WHERE IS HAPPINESS?

 

WHERE IS HAPPINESS?

Not in Unbelief

Voltaire was an infidel of the most pronounced type; he wrote - "I wish I had never been born."

Not in Pleasure

Lord Byron lived a life of pleasure and wrote - "The worm, the canker, and the grief are mine alone."

Not in Money

Jay Gould, the American millionaire, had plenty of money. When dying, he said - "I suppose I am the

most miserable man on earth."

Not in Position and Fame

Lord Beaconsfield enjoyed more than his share of both, and wrote - "Youth is a mistake; manhood a struggle; old age, a regret."

Not in Military Glory

Alexander the Great conquered the known world in his day. Then, he wept in his tent and said -

"There are no more worlds to conquer."

Where, then, is Happiness found?

The answer is CHRIST ALONE

"My soul shall be joyful in the Lord: it shall rejoice in His salvation" - Psalm 35:9

Jesus said - "For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?" -Matt. 16:26

adapted from the PCC Update [Summer 2006]

TRUTH IS ALWAYS RIGHT

JOB 40

Pastor Rick Jackson

 

I. RIGHT ANSWERS RIGHT UNDERSTANDING [v. 1-5]

1. Recognize the Qualification-Omniscience [v. 1-2, Job 38-39]

The story is told of a person who passed out. As a woman tried to help the unconscious person a man pushed her out of the way declaring, “That’s okay lady, I’ll help them. I’ve had CPR training!” The woman replied, “Fine. When you get to the part where you call the doctor- I’ll be standing right here.”

2. Recognize the Disqualification- Sin [v. 4, Ex. 3:4-5, Is. 6:1-5, Luke 5:8]

-God called unto him out of the midst of the bush, and said, Moses, Moses. And he said, Here am I. And he said, Draw not nigh hither: put off thy shoes from off thy feet, for the place whereon thou standest is holy ground

-In the year that king Uzziah died I saw also the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up, and his train filled the temple. Above it stood the seraphims: each one had six wings; with twain he covered his face, and with twain he covered his feet, and with twain he did fly. And one cried unto another, and said, Holy, holy, holy, is the LORD of hosts: the whole earth is full of his glory. And the posts of the door moved at the voice of him that cried, and the house was filled with smoke. Then said I, Woe is me! for I am undone; because I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips: for mine eyes have seen the King, the LORD of hosts.

-When Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus knees, saying, Depart from me; for I am a sinful man, O Lord.

3. Recognize another Option- Silence [23:3-4, 31:37, 40:5]

-Oh that I knew where I might find him! that I might come even to his seat! I would order my cause before him, and fill my mouth with arguments.

-I would declare unto him the number of my steps; as a prince would I go near unto him.

 

II. RIGHT QUESTIONS WITH NO RIGHT ANSWERS [v. 6-14]

1. Should a Man Try to Outdo God? [v. 6-8]

2. Can a Man Be Like God? [v. 9-13]

3. Can a Man Save Himself? [v. 14]

 

III. RIGHT QUESTIONS WITH WRONG INTERPRETATIONS [v. 15-24]

1. The Creation of Behemoth [v. 15, Gn. 1:23-26]

And the evening and the morning were the fifth day. And God said, Let the earth bring forth the living creature after his kind, cattle, and creeping thing, and beast of the earth after his kind: and it was so. And God made the beast of the earth after his kind, and cattle after their kind, and every thing that creepeth upon the earth after his kind: and God saw that it was good. And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth.

2. The Power of Behemoth [v. 16-19]

v. 19 suggests this was the largest land animal God had made.

3. The Care of Behemoth [v. 20-24]

LEARN THE LESSONS OF THE SPARROWS

LUKE 12:1-12

Pastor Rick Jackson

 

I. WHAT SHOULD BE IMPORTANT TO YOU? [v. 1-5]

1. Doctrine is Important [v. 1]

2. Words are Important [v. 2-3]

3. Fearing God is Important [v. 4-5]

 

II. WHAT IS IMPORTANT TO GOD? [v. 6-9]

1. God Knows the Birds [v. 6]

2. God Knows You [v. 7, Ps. 139]

3. God Knows Your Profession [v. 8-9]

 

III. WHAT IS IMPORTANT FOR ETERNITY? [v. 10-12]

1. Your Relationship with Christ [v. 10a]

2. Your Relationship with the Holy Spirit Before Knowing Christ [v. 10b]

3. Your Relationship with the Holy Spirit After Knowing Christ

[v. 11-12]

“IF” NOT “IFFY”

PSALM 66:18

Pastor Rick Jackson

 

I. THE PROBLEM – Iniquity Regarding

1. The Problem is Personal  [Rm. 3:9-23]

2. The Problem is Pervading [1 Jn. 5:19]

And we know that we are of God, and the whole world lieth in wickedness

3. The Problem is Perverse [Pr. 11:3]

The integrity of the upright shall guide them: but the perverseness of transgressors shall destroy them.

 

II. THE PLACE – Internally Residing

1. The Heart is Wicked [Jer. 17:9]

The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?

2. The Heart is Wanton [James 5:5] “seeking luxury”

Ye have lived in pleasure on the earth, and been wanton; ye have nourished your hearts, as in a day of slaughter.

3. The Heart is Willful [Jer. 18:12]

-And they said, There is no hope: but we will walk after our own devices, and we will every one do the imagination of his evil heart.

 

III. THE PRODUCT – Intense Response

1. Divine Decision – “The Lord will” [Eph. 5:17]

Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is.

2. Divine Determination “The Lord will NOT” [Ex. 20:7]

Thou shalt not take the name of the LORD thy God in vain; for the LORD will not hold him guiltless that taketh his name in vain.

3. Divine Deafness – “The Lord will not hear me” [Is. 59:2]

But your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid his face from you, that he will not hear.

 

IV. THE PREVENTION – “IF”, note the context in verses 9-20

3 STEPS CLOSER

James 4:8

Pastor Rick Jackson

 

If I asked how many of would like to be closer to God than you are now I daresay most of us would raise our hands or nod assent to such a thought. Close to Thee, Nearer my God to Thee, Oh to be Like Thee …this is the theme of many a song, the heart of many a prayer, and the longing of many a soul. Here are 3 simple steps to be closer to God. Some of these you may already be doing, others may not have occurred to you, but we can all profit from these simple reminders.

 

I. LIVE BIBLICALLY [Joshua 1:8]

This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success.

1. In Thought [2 Cor. 10:5, Phil. 4:8]

-Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;

- Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.

2. In Philosophy [Col. 2:6-10] why we do what we do and how we do it

As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him: Rooted and built up in him, and stablished in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving. Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ. For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily. And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power:

3. In Deed [James 1:22-25]

But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves. For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass: For he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was. But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed.

 

II. WORK LOCALLY “Brighten the corner where you are!”

1. Family [Jn. 1:41, Lk. 8:38-39]

- He first findeth his own brother Simon, and saith unto him, We have found the Messias, which is, being interpreted, the Christ.

- Now the man out of whom the devils were departed besought him that he might be with him: but Jesus sent him away, saying, Return to thine own house, and shew how great things God hath done unto thee. And he went his way, and published throughout the whole city how great things Jesus had done unto him.

2. Friends [Mk. 5:18-19, Jn. 1:45-46, Dan. 2:49]

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

-Philip findeth Nathanael, and saith unto him, We have found him, of whom Moses in the law, and the prophets, did write, Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph. And Nathanael said unto him, Can there any good thing come out of Nazareth? Philip saith unto him, Come and see.

- Then Daniel requested of the king, and he set Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, over the affairs of the province of Babylon: but Daniel sat in the gate of the king.

3. Community [Mk. 5:20, Acts 1:8]

- And he departed, and began to publish in Decapolis how great things Jesus had done for him: and all men did marvel.

- But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.

III. THINK GLOBALLY [Jn. 3:16]

1. Give to missions [Phil. 4:14-19]

- Notwithstanding ye have well done, that ye did communicate with my affliction.

Now ye Philippians know also, that in the beginning of the gospel, when I departed from Macedonia, no church communicated with me as concerning giving and receiving, but ye only. For even in Thessalonica ye sent once and again unto my necessity. Not because I desire a gift: but I desire fruit that may abound to your account. But I have all, and abound: I am full, having received of Epaphroditus the things which were sent from you, an odour of a sweet smell, a sacrifice acceptable, wellpleasing to God. But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.

2. Go as God calls [Acts 13:1-4]

Now there were in the church that was at Antioch certain prophets and teachers; as Barnabas, and Simeon that was called Niger, and Lucius of Cyrene, and Manaen, which had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch, and Saul. As they ministered to the Lord, and fasted, the Holy Ghost said , Separate me Barnabas and Saul for the work whereunto I have called them. And when they had fasted and prayed, and laid their hands on them, they sent them away. So they, being sent forth by the Holy Ghost, departed unto Seleucia; and from thence they sailed to Cyprus.

3. Pray for missions [Eph. 6:18-19]

Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints; And for me, that utterance may be given unto me, that I may open my mouth boldly , to make known the mystery of the gospel

AND THERE IS NONE ELSE

Isaiah 45:5  

Pastor Rick Jackson

 

I. THE KING OF KINGS [v. 1-5, 13-14]

Is. 44:28 That saith of Cyrus, He is my shepherd, and shall perform all my pleasure: even saying to Jerusalem, Thou shalt be built; and to the temple, Thy foundation shall be laid.

Is. 45:1 Thus saith the LORD to his anointed, to Cyrus, whose right hand I have holden, to subdue nations before him; and I will loose the loins of kings, to open before him the two leaved gates; and the gates shall not be shut;

Ez. 1:1-2 Now in the first year of Cyrus king of Persia, that the word of the LORD by the mouth of Jeremiah might be fulfilled, the LORD stirred up the spirit of Cyrus king of Persia, that he made a proclamation throughout all his kingdom, and put it also in writing, saying, Thus saith Cyrus king of Persia, The LORD God of heaven hath given me all the kingdoms of the earth; and he hath charged me to build him an house at Jerusalem, which is in Judah.

Dan. 1:21 And Daniel continued even unto the first year of king Cyrus.

 

II. THE GOD AND SAVIOUR OF ISRAEL [v. 3-4, 15-17, 25]

 

III. THE ONLY TRUE GOD [v. 5-6, 43:11, 44:6-8, Hosea 13:4]

Yet I am the LORD thy God from the land of Egypt, and thou shalt know no god but me: for there is no saviour beside me.

 

IV. CHRIST THE CREATOR [v. 7, 9-12, 18, Jn. 1:1-3]

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.

 

V. THE AUTHOR OF SALVATION [v. 8, 22, 24, Heb. 5:9, 12:2]

-And being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him;

-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.

 

VI. THE GOD WHO SPEAKS [v. 19-21, 23]

LOOK UNTO ME

Isaiah 45:22                  

Pastor Rick Jackson

 

I. THE SIMPLICITY OF THE TEXT - “Look”

1. Any Simpleton can do that [Psalm 119:130]

The entrance of thy words giveth light; it giveth understanding unto the simple.

2. The O.T. Example [Num. 21]

“the appearance of a serpent”

3. The N.T. Application [John 3:14-16]

“the appearance of a sinner”

And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up: That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life. 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.

 

II. THE SOURCE OF THE TEXT – “Look unto Me” [v. 22]

1. Not to Self [Titus 3:5]

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;”

2. Not to Religion [Ps. 51: 16-17]

For thou desirest not sacrifice; else would I give it: thou delightest not in burnt offering. The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise.

3. Not to Others [Acts 4:12]

Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.

 

III. THE SUBJECT OF THE TEXT – “Be ye saved”

1. From Damnation [Mark 16:16]

He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.

2. From the Wrath of God [Romans 5:9]

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

3. To Be with God Forever [Revelation 21:24]

And the nations of them which are saved shall walk in the light of it: and the kings of the earth do bring their glory and honour into it.

 

IV. THE SCOPE OF THE TEXT –

“all the ends of the earth”

[Jn. 3:16, 1 Jn 2:2]

-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

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

3 GREAT PRAYER REQUESTS

Mt. 23:25-28

Pastor Rick Jackson

 

I. LORD, MAKE ME CLEAN

1. The Power of Salvation [Mt. 23:25-28, Rev. 1:5]

And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood,

2. The Prayer of Sanctification [Jn. 13:6-10, 17:17]

- Then cometh he to Simon Peter: and Peter saith unto him, Lord, dost thou wash my feet? Jesus answered and said unto him, What I do thou knowest not now; but thou shalt know hereafter . Peter saith unto him, Thou shalt never wash my feet. Jesus answered him, If I wash thee not, thou hast no part with me. Simon Peter saith unto him, Lord, not my feet only, but also my hands and my head. Jesus saith to him, He that is washed needeth not save to wash his feet, but is clean every whit: and ye are clean, but not all.

3. The Process of Supplication [Ps. 19:12, 51:2]

- Who can understand his errors? cleanse thou me from secret faults.

-Wash me thoroughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin.

II. LORD, MAKE ME CLOSE

1. Confession and Profession [Rm. 10:9-13 Eph. 2:13]

-That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed. For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him. For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.

- But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ.,

2. Confession and Forsaken [Pr. 28:13]

He that covereth his sins shall not prosper: but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy.

3. Confess and have Forgiveness [1 Jn. 1:9]

-If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

 

III. LORD, MAKE ME CLEAR - clarity

1. Concerning Myself [Lk. 6:41-42]

And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother's eye, but perceivest not the beam that is in thine own eye? Either how canst thou say to thy brother, Brother, let me pull out the mote that is in thine eye, when thou thyself beholdest not the beam that is in thine own eye? Thou hypocrite, cast out first the beam out of thine own eye, and then shalt thou see clearly to pull out the mote that is in thy brother's eye.

2. Concerning My Lord [Job 42:1-6]

Then Job answered the LORD, and said, I know that thou canst do every thing, and that no thought can be withholden from thee. Who is he that hideth counsel without knowledge? therefore have I uttered that I understood not; things too wonderful for me, which I knew not. Hear, I beseech thee, and I will speak: I will demand of thee, and declare thou unto me. I have heard of thee by the hearing of the ear: but now mine eye seeth thee. Wherefore I abhor myself, and repent in dust and ashes

3. Concerning My Obedience to God's Word [2 Cor. 7:8-11]

For though I made you sorry with a letter, I do not repent, though I did repent: for I perceive that the same epistle hath made you sorry, though it were but for a season. Now I rejoice, not that ye were made sorry, but that ye sorrowed to repentance: for ye were made sorry after a godly manner, that ye might receive damage by us in nothing. For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of: but the sorrow of the world worketh death. For behold this selfsame thing, that ye sorrowed after a godly sort, what carefulness it wrought in you, yea, what clearing of yourselves, yea, what indignation, yea, what fear, yea, what vehement desire, yea, what zeal, yea, what revenge! In all things ye have approved yourselves to be clear in this matter.

An Old Day Dawning

 On April 12, 2006 I began this blog with the following post:

A New Day Dawning

A father was talking to his son and he told him quite emphatically, "Your mother and I have learned that you have been blogging. We don't know what it is but we want you to stop immediately!"

An acquaintance of mine had been kind enough to blog a few of my outlines, howbeit they had to be edited for size. In some cases it had changed the direction of the whole message. Now I don't blame them for this, had to be done for size, etc. but why not blog my own, then I have control over the direction, the diction, and yes, the occasional disaster! So here we are, a new day dawning.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Now here we are 20 years later [to the month not the day] and still slogging and blogging. Thousands of blogs and some boo-boos along the way but still. Haven't missed a week. Not every day but several a week. Several dogs later but from the same location. Some readers have passed off the scene [literally] and others have left for other reasons but new friends have joined us and we rejoice in that. Thanks for tuning in. Wonder if I can make another score of years. Sure do miss those dogs.

IMPERFECT PEOPLE IN AN IMPERFECT WORLD

ACTS 12:1-5a

Pastor Rick Jackson

 

I. THE IMPERFECT CHURCH

1. Praying Without Ceasing [v. 5]

Rm. 1:9 For God is my witness, whom I serve with my spirit in the gospel of his Son, that without ceasing I make mention of you always in my prayers;

1 Th. 1:2-3 We give thanks to God always for you all, making mention of you in our prayers; Remembering without ceasing your work of faith, and labour of love, and patience of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ, in the sight of God and our Father;

1 Th. 2:13 For this cause also thank we God without ceasing, because, when ye received the word of God which ye heard of us, ye received it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which effectually worketh also in you that believe.

1 Th. 5:17 Pray without ceasing.

2 Tm. 1:3 I thank God, whom I serve from my forefathers with pure conscience, that without ceasing I have remembrance of thee in my prayers night and day;

2. Praying Without Believing Faith [v. 12-16]

3. Hearing Without Speaking [v. 17, James 1:19]

Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath:

 

II. THE IMPERFECT CHRISTIAN

1. Safely Sleeping [v. 6, Psalm 4:8]

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

2. Comprehending Slowly [v. 7-12, Luke 15:17]

And when he came to himself, he said, How many hired servants of my father's have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger!

3. Glorifying God Freely [v. 17, Jude 1:25]

To the only wise God our Saviour, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and for ever. Amen.

 

III. WHEN THE PERFECT MEETS THE IMPERFECT

1. The Angel and the Prisoner [v. 7-10]

2. The Angel and the King [v. 18-23]

3. The King’s Word and THE KING’S WORD [v. 1-4, 23-25]

GET A HOLD OF THIS!

Gn. 15:1, Rm. 10:17

Pastor Rick Jackson

 

I. FAITH IS BETTER THAN FEAR [v. 1] "Fear not"

Oftentimes in the Bible the words "fear not" are found. Most of those times it is God or His representative talking. Most of those times it is predicated on God's presence, God's power, or God's promises.

1. God’s Presence

Gn. 26:24 And the LORD appeared unto him the same night, and said, I am the God of Abraham thy father: fear not, for I am with thee

Dt. 31:6 Be strong and of a good courage, fear not, nor be afraid of them: for the LORD thy God, he it is that doth go with thee; he will not fail thee, nor forsake thee.

1 Chr. 28:20 And David said to Solomon his son, Be strong and of good courage, and do it: fear not, nor be dismayed: for the LORD God, even my God, will be with thee; he will not fail thee, nor forsake thee, until thou hast finished all the work for the service of the house of the LORD.

Heb. 13:5-6 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. So that we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me.

2. God’s Power

Is. 35:4 Say to them that are of a fearful heart, Be strong, fear not: behold, your God will come with vengeance, even God with a recompence; he will come and save you.

Mt. 10:28 And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.

3. God’s Promises

Gn. 46:3 And he said, I am God, the God of thy father: fear not to go down into Egypt; for I will there make of thee a great nation:

Josh. 8:1 And the LORD said unto Joshua, Fear not, neither be thou dismayed: take all the people of war with thee, and arise, go up to Ai: see, I have given into thy hand the king of Ai, and his people, and his city, and his land:

Is. 41: 10 Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness. Joel 2:21 Fear not, O land; be glad and rejoice: for the LORD will do great things.

Lk. 12:32 Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom.

 

II. GOD IS BEFORE US [Gn. 15:1] "I am thy shield"

1. This Should Produce Joy

Dt.  33:29 Happy art thou, O Israel: who is like unto thee, O people saved by the LORD, the shield of thy help, and who is the sword of thy excellency!

Ps. 28:7 The LORD is my strength and my shield; my heart trusted in him, and I am helped: therefore my heart greatly rejoiceth; and with my song will I praise him.

2. This Should Produce Faith

2 Sm. 22:3 The God of my rock; in him will I trust: he is my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my high tower, and my refuge, my saviour; thou savest me from violence.

Ps. 119:114 Thou art my hiding place and my shield: I hope in thy word.

Pr. 30:5 Every word of God is pure: he is a shield unto them that put their trust in him.

3. This Should Produce Assurance

2 Sm. 22:36 Thou hast also given me the shield of thy salvation: and thy gentleness hath made me great.

Ps. 3:3 But thou, O LORD, art a shield for me; my glory, and the lifter up of mine head.

Ps. 84:11 For the LORD God is a sun and shield: the LORD will give grace and glory: no good thing will he withhold from them that walk uprightly.

Eph. 6:16 Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.

 

III. GOD IS BEST FOR US! [Gn. 15:1] "I am thy shield, and thy exceeding great reward."

1. Paul Got a Hold of This

2 Cor. 4:17 For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory;

Eph. 1:18-20 The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints, And what is the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power, Which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places,

Eph. 2:7 That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus.

Eph. 3:20 Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us,

2. Peter Got a Hold of This

1 Pt. 4:13 But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ's sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy.

2 Pt. 1:4 Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.

3. Jude Got a Hold of This

Jude 1:24 Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy,

 

DO YOU HAVE A HOLD ON THIS?

GOD WILL SEE TO IT

GENESIS 22:1-18

Pastor Rick Jackson

 

The term "JEHOVAHJIREH" only appears once in the Scriptures right here in our text. In the strictest sense it is the name of a place not a title for God, but Abraham's intent is to name a place bearing testimony of who God is and what He will do. Jehovah, or more properly, Yahweh is the eternal, self-existent One without beginning or end. "Jireh" is a form of the verb "to see" and is usually translated "see" or "appear" in the Old Testament. How it became synonymous with "God will provide" should be made clear during this message.

 

I. NOTE WHAT GOD WAS NOT DOING!

1. God was NOT approving human sacrifice- He knew what He was going to do! [Is. 46:10]

Declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times the things that are not yet done, saying, My counsel shall stand, and I will do all my pleasure:

"It was not Isaac's life that God wanted; it was Abraham's heart, and He got it!" Lehman Strauss

2. God was NOT tempting Abraham to do evil [Gn. 22:1, Jm. 1:13]

Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man:

If someone offered me an Outlaw Ribeye 30 min. before I needed to preach I might say, “Oh, don’t tempt me.” Nothing sinful about it.

3. God was not trying to prove Abraham's faith to Himself [Rm. 4:1-3, Jm. 2:21-24]

- He was testing (proving) Him before men. Did Abraham love Yahweh as much as the heathen loved their false gods? (remember Job and Satan, the test was good for Job, proved something to Satan and us)

-What shall we say then that Abraham our father, as pertaining to the flesh, hath found? For if Abraham were justified by works, he hath whereof to glory; but not before God. For what saith the scripture? Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness.

- Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar? Seest thou how faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect? And the scripture was fulfilled which saith, Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness: and he was called the Friend of God. Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only.

"God never puts us to the test until: we are ready for it and He has made preparation for our victory." -L.S.

 

II. NOTE THE SUCCESS OF ABRAHAM

Abraham was not a success because he was some super-perfect Christian. Abraham didn't fully understand but:

1. He Fully Trusted [Heb. 11:17-19]

By faith Abraham, when he was tried, offered up Isaac: and he that had received the promises offered up his only begotten son, Of whom it was said, That in Isaac shall thy seed be called: Accounting that God was able to raise him up, even from the dead; from whence also he received him in a figure.

2. He Fully Submitted [Jm. 2:23, Is. 41:8, Jn. 15:14]

-And the scripture was fulfilled which saith, Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness: and he was called the Friend of God.

-But thou, Israel, art my servant, Jacob whom I have chosen, the seed of Abraham my friend.

-Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you.

3. He Fully Worshipped [Gn. 22:5- 1st use of "worship" in the English Bible, in the Hebrew the same word is used in 18:2, 19:1]

"When the heart is right in God's sight, no sacrifice is too great to offer Him, and this is the only kind of worship He accepts." -L.S.

John 4:23-24 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.

 

III. NOTE THE PROVISION OF GOD

The word "provision" comes from two words [pro=before, vision=to see] and thus means to see beforehand. God sees all things beforehand (an attribute we call foreknowledge) and then He prepares and provides beforehand (ex. the Lamb slain before the foundation of the world). So, Abraham was saying "the Lord will see to it", i.e., "the Lord will provide!"

 

1. God Provided Abraham a Glimpse of Jesus. [Gn. 22:8, 14 (future tense), Jn. 8:56]

-Your father Abraham rejoiced to see my day: and he saw it, and was glad.

2. God Provided Us Examples of Behavior [1 Cor. 10:11, 2 Pet. 2:6]

-Now all these things happened unto them for ensamples: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come.

-And turning the cities of Sodom and Gomorrha into ashes condemned them with an overthrow, making them an ensample unto those that after should live ungodly.

3. God Provided All with the Means for Pleasing Him [Heb. 11:6, 39-40]

-But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.

-And these all, having obtained a good report through faith, received not the promise: God having provided some better thing for us, that they without us should not be made perfect.

THE TIME IS SHORT

Psalm 89:47, 1 Corinthians 7:29

-Remember how short my time is: wherefore hast thou made all men in vain?

-But this I say, brethren, the time is short

Pastor Rick Jackson

 

I. TIME IS SHORT FOR SALVATION

1. Delay is Foolish [Lk. 12:15-20a]

2. Delay Can Be Disastrous [Lk. 12:20b-31]

3. Delay is Devilish [Lk. 8:11-12, 2 Cor. 4:3-4]

-Now the parable is this: The seed is the word of God. Those by the way side are they that hear; then cometh the devil, and taketh away the word out of their hearts, lest they should believe and be saved.

- But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost: In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.

II. TIME IS SHORT FOR SUFFERING

1. Be Stablished - the Lord is Coming [Jm. 5:8]

2. Be Settled – the Judge is Coming [Jm. 5:9]

3. Be Enduring –Suffering’s End is Coming [Jm. 5:10-11]

 

III. TIME IS SHORT FOR SERVICE

1. Be Patient - this is the Time for Labor [James 5:7]

2. Be Prayerful – this is the Time for Faith [Jm. 5:12-18]

3. Be Practical – this is the Time for Submission

 [Jm. 4:4-17]

HAVE CONFIDENCE

1 JOHN 2:28

Pastor Rick Jackson

 

I. THE CONFIDENCE OF A RELATIONSHIP

1. Be Confident You Are God’s Child

[2:28-3:2, 4:13-15, 5:11-13]

2. Be Confident He is Coming Again [2:28, 3:2]

3. Be Confident You Are Right with Him [2:28, 1:6-9]

 

II. THE CONFIDENCE OF CHRIST’S RETURN

1. We Don’t Know the Time [2:28, Mt. 24:36, 25:13]

-But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only.

- Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh.

2. We Know the Event [2:28, 1 Th. 4:16-17]

-He shall appear

-For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.

3. We Know the Person [2:28, Acts 1:11]

- Which also said, Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven.

 

III. THE CONFIDENCE OF REACTION

1. We Can Have Confidence [2:28, 3:21, 4:17, 5:14]

2. We Can Be Ashamed [2:28]

3. We Can Please Him [2:28, 2 Tm. 2:4, Heb. 11:6]

STIRRED, NOT SHAKEN

2 THESS. 2:2 That ye be not soon shaken in mind, or be troubled, neither by spirit, nor by word, nor by letter as from us, as that the day of Christ is at hand.

2 PETER 3:1 This second epistle, beloved, I now write unto you; in both which I stir up your pure minds by way of remembrance:

Pastor Rick Jackson

 

I. BE MINDFUL [2 PETER 3:1-7]

1. Be Mindful of the Word [v. 1-2; 1:3-4, 12, 19-21]

2. Be Mindful of the Wicked [v. 3-5a; 2:1-3]

3. Be Mindful of the World [v. 5b-7; 2:18-22]

 

II. BE INFORMED [2 PETER 3:8-10]

1. Time Means Little to God [v. 8, Ps.90:4]

For a thousand years in thy sight are but as yesterday when it is past, and as a watch in the night.

2. Truth Means Much to God [v. 9a, Isaiah 46:10]

Declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times the things that are not yet done, saying, My counsel shall stand, and I will do all my pleasure:

3. Temporal Things Mean Little to God [v. 9b-10]

 

III. BE FOCUSED [2 PETER 3:11-18]

1. On Living Right [v. 11; 1:4-7]

2. On Looking Right [v. 12-14]

3. On Learning Right [v. 15-18; 1:8-9]

BUT NOW IS CHRIST RISEN FROM THE DEAD

1 COR. 15:20

Pastor Rick Jackson

 

Over 50 years ago I heard a Josh McDowell say, “The resurrection is the most wicked, vicious hoax ever foisted upon the minds of men OR it is the most fantastic fact in human history”. There is no other option. Hoax or history. Fake or fantastic.

 

I. THE CIRCUMSTANCES BEFORE THE EVENT

1. Reported by Matthew - 27:60 Solid Rock Tomb, 27:60 Stone “Door”, 27:62-65 Roman Guard, 27:66 Roman Seal

2. Reported by Mark - 15:42-45 Jesus was Definitely Dead

3. Reported by John - 19:38-40 Jewish burial Customs, 20:19 Disciples were Frightened

 

II. THE FACTS AFTER THE EVENT

1. The Tomb was Empty [Lk. 24:1-3]

2. The Stone was Moved

-Lk. 24:2 apokulio, to roll away

-Mt. 28:2 “rolled back the stone from” apokulio- lithos; a primary particle; "off," i.e. away (from something near),

-Mk. 16:3-4 apokulio ek; a primary preposition denoting origin, from, out (of place)

-Jn. 20:1 airo; a primary root; to lift up; by implication, to take up or away;

3. The Guard was AWOL [Mt. 28:4]

4. The Grave clothes were Folded [Jn. 20:3-9]

5. The Lord was Appearing [Acts 1:1-3, 1 Cor. 15:1-8]

 

III. THE EXPLANATIONS FOR THE EVENT

1. The Disciples Stole the Body [Mt. 28:11-15] not so- they fled while he was alive

2. The Unbelieving Jews Stole the Body - no reason to do so, they never produced a body nor did they deny it was missing

3. The Women went to the wrong Tomb - inconceivable that the disciples, the woman, the unbelievers, the Roman guard, the owner of the tomb, etc. would do so

4. The Swoon Theory - medically speaking-no! - the change in the disciples-unheard of unless He arose

5. The Resurrection [Jn. 20:24-31] - the only, true option

Romans 1:4 And declared to be the Son of God with power, according to the spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead:

HE IS NOT HERE, FOR HE IS RISEN, AS HE SAID!

MATTHEW 28:6                                      

Pastor Rick Jackson

 

I. HE IS NOT HERE

1. Jesus is Not on the Cross- that would imply He is dying [Heb. 9:25-28]

Nor yet that he should offer himself often, as the high priest entereth into the holy place every year with blood of others; For then must he often have suffered since the foundation of the world: but now once in the end of the world hath he appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself. And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment: So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation.

2. Jesus is Not in the Tomb- that would imply He is dead [Rm. 6:9-10]

Knowing that Christ being raised from the dead dieth no more; death hath no more dominion over him. For in that he died, he died unto sin once: but in that he liveth, he liveth unto God.

3. Jesus is Not in Hiding- that would imply He is afraid [Mk 14:61b-62, Rev. 1:7]

-Again the high priest asked him, and said unto him, Art thou the Christ, the Son of the Blessed? And Jesus said, I am: and ye shall see the Son of man sitting on the right hand of power, and coming in the clouds of heaven.

-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.

 

II. HE IS RISEN

1. This Declares He Has Conquered Death [1 Cor. 15:20-26]

But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept. For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive. But every man in his own order: Christ the firstfruits; afterward they that are Christ's at his coming. Then cometh the end, when he shall have delivered up the kingdom to God, even the Father; when he shall have put down all rule and all authority and power. For he must reign, till he hath put all enemies under his feet. The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death.

2. This Declares He Has Paid for Sin [1 Pt. 3:18]

For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit:

3. This Declares He is God Almighty [Rm. 1:3-4]

Concerning his Son Jesus Christ our Lord, which was made of the seed of David according to the flesh; And declared to be the Son of God with power, according to the spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead:

 

III. AS HE SAID

1. He is Omniscient [John 2:19-22]

Jesus answered and said unto them, Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up. Then said the Jews, Forty and six years was this temple in building, and wilt thou rear it up in three days? But he spake of the temple of his body. When therefore he was risen from the dead, his disciples remembered that he had said this unto them; and they believed the scripture, and the word which Jesus had said.

2. He is Omnipotent [John 10:17-18]

Therefore doth my Father love me, because I lay down my life, that I might take it again. No man taketh it from me, but I lay it down of myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This commandment have I received of my Father.

3. He is My Lord and My God [John 20:28]

And Thomas answered and said unto him, My Lord and my God.

THE LORD’S SUPPER IN LIGHT OF 2 TM. 3:16

 

THE LORD’S SUPPER IN LIGHT OF 2 TM. 3:16

1 COR. 2:9-16

Pastor Rick Jackson

 

Some falsely accuse us, Fundamental Baptists, of worshipping the Bible- a charge which is untrue. We follow the Bible because it is the Word of the Living God. We worship God and so we follow His Word. Anyone who claims to follow God but does not follow His Word is only fooling himself.

The idea of “Good Friday” is a carry-over from the RCC and is not Biblical. In fact, it is decidedly unbiblical.

The Bible teaches God has revealed truths to us which should be compared to other truths – not to contradict them- but to complement and explain them [1 Cor. 2:9-16]. In 2 Tm. 3:16-17 we find four things the Scripture does for us:

 

(1) Doctrine- tells us what TO believe

(2) Reproof- tells us what NOT to do

 (3) Correction- tells us what NOT to believe and

(4) Instruction in righteousness tells us what TO do.

In 1 Cor. 11 we see these four things the Scripture does for us applied to the Lord’s Supper.

 

I. THE APPLICATION OF CORRECTION [1 Cor. 11:17-19]

In this church there were some false beliefs that Paul had to deal with. Heresies that needed to be corrected by the Word of God.

 

II. THE APPLICATION OF REPROOF [1 Cor. 11:20-22]

Often when our beliefs are wrong it can cause our actions to be wrong as well. Paul says they were coming together, even as we are admonished to do, but for the wrong reasons and in a wrong way. Paul reproves them.

 

III. THE APPLICATION OF DOCTRINE [1 Cor. 11:23-26]

Here the Apostle reminds them why they were coming together. The emphasis is on Christ, His Blood, His Body, His Coming Again- our blessed Hope!

 

IV. THE APPLICATION OF INSTRUCTION IN RIGHTEOUSNESS [1 Cor. 11:27-34]

After he reminds them what to believe, Paul reminds them of what to do- how to approach the Lord’s table.

THE KING IS COMING

ZECHARIAH 9

Pastor Rick Jackson

 

I. THE POWER OF THE KING [v. 1-8]

1. The Fate of the Heathen [v. 1-4] Alexander’s Conquests

2. The Fate of the Philistines [v. 5-7]

3. The Fate of Jerusalem [v. 8]

 

II. THE PRESENTATION OF THE KING [v. 9]

1. The King of the Jews [v. 9a]

Mt. 21:1-11, Mk. 11:1-11, Lk. 19:28-44, Jn. 12:12-19

2. The King of Salvation [v. 9b, Ps. 74:12]

For God is my King of old, working salvation in the midst of the earth.

3. The King of Peace [v. 9c, Is. 9:7, Heb. 7:1-3]

- 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.

- For this Melchisedec, king of Salem, priest of the most high God, who met Abraham returning from the slaughter of the kings, and blessed him; To whom also Abraham gave a tenth part of all; first being by interpretation King of righteousness, and after that also King of Salem, which is, King of peace; Without father, without mother, without descent, having neither beginning of days, nor end of life; but made like unto the Son of God; abideth a priest continually.

 

III. THE PERFECTION OF THE KING [v. 10-17]

1. His Covenant [v. 10-12]

2. His Conquests [v. 13-15]

3. His Crops [v. 17, Amos 9:13-15]

Behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that the plowman shall overtake the reaper, and the treader of grapes him that soweth seed; and the mountains shall drop sweet wine, and all the hills shall melt. And I will bring again the captivity of my people of Israel, and they shall build the waste cities, and inhabit them; and they shall plant vineyards, and drink the wine thereof; they shall also make gardens, and eat the fruit of them. And I will plant them upon their land, and they shall no more be pulled up out of their land which I have given them, saith the LORD thy God.

WHO IS THIS?

MATTHEW 21:1-10

Pastor Rick Jackson

 

I. WHAT WAS THE WORD ON THE STREETS?

1. Jesus said He is “The Lord” [21:3]

2. The Spirit said He is “Thy King” [21:4-5, Zech. 9:9]

Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion; shout, O daughter of Jerusalem: behold, thy King cometh unto thee: he is just, and having salvation; lowly, and riding upon an ass, and upon a colt the foal of an ass.

3. Some of the Multitudes said He is “The Son of David,” i.e., Christ the Messiah [21:9, 22:41-43]

4. Some of the Multitudes said He is “Jesus the prophet of Nazareth [21:11, 2:23]

And he came and dwelt in a city called Nazareth: that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophets, He shall be called a Nazarene.

 

II. WHAT WAS THE WORD IN THE TEMPLE?

1. The Spirit’s Word and Jesus’s Affirmation is that He is God [21:12-13]

2. The Blind & the Lame recognized Him as an approachable Healer [21:14]

3. The Children said He is “The Son of David,” i.e., Christ the Messiah [21:15-16]

 

III. WHAT IS THE WORD IN YOUR HEART AND MOUTH?

1. Jesus asked, Who Do Men Say That I am?

[Mt. 8:13-14]

2. Jesus asked, Who Do You Say That I am?

[Mt. 8:15-16]

3. The Spirit says Your Answer Determines Your Destiny [Rm. 10:9-13]

I CONFESS [Part 1]

ACTS 24:1-15

Pastor Rick Jackson

 

I. THE FALSE CHARGE and GOD’S COUNTER CHARGES

Some falsely accuse us, Fundamental Baptists, of worshipping the Bible- a charge which is untrue. We follow the Bible because it is the Word of the Living God. We worship God and so we follow His Word. Anyone who claims to follow God but does not follow His Word is only fooling himself. [1 Jn. 1: 5-7] This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth: But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.

1. The Charge to Read [Is. 34: 16]

Seek ye out of the book of the LORD, and read: no one of these shall fail, none shall want her mate: for my mouth it hath commanded, and his spirit it hath gathered them.

2. The Charge to Study [2 Timothy 2:15]

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

The idea of “Good Friday”, along with infant baptism, a misunderstanding of the Lord’s Supper calling it a sacrament and the Mass, and a host of other things are carry-overs from the RCC and are not Biblical. They are decidedly unbiblical. Other cults have their own false doctrines.

3. The Charge to Serve [James 1:21-25, Rm. 12:1-2]

-Wherefore lay apart all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness, and receive with meekness the en-grafted word, which is able to save your souls. But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves. For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man be-holding his natural face in a glass: For he be-holdeth himself, and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was. But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed.

-I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

 

II. THE TRUE CHARGES

1. Read Publicly [1 Th. 5:27, 1 Tm. 1:3-4]

-I charge you by the Lord that this epistle be read unto all the holy brethren.

-As I besought thee to abide still at Ephesus, when I went into Macedonia, that thou mightest charge some that they teach no other doctrine, Neither give heed to fables and endless genealogies, which minister questions, rather than godly edifying which is in faith: so do.

2. Hold and Observe [1 Tm. 1:18-19, 6:17-21]

-This charge I commit unto thee, son Timothy, according to the prophecies which went before on thee, that thou by them mightest war a good warfare; Holding faith, and a good conscience; which some having put away concerning faith have made shipwreck:

-Let the elders that rule well be counted worthy of double honour, especially they who labour in the word and doctrine. For the scripture saith, Thou shalt not muzzle the ox that treadeth out the corn. And, The labourer is worthy of his reward. Against an elder receive not an accusation, but before two or three witnesses. Them that sin rebuke before all, that others also may fear. I charge thee before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, and the elect angels, that thou observe these things without preferring one before another, doing nothing by partiality.

3. Preach and Endure [2 Tm. 4:1-4

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

WELL, THAT’S JUST GREAT

2 Kings 22:13 Go ye, inquire of the LORD for me, and for the people, and for all Judah, concerning the words of this book that is found: for great is the wrath of the LORD that is kindled against us, because our fathers have not hearkened unto the words of this book, to do according unto all that which is written concerning us.

1 Chronicles 16:25 For great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised: he also is to be feared above all gods.

Pastor Rick Jackson

 

I. YOU HAVE IN YOUR HEART THE WORLD’S GREATEST PROBLEM-SIN! Sin which corrupts, sin which condemns, sin which conquers. The Bible says the heart contains:

1. Wickedness and Violence [Ps. 58:1-2]

Do ye indeed speak righteousness, O congregation? do ye judge uprightly, O ye sons of men? Yea, in heart ye work wickedness; ye weigh the violence of your hands in the earth.

2. Wickedness and Deceit [Ps. 58:3, Jer. 17:9]

-The wicked are estranged from the womb: they go astray as soon as they be born, speaking lies.

- The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?

3. Wickedness and Unbelief [Heb. 3:12, Mk. 16:14

- Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God.

- Afterward he appeared unto the eleven as they sat at meat, and upbraided them with their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they believed not them which had seen him after he was risen.

Sin is not to be taken lightly. Sin is against a thrice holy God. BUT…

II. YOU HAVE IN YOUR HANDS THE WORLD’S GREATEST BOOK!

1. The Bible has God as its Author [2 Tm. 3:16]

-All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:

2. The Bible has Salvation as its End [Jn. 20:31]

But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name.

3. The Bible has Truth as its Matter [Jn. 17:17]

Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.

The Bible is for ALL people, in ALL places, for ALL time!

III. IF YOU TRUST CHRIST YOU HAVE IN YOUR SOULS THE GREATNESS OF SALVATION! [Hebrews 2:3]

How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation; which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed unto us by them that heard him;

1. I am a Great Sinner BUT I have a Great Saviour!

[1 Tm. 1:15, Titus 2:13, Heb. 4:14, 13:20]

- Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief.

-Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ;

-Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession.

-Now the God of peace, that brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant,

2. I Owed a Great Debt, Jesus Paid a Great Price

[Ez. 18:4, 1 Pt. 1:18-19]

-the soul that sinneth, it shall die.

-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:

3. I Have a Great Knowledge, I Owe a Great Debt!

[Rm. 1:14-16]

I am debtor both to the Greeks, and to the Barbarians; both to the wise, and to the unwise. So, as much as in me is, I am ready to preach the gospel to you that are at Rome also. 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.