THE PRACTICAL POWER OF JESUS

MATTHEW 12:1-14

Pastor Rick Jackson

 

I. THE ACCUSATION OF THE PHARISEES [v. 1-2]

1. The Allowance of the Lord [v. 1] He surely knew they were hungry

2. The Dinner of the Disciples [v. 1]

3. The Perversion of the Pharisees [v. 2]

 

II. THE ANSWER OF THE LORD [v. 3-8]

1. He Cited the Historical Books Concerning David [v. 3-4, 1 Sam. 21]

2. He Cited the Law Pentateuch Concerning the Priests [v. 5-6, Num. 28:9-10]

And on the sabbath day two lambs of the first year without spot, and two tenth deals of flour for a meat offering, mingled with oil, and the drink offering thereof: This is the burnt offering of every sabbath, beside the continual burnt offering, and his drink offering.

3. He Cited the Prophets Concentrating on Hosea [v. 7, Hosea 6:6]

For I desired mercy, and not sacrifice; and the knowledge of God more than burnt offerings.

4. He Cited His Authority Concerning His Deity [v. 6, 8; Gen. 2:1-3]

Thus the heavens and the earth were finished, and all the host of them. And on the seventh day God ended his work which he had made; and he rested on the seventh day from all his work which he had made. And God blessed the seventh day, and sanctified it: because that in it he had rested from all his work which God created and made.

 

III. THE PRACTICING OF WHAT HE PREACHED [v. 9-14]

1. The Pharisees Tried to Trap Jesus [v. 10]

2. The Profit Margin Explained [v. 11-13, James 4:17]

Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin.

3. The Pharisees Dilemma [v. 14]

-they couldn’t argue with the Scriptures Jesus gave

-they couldn’t argue with the Logic Jesus used

-they wouldn’t agree with Jesus

-they resorted to violence

ONE OF THE GREATEST DAYS EVER!

JOHN 20

Pastor Rick Jackson

 

I. CHRISTIANS ARE INDIVIDUALS [v. 1-11]

1. Mary Wept in Ignorance [v. 1-2]

2. Peter Investigated in Confusion [v. 2-7, 9-10]

3. John Believed in Providence [v. 2-10]

 

II. CHRIST IS UNIQUELY RESPONSIVE [v. 11-18]

1. Jesus Reassured Mary Personally [v. 11-16]

2. Jesus Taught Mary [v. 17]

3. Jesus Commissioned Mary [v. 17-18]

 

III. CHRIST IS RISEN! [v. 19-22]

1. Jesus Restores their Joy

[v. 19-20, John 16:16-22]

2. Jesus Reiterates Their Mission [v. 21]

3. Jesus had Them Receive Their Comforter

[v. 22, 14:16-20, 15:26-27, 7:38-39]

-And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever; Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you. I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you. Yet a little while, and the world seeth me no more; but ye see me: because I live, ye shall live also. At that day ye shall know that I am in my Father, and ye in me, and I in you.

-But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, he shall testify of me: And ye also shall bear witness, because ye have been with me from the beginning.

-He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water. (But this spake he of the Spirit, which they that believe on him should receive: for the Holy Ghost was not yet given; because that Jesus was not yet glorified.)

OH, IT IS WONDERFUL

1 JOHN 1:1-2

Pastor Rick Jackson

 

I. WE CAN HAVE IT [1 JOHN 1]

1. Full Fellowship [v. 3, 5-7]

2. Full Joy [v. 4, Philippians 3:1, 3, 4:4]

-Finally, my brethren, rejoice in the Lord. To write the same things to you, to me indeed is not grievous, but for you it is safe.

-For we are the circumcision, which worship God in the spirit, and rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh.

-Rejoice in the Lord alway: and again I say, Rejoice.

3. Full Forgiveness and Cleansing [v. 7-10]

 

II. WE HAVE IT [I JOHN 2]

1. Heaven’s Undefeated Lawyer [2:1]

2. His Unlimited Atonement [2:2, 2 Cor. 5:14, Rm. 5:18, Jn. 3:16]

-For the love of Christ constraineth us; because we thus judge, that if one died for all, then were all dead.

- Therefore as by the offence of one judgment came upon all men to condemnation; even so by the righteousness of one the free gift came upon all men unto justification of life.

3. His Unvarnished Truth [2:3, 2 Tm. 1:12]

 

III. WE CAN KNOW [I JOHN 2]

1. We can Know Him [2:1-3a, 5:13] (that’s relationship)

2. We can Know His Presence [2:3-5, 1:6-7] (that’s fellowship)

3. We can Know His Truth [2:18-21, Jn. 15:13-19, Jm. 4:4] (that’s friendship)

- Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends. Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you. Henceforth I call you not servants; for the servant knoweth not what his lord doeth: but I have called you friends; for all things that I have heard of my Father I have made known unto you. Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you. These things I command you, that ye love one another. If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you. If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you.

- Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God

 

DAVID'S SERVICE, OUR SERVICE

ACTS 13:22-23, 34-36

Pastor Rick Jackson

 

I. THE COMPONENTS OF SERVICE

1. A Heart to do God’s Will [v. 22, Rm. 12:1]

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.

2. A Saviour to Trust [v. 23, P3. 63:1]

O God, thou art my God; early will I seek thee: my soul thirsteth for thee, my flesh longeth for thee in a dry and thirsty land, where no water is.

3. A Message to Share [v. 32-35, Ps. 2, Ps. 16:10]

 

II. THE COMPUNCTION OF SERVICE

1. The Will of God [v. 22, 36, Rm. 12:2]

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.

2. General Sanctification [1 Thessalonians 4:3-4]

For this is the will of God, even your sanctification, that ye should abstain from fornication: That every one of you should know how to possess his vessel in sanctification and honour;

3. Specific Tasks [v. 22, 33, 35, Acts 9:6]

And he trembling and astonished said, Lord, what wilt thou have me to do? And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go into the city, and it shall be told thee what thou must do.

 

III. THE COMPLETION OF SERVICE [v. 36]

1. Find the Will of God [point II above]

2. Fulfill the Will of God [v. 22, 25, 27, 29, 33, 2 Tm. 4:6-7]

For I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand. I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith:

3. Finish the Will of God [2 Tm. 4:7-8]

I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing.

 

“All to Jesus I Surrender”

CHOICES, TRUTHS & DECLARATIONS

Acts 13:1-4, 13-16

Pastor Rick Jackson

 

I. THREE CHOICES

1. God’s Chosen Nation [v. 17-21]

2. God’s Chosen King [v. 22]

3. God’s Chosen Saviour [v. 23-25]

 

II. THREE TRUTHS

1. Salvation Available for Everyone [v. 26]

2. Salvation Accessed by Faith [v. 27-29, Heb. 4:2]

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.

3. Salvation Allowed through the Gospel [v. 29-30, Rm. 1:16, 1 Cor. 15:1-5ff]

 

III. THREE DECLARATIONS

1. We Have the Good News [v. 31-32]

2. We Have the Great Saviour [v. 33-35]

3. We Have the Great Commission [v. 36-43, Mk. 16:15]

And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.

THESE THINGS

JOHN 16

Pastor Rick Jackson

 

Over 40 times John’s gospel uses the phrase “these things.”  7 are found one chapter 16 which speaks of men’s ignorance of and God’s knowledge of “these things.” Let us examine these things and see if we can lose some ignorance and gain some knowledge.

 

I. WE DONT ALWAYS KNOW WHAT IS GOOD FOR US [v. 1-15, esp. v. 6-7]

1. Jesus Knows What People Will Do. [v. 1-2]

2. Jesus Knows Why People Do What They Do [v. 3, 2:25, 15:18, 24-25]

3. Jesus Knows What We Will Need [v. 4-15]

 

II. WE DO NOT KNOW ALL FUTURE DETAILS [v. 16-17]

1. We Don’t Know the Rapture Details [Mt. 24:36-42]

But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only. But as the days of Noe were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be. For as in the days that were before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark, And knew not until the flood came, and took them all away; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be. Then shall two be in the field; the one shall be taken, and the other left. Two women shall be grinding at the mill; the one shall be taken, and the other left. Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come.

2. We Don’t Know the Kingdom Details [Acts 1:6-7]

When they therefore were come together, they asked of him, saying, Lord , wilt thou at this time restore again the kingdom to Israel? And he said unto them, It is not for you to know the times or the seasons, which the Father hath put in his own power.

3. We Don’t Even Know What Tomorrow Will Bring [James 4:13-14]

Go to now, ye that say, To day or to morrow we will go into such a city, and continue there a year, and buy and sell, and get gain: Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away.

 

III. WE DO NOT KNOW WHAT WE THINK WE DO KNOW [v. 18-33]

1. Our Understanding is Limited [v. 16, 18]

2. Heavenly Resources are Available [v. 13, 15, 19-28]

3. Our Understanding will Ultimately Increase [v. 29-33, 1 Co. 13: 9-12]

For we know in part, and we prophesy in part. But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away. When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things. For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known.

EVERY KNEE SHALL BOW

Isaiah 45:17-25, Rm. 14:11

Pastor Rick Jackson

 

I. IN THE LORD JESUS ONLY IS SALVATION

 

1. Individual Jews Shall Be Saved [Is. 45:17, Rm. 1:16]

But Israel shall be saved in the LORD with an everlasting salvation: ye shall not be ashamed nor confounded world without end.

John R. Rice told the story of his friend, Louis Zuckerman. who had spent 8 years in a school of the Talmud preparing to be a Rabbi before leaving Russia for the U.S. In Chicago, this Hebrew scholar taught in the Hebrew Institute. But familiar as he was with the O.T. in the original Hebrew, he had never noticed Micah 5:2, promising that the Messiah should be born in Bethlehem in Judea, until he heard it in the 1st Methodist Church in Dallas, Texas.

He stormed out of the church declaring that the preacher was a liar and was deceiving the people, that no such promise was in the O.T. But back in his room he looked in his Hebrew O.T., and there it was!

As a result of that verse, he was convinced that Christ is the Messiah, and he accepted Him as his Saviour.

 

2. Ignorance is an Enemy of Salvation [Rm. 10:1-15]

 

3. Arrogance is an Enemy of Salvation [Rm. 10:16-21]

 

II. CHRIST IS CREATOR AS WELL AS SAVIOUR

 

1. Jesus Created [Is. 45:18, Jn. 1:1-5]

- For thus saith the LORD that created the heavens; God himself that formed the earth and made it; he hath established it, he created it not in vain, he formed it to be inhabited: I am the LORD; and there is none else.

-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. In him was life; and the life was the light of men. And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not.

 

2. Jesus Calls [Is. 45:19-20, Rm. 10:8,14, 17-21]

 

-I have not spoken in secret, in a dark place of the earth: I said not unto the seed of Jacob, Seek ye me in vain: I the LORD speak righteousness, I declare things that are right. Assemble yourselves and come; draw near together, ye that are escaped of the nations: they have no knowledge that set up the wood of their graven image, and pray unto a god that cannot save.

 

3. Jesus Commands [Is. 45:21-23, Rm. 14:11]

Tell ye, and bring them near; yea, let them take counsel together: who hath declared this from ancient time? who hath told it from that time? have not I the LORD? and there is no God else beside me; a just God and a Saviour; there is none beside me. Look unto me, and be ye saved, all the ends of the earth: for I am God, and there is none else. I have sworn by myself, the word is gone out of my mouth in righteousness, and shall not return, That unto me every knee shall bow, every tongue shall swear.

 

III. BOW THE KNEE TO CHRIST, GOD INCARNATE [Rm. 14]

 

1. The One Who is Lord & Master [Rm. 14:1-8]

 

2. The One Who Died & Rose Again [Rm. 14:9]

 

3. The One Who is the Living Lord & Judge

[Rm. 14:10-12, Is. 45:23-25]

I have sworn by myself, the word is gone out of my mouth in righteousness, and shall not return, That unto me every knee shall bow, every tongue shall swear. Surely, shall one say, in the LORD have I righteousness and strength: even to him shall men come; and all that are incensed against him shall be ashamed. In the LORD shall all the seed of Israel be justified, and shall glory.