HOW TO MEASURE SUCCESS

Joshua 1:8

Pastor Rick Jackson

How do you measure success? Would a Heisman award, a successful pro-football career, a lucrative multi-media (movies, television, etc.) career and a mansion in California make you a success? Or would 2 divorces, a murder trial, and prison time served for armed robbery void that?

It’s not an easy answer is it? Even when a life is over you never know what secrets can come out years later that may exonerate a person or incriminate them. But if you were to look at your own life, right now, up to this moment, would you consider yourself a success? The Bible will give us some help in measuring ourselves.

I. ELIMINATE THE WRONG MEASURES

1. Riches are a wrong measure for many reasons [Ps. 49:6-9, Lk. 12:16-21]

2. Troubles, sorrows, & misfortune are not necessarily a measure of failure [Is. 53:3, Job]

3. Others are a wrong measure of success [2 Cor. 10:12]

II. ACCENTUATE THE RIGHT MEASURES

1. A life of spiritual growth & development [2 Pt. 3:18]

It is not egotism to be able to say, "I understand the Bible better now than I did 5 years ago"

2. A life lived for the good of others [Phil. 1:23-27]

3. A life lived for Christ [Mk. 10:28-31]

"Only one life, 'twill soon be past, Only what's done for Christ will last."

III. DO IT NOW!

1. Examine your salvation [2 Cor. 13:5, 6:2]

2. Ask God to examine you [Ps. 139:23-24]

3. Deal with what you find [1 Cor. 11:31-32, 1 Jn. 1:9]

PAUL’S LAST LETTER – HOLD FAST [TO THE BOOK]

2 TIMOTHY 1

Pastor Rick Jackson

I. REMEMBER [v. 1-6]

1. Prayer [v. 1-3]

2. People [v. 4-5]

3. Potential [v. 6]

II. BE [v. 7-11]

1. Be Not Ashamed [v. 7-8a]

2. Be Partaker [v. 8b-10]

3. Be Active [v. 11]

III. KNOW [v. 12-18]

1. Know Whom You Have Believed [v. 12]

2. Know the Book [v. 13-14]

3. Know the Life that Counts [v. 15-18]

THREE LESSONS FROM TROUBLE

JOB 1:14-22                                                        

Pastor Rick Jackson

LESSON I - GOD IS SOVEREIGN

1. His Authority is Absolute - God causes OR allows all things [Job]

Psalm 59:13 Consume them in wrath, consume them, that they may not be: and let them know that God ruleth in Jacob unto the ends of the earth. Selah.

Psalm 66:7 He ruleth by his power for ever; his eyes behold the nations: let not the rebellious exalt themselves. Selah.

Psalm 103:19 The LORD hath prepared his throne in the heavens; and his kingdom ruleth over all.

2. His ways are perfect [Deuteronomy 32:4]

He is the Rock, his work is perfect: for all his ways are judgment: a God of truth and without iniquity, just and right is he.

2 Samuel 22:31 As for God, his way is perfect; the word of the LORD is tried: he is a buckler to all them that trust in him.

3. His Understanding Is Infinite [Romans 11:33-36]

Is. 55:8-9 For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.

LESSON II - MAN IS SUSCEPTIBLE

1. To Sorrow [Job 14:1]

Man that is born of a woman is of few days, and full of trouble.

Genesis 3:16-17 Unto the woman he said, I will greatly multiply thy sorrow and thy conception; in sorrow thou shalt bring forth children; and thy desire shall be to thy husband, and he shall rule over thee. And unto Adam he said, Because thou hast hearkened unto the voice of thy wife, and hast eaten of the tree, of which I commanded thee, saying, Thou shalt not eat of it: cursed is the ground for thy sake; in sorrow shalt thou eat of it all the days of thy life;

2. To Situations [Phil. 1:12-13, 4:11-12]

3. To Success [Phil. 4:13, 19]

Romans 8:28 And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.

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.

LESSON III - CHRISTIANS ARE STEWARDS

1. We all have our roles [Ph. 1:20-23]

Isaiah 64:8 But now, O LORD, thou art our father; we are the clay, and thou our potter; and we all are the work of thy hand.

Jeremiah 18:2-6 Arise, and go down to the potter's house, and there I will cause thee to hear my words. Then I went down to the potter's house, and, behold, he wrought a work on the wheels. And the vessel that he made of clay was marred in the hand of the potter: so he made it again another vessel, as seemed good to the potter to make it. Then the word of the LORD came to me, saying, O house of Israel, cannot I do with you as this potter? saith the LORD. Behold, as the clay is in the potter's hand, so are ye in mine hand, O house of Israel.

Romans 9:21 Hath not the potter power over the clay, of the same lump to make one vessel unto honour, and another unto dishonour?

2. We all have our responsibilities [Ph. 1:24-27]

3. We all have our requirements [Lk. 12:28]

But he that knew not, and did commit things worthy of stripes, shall be beaten with few stripes. For unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall be much required: and to whom men have committed much, of him they will ask the more.

1 Corinthians 4:2 Moreover it is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful.

Question of the Week: How can Christians respond to transgender people with love and integrity?

From the highly recommended: www.ansersingenesis.org

 

Get the latest science, Bible, and culture news from Answers in Genesis.

Latest Answers April 7, 2018 View in browser A Galaxy with Little or No Dark Matter Astronomers today generally believe in the existence of dark matter, but a recent discovery revealed that a nearby galaxy, NGC 1052-DF2, has little or no dark matter. What does this discovery mean for us? Read Now Transgender—Clarity in a Confused World You know the stories well: a child who was born a boy has "transitioned" to a girl (or vice versa). The transgender movement has shattered the culture's understanding of God's design. How can Christians respond with biblical love and integrity? Get Answers Wonders of Creation In this image-rich and information-packed book, respected creation scientists answer key questions posed by theologians, scientists, and philosophers today! Book  $49.99 Design in a Fallen World Enjoy the panorama of a creation so beautifully detailed, ordered, and complex that it would be unbelievable if it was not there in front of us. Before our journey in this book concludes, we will face the questions: "What went wrong and what is the purpose of it all?" Order Now We're Hiring! Do you want to use the unique skills, talents, and gifts that God has given you to help spread the message of biblical authority and the gospel? You could join our growing team! Learn More → 50th Anniversary of Martin Luther King Jr.'s Death In a time when "racial" tensions are climbing yet again, it helps to remember figures like Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and the message of unity they proclaimed. Learn More → Where Parenting Begins Our children face a tough world, and every Christian parent yearns to direct them in the ways of the Lord. But effective parenting begins with a proper understanding of ourselves—as found in Genesis. Learn More → See More Teach through the Bible in four years with this full-featured Sunday school curriculum for all ages. Get equipped to confidently share the gospel and biblical authority with this award-winning worldview magazine. Teach kids that the Bible is more than a dusty book of stories so they can trust its life-changing message of salvation! Copyright © 2018 Answers in Genesis, All rights reserved. PO Box 510 Hebron, KY  41048 view in browser

John R. Rice Quotes of the Week

If one reads this who is not a Christian and if you have anybody that loves you, anybody who prays for you, anybody who weeps over you, anybody who cares enough to warn you, then in Jesus' dear name, I beg you, stop and listen, and be saved. It is the call of God! Instead of anger, you ought to have the profoundest and humblest gratitude that God loves you enough to give anybody to warn you. You ought to go down on your knees in thanksgiving that God cared enough to give you a mother to weep or a wife to plead or a friend to warn or a man of God, perhaps even a stranger, to preach to you or give you a tract. I say to you now, earnestly and fervently, that God Himself calls through the voice of His people. - John R. Rice

To deny the resurrection of Christ is to deny His deity. To deny the resurrection of Christ is to deny historic Christianity. To deny the resurrection of Christ is to deny the Bible. To deny the resurrection of Christ is to place one's self beside the infidels and scoffers. If Bob Ingersoll and Tom Paine were to join a church and put on clerical robes, yet believe and preach their infidelity, that would not make them Christians. So, infidels in the church today are not Christians. Those who deny the resurrection of Jesus Christ deny Christ and Christianity. - John R. Rice

We do not like trouble. We shrink from sorrow. We cannot feel that there is any good in suffering. Men have a feeling that suffering is always because God does not love us, or because He is angry with us. But oftentimes God's tender love for us prompts Him to seek our hearts through breaking them. - John R. Rice

"Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby" (Heb. 12:11). "For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth" (Heb. 12:6). Have you been having trouble? Have you had unemployment, or disease, or poverty, or disappointment, or slander? Then God does not hate you, but He loves you, and as tenderly and earnestly as He knows how God is wooing your heart toward Him. Oh! turn to Him today and listen while He calls. "The Master is come, and calleth for thee." As certainly as He sent Martha to call the weeping Mary, Mary with her broken heart, just so surely God is calling you through your disappointment, through your poverty, through your trouble. God does call through trouble. - John R. Rice

There are those who know little of God's dealings, and little about His Word, who insist that God has nothing to do with the death of our loved ones. I have heard the shocking and blasphemous statement, that it would be a cruel and unjust God who would take home to Heaven a little baby in order to call a mother or father to repent and be saved. Such talk is not only wicked; it is silly. For a little baby, safe in the arms of Jesus, to be taken home to Heaven, where it will never sin, where there will never be sorrows or disease or death- that is no cruelty but an infinite blessing. I believe that but for the great mercy of God toward us who remain, He would take all the little ones that way, and I know that God does call through the home-going of our loved ones. - John R. Rice

You say there are hypocrites in the churches, and you have no confidence in them. Well, there was a hypocrite among the first twelve apostles, and it would not be surprising if there were hypocrites in the church today. I think there are, since churches are made up of human beings. But your salvation is not settled by the churches, it is settled by what you answer to this question, "What shall I do then with Jesus?" I am for the churches. Jesus Christ Himself gave orders to start the churches. If you do not like it, tell Him. Churches are not all they ought to be, but still the best people on the earth are in the churches. the gospel of Jesus Christ comes thru the churches. it is the church people who spread Bibles, send missionaries and preach the gospel. But fortunately, you do not have to settle all that is wrong with the churches. You simply have to say yes or no to Jesus Christ. - John R. Rice

Perhaps you are one of those who hate preachers, who say they are all after money. Well, no doubt a few are money-minded, as were Judas Iscariot and Gehazi, the servant of Elisha, and false prophets in the Bible. But fortunately, you do not have to accept or reject preachers. That is not your problem. You must do something with Jesus Christ or go to Hell forever! - John R. Rice

DIRECTIONS ON THE ROAD OF LIFE

Pastor Rick Jackson

Proverbs 3:5-7

Someone has defined "directions" as “that which men hate to ask for and that which women delight in giving.” Over the years people have come up with directional catch phrases--- some right, some wrong, and some down-right impossible from a true Biblical standpoint.

I. IMPOSSIBLE DIRECTIONS

1. "Get lost!"

This is impossible from a spiritual standpoint. You are either already lost [2 Corinthians 4:3 But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost:]

Or you once were lost, but you are now saved, and can never be lost again [1 Jn. 5:10-13]

2. "You can't get there from here!"

[Mt. 19:26 But Jesus beheld them, and said unto them, With men this is impossible; but with God all things are possible.]

3. "Go back where you came from"

-Jn. 3:3-7 Nicodemus asked Jesus about this knowing it wasn't possible.

-"You cannot change the past, but you can ruin a perfectly good future by dwelling on it!"

-Remember, F.I.D.O.? “Forget It & Drive On!”

-Philippians 3:13 Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before

II. WRONG DIRECTIONS

1. "Go to Blazes" [Lk. 16:22b-31]

2. The So-called Road To Pleasure [Pr. 7:10-27]

3. The Way That Seems Right [Proverbs 14:12]

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

III. RIGHT DIRECTIONS

1. The Way of Preparation [Amos. 4:12-23]

2. The Way of Truth & Life [Jn. 14:6]

3. The Way of Word of God [Isaiah 30:21]

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.

PERSONAL PRACTICALITIES

1 TIMOTHY 6

Pastor Rick Jackson

I. CONSENTING CHRISTIANITY [v. 1-5]

1. Your Relationship to God [v. 1]

2. Your Relationship to God’s People [v. 2]

3. Your Relationship to God’s Word [v. 3-5]

II. CONTENTED CHRISTIANITY [v. 6-12]

1. The Gain of Contented Godliness [v. 6-8]

2. The Greed of Contested Godliness [v. 9-10]

3. The Goal of Contested Covetousness [v. 11-12]

III. CHARGED CHRISTIANITY [v. 13-21]

1. A Charge to Honor Our King [v. 13-16]

2. A Charge for the Rich [v. 17-19]

3. A Charge for the Preacher [v. 20-21]

UP FROM THE GRAVE HE AROSE!

ROMANS 1:1-5

Pastor Rick Jackson

It is highly likely that most people are celebrating Easter with colored eggs and baskets filled with goodies brought to them in a most bizarre manner. Many who are enjoying this day have no conception that it began almost two millennia ago in a tomb where the occupant had neither the inclination, nor the obligation, to stay put. Easter is not just another holiday, it is, rather, the most important HOLY day of all holy days. Christmas has no real meaning without Easter. Good Wednesday (not Friday as erroneously taught by many) would be a flop without Easter. But you put the resurrection in its proper place and Christmas becomes the joyous event the angels declared it to be. Good Wednesday becomes THE Day of Atonement God intended it to be.

The resurrection is mentioned in most, if not all, the books of the New Testament and many books of the Old Testament but this morning let us look at what just one New Testament book says about it- and even them, we will have to skim the surface if we are not to be here all day.

I. CONCERNING JESUS, THE RESURRECTION DECLARES AT LEAST THREE THINGS:

The fact that Jesus was born of the virgin Mary establishes his earthly lineage to David, but the resurrection:

1. Declares Him to be the Son of God with Power [1:3, 4]

-Not “a” son, but “the” Son

-Not Joseph’s son, but God’s Son

-Not without power, but WITH power

2. Declares Him to have Defeated Death [6:9] it has no power over Him

-we must face death, He conquered it

-we may postpone death for a short time but He overpowered it

3. Declares that One Payment is Enough! [6:10]

Yes, the resurrection declares much concerning Christ Himself but it also declares much concerning the saved.

II. CONCERNING CHRISTIANS, THE RESURRECTION DECLARES AT LEAST EIGHT THINGS:

1. Christians Have Eternal Security [5:8-10]

2. Christians Have a Reason to Live Right [6:4-5]

3. Christians Will Live with Jesus [6:8]

4. Christians are Alive unto God [6:10-11] no longer dead in sin

5. Christians Serve Christ Not to be Saved, but because they are Saved [7:4-6]

6. Christians Can Expect to be Raised as Jesus Was [8:11]

7. Christians Have Christ Praying for Us [8:34]

8. Christians Should Serve Christ in Life or Death [14:8-9]

Yes, the resurrection declares much concerning Christians but it also declares much concerning the unsaved.

III. CONCERNING THE LOST, THE RESURRECTION DECLARES AT LEAST FOUR THINGS:

1. You Can Have Christ’s Righteousness Imputed to You [4:24]

2. Christ’s Payment for Sins Was Enough [4:25] you don’t [and can’t] add a thing to it

3. You Can Have Peace with God [5:1]

4. Salvation in Christ is Yours for the Asking [10:9-13]