THE SIMPLE SOLUTION IN TIMES OF TROUBLE

Psalm 54

 

Pastor Rick Jackson

 

I. THE REQUESTS [v. 1-2]

 

1. Based on God’s Honor [v. 1a]

 

2. Based on God’s Power [v. 1b] – be sure you are right when you pray this one

 

3. Based on God’s Grace [v. 2]

 

II. THE REALITY [v. 3-5]

 

1.  The Source of Oppression [v. 3]

 

2. The Source of Help [v. 4a, 5]

 

3.  The Source of Opportunity [v. 4b]

 

III. THE RESULTS [v. 6-7]

 

1. Freely Giving [v. 6a] thank offering- not the tithe

 

2. Freely Praising [v. 6b-7a]

 

3. Freely Facing [v. 7b] facing my foes without terror [Is. 14:12-17, Rm. 5:1-11]

 

How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning ! how art thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations! For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north: I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the most High. Yet thou shalt be brought down to hell, to the sides of the pit. They that see thee shall narrowly look upon thee, and consider thee, saying, Is this the man that made the earth to tremble, that did shake kingdoms; That made the world as a wilderness, and destroyed the cities thereof; that opened not the house of his prisoners?

 

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. 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. 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. And not only so, but we also joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have now received the atonement.

THE MAN OF SIN REVEALED

2 Th. 2:3

 

Pastor Rick Jackson

 

I. THE MAN OF SIN REVEALED BY DANIEL

 

1. Revealed as Part of the Revived Roman Empire [9:25-26]

 

2. Revealed as a Politician of Persuasion and Power [9:27]

 

3. Revealed as a Pawn of Satan and Destined to Fail [11:36-12:1]

 

II. THE MAN OF SIN REVEALED BY PAUL

 

1. He Won’t Be Revealed Until after the Rapture [2 Th. 2:1-3]

 

2. He will be Revealed as the Culmination of Satan’s Program [2 Th. 2:4-9]

 

1 John 2:18 Little children, it is the last time: and as ye have heard that antichrist shall come, even now are there many antichrists; whereby we know that it is the last time.

1 John 2:22 Who is a liar but he that denieth that Jesus is the Christ? He is antichrist, that denieth the Father and the Son.

1 John 4:3 And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world.

2 John 1:7 For many deceivers are entered into the world, who confess not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh. This is a deceiver and an antichrist.

 

3. He Will be Defeated by the Lord Jesus Christ [2 Th. 2:8, 1:7-9]

 

III. THE MAN OF SIN REVEALED BY JOHN

 

1. As Part of Satan’s “Unholy Trinity” [Rev. 13]

 

2. As Premier of a World-wide Government  [Rev. 17:8-13]

 

3. As Powerless Against Jesus, the King of Kings [Rev. 17:14, 19:11-21, 20:10]

LOOKING UNTO THE FACE OF JESUS

2 Cor. 3:18, 4:5-6; Rev. 22:3-4

 

But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.

For we preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord; and ourselves your servants for Jesus sake. For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness , hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.

And there shall be no more curse: but the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it; and his servants shall serve him: And they shall see his face; and his name shall be in their foreheads.

 

Pastor Rick Jackson

 

I. THE SAVIOUR’S FACE

 

1. The Saviour’s Face is a Face that was Set [Is. 50:7, Luke 9:51]

 

For the Lord GOD will help me; therefore shall I not be confounded: therefore have I set my face like a flint, and I know that I shall not be ashamed.

And it came to pass, when the time was come that he should be received up , he stedfastly set his face to go to Jerusalem,

 

2. The Saviour’s Face is a Face that was Smitten [Isaiah 53:4, Lk. 22:63-64]

 

Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted.

And the men that held Jesus mocked him, and smote him. And when they had blindfolded him, they struck him on the face, and asked him, saying, Prophesy, who is it that smote thee?

 

3.  The Saviour’s Face is a Face that was Settled [Ps. 2:10-12]

 

Be wise now therefore, O ye kings: be instructed, ye judges of the earth. Serve the LORD with fear, and rejoice with trembling. Kiss the Son, lest he be angry, and ye perish from the way, when his wrath is kindled but a little. Blessed are all they that put their trust in him.

 

II. THE STAINED FACE

 

1. The Face of Jesus was Stained with Tears [John 11:35, Lk. 19:41]

 

Jesus wept.

And when he was come near, he beheld the city, and wept over it,

 

2. The Face of Jesus was Stained with Spit [Is. 50:6, Mk. 15:16-20]

 

I gave my back to the smiters, and my cheeks to them that plucked off the hair: I hid not my face from shame and spitting.

And the soldiers led him away into the hall, called Praetorium; and they call together the whole band. And they clothed him with purple, and platted a crown of thorns, and put it about his head, And began to salute him, Hail, King of the Jews! And they smote him on the head with a reed, and did spit upon him, and bowing their knees worshipped him. And when they had mocked him, they took off the purple from him, and put his own clothes on him, and led him out to crucify him.

 

3. The Face of Jesus was Stained with Blood [Lk. 22:41-44, Mt. 27:27-30, Is. 50:6]

 

And he was withdrawn from them about a stone's cast, and kneeled down , and prayed, Saying, Father, if thou be willing, remove this cup from me: nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done. And there appeared an angel unto him from heaven, strengthening him. And being in an agony he prayed more earnestly: and his sweat was as it were great drops of blood falling down to the ground.

Then the soldiers of the governor took Jesus into the common hall, and gathered unto him the whole band of soldiers. And they stripped him, and put on him a scarlet robe. And when they had platted a crown of thorns, they put it upon his head, and a reed in his right hand: and they bowed the knee before him, and mocked him, saying, Hail, King of the Jews! And they spit upon him, and took the reed, and smote him on the head.

I gave my back to the smiters, and my cheeks to them that plucked off the hair: I hid not my face from shame and spitting.

III. THE SOVEREIGN’S FACE

 

1. A Shining Face [Mt. 17:1-2, Rev. 1:9-14]

And after six days Jesus taketh Peter , James, and John his brother, and bringeth them up into an high mountain apart, And was transfigured before them: and his face did shine as the sun, and his raiment was white as the light.

I John, who also am your brother, and companion in tribulation, and in the kingdom and patience of Jesus Christ, was in the isle that is called Patmos, for the word of God, and for the testimony of Jesus Christ. I was in the Spirit on the Lord's day, and heard behind me a great voice, as of a trumpet, Saying, I am Alpha and Omega, the first and the last: and, What thou seest, write in a book, and send it unto the seven churches which are in Asia; unto Ephesus, and unto Smyrna, and unto Pergamos, and unto Thyatira, and unto Sardis, and unto Philadelphia, and unto Laodicea. And I turned to see the voice that spake with me. And being turned, I saw seven golden candlesticks; And in the midst of the seven candlesticks one like unto the Son of man, clothed with a garment down to the foot, and girt about the paps with a golden girdle. His head and his hairs were white like wool, as white as snow; and his eyes were as a flame of fire;

 

2. A Scorching Face [Rev. 1:14-17, 6:16, 20:11-14]

His head and his hairs were white like wool, as white as snow; and his eyes were as a flame of fire; And his feet like unto fine brass, as if they burned in a furnace; and his voice as the sound of many waters. And he had in his right hand seven stars: and out of his mouth went a sharp twoedged sword: and his countenance was as the sun shineth in his strength. And when I saw him, I fell at his feet as dead. And he laid his right hand upon me, saying unto me, Fear not; I am the first and the last:

And said to the mountains and rocks, Fall on us, and hide us from the face of him that sitteth on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb:

And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them. And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works. And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works. And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death.

 

3. A Seen Face [Zechariah 12:10, Rev. 22:3-4]

And I will pour upon the house of David, and upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the spirit of grace and of supplications: and they shall look upon me whom they have pierced, and they shall mourn for him, as one mourneth for his only son, and shall be in bitterness for him, as one that is in bitterness for his firstborn.

And there shall be no more curse: but the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it; and his servants shall serve him: And they shall see his face; and his name shall be in their foreheads.

JOHN R. RICE QUOTES OF THE WEEK

 "By love unfeigned." [II Cor. 6:6] The love of Christ constrained Paul to his abundant labors and sacrifice. His love for his people Israel drove him continually to prayer and witness (Rom. 10:1) and "God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son." So love is the greatest motivation in the world, as the Holy Spirit power is the greatest power in the world. - John R. Rice [The Church of God at Corinth, pg. 212]

There is a striking paradox in a good Christian life. The way to be great is to be a servant of all (Matt. 20:26-28). The way to have is to give (Luke 6:38; Prov. 11:25; II Cor. 9:8). The way to save one's life is to lose it (Mark 8:35). So the good Christian minister, warning, pleading, witnessing to many, will have honor and praise from those blessed by his ministry. But those who resist, who continue in sin, will avoid and disparage the zealous one. To some he is "the savour of life unto life," to others he is "the savour of death unto death" (II Cor. 2:16). He will be of good report of the best people, the earnest Christians, but slandered, sneered at, counted queer or a nuisance by others. - John R. Rice [The Church of God at Corinth, pg. 214]

I KNOW God answers prayer. He has answered mine in thousands of instances. The answers to prayer have been so definite, so clearly out of the realm of probability that an unbiased investigator must be convinced that these answers to prayer were really the supernatural intervention of a loving God Who works miracles for His children when they trust Him. Others ought to tell what God has done for them, and so I ought to tell what God has done for me. - John R. Rice [Prayer -- Asking & Receiving, pg. 12]

Oh, God's Word means not to restrict the Christian's life, to make drab the future, to limit enjoyment [2 Cor. 6:12]! He wants them to develop a great standard, a great goal for Christian living with power and joy. - John R. Rice [The Church of God at Corinth, pg. 215]

In II John, verses 9 to 11, we are plainly commanded, "Whosoever transgresseth, and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God. He that abideth in the doctrine of Christ, he hath both the Father and the Son. If there come any unto you, and bring not this doctrine, receive him not into your house, neither bid him God speed: For he that biddeth him God speed is partaker of his evil deeds." One who does not abide in the Bible teaching about Christ is not saved; he "hath not God," he is not a Christian and ought not to be given Christian recognition. I ought not receive him in the pulpit as a preacher, ought not to receive him as a Christian teacher in the Sunday school of Bible college or seminary. I ought not call him "brother," ought not entertain him in the prophet's chamber in my home. I might help any poor, troubled soul with food and raiment, but I ought not call him brother if he is an unconverted child of Satan. - John R. Rice [The Church of God at Corinth, pg. 217]

No one ought ever be received as a church member who does not profess faith in Christ as his own personal Saviour. I cannot take part in a ministerial association if by doing so I must call "brother" unconverted men, infidels or those who deny the deity of Christ and His virgin birth and bodily resurrection, deny the blood atonement and inspiration of the Bible. If membership and association means count them brothers I cannot and must not do it. I must not support, with my money, denominational institutions that feed and honor and promote such men who are not Christians and who do not believe the Bible and deny the historic Christian faith. - John R. Rice [The Church of God at Corinth, pg. 217]

Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness? 2 Cor. 6:14

This command against the unequal yoke will forbid the marriage of saved with the unsaved. We ate told that the widow "is at liberty to be married to whom she will; only in the Lord" (1 Cor. 7:39). And what a sad tale it is of Solomon who married heathen women and his wives turned away his heart. "For it came to pass, when Solomon was old, that his wives turned away his heart after other gods: and his heart was not perfect with the LORD his God, as was the heart of David his father. For Solomon went after Ashtoreth the goddess of the Zidonians, and after Milcom the abomination of the Ammonites" (I Kings 11:4-5). - John R. Rice [The Church of God at Corinth, pg. 218]

YOU ARE UNIQUE (just like everyone else)

1 Corinthians 12:25-31

 

Pastor Rick Jackson

 

 I. THE UNIQUENESS OF YOU

 

 1. From the Womb [Gn. 25:23, Ps. 139:13, Is. 44:2, 24, 49:5, Jer.1:5, Lk. 1]

 

- And the LORD said unto her, Two nations are in thy womb, and two manner of people shall be separated from thy bowels; and the one people shall be stronger than the other people; and the elder shall serve the younger.

- For thou hast possessed my reins: thou hast covered me in my mother's womb.

- Thus saith the LORD that made thee, and formed thee from the womb, which will help thee; Fear not, O Jacob, my servant; and thou, Jesurun, whom I have chosen…

-Thus saith the LORD, thy redeemer, and he that formed thee from the womb, I am the LORD that maketh all things; that stretcheth forth the heavens alone; that spreadeth abroad the earth by myself;

-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.

- Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee; and before thou camest forth out of the womb I sanctified thee, and I ordained thee a prophet unto the nations.

 

2. By Your Natural Abilities [Ex. 35:35, Jeremiah 10:9, Daniel 1:4]

 

-Them hath he filled with wisdom of heart, to work all manner of work, of the engraver, and of the cunning workman, and of the embroiderer, in blue, and in purple, in scarlet , and in fine linen, and of the weaver, even of them that do any work, and of those that devise cunning work.

- Silver spread into plates is brought from Tarshish, and gold from Uphaz, the work of the workman, and of the hands of the founder: blue and purple is their clothing: they are all the work of cunning men.

- Children in whom was no blemish , but well favoured, and skilful in all wisdom, and cunning in knowledge, and understanding science, and such as had ability in them to stand in the king's palace, and whom they might teach the learning and the tongue of the Chaldeans.

 

3. By Your Spiritual Gifts [2 Cor. 12:1-11]

II. THE UNIQUENESS OF YOUR TIME

 

 1.  The Given Time [Esther 4:14]

For if thou altogether holdest thy peace at this time, then shall there enlargement and deliverance arise to the Jews from another place; but thou and thy father's house shall be destroyed: and who knoweth whether thou art come to the kingdom for such a time as this?

 

2. The Knowing Times [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.

 

3.  Redeeming the Time [Eph. 5:16, Col. 4:5]

- Redeeming the time, because the days are evil.

- Walk in wisdom toward them that are without, redeeming the time

 

 III. THE UNIQUENESS OF YOUR PLACE

 

1. Your Habitation [Dt. 12:5, Acts 17:26]

 

- But unto the place which the LORD your God shall choose out of all your tribes to put his name there, even unto his habitation shall ye seek, and thither thou shalt come:

- And hath made of one blood all nations of men for to dwell on all the face of the earth, and hath determined the times before appointed, and the bounds of their habitation;

 

2. Your Home [Mark 5:18-20]

And when he was come into the ship, he that had been possessed with the devil prayed him that he might be with him. Howbeit Jesus suffered him not, but saith unto him, Go home to thy friends, and tell them how great things the Lord hath done for thee, and hath had compassion on thee. And he departed, and began to publish in Decapolis how great things Jesus had done for him: and all men did marvel.

 

3. Your Field [Acts 1:8]

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.

CONTENTIOUS CHRISTIANS

ACTS 15:35-41

 

 Pastor Rick Jackson

 

I. BARNABAS- A GOOD MAN [Acts 11:24]

 

1. A Generous Consoler [4:36-37]

 

2. A Bold Encourager [9:26-27]

 

3. A Spirit-Filled Leader [11:22-26]

 

 II. PAUL- A CHOSEN MAN [Eph. 1:4, 2 Tm. 2:4]

 

1. A Changed Man [Gal. 1:23]

 

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.

 

2. A Charged Man [Acts 26:13-23]

 

At midday , O king, I saw in the way a light from heaven, above the brightness of the sun, shining round about me and them which journeyed with me. And when we were all fallen to the earth, I heard a voice speaking unto me, and saying in the Hebrew tongue, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me? it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks. And I said, Who art thou, Lord? And he said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest. But rise, and stand upon thy feet: for I have appeared unto thee for this purpose, to make thee a minister and a witness both of these things which thou hast seen, and of those things in the which I will appear unto thee; Delivering thee from the people, and from the Gentiles, unto whom now I send thee, To open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in me. Whereupon, O king Agrippa, I was not disobedient unto the heavenly vision: But shewed first unto them of Damascus, and at Jerusalem, and throughout all the coasts of Judaea, and then to the Gentiles, that they should repent and turn to God, and do works meet for repentance. For these causes the Jews caught me in the temple, and went about to kill me. 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: That Christ should suffer, and that he should be the first that should rise from the dead, and should shew light unto the people, and to the Gentiles.

 

3. A Charging Man [2 Tm. 4:1-5]

 

I charge thee therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom; Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine. For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables. But watch thou in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, make full proof of thy ministry.

 

 III. A SHARP CONTENTION

 

 1. It was not a Doctrinal Dispute [Acts 15:35]

 

2. It was not a Directional Dispute [15:36]

 

3. It was a Determined Dispute [15:37-41]

 

Both men were human. Humans will disagree. Good men sometimes disagree but we ought try to agree to disagree when it is not doctrinal or directional.

Romans 12:18 If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men

THE NEXT GREAT EVENT ON THE CALENDAR OF GOD

1 THESSALONIANS 4:15-17

 

Pastor Rick Jackson

 

The next great event on the calendar of God is what we commonly call the Rapture. When the Lord Jesus returns for His saints in the twinkle of an eye and we meet Him in the air. This event is faster than the human eye can perceive and will change the world like no single event in almost 2000 years. There are several things I want to share with you, from the Scriptures, about the Rapture.

 

I. THE RAPTURE [TNGEOTCOG] IS IMMINENT!

 

1. There is Nothing that Precedes It [1 Th. 4:14-17, 1 Cor. 15:51-52]

 

Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.

 

2. There is Nothing that Prevents It [1 Th. 5:1-3] if you don’t know when it is how could you stop it?

 

3. There is nothing that Postpones It [Gal. 4:4, Eph. 1:10]

 

But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law,

That in the dispensation of the fulness of times he might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even in him

 

II. THE RAPTURE [TNGEOTCOG] IS IMPORTANT!

 

1. It is Important because it Removes the Church [1 Th. 4:13-17, 2 Th. 2:1-3a]

 

2. It is Important because it Reveals the Antichrist [2 Th. 2:3b-10]

 

3. It is Important because it Releases God’s Wrath [1 Th. 1:9-10, 5:9, Revelation 6:16-17]

 

And said to the mountains and rocks, Fall on us, and hide us from the face of him that sitteth on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb: For the great day of his wrath is come; and who shall be able to stand?

 

III. THE RAPTURE [TNGEOTCOG] IS IMPERATIVE!

 

1. The Rapture is Imperative to Manifest God’s Holiness [2 Th. 1:6-9]

 

2. The Rapture is Imperative to Maintain God’s Word [1 Th. 5:19-24, 2 Th. 1:10]

 

3. The Rapture is Imperative to Mark God’s Timetable [2 Th. 2:1-8, Rev. 4:1ff]

 

JOHN R. RICE QUOTES OF THE WEEK

 "To another discerning of spirits" (I Cor. 12, vs. 10). All Christians are warned to "try the spirits whether they are of God" (I John 4:1). All are to "beware of false prophets" (Matt. 7:15). All are reminded that Satan goes about like a roaring lion, that that we are to put on the whole armour of God, praying always (Eph. 6:11). But some wise men are obviously endued with the wisdom to discern insincerity, false doctrines and unwise applications. Dr. Bob Jones, Sr., seemed to have that gift. So, in some measure have other greatly used men of God. Paul seem to have more discernment than Peter, for Peter was led into compromise with the Judaizers in Galatians 2:4-11, and Barnabas likewise was led away with his dissimulation. But Paul, with divine wisdom, saw that was wrong and rebuked it openly. - John R. Rice [The Church of God at Corinth, pg. 119]

The Bible never hints that "the church, which is his body" began at Pentecost. That body, "the general assembly and church of the firstborn, which are written in heaven" (Heb. 12:23), will include, at the rapture when it is called out and assembled (and therefore an ecclesia of church,) the born-again children of God, these "dead in Christ" of I Thessalonians 4:16, 17. So it must include Old Testament saints. It could not, then, have begun at Pentecost. - John R. Rice [The Church of God at Corinth, pg. 122]

Is Paul rebuking what they had at Corinth [I Cor. 14]? Obviously. Does God give power for a miracle and then rebuke the miracle? Never! Then what foreign languages they had at Corinth were not miraculous. They were natural languages, unknown to some, particularly the "unlearned" as verses 23 and 24 tell us. - John R. Rice [The Church of God at Corinth, pg. 134]

The Gospel is so glorious, God's grace is so wonderful that, given such an offer of mercy and eternal blessing, how can any lost sinner reject it? How can anyone reject such love, turn down Heaven, go ahead on a course that leads to Hell and eternal suffering and ruin? It is unreasonable. After one is saved, he always sees that his rebellion, his delay, his unbelief were unreasonable folly! Why then do not all who hear the Gospel turn to Christ at once?

Because of two things--their own depraved nature, with a bias toward evil, and Satan's work in deceiving sinners. - John R. Rice [The Church of God at Corinth, pg. 187]

God in lovingkindness must sometimes allow suffering to come to one of His own in order to make us our best. How many preachers struggle along in poverty because God wants them to enter into the heart-burden of those to whom they minister. God wants a man to serve Him even in sorrow and poverty, and sometimes God allows one to suffer as did Paul with his thorn in the flesh, "lest I should be exalted above measure" (II Cor. 12:70). Sometimes God allows tragedy, the death of a loved one, some heartbreak to come to a man, that the well of human compassion and pity for those about him may be deepened. - John R. Rice [The Church of God at Corinth, pg. 189-190]

There is the sweet fellowship with the Lord Jesus that one will never know unless he suffers with Jesus and for Jesus. - John R. Rice [The Church of God at Corinth, pg. 193]

"By longsuffering." [II Cor. 6:6] With what patience, with what unflurried peace must the man of God lead God's people, deal with their sins and failures, without much surprise or discouragement. Leadership should be settled in character, not giving up one's peace, nor one's task, nor giving up the wayward. - John R. Rice [The Church of God at Corinth, pg. 211-212]

SOLID INFORMATION ABOUT THE AFTERLIFE

LUKE 16:19-17:1                         

 

Pastor Rick Jackson

 

I. THE DEAD DON’T COMMUNICATE WITH THE LIVING [v. 27-31]

 

1. The Strange Case of King Saul (the Exception to the Rule) [1 Sam. 28:8ff]

 

2. The Strict Case Against Spiritualists [Dt. 18:9-14]

 

When thou art come into the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee, thou shalt not learn to do after the abominations of those nations. There shall not be found among you any one that maketh his son or his daughter to pass through the fire, or that useth divination, or an observer of times, or an enchanter, or a witch, Or a charmer , or a consulter with familiar spirits, or a wizard, or a necromancer . For all that do these things are an abomination unto the LORD: and because of these abominations the LORD thy God doth drive them out from before thee. Thou shalt be perfect with the LORD thy God. For these nations, which thou shalt possess, hearkened unto observers of times, and unto diviners: but as for thee, the LORD thy God hath not suffered thee so to do.

 

3. The Strong Case of Bible Sufficiency [Dt. 18:15-22, Lk. 16:17, 29, 31]

 

The LORD thy God will raise up unto thee a Prophet from the midst of thee, of thy brethren, like unto me; unto him ye shall hearken; According to all that thou desiredst of the LORD thy God in Horeb in the day of the assembly, saying, Let me not hear again the voice of the LORD my God, neither let me see this great fire any more, that I die not. And the LORD said unto me, They have well spoken that which they have spoken. I will raise them up a Prophet from among their brethren, like unto thee, and will put my words in his mouth; and he shall speak unto them all that I shall command him. And it shall come to pass, that whosoever will not hearken unto my words which he shall speak in my name, I will require it of him. But the prophet, which shall presume to speak a word in my name, which I have not commanded him to speak, or that shall speak in the name of other gods, even that prophet shall die. And if thou say in thine heart, How shall we know the word which the LORD hath not spoken? When a prophet speaketh in the name of the LORD, if the thing follow not, nor come to pass, that is the thing which the LORD hath not spoken, but the prophet hath spoken it presumptuously: thou shalt not be afraid of him.

 

II. THE PLACE OF TORMENT [v. 22-26]

 

1. A Temporary Torment  [Rev. 20:13]

 

And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works.

 

2. A Terrifying Judgment [Rev. 20:11-13]

 

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

 

3. An Eternal Torment [Rev. 19:19-20; 20:6-10, 14-15]

 

III. THE PLACE OF COMFORT [Lk. 16:22-25]

 

1. With the Living Saints (NOT the grave as we shall clearly see)

 

[Lk. 16:22-25; Gen. 25:8, 35:29, 49:29-33; Num. 27:13; 2 Kings 2:1]

 

-Then Abraham gave up the ghost, and died in a good old age, an old man, and full of years; and was gathered to his people.

- And Isaac gave up the ghost, and died, and was gathered unto his people, being old and full of days: and his sons Esau and Jacob buried him.

- And he charged them, and said unto them, I am to be gathered unto my people: bury me with my fathers in the cave that is in the field of Ephron the Hittite, In the cave that is in the field of Machpelah, which is before Mamre, in the land of Canaan, which Abraham bought with the field of Ephron the Hittite for a possession of a buryingplace. There they buried Abraham and Sarah his wife; there they buried Isaac and Rebekah his wife; and there I buried Leah. The purchase of the field and of the cave that is therein was from the children of Heth. And when Jacob had made an end of commanding his sons, he gathered up his feet into the bed, and yielded up the ghost, and was gathered unto his people.

- And when thou hast seen it, thou also shalt be gathered unto thy people, as Aaron thy brother was gathered.

-And it came to pass, when the LORD would take up Elijah into heaven by a whirlwind, that Elijah went with Elisha from Gilgal.

 

2. With the Angels [Luke 15:7,10, 16:22, Ps. 78:23-25]

 

Though he had commanded the clouds from above, and opened the doors of heaven, And had rained down manna upon them to eat, and had given them of the corn of heaven. Man did eat angels food: he sent them meat to the full.

 

3. With the Lord [Gen. 5:24, 2 Corinthians 5:6-8]

 

- And Enoch walked with God: and he was not; for God took him.

-Therefore we are always confident, knowing that, whilst we are at home in the body, we are absent from the Lord: (For we walk by faith, not by sight:) We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord.

4 REASONS I AM GLAD I’M NOT GOING TO HELL

Mt. 5:29 And if thy right eye offend thee, pluck it out, and cast it from thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not that thy whole body should be cast into hell.

 

Pastor Rick Jackson

 

I am sure, if you thought about it, you could give me many reasons you would NOT want to go to Hell. If most people understood what Hell is really like they would be able to as well. Many have misconceptions about Hell. Several cults believe it is just the grave. Some people believe it is “party time”, while others think they will reign with Satan there. These are man’s misconceptions and/or downright devilish deceptions. Let me give you four Bible based reasons why I do not want to go to Hell.

 

 I. I DO NOT WANT TO GO TO HELL BECAUSE OF THE CHARACTER OF THAT PLACE

 

 1. Hell is a Place of Darkness [Mt. 8:12,25:30-31]

 

- But the children of the kingdom shall be cast out into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

- And cast ye the unprofitable servant into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth. When the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory:

 

2. Hell is a Place of Fire [Mt. 3:11, 5:22, Mk. 9:43-48]

 

- I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance: but he that cometh after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and with fire:

- but whosoever shall say, Thou fool, shall be in danger of hell fire.

- And if thy hand offend thee, cut it off: it is better for thee to enter into life maimed, than having two hands to go into hell, into the fire that never shall be quenched: Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched. And if thy foot offend thee, cut it off: it is better for thee to enter halt into life, than having two feet to be cast into hell, into the fire that never shall be quenched: Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched. And if thine eye offend thee, pluck it out: it is better for thee to enter into the kingdom of God with one eye, than having two eyes to be cast into hell fire: Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched.

3. Hell is a Place of Eternal Torment [Mt. 25:41; Lk. 16:23-25, Rev. 14:10-11, 20:10]

 

-- Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels:

-And in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom. And he cried and said, Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water, and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame. But Abraham said, Son, remember that thou in thy lifetime receivedst thy good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things: but now he is comforted, and thou art tormented.

- The same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out without mixture into the cup of his indignation; and he shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels, and in the presence of the Lamb: And the smoke of their torment ascendeth up for ever and ever: and they have no rest day nor night, who worship the beast and his image, and whosoever receiveth the mark of his name.

- And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever.

 

 Hell is the place of the fire-blasted corridors of the damned, where the sun never shines, the birds never sing, the weeping never ceases, thirst never ends, water cannot be found and children’s laughter is absent. The inhabitants of that place are always separated from God where no hope exists, but despair, darkness and defeat prevail. The is no rest for the weary, no satisfaction for passions running unchecked and no kind words to soothe the troubled nerves. There is never a moment without pain for the body and there is no contentment for the soul.

 

 II. I DO NOT WANT TO GO TO HELL BECAUSE OF THE CROWD OF THAT PLACE [Is. 5:11-14, Mt. 25:41, Gal. 5:19-21, Rev. 21:8, 22:15]

 

- Woe unto them that rise up early in the morning, that they may follow strong drink; that continue until night, till wine inflame them! And the harp, and the viol, the tabret, and pipe, and wine, are in their feasts: but they regard not the work of the LORD, neither consider the operation of his hands. Therefore my people are gone into captivity, because they have no knowledge: and their honourable men are famished, and their multitude dried up with thirst. Therefore hell hath enlarged herself, and opened her mouth without measure: and their glory, and their multitude, and their pomp, and he that rejoiceth, shall descend into it.

- Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels:

- Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.

- But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.

- For without are dogs, and sorcerers, and whoremongers, and murderers, and idolaters, and whosoever loveth and maketh a lie.

That is not my crowd. Every dope fiend, sex pervert, serial killer, God-hating, sin-loving, Christ-rejecting, Devil-following person that ever lived will be there. The disobedient, warped, cursing, stealing, lying, cheating, unbelieving sinners that ever lived will be there. Hitler, Atilla the Hun, Stalin, Manson, Marx, and not to mention Satan and his angels will be there.

 

 III. I DO NOT WANT TO GO TO HELL BECAUSE OF THE CRIES OF THAT PLACE [Mt. 13:42, 50; Lk. 16]

 

- And shall cast them into a furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth.

- And he cried and said, Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water, and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame…. But Abraham said, Son, remember that thou in thy lifetime receivedst thy good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things: but now he is comforted, and thou art tormented…. I have five brethren; that he may testify unto them, lest they also come into this place of torment.

 

 IV. I DO NOT WANT TO GO TO HELL BECAUSE OF THE CHRISTLESSNESS OF THAT PLACE [Mt. 7:23, 25:41, Luke 13:27]

 

-And then will I profess unto them , I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.

-Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels:

But he shall say, I tell you, I know you not whence ye are; depart from me, all ye workers of iniquity.

4 REASONS I WANT TO GO TO HEAVEN

2 Corinthians 5:6-8 Therefore we are always confident, knowing that, whilst we are at home in the body, we are absent from the Lord: (For we walk by faith, not by sight:) We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord.

 

Pastor Rick Jackson

 

A little over a week ago a brother in Christ made a journey to a place I want to go. In Luke 23:43 we find this statement “And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, To day shalt thou be with me in paradise.” That’s where he went. I am sure, if you thought about it, you could give many reasons you want to go to heaven. If most people understood the true nature of Heaven they would be able to as well! Many people have misconceptions concerning Heaven. Some people think it will be boring- sitting on clouds strumming harps for eternity. Others think it will just be a continuation of life down here- albeit for eternity. One of the prominent cults teaches that women will be eternally fertile. Another misconception of Heaven is that people are angels in Heaven- regardless of whether they have to earn their wings or not. But all these are false misconceptions. Let me give you four Bible based reasons I do want to go to Heaven.

 

 I. I WANT TO GO TO HEAVEN BECAUSE OF THE CHARACTER OF THAT PLACE [Rev. 21:1-4, 10-12, 16, 18, 21-22:5]

 

 [1-4] And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea. And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God. And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.

[10-11] And he carried me away in the spirit to a great and high mountain, and shewed me that great city, the holy Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God, Having the glory of God: and her light was like unto a stone most precious, even like a jasper stone, clear as crystal;

[16] And the city lieth foursquare, and the length is as large as the breadth: and he measured the city with the reed , twelve thousand furlongs. The length and the breadth and the height of it are equal.

[18] And the building of the wall of it was of jasper: and the city was pure gold, like unto clear glass.

[21-27] And the twelve gates were twelve pearls; every several gate was of one pearl: and the street of the city was pure gold, as it were transparent glass. And I saw no temple therein : for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are the temple of it. And the city had no need of the sun, neither of the moon, to shine in it: for the glory of God did lighten it, and the Lamb is the light thereof. And the nations of them which are saved shall walk in the light of it: and the kings of the earth do bring their glory and honour into it. And the gates of it shall not be shut at all by day: for there shall be no night there. And they shall bring the glory and honour of the nations into it. And there shall in no wise enter into it any thing that defileth, neither whatsoever worketh abomination, or maketh a lie: but they which are written in the Lamb's book of life.

[22:1-5] And he shewed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding out of the throne of God and of the Lamb. In the midst of the street of it, and on either side of the river, was there the tree of life, which bare twelve manner of fruits, and yielded her fruit every month: and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations. And there shall be no more curse: but the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it; and his servants shall serve him: And they shall see his face; and his name shall be in their foreheads. And there shall be no night there; and they need no candle , neither light of the sun; for the Lord God giveth them light: and they shall reign for ever and ever.

 

No death, no goodbyes, no cemeteries, no sin, no drunk drivers, no locks on the doors, no hunger, no thirst, no hospitals because there is no sickness, no bills to pay, no disappointment, no heartache, no weariness, no Devil, no sin. If I wasn’t already booked for a flight, you could sign me up right now.

Heaven is a place of the shining corridors of the blessed. Where the light never goes out, the music is beautiful and never off key, where weeping has ended, where happy laughter fills the air, where the water is clear and delicious and thirst is quenched. The food is plentiful, delicious, and non-fattening. Heaven is a place where the inhabitants are always enjoying the presence of God, where despair and darkness do not exist and hope is a solid reality not an ambiguous desire. There is never a moment of pain, but contentment reigns in every heart. I want to go to Heaven because of the character of that place.

 

 II. I WANT TO GO TO HEAVEN BECAUSE OF THE CROWD OF THAT PLACE [John 14:1-6]

 

 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. Thomas saith unto him, Lord, we know not whither thou goest; and how can we know the way? Jesus saith unto him, I am the way , the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.

 

 I have 2 brothers I have never met. I have a grandfather I haven’t talked to since the night before he died in June of 1976. Besides family and friends, I look forward to meeting Paul, Moses, David, Peter, John, George Washington, Abraham Lincoln and so many others. Matthew 8:11 And I say unto you, That many shall come from the east and west, and shall sit down with Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, in the kingdom of heaven. That’s my crowd.

Most of all, I want to see JESUS! But more about that later.

 

III. I WANT TO GO TO HEAVEN BECAUSE OF THE CRIES OF THAT PLACE [2 Cor. 12:2-4]

 

 I knew a man in Christ above fourteen years ago, (whether in the body, I cannot tell; or whether out of the body, I cannot tell: God knoweth;) such an one caught up to the third heaven. And I knew such a man, (whether in the body, or out of the body, I cannot tell: God knoweth;) How that he was caught up into paradise, and heard unspeakable words, which it is not lawful for a man to utter.

 

 There is so much we are not told but can you imagine singing “Amazing Grace” led by the sweet psalmist of Israel King David. I sometimes watch videos of families reunited with someone they haven’t seen for some time. That cannot compete to when parents are reunited with children, families reunited, missionaries meeting again the people they led to the Lord, Christians reunited with the one who led them to Christ. The cheers when we see Jesus!

But my friends, most of all-

 

IV. I WANT TO GO TO HEAVEN BECAUSE OF THE CHRIST OF THAT PLACE [Phil. 1:21-23, John 14:6, 1:10-12]

 

 -For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain. But if I live in the flesh, this is the fruit of my labour : yet what I shall choose I wot not. For I am in a strait betwixt two, having a desire to depart, and to be with Christ; which is far better:

 

-Jesus saith unto him, I am the way , the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.

 

-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:

Christ loved us poor lost sinners so much He went to Calvary, He paid our sin debt and rose again 3 days later. My Christian brother trusted Him at age 36 in 1982, I trusted Him as a teenager- I am going to Heaven. I will see him again. I will see Jesus. The question is, will you?

JOHN R. RICE QUOTES OF THE WEEK

 Some suppose that Luke talked to Mary and thus she told him about the virgin birth. But Mary's word would be human, frail and fallible. We could not trust it in such a divine and eternal matter as the deity of Christ and how God became man. No, Luke himself said that he, "having had perfect understanding of all things FROM ABOVE"--not "from the very first" as the King James Version has it, but anothen, "from above" (Luke 1:3). Do not make the prologue to Luke's Gospel contradict this plain statement about sources of the Scripture. They did not come from eyewitnesses, not from what men heard others say, nor from handed-down "oral tradition," as the liberals say. - John R. Rice [The Church of God at Corinth, pg. 33]

Some untaught Christians say, "Ye shall know them by their fruits," and assume the right and ability to judge who is saved and who is not by their works. But they pervert and misuse the statement of Jesus in Matthew 7:15-20, "Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves. . . . Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them." You can know a false teacher by his teaching. That does not mean that any man is wise enough to see the heart and tell who is born again and who is not. "Man looketh on the outward appearance, but the Lord looketh on the heart" (I Sam. 16:7). - John R. Rice [The Church of God at Corinth, pg. 40]

The Spirit of God dwells in the body of a Christian. This began the very day Jesus arose from the dead and when He came and breathed on the disciples and said, "Receive ye the Holy Ghost" (John 20:19-23). From that hour every Christian has the Holy Spirit dwelling within him. - John R. Rice [The Church of God at Corinth, pg. 40]

O Christian, you are bought with a price! At an awful cost, Jesus Christ suffered for us and bought us for God. It would be dishonest then for any Christian to claim that he had rights to live his own life undirected, uncontrolled, unsupervised by the blessed Spirit of God. - John R. Rice [The Church of God at Corinth, pg. 40]

No man can call Jesus Lord but by the Spirit. That means really, no man can make Jesus the Lord of his life, can seriously and truly pronounce Jesus his Lord, except by the Holy Spirit. The heart attitude cannot be right except as the Holy Spirit has control. Not simply to say the word "Lord" but to say yes in the heart to the Lord is what one must have the Holy Spirit's help to do. - John R. Rice [The Church of God at Corinth, pg. 116]

We should remember certain facts about divine healing.

Healing is provided in the atonement, as "with his stripes we are healed" (Isa. 53:5; see also Matt. 8:17). But that complete, permanent healing is provided only at the resurrection, in out resurrection bodies. All healing there and now is limited and temporary in this body.

God does not promise now healing for every purpose. Paul's thorn in the flesh was not taken away. No one has the right to promise healing in a particular case except as God gives the faith for it. "And the prayer of faith shall save the sick" (James 5:15). - - John R. Rice [The Church of God at Corinth, pg. 118]

"To another prophecy" (1 Cor. 12, vs. 10). It is clear that all Christian men, women and children may have the enduement of power that enables one to witness in the Holy Spirit called prophecy (Acts 2:16-18). These Corinthians are encouraged that "if all prophesy" (I Cor. 14:24) wonderful results will appear and they, and we, are urged to "seek earnestly the best gifts but rather that ye may prophesy." Certainly all are to win souls and all may have anointing and be "endued with power from on high" (Luke 24:49). But still there are "diversities of gifts" and not all are endued alike, or in equal measure. - John R. Rice [The Church of God at Corinth, pg. 119]