YOU’VE HAVE MADE A BIG MISTAKE!

MARK 12:18-27 

 

Pastor Rick Jackson 

 

I. OH, IT’S PERSONAL [v. 24, 27] 

 

1. It is Personal [v. 24, 27] 

 

2. It is Willful [v. 24, 27, 2 Peter 3:5] 

 

For this they willingly are ignorant of, that by the word of God the heavens were of old, and the earth standing out of the water and in the water: 

 

3. It is Woeful [v. 18, 23, Job 19:25-27] 

 

 For I know that my redeemer liveth, and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth: And though after my skin worms destroy this body, yet in my flesh shall I see God: Whom I shall see for myself, and mine eyes shall behold, and not another; though my reins be consumed within me. 

 

II. NOW, THAT’S JUST POINTLESS!  

 

1. These Bible “Scholars” Did Not Know the Bible [v. 24]  

 

2. The Experts on Moses Did Not Comprehend What Moses Wrote [v. 19, 26, Ex. 3:6] 

 

3. The Experts on Moses Did Not Comprehend What Moses’ Writings Meant [v. 27] 

 

III. THE PATHETIC PROBLEM IS THAT YOU DON’T KNOW THE POWER OF GOD [v. 24] 

 

1. The Gospel [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. The Christ [1 Corinthians 1:24]  

 

Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God. 

 

3. The Holy Spirit of God [Romans 8:11, 15:13]  

 

-But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you. 

- Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that ye may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost. 

 

SOMETIMES YOU HAVE TO LOSE IN ORDER TO WIN

2 KINGS 5

 

Pastor Rick Jackson

 

I. HE SEEMED TO BE A WINNER

 

1. He Had Great Accomplishments [v. 1a]

 

2. He Had Great Affliction [v. 1b]

 

3. He Had Great Aspirations [v. 4-6]

 

II. HE SUSTAINED GREAT LOSSES

 

1. He Lost His Cool [v. 10-12]

 

2. He Lost His Pride [v. 13-14a, Proverbs 16:18, 27:6]

 

-Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall.

-Faithful are the wounds of a friend; but the kisses of an enemy are deceitful.

 

3. He Lost His Leprosy [v. 14b]

 

III. HIS SALVATION WAS OF GOD [He went from being a loser to being a winner]

 

1. The People of God Were Instrumental in this Change [v. 2-3, 7]

 

2. The Promises of God Were Indispensable in this Change [v. 8-10]

 

3. The Potential of God’s Working In Him Can Solidify the Change [v. 15-19, 2 Corinthians 5:17]

 

Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.

JOHN R. RICE QUOTES OF THE WEEK

 Did you notice in the Saviour's parable of the great supper that the master first "sent his servant at suppertime to say to them that were bidden. Come . . ."? Those previously invited are reminded first. It is true that God gave Scriptures to the Jews before the Gentiles. It is true that to the Jews was given the law of Moses, the sacrifice picturing the Saviour's death, the tabernacle which prefigured His glorious sacrifice and ministry. But even in the Old Testament times, the gospel was for Gentiles as well as Jews. Naaman the Syrian, Ruth the Moabitess, Nebuchadnezzar the Babylonian king, the inhabitants of Nineveh, and multitude of other Gentiles found Christ in Old Testament times. The gospel was for all. But now that Jews have heard the gospel and rejected it, the command is to take the gospel to all the world, to press it upon every creature, to say "Whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely." - John R. Rice [Immanuel--God With Us, pg. 131]

There is an unpardonable sin, but if you will remember one simple thing about it, it will save you any misunderstanding and heartache on this question. There is no unpardonable sin for one who will turn to Jesus and trust Him. There is no unpardonable sin for one who is willing to accept the blessed invitation. The only unpardonable sin there is can only be committed in rejecting Christ, in turning down the gospel invitation. "Whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely"! - John R. Rice [Immanuel--God With Us, page 135]

If you go to Hell, you pay your own way; but you go to Heaven on a free pass. -John R. Rice

In Texas, I one time said to a young man, "Don't you want to be a Christian?"

"I could be a Christian if I wanted to, couldn't I?" he asked.

"Why of course you could," I said.

"Then it seems obvious that I do not want to be a Christian," he said, and turned away.

He was right! One who wants to be a Christian can be. One who wants to have everlasting life can have it. The only ones who do not turn to Jesus Christ and find peace and forgiveness; the only ones who do not accept the gospel invitation and plan to attend the heavenly banquet in the kingdom of God are those who love theirs sins and are not willing to face Jesus Christ honestly on that matter. - John R. Rice [Immanuel--God With Us, page 148-149]

Oh, sinner, why will you die with excuses upon your lips and lies in your heart! You turn down Jesus Christ and pretend to be for morality. You reject the Saviour who died for you and pretend to have a tender heart. You pick flaws in others and point out hypocrites and argue about doctrine when in your poor, wicked heart you are not willing to come to Christ and do not want Him to change your heart and make you a Christian. Excuses, excuses--lying, insulting, silly excuses! That is what men offer instead of accepting Christ as Saviour! - - John R. Rice [Immanuel--God With Us, page 149]

"There are so many hypocrites in the church," someone says. Indeed there are! Judas Iscariot, one of the twelve disciples, was a hypocrite who never did trust in Jesus Christ as Saviour, never was converted, and who betrayed Him. If one out of the twelve, then, was a deceiver and hypocrite, there may be one of twelve in the church today who is a hypocrite. I do not know. Hypocrites? They are all around us. There are hypocrites in the lodge, but you do not leave the lodge. There are hypocrites in the grocery business, but you do not leave the grocery business. Hypocrites work on railroads, and yet, some of you hold your railroad jobs. The Bible makes it clear that there will always be unconverted people in the churches and that Jesus Himself will have to show who is saved and who is not. He alone knows the heart and knows who has honestly repented and trusted Him for salvation. But what has that to do with you, poor sinner rejecting Christ? The question is not the church but Jesus. - John R. Rice [Immanuel--God With Us, page 149-150]

The question is not the hypocrites but Jesus Christ. Do you have any fault to find with Him? Was He ever insincere? Did He ever fail to keep His promise? Was there any lack in His holiness and purity? How have you a right to reject the Son of God, to crucify Him afresh, to harden your heart against His entreaty, to stubbornly go on in your sins against Jesus on the foolish alibi that there are hypocrites in the church? It is silly; it is senseless; it is wicked! That is an insolent excuse for those who do not love Jesus Christ and do not want to serve Him. - John R. Rice [Immanuel--God With Us, page 150]

THE CENTURION’S CHOICE

MARK 15:33-45

 

Pastor Rick Jackson

 

I. THE INCIDENTS OF IMPORTANCE

 

1. The Testimony of a Sinner [Luke 23:41-42]

 

And we indeed justly; for we receive the due reward of our deeds: but this man hath done nothing amiss. And he said unto Jesus, Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom.

 

2. Three Hours of Darkness from High Noon to 3 [Luke 23:44-45]

 

And it was about the sixth hour, and there was a darkness over all the earth until the ninth hour. And the sun was darkened, and the veil of the temple was rent in the midst.

 

3. The Earthquake [Mt. 27:50-54]

 

Jesus, when, he had cried again with a loud voice, yielded, up the ghost.  And, behold, the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom; and the earth did quake, and the rocks rent; And the graves were opened; and many bodies of the saints which slept arose, And came out of the graves after his resurrection, and went into the holy city, and appeared unto many. Now when the centurion, and they that were with him, watching Jesus, saw the earthquake, and those things that were done, they feared greatly, saying, Truly this was the Son of God.

 

II. THE EVIDENCE OF DEITY

 

1. Today Thou Shalt Be with Me in Paradise [Luke 23:42-43]

 

And he said unto Jesus, Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom. And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, To day shalt thou be with me in paradise.

 

2. It is Finished [Mt. 27:50, Mk. 15:37, Lk. 23:46a, Jn. 19:30]

 

-Jesus, when, he had cried again with a loud voice, yielded, up the ghost.

- And when Jesus had cried with a loud voice

- And Jesus cried with a loud voice, and gave up the ghost

- When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, he said, It is finished: and he bowed his head, and gave up the ghost.

 

3. Father, into Thy Hands I Commit My Spirit [Lk. 23:46b, Ecc. 8:8]

 

- And when Jesus had cried with a loud voice, he said, Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit: and having said thus, he gave up the ghost.

-There is no man that hath power over the spirit to retain the spirit; neither hath he power in the day of death:

 

III. THE EXPRESSIONS OF FAITH

 

1. The Centurion Glorified God [Lk. 23:47, John 15:8]

 

- Now when the centurion saw what was done, he glorified God, saying, Certainly this was a righteous man.

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

 

2. He Recognized the Sinlessness of Christ [Lk. 23:47b, 41] “The ground at the cross is extremely level.”

 

- Now when the centurion saw what was done, he glorified God, saying, Certainly this was a righteous man.

 

3. He Emphasized the Deity of Christ [Mt. 27:40-43, 54; Mk. 15:37-39]

 

-And saying, Thou that destroyest the temple, and buildest it in three days, save thyself. If thou be the Son of God, come down from the cross. Likewise also the chief priests mocking him, with the scribes and elders, said, He saved others; himself he cannot save. If he be the King of Israel, let him now come down from the cross, and we will believe him. He trusted in God; let him deliver him now, if he will have him: for he said , I am the Son of God.

-Now when the centurion, and they that were with him, watching Jesus, saw the earthquake, and those things that were done, they feared greatly, saying, Truly this was the Son of God.

- And Jesus cried with a loud voice, and gave up the ghost. And the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom. And when the centurion, which stood over against him, saw that he so cried out, and gave up the ghost, he said, Truly this man was the Son of God.

NOAH FOUND GRACE

GENESIS 6:1-8

 

Pastor Rick Jackson

 

I. JUST THE FACTS

 

1. The Fact is-if anyone found Grace it means Grace was Available [v. 8, Titus 2:11]

For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men

 

2. The Fact is-if anyone found Grace it means Grace was Obtainable [v. 8, Hebrews 11:1-2, 32, 39, 1 Pt. 2:10, 2 Pt. 1:1]

-Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. For by it the elders obtained a good report.

- And what shall I more say? for the time would fail me to tell of Gedeon, and of Barak, and of Samson, and of Jephthae; of David also, and Samuel, and of the prophets:

-And these all, having obtained a good report through faith, received not the promise:

-Which in time past were not a people, but are now the people of God: which had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy.

-Simon Peter, a servant and an apostle of Jesus Christ, to them that have obtained like precious faith with us through the righteousness of God and our Saviour Jesus Christ:

 

3. The Fact is-if anyone, any sinner, found Grace it means Grace was Universal [v. 8, Titus 2:11, 1 John 2:2, 4:10]

-And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.

-Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.

 

II. ADJUST YOUR FOCUS

 

1. The Source of Grace is the LORD [v. 8, 1 Peter 5:10-12]

-But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while , make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you. To him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen. By Silvanus, a faithful brother unto you, as I suppose, I have written briefly , exhorting, and testifying that this is the true grace of God wherein ye stand.

 

2. The Salvation of Grace is of the LORD [v. 8, Jonah 2:9] Salvation is of the LORD.

 

3. The Service of Grace is in the LORD [v. 8-13, Heb. 11:7] Note that the ark was for their good & God’s glory!

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

 

III. JUSTIFICATION BY FAITH

 

1. For the Individual [v. 8, Heb. 11:7, Rm. 5:1]

-By faith Noah

- Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:

 

2. For the Family [v. 8-18, Heb. 11:7]

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

 

3. For the Future [v. 8-22, Heb. 11:7] “by the which he condemned the world”

WHERE IS YOUR FAITH?

LUKE 8:22-25                           

Pastor Rick Jackson

 

I. THE “WHERE” IN “WHERE IS YOUR FAITH?”

 

1. The Science & Ships [v. 22] a ship going to Tarshish, Titanic, Lusitania, the Maine, Edmund Fitzgerald, Challenger, I.E., [the inventions of man]

-1 Tm. 6:20 O Timothy, keep that which is committed to thy trust, avoiding profane and vain babblings, and oppositions of science falsely so called:

False science is a failure, true science has limitations because of man’s limitations

 

2. The Seas & Seasons [v. 23, Acts 27:13-15, 1 Th. 5:1-3] weather, climate, natural disasters, earthquakes, volcanoes

-And when the south wind blew softly, supposing that they had obtained their purpose, loosing thence, they sailed close by Crete. But not long after there arose against it a tempestuous wind, called Euroclydon. And when the ship was caught, and could not bear up into the wind, we let her drive

-But of the times and the seasons, brethren, ye have no need that I write unto you. For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night. For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child ; and they shall not escape.

 

3. The Saviour & the Scriptures [v. 22, 24-25; Psalm 4:8, Jn. 14:1, 16-17, 26-27]

-I will both lay me down in peace, and sleep: for thou, LORD, only makest me dwell in safety.

-Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me.

-And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever; Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.

- But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you. Peace I leave with you, 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.

 

II. THE “FAITH” IN “WHERE IS YOUR FAITH?”

 

1. Bible Faith Knows [Hebrews 11:3, Lk. 6:47-48, Psalm 56:3]

-Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear.

-Whosoever cometh to me, and heareth my sayings, and doeth them, I will shew you to whom he is like: He is like a man which built an house, and digged deep, and laid the foundation on a rock: and when the flood arose, the stream beat vehemently upon that house, and could not shake it: for it was founded upon a rock.

-What time I am afraid, I will trust in thee.

 

2. Bible Faith Grows [Rm. 10:17, Luke 17:5]

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

-And the apostles said unto the Lord, Increase our faith.

 

3. Bible Faith Shows [James 2:18,  Romans 1:8]

-Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works.

-First , I thank my God through Jesus Christ for you all, that your faith is spoken of throughout the whole world.

 

III. THE “YOUR” IN “WHERE IS YOUR FAITH?” [THIS MUST BE PERSONAL]

 

1. Faith for Salvation [Ephesians 2:8]

-For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:

 

2. Faith for Standing [1 Corinthians 16:13,  2 Corinthians 1:24]

-Watch ye, stand fast in the faith, quit you like men, be strong.

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

 

3. Faith for Speaking [2 Corinthians 4:13]

-We having the same spirit of faith, according as it is written, I believed, and therefore have I spoken; we also believe, and therefore speak;

JOHN R. RICE QUOTES OF THE WEEK

 Let every Christian, then, face this matter squarely. If you take Christ, you take the Bible. And any man who denies the inspiration of the Bible will soon be denying the virgin birth or the atoning death of Christ or the infallible knowledge of Jesus Christ or some other essential fact about Christ. The man who is an enemy of the Bible is the enemy of Jesus Christ and Christians should beware and mark as false teachers all those who deny the virgin birth, the bodily resurrection, the sinlessness of Jesus or His substitutionary death on the cross. - John R. Rice [A Coffer of Jewels About the Bible, pg. 40-41]

One who makes the Bible or any part of the Bible a lie, makes a liar of Jesus Christ who calls it His Word and who has guaranteed that it would never pass away. Jesus quoted and believed the Bible and put His approval and guarantee upon its authenticity and authority. - John R. Rice [A Coffer of Jewels About the Bible, pg. 41]

Oh, this wonderful Word of God! What a treasure we have that we have this revelation from God. We can know the mind of God, know the way of salvation and peace. We can know what God wants us to do. We can have the blessings He offers us in this precious Word of God. - John R. Rice [A Coffer of Jewels About the Bible, pg. 41]

That there are unsaved people in the churches I have not a doubt. The Bible expressly teaches that there would be. The parable of the tares and of the net in Matthew 13, the parable of the wedding in Matthew 22, and the parable of the ten virgins in Matthew 25 clearly are intended to show that many claim to be saved, or expect to reach Heaven, who have false hopes and are lost. But we are expressly taught that we are not to judge which are tares and which are wheat, lest we root up the wheat also, thinking it tares (Matt. 13:29, 30). YOU DO NOT KNOW WHO IS SAVED AND WHO IS LOST. TO DARE SAY YOU DO IS A SIN, violating the plain command of Christ. - John R. Rice [page 104, Dr. Rice, Here Are More Questions...]

Some people are hypocrites about prayer. They stand on street corners and in synagogues and want people to hear them pray and hear them say, "My, he is lovely in prayer."

A pastor once said to me, "If you want somebody to lead in prayer, call on Sister So-and-so. She is very able in prayer." I never called on her. God deliver me from these people who are "able in prayer." I suppose he meant she was very eloquent, using beautiful language.

Watch your temptation. People are listening and you will talk to the people instead of God if you don't watch it. When you pray, don't be a hypocrite; praying to be heard of men. - John R. Rice [Great Lessons from the Sermon on the Mount, pg. 9]

When Jesus was born, the wise men came seeking "him that is born King of the Jews." When Jesus died, over His head was written, "This is Jesus of Nazareth the King of the Jews." The Angel Gabriel told Mary that "He shall reign over the house of Jacob forever" (Luke 1:33). So Christ can have no kingdom that leaves out the Jews. Born of a Jewish mother, raised in a Jewish home, worshipping in a Jewish synagogue, preaching in the land of the Jews, calling twelve Jewish apostles, dying on a Jewish Passover day, fulfilling the Jewish prophecies, ending the Jewish ceremonial law, Jesus was and is a Jew. His kingdom will be, in some sense, a Jewish kingdom since it is a restoration of the throne of David over Israel, centered at Jerusalem. - John R. Rice [Immanuel--God With Us, pg. 118-119]

On the cross, just before Jesus died, He cried with a loud voice, "It is finished!" (John 19:30). You cannot buy salvation with money. You cannot buy salvation with good deeds. You cannot buy salvation by crying and praying. You cannot buy salvation by joining the church and being baptized. YOU CANNOT BUY SALVATION ANY WAY IN THE WORLD! You can accept salvation free, or you can reject it. There is nothing else you can do. - John R. Rice [Immanuel--God With Us, pg. 130]

THE GREAT AMEN

 

THE GREAT AMEN

 

REVELATION 3:14                                     

 

 Pastor Rick Jackson

 

 ajmhvn  amen;  of Hebrew origin; properly, firm, i.e. trustworthy; surely; so be it—49 times=amen,  102 times=verily, 1 time=ever [as in forever and ever].

 

 I. THE AMEN OF WHO JESUS IS [1:18]

 

 1. God Incarnate [v. 18, 1 Tm. 3:16]

 

2. Truth Incarnate [3:14, Jn. 14:6]

 

3. The Worthy One [5:11-14]

 

 II. THE AMEN OF WHAT JESUS HAS DONE

 

 1. As The Saviour [1:5-6, 7:9-17]

 

2. As The Redeemer [5:1-14]

 

3. As The Inviter [22:16-21, Is. 1:18, Mt. 11:28]

 

 III. THE AMEN OF WHAT JESUS WILL DO

 

 1. He Will Come Visibly [1:7]

 

2. He Will Come Righteously [19:1-4ff.]

 

3. He Will Come Surely [22:20]

DON’T MAKE HIM ANGRY (you wouldn’t like Him when he is angry)

MARK 3:1-5

 

Pastor Rick Jackson

 

I. THE ANGER OF JESUS [Mk. 3]

 

1. Their Whole Goal was to Use Jesus’ Compassion to Accuse Him [v. 1-2]

 

2. Jesus, Applied the Scriptures, Making it a Matter of the Second Great Commandment [v. 3-4, 12:31]

Mark 12:31 And the second is like, namely this , Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. There is none other commandment greater than these.

 

3. Jesus Showed Compassion to the Man, Anger to the Hard-hearted [v. 5-7, Ephesians 4:18]

Having the understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart:

 

II. THE DISPLEASURE OF JESUS [Mark 10:13-16]

 

1. The Bible has Much to Say About Keeping Children from Jesus, none of it good [v. 13-14]

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

Matthew 18:14 Even so it is not the will of your Father which is in heaven, that one of these little ones should perish.

Mark 9:42 And whosoever shall offend one of these little ones that believe in me, it is better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and he were cast into the sea.

Luke 17:2 It were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and he cast into the sea, than that he should offend one of these little ones.

 

2. This Word is Used 7 times in Scripture, Only Once is it Applied to Jesus [v. 14]

Matthew 20:24 And when the ten heard it, they were moved with indignation against the two brethren.

Matthew 21:15 And when the chief priests and scribes saw the wonderful things that he did, and the children crying in the temple, and saying, Hosanna to the son of David; they were sore displeased,

Matthew 26:8 But when his disciples saw it, they had indignation, saying, To what purpose is this waste?

Mark 10:14 But when Jesus saw it, he was much displeased, and said unto them, Suffer the little children to come unto me, and forbid them not: for of such is the kingdom of God.

Mark 10:41 And when the ten heard it, they began to be much displeased with James and John.

Mark 14:4 And there were some that had indignation within themselves, and said, Why was this waste of the ointment made?

Luke 13:14 And the ruler of the synagogue answered with indignation, because that Jesus had healed on the sabbath day

 

3. Jesus, Despite His Displeasure with the Disciples, Blessed the Children [v. 14-16]

 

III. THE WRATH OF JESUS [Rev. 6:16-17]

 

1. The Wrath of Jesus Starts Being Felt by the World During the Tribulation [6:16-17]

 

2. The Wrath of Jesus is the Same as the Wrath of God [Revelation 11:18, 14:10, 16:19, 19:15]

John 3:36 He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.

Romans 1:18 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness;

Romans 2:5 But after thy hardness and impenitent heart treasurest up unto thyself wrath against the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God;

Rm. 2:8 But unto them that are contentious, and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, indignation and wrath

 

3. The Believer Has Been Saved from this Wrath By Christ

Romans 5:9 Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him.

1 Thessalonians 1:10 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 Thessalonians 5:9 For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ,

John R. Rice Quotes of the Week

 Daniel "purposed in his heart" that he would not defile himself. I was just thinking about this tonight - I don't know whether it is original with me; I don't know whether anybody else ever thought of it or not - but my resolutions are the only real, true John Rice there is. You may look at me. You look at the way I live and the way I act and the failures I make, but you don't know my heart at all. Only in my resolutions am I what I long to be. "Blessed are they which hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled." Not until I see the Saviour, not until I am all that I want to be, all that I am hungry to be, all that I resolve to be, will I be what I ought to be, when my resolutions catch up with me, or when I catch up with my resolutions. So resolutions are the only true John Rice there is, or the only true anybody else. So make your resolutions. That is the right thing to do. - John R. Rice [Sweet Family Ties in Heaven and Hell, pg. 154]

Some people believe that Satan himself is master and manager of Hell. That is not true. Satan is not even in Hell now. He goes about like a roaring lion seeking whom he may devour. He is called "the prince of the power of the air" (Eph. 2:2). But the time is coming when he will be cast into Hell and be punished forever. - John R. Rice [Immanuel--God With Us, pg. 112]

In Revelation 1:7 is another plain statement proving that all those in Hell as well as those on earth will see Jesus when He comes to the earth in clouds of glory to reign: "Behold, he cometh with clouds; and every eye shall see him, and they also which pierced him: and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of him. Even so, Amen." - John R. Rice [Immanuel--God With Us, pg. 117]

Those who do not believe in the second coming of Christ are illogical as well as ignorant. I tell you that Calvary could not be the end for the Son of God! The dealing of a wicked world that hated the Saviour must be punished. Christ must be vindicated! Do you think that God would permit that the last contact Jesus should have with this old world would be when He was hated and despised bi it? Do you think that the world could dispose of Jesus with the crucifixion? Do you think that God would let men get by with that? No, a just and holy God will see that the Lord Jesus comes back to reign where He was crucified. And He will see that the men who hated Him, the men who denied Him and rejected Him and crucified Him, see His glory. - John R. Rice [Immanuel--God With Us, pg. 117]

One cannot be saved without believing the Bible, particularly in the essential matters about Jesus Christ Himself. - John R. Rice [A Coffer of Jewels About the Bible, pg. 40]

No one can believe what the Bible says about Jesus, without taking the word of Jesus that the Bible is true! There is no way to accept Jesus as what He claimed to be without accepting what Jesus said about the Scriptures! In other words, any wholehearted acceptance of Jesus Christ takes His authority for the infallibility of the Scriptures. - John R. Rice [A Coffer of Jewels About the Bible, pg. 40]

Some befuddled people who have not thought things through and who do not quite know what they believe may have questions and doubts without necessarily rejecting Christ. But anyone who knowingly and intentionally turns against the Bible as the Word of God and thus rejects the Word of God, rejects Jesus Christ at the same time. Christ and the Bible stand or fall together. - John R. Rice [A Coffer of Jewels About the Bible, pg. 40]

STIRRED, NOT SHAKEN

EXODUS 35                         

 

Pastor Rick Jackson

 

I. GOD GIVES US WHAT WE HAVE

 

1. He gives us our abilities [v. 25, 35; 36:1] more innate

2. He gives us increased capabilities [v. 30-31] like Moody  preaching without and then with the power of the Holy Spirit

3. He gives us our possessions [v. 23-24, 12:35-36, Gn. 14:21-23]

 

And the king of Sodom said unto Abram, Give me the persons, and take the goods to thyself.

And Abram said to the king of Sodom, I have lift up mine hand unto the LORD, the most high God, the possessor of heaven and earth, That I will not take from a thread even to a shoelatchet, and that I will not take any thing that is thine, lest thou shouldest say, I have made Abram rich:

 

II. GOD WANTS US TO USE WHAT HE HAS GIVEN US

 

1. He desires a willing heart [v. 4-5]

2. He desires a stirrable heart [21, 26; 36:2]

3. He desires a workable spirit [v. 21]

 

Proverbs 17:27 He that hath knowledge spareth his words: and a man of understanding is of an excellent spirit.

Daniel 6:3 Then this Daniel was preferred above the presidents and princes, because an excellent spirit was in him; and the king thought to set him over the whole realm.

 

III. GOD WANTS TO STIR US

 

1. Their hearts were stirred by the Word of God [v. 1-40]

2. We should be stirred by remembering His salvation [2 Peter 1:9-13]

3. We should be stirred by remembering His Word [2 Peter 3:1-18]

TOO IMPORTANT TO MESS WITH

by the late Sumner Wemp

I have long been troubled by tracts that don't include the resurrection. They tell people Jesus died to pay for their sins and to trust Christ but they fail to mention that He is the risen Christ! Read I Corinthians 15. Without the resurrection there is no salvation. Well, someone says, everybody knows he rose from the dead. No, they don't. We Christians are familiar with it but oftentimes the lost are not. Sumner Wemp said essentially the same thing recently.

DAILY, I get an Email, a "GOSPEL" tract, or hear a sermon and there is no gospel in it, that "CHRIST DIED FOR OUR SINS, AND ROSE AGAIN." Oh they are careful to say, "All have sinned." they are sure to say, "The wages of sins is death." but they leave out the good news, "Christ died for our sins" He has paid the debt in full and this good news, "the gospel is the power of God unto salvation unto them that BELIEVE" Rom 1:16. That means it lacks power to get people saved.

THEN the email, or tract or sermon will say, "give your heart to Jesus" or "give your life to Jesus." No, we are not told in the Bible for the lost person to give God anything. He is told in the Bible to "believe the gospel and receive the Lord Jesus as his Savior" John 1:12. Have you ever heard a 10, 12, or 14 year old boy or girl say "no, I don't want to give my heart to Jesus?" You never will either and if they have not been told clearly that God forgives us and saves us because the Lord Jesus suffered and died for our sins, paid our debt in full and rose again, they will probably go out just as lost as they came in. I have talked with hundreds upon hundreds. who doubted their salvation and when asked if they were told how Christ died for your sins and that is the only reason God saves us. Most have replied, "No I did not realize that when I was suppose to have gotten saved."

Folks, this is not Sumner's little quirk nor ax to grind, it is the difference in going to heaven or hell. Satan is behind this, "for the god of this world (Satan) has blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel should shine unto them" 2 Cor 4:4. Scary isn't it? Has it ever dawned on you how many "church members" are not really saved. "Joining a church will no more make you a Christian than joining the Elks will make you an elk." Church rolls are full of drop outs that you could never find and if you witness to them they do not have a clue how to be saved. I know for I have witnessed to thousands of them.

To have a happy New Year, obey God, give the gospel to all you can and see them born of God right before your eyes. Read Lk 15:5-7 and see the joy it brings you, friends and heaven.

You are loved by God and me, All Because of Calvary, C. Sumner Wemp,
Happy New Year. May it be your greatest year ever. Make it so.

BACK TO THE FUTURE

DANIEL 12

 

Pastor Rick Jackson

 

 It is strange than we go back, in this case some 2500 years, to learn about the future of earth. Daniel 10:1 tells of another vision that God gave Daniel. Chapter 10 is a preface to the actual vision, chapter 11 is the vision, and chapter 12 is a practical application of the vision. Chapter 10 gives us another look behind the scenes, much like the early chapters of Job, but, it’s chapter 12 we want to look at and where we learn:

 

 I. THE FUTURE IS SURE [v. 1-3]

 

 1. Israel has a Sure Future [v. 1]

 

2. The Saved have a Sure Future [v. 2-3]

 

3. The Lost have a Sure Future [v. 2]

 

 II. THE FUTURE IS KNOWN [v. 4-7]

 

 1. It is Not Completely Known to Men [v. 4]

 

2. It is Not Completely Known to Angels [v. 5-6]

 

3. It is Completely Known to the Lord Jesus Christ [v. 7]

 

 III. THE FUTURE IS BECKONING [v. 8-13]

 

1. Ignorance is Not an Excuse for Inaction [v. 8-9]

 

2. Opportunities Abound to Prepare [v. 10]

 

3. The Lord’s Will Will Be Done [v. 11-13]

WORTHY IS THE LAMB

EXODUS 12:1-5                              

Pastor Rick Jackson

 

I. “A LAMB”

 

1. “A Lamb” is Substantial [v. 3, 21-23]

 

2. “A Lamb” is Substitutionary [Gen. 22:8]

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

 

3. “A Lamb” is Slain & Risen Again [Rev. 5:1-9]

And I saw in the right hand of him that sat on the throne a book written within and on the backside, sealed with seven seals. And I saw a strong angel proclaiming with a loud voice, Who is worthy to open the book, and to loose the seals thereof? And no man in heaven, nor in earth, neither under the earth, was able to open the book, neither to look thereon.And I wept much, because no man was found worthy to open and to read the book, neither to look thereon. And one of the elders saith unto me, Weep not: behold, the Lion of the tribe of Juda, the Root of David, hath prevailed to open the book, and to loose the seven seals thereof. And I beheld, and, lo, in the midst of the throne and of the four beasts, and in the midst of the elders, stood a Lamb as it had been slain, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God sent forth into all the earth. And he came and took the book out of the right hand of him that sat upon the throne. And when he had taken the book, the four beasts and four and twenty elders fell down before the Lamb, having every one of them harps, and golden vials full of odours, which are the prayers of saints. And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation;

 

II. “THE LAMB” [v. 4]

 

1. The Blood of the Lamb Speaks of the Lord’s Payment [v. 4, 7, 12-13, 23; Rev. 5: 9]And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation;

2. The Blood of the Lamb Speaks of the Lord’s Passover [v. 11-12, 21]

 

3. The Blood of the Lamb Speaks of the Lord’s Person [v. 27, John 1:29, 36]

-The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.

-And looking upon Jesus as he walked, he saith, Behold the Lamb of God!

 

III. “YOUR LAMB” [v. 3, 5]

 

1. When it is Personal it is Powerful [v. 12-13, 23, 27]

 

2. When It is Personal Speaks of Purifying the Life [v. 14-20, 1 Cor. 5:7]

Purge out therefore the old leaven, that ye may be a new lump, as ye are unleavened. For even Christ our passover is sacrificed for us:

 

3. When It is Personal it is Praiseworthy [v. 27, Rev. 5:7-14]

 

And he came and took the book out of the right hand of him that sat upon the throne. And when he had taken the book, the four beasts and four and twenty elders fell down before the Lamb, having every one of them harps, and golden vials full of odours, which are the prayers of saints. And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation; And hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth.

And I beheld, and I heard the voice of many angels round about the throne and the beasts and the elders: and the number of them was ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands; Saying with a loud voice, Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honour, and glory, and blessing. And every creature which is in heaven, and on the earth, and under the earth, and such as are in the sea, and all that are in them, heard I saying, Blessing, and honour, and glory, and power, be unto him that sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb for ever and ever. And the four beasts said, Amen. And the four and twenty elders fell down and worshipped him that liveth for ever and ever.

John R. Rice Quotes of the Week

 The best resolution anybody can make for the new year is to take Christ as Savior now. A man may quit tobacco and may so avoid cancer of the lungs; he may decide to spend more time with his children this year, or to make his wife happy, or to give more money to the poor. These are all good, but to tie a few good fruits on to the same old bad tree does not change things essentially. Any effort to do right must start with a new heart. And Jesus is ready to give everyone a new heart just as He changed Zacchaeus from a crooked, money-loving extortioner into a liberal, kindly, and just man (James 4:8; Isa. 1:18; John 6:37). - John R. Rice [The Bible Garden, pg. 192-193]

Would not this be the best time you will ever have to turn to Jesus and trust Him, dear sinner friend? If you realize that you are a sinner and want to be saved, then I beg you run to Jesus now. He is just as eager to receive you as He was to receive Zacchaeus. And he will give you a new heart and then you can start out on a new life today. Will you do that? - John R. Rice [The Bible Garden, pg. 193]

Not a single Scripture ever gives you the right to judge any one as to heart and motive or whether they are saved. - John R. Rice [page 104, Dr. Rice, Here Are More Questions...]

No Christian can be a good Christian without the Bible. - John R. Rice

In John, chapter 8, Jesus spoke to the Pharisees and here also He made the Bible doctrine about Christ essential to salvation. There we are told:

"And he said unto them, Ye are from beneath; I am from above: ye are of this world; I am not of this world. I said therefore unto you, that ye shall die in your sins: for if ye believe not that I am he, ye shall die in your sins." - John 8:23, 24.

Here Jesus sums up the teaching of His deity. Men are from beneath, Christ is from above. Other men are from this world, Jesus is not of this world. And then He says, "For if ye believe not that I am he, ye shall die in your sins." - John R. Rice [A Coffer of Jewels About the Bible, pg. 39]

It would be a good thing if you could just put your foot on the throat of that old sinner man that you used to be and say, "By God's grace he is not going into the new year with me! Oh, he is there, but I am going to beat him down." The Scripture says we should mortify the deeds of the flesh. That is, we should disown them and say, "You are not my boss, and I am not going your way. I am crucified daily and count myself dead." That is what a Christian ought to do. - John R. Rice [Great Controversial Subjects Settled from the Bible, pg. 71]

Some people believe that Satan himself is master and manager of Hell. That is not true. Satan is not even in Hell now. He goes about like a roaring lion seeking whom he may devour. He is called "the prince of the power of the air" (Eph. 2:2). But the time is coming when he will be cast into Hell and be punished forever. - John R. Rice [Immanuel--God With Us, pg. 112]