RUNNING SHORT, RUNNING SICK, RUNNING STUPID

2 KINGS 6:24-7:20

Pastor Rick Jackson

 

I. THE SINFUL STATE OF THE INDIGNANT LAND [6:24-7:2]

1. Short of Materials [6:24-27]

2. Short of Morals [6:28-30]

3. Short of Memory [6:31-7:2]

 

II. THE STRANGE SITUATION OF THE INDUSTRIOUS LEPERS

[7:3-11]

1. The Leper’s Reasoning [7:3-4]

2. The Leper’s Rejoicing [7:5-8]

3. The Leper’s Responsibility [7:9-11]

 

III. THE SENSELESS STUBBORNESS OF THE ISRAELITE LEADER [7:12-10]

1. The Stubborn Pessimist [7:12]

2. The Sincere Realist [7:13-15]

3. The Spiritual Biblicist [7:16-20]

LEAH’S LIGHT IN THE SHADOWS

John 1:1-9, 8:12, 9:5

- Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.

- As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world.

Pastor Rick Jackson

Is your life perfect? Have you been born with a silver spoon in your mouth and caught all the breaks at just the right time? You may think others have but there are probably some that think you have it made and probably always have. As you go through life, and grow through life, and groan through life you should learn that the light at the end of the tunnel is not as important as the Light with you in the tunnel. Here’s a Bible Life to illustrate what we are saying.

 

I. LEAH’S LONELY LIFE IN THE SHADOWS

1. Life with Unwanted Comparisons [Gn. 29:16-17]

2. Life as an Unwanted Bride [Gn. 29:23-31]

3. Life with an Unsaved Father [Gn. 31:25-32]

 

II. LEAH’S LIFE IN THE SHADOW OF THE ALMIGHTY [Psalm 91:1]

He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty

1. Seen in Her Baby Faith [29:32-34, 1 Cor. 3:1-3]

AND I, brethren, could not speak unto you as unto spiritual, but as unto carnal, even as unto babes in Christ. I have fed you with milk, and not with meat: for hitherto ye were not able to bear it, neither yet now are ye able. For ye are yet carnal: for whereas there is among you envying, and strife, and divisions, are ye not carnal, and walk as men?

2. Seen in Her Growing Faith [Gn. 29:35, 30:17-20, 1 Peter 2:2, 2 Peter 3:18]

-As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby:

-But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever. Amen.

3. Seen in Her Maturing Faith [Gn. 31:4-16, Jn. 2:5]

-His mother saith unto the servants, Whatsoever he saith unto you, do it.

 

III. LEAH’S LASTING LEGACY IN THE SHADOWS OF HISTORY

1. A Relationship with Jacob [Gn. 49:29-33]

2. A Place of Honor in History [Ruth 4:11]

And all the people that were in the gate, and the elders, said, We are witnesses. The LORD make the woman that is come into thine house like Rachel and like Leah, which two did build the house of Israel: and do thou worthily in Ephratah, and be famous in Bethlehem:

3. An Ancestor of the Messiah [Mt. 1:1-3, 15-17; Lk. 3:23, 33-34]

-THE book of the generation of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham. Abraham begat Isaac; and Isaac begat Jacob; and Jacob begat Judas and his brethren; And Judas begat Phares and Zara of Thamar; and Phares begat Esrom; and Esrom begat Aram;

-And Eliud begat Eleazar; and Eleazar begat Matthan; and Matthan begat Jacob; And Jacob begat Joseph the husband of Mary, of whom was born Jesus, who is called Christ. So all the generations from Abraham to David are fourteen generations; and from David until the carrying away into Babylon are fourteen generations; and from the carrying away into Babylon unto Christ are fourteen generations

-And Jesus himself began to be about thirty years of age, being (as was supposed) the son of Joseph, which was the son of Heli

-Which was the son of Aminadab, which was the son of Aram, which was the son of Esrom, which was the son of Phares, which was the son of Juda, Which was the son of Jacob, which was the son of Isaac, which was the son of Abraham, which was the son of Thara, which was the son of Nachor

THE CALLS OF JESUS TO “FOLLOW ME”

Isaiah 51:1

Hearken to me, ye that follow after righteousness, ye that seek the Lord: look unto the rock whence ye are hewn, and to the hole of the pit whence ye are digged.

 

Pastor Rick Jackson

 

I. THE CALL TO SALVATION [MATTHEW 19:16-26]

 

II. THE CALL TO SECURITY [JOHN 10:23-30]

And Jesus walked in the temple in Solomon's porch. Then came the Jews round about him, and said unto him, How long dost thou make us to doubt? If thou be the Christ, tell us plainly. Jesus answered them, I told you, and ye believed not: the works that I do in my Father's name, they bear witness of me. But ye believe not, because ye are not of my sheep, as I said unto you. My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father's hand. I and my Father are one

 

III. THE CALL TO SERVICE [MATT. 4:18-22, LUKE 5:27-32, JOHN 1:35-45]

-And Jesus, walking by the sea of Galilee, saw two brethren, Simon called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea: for they were fishers. And he saith unto them, Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men. And they straightway left their nets, and followed him. And going on from thence, he saw other two brethren, James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother, in a ship with Zebedee their father, mending their nets; and he called them. And they immediately left the ship and their father, and followed him.

- And after these things he went forth, and saw a publican, named Levi, sitting at the receipt of custom: and he said unto him, Follow me. And he left all, rose up, and followed him. And Levi made him a great feast in his own house: and there was a great company of publicans and of others that sat down with them. But their scribes and Pharisees murmured against his disciples, saying, Why do ye eat and drink with publicans and sinners? And Jesus answering said unto them, They that are whole need not a physician; but they that are sick. I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.

IV. THE CALL TO SURRENDER [MATTHEW 8:18-22]

Now when Jesus saw great multitudes about him, he gave commandment to depart unto the other side. And a certain scribe came, and said unto him, Master, I will follow thee whithersoever thou goest. And Jesus saith unto him, The foxes have holes, and the birds of the air have nests; but the Son of man hath not where to lay his head. And another of his disciples said unto him, Lord, suffer me first to go and bury my father. But Jesus said unto him, Follow me; and let the dead bury their dead.

 

V. THE CALL TO SELF-DENIAL [MATTHEW 16:24-25, JOHN 12:24-26]

-Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me. For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it.

- 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. He that loveth his life shall lose it; and he that hateth his life in this world shall keep it unto life eternal. If any man serve me, let him follow me; and where I am, there shall also my servant be: if any man serve me, him will my Father honour.

 

VI. THE CALL TO FOCUS [JOHN 21:18-22]

Verily, verily, I say unto thee, When thou wast young, thou girdedst thyself, and walkedst whither thou wouldest: but when thou shalt be old, thou shalt stretch forth thy hands, and another shall gird thee, and carry thee whither thou wouldest not. This spake he, signifying by what death he should glorify God. And when he had spoken this, he saith unto him, Follow me. Then Peter, turning about, seeth the disciple whom Jesus loved following; which also leaned on his breast at supper, and said, Lord, which is he that betrayeth thee? Peter seeing him saith to Jesus, Lord, and what shall this man do? Jesus saith unto him, If I will that he tarry till I come, what is that to thee? follow thou me.

John R. Rice Quotes of the Week

 I do not deny that the Devil has some pretty apples; I just say that all of them are fakes and that after you bite into them, you will find they have worms. All Satan's apples have worms. - John R. Rice [All Satan's Apples Have Worms, pg. 2]

Here is God's simple way to be saved. You are a sinner, your heart is wrong, you cannot save yourself, you are already condemned. The thing you are to do then, to be saved, is to simply trust the Lord Jesus with that matter. When you do trust Him, then you have God's Promise, "Thou shalt be saved." - John R. Rice

How many angels in Heaven? Ten thousand times ten thousand [Rev. 5:11] would be a hundred million, and add to these "thousand of thousands." That is at least two thousand times two thousands or a minimum of four million more. So there are at least 104 million angels. These were all called to worship Christ at His birth. "And again, when he bringeth in the first begotten into the world, he saith, And let all the angels of God worship him" (Heb. 1:6). - John R. Rice ["BEHOLD HE COMETH!", page 124]

When I was a young college student I went with my pastor - a country pastor, an earnest soul winner - to a number of revivals in the summer. He invited me to be with him in seven weeks of revival services in seven country and small-town churches. I went. It wasn't long until he was sending me on ahead to start the revival. I didn't think I was called to preach. I didn't go out there to preach; I went to lead the singing. But it was not long until he pushed me out. I tried to argue. "I'm not the preacher."

He would say, "Then tell them you are not a preacher."

I said, "But I don't have any sermons."

He said, "You are an intercollegiate debater. You have a scholarship in oratory, and are out raising money, speaking for the Red Cross and all that, and you can't preach! That's a funny way to treat Jesus."

And - bless his heart - he outtalked me! You couldn't run long with him without being a preacher. So you can't run with Jesus without learning to win souls. That is the dearest thing to the heart of God.- John R. Rice [The Biggest Job in the World-- Soul Winning!, pg. 124-125]

Let every reader search his heart. Are you sure there is not a single known sin unconfessed to come to haunt your prayer life, to offend your heavenly Father, to grieve the sweet Spirit of God who dwells within you? O Christian, how sad when our sins shut up Heaven against our prayers and make it so God cannot hear as He wants to do! - John R. Rice [When A Christian Sins, pg. 49]

A little boy eight years old was saved. He was of a godly family. You would suppose that one that young had never had any time to fret about what would happen to him, how he might die and meet God. But he said very solemnly, "I sure am glad to have that settled!" - John R. Rice [Was Pope John I a Born-Again Christian?, pg. 108]

Excuses! Excuses! Lying, insolent, deceiving excuses! That is all that men offer when they will not have Jesus as Saviour and pretend that it is for some good reason. - John R. Rice [Immanuel--God With Us, page 151]

TRUST IN HIM

2 Samuel 22:3, 31

Pastor Rick Jackson

 

Here is a message for every person. Young, old, man, woman, child, red, yellow, black, brown, Caucasian… every person. Trust the One True God and you can shoulder any burden, climb any obstacle, get through anything. Trust God. Trust in God. This is the message for this hour. This is the message for any hour!

 

I. TRUST IN GOD ALWAYS WINS!

1. Salvation comes thru Trusting Christ [1 Timothy 4:10]

For therefore we both labour and suffer reproach, because we trust in the living God, who is the Saviour of all men, specially of those that believe.

2. Security comes thru Trusting Christ [2 Corinthians 1:9-10]

But we had the sentence of death in ourselves, that we should not trust in ourselves, but in God which raiseth the dead: Who delivered us from so great a death, and doth deliver: in whom we trust that he will yet deliver us;

3. Stability comes thru Trusting Christ [Nahum 1:7,  Psalm 125:1]

-The LORD is good, a strong hold in the day of trouble; and he knoweth them that trust in him.

-They that trust in the LORD shall be as mount Zion, which cannot be removed, but abideth for ever.

 

II. TRUST IN GOD GIVES PEACE!

“The beginning of anxiety is the end of faith. The beginning of true faith is the end of anxiety.” – George Mueller

Learn to trust through difficulties. Paul said, “I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content.”

 

1. Trust reminds us that God is in Control [Isaiah 12:2]

Behold, God is my salvation; I will trust, and not be afraid: for the LORD JEHOVAH is my strength and my song; he also is become my salvation.

2. Trust reminds us that God is Love [Philippians 2:19-20, Psalm 36:7]

-But I trust in the Lord Jesus to send Timotheus shortly unto you, that I also may be of good comfort, when I know your state. For I have no man likeminded, who will naturally care for your state.

-How excellent is thy lovingkindness, O God! therefore the children of men put their trust under the shadow of thy wings.

3. Trust reminds us that God is to be Obeyed [Isaiah 50:10]

Who is among you that feareth the LORD, that obeyeth the voice of his servant, that walketh in darkness, and hath no light? let him trust in the name of the LORD, and stay upon his God.

 

III. TRUST IN GOD CHANGES EVERYTHING!

 

1. Trust in God can Change any Situation (the Red Sea, the walls of Jericho, the lion’s den, your life)

[Philemon 1:22] But withal prepare me also a lodging: for I trust that through your prayers I shall be given unto you.

2. Trust in God can Change us [1 Timothy 6:17]

Charge them that are rich in this world, that they be not highminded, nor trust in uncertain riches, but in the living God, who giveth us richly all things to enjoy.

3. Trust in God can give us Compassion [Psalm 143:8]

Cause me to hear thy lovingkindness in the morning; for in thee do I trust: cause me to know the way wherein I should walk; for I lift up my soul unto thee.

 

He Maketh No Mistake

 

My Father’s way may twist and turn,

 

 my heart may throb and ache.

 

 But in my soul I’m glad I know,

 

 He maketh no mistake.

 

My cherished plans may go astray,

 

 my hopes may fade away,

 

 but still I’ll trust my Lord to lead,

 

 for He doth know the way.

 

Tho’night be dark and it may seem

 

 that day will never break;

 

 I’ll pin my faith, my all in Him,

 

 He maketh no mistake.

 

There’s so much now I cannot see,

 

 my eyesight’s far too dim;

 

 but come what may, I’ll simply trust

 

 and leave it all to Him.

 

For by and by the mist will lift

 

 and plain it all He’ll make.

 

 Through all the way, tho’ dark to me,

 

 He made not one mistake.

THE NATURAL MAN, THE CARNAL MAN, AND THE SPIRITUAL MAN

2 KINGS 3,  1 Corinthians 2:14

But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.                                                                               

Pastor Rick Jackson

 

I. THE SORRY STATE OF SPIRITUALITY

 

1. A Poor Reputation “Not as bad” [v. 1-3]

2. A Rich Opportunity “Carpe Diem” [v. 4-5]

3. Another Unequal Yoke [v. 6-9, 1 Kings 22, 2 Chr. 19:2, 2 Cor. 6:14-18]

-And Jehu the son of Hanani the seer went out to meet him, and said to king Jehoshaphat, Shouldest thou help the ungodly, and love them that hate the Lord? therefore is wrath upon thee from before the Lord.

-Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness? And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel? And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you, And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.

 

II. THE SHADOW OF GRACE

 

1. The Lame Blame Game [v. 10]

2. Better Late than Never [v. 11-12] “God is merciful, or He could use no one.” – J.R.R.

3.  The Overflowing Benefits [v. 13-20]

 

III. THE EVIDENCE

 

1. The Evidence of Providence [v. 20]

2. The Evidence of Ignorance [v. 21-24]

3. The Evidence of Reprobation [v. 25-27, Romans 1:28-32]

And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient; Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers, Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, Without understanding, covenantbreakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful: Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them.

BE THE PERSON GOD CAN HONOR

2 KINGS 1                          

Pastor Rick Jackson

 

I. TURNING FALLING INTO FAILURE [v. 1-8]

 

1. Ahaziah’s Fall [v. 1-2a]

2. Ahaziah’s Folly [v. 2b-4]

3. Ahaziah’s Failure [v. 5-8]

 

II. ARE YOU WISE OR OTHERWISE? [v. 9-15]

 

1. King’s Man meet God’s Man [v. 9-10]

2. Doubling Down with Foolishness [v. 11] – repeating the same behavior while expecting a different result

3. What God Honors [v. 12-15, John 5:22-24, Heb. 10:28-31]  Faith & humility

-For the Father judgeth no man, but hath committed all judgment unto the Son: That all men should honour the Son, even as they honour the Father. He that honoureth not the Son honoureth not the Father which hath sent him. Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.

-He that despised Moses' law died without mercy under two or three witnesses: Of how much sorer punishment, suppose ye, shall he be thought worthy, who hath trodden under foot the Son of God, and hath counted the blood of the covenant, wherewith he was sanctified, an unholy thing, and hath done despite unto the Spirit of grace? For we know him that hath said, Vengeance belongeth unto me, I will recompense, saith the Lord. And again, The Lord shall judge his people. It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.

 

III. WHAT GOD KEEPS [v. 16-18]

 

1. God Keeps His Righteous Judgments [v. 16]

2. God Keeps His Word [v. 17, Romans 3:4 ]

God forbid: yea, let God be true, but every man a liar; as it is written, That thou mightest be justified in thy sayings, and mightest overcome when thou art judged.

3. God Keeps the Books [v. 18, Rev. 20:11-15]

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. And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.

John R. Rice Quotes of the Week

 The Arminian language about "probation" is unscriptural. The idea that man is not ever really saved while on earth but is simply "on probation," and that any time he may fall in his probation and then be damned, is an unscriptural doctrine. And the terminology itself is not Bible terminology. The Bible never anywhere says that a Christian is on probation. The language is human language because the doctrine is a human philosophy. You see, Arminianism, like hyper-Calvinism, is a human philosophy. - John R. Rice [Predestined for Hell? No!, pg. 27]

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

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]

In Mark 13:32, 33, we have Jesus' words as follows, "But of that day and that hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels which are in heaven, neither the Son, but the Father. Take ye heed, watch and pray: for ye know not when the time is."

Here we are told that "no man, no, not the angels which are in heaven, neither the Son," but only the Father knows when Christ will return! We believe that Christ now, in His exalted and glorious state, knows when He will return. But here I understand Him to claim that while on earth He did not know. If Jesus did not know, it was because He had emptied Himself of the outward evidences and marks of His deity. Certainly it is clear that no man in the world knows or can know when Christ will come and the angels themselves in Heaven do not know. - John R. Rice

You ask, Do you believe in welfare?" Let me say this. I believe in helping people who are sick, in helping orphan children and widows who can't help themselves. But able-bodied people ought not be supported without working. I do not believe that people who can work should be supported by us who do. Maybe you can't get $8.75 an hour. All right, then work for what you can get. I worked many a time for $1.00 a day plus board. And whether you want it that way or not, people ought to work at what they can do and earn their own way. You may not get rich, but learn to get by on what you can and make your own way. - John R. Rice [Ten Commandments, Part Two, pg. 14]

The man who is incapable of saving himself is equally incapable of keeping himself. - John R. Rice [When A Christian Sins, pg. 26]

RELIGION OR FAITH?

2 KINGS 13                    

Pastor Rick Jackson

 

I. FOXHOLE RELIGION – FOR EMERGENCIES ONLY

 

1. The Continuation of Sin [v. 1-2]

2. The Consequences of Sin [v. 3, Gal. 6:7-10]

Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting. And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not. As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith.

3. The Compromise of Sin [v. 4-9]

 

II. FASHIONABLE RELIGION – FOR APPEARANCES ONLY

 

1. Like Father… [v. 9-13]

2. Lackadaisical Faith [v. 14-19]

3. Lord is Faithful (to keep His Word) [v. 24-25]

III. FAITH THAT IS REAL – FOR APPLICATION ALWAYS

 

1. Serving in Sickness [v. 14-19] Love Someone!

2. Serving in Sleep [v. 20-21, Heb. 11:4, Rev. 14:13] Leave Something!

- By faith Abel offered unto God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, by which he obtained witness that he was righteous, God testifying of his gifts: and by it he being dead yet speaketh.

- And I heard a voice from heaven saying unto me, Write, Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth: Yea, saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their labours; and their works do follow them.

3. Serving in Scripturalness [v. 22-25, Lk. 6:46-49, Romans 8:6 ] Live Spiritually!

-And why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say? Whosoever cometh to me, and heareth my sayings, and doeth them, I will show 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. But he that heareth, and doeth not, is like a man that without a foundation built an house upon the earth; against which the stream did beat vehemently, and immediately it fell; and the ruin of that house was great.

-For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.

counting the cost

COUNTING THE COST

EXODUS 4                                          

Pastor Rick Jackson

 

I. DOING THE WILL OF GOD MAY SEEM TO BE A HIGH COST

 

1. Except for God’s Preparation [v. 18-19]

2. Except for God’s Power [v. 20, 1-9]

3. Except for God’s Plan [v. 21-22]

 

II. NOT DOING THE WILL OF GOD CARRIES THE HIGHEST COST

One of Brother Henry’s sayings that I like is “The high cost of low living.”

 

1. What is Your Life Worth? [v. 24, Luke 9:24]

- For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: but whosoever will lose his life for my sake, the same shall save it.

2. What is your Life’s Work? [v. 25-26, Mt. 21:27-32, Lk. 19:17, 1 Corinthians 15:58]

- And they answered Jesus, and said, We cannot tell. And he said unto them, Neither tell I you by what authority I do these things. But what think ye? A certain man had two sons; and he came to the first, and said, Son, go work to day in my vineyard. He answered and said, I will not: but afterward he repented, and went. And he came to the second, and said likewise. And he answered and said, I go, sir: and went not. Whether of them twain did the will of his father? They say unto him, The first. Jesus saith unto them, Verily I say unto you, That the publicans and the harlots go into the kingdom of God before you. For John came unto you in the way of righteousness, and ye believed him not: but the publicans and the harlots believed him: and ye, when ye had seen it, repented not afterward, that ye might believe him.

- And he said unto him, Well, thou good servant: because thou hast been faithful in a very little, have thou authority over ten cities.

- Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.

3. What is your Life’s Word [v. 27-28, Heb. 11:4, Acts 5:20]

- By faith Enoch was translated that he should not see death; and was not found, because God had translated him: for before his translation he had this testimony, that he pleased God.

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

 

III. THE HIGH COST OF FAITH

 

1. Have Faith to Obey [v. 29-30]

2. Have Faith to Believe [v. 31a, Rm. 10:17, Mark 11:22, Jn. 14:1]

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

- And Jesus answering saith unto them, Have faith in God.

- [Jesus said] LET not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me.

3. Have Faith to Respond [v. 31b]

DO NOT UNDERESTIMATE THE ALMIGHTY

Job 40:1-5, Revelation 19:15

Pastor Rick Jackson

And out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the nations: and he shall rule them with a rod of iron: and he treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God.

 

I. DON’T UNDERESTIMATE GOD ALMIGHTY

 

1. Don’t Underestimate His Holiness [Psalms 47:8, Heb. 12:14]

-God reigneth over the heathen: God sitteth upon the throne of his holiness.

- Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord:

2. Don’t Underestimate His Love [John 3:16, Romans 5:8]

-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.

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

3. Don’t Underestimate His Power [Isaiah 59:1, Jeremiah 32:17, Mt. 28:18]

-Behold, the Lord's hand is not shortened, that it cannot save; neither his ear heavy, that it cannot hear:

-Ah Lord GOD! behold, thou hast made the heaven and the earth by thy great power and stretched out arm, and there is nothing too hard for thee:

-And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.

 

II. DON’T UNDERESTIMATE GOD ALMIGHTY’S WORD

 

1. The Bible has Power to Convict [Psalm 73:21, Acts 2:37]

-Thus my heart was grieved, and I was pricked in my reins.

-Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do?

ILLUSTRATION – Gen. 5 “and he died” 8 times

2. The Bible has Power to Convince [Jeremiah 23:29, Jude 15]

-Is not my word like as a fire? saith the Lord; and like a hammer that breaketh the rock in pieces?

-To execute judgment upon all, and to convince all that are ungodly among them of all their ungodly deeds which they have ungodly committed, and of all their hard speeches which ungodly sinners have spoken against him.

ILLUSTRATION –Ecclesiastes “Meaningless, meaningless, all is meaningless” “Life without God has no meaning”

3. The Bible has Power to Convert [Ps. 19:7]

The law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul: the testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple.

 

III. DON’T UNDERESTIMATE GOD ALMIGHTY’S SALVATION

1. God has Power to Save [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.

2. God has Power to Secure [Hebrews 7:25]

-Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them.

3. God has Power to Spare [1 John 2:2, Hebrews 4:2]

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

-For unto us was the gospel preached, as well as unto them: but the word preached did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in them that heard it.

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]

You say, "I believe the preachers are all preaching for money." Then they're a pretty wacky bunch. A preacher might be that mean but I sure hope that not many of them are that dumb! You go ahead and take the backsliders and the bootleggers and the Devil's crowd; I'll take the preachers. The Lord didn't say, "Come to the preacher." He said, "Come to Jesus." He didn't say, "Come to the church." It has to be Jesus. He didn't say, "Come to baptism." A little water on your head and a whole lot to dunk you in won't fix what's wrong with you, brother. It's Jesus you need. Come to Jesus. - John R. Rice [Was Pope John I a Born-Again Christian?, pg. 67]

The furniture of the tabernacle was made of wood, to picture Christ's humanity, and covered with gold, to picture His deity. The pure white linen over the tabernacle pictured His sinless purity. The ram's skins dyed red pictured His atonement. The badgers' skins, dull and unattractive to the world, pictured Him as this outer world sees Him. And the blue curtains pictured Him as deity, a heavenly being. - John R. Rice [Golden Path of Successful Personal Soul Winning [pg. 195-196]

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

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

Again John 15:7, "If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you."

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

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

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]

Oh. judgment for all and Hell for impenitent sinners is coming. You may not like to talk about Hell, but the Bible does. You may not like the commandments: "Don't do this and don't do that!" But God gave commandments. And you may think God is too good to punish sin. If you think so, then you do not know the Bible, and you do not know the God of the Bible. You have made up a fake religion out of your human philosophy. - John R. Rice

REASONS EVEN BELIEVERS NEED THE SAVIOUR

2 KINGS 12
Pastor Rick Jackson

I. THERE IS THE MATTER OF FALLING SHORT [Rm. 3:23]
For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God.

1. Eyes are Not Lifted High Enough [v. 1-2, Psalm 121:1-2, Heb. 12:2]
- I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help. My help cometh from the Lord, which made heaven and earth.
- WHEREFORE seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.

2. Worship is Not Pure Enough [v. 3, Jn. 4:20-24]
Our fathers worshipped in this mountain; and ye say, that in Jerusalem is the place where men ought to worship. Jesus saith unto her, Woman, believe me, the hour cometh, when ye shall neither in this mountain, nor yet at Jerusalem, worship the Father. Ye worship ye know not what: we know what we worship: for salvation is of the Jews. But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him. God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.

3. Misuse of Worldly Goods [v. 4-8, Proverbs 3:9] Honour the LORD with thy substance, and with the firstfruits of all thine increase:

II. THERE IS THE MATTER OF FAITH BEING SHALLOW [Luke 17:5]
And the apostles said unto the Lord, Increase our faith.

1. Implementation of a Careful Collection [v. 9-10, 1 Cor. 16:2]
Upon the first day of the week let every one of you lay by him in store, as God hath prospered him, that there be no gatherings when I come.

2. Implementation of an Organized Oversight [v. 11-12, 1 Cor. 14:40]
Let all things be done decently and in order.

3. Implementation of the Deliberate Division [v. 13-16, 2 Chr. 24:14]
And when they had finished it, they brought the rest of the money before the king and Jehoiada, whereof were made vessels for the house of the Lord, even vessels to minister, and to offer withal, and spoons, and vessels of gold and silver. And they offered burnt offerings in the house of the Lord continually all the days of Jehoiada.

III. THERE IS THE MATTER OF FAILURE BEING SURE

1. Buying Off the Enemy [v. 17-18, 2 Chr. 24:15-18]
But Jehoiada waxed old, and was full of days when he died; an hundred and thirty years old was he when he died. And they buried him in the city of David among the kings, because he had done good in Israel, both toward God, and toward his house. Now after the death of Jehoiada came the princes of Judah, and made obeisance to the king. Then the king hearkened unto them. And they left the house of the Lord God of their fathers, and served groves and idols: and wrath came upon Judah and Jerusalem for this their trespass.

2. Forsaking the Lord [v. 19, 2 Chr. 24:19-22]
-Yet he sent prophets to them, to bring them again unto the Lord; and they testified against them: but they would not give ear. And the Spirit of God came upon Zechariah the son of Jehoiada the priest, which stood above the people, and said unto them, Thus saith God, Why transgress ye the commandments of the Lord, that ye cannot prosper? because ye have forsaken the Lord, he hath also forsaken you. And they conspired against him, and stoned him with stones at the commandment of the king in the court of the house of the Lord. Thus Joash the king remembered not the kindness which Jehoiada his father had done to him, but slew his son. And when he died, he said, The Lord look upon it, and require it.

3. Reaping What Has Been Sown [v. 20-21, 2 Chr. 24:23-27, Galatians 6:7]
-And it came to pass at the end of the year, that the host of Syria came up against him: and they came to Judah and Jerusalem, and destroyed all the princes of the people from among the people, and sent all the spoil of them unto the king of Damascus. For the army of the Syrians came with a small company of men, and the Lord delivered a very great host into their hand, because they had forsaken the Lord God of their fathers. So they executed judgment against Joash. And when they were departed from him, (for they left him in great diseases,) his own servants conspired against him for the blood of the sons of Jehoiada the priest, and slew him on his bed, and he died: and they buried him in the city of David, but they buried him not in the sepulchres of the kings. And these are they that conspired against him; Zabad the son of Shimeath an Ammonitess, and Jehozabad the son of Shimrith a Moabitess. Now concerning his sons, and the greatness of the burdens laid upon him, and the repairing of the house of God, behold, they are written in the story of the book of the kings. And Amaziah his son reigned in his stead.
- Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.

PRIORITY ONE FOR 2024

MATTHEW 6:30-34

Pastor Rick Jackson

 

I. THE PRIME DIRECTIVE [v. 33]

 

1. The Prime Directive is Purposeful “Seek” [v. 33, Lk. 19:10, John 4:23]

Why doesn’t’ He seek us? He has!

-For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost.

-But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him.

 

2. The Prime Directive is Personal “Seek ye”

 

3. The Prime Directive is Prioritized “Seek ye first” [v. 33, Mark 8:36, Mt. 23:26]

-For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?

-Thou blind Pharisee, cleanse first that which is within the cup and platter, that the outside of them may be clean also.

 

II. THE PERSONAL DEITY

 

1. A Kingdom must have a King (the kingdom of God’s King, by default, is God) [v. 33]

-the Magi recognized this [Mt. 2:1-2] …there came wise men from the east to Jerusalem, Saying, Where is he that is born King of the Jews? for we have seen his star in the east, and are come to worship him.

-the prophet Bard foretold this [Is. 9:6-7] For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for ever. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will perform this.

-the Apostle proclaimed this [1 Timothy 1:17] Now unto the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only wise God, be honour and glory for ever and ever. Amen.

 

2. A King must have Subjects [Hebrews 12:9, 29]

-Furthermore we have had fathers of our flesh which corrected us, and we gave them reverence: shall we not much rather be in subjection unto the Father of spirits, and live?

-Wherefore we receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved, let us have grace, whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear:

 

3. A King must Rule [Matthew 2:6, Hebrews 2:8-9]

-And thou Bethlehem, in the land of Juda, art not the least among the princes of Juda: for out of thee shall come a Governor, that shall rule my people Israel

-Thou hast put all things in subjection under his feet. For in that he put all in subjection under him, he left nothing that is not put under him. But now we see not yet all things put under him. But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honour; that he by the grace of God should taste death for every man.

 

III. THE PRIORITY APPLIED [6:33]

 

1. His Word Must Have Priority [Isaiah 34:16, John 14:15, 23, 15:10]

-Seek ye out of the book of the Lord, and read:

-If ye love me, keep my commandments.

-Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him.

-If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father's commandments, and abide in his love.

 

2. His Will Must Have Priority [John 7:17]

If any man will do his will, he shall know of the doctrine, whether it be of God, or whether I speak of myself.

 

3. His Way Must Have Priority [Psalm 18:30, Isaiah 30:21, Prov. 3:5-7]

-As for God, his way is perfect: the word of the Lord is tried: he is a buckler to all those that trust in him.

-And thine ears shall hear a word behind thee, saying, This is the way, walk ye in it, when ye turn to the right hand, and when ye turn to the left.

-Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths. Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the Lord, and depart from evil.

John R. Rice Quotes of the Week

 So sin grieves the Spirit. That means the Holy Spirit may be living in your body and makes all the promises true about you, but you don't know much about it.

That is like a woman I knew years ago. She was married to a poor, drunken, wicked, profane man. She lived in the same house with him and cooked his meals, but didn't have fellowship with him. She told me one time weeping, "I'm a Christian and I'm going to stay with him; I won't break up the home; but, how long! How long!"

Don't you suppose the Holy Spirit who lives in the same house with you sometimes says, "This fellow has no love for me"? So the Holy Spirit lives in the same house with you and in your body, but He doesn't get His way. He doesn't get all the attention. He doesn't get to lad you. You don't listen to Him talk.

So a Christian, rebuked by the Spirit, might come to feel, "Oh, I'm not saved," when actually you grieved the Spirit. - John R. Rice [Golden Moments with Dr. John R. Rice, pg. 277]

Oh, let us all make a new start. Here is a wonderful thing. The Bible promise is very sweet and clear, "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." Any kind of new vow for the new year must involve some sense of sorrow for any failure in the past, and some honest confession to God of that failure and sin. Then when we confess it, drop it. It is forgiven. It is marked off. It is held against you no more. Not only does Jesus forgive, but He cleanses from all unrighteousness. - John R. Rice [The Best News One Ever Heard: A Saviour Is Born!, pg. 36]

Another thing that burns in our heart as we consider how awfully serious, how important, how urgent it is that men get saved, is that death presses upon us on every side.

I have twice lingered at the gates of death. Once with a fractured skull, in 1956, and again in March, 1978, when I went to the hospital with a heart attack. What a fool I would be if I should presume and make great plans for the future without considering that I have only this present breath, maybe part of this day, and it may be at any time no more! - John R. Rice [Was Pope John I a Born-Again Christian?, pg. 42]

Are you going to be a good Christian this year and set out to make yours a Christian home, with the Bible and prayer. The communists don't like the Bible. They don't have it in the schools. Well, wicked people have put it out of American schools, and a lot of you people didn't care because you don't have it in your homes, either.

But why be like a communist, or like an infidel, or like a heathen? Believe the Bible and love the Lord. Have the Bible in your home. Teach it diligently. Talk about it all the time. Teach it to your children! You are not going to be a good Christian if you don't do that. - John R. Rice [Victory in 1975, pg. 23]

The person of Christ and the doctrine of Christ in the Bible are inescapably connected. There is no Christ but the Christ of the Bible. There is no saving doctrine of Christ except the Bible doctrine about the person, life, atoning death, and resurrection of Jesus. One who does not believe the Bible doctrine about Christ does not have Christ and is not saved. The saving Gospel is involved in the Bible teaching about Christ and the fact that He died as God's atoning Lamb for us sinners. - John R. Rice [Golden Path of Successful Personal Soul Winning [pg. 170-171]

Are you going to be a good Christian this year and set out to make yours a Christian home, with the Bible and prayer? The communists don't like the Bible. They don't have it in the schools. Well, wicked people have put it out of American schools, and a lot of you people didn't care because you don't have it in your homes, either.

But why be like a communist, or like an infidel, or like a heathen? Believe the Bible and love the Lord. Have the Bible in your home. Teach it diligently. Talk about it all the time. Teach it to your children! You are not going to be a good Christian if you don't do that. - John R. Rice [Victory in 1975, pg. 23]