Lessons from The Unexplained

II TM. 4:9-18

Pastor Rick Jackson

When I was a kid, I had a really good friend who I'll call Data (not his real name). Data and I would go to each other’s houses and generally got along well. One day he quit talking to me. He wouldn't even explain why. He just quit being my friend. Until about 4 years later he started acting like nothing ever happened to our friendship and now I still don't know and don't dare ask what happened. I don't "pal" around with him, but we are friends.

35 years later another "friend" did me the same way. No explanation, just an email stating "I'm no longer comfortable with (this relationship)". Now I can chalk Data's unreasonableness to childishness but this other was from a friend in their 30s! Of course, once they sent the email, I sent one back basically asking "why?" but all I got was cold, dead silence. They had sent me an email earlier in the day and were quite friendly and gave no indication of the Jekyll/Hyde syndrome I was about to experience again. You know what? It still hurt. It hurt at 10 and it hurt at 49. If I did something wrong, I'd like a chance to explain or apologize. Maybe they misunderstood something I said, or did, or wrote- but apparently, I may never know.

For Christians there is a way things ought to be handled. "Love thinketh no evil" (I Cor. 13) so a benefit of doubt should be given until the matter is discussed. If a Christian has anything against their fellow Christian the Lord Jesus, in Mt. 18, gives them a procedure to follow. This was not done. It was just "I feel...I feel...I feel..." with no consideration to the Scriptures or how anyone else feels. No Golden Rule in force here. The initial shock has been replaced with frustration, irritation and eventually resignation. So, what are some lessons here?

I. Christians aren't perfect, sometimes they aren't even mature. [1 Cor. 3:1-7, Heb. 5:11-14]

II. Christ is perfect and will never fail you or treat you like yesterday's newspaper. [Ps. 146, Phil. 3:8-12]

III. Christ's Word is true regardless of the fact some Christians don't live by it! [2 Samuel 12:14, Romans 3:4]

Howbeit, because by this deed thou hast given great occasion to the enemies of the LORD to blaspheme, the child also that is born unto thee shall surely die.

God forbid : yea, let God be true, but every man a liar;

Don't throw out the truth because some profess it but don't live by it.

IV. FIDO! “Forget It & Drive On!” [Ph. 3:13-21]

DON'T

I KINGS 19:1-4

Pastor Rick Jackson

There are times we feel like quitting. What's the use? Godliness is laughed at and the ungodly seem to prosper. But let me say, "Don't!" Don’t give in to temptation! Don't give up the ship! Don't throw in the towel.

I. IT IS TRUE THAT THERE IS MUCH WRONG [v. 14] Elijah noted...

1. They Had Forsaken God's Word

2. They were Fearing God's Worship (why is Bible Christianity not welcome?!?)

3. They Fought God's Workers

II. IT IS EQUALLY TRUE THAT THERE IS MUCH TO DO [v. 15-18] there is...

1. God's Will to Perform [v.15a]

2. God's Word to Proclaim [v. 15b-16]

3. God's Work to Participate in [v. 17-18]

III. IT IS ALSO TRUE THAT THERE IS MUCH RIGHT [18:39-41, and beyond Calvary, the Church Age...]

1. Fruit Bearing Still Produces Converts [Pr. 11:30]

2. Fruit Bearing Still Produces Character [Gal. 5:22ff] Christians getting right and yielding to God

3. Fruit Bearing Still Produces Conduct [Rm. 6:22, Heb. 12:11, Mt. 5:13-16] Christians doing right and influencing others to do so also

-

Give up the ship? John Paul Jones said, "I have not yet begun to fight."

Philippians 4:13 I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.

2 Chronicles 15:7 Be ye strong therefore, and let not your hands be weak: for your work shall be rewarded.

Galatians 6:9-10 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.

Question of the Week: Church Without God—Does It Work?

From the highly recommended: Answers in Genesis <www.answersingenesis.org>

 

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

Latest Answers August 3, 2019 View in browser The Herald-Leader Misleads Again Last week, a major Kentucky newspaper, the Lexington Herald-Leader, stooped quite low and published an opinion column worthy of a tabloid. The writer, a reporter who has been anti-Ark Encounter over the years, penned an opinion piece about the Ark that was filled with misinformation, name-calling, and anti-Christian sentiment, continuing her ongoing opposition to our Ark Encounter. Read Now Church Without God—Does It Work? The Atlantic recently published a lengthy article titled, "They Tried to Start a Church Without God. For a While It Worked." It describes the initial popularity of so-called secular churches, the most common being called Sunday Assemblies, which meet Sunday mornings to sing songs, listen to some kind of teaching or presentation, and visit and eat snacks afterward. This is supposed to be a replacement for the community found in churches. But does it work? Get Answers New Beginning and Journey Through the Ark Encounter  Experience the wonder with the most popular book and movie from the Ark Encounter! Pack  $39.99 $29.99 Step Back in Time New Beginning is a stirring, new, historical drama that looks at the biblical account of Noah's flood from the viewpoint of Shem's wife, while Journey Through the Ark Encounter guides you step-by-step through this faith-affirming attraction. Order Now A Memorial for a Melted Glacier? Okjökull, known as Ok, lost its status as a glacier in 2014 due to its shrinking size. The presumed cause of the shrinkage? Man-made climate change. Learn More → Does the Bible Teach a Flat Earth? It's not just atheists arguing the Bible teaches a flat earth—it's some Christians, too, who've fallen for it and believe that's what it teaches. But does it? Learn More → What Was Sodom and Gomorrah's Primary Sin? While many believe Sodom and Gomorrah were destroyed because of rampant homosexual behavior, others say Sodom and Gomorrah were destroyed because of pride. Learn More → Don't Miss Creation Answers, a New Podcast from AiG Our Answers magazine team decided to launch a brand-new podcast, called Creation Answers, to allow you to enjoy the best of our audio articles. Learn More → Two Ways to Experience the Gettys in Concert at the Ark Join Keith and Kristyn Getty at the Ark Encounter on October 9, 2019. You have two opportunities to hear from the Gettys when they visit our life-size Noah's Ark. Learn More → Teach through the Bible in four years with this chronological 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 © 2019 Answers in Genesis, All rights reserved. 2800 Bullittsburg Church Rd. Petersburg, KY  41080 To stop receiving emails like this, change your subscriptions. You may also opt out of all emails from Answers in Genesis, Creation Museum, and Ark Encounter. view in browser

John R. Rice Quotes of the Week

When Jesus fed the 5,000 with one little boy's lunch of five little barley loaves and two small fishes, the people ate and were full and had twelve baskets left over. God was saying that, had there been a million people, He could have fed them, too. I have sometimes said that what those 5,000 ate was for them; the twelve basketsfull left over were for us.
Do you get the idea? God is able to do "exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think." - John R. Rice

Another thing that hinders prayer is indifference toward the Bible. Proverbs 28:9 says, "He that turneth away his ear from hearing the law, even his prayer shall be abomination." The law there originally meant the books of Moses, then it came to mean the whole Old Testament, now it means the whole Bible. - John R. Rice 

In your heart do you say, "I'm not interested in the Bible"? Those who print the so-called Living Bible and Living Letters teach that people can't understand the King James Version, etc. That is wicked. You can. - John R. Rice

Somebody said, "Oh, well, the Bible is dull." But there are no uninteresting parts in the Bible, just some uninterested Christians. - John R. Rice

When I was a boy back in West Texas, I would come home from school and say, "Mamma, can I have a biscuit?" So I would get a cold biscuit. Now a cold biscuit doesn't seem too much to you, but if you are hungry, as you chew it, it gets sweet! The Bible, too, if you chew on it, gets sweet. If you get it in your heart and mind and meditate on it, it turns out mighty good and rich and sweet. - John R. Rice


If you don't like the Bible, then you are in bad shape to pray. If you don't have time for the Bible, God said, "I don't have time for you either. Keep away and don't pester Me." [Pr. 28:9] So if you want God to answer your prayers, you have to love the Bible and pay attention to the Bible. - John R. Rice

Oh, you had better be careful not to love sin, not to excuse sin, not to take up for sin. If it is an issue between you and God, you had better get it fixed. I don't care how big or how little: a debt you didn't pay, a sharp word you said and never tried to make friends and apologize. Is it something you took and didn't restore? Then if I regard it [Ps. 66:18], if I love any sin, if I hold on to any sin, excuse some sin and think it isn't so bad, then that sure shuts up Heaven. - John R. Rice