Making a Differencewith Pastor Phil Erickson

Apr 29th, 2017 The Out House (Or How To Process The False gods In Your Life) – The Saturday Morning Post

Today’s Passage – 2 Kings 10 – 12 (Click on the references to listen to the audio – Click here to view the passage from Blue Letter Bible)

“Now therefore call unto me all the prophets of Baal, all his servants, and all his priests; let none be wanting: for I have a great sacrifice to do to Baal; whosoever shall be wanting, he shall not live. But Jehu did it in subtilty, to the intent that he might destroy the worshippers of Baal. And Jehu said, Proclaim a solemn assembly for Baal. And they proclaimed it. And Jehu sent through all Israel: and all the worshippers of Baal came, so that there was not a man left that came not. And they came into the house of Baal; and the house of Baal was full from one end to another. And he said unto him that was over the vestry, Bring forth vestments for all the worshippers of Baal. And he brought them forth vestments. And Jehu went, and Jehonadab the son of Rechab, into the house of Baal, and said unto the worshippers of Baal, Search, and look that there be here with you none of the servants of the LORD, but the worshippers of Baal only. And when they went in to offer sacrifices and burnt offerings, Jehu appointed fourscore men without, and said, If any of the men whom I have brought into your hands escape, he that letteth him go, his life shall be for the life of him. And it came to pass, as soon as he had made an end of offering the burnt offering, that Jehu said to the guard and to the captains, Go in, and slay them; let none come forth. And they smote them with the edge of the sword; and the guard and the captains cast them out, and went to the city of the house of Baal. And they brought forth the images out of the house of Baal, and burned them. And they brake down the image of Baal, and brake down the house of Baal, and made it a draught house unto this day.” (2Kings 10:19-27)

Good morning. If you look up the Hebrew word translated draught house, it means sewer. Jehu wanted no part of Baal. Not only did he wipe out those who worshiped Baal, but destroyed the priests of Baal also. Then they turned Baal’s house into an outhouse. And why not? Just like other false gods, Baal required human sacrifices…

“Because of all the evil of the children of Israel and of the children of Judah, which they have done to provoke me to anger, they, their kings, their princes, their priests, and their prophets, and the men of Judah, and the inhabitants of Jerusalem. And they have turned unto me the back, and not the face: though I taught them, rising up early and teaching them, yet they have not hearkened to receive instruction. But they set their abominations in the house, which is called by my name, to defile it. And they built the high places of Baal, which are in the valley of the son of Hinnom, to cause their sons and their daughters to pass through the fire unto Molech; which I commanded them not, neither came it into my mind, that they should do this abomination, to cause Judah to sin.” (Jeremiah 32:32-35)

“And they caused their sons and their daughters to pass through the fire, and used divination and enchantments, and sold themselves to do evil in the sight of the LORD, to provoke him to anger.” (2Kings 17:17)

False gods do nothing except to build enmity between the Lord and you. The Lord is longsuffering, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. If there is something in your life that is turning you away from the Lord, you need to deal with it. You should have a FIT over anything that gets between you and God…

“Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness? And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel? And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you, And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.” (2Corinthians 14-18)

The first letter of FIT is…

F) Friends.

The first thing that Jehu did was separate the worshipers of Baal from the worshipers of the LORD. Do you have so-called friends who try to draw you away from the Lord? Maybe they do some things on Sunday to try and keep you out of Sunday School and church. Come out from among them and be ye separate. The second letter of FIT is…

I) Influences.

You would be surprised at the influence that radio and TV personalities have over you. Let me give you an example from my generation’s music. In the song Fire And Rain by James Taylor, in the beginning he says “Won’t you look down upon me Jesus. You got to help me make a stand. I can’t make it any other way.”

That’s great, it’s Christian, he mentions Jesus. But at the end of the song, he sings, “There’s just a few things coming my way this time around.” This time around? A clear reference to reincarnation. I used to listen to a lot of what they (the over-thirty crowd) called protest music. What can I say about Don’t Step On The Grass Sam by Steppenwolf. Or the I Feel Fixin’ To Die Rag by Country Joe and the Fish. Uncle Bernie’s Farm by Frank Zappa and the Mothers of Invention. Don’t Fear The Reaper by Blue Oyster Cult which is about suicide. If you go into a music store and look at the cd’s, many have a sticker cautioning explicit lyrics. What actors, or musicians influence you? If they influence you in the wrong way, come out from among them and be ye separate. And the last letter in FIT is…

T) Things.

I learned a hard lesson last year. At Texas Baptist College it was drilled into our heads to never take a job that makes you work on Sunday. Well, I took a job on Sunday. I missed church and Sunday School for almost a year. Not a good thing. This was when I switched from graveyard to day shift. Do you have a hobby? Hunting, camping, crafting, etc. Is there anything in your life that is causing you to drift away from God? Get rid of it: come out from among these things and be ye separate. Have a FIT – friends, influences, things – and take them to the outhouse. Be out with the things of this world and in with God.

Peace.