JOHN R. RICE QUOTES OF THE WEEK

 Why should I have to "pray through" for that which Jesus has already "paid through"? - John R. Rice [Revival Appeals, pg. 115]

Bible conversions were always simple, and always an instantaneous matter. Sinners may be convicted before they are saved, struggle with God before they are saved, but that is always part of our wicked self-will. The instant any poor sinner is willing to receive Christ and depend upon Him, he has salvation and everlasting life. - John R. Rice [Revival Appeals, pg. 115]

Note that they said [in Acts 1], "THIS SAME JESUS." The Jesus in Heaven is not another but the same. The Jesus who will return for His saints is not another but the same. When He comes again to Jerusalem, Jews will look on Him whom they have pierced (Zech. 12:10). They will ask, "What are these wounds in thine hands?" He will answer, "Those with which I was wounded in the house of my friends" (Zech. 13:6). His feet shall stand in that day upon the Mount of Olives (Zech. 14:4). Jesus now has hands and feet, the same with which He went away, hands and feet with the marks of nails! And this same Jesus now abides in Heaven with a physical body. I tell you, Heaven must be and is a real, literal, physical place! ― John R. Rice, Bible Facts About Heaven

Of all the race of mankind, the only two men that we know definitely went to Heaven without dying were Enoch and Elijah. They were translated while yet alive and physically transferred to Heaven. With chariot and horses of fire, Elijah was carried to Heaven in a whirlwind. Therefore, we know there are at least three beings in Heaven with physical bodies—Jesus, Enoch and Elijah.

― John R. Rice, Bible Facts About Heaven

Eventually, if enough masses are said and prayers uttered, the soul may pass from purgatory into Heaven. But that is not taught in the Bible. It is based on a doctrine of salvation by works and by the [Roman Catholic] church instead of redemption by the blood of Christ. It is used to extort money from those who hope to shorten the period of suffering of their loved ones that they may the sooner enter Heaven.

― John R. Rice, Bible Facts About Heaven

In Luke 23:39-43 we see how the repenting thief turned to Jesus on the cross beside him and said, "Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom.” With loving forgiveness, Jesus turned to the penitent sinner and promised salvation not only in the distant day of His kingdom but "to day," said Jesus, "shalt thou be with me in paradise." That very day the dying thief entered into the Paradise of God with Jesus or, in the term to which we are accustomed, entered Heaven that day.”

― John R. Rice, Bible Facts About Heaven

Paul said in II Corinthians 5:8, "We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord." Every saint who is absent from the body is present with the Lord Jesus in Heaven. At death the soul of the Christian is carried by the angels of God straight Home where Christ and the Father are.

― John R. Rice, Bible Facts About Heaven

GOD IS LOVE

1 John 4:8-10

 

Pastor Rick Jackson

 

I. GOD IS LOVE BECAUSE OF “WHO” HE LOVES . . . “US”

 

1. “US” – THE WORLD [v. 9, Jn. 3:16]

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

 

2. “US” – THE SINNERS [Rm. 5:8]

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

 

3. “US” – THE SAVED SINNERS [Rm. 5:9-10, 8:35-39]

-Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him. For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life.

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

 

II. GOD IS LOVE BECAUSE OF “HOW” HE LOVES [John 3:16]

 

1. HE LOVES AGRESSIVELY - “HE GAVE”

 

2. HE LOVES GENEROUSLY – “HIS ONLY BEGOTTEN SON”

He may not have bankrupted Heaven but He gave Heaven’s Best!

1 Peter 1:19...But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot:

1 Peter 2:4...To whom coming, as unto a living stone, disallowed indeed of men, but chosen of God, and precious,

1 Peter 2:6-7...Wherefore also it is contained in the scripture, Behold, I lay in Sion a chief corner stone, elect, precious: and he that believeth on him shall not be confounded. Unto you therefore which believe he is precious: but unto them which be disobedient, the stone which the builders disallowed, the same is made the head of the corner,

3. HE LOVES UNIVERSALLY – “THE WORLD”

1 Jn. 2:1-2  MY little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous: And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.

 

III. GOD IS LOVE BECAUSE OF “WHY” HE LOVES

 

1. HE LOVES BECAUSE OF WHO HE IS [Zephaniah 3:17, Ephesians 2:4, Titus 3:4]

- The Lord thy God in the midst of thee is mighty; he will save, he will rejoice over thee with joy; he will rest in his love,     he will joy over thee with singing

- But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us,

- But after that the kindness and love of God our Saviour toward man appeared

 

2. HE LOVES BECAUSE OF WHAT HE IS [1 Jn. 4:7-8]

 

3. HE LOVES US BECAUSE OF HOW HE IS

 

A man in a movie once proposed to a rich widow by saying, “I love you. Marry Me!” To which she wisely responded, “You wouldn’t love me if I wasn’t rich.” To which he honestly replied, “I might but I’d keep my mouth shut.”

But God, because of HOW He is EXPRESSES His love in the Book He has written, EXERCISES His love in the Blood He has given and EXPLAINS His love by His Spirit He has sent! GOD IS LOVE.

“For their rock is not as our Rock”

Deuteronomy 32:1-43                

 

Pastor Rick Jackson

 

We must have FAITH IN THE ROCK OF AGES! The Christian has problems just like the world, but the Christian HAS something the world doesn’t have because the Christian has Someone the world doesn’t have! The Christian has Christ! The Christian has the indwelling Holy Spirit! The Christian has the Heavenly Father! The Christian has the Word of God! Therefore, no matter what happens, who happens, or when it happens, the Christian should have faith! Obviously, we cannot name every situation and every particular problem every person is facing but let us see something that can help every one of us! God’s plans have not changed. God’s purpose has not wavered. God is not limited. So…

 

I. HAVE FAITH IN GOD!                In Mark 11:22 Jesus said this very thing, “Have faith in God!”

 

1. Have Faith in His Unfailing Goodness [2 Chronicles 6:41] Arise, O LORD God, …and let thy saints rejoice in goodness.

 

2. Have Faith in His Abundant Mercy [Micah 7:18] … he delighteth in mercy.

 

3. Have Faith in His Amazing Grace [1 Corinthians 15:10] But by the grace of God I am what I am: and his grace which was bestowed upon me was not in vain; but I laboured more abundantly than they all: yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me.

 

4. Have Faith in His Loving Kindness [Psalm 63:3] Because thy lovingkindness is better than life, my lips shall praise thee.

5. Have Faith in His Matchless Power [Psalm 62:11] God hath spoken once; twice have I heard this; that power belongeth unto God.

6. Have Faith in His Immeasurable Wisdom [Romans 11:33] O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding out!

7. Have Faith in His Gracious Guidance [Psalm 48:14] For this God is our God for ever and ever: he will be our guide even unto death

 

Have faith in God!

 

II. HAVE FAITH IN CHRIST!

 

Once again, we have the words of the Saviour ringing to us down through the ages. In John 14:1, Jesus said, “Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me.” Do you know when He specifically said that? Right after He told the disciples that He was leaving them for a while. Right after He told Peter that Peter would deny Christ three times. Then He spoke these words of comfort, hope and faith! Have faith in Christ!

 

1. Have Faith in His Sinless Life [1 Peter 2:22] Who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth:

 

2. Have Faith in His Vicarious Death [1 Pet. 2:24] Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed.

 

3. Have Faith in His Victorious Resurrection [Romans 8:34] Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather , that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us.

 

4. Have Faith in His Full Salvation [Jonah 2:9] Salvation is of the LORD.

 

5. Have Faith in His Faithful Presence [Hebrews 13:5] Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.

 

6. Have faith in His Never-Ending Advocacy [1 John 2:1] My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous:

 

7. Have Faith in His Coming Again [John 14:3] I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.                                  

 

Have Faith in Christ!

 

III. HAVE FAITH IN THE SWEET SPIRIT OF GOD!

 

In those dark hours before the cross, those hours when Jesus told them He was going away, those hours Jesus told them they would scatter from him, that hour in which he told Peter of his upcoming failure Jesus also said in John 14:16-17, ”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.”

 

1. Have Faith in His Inerrant Word [2 Peter 1:21] For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.

 

2. Have Faith in His Impressive Empowerment [Acts 1:8] But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me

 

3. Have Faith in His Loving Leadership [Matthew 4:1] Then was Jesus led up of the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil.

Acts 8:29 Then the Spirit said unto Philip, Go near, and join thyself to this chariot.

Acts 11:12 And the Spirit bade me go with them, nothing doubting.

Acts 16:7 After they were come to Mysia, they assayed to go into Bithynia: but the Spirit suffered them not.

Romans 8:14 For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.

 

4. Have Faith in His Blessed Indwelling [1 John 4:4] Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world.

 

5. Have Faith in His Perfect Guidance [John 16:13] Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth:

 

6. Have faith in His Ultimate Comfort [Acts 9:31] Then had the churches rest throughout all Judaea and Galilee and Samaria, and were edified; and walking in the fear of the Lord, and in the comfort of the Holy Ghost, were multiplied.

BE LIKE THE DONKEY!

 

 

Isaiah 1:3                  The ox knoweth his owner, and the ass his master's crib: but Israel doth not know, my people doth not consider.

 

Pastor Rick Jackson

 

The donkey or ass… is a domesticated member of the horse family. A male donkey or ass is called a jack, a female a jenny or jennet; a young donkey is a foal. Jack donkeys are often used to produce mules. Asses were first domesticated around 3000 BC and have spread around the world. They continue to fill important roles in many places today. As beasts of burden and companions, asses and donkeys have worked together with humans for millennia.

 

 I. THE SAVED DONKEY [Ex. 34:20]

 

But the firstling of an ass thou shalt redeem with a lamb: and if thou redeem him not, then shalt thou break his neck. All the firstborn of thy sons thou shalt redeem. And none shall appear before me empty.

 

If you could have asked a donkey in Israel why he worked so hard he’d probably say, “Are you kidding me? I have been redeemed. I had the sentence of death upon myself but was saved by the blood of the Lamb. I am working because I have been redeemed. I don’t work to be redeemed- I work because I am redeemed.”

 

II. THE SPEAKING DONKEY [2 Peter 2:15-16]

 

Which have forsaken the right way, and are gone astray, following the way of Balaam the son of Bosor, who loved the wages of unrighteousness; But was rebuked for his iniquity: the dumb ass speaking with man's voice forbad the madness of the prophet

A man’s life was saved because of this donkey. When we give the Words of Life souls can be saved for all eternity [Acts 5:20] We can also speak to help those that are saved [2 Corinthians 5:11]

Go, stand and speak in the temple to the people all the words of this life.

Knowing therefore the terror of the Lord, we persuade men; but we are made manifest unto God; and I trust also are made manifest in your consciences.

 

 III. THE SURRENDERED DONKEY [Mark 11:1-10]

 

 No rebellion here, no kicking at what God asks, no braying and complaining- just simple submission to the will of God.

 

 IV. THE SACRIFICED DONKEY [Judges 15:14-16]

 

And when he came unto Lehi, the Philistines shouted against him: and the spirit of the Lord came mightily upon him, and the cords that were upon his arms became as flax that was burnt with fire, and his bands loosed from off his hands. And he found a new jawbone of an ass, and put forth his hand, and took it, and slew a thousand men therewith. And Samson said, With the jawbone of an ass, heaps upon heaps, with the jaw of an ass have I slain a thousand men.

 

 This donkey did more after death it seems than in life. We serve the Lord better by dying to self.

John 12:24 Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abideth alone: but if it die, it bringeth forth much fruit.

1 Corinthians 15:31 I protest by your rejoicing  which I have in Christ Jesus our Lord, I die daily.

JOHN R. RICE QUOTES OF THE WEEK

 Don't think of Heaven as a ghostly, unreal, indefinite state. It is a real place, a place as literal and concrete as the house you sit in today, as physically real as the city where you live. ― John R. Rice, Bible Facts About Heaven

I heard a preacher one time say to a congregation, "If any sinner will come to this mourner's bench three nights in succession, I guarantee that he will be saved." That was a foolish thing for any man to say, because he could not back up that offer from the Bible. I have an offer a billion times better than that. If any sinner in the world will one fraction of a second turn to Jesus and trust Him, depending on Him for forgiveness and salvation, he will have everlasting life that moment! "He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life," says John the Baptist in John 3:36. "Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me hath everlasting life," said Jesus in John 6:47. "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved," said Paul and Silas to the Philippian jailor in Acts 16:31. The very instant one puts his trust in Jesus he has everlasting life. He is already saved. - John R. Rice [Revival Appeals, pg. 110]

I do not know that the dying thief had any flash of ecstasy. I do not suppose that he shouted with joy. I do not have any idea how he felt. I just know he called on Jesus in simple faith, and I know that he was forgiven and saved at once. I know that day he went to paradise with Jesus. What could be better than that? Salvation is not a long, drawn-out process. It need not involve any waiting, any pleading, any probation. When you put your trust in Jesus honestly, with the whole heart, then you are saved. - John R. Rice [Revival Appeals, pg. 110]

Revelation 21 and 22 tell us something of this wonderful place that Jesus is preparing for His saints, "the holy city," "that great city, the holy Jerusalem." Oh, the shining brightness of it! "Having the glory of God: and her light was like unto a stone most precious, even like a jasper stone, clear as crystal"! It is a literal city with walls of shining jasper, 144 cubits high. The streets are pure gold, and the foundations of the wall of the city are decorated with every kind of precious stone. The city has twelve great gates, each one a pearl. ― John R. Rice, Bible Facts About Heaven

Remember that in six days Christ made the heavens and earth and all that in them is. "Without him was not any thing made that was made" (John 1:3). If He made so many wonders in six days, then what beauties and marvels He has surely prepared during these 1900 years in which He has been preparing our mansions in the Father's House! ― John R. Rice, Bible Facts About Heaven

If we cannot earn our salvation by works, we cannot earn it by tears. If we cannot earn our salvation by days of labor, we cannot earn it by nights of prayer. There is no long, drawn-out process to salvation. The instant one receives the Saviour he is saved. - John R. Rice [Revival Appeals, pg. 115]

A mother travails in birth, but the babe does not. So Christ suffered to pay for the sins of sinners, but the sinner goes free, without suffering, when he trusts Christ. His sins are already paid for on the cross. We need not pay for what Christ has already paid for. - John R. Rice [Revival Appeals, pg. 115]

5 QUALITIES A GOOD CHRISTIAN SHOULD ILLUSTRATE

2 Timothy 2:1-7

 

Pastor Rick Jackson

 

I saw a news story once about a woman who was fired for selling Girl Scout cookies while on the job. She said it wasn’t fair- it’s not like she was making money off it- she was just trying to help her daughter. But wait- was she wrong? She stole her employer’s time to promote her daughter. She stole her employer’s business [she worked in a food store]. She made her employer to promote a cause he might not back. She broke the rules. Who knows what else? An occupation or relationship implies certain restrictions. For instance- I am a married man- therefore I should not live a single lifestyle. I pastor this church so I should not be absent from my own pulpit to go to an entertainment event.

 

 I. SON – A RELATIONSHIP REMEMBERED [v. 1, Heb. 12:6]

 

 “in Christ,” in this special relationship, there is strength and grace.

 

 II. TEACHER – A RESPOSIBILITY REFERENCED [v. 2]

 

 It must be learned [heard], understood, and [taught] passed on to be taught again.

 

 III. SOLDIER – A REASON REINFORCED [v. 3-4]

 

 Endure hardness – to please God [being a good Christian is not easy, a sissy can’t do it]

 

 IV. ATHELETE – A PRINCIPLE RETAINED [v. 5]

 

 Sacrifice for the goal – cheaters will not win.

 

 V. FARMER – A PATIENCE REWARDED [v. 6-7]

 

 There are worthwhile fruits to be enjoyed- now and later.

THE CHRISTIAN’S “NOT TO”

PSALM 37          

 

Pastor Rick Jackson

 

When our kids were little and would do something their mother or I had told them was wrong they would inevitably be caught, corrected, and chastened. Oft times we would ask them what we had said about the offending behavior and quite often the answer would come back, “Not to.” “What did I say about playing with Mommy’s make-up?” “Not to.” Well, my friends, there are some things God has told His children, “Not to.”

 

I. WHAT DOES GOD’S WORD SAY ABOUT FRETTING? NOT TO!

[v. 1-11]

 

 1. Your Fret is Foolish [v. 1-2, 9-10]

 

2. Your Focus is Faith [v. 3-8]

 

3. Your Future is Fixed [v. 11]

 

II. WHAT DOES GOD’S WORD SAY ABOUT FEARING? NOT TO!

[v. 12-22, Luke 12:32]

Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom.

 

1. Consider What God Knows about the Wicked [v. 12-15]

 

2. Consider What God Knows about the Righteous [v. 16-19]

 

3. Consider What God Knows about the Future [v. 20-22]

 

III. WHAT DOES GOD’S WORD SAY ABOUT FORGETTING? NOT TO! [v. 23-40, Psalms 103:2]

Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits:

 

 1. Live the Life of Delighting [v. 23-31]

 

2. Live the Life of Waiting [v. 32-36]

 

3. Live the Life of Trusting [v. 37-40]

JOHN R. RICE QUOTES OF THE WEEK

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

If you came to Christ, that was saving faith. Now then He wants you to have faith in His Word for assurance. That is simply to leave the matter with God and believe what He said. - John R. Rice, Dr. Rice, Here Are More Questions

God is ready and waiting to receive sinners who put their heart's trust in Jesus and want to be saved, and to pretend that He requires a long period of mourning and sorrow before He will accept a sinner and save him is contrary to the teaching of the Bible. ― John R. Rice, Dr. Rice, Here Are More Questions

Revelation 22:17 says, "And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely." One who is athirst may come and is invited to come. And if you "willed" to come, then that is all God requires. It is not walking down an aisle, nor joining a church, nor feeling light as a feather, nor having some great emotional experience that saves one. It is simply turning one's case over to Jesus Christ.

― John R. Rice

“In the Sweet By and By," "When We All Get to Heaven," "Oh, Come, Angel Band," the magnificent "Glory Song" sung around the world in the Torrey-Alexander meetings, had their tremendous hold on people, no doubt because of the happy hope they expressed for Heaven. The human heart longs for an assurance of a blessed, immortal place where those made righteous, the forgiven, the blessed are at home with God; when sin, disappointment, human failure, heartache, disease and death are forever ended!

― John R. Rice, Bible Facts About Heaven

The so-called "social gospel" lays stress upon this life, not on the next. In many quarters it is now regarded as very old-fashioned and passe' to urge people to prepare to die. Social security, better housing, relief for tenant farmers, better living conditions for the poor and the care of underprivileged children—these have occupied so much of the teaching and preaching of these modern days, that preachers have left hungry-hearted people ignorant about Heaven.

― John R. Rice, Bible Facts About Heaven

This world is only an anteroom of the next. This short life is incidental compared with eternity. This world is not home to the Christian. ― John R. Rice, Bible Facts About Heaven

KEY CHAPTERS OF THE BIBLE - HEBREWS 11

All of the Bible is God’s Word. All of the Bible is important. But not all of the Bible is as important as other parts of the Bible. The names of the various kings of Israel and Judah are not as important as the Gospel of Christ. Jesus said in Matthew 23:23, Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin, and have omitted the weightier matters of the law, judgment, mercy, and faith: these ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone. With that in mind, I start a series of sorts, entitled, “KEY CHAPTERS OF THE BIBLE.” This is not a series that will follow every week but from time to time, as the Lord leads, we will examine another key chapter. We begin tonight with Hebrews 11.

 

Pastor Rick Jackson

 

I. FAITH’S PROVISIONS

 

1. Faith can Provide Understanding [v. 1-3, Rm. 1:20]

 

For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse:

 

2. Faith can Procure Salvation [v. 4. Eph. 2:8-9]

 

For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.

 

3. Faith can Provide Strength [v. 11, 27 endurance]

 

II. FAITH’S PEOPLE

 

1. Ordinary People [shepherds, carpenters, fishermen, farmers, tax collectors, soldiers, mothers]

 

2. Fearful People [v. 7]

 

3. Fallen People [not perfect people] Noah got drunk; Abraham, Isaac & Jacob lied; Moses lost his temper; Gideon was afraid, Jonah was prejudiced, David committed adultery…

 

III. FAITH’S POSSIBILITIES

 

1. Faith makes it Possible to Please God [v. 5-6]

 

2. Faith makes it Possible to Work Righteousness [v. 33-38]

 

3. Faith makes it Possible to Obtain a Good Report [v. 2, 39-40]

THE GOOD SHEPHERD

PSALM 22

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

 

Pastor Rick Jackson

 

I. THE VICARIOUS NATURE OF THE SACRIFICE [v. 1-5]

 

1. Facing the Holy God as a Lost Sinner [v. 1-3] in the 3 hours of darkness Jesus never called God “Father”

Before that He did “Father forgive them” and after that He did “Father into Thy hands”

 

2. The God Who Delivers [v. 4-5]

 

3. The Faith That Accesses Deliverance [v. 4-5]

 

II. THE VENEMOUS NATURE OF THE SINNERS [v. 6-18]

 

1. The Unimaginable Reproach of Sinners [v. 6-11]

 

2. The Unspeakable Rawness of Savagery  [v. 12-13, 16, 18]

 

3. The Unerring Reliability of Scripture [v. 14-17]

 

III. THE VICTORIOUS NATURE OF THE SHEPHERD [v. 19-31]

 

1.  The Prayer of Deliverance [v. 19-21]

 

2. The Praise of the Seekers [v.22-26]

 

3. The Worship of the Redeemed [v. 27-31]

REDEEMED HOW I LOVE TO PROCLAIM IT

PSALM 49                                                                                           

 

Pastor Rick Jackson

 

I. THE MESSAGE OF REDEMPTION [v. 1-4]

 

1. The Message is Universal [v. 1-2]

 

2. The Message is Understandable [v. 3]

 

3. The Message is Unspeakably Good or Bad [v. 4]

-2 Corinthians 9:15 Thanks be unto God for his unspeakable gift.

-1 Peter 1:8 Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory:

 

II. THE MAJESTY OF REDEMPTION [v. 5-9]

 

1.  As Revealed by the Powerlessness of Riches [v. 6-7]

 

2. As Revealed by the Preciousness of Redemption [v. 8]

-1 Peter 1:18-19 Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot:

-1 Peter 2:3-8 If so be ye have tasted that the Lord is gracious. To whom coming, as unto a living stone, disallowed indeed of men, but chosen of God, and precious, Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ. Wherefore also it is contained in the scripture, Behold, I lay in Sion a chief corner stone, elect, precious: and he that believeth on him shall not be confounded. Unto you therefore which believe he is precious: but unto them which be disobedient, the stone which the builders disallowed, the same is made the head of the corner, And a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offence, even to them which stumble at the word, being disobedient: whereunto also they were appointed.

-2 Peter 1:1 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. As Revealed by the Permanence of Redemption [v. 9]

 

III. THE MANNER OF REDEMPTION [v. 10-20]

 

1. There is the Folly of Wishful Thinking [v. 10-13, Proverbs 16:25]

-There is a way that seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.

 

2. There is the Fact of Separation [v. 14, 16-20]

 

3. There is the Faith of Salvation [v. 15]

JOHN R. RICE QUOTES OF THE WEEK

 The old nature leads a Christian into sin, but the new nature never lets a Christian be happy in sin. - John R. Rice [When A Christian Sins, pg. 21]

You see, when he [the prodigal son] bit down into the apple, he found a worm. That is what you always find when you bite into the Devil's apples! Sometimes when you bite into the Devil's apples, you will find half a worm! Some of it you will have already swallowed! That is not a joke when you apply it to sin, as I am applying it now. Lots of times when you bite in and do not find a worm, you have already swallowed it. The sin is committed and you can't get done with it as easily as you think. You will find out the Devil is a liar when it is too late to retract some things, when it is too late to live over some things. - John R. Rice [from the message "All Satan's Apples Have Worms"]

If preaching is worth doing, it is worth preparation for it. No one would set out to be a lawyer or a doctor with expecting to do a lot of study and work. Well, preaching is more important, and it deserves the best that any man has. There is no way to be greatly used of God without spending the time and the study and the prayer and doing whatever is necessary to learn to do it right. - John R. Rice

They continued in prayer and in supplication. Prayer is asking; supplication is begging. - John R. Rice

Here is another Scripture on this Bible doctrine that all Satan's apples have worms.

"Rest in the Lord, and wait patiently for him: fret not thyself because of him who prospereth in his way, because of the man who bringeth wicked devices to pass." - Ps. 37:7-10

"David, don't fret because of that old sinner. Don't complain because that man is getting along better than you are."

David had said, "Lord, here is a sinner who is making good money and having a good time. I am living for You and am having it tough. This man who is living for the Devil seems to prosper."

God said, "David, don't worry about that. He has pretty apples, but all of them have worms." - John R. Rice [all Satan's apples have worms]

Let us forever do away with any thought that we can earn salvation. It is "not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost" (Titus 3:5). And Ephesians 2:8, 9 say: "For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast." Not of works! Nobody ever deserves salvation, and no one ever will. I deserved Hell before I was saved, and I deserve Hell now. But bless God, through His infinite mercy I am saved and on my way to Heaven. Salvation is wholly by God's rich grace. Jesus died for sinners. - John R. Rice [Revival Appeals, pg. 110]

So if some poor sinner reads this who is unsaved, I warn you now, do not start out to bribe God. Do not set out to earn your way to Heaven. Such people do not get to Heaven. His salvation is only for those who admit themselves poor undone sinners and LEAVE THE SAVING TO JESUS! You cannot buy salvation with good deeds. But praise the Lord, you can accept it as a free gift of God. - John R. Rice [Revival Appeals, pg. 110]

All react

MANAGING THE MATTER OF MAGNIFICATION

[MAKE MUCH OF JESUS]                  

Pastor Rick Jackson

 

JOB 7:17 What is man, that thou shouldest magnify him? and that thou shouldest set thine heart upon him?

John the Baptist said of Jesus, “He must increase, but I must decrease.” [John 3:30] He was not the only one to feel that way or to say something about it.

 

I. WHAT DOES GOD MAGNIFY?

 

1. God Magnifies His Servants [Josh. 4:14, 2 Chr. 1:1]

- Josh. 4:14 On that day the Lord magnified Joshua in the sight of all Israel; and they feared him, as they feared Moses, all the days of his life.

-2 Chr. 1:1 AND Solomon the son of David was strengthened in his kingdom, and the Lord his God was with him, and magnified him exceedingly.

 

2. God Magnifies His Word [Ps. 138:2] I will worship toward thy holy temple, and praise thy name for thy lovingkindness and for thy truth: for thou hast magnified thy word above all thy name.

 

3. God Magnifies His Son [Acts 19:17] And this was known to all the Jews and Greeks also dwelling at Ephesus; and fear fell on them all, and the name of the Lord Jesus was magnified.

 

II. WHAT SHOULD WE NOT MAGNIFY?

 

1.  Do Not Magnify Yourself [Jer. 48:26, 42]

- Jer. 48:26 Make ye him drunken: for he magnified himself against the Lord: Moab also shall wallow in his vomit, and he also shall be in derision.

- Jer. 48:42 And Moab shall be destroyed from being a people, because he hath magnified himself against the Lord.

2.  Do Not Magnify Your Sin [Ezra 9:6] And said, O my God, I am ashamed and blush to lift up my face to thee, my God: for our iniquities are increased over our head, and our trespass is grown up unto the heavens.

 

3.  Do Not Magnify Against Israel [Zeph. 2:10] This shall they have for their pride, because they have reproached and magnified themselves against the people of the Lord of hosts.

 

III. WHAT SHOULD WE MAGNIFY?

 

1. We Should Magnify God’s Name [2 Sam. 7:26, 1 Chr. 17:24]

-And let thy name be magnified for ever, saying, The Lord of hosts is the God over Israel: and let the house of thy servant David be established before thee.

-Let it even be established, that thy name may be magnified for ever, saying, The Lord of hosts is the God of Israel, even a God to Israel: and let the house of David thy servant be established before thee.

-Luke 11:2 And he said unto them, When ye pray, say, Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done, as in heaven, so in earth.

 

2. We Should Magnify God by Our Lips [Ps. 40:16, 70:4]

- Ps. 40:16 Let all those that seek thee rejoice and be glad in thee: let such as love thy salvation say continually, The Lord be magnified.

- Ps. 70:4 Let all those that seek thee rejoice and be glad in thee: and let such as love thy salvation say continually, Let God be magnified.

 

3. We Should Magnify God by Our Life [Ps. 35:27, Phil. 1:20]

- Ps. 35:27 Let them shout for joy, and be glad, that favour my righteous cause: yea, let them say continually, Let the Lord be magnified, which hath pleasure in the prosperity of his servant.

- Phil. 1:20 According to my earnest expectation and my hope, that in nothing I shall be ashamed, but that with all boldness, as always, so now also Christ shall be magnified in my body, whether it be by life, or by death.

THE LORD MY SHEPHERD

Pastor Rick Jackson

 

I. THE GOOD SHEPHERD [JOHN 10]

Highlights His earthly Work

 

1. The Saving Work of the Good Shepherd [v. 1-9]

 

2. The Sincere Motives of the Good Shepherd [v. 10-16]

 

3. The Supreme Authority of the Good Shepherd [v. 17-21]

 

 II. THE GREAT SHEPHERD [HEBREWS 13]    

Highlights His Glorious Resurrection

 

1.  He is Great in the Expense of His Death [v. 10-12]

 

2. He is Great in the Experience of His Resurrection [v. 20]

 

3.  He is Great in the Extreme of His Results [v. 20-21]

III. THE CHIEF SHEPHERD [1 PETER 5]    

Highlights His Coming in Power

 

1. Chief over His Under-shepherds [v. 1-3]

 

2. Chief in His Appearance [v. 4a]

 

3. Chief in His Discretion [v. 4b-6]

DIFFICULT TO MANAGE … BUT GOD

PSALM 39

 

 Pastor Rick Jackson

 

 I. THE TONGUE IS DIFFICULT TO MANAGE [v. 1-3]

 

 1. Hard to Tame [v. 1]

 

2. Easy to Overreact [v. 2]

 

3. Just Right to Pray [v. 3]

 

 II. TIME IS DIFFICULT TO MANAGE [v. 4-7]           Realize-

 

1.  Life is Short [v. 4]

 

2.  Death is Sure [v. 5]

 

3.  Sin the Curse [v. 6]

 

4. But Christ the Cure [v. 7]

 

 III. TEMPTATION IS DIFFICULT TO MANAGE [v. 8-13]

 

1. A Confession [v. 8]

 

2. Acknowledge Correction [v. 9-11]

 

3. A Contrite Heart [v. 12-13, Psalm 34:18, 51:17; Isaiah 57:15, 66:2]

 

Psalm 34:18 The LORD is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart; and saveth such as be of a contrite spirit.

 

Psalm 51:17 The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise.

 

Isaiah 57:15 For thus saith the high and lofty One that inhabiteth eternity, whose name is Holy; I dwell in the high and holy place, with him also that is of a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones.

 

Isaiah 66:2 For all those things hath mine hand made, and all those things have been, saith the LORD: but to this man will I look, even to him that is poor and of a contrite spirit, and trembleth at my word.

John R. Rice Quotes of the Week

 Do not think that Hell is simply a place where a hard-hearted God confines people arbitrarily and heaps upon them suffering while He gloats over their pain. No, no! Hell is simply the mad-house of retribution which every sinner prepares for himself. The Scripture says, "The wages of sin is death" (Rom. 6:23). The sinner who goes to Hell reaps exactly what he sowed. Hell is simply the wages of sin. Those who go to Heaven ride on a pass and enter into blessings that they never earned, for "the gift of God is eternal life." But all who go to Hell pay their own way. Hell is absolute justice. Men go to Hell because they are sinners, aliens, rebels, unreconciled and condemned sinners. Poor sinner, if you reject Christ and land in Hell, then and not until then will you really understand how terrible sin is! Sin will come home to the sinner in the fires of Hell! - John R. Rice [Revival Appeals, pg. 31]

Sinners love to blame God for Hell. But God has arranged it that every last sinner shall be dragged out of Hell and get a resurrection body, and then that he shall stand before God in the Great White Throne Judgment, pictured in Rev. 20:11-15. God has promised plainly that, "Every knee should bow ... and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father" (Phil. 2:10, 11). So God will open His record books, and men will be judged according to their own works out of the things written in the books. There men will confess their own sins. There every witness in the universe of God will be brought forward to prove the guilt. There men shall give account of every idle word uttered. There the lusts of the heart, the desires that were never mentioned, the sins that never took place outwardly--all these will be brought to judgment then. Then every angel in Heaven, every demon in Hell, and all the assembled billions of the earth's population of all ages, will come to know what a sinner you are and have been! Then, surely, in the presence of every being God ever created, you may be sure that your sin will find you out! That judgment is only for unsaved sinners, sinners that die in their sin without repentance and without forgiveness. But, oh, what a horrible climax to a life of sin when Christ-rejecting sinners are found out by their sin at the judgment bar of Almighty God! - John R. Rice [Revival Appeals, pg. 31-32]

You who will not take Jesus Christ and flee to Him for refuge will find yourselves hounded and pursued by your own sins and so certain of eternal ruin. - John R. Rice [Revival Appeals, pg. 33]

The dying thief said about Jesus, "This man hath done nothing amiss." In that statement he admitted all that Jesus ever claimed for Himself. Jesus said to the rich young ruler, who wanted to have eternal life by doing good things, "Why callest thou me good? There is none good but one, that is, God (Matt. 19:17). No one ever need call Jesus good who does not call Him what He is, God come in human form. - John R. Rice [Revival Appeals, pg. 105]

It is disgusting to hear people talk about Jesus as "the great teacher" who do not believe in His deity. The foolish prattle about "the Nazarene peasant" by those who deny His virgin birth is shameful and wicked. Those who boast about the wonderful example that Jesus gave and urge others to live as Jesus did, to follow "the Jesus way of life," who deny that He was the miracle-born Son of a virgin and deny that He was without a human father, that He was pre-existent God who created all things, are insincere hypocrites. No one ever got peace and forgiveness and salvation through Christ who did not admit His sinless deity. - John R. Rice [Revival Appeals, pg. 105]

There is a horrible moral guilt in anyone who will not admit the deity of Jesus Christ, because every sinner could KNOW about the deity of Christ if he honestly wanted to know, if he honestly followed what light he had. Jesus said in John 7:17, to certain doubters, "If any man will do his will, he shall know of the doctrine, whether it be of God, or whether I speak of myself." Again He said in John 8:12, "I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life." I have no patience for the man who says, "I do not believe in the electric light," and will not try the switch to see for himself. And so any man who does not search the Scriptures, who does not honestly seek the Lord Jesus for himself, who does not put the matter of salvation to a test, is a dishonest sinner, condemned because he does not want to know the truth and does not follow on to know it. - John R. Rice [Revival Appeals, pg. 105-106]

We must remember that everybody who was ever saved was saved the same way--by faith in Christ. God has always had but one way of saving sinners. Those who were saved in Old Testament times were saved by faith in the coming Saviour. Those who are saved now are saved by faith in the Saviour who has already come. - John R. Rice [When A Christian Sins, pg. 18]