a "whether" about that, for every person who hears me today is falling short of the perfect will of God. You needn't tell me you are sinless and blameless. You needn't tell me you are as good as Jesus Christ. You needn't tell me that you never omitted one single thing you ought to do nor ever crossed over the line in the thing you ought not to say or didn't say. I am just saying that everybody who hears me has failed, and if God doesn't have salvation for sinners that keeps them, we would sure be a ruined bunch, all going to Hell. But it is everlasting life that God gives freely. Everlasting life. - John R. Rice [Christmas Now and All the Year, pg. 21]

In I Corinthians 6:19, 20 we read, "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." My body is a temple of God, not because I am worthy; not because I hold out faithful; I didn't start faithful. There has never been anything good about me that could earn salvation nor pay back God for the awful cost of the death of His Son on the cross. No, I got salvation free because Jesus loved me and died for me and offered it free, and I accepted it. - John R. Rice [Christmas Now and All the Year, pg. 21-22]

Thank God for everlasting life! So I can say like Paul said in II Timothy 1:12, "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."

If I had a lot of money (I don't have) and if I had a lock box at a bank (I don't have), and I would go and deposit $50,000 in bonds in that locked box, they would keep it safe for me. But I have a locked box in Heaven and the Lord Jesus Christ has my eternal welfare in His hands, my High Priest, and He can be perfectly trusted "to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day," the Scripture said.

He didn't say, "I AM committing." He said, I HAVE committed." Paul didn't say, "I WILL BE believing." He said, "I have believed." And so have I, and I have salvation. - John R. Rice [Christmas Now and All the Year, pg. 22]

I read again this morning where the Scripture said, ". . .we have now received the atonement." I have already received it. My sins are already paid for.

Somebody says, "You might sin again." Yes, not only might, I have. I am so sorry. But then, do you think the Lord Jesus is going to come back and die again to pay for my sins? No, He did it all by one offering forever. No, thank God. I have eternal salvation and "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." I have everlasting life. That would be just as much Christmas in the middle of the year as December 25. - John R. Rice [Christmas Now and All the Year, pg. 22]

I have not only eternal salvation, but I have peace with God. "Oh, the peace the Saviour gives! Peace I never knew before." You can trust Jesus. He said, "My peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid." Jesus said in John 14:2, "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." He said, "Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid." I have peace with God. - John R. Rice [Christmas Now and All the Year, pg. 22]

Christian, why don't you make this a year of going to God and getting what you need and being happy? I would put Him first in the giving business. Remember in Matthew 6:33 He has just said not to worry about your food. He said, '. . .take no thought for tomorrow, what you shall wear.' He said, 'The birds of the air are cared for. Your Heavenly Father feeds them.' He said, 'Solomon in all his glory wasn't dressed up like a wild flower that God gas cared for. And aren't you worth more than flowers and worth more than birds?'

So He said in Matthew 6:33, "But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you."

Why don't you this year put Jesus first? Can you say, "I am going to put Him first so I won't be covetous. What money I have belongs to Him. What I possess, God possesses or any talent or gift or friend or loved one--whatever. I am going to let Jesus be in charge"? - John R. Rice [Christmas Now and All the Year, pg. 23]