ALBIE'S BLOG... from the high desert, Southeast AZ: MINI SERMON from the late MAZE JACKSON: "GOD'S CARE OF HIS PEOPLE"

Albie's note: Here is an old sermon outline by the late, great Baptist Preacher MAZE JACKSON that originally appeared in his magazine THE PREACHER'S GOLDMINE. "Brother Maze," as he preferred to be called, is one of my true heroes in the Christian faith. I remember listening to his radio program THE TRUCK DRIVER'S SPECIAL on 30,000 watt Trucker station KWKH-- out of Shreveport, LA, o'course!-- when I was just an insomniac teen-ager with an AM radio on a ranch in Sonoita, AZ. Although reading this outline is a poor substitute for hearing the great man's legendary, booming voice, [sample it HERE] one can still feel the heart of the great man even in these scant words. Enjoy, and remember...

"His Eye Is On The Sparrow, and I KNOW He watches me!"

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"GOD'S CARE OF HIS PEOPLE"

by MAZE JACKSON

TEXT: Matthew 10:29-31:

"Are not two sparrows sold for a farthing? and one of them shall not fall on the ground without your Father. But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear ye not therefore, ye are of more value than many sparrows."

I. HE TAKES CARE OF US BY LOOKING AFTER EACH ONE INDIVIDUALLY

"One of them shall not fall on the ground without your Father." The Sparrow is one of the least among birds. A hair of the head is about as worthless and useless a thing as you can think of. But though we be insignificant as the sparrow and worthless as a hair of the head, God looks after each one of us. He knows us by name.

II. GOD TAKES CARE OF HIS PEOPLE BY HAVING TO DO WITH EVERYTHING IN THEIR LIVES

He does not promise that the sparrow shall never fall, but that it shall not take place without Him.

III. GOD TAKES CARE OF HIS PEOPLE BY MAKING THEM PRIZE THE SOUL ABOVE THE BODY

"Fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul." God would take care of His weakest children by urging them to prize the soul above the body.

IV. GOD TAKES CARE OF HIS PEOPLE BY INDUCING THEM TO CONFESS HIM BEFORE MEN

"Whosoever, therefore, shall confess me before men, him will I confess also before my Father which is in heaven." The theme is God's care of His People, and He would take care of them by urging every one of them to confess Him before the world.

V. GOD TAKES CARE OF HIS PEOPLE BY LEADING THEM TO BE TRUE TO HIM

Around this text about the sparrows are the words: "I came not to send peace but a sword. For I am come to set a man at variance against his father, and the daughter against her mother.''

VI. GOD TAKES CARE OF HIS PEOPLE BY INDUCING THEM TO PROVE HIM AND HIS CROSS

"He that taketh not his cross, and followeth after me, is n6t worthy of me.'' The cross of Jesus means all of Calvary and if we would be safe, let us not shrink from bearing with Him His reproach.

VII. GOD TAKES CARE OF HIS PEOPLE BY MAKING ALL THEIR LOSSES SURE GAIN

"He that loseth his life for my sake shall find it." A life of self-sacrifice for the sake of Christ will make a large and better self, and a life of self-seeking will result in a little impoverished self.

AMEN.