ARE YOU BLIND?

January  2014  Thank you for reading my Prophetic Daily Devotionals!   Please visit my website to learn more Bible prophecies being fulfilled in these last days.    Romans 11:25   For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye should be wise in your own conceits; that blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fullness of the Gentiles be come in.   For further study - Romans 11:7-25   Romans 9, 10 and 11 are very prophetic in their nature and they speak of Israel Past, Present and Prophetic. Romans 9 is "Israel past", Romans 10 is "Israel present" and Romans 11 is "Israel prophetic".   The phrase in our key verse, verse 25, is an accurate description of Israel today. They are a people that are blinded to the truths of the true Messiah, Jesus Christ.   This description of the Jewish people, however, sets the playing field even for those who are not Jewish to be a part of the end time scenario that will unfold leading up to the returning Messiah. By that, I mean that both Jews and Gentiles are able to come to Jesus Christ as the Messiah and their Saviour.   The phrase "fullness of the Gentiles" is referring to those Gentiles who have been saved since that first Gentile came to Christ, Cornelius, in Acts 10. God at that time set in motion the opportunity for all Gentiles to get saved.   Jewish people will have an opportunity to be saved today, because there are some Jews that will understand the gospel and get saved since it is only "blindness in part". However, the mass majority of the Jewish people are, by choice, blinded to the truth of the gospel.   The good news for the Gentile is that now the gospel message will be focused on them "until the fullness of the Gentiles be come in". That "fullness of the Gentiles" is a term that is defined as the time when the last Gentile gets saved to make it the "fullness".   When is the "fullness" completed, I do not know, only the Lord knows that number of Gentiles who will get saved. However, when it happens, the Lord will return and Jewish people, all of them, will hear the Gospel and have an opportunity to respond to the gospel and get saved.   Can Jews get saved before the "fullness"? The answer is yes. In fact, in our reading is the way to lead a Jew to Jesus Christ, verse 11. It tells us that we can provoke a Jew to turn to Jesus because he or she is jealous for what we have in Jesus.   That is the reason that God turned to the Gentiles, so He could use the Gentiles to provoke the Jews to jealousy and then bring them to Himself. In fact, leading Gentiles to the Lord actually helps hasten the return of the Lord, as well, 2 Peter 3:12.   PRAYER THOT: Make my life in Christ that which provokes others to jealousy so that they might come to Jesus Christ and thus bring the Lord back sooner.      Visit our website at http:/www.prophecytoday.com

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7 KINGS ON PARADE

2 KINGS 15                                                         

Pastor Rick Jackson

 

I. FIVE NORTHERN KINGS ON PARADE [v. 8-31]

 

1. Parade Theme- God’s Word is True [v. 8-12]

 

2. Parade Lesson- Sin Never Satisfies [v. 13-26] nor is sin ever satisfied

 

3. Parade Rule- Time Doesn’t Determine Success [v. 27-31]

 

II. UZZIAH- THE RISE AND FALL OF A GRAND MARSHALL [v. 1-7]

 

1. His Prosperity [v. 1-3, 2 Chr. 26:1-5]

 

2. His Preparation [v. 4, 6, 2 Chr. 26:6-15]

 

3. His Pride [v. 5, 7, 2 Chr. 26:16-21]

 

III. JOTHAM- THE LESSON FROM HISTORY

 

1. Start Right [v. 32-24]

 

2. Watch the “Little” Things [v. 35, 2 Chr. 27:2]

 

3. Use Success to Serve the Lord [v. 36-38, 2 Chr. 27:3-9]

 

Don’t let the lesson from history be that we don’t learn from history.

WHAT MANNER OF LOVE!

                                        I JOHN 3:1-10                                                     Pastor Rick Jackson

 

Love is often used as an intangible term, one that escapes concise definition. While it is true that love is better exercised than explained, better demonstrated the defined, better shown than spoken of- it is easily explained to one willing to listen. The statement in verse 1, “Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us” is just that- a statement. It is not a question here, it’s not in question here- here it is an explanation. “What manner of love?” can be asked as a question but here we find the answer, not the question, the clear answer form the Word of God.

 

I. THIS LOVE IS A PERSONAL RELATIONSHIP [v. 1]

 

1. The Relationship Began With Love [v. 1, 4:9-10, Rm. 5:8]

 

2. The Relationship is Bestowed by God [v. 1, 4:19, 5:11]

 

3. The Relationship is Birth by Reception [v. 1, Jn. 1:12]

 

II. THIS LOVE IS A PRESENT REALITY [v. 2]

This is not “pie in the sky by and by” this is a present reality in the nasty now and now! Some says, “I don’t think you can know.” No, they just don’t think. Someone else says, “Well you can’t know for sure until you die.” On the contrary- you can know, and you can know that you know.

1. This Reality Begins with a Transformation [v. 2, 3:14, 2 Cor. 5:17 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.]

2. This Reality was Bought with a Substitution [v. 2, 3:16, 4:9-10, 2 Cor. 5:21 For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.]

3.  This Reality Brings Another Transformation [v. 2]

Think of the Lord’s Resurrection body that He has right now –not locked in or out by walls

-not limited to earthly laws like gravity                                -not lost to earth’s pleasures [friendships, eating, joy in service]

 

III. THIS LOVE INCLUDES A PRESENT RESPONSIBILITY [v. 3-10]

 

1. To Put into Practice what We are by Position [v. 3] be pure because we are saved-not to be saved

 

2. To Abide in Him Not Abide in Sin [v. 4-6, 1:5-7]

 

3. To Feed the New Nature Not the Old Nature [v. 7-10] to be Christlike not devilish

QUESTION OF THE WEEK: What can we learn from a fossil graveyard?

 

answersingenesis.org | newsletter archives | contact us January 11, 2014 a weekly look at answersingenesis.org
In this issue . . . Q&A: What can we learn from a fossil graveyard? Get Equipped: Answers magazine News to Know Quick Look After Eden Answers . . . with Ken Ham radio program Answers Conversation podcast Video: Go into All the World, Part 1 Blog Highlights Pray for AiG Q: What can we learn from a fossil graveyard? A: The Messel Pit in Germany is a fossil graveyard. The exquisite preservation of the animals there is consistent with rapid catastrophic burial, not centuries of gradual burial allowing for distortion and decomposition. The global Flood of Noah's day, around 4,300 years ago, is recorded in biblical history in the book of Genesis, confirmed by Jesus Christ Himself, and attested to by a large portion of the fossil record in general as well as fossil graveyards around the world. The Flood itself and post-Flood catastrophes swept away and sorted countless animals and plants and buried them in water-borne sediment. Some were buried en masse, creating fossil graveyards. Layers in the fossil record reveal the order of burial, not the order of evolving life. There are fossil graveyards found at many different levels in the geologic column around the world. This particular fossil graveyard, in Eocene rock, is fairly high in the geologic column—high enough that many creationist geologists believe it represents a group of animals suddenly and catastrophically buried amid the unstable conditions in the aftermath of the global Flood. Read the whole article to consider more fossil evidence from the Messel Pit—animals catastrophically buried in the global flood. Get Equipped Rock Strata, Fossils, and the Flood If the global Flood cataclysm really occurred as described in Genesis 7–8, then what evidence would we look for? Wouldn't we expect to find billions of dead plants and animals deposited rapidly by water in rock layers all over the earth? In this illustrated lecture, Dr. Andrew Snelling demonstrates that is exactly what we find. News to Know Quick Look Today's question was also a News to Know item. In case you missed it, this week we also featured the following News to Know items: Epigenetic Changes Let Mice Inherit Their Fathers' Fears: Are inherited fears mere fodder for novels, or is there some basis for them in science? Neanderthal Toe Said to Suggest an Incestuous Culture: A Neanderthal toe and Denisovan finger trace humanity's genetic footprint near and far. After Eden Answers . . . with Ken Ham radio program Global Warming Part 5: Climate Change—How Should Christians Respond? Part 4: Rising Oceans and Changing Weather—Is It True?) Part 3: Global Warming—Is It Causing Extinctions? Part 2: Are Humans Causing Climate Change? Part 1: Is Global Warming Happening? Photo of the Week To download this image for use as wallpaper on your device, right-click on the link below for the desired resolution and select "Save Link/Target As..." Mobile Full (4:3) Wide (16:9) Answers Conversation podcast This week Steve Ham talks with AiG speaker Dr. Terry Mortenson to answer the question, "What Do Systematic Theology Textbooks Teach About Creation?"	This Week . . . Examples of Critical Thinking: Scientific Application (Jan 10) Epigenetic Changes Let Mice Inherit Their Fathers' Fears (Jan 9) An Initial Estimate toward Identifying and Numbering the Ark Turtle and Crocodile Kinds (Jan 8) Does the AiG Website Discriminate Against Atheists? (Jan 7) Neanderthal Toe Said to Suggest an Incestuous Culture (Jan 6) It's Nye Time to Order Debate Tickets (Jan 6) What Makes the Earth Unique? (Jan 5) Secrets of the Messel Pit, a Fossil Graveyard (Jan 4) Video On Demand Go into All the World, Part 1 Watch Video Blog Highlights Ark Encounter: Genuine Ark, Part 5: Building on Land or Water? Ken Ham: Mysterious Black Holes Creation Museum: Family Fun Night—July 11, 2014 Ken Ham: Conspiracy Theories Abound Ken Ham: Sloppy Research for an Anti-AiG Academic Pray for AiG Pray for preparations for the upcoming debate between Bill Nye and Ken Ham. Pray also that many would see the truth of God's Word. Resources The New Answers Book 1–4 Combo The Answers Book for Kids, Volume 2 The Homosexual War DVD Connect with Us Answers in Genesis Ark Encounter Creation Museum Answers in Genesis Ark Encounter Creation Museum Answers in Genesis Ark Encounter Creation Museum See all networks Free app for iPhone, iPod Touch, iPad
The information in today's blog was provided by: Answers in Genesis 2800 Bullittsburg Church Road, Petersburg, KY 41080 Customer service: 800-778-3390

Who Are You Walking With?

Proverbs 13:20 He that walketh with wise men shall be wise; but a companion of fools shall be destroyed.       In 1987, President Reagan was with Canada's Prime Minister Brian Mulroney at a hanger in Ottawa, Canada awaiting the arrival of the motorcade carrying their wives. When the motorcade arrived and Mrs. Reagan and Mrs. Mulroney got out President Reagan threw his arm around Prime Minister Mulroney, smiled broadly, and said, "You know, Brian, for two Irishmen we sure married up."   That's a wonderful sentiment to have, and  there's no doubting the fact that the people with which we surround ourselves is vitally important.  Proverbs 13:20 says, "He that walketh with wise men, shall be wise, but a companion of fools shall be destroyed." There's a basic law of nature that you will be like the people with whom you surround yourself. You will go with and end up at the same destination as those who surround you.    Years ago, when a young person would be in a lot of trouble at camp, my grandfather, Bill Rice, would often say, "You know, I can write that young man's story." What he meant was that he had seen this same story with different faces and names before. There was a certain amount of predictability about it because certain courses always end up at the same destination.    Now, I do need to be honest about the nature of my relationships with people and who they are. I should always be learning from some people, I should always be helping others, and I should always be aware which of the two I'm doing. People are important. They are the most important thing in the world because they are those for whom Jesus Christ died.  And the kind of people we surround ourselves with is vitally important. If you want to know what kind of path you're on, observe the people who are on it with you. Prayer Requests: - Traveling safety for those returning from the New York City Evangelistic Outreach   Enjoy more devotionals, sermon audio, and articles on our website!

Bill Rice Ranch | 627 Bill Rice Ranch Road | Murfreesboro | TN | 37128

My Advocate

January 9, 2014 My Advocate "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." (Hebrews 7:25)   Remembering that "there is none that doeth good, no, not one" (Psalm 53:3), we are relieved to find that Jesus Christ Himself stands before God and declares that He died for our sins, that justice has been served. No more punishment remains.   He has the nail scars in His hands, permanently visible even in His resurrection body. He showed them to doubting Thomas as an encouragement to believe. God needs no reminder, but in God's courtroom they make a legal point: Our sin penalty has forever been paid. The third verse of the hymn "My Hope Is in the Lord" echoes this blessed truth. And now for me He stands Before the Father's throne, He shows His wounded hands And names me as His own. There are two judgments coming. Those who died without Christ will have no advocate pleading their case. For them, only righteous judgment remains. But Christians have the promise that "their sins and iniquities will I remember no more," and we have access "into the holiest by the blood of Jesus" (Hebrews 10:17, 19).   The day will come when our "hope" becomes fully realized, and "God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away" (Revelation 21:4). We will gather with the saints of all the ages and sing, "Thou art worthy . . . [for thou] hast redeemed us to God by thy blood" (Revelation 5:9). What hope we have! JDM     | Print this article | Subscribe

THE HIGH 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, 14:26, 17:33]

 

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

 

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

Acts 5:20 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]

 

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

THE GOAL

Evangelist Tim Thompson

MATTHEW 22:34-40

There is nothing more important than your relationship with God. If there is nothing more important than your relationship with God then make sure your heart is right with God.

1. Make sure it is God that you love.

Things can get in the way - job, hobbies, sports, friends, etc. Things can become hazards on the road to loving God supremely. You will not have peace and satisfaction (even if you are saved) if your relationship with God is not what it ought to be.

2. Ask God to increase your love.

3. Spend the time [Ps. 46:10]

4. Live it out [John 14:15, 23-24]

Running a race without know the goal is chaos. Living the Christian life without knowing the goal is misery.

THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN RELIGION & CHRISTIANITY

Dr. Bill Rice III

JOHN 1:1-14

1. Christ is God [v. 1-5, Col. 1, Heb. 1, Gn. 1]

2. We're Not (we are not God) [v. 6-8]

3. Christ is the Great Answer [v. 12, 2 Cor. 5:21, 1 Tm. 2:5]

The difference between religion and Christianity is that religion teaches you can do something to save yourself while Bible Christianity teaches Christ has done everything necessary to bring you into a relationship with God.

1. If you haven't trusted Christ as Saviour- you need to do so [v. 12]

2. It's our job to let people know about the Light [v. 7ff]

THE DIFFERENCE MAKER

2 KINGS 14                                                                                                     

 

Pastor Rick Jackson

 

Sometimes a king listed as “good” did bad things- sometimes a king listed as “evil” did good things. What was the difference maker? Who was the Difference Maker?

 

I. AMAZIAH- THE “PRETTY” KING OF JUDAH

 

1. He was “Pretty” Good [v. 1-6]

 

2. He Was “Pretty” Tough [v. 7]

 

3. He was “Pretty” Arrogant [v. 8-12]

 

II. JEHOASH- THE “FAIR” KING OF ISRAEL

 

1. He was “Fairly” Reasonable [v. 9-10]

 

2. He Was “Fairly” Thorough [v. 13-16]

 

3. He was “Fairly” Accurate [v. 10, 17-20]

 

III. YAHWEH [JEHOVAH]- THE DIFFERENCE MAKING GOD

 

1. God Sees [v. 23-24]

 

2. God Speaks [v. 25]

 

when anyone listens it makes the difference in their life [Jm. 1:18, Rm. 2:8, Ga. 5:7, 2 Th. 1:8, 3:14, 1 Peter 4:17]

 

3. God Saves [v. 26-29]