Making a Differencewith Pastor Phil Erickson

Feb 20th, 2016 What Have You Seen? – The Saturday Morning Post

Today’s Passage – Numbers 14 – 15 (Click on the references to listen to the audio – Click here to view the passage from Blue Letter Bible)

(Second Milers also read – Acts 19 – 21; Proverbs 20; Psalms 101 – 105)

Read the “0220 Evening and Morning“ devotion for today, by the late Charles Haddon Spurgeon.

“And all the congregation lifted up their voice, and cried; and the people wept that night. And all the children of Israel murmured against Moses and against Aaron: and the whole congregation said unto them, Would God that we had died in the land of Egypt! or would God we had died in this wilderness! And wherefore hath the LORD brought us unto this land, to fall by the sword, that our wives and our children should be a prey? were it not better for us to return into Egypt?” (Numbers 14:1-3)

Good morning. We open up in Numbers 14 with Israel having a pity party. They were crying and weeping. Why? Because they forgot God. Ooooo… there are giants in the land. How will we ever take the land? They are stronger than us: they’ll beat us up. What can we do? They will kill us all…

“And Caleb stilled the people before Moses, and said, Let us go up at once, and possess it; for we are well able to overcome it. But the men that went up with him said, We be not able to go up against the people; for they are stronger than we. And they brought up an evil report of the land which they had searched unto the children of Israel, saying, The land, through which we have gone to search it, is a land that eateth up the inhabitants thereof; and all the people that we saw in it are men of a great stature. And there we saw the giants, the sons of Anak, which come of the giants: and we were in our own sight as grasshoppers, and so we were in their sight.” (Numbers 13:30-33)

Notice that there is not one mention of God going before them to fight the battles. The whole plan was that God would give them the promised land. All they had to do was believe God and go take the land. It was only a little while ago that they were slaves in Egypt. They saw all the plagues that God brought on Egypt. They saw the Lord as a pillar of fire separating and protecting them from the army of Pharaoh. With their backs to the Red Sea (the deepest point was 7,254 feet; at the place of the crossing was 1,000 feet), they watched as God, that night, parted the Red Sea. They saw this, and they walked across on dry land. They saw the Egyptian army try to follow them. They saw the walls of water collapse swallowing up Pharaoh’s army. They saw the dead bodies of the Egyptians washing up on the shore. They saw all this and didn’t believe that God could not take care of a few giants? Giants that He created?

What have you seen? You’ve seen the Word of God…

“But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.” (Hebrews 11:6)

“So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.” (Romans 10:17)

You’ve seen Him give you life and work in your life.

“Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.” (2Corinthians 5:17)

“But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 4:19)

“All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out.” (John 6:37)

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.” (John 3:16-17)

Have you seen Him conquer any giants in your life? If you look back on things that happened in your life, I’m sure you will see God’s handiwork and know that you did not go through anything alone: He was always there.

God told Israel to go in and take the promised land, a land flowing with milk and honey. They did not trust God to deliver them. They did not follow God’s command and wondered around in the wilderness for 40 years.

God tells us to go also…

“And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.” (Mark 16:15)

“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.” (Acts 1:8)

Have you seen any giants?

Peace! (“And they brought him to Jesus: and they cast their garments upon the colt, and they set Jesus thereon. And as he went, they spread their clothes in the way. And when he was come nigh, even now at the descent of the mount of Olives, the whole multitude of the disciples began to rejoice and praise God with a loud voice for all the mighty works that they had seen; Saying, Blessed be the King that cometh in the name of the Lord: peace in heaven, and glory in the highest. And some of the Pharisees from among the multitude said unto him, Master, rebuke thy disciples. And he answered and said unto them, I tell you that, if these should hold their peace, the stones would immediately cry out.” (Luke 19:35-40))

Feb 13th, 2016 Our Only Hope – The Saturday Morning Post

Today’s Passage – Leviticus 26 – 27 (Click on the references to listen to the audio – Click here to view the passage from Blue Letter Bible)

(Second Milers also read – John 19 – 20; Proverbs 13; Psalms 66 – 70)

Read the “0213 Evening and Morning“ devotion for today, by the late Charles Haddon Spurgeon.

“And upon them that are left alive of you I will send a faintness into their hearts in the lands of their enemies; and the sound of a shaken leaf shall chase them; and they shall flee, as fleeing from a sword; and they shall fall when none pursueth. And they shall fall one upon another, as it were before a sword, when none pursueth: and ye shall have no power to stand before your enemies. And ye shall perish among the heathen, and the land of your enemies shall eat you up. And they that are left of you shall pine away in their iniquity in your enemies’ lands; and also in the iniquities of their fathers shall they pine away with them.” (Leviticus 26:36-39)

“Happy is he that hath the God of Jacob for his help, whose hope is in the LORD his God…” (Psalm 146:5)

Good morning. It’s kind of hard not to say something when the country you love is being decimated by godless socialists. Is it time to pine away? No. But it depends on who you are trusting in: yourself or God. Things may be out of your control, however, Jesus said…

“…but with God all things are possible.” (Matt 19:26)

The banner hung in the post office of Pittsburg, Kansas for almost 15 years. It was hung in place by the employees just after September 11, 2001. It has hung in the post office until late January. The banner simply read, “God Bless America.”

It seems that one of the residents contacted the Freedom From Religion Foundation and forced the banner to come down… after it hung there 15 years. Word of this mis-justice spread like wild fire, and found it’s way to a local business: Jake’s Fireworks. And he chose not to sit and pine away, but had 1200 yard signs and 300 banners printed that said “God Bless America,” and gave them away for free. They were all gone in 45 minutes! If he had printed more, I’m sure they would be hanging on display at somebody’s business or home.

Elijah the prophet was on the run after destroying the prophets of Baal. He was being pursued by the evil queen – Jezebel. He hid himself in a cave, and the Lord spoke to him…

“And he said, Go forth, and stand upon the mount before the LORD. And, behold, the LORD passed by, and a great and strong wind rent the mountains, and brake in pieces the rocks before the LORD; but the LORD was not in the wind: and after the wind an earthquake; but the LORD was not in the earthquake: And after the earthquake a fire; but the LORD was not in the fire: and after the fire a still small voice. And it was so, when Elijah heard it, that he wrapped his face in his mantle, and went out, and stood in the entering in of the cave. And, behold, there came a voice unto him, and said, What doest thou here, Elijah? And he said, I have been very jealous for the LORD God of hosts: because the children of Israel have forsaken thy covenant, thrown down thine altars, and slain thy prophets with the sword; and I, even I only, am left; and they seek my life, to take it away. And the LORD said unto him, Go, return on thy way to the wilderness of Damascus: and when thou comest, anoint Hazael to be king over Syria: And Jehu the son of Nimshi shalt thou anoint to be king over Israel: and Elisha the son of Shaphat of Abelmeholah shalt thou anoint to be prophet in thy room. And it shall come to pass, that him that escapeth the sword of Hazael shall Jehu slay: and him that escapeth from the sword of Jehu shall Elisha slay. Yet I have left me seven thousand in Israel, all the knees which have not bowed unto Baal, and every mouth which hath not kissed him.” (1Kings 19:11-18)

There are probably much more people who will take up their cross and having done all to stand for only true and living God than the socialists would have you believe. The time is not to pine, the time is to stand. And if the socialists don’t want to hear it, let them “change the channel.”

Peace! (GOD BLESS AMERICA)

Jan 23rd, 2016 How Big Is Your Jesus? – The Saturday Morning Post

Today’s Passage – Exodus 10 – 12 (Click on the references to listen to the audio – Click here to view the passage from Blue Letter Bible)

(Second Milers also read – Luke 1 – 2; Proverbs 23; Psalms 111 – 115)

Read the “0123 Evening and Morning“ devotion for today, by the late Charles Haddon Spurgeon.

“Speak ye unto all the congregation of Israel, saying, In the tenth day of this month they shall take to them every man a lamb, according to the house of their fathers, a lamb for an house: And if the household be too little for the lamb, let him and his neighbour next unto his house take it according to the number of the souls; every man according to his eating shall make your count for the lamb.” (Exodus 12:3-4)

Good morning! How big is Jesus, the Lamb of God, to you? Is He only big enough for you? Or, is He big enough to share? He is the Passover Lamb. He is the Lamb that shed His blood to pay for our sins. And He is the One who gave us the Great Commission.

“And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.” (Mark 16:15)

How big is your Jesus? He came to seek and to save that which was lost. He would have to be very big to do that. So you need to share Him with your neighbor. Then our neighbor will share Jesus with his neighbor, and his neighbor with his neighbor. Before you know it the whole neighborhood is saved. And then the whole city or town is saved. Then the county. Then the state. Then the nation! Can you imagine what living in the United States would be like if it turned back to God?!

It could happen. But we need to start someplace. Have you told your neighbor yet?

“And, behold, a certain lawyer stood up, and tempted him, saying, Master, what shall I do to inherit eternal life? He said unto him, What is written in the law? how readest thou? And he answering said, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength, and with all thy mind; and thy neighbour as thyself. And he said unto him, Thou hast answered right: this do, and thou shalt live. But he, willing to justify himself, said unto Jesus, And who is my neighbour? And Jesus answering said, A certain man went down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell among thieves, which stripped him of his raiment, and wounded him, and departed, leaving him half dead. And by chance there came down a certain priest that way: and when he saw him, he passed by on the other side. And likewise a Levite, when he was at the place, came and looked on him, and passed by on the other side. But a certain Samaritan, as he journeyed, came where he was: and when he saw him, he had compassion on him, And went to him, and bound up his wounds, pouring in oil and wine, and set him on his own beast, and brought him to an inn, and took care of him. And on the morrow when he departed, he took out two pence, and gave them to the host, and said unto him, Take care of him; and whatsoever thou spendest more, when I come again, I will repay thee. Which now of these three, thinkest thou, was neighbour unto him that fell among the thieves? And he said, He that shewed mercy on him. Then said Jesus unto him, Go, and do thou likewise.” (Luke 10:25-37)

Peace! (“Then said Jesus to them again, Peace be unto you: as my Father hath sent me, even so send I you.” (John 20:21))

Jan 2nd, 2016 It Was Always About God’s Grace – The Saturday Morning Post

Today’s Passage – Genesis 4 – 6 (Click on the references to listen to the audio – Click here to view the passage from Blue Letter Bible)

(Second Milers also read – Matthew 3 – 4; Proverbs 2; Psalms 6 – 10)

Read the “0102 Evening and Morning“ devotion for today, by the late Charles Haddon Spurgeon.

Read previous posts from today’s passage – “Shining Brightly in a Dark World“; “Do You Want To Go For A Walk?“

“But Noah found grace in the eyes of the LORD.” (Genesis 6:8)

“For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.” (Ephesians 2:8-9)

Good morning, and happy New Year! Are you ready for another year of God’s grace? Just a reminder of the difference between mercy and grace: mercy is not getting what we deserve (Hell); grace is getting what we don’t deserve (Heaven, blessings, and all that comes with having the Lord Jesus Christ as your Saviour). Noah found grace in the eyes of God. Through faith in believing what God said, God extended His grace to Noah and saved him through the flood.

“By faith Noah, being warned of God of things not seen as yet, moved with fear, prepared an ark to the saving of his house; by the which he condemned the world, and became heir of the righteousness which is by faith.” (Hebrews 11:7)

God warned Noah (GRACE). Noah believed God (FAITH). God gave Noah that faith to believe. Noah then moved with fear of the coming wrath and built the ark, condemning the world and saving his family. James wrote…

“For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.” (James 2:26)

Moses had this conversation with God…

“And Moses said unto the LORD, See, thou sayest unto me, Bring up this people: and thou hast not let me know whom thou wilt send with me. Yet thou hast said, I know thee by name, and thou hast also found grace in my sight. Now therefore, I pray thee, if I have found grace in thy sight, shew me now thy way, that I may know thee, that I may find grace in thy sight: and consider that this nation is thy people. And he said, My presence shall go with thee, and I will give thee rest. And he said unto him, If thy presence go not with me, carry us not up hence. For wherein shall it be known here that I and thy people have found grace in thy sight? is it not in that thou goest with us? so shall we be separated, I and thy people, from all the people that are upon the face of the earth. And the LORD said unto Moses, I will do this thing also that thou hast spoken: for thou hast found grace in my sight, and I know thee by name.” (Exodus 33:12-17)

Does the Lord know you? Listen to what Jesus said…

“Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.” (Matthew 7:21-23)

Why not start the New Year out right, and allow the Lord to know you. He already knows the things we’ve done and are going to do. We need to be like Moses and desire the Lord to go with us and teach us His ways. That’s the difference between Christianity and religion.

“The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.” (2Peter 3:9)

Stop walking with yourself and walk with God. That would make a good New Year’s resolution.

Peace! (“Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.” (Hebrews 4:16)).

Oct 31st, 2015 The Fear Of God – The Saturday Morning Post

Today’s Passage – Luke 12 – 13 (Click on the references to listen to the audio – click here to view the text from the Blue Letter Bible website)

(Second Milers also read – Psalms 146 – 150; Proverbs 31)

Read the “1031 Evening and Morning“ devotion for today, by the late Charles Haddon Spurgeon.

“In the mean time, when there were gathered together an innumerable multitude of people, insomuch that they trode one upon another, he began to say unto his disciples first of all, Beware ye of the leaven of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy. For there is nothing covered, that shall not be revealed; neither hid, that shall not be known. Therefore whatsoever ye have spoken in darkness shall be heard in the light; and that which ye have spoken in the ear in closets shall be proclaimed upon the housetops. And I say unto you my friends, Be not afraid of them that kill the body, and after that have no more that they can do. But I will forewarn you whom ye shall fear: Fear him, which after he hath killed hath power to cast into hell; yea, I say unto you, Fear him.” (Luke 12:1-5)

Good morning, and Happy Halloween. With America sliding downhill fast, I shutter to think about what this Halloween is going to be like. Since our schools teach that there is no God, children have been turning into apes. They know there is no God, so why fear him. But the Bible says…

The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom (Psalm 111:10, Proverbs 9:10) and the instruction of wisdom (Proverbs 15:33).

The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge (Proverbs 1:7).

The fear of the LORD is to hate evil (Proverbs 8:13).

The fear of the LORD prolongeth days (Proverbs 10:27).

The fear of the LORD is strong confidence (Proverbs 14:26).

The fear of the LORD tends to life (Proverbs 19:23) and is a fountain of life. (Proverbs 14:27).

The fear of the LORD causes men to depart from evil (Proverbs 16:6).

Then see what happens…

“Then had the churches rest throughout all Judaea and Galilee and Samaria, and were edified; and walking in the fear of the Lord, and in the comfort of the Holy Ghost, were multiplied.” (Acts 9:31)

So while your watching a scary movie on TV and a cold chill runs up your spine and grips you with fear, remember who you should be fearing…

“He that despised Moses’ law died without mercy under two or three witnesses: Of how much sorer punishment, suppose ye, shall he be thought worthy, who hath trodden under foot the Son of God, and hath counted the blood of the covenant, wherewith he was sanctified, an unholy thing, and hath done despite unto the Spirit of grace? For we know him that hath said, Vengeance belongeth unto me, I will recompense, saith the Lord. And again, The Lord shall judge his people. It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.” (Hebrews 10:31)

Peace.

“And he took a yoke of oxen, and hewed them in pieces, and sent them throughout all the coasts of Israel by the hands of messengers, saying, Whosoever cometh not forth after Saul and after Samuel, so shall it be done unto his oxen. And the fear of the LORD fell on the people, and they came out with one consent.” (1Samuel 11:7)

Oct 3rd, 2015 Pray For Rain – The Saturday Morning Post

Today’s Passage – Zechariah 10 – 14 (Click on the references to listen to the audio – click here to view the text from the Blue Letter Bible website)

(Second Milers also read – Psalms 11 – 15; Proverbs 3)

Read the “1003 Evening and Morning“ devotion for today, by the late Charles Haddon Spurgeon.

“Ask ye of the LORD rain in the time of the latter rain; so the LORD shall make bright clouds, and give them showers of rain, to every one grass in the field.” (Zechariah 10:1)

“Be patient therefore, brethren, unto the coming of the Lord. Behold, the husbandman waiteth for the precious fruit of the earth, and hath long patience for it, until he receive the early and latter rain.” (James 5:7)

Good morning and happy New Year. The new year was actually September 14th; Elul 29 (September 13th) was the last day of the Jewish year. I wanted to tell you this because there is an early and latter rain (see James 5:7). This is actually the time of the early rain (October/November: the month of Cheshavan). The latter rain occurs in our Spring (March/April: or the month of Nissan). And, according to Zechariah 10:1, we need to pray, and ask the LORD for the latter rain, and He will give us rain, and grass in our fields. But look at the second part of James 5:7…

“…Behold, the husbandman waiteth for the precious fruit of the earth, and hath long patience for it, until he receive the early and latter rain.”

And what does the Bible say about the patience of God?

“The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.” (2Peter 3:9)

Now is the time to plant and water. A great harvest will be coming from God. Paul explains…

“Who then is Paul, and who is Apollos, but ministers by whom ye believed, even as the Lord gave to every man? I have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase. So then neither is he that planteth any thing, neither he that watereth; but God that giveth the increase. Now he that planteth and he that watereth are one: and every man shall receive his own reward according to his own labour. For we are labourers together with God: ye are God’s husbandry, ye are God’s building.” (1Corinthians 3:5-9)

It is a time to plant and water, but most of all pray for the latter rain.

Peace. [“That I will give you the rain of your land in his due season, the first rain and the latter rain, that thou mayest gather in thy corn, and thy wine, and thine oil.” (Deuteronomy 11:14)]

Aug 29th, 2015 Therefore Have I Hope – The Saturday Morning Post

Today’s Passage – Lamentations 1 – 3 (Click on the references to listen to the audio – click here to view the text from the Blue Letter Bible website)

(Second Milers also read – 1 Corinthians 5 – 8; Psalms 136 – 140; Proverbs 29)

Read the “0829 Evening and Morning” devotion for today, by the late Charles Haddon Spurgeon.

“And I said, My strength and my hope is perished from the LORD: Remembering mine affliction and my misery, the wormwood and the gall. My soul hath them still in remembrance, and is humbled in me. This I recall to my mind, therefore have I hope.” (Lamentations 3:18-21)

Good morning. While reading Lamentations chapter 1, I could feel the pain of Jeremiah as he looked over the now empty city of Jerusalem, he sees the dead lying in the street (see Lamentations 2:21). He saw the house of God in ruins (see Lamentations 2:6-7). And the tears of Jeremiah fell like rain. And then he thought…

“It is of the LORD’S mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness. The LORD is my portion, saith my soul; therefore will I hope in him. The LORD is good unto them that wait for him, to the soul that seeketh him. It is good that a man should both hope and quietly wait for the salvation of the LORD. It is good for a man that he bear the yoke in his youth. He sitteth alone and keepeth silence, because he hath borne it upon him. He putteth his mouth in the dust; if so be there may be hope. He giveth his cheek to him that smiteth him: he is filled full with reproach. For the Lord will not cast off for ever: But though he cause grief, yet will he have compassion according to the multitude of his mercies.” (Jeremiah 3:22-32)

As we watch America go down the same path, we can still have hope in what the Word of God says. What He does to our nation will be for our own good. We are not consumed because of His mercy. The LORD will not cast us off for ever. Through the grief, we can still see His compassion according to the multitude of His mercies!

Great is Thy faithfulness!

Great is Thy faithfulness!

Morning by morning new mercies I see;

All I have needed Thy hand hath provided,

Great is Thy faithfulness,

Lord unto me!

Therefore have I hope.

Peace…

“For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world; Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ; Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works. These things speak, and exhort, and rebuke with all authority. Let no man despise thee.” (Titus 2:11-15)

Jul 18th, 2015 What Pathway Are You On? – The Saturday Morning Post

Today’s Passage – Proverbs 10 – 12 (Click on the references to listen to the audio – click here to view the text from the Blue Letter Bible website)

(Second Milers also read – Mark 7 – 8; Psalms 86 – 90; Proverbs 18)

Read the “0718 Evening and Morning” devotion for today, by the late Charles Haddon Spurgeon.

“Treasures of wickedness profit nothing: but righteousness delivereth from death.” (Proverbs 10:2)

“Riches profit not in the day of wrath: but righteousness delivereth from death.”(Proverbs 11:4)

“Yes there are two paths you can go by, but in the long-run, there’s still time to change the road your on.” (Stairway To Heaven – Led Zeppelin)

“There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.” (Proverbs 14:12, and a second time in Proverbs 16:25)

“In the way of righteousness is life; and in the pathway thereof there is no death.” (Proverbs 12:28)

“No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper; and every tongue that shall rise against thee in judgment thou shalt condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the LORD, and their righteousness is of me, saith the LORD.” (Isaiah 54:17)

Good morning. Righteousness delivers from death. In the way of righteousness is life. Our righteousness is of the LORD: it comes from God. And despite what Ded Zeppelin (as I call them) sings about, there is only one path that leads to Heaven, and you may not have time to change the path you have decided to go down. The Way is shown in the picture above. Out of the wreckage of 9/11 stands the cross. What pathway are you on? When you look at the wreckage of your life, do you see the cross? And what about our nation? Does it see the cross, or does it call good evil, and evil good? Can the ungodly leaders care about America, and not buy votes by passing laws that mock God by allowing the killing of a life that God created? A law allowing the union of same-sex couples, calling it marriage, which God said marriage was between a man and a woman, and views homosexuality as an abomination? The Word of God says…

“Righteousness exalteth a nation: but sin is a reproach to any people.” (Proverbs 14:34)

Do you weep when you see the almighty dollar worshipped, and not the Almighty God? No tears? Heart kinda hard? The church at Ephesus can relate to that…

“Unto the angel of the church of Ephesus write; These things saith he that holdeth the seven stars in his right hand, who walketh in the midst of the seven golden candlesticks; I know thy works, and thy labour, and thy patience, and how thou canst not bear them which are evil: and thou hast tried them which say they are apostles, and are not, and hast found them liars: And hast borne, and hast patience, and for my name’s sake hast laboured, and hast not fainted. Nevertheless I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love. Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the first works; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will remove thy candlestick out of his place, except thou repent.” (Revelation 2:1-5)

Today, you can go and visit the church at Ephesus in Turkey. It’s all in ruins, but you can still visit it. Will America be in ruins also? Soon? We need to repent. Change our minds about what we are doing. Does it make sense to argue over petty issues, when people are dying and going to Hell? No. Does it make sense to elect God-fearing politicians into office who will do right, calling evil evil and good good. Yes, it does. And what about God? Our nation is trying to get rid of Him, removing Him from our daily lives. But when all is said and done, when America is gone, God will still be standing. Jesus told the Ephesians to repent, AND do the first works: tell others about Jesus. If we would not have dropped the ball, America might still be a leader among nations. Even our enemies can see this – they aren’t blind…

“Many Eur-Atlantic countries have moved away from their roots, including Christian values,” Russian President Vladimir Putin said in a recent keynote speech. “Policies are being pursued that place on the same level a multi-child family and a same-sex partnership, a faith in God and a belief in Satan. This is the path to degradation.” As part of this defense of “Christian values,” Russia has adopted a law banning “homosexual propaganda” and another that makes it a criminal offense to “insult” the religious sensibilities of believers.

It’s sad when Russia, considered a godless nation has to tell us that we are going in the wrong direction. What kind of witness does that make us? Repent and do the first works.

I want to end this with a passage from ‘The Mystery of the Shemitah” by Rabbi Jonathan Cahn. (A Shemitah is the 7th year of Israel’s agricultural cycle when the land rested (see Leviticus 25:1-4 and Exodus 23:10-11))…

“As the Shemitah of the year 2001 approached it’s end, America saw the collapse of it’s two colossal towers. But when the towers fell, one object was left standing. It was a steel cross forged out of the calamity – in the midst of the calamity, a symbol of hope; in man’s hatred, the love of God. That, in and of itself, was a sign.

The Shemitah declares that, in the end, all things will pass away, everything will collapse and fall – except this – God, His love, and His salvation. Everything else we sought after or dwelt upon will mean nothing. They will all pass away. But the love of God and His salvation will not fall, nor collapse, nor fail, but will remain forever. And the only thing that will then matter is whether we sought Him, found Him, and became right with Him – in that love and in that salvation.”

What pathway are you on?

Peace! (Mark 4:23)