WHAT IS YOUR PROB-A-LUM?

HAGGAI 1

Pastor Rick Jackson

 

The title of this message comes from a video in which a girl toddler is apparently exasperated by her mother and exclaims, “What is your prob-a-lum?” The mother responds “What?” and the girl, now closing her door mutters, “What is your prob-a-lum?” I don’t know the whole story behind that video, but I do know we have a problem, and God addresses it in Haggai chapter 1.

 

I. THE PROBLEM [v. 1-6]

1. A Lack of Interest in God’s Will [v. 1-2]

2. A Lot of Interest in Man’s Comfort [v. 3-4]

3. A Lessening of God’s Blessings [v. 5-6]

 

II. THE SOLUTION [v. 7-11]

1. Do Right [v. 7-8a]

2. Do Right for the Right Reason

[v. 8b, John 15:8, 1 Cor. 10:31, Col. 3:17, 23]

- Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples.

-Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.

- And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him.

- And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men;

3. Do Right or Forfeit God’s Blessing [v. 9-11, Mt. 6:33]

- But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.

 

III. THE RESULT [v. 12-15]

1. The Right Attitude Toward the Word [v. 12a]

Acts 8:14 Now when the apostles which were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent unto them Peter and John:

Acts 13:7 Which was with the deputy of the country, Sergius Paulus, a prudent man; who called for Barnabas and Saul, and desired to hear the word of God.

1 Thessalonians 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.

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.

1 Peter 1:23 Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever.

1 John 2:5 But whoso keepeth his word, in him verily is the love of God perfected: hereby know we that we are in him.

1 John 2:14 I have written unto you, fathers, because ye have known him that is from the beginning. I have written unto you, young men, because ye are strong, and the word of God abideth in you, and ye have overcome the wicked one.

2. The Right Attitude Toward the Lord [v. 12b, Pr. 14:26-27]

- In the fear of the LORD is strong confidence: and his children shall have a place of refuge. The fear of the LORD is a fountain of life, to depart from the snares of death

3. The Change God Brings in Our Lives

[v. 13-15, Neh. 8:10, Mk. 12:30]

- Then he said unto them, Go your way, eat the fat, and drink the sweet, and send portions unto them for whom nothing is prepared: for this day is holy unto our Lord: neither be ye sorry; for the joy of the LORD is your strength.

-And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment.

GOD LOOKS AT YOUR OFFERING NOT YOU

GENESIS 4:1-9, Exodus 12:13

And the blood shall be to you for a token upon the houses where ye are: and when I see the blood, I will pass over you, and the plague shall not be upon you to destroy you, when I smite the land of Egypt.

Pastor Rick Jackson

 

I. THE OBVIOUS TRUTH ABOUT CAIN

1. Cain was a Worshipper [4:3]

2. Cain was a Worker [4:2-3, 3:19]

3. Cain was Willful [4:5-14]

In short, he was like most people.

 

II. THE OFFERING OF CAIN

1. Cain Offered a Cursed Offering

[Gn. 3:17-19, Rm. 8:22]

-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; Thorns also and thistles shall it bring forth to thee; and thou shalt eat the herb of the field; In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread, till thou return unto the ground; for out of it wast thou taken: for dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return.

-For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now.

2. Cain Offered a Carnal Offering [v. 5-7, Rm. 7:18, 8:8]

-For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing

-So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God.

3. Cain Offered a Christless Offering [4:3, Jn. 1:29, 1 Cor. 5:7]

- John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.

-For even Christ our passover is sacrificed for us:

 

III. THE OFFERING OF ABEL [Hebrews 11:4]

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

1. Abel’s Offering was a Bible Offering (faith) [11:4, Rm. 10:17, Gn. 3:21, Is. 61:10]

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

- Unto Adam also and to his wife did the LORD God make coats of skins, and clothed them.

- I will greatly rejoice in the LORD, my soul shall be joyful in my God; for he hath clothed me with the garments of salvation, he hath covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decketh himself with ornaments, and as a bride adorneth herself with her jewels.

2. Abel’s Offering was a Blood Offering [Gn. 4:4, 3:21, Heb. 9:22, 12:24]

-Without shedding of blood is no remission.

- And to Jesus the mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling, that speaketh better things than that of Abel.

3. Abel’s Offering was a Witness Bearing Offering [Heb. 11:4]

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

 

What is your offering?

RANDOM THOUGHTS MADE LESS SO - Strange Nicknames

An evangelist told me that his kids refer to me as "the applesauce preacher" because I mentioned to them I sometimes eat applesauce on pizza.

I was told by a fellow pastor that his kids refer to me as "the pastor who came to see you" because I visited him in the hospital.

A lady in town refers to me as "Mr. Betterthanideserve" because when people ask me, "how are you?" I respond honestly by saying, "I'm better than I deserve."

A friend of mine, who is now with the Lord, used to call me "Bwudder Wick" because he heard a boy in Tn. call me that. The boy was trying to say "Brother Rick" but it came out somewhat differently.

I have been called worse. I have been called better. Most importantly, God calls me "son" - "But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name." [John 1:12]

PEACE IN THE GOSPEL OF JOHN

JOHN 20:19-26

Pastor Rick Jackson

 

I. PEACE IN JOHN 14:27

1. Deliberate Peace [v. 16-18, 26-27]

2. Divine Peace [v. 16, 26-27]

3. Different Peace [v. 27, 30, 15:18-19]

 

II. PEACE IN JOHN 16:33

1. Peace in the Word of God [v. 33, Mt. 7:24-26]

Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock: And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock. And every one that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand:

2. Peace in the WORD of God [v. 33, 8:58, 1:1-3]

Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Before Abraham was, I am.

3. Peace in the Work of God [v. 33, 1 John 5:5]

Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God?

 

III. PEACE IN JOHN 20

1. Personal Peace in the Day of Fear [v. 19]

2. Personal Peace in the Day of Decision [v. 21]

3. Personal Peace in the Day of Doubt [v. 25-28]

WHAT’S WITH THE STORM?

MATTHEW 14:22-32

Pastor Rick Jackson

 

I. THE STORM HAS PURPOSE [v. 22-28]

1. To Remove Our Self-sufficiency [v. 22-24, 2 Cor. 12:9]

And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.

2. To Reveal Our Saviour [v. 25-27]

3. To Raise Our Sights [v. 28, Ph. 3:13-14]

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, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.

 

II. THE SAVIOUR HAS POWER [v. 25-27]

1. His Walking Speaks of His Calm Demeanor [v. 25-27, Lk. 24:15-17, 25-27]

-And it came to pass, that, while they communed together and reasoned, Jesus himself drew near, and went with them. But their eyes were holden that they should not know him. And he said unto them, What manner of communications are these that ye have one to another, as ye walk, and are sad?

-Then he said unto them, O fools, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken: Ought not Christ to have suffered these things, and to enter into his glory? And beginning at Moses and all the prophets, he expounded unto them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself.

2. His Walking Speaks of His Confident Deliberation [v. 25]

3. His Walking Speaks of His Casual Demonstration [v. 26-27, Job. 9:2, 8; Ps. 77:19]

-I know it is so of a truth: but how should man be just with God?

-Which alone spreadeth out the heavens, and treadeth upon the waves of the sea.

- Thy way is in the sea, and thy path in the great waters, and thy footsteps are not known.

 

III. THE SAINTS HAVE POTENTIAL [v. 26-33]

1. To Overcome Fear [v.25-27, Luke 12:7, 32; Rm. 8:15]

-But even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not therefore: ye are of more value than many sparrows.

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

- For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father

2. To Work in His Power [v. 28-31, Acts 1:8

- 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.

3. To Worship Jesus as God [v. 27, 32-33, John 8:58, 14:12]

-For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father

- 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.

“THE FAITH” IS

ACTS 3:16, 6:7, 13:8, 14:22, 16:5, 24:24

Pastor Rick Jackson

 

I. “THE FAITH” IS SIMPLE

1. We Earned a Wage [Rm. 3:23, 6:23]

- For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;

- For the wages of sin is death;

2. Christ Paid The Debt [Rm. 6:23, 5:6-8]

- For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

- For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die. But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.

3. Christ and His Payment Must Be Received [Rm. 5:11, Jn. 1:12, Heb. 4:2]

- And not only so, but we also joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have now received the atonement.

- But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:

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

 

II. “THE FAITH” IS SATISFYING

1. God is Satisfied [1 John 4:10]

-Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.

2. The Debt is Satisfied [1 Jn. 2:2]

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

3. The Debtor is Satisfied [Psalm 17:15]

As for me, I will behold thy face in righteousness: I shall be satisfied, when I awake, with thy likeness.

 

III. “THE FAITH” IS SURE

1. The Faith is Made Sure by the Promise [Heb. 6:17]

Wherein God, willing more abundantly to shew unto the heirs of promise the immutability of his counsel, confirmed it by an oath:

2. The Faith is Made Sure by the Attributes of God [Heb. 6:18-19]

That by two immutable things, in which it was impossible for God to lie, we might have a strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold upon the hope set before us: Which hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and stedfast, and which entereth into that within the veil;

3. The Faith is Made Sure by the Completed & Continuing Work of Jesus Christ [Heb. 6:19-20]

 Which hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and stedfast, and which entereth into that within the veil; Whither the forerunner is for us entered, even Jesus, made an high priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec.

A SPIRITUAL NEW YEAR

EX. 12:1-2

Pastor Rick Jackson

 

I. TRUE SPIRITUALITY BEGINS WITH A SACRIFICE [Ex. 12:3-5]

 

1. A Lamb [v. 3, Hebrews 9:22]

…without shedding of blood is no remission.

2. The Lamb -v. 4, Jn. 1:29, 35-36]

-The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.

- Again the next day after John stood, and two of his disciples; And looking upon Jesus as he walked, he saith, Behold the Lamb of God!

3. Your Lamb [v. 5, Jn. 1:10-14]

He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not. He came unto his own, and his own received him not. But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God. And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.

 

II. TRUE SPIRITUALITY BEGINS WITH SALVATION [Ex. 12:6-20]

 

1. The Blood Must Be Applied [v. 6-7, Rev. 1:5-6]

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, And hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father; to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.

2. The Change is Activated [v. 8-14, Rm. 6:1-4]

What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? God forbid . How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein? Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.

3. The Character Should be Observed [v. 15-20, Rm. 6:11-13]

Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord. Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof.  Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God.

 

III. TRUE SPIRITUALITY BEGINS WITH THE SAVIOUR [Ex. 12:21-28]

 

1. He is The Substitute [v. 21-22, Is. 53:4-6]

Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.

2. He is The Sovereign [23-27, Rev. 1:5-8]

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, And hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father; to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen. 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. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, saith the Lord, which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty.

3. He is Worthy of Our Worship [v. 27, Rev. 1:17-18]

And when I saw him, I fell at his feet as dead. And he laid his right hand upon me, saying unto me, Fear not; I am the first and the last: I am he that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore , Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death.