Everlasting Love – The Saturday Morning Post
Today’s Passage – Jeremiah 30 – 32 (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 – Acts 22 – 24 ; Psalms 106 – 110; Proverbs 22)
Read the “0822 Evening and Morning” devotion for today, by the late Charles Haddon Spurgeon.
“At the same time, saith the LORD, will I be the God of all the families of Israel, and they shall be my people. Thus saith the LORD, The people which were left of the sword found grace in the wilderness; even Israel, when I went to cause him to rest. The LORD hath appeared of old unto me, saying, Yea, I have loved thee with an everlasting love: therefore with lovingkindness have I drawn thee. Again I will build thee, and thou shalt be built, O virgin of Israel: thou shalt again be adorned with thy tabrets, and shalt go forth in the dances of them that make merry. Thou shalt yet plant vines upon the mountains of Samaria: the planters shall plant, and shall eat them as common things. For there shall be a day, that the watchmen upon the mount Ephraim shall cry, Arise ye, and let us go up to Zion unto the LORD our God.” (Jeremiah 31:1-6)
“Let the redeemed of the LORD say so, whom he hath redeemed from the hand of the enemy…” (Psalm 107:2)
Good morning. Jesus said, “…I have loved thee with and everlasting love…”
This passage reminded me of my favorite passage from Ezekiel…
“And say, Thus saith the Lord GOD unto Jerusalem; Thy birth and thy nativity is of the land of Canaan; thy father was an Amorite, and thy mother an Hittite. And as for thy nativity, in the day thou wast born thy navel was not cut, neither wast thou washed in water to supple thee; thou wast not salted at all, nor swaddled at all. None eye pitied thee, to do any of these unto thee, to have compassion upon thee; but thou wast cast out in the open field, to the lothing of thy person, in the day that thou wast born. And when I passed by thee, and saw thee polluted in thine own blood, I said unto thee when thou wast in thy blood, Live; yea, I said unto thee when thou wast in thy blood, Live. I have caused thee to multiply as the bud of the field, and thou hast increased and waxen great, and thou art come to excellent ornaments: thy breasts are fashioned, and thine hair is grown, whereas thou wast naked and bare. Now when I passed by thee, and looked upon thee, behold, thy time was the time of love; and I spread my skirt over thee, and covered thy nakedness: yea, I sware unto thee, and entered into a covenant with thee, saith the Lord GOD, and thou becamest mine.” (Ezekiel 16:3-8)
The Lord has done a lot for us, even everything, because of His everlasting love. He gave us eternal life (John 3:16, 6:37-40). Our sin left us polluted in our own blood (Romans 3:10 & 23, 5:12, 6:23a), but Jesus paid the price of sin for us (Roman6:23b, 5:8; Psalm 22:14-18, Isaiah 53:1-10). We are washed clean by the blood of Jesus…
“Come now, and let us reason together, saith the LORD: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.” (Isaiah 1:18)
Did Jesus do this for you? All you need do is realize you are a sinner, and that because you are a sinner there is no way for you to get into Heaven…
“But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.” (Revelation 21:8)
…and then pray, and ask Jesus to forgive your sins, invite Him to come into your heart and He will. Romans 10:13 says…
“For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.” (Romans 10:13)
Did you receive His everlasting love? If you did then let the redeemed of the LORD say so: tell somebody about what His everlasting love did for you.
Peace! (Proverbs 11:30)
Posted in Devotions by Pastor Ted Stahl with no comments yet.
What Will Ye Do In The End Thereof? – The Saturday Morning Post
Today’s Passage – Jeremiah 4 – 6 (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 – Acts 1 – 3; Psalms 71 – 75; Proverbs 15)
Read the “0815 Evening and Morning” devotion for today, by the late Charles Haddon Spurgeon.
“But this people hath a revolting and a rebellious heart; they are revolted and gone. Neither say they in their heart, Let us now fear the LORD our God, that giveth rain, both the former and the latter, in his season: he reserveth unto us the appointed weeks of the harvest. Your iniquities have turned away these things, and your sins have withholden good things from you. For among my people are found wicked men: they lay wait, as he that setteth snares; they set a trap, they catch men. As a cage is full of birds, so are their houses full of deceit: therefore they are become great, and waxen rich. They are waxen fat, they shine: yea, they overpass the deeds of the wicked: they judge not the cause, the cause of the fatherless, yet they prosper; and the right of the needy do they not judge. Shall I not visit for these things? saith the LORD: shall not my soul be avenged on such a nation as this? A wonderful and horrible thing is committed in the land; The prophets prophesy falsely, and the priests bear rule by their means; and my people love to have it so: and what will ye do in the end thereof?” (Jeremiah 5:23-31)
Good morning. A trap was sprung when the supreme (small “s” on purpose) court took the Bible out of the school system. Since then the school system has produced godless reprobates who do not care about what is morally right and what is morally wrong. They only care about what is in it for themselves. As it says in our text passage, they have grown great and rich, their deeds have surpassed that of the wicked (Israel may have only caused 1,000 children to be killed – passed through the fire – unto Moloch, but, at over 57,000,000 abortions, we have surpassed them). Look at the last two verses from our passage…
“A wonderful and horrible thing is committed in the land; The prophets prophesy falsely [THERE IS NO HELL; WHY WOULD A LOVING GOD SEND ANYONE TO HELL; WE ARE ALL THE CHILDREN OF GOD], and the priests bear rule by their means [NOT GOD’S]; and my people love to have it so: and what will ye do in the end thereof?” (Jeremiah 5:30-31)
And the people love it that way – a religion without God. Paul warned timothy about the end times…
“I charge thee therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom; Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine. For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables. But watch thou in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, make full proof of thy ministry. 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…” (2Timothy 4:1-7)
Do you want a fable? We have them all here in the United States, just take your pick. We have Allah, Buddha, Harri Krishna or any of the other 3500 gods from India. You can be your own god with secular humanism. Your god could be Mother Nature, and you can go out and hug a tree today. But what does the true, living God say?
“They are waxen fat, they shine: yea, they overpass the deeds of the wicked: they judge not the cause, the cause of the fatherless, yet they prosper; and the right of the needy do they not judge. Shall I not visit for these things? saith the LORD: shall not my soul be avenged on such a nation as this?” (Jeremiah 5:28-29)
America is due for a visit, and this is the year of the Shemitah (just a reminder of past Shemitah years: September 1994 – the Bond Market lost over one-trillion dollars; September 2001 – the World Trade Center is destroyed; September 2008 – Stocks plunge 777 points; 2015 – ?). But not only that, this Shemitah year ushers in the Year of the Jubilee: the 50th year (seven Shemitah years).
“And thou shalt number seven sabbaths of years unto thee, seven times seven years; and the space of the seven sabbaths of years shall be unto thee forty and nine years. Then shalt thou cause the trumpet of the jubile to sound on the tenth day of the seventh month, in the day of atonement shall ye make the trumpet sound throughout all your land. And ye shall hallow the fiftieth year, and proclaim liberty throughout all the land unto all the inhabitants thereof: it shall be a jubile unto you; and ye shall return every man unto his possession, and ye shall return every man unto his family.” (Leviticus 25:8-10)
Could the sounding of the trumpet be the trumpet that begins the raising of the dead in Christ, and us getting caught up with them to meet the Lord in the air? And that ushers in the last seven year period of the Great Tribulation? I don’t know. and no other man knows, the Bible is clear that only the Father knows. There could be another 50 years leading up to the next jubilee, and this may not include America. There are protest going on in Turkey about their government allowing us to bring planes there to fight ISES. With the way this nation is pulling away from God, are you sure they are to fight ISES. Just maybe, a nation without God’s leadership, may just use those planes against Israel!
“Now the LORD had said unto Abram, Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father’s house, unto a land that I will shew thee: And I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing: And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed.” (Genesis 12:1-3)
I don’t want to be around if those in power pull that bonehead stunt. What will you do in the end thereof? Are you saved? Was there a time that you realized you are a sinner (Romans 3:10,23)? Did you know that sin has a price (Romans 6:23a, Ezekiel 18:4, 20)? Did you know that God Himself came down from Heaven to die on a cross and shed His blood for your sins (Isaiah 53:1-11; John 3:16; Romans 6:23b)? And all you need to do is pray, and ask Him to forgive your sins, and He will save you from an eternity of suffering in Hell. Look at the thief on the cross…
“And one of the malefactors which were hanged railed on him, saying, If thou be Christ, save thyself and us. But the other answering rebuked him, saying, Dost not thou fear God, seeing thou art in the same condemnation? And we indeed justly; for we receive the due reward of our deeds: but this man hath done nothing amiss. And he said unto Jesus, Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom. And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, To day shalt thou be with me in paradise.” (Luke 23:39-43)
Don’t be caught pondering the question, “What will do in the end thereof.”
Peace! (2Corinthians 6:2)
Posted in Thoughts from Jeremiah by Pastor Ted Stahl with no comments yet.
I Am The LORD – The Saturday Morning Post
Today’s Passage – Isaiah 41 – 43 (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 – John 9 – 10; Psalms 36 – 40; Proverbs 8)
Read the “0808 Evening and Morning” devotion for today, by the late Charles Haddon Spurgeon.
“I am the LORD: that is my name: and my glory will I not give to another, neither my praise to graven images.” (Isaiah 42:8)
“If ye will not hear, and if ye will not lay it to heart, to give glory unto my name, saith the LORD of hosts, I will even send a curse upon you, and I will curse your blessings: yea, I have cursed them already, because ye do not lay it to heart.” (Malachi 2:2)
Good morning. God wants His glory and praise. And rightly so: He is the only One who deserves it.
“Lift up your heads, O ye gates; and be ye lift up, ye everlasting doors; and the King of glory shall come in. Who is this King of glory? The LORD strong and mighty, the LORD mighty in battle. Lift up your heads, O ye gates; even lift them up, ye everlasting doors; and the King of glory shall come in. Who is this King of glory? The LORD of hosts, he is the King of glory. Selah.” (Psalm 24:7-10)
Praise means to give credit. Giving glory to God is acknowledging that He did something to, or for you. God is responsible for everything that comes into your life, whether we see it as good or bad. If it is bad, though, it was probably caused by us: we brought it on ourselves. We may perceive something as bad, but it could be the correcting hand of the Lord trying to get us going back in the right direction. That would make it good. Good or bad, we need to glorify God by thanking Him, and Him only. God will not give His glory to another. But what did man do?
“For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness; Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed it unto them. For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse: Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened. Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools, And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things.” (Romans 1:18-23)
And Uncle Sam is bending over backwards to make this country stink with everything that is abominable to God. Now they say that our children will be taught and exposed to homosexuality as early as kindergarten? Is lowering the age of consent to twelve the next thing on their agenda? Many years ago, Dr Jerry Falwell from Thomas Road Baptist Church showed hidden videos taken inside a convention of Sodomites. One of their agendas was to get the age of consent dropped to twelve years old. It was shocking back then, but in the America we live in now, it could become law. They need to read Luke 17…
“Then said he [JESUS] unto the disciples, It is impossible but that offences will come: but woe unto him, through whom they come! It were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and he cast into the sea, than that he should offend one of these little ones.” (Luke 17:1-2)
When it was discovered that Achan had stolen silver, gold, and a Babylonish garment, which caused Israel to loose 36 men in the battle for Ai, Joshua said to Achan…
“And Joshua said unto Achan, My son, give, I pray thee, glory to the LORD God of Israel, and make confession unto him; and tell me now what thou hast done; hide it not from me.” (Joshua 7:19)
The United States of America will someday have to give glory to the LORD God of Israel: the Lord of lords and King of kings. We can’t hide it from Him: He knew what would happen from the beginning of time. We will have to confess that Homosexuality is sin. Abortion is sin. Kicking God out of His nation is sin. Making Israel give up the land that God gave it is sin. And others too numerous to print here…
“Come near, ye nations, to hear; and hearken, ye people: let the earth hear, and all that is therein; the world, and all things that come forth of it. For the indignation of the LORD is upon all nations, and his fury upon all their armies: he hath utterly destroyed them, he hath delivered them to the slaughter. Their slain also shall be cast out, and their stink shall come up out of their carcases, and the mountains shall be melted with their blood.” (Isaiah 34:1-3)
But…
“If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” (1John 1:9)
Peace. (Revelation 22:1-6)
Posted in Devotions by Pastor Ted Stahl with no comments yet.
But His Hand Is Stretched Out Still – The Saturday Morning Post
Today’s Passage – Isaiah 9 – 13 (Click on the references to listen to the audio)
(Second Milers Read – Luke 19 – 20; Psalms 1 – 5; Proverbs 1)
Read the “0801 Evening and Morning” devotion for today, by the late Charles Haddon Spurgeon.
“The Lord sent a word into Jacob, and it hath lighted upon Israel. And all the people shall know, even Ephraim and the inhabitant of Samaria, that say in the pride and stoutness of heart, The bricks are fallen down, but we will build with hewn stones: the sycomores are cut down, but we will change them into cedars. Therefore the LORD shall set up the adversaries of Rezin against him, and join his enemies together; The Syrians before, and the Philistines behind; and they shall devour Israel with open mouth. For all this his anger is not turned away, but his hand is stretched out still. For the people turneth not unto him that smiteth them, neither do they seek the LORD of hosts. Therefore the LORD will cut off from Israel head and tail, branch and rush, in one day. The ancient and honourable, he is the head; and the prophet that teacheth lies, he is the tail. For the leaders of this people cause them to err; and they that are led of them are destroyed. Therefore the Lord shall have no joy in their young men, neither shall have mercy on their fatherless and widows: for every one is an hypocrite and an evildoer, and every mouth speaketh folly. For all this his anger is not turned away, but his hand is stretched out still. For wickedness burneth as the fire: it shall devour the briers and thorns, and shall kindle in the thickets of the forest, and they shall mount up like the lifting up of smoke. Through the wrath of the LORD of hosts is the land darkened, and the people shall be as the fuel of the fire: no man shall spare his brother. And he shall snatch on the right hand, and be hungry; and he shall eat on the left hand, and they shall not be satisfied: they shall eat every man the flesh of his own arm: Manasseh, Ephraim; and Ephraim, Manasseh: and they together shall be against Judah. For all this his anger is not turned away, but his hand is stretched out still.” (Isaiah 9:8-21)
“Again the word of the LORD came unto me, saying, Son of man, speak to the children of thy people, and say unto them, When I bring the sword upon a land, if the people of the land take a man of their coasts, and set him for their watchman: If when he seeth the sword come upon the land, he blow the trumpet, and warn the people; Then whosoever heareth the sound of the trumpet, and taketh not warning; if the sword come, and take him away, his blood shall be upon his own head. He heard the sound of the trumpet, and took not warning; his blood shall be upon him. But he that taketh warning shall deliver his soul. But if the watchman see the sword come, and blow not the trumpet, and the people be not warned; if the sword come, and take any person from among them, he is taken away in his iniquity; but his blood will I require at the watchman’s hand.” (Ezekiel 33:1-6)
Good morning. I’ve asked several pastors, and missionaries if they had ever heard of “The Harbinger”, or “The Mystery Of The Shemitah” by Rabbi Jonathan Cahn. They had not. And I don’t think that it is a coincidence that our reading today contains a key passage dealing with this.
I always wondered why, in Revelation, during the Great Tribulation, how the people could see and know that God was allowing all these troubles to happen to them, and yet they would not repent: they shook their fists at God. Seeing America rolling down hill at an ever increasing pace, I can see this now. People would rather believe in false gods, idols, no God at all, or even seeing themselves as a god. But God’s hand is stretched out still.
Before I go any further, I just want to clarify that a harbinger is a warning from God. Shemitah basically means to let fall. It is also the seventh year of a seven year cycle (1994, 2001, 2008, 2015 etc.). And despite the warnings, Israel turned their backs on God. And the results are shown in 2Chronicles 36…
“And the LORD God of their fathers sent to them by his messengers, rising up betimes, and sending; because he had compassion on his people, and on his dwelling place: But they mocked the messengers of God, and despised his words, and misused his prophets, until the wrath of the LORD arose against his people, till there was no remedy. Therefore he brought upon them the king of the Chaldees, who slew their young men with the sword in the house of their sanctuary, and had no compassion upon young man or maiden, old man, or him that stooped for age: he gave them all into his hand. And all the vessels of the house of God, great and small, and the treasures of the house of the LORD, and the treasures of the king, and of his princes; all these he brought to Babylon. And they burnt the house of God, and brake down the wall of Jerusalem, and burnt all the palaces thereof with fire, and destroyed all the goodly vessels thereof. And them that had escaped from the sword carried he away to Babylon; where they were servants to him and his sons until the reign of the kingdom of Persia: To fulfil the word of the LORD by the mouth of Jeremiah, until the land had enjoyed her sabbaths: for as long as she lay desolate she kept sabbath, to fulfil threescore and ten years.” (2Chronicles 36:15-21)
In our hay-day, the U.S. Dollar is what many countries around the world traded in, and did business with. We have had warnings, harbingers, ourselves directly affecting our economy. As mentioned above, 1994 saw the great Bond Market crash. The Bond Market lost over $1 Trillion. In 2001, the bricks were fallen down with the destruction of the World Trade Center by terrorists. That shook Wall Street; six days later on September 17, 2001, the stock market crashes 684 points. Seven years later, 2008, there is another crash. When all is said and done, the stock market loses 777 points. Add 7 years to 2008, and that brings us to 2015. America is due for another great shaking. But even after the previous shaking’s, we still legalized same sex marriage, called good evil and evil good, shook our fists at God. And God, for all this his anger is not turned away, but his hand is stretched out still. He has given us a warning. Just like Jonah…
“And Jonah began to enter into the city a day’s journey, and he cried, and said, Yet forty days, and Nineveh shall be overthrown.” (Jonah 3:4)
September 13, 2015 coincides with the Hebrew day Elul 29th, the end of the Shemitah year. God doesn’t have to do anything: He is the Righteous Judge: He is still in control: He is still Lord of all – will always be.
“So Jonah went out of the city, and sat on the east side of the city, and there made him a booth, and sat under it in the shadow, till he might see what would become of the city.” (Jonah 4:5)
Now you can sit on your rump like Jonah, waiting to see what will become of the United States. Or you can reach out with the gospel. Remember JOY: Jesus, Others, You. This is what you can do. 1) Pray: seek God:seek JESUS. 2) Get the gospel out to OTHERS. Many still have to make the decision to receive or reject the gift of eternal life given by our Saviour. And 3) Prepare YOUrself. You may want to stockpile some extra food, get right with God, stock up with extra water, get right with God, make some “care packages” to give to others when whatever goes down goes down. And get right with God. And God, for all this his anger is not turned away, but his hand is stretched out still.
Peace? (2Chronicles 7:14 If my people, which are called by my name [CHRISTIAN – THAT’S YOU AND ME], shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways [YES, THAT’S YOU AND ME TOO: WE ARE THE ONES WHO MUST GET RIGHT WITH GOD]; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.)
Posted in Devotions by Pastor Ted Stahl with no comments yet.
He That Increaseth Knowledge Increaseth Sorrow – The Saturday Morning Post
Today’s Passage – Ecclesiastes 1 – 4 (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 – Luke 5 – 6; Psalm 119; Proverbs 25)
Read the “0725 Evening and Morning” devotion for today, by the late Charles Haddon Spurgeon.
“I have seen all the works that are done under the sun; and, behold, all is vanity and vexation of spirit. That which is crooked cannot be made straight: and that which is wanting cannot be numbered. I communed with mine own heart, saying, Lo, I am come to great estate, and have gotten more wisdom than all they that have been before me in Jerusalem: yea, my heart had great experience of wisdom and knowledge. And I gave my heart to know wisdom, and to know madness and folly: I perceived that this also is vexation of spirit. For in much wisdom is much grief: and he that increaseth knowledge increaseth sorrow.” (Ecclesiastes 1:14-18)
“And moreover I saw under the sun the place of judgment, that wickedness was there; and the place of righteousness, that iniquity was there. I said in mine heart, God shall judge the righteous and the wicked: for there is a time there for every purpose and for every work.” (Ecclesiastes 3:16-17)
“To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David. The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God. They are corrupt, they have done abominable works, there is none that doeth good.” (Psalm 14:1)
Good morning. The United States of America has been around since 1776, that’s 239 years. You should, when you have time, take a look at Wikipedia’s Timeline of US History. It will take you up to 2014. (Cut and paste the link into your browser.)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Timeline_of_United_States_history
Here are a few highlights, although some may not be on this timeline.
1789, April 30, after being sworn in as our first president, Washington dedicates the new nation to God.
1830 The Second Great Awakening for revival in the United States.
1963 The Supreme Court ruled ending official Bible-reading in American public schools.
2004/2005 The Supreme Court ruled: Thou shalt not display the Ten Commandments in any government building or court.
2015, June 26, Gay marriage is legalized by the Supreme Court.
If you look at the timeline, you can see the many great things accomplished by Americans. In 1977, Commodore introduced the PET (Personal Electronic Transactor) home/personal computer. This was the first home computer. That was only 38 years ago, and now, in 2015 we have smart phones. And smart phones go back to 1992 with the IBM Simon: 23 years ago. Information technology has certainly advanced quickly these days. A tremendous increase in knowledge: for in much wisdom is much grief: and he that increaseth knowledge increaseth sorrow. And we have much sorrow. Why? Because in our search for wisdom and knowledge, we have left God out. And God will judge…
“And moreover I saw under the sun the place of judgment, that wickedness was there; and the place of righteousness, that iniquity was there. I said in mine heart, God shall judge the righteous and the wicked: for there is a time there for every purpose and for every work.” (Ecclesiastes 3:16-17)
What can we do?
“Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the LORD, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon.” (Isaiah 55:7)
Here is a question for you, Christian: something to ponder. You are saved. You have the righteousness of the Lord Jesus Christ. If we have iniquity (a wrong, especially moral) are we defiling God’s righteousness that He gave to us? Just something to think about. Where have you gone with the Lord’s righteousness lately? What knowledge are you getting? Will it make you more like the Lord Jesus Christ? Or will it make you more like the world? In the place of righteousness (your’s) in iniquity found? I don’t have to try smoking to know it is bad for me. I don’t have to mix alcohol and drugs to know that they can kill me. I have God’s Word that tells me about these things. Principle number 3 from Reformers Unanimous fits perfectly in this: “It is easier to keep the heart clean than to clean it after it has been defiled.”
With and increase in knowledge (of sin) is an increase in sorrow.
“The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the holy is understanding.” (Proverbs 9:10)
Increase your knowledge of the Lord, and allow God to make you more like Jesus. There is no sorrow in that.
Peace! (2Peter 2:20-22)
Posted in Devotions by Pastor Ted Stahl with no comments yet.
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)
Posted in The Saturday Morning Post by Pastor Ted Stahl with no comments yet.
Our Help Is In The Name Of The LORD – The Saturday Morning Post
Today’s Reading – Psalms 120 – 132 (Click on the references to listen to the audio – Click here to view the passage from Blue Letter Bible)
(Second Milers also read – Matthew 21 – 22; Psalms 51 – 55; Proverbs 11)
Read the “0711 Evening and Morning” devotion for today, by the late Charles Haddon Spurgeon
“A Song of degrees. Unto thee lift I up mine eyes, O thou that dwellest in the heavens. Behold, as the eyes of servants look unto the hand of their masters, and as the eyes of a maiden unto the hand of her mistress; so our eyes wait upon the LORD our God, until that he have mercy upon us. Have mercy upon us, O LORD, have mercy upon us: for we are exceedingly filled with contempt. Our soul is exceedingly filled with the scorning of those that are at ease, and with the contempt of the proud.” (Psalm 123)
“Our help is in the name of the LORD, who made heaven and earth.” (Psalm 124:8)
“If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.” (2Chronicles 7:14)
Good morning. Are you ready for the “Fall”? I have to agree with many others that something big is going to shake the United States this year. It breaks my heart to see the direction that our country has taken. And according to 2Chronicles 7:14, it is our fault Christian. We have gotten away from the commandments of the Lord: our lives, or lifestyles have taken president over God. The biggest problem is that we have gotten away from soul winning. Psalm 126 says…
“A Song of degrees. When the LORD turned again the captivity of Zion, we were like them that dream. Then was our mouth filled with laughter, and our tongue with singing: then said they among the heathen, The LORD hath done great things for them. The LORD hath done great things for us; whereof we are glad. Turn again our captivity, O LORD, as the streams in the south. They that sow in tears shall reap in joy. He that goeth forth and weepeth, bearing precious seed, shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with him.” (Psalm 126)
Where is the laughter that should be coming from our mouths? Where is the singing from our tongue? If you could see your faces during the congregational singing, it looks like the words are being mouthed and there is no thought of what is being sung. Are you standing on the promises? When we sing “Jesus Saves!” do you remember how wretched your wicked life was before He saved you? Psalm 125:3 says…
“For the rod of the wicked shall not rest upon the lot of the righteous; lest the righteous put forth their hands unto iniquity.” (Psalm 125:3)
We are given two commands for the Holy Spirit. One tells us not to grieve the Holy Spirit (by doing those things we should not be doing). The other tells us not to quench the Holy Spirit (by not doing what we should be doing).
“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)
Where did that power go today? The power is still there, but the machines are breaking down: they no longer work. Maybe they need a tune-up or a rebuilding. Maybe we need to be reminded that there is a Hell, and those who die without Jesus will go there. Every September 11th, when the news remembers 911, they show the video of the second plane crashing into the tower. Has it occurred to you that the big fireball that happened on impact is what those terrorists have been living in for the past 14 years? They have over 1000 years to go before they have to stand before the Lord to be judged, and then cast into the lake of fire.
Our forefathers gave us freedom of religion. They knew that because the real Word of God was being taught in schools, that false religions did not stand a chance. Lies would quickly crumble when confronted with truth of the gospel in the Word of God. But gradually we got away from God and His plan for everyone to hear the gospel and receive Jesus. Now Islam has the number one missionary position for recruiting and making new converts.
Faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God. How can our children hear about faith when it’s not being taught in schools. Without faith it is impossible to please God. That’s why kids are running around like animals, having babies, aborting babies; killing each other just for the heck of it. Take a good look at the end times…
“And as he sat upon the mount of Olives, the disciples came unto him privately, saying, Tell us, when shall these things be? and what shall be the sign of thy coming, and of the end of the world? And Jesus answered and said unto them, Take heed that no man deceive you. For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many. And ye shall hear of wars and rumours of wars: see that ye be not troubled: for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet. For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places. All these are the beginning of sorrows.” (Matthew 24:3-8)
The time is now to get the gospel out to America, a nation dedicated to God by George Washington and others. A nation who has since turned it’s back on God. God said, “Thou shalt not kill,” yet we legalized abortions. Almost fifty-eight million abortions done since Roe vs. Wade, in 1973. Now the government tells us that it is okay for two men or two women to have a same-sex union and call it marriage. And yet God has said…
“Thou shalt not lie with mankind, as with womankind: it is abomination. Neither shalt thou lie with any beast to defile thyself therewith: neither shall any woman stand before a beast to lie down thereto: it is confusion. Defile not ye yourselves in any of these things: for in all these the nations are defiled which I cast out before you: And the land is defiled: therefore I do visit the iniquity thereof upon it, and the land itself vomiteth out her inhabitants.” (Leviticus 18:22-25)
The land is about to barf: it has been made sick: it’s gonna puke out some nasty chunks of the garbage it was forced to eat. Is someone going to cry out a warning? Yet 64 days (till Elul 29, 5775 or September 13, 2015) and America will be overthrown…
“And the word of the LORD came unto Jonah the second time, saying, Arise, go unto Nineveh, that great city, and preach unto it the preaching that I bid thee. So Jonah arose, and went unto Nineveh, according to the word of the LORD. Now Nineveh was an exceeding great city of three days’ journey. And Jonah began to enter into the city a day’s journey, and he cried, and said, Yet forty days, and Nineveh shall be overthrown. So the people of Nineveh believed God, and proclaimed a fast, and put on sackcloth, from the greatest of them even to the least of them. For word came unto the king of Nineveh, and he arose from his throne, and he laid his robe from him, and covered him with sackcloth, and sat in ashes. And he caused it to be proclaimed and published through Nineveh by the decree of the king and his nobles, saying, Let neither man nor beast, herd nor flock, taste any thing: let them not feed, nor drink water: But let man and beast be covered with sackcloth, and cry mightily unto God: yea, let them turn every one from his evil way, and from the violence that is in their hands. Who can tell if God will turn and repent, and turn away from his fierce anger, that we perish not? And God saw their works, that they turned from their evil way; and God repented of the evil, that he had said that he would do unto them; and he did it not.” (Jonah 3)
It is doubtful that the President would declare a national day of fasting, and rebuke all the evil laws that his administration passed. He may, after September, but then how many of our rebellious nation would follow? So what can we do? In Joel chapter 2, God says he will pour out His Spirit on all flesh…
“And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions: And also upon the servants and upon the handmaids in those days will I pour out my spirit. And I will shew wonders in the heavens and in the earth, blood, and fire, and pillars of smoke. The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before the great and the terrible day of the LORD come. And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the LORD shall be delivered: for in mount Zion and in Jerusalem shall be deliverance, as the LORD hath said, and in the remnant whom the LORD shall call.” (Joel 2:28-32)
And we need to take advantage of this outpouring and get the gospel out. Leave a tract with the person filling your car with gas. Leave one in a public restroom; God will get it into somebody’s hands. And then there is 2Chronicles 7:14…
“If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.” (2Chronicles 7:14)
Listen to our pastor’s sermon for the Sunday morning of July 5, 2015. He will explain more fully of what we need to do. We need to humble ourselves, pray, seek God, and turn from our wicked ways. “Then…”
Peace. (Psalm 124:8)
Posted in Guest Posts by Pastor Ted Stahl with 1 comment.
Happy(?) Birthday America – The Saturday Morning Post
Today’s Reading – Psalms 90 – 95 (Click on the references to listen to the audio – Click here to view the passage from Blue Letter Bible)
(Second Milers also read – Matthew 7 – 8; Psalms 16 – 20; Proverbs 4)
Read the “0704 Evening and Morning” devotion for today, by the late Charles Haddon Spurgeon
“O come, let us sing unto the LORD: let us make a joyful noise to the rock of our salvation. Let us come before his presence with thanksgiving, and make a joyful noise unto him with psalms. For the LORD is a great God, and a great King above all gods. In his hand are the deep places of the earth: the strength of the hills is his also. The sea is his, and he made it: and his hands formed the dry land. O come, let us worship and bow down: let us kneel before the LORD our maker. For he is our God; and we are the people of his pasture, and the sheep of his hand. To day if ye will hear his voice, Harden not your heart, as in the provocation, and as in the day of temptation in the wilderness: When your fathers tempted me, proved me, and saw my work. Forty years long was I grieved with this generation, and said, It is a people that do err in their heart, and they have not known my ways: Unto whom I sware in my wrath that they should not enter into my rest.” (Psalm 95)
I’m 61 years old, and have many memories of many Fourth of July’s. In 1976, my brother took me to see the Tall Ships come in for Operation Sail. And the fireworks around the Statue of Liberty were fantastic. On July fourth of 1999, the sign in front of our church (Longview Baptist Temple in Longview, TX, at the time) said ‘FIREWORKS INSIDE.’ And I’m sure that you also have fond memories of The Fourth. It was only 236 short years ago that we broke from the tyranny of man, and dedicated our new nation to God. We started off well. We could sing right along with verses 1 through 7 of Psalm 95. Then something happened. We became rich, and a world power. Soon we didn’t need God anymore. We took Him out of the schools. We took His commandments out of our courts, and out of government buildings. Our children turned into animals, not knowing right from wrong, killing each other, spreading STD’s. Sacrificing their unwanted babies to Molech through abortion. Being taught that evil is good, and good is evil…
“Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!” (Isaiah 5:20)
This nation has turned it’s back on God, and is going down fast. Today, through Psalm 95, God still sends out a plea for His people to return to Him…
“…To day if ye will hear his voice, Harden not your heart, as in the provocation, and as in the day of temptation in the wilderness: When your fathers tempted me, proved me, and saw my work. Forty years long was I grieved with this generation, and said, It is a people that do err in their heart, and they have not known my ways: Unto whom I sware in my wrath that they should not enter into my rest.” (Psalm 95:7-11)
God also said in His Word…
“If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.” (2Chronicles 7:14)
Do you want America to have a happy birthday? Then it’s time for America to turn back to God. And this must start with you and me. As Christians, we must rededicate ourselves to the Lord. We are His people, called by His name. The tyranny in this nation will not stop until every Christian is on his or her knees begging God to heal this nation. Will He? It may be too late. Time is running out.
Peace? (Isaiah 48:22)
Posted in The Saturday Morning Post by Pastor Ted Stahl with no comments yet.
God Is A Refuge For Us – The Saturday Morning Post
Today’s Reading – Psalms 58 – 64 (Click on the references to listen to the audio – Click here to view the passage from Blue Letter Bible)
(Second Milers also read – Revelation 7 – 9; Psalms 131 – 135; Proverbs 27)
Read the “0627 Evening and Morning” devotion for today, by the late Charles Haddon Spurgeon
“To the chief Musician, to Jeduthun, A Psalm of David. Truly my soul waiteth upon God: from him cometh my salvation. He only is my rock and my salvation; he is my defence; I shall not be greatly moved. How long will ye imagine mischief against a man? ye shall be slain all of you: as a bowing wall shall ye be, and as a tottering fence. They only consult to cast him down from his excellency: they delight in lies: they bless with their mouth, but they curse inwardly. Selah. My soul, wait thou only upon God; for my expectation is from him. He only is my rock and my salvation: he is my defence; I shall not be moved. In God is my salvation and my glory: the rock of my strength, and my refuge, is in God. Trust in him at all times; ye people, pour out your heart before him: God is a refuge for us. Selah.” (Psalm 62:1-8)
Good morning. Have you ever noticed that most people are basically ROTTEN!? It seems like it is getting harder and harder to trust others these days. In Psalm 62, David cries out, “How long will ye imagine mischief against a man?” Jesus said in John chapter 13, and verses 34 and 35…
“A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another. By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.” (John 13:34-35)
I’ve heard it said that living here on earth is as close to hell as a Christian will get, and likewise, this is as close to heaven as a lost person will get. Should we, as Christians show more love for others, or make Heaven and Hell look just about the same to a lost and dying world? When asked what the greatest commandment was, Jesus replied…
“…The first of all the commandments is, Hear, O Israel; The Lord our God is one Lord: 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. And the second is like, namely this, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. There is none other commandment greater than these.” (Mark 12:29-31)
Have you been hurt? Go to God first.
My soul, wait thou only upon God; for my expectation is from him. He only is my rock and my salvation: he is my defence; I shall not be moved. In God is my salvation and my glory: the rock of my strength, and my refuge, is in God. Trust in him at all times; ye people, pour out your heart before him: God is a refuge for us. Selah.” (Psalm 62:5-8)
Have you hurt someone? It would be best if you went to that person to get things right before God hears their weeping and has to correct your hardheartedness. We could have a little more heaven on earth. David wrote…
“A Song of degrees of David. Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity! It is like the precious ointment upon the head, that ran down upon the beard, even Aaron’s beard: that went down to the skirts of his garments; As the dew of Hermon, and as the dew that descended upon the mountains of Zion: for there the LORD commanded the blessing, even life for evermore.” (Psalm 133)
Peace. (Galatians 5:14)
Posted in Devotions by Pastor Ted Stahl with no comments yet.
Saved! – The Saturday Morning Post
Today’s Reading – Psalms 21 – 25 (Click on the references to listen to the audio – Click here to view the passage from Blue Letter Bible)
(Second Milers also read – James 1 – 5; Psalms 96 – 100; Proverbs 20)
Read the “0620 Evening and Morning” devotion for today, by the late Charles Haddon Spurgeon
“A Psalm of David. The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want. He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters. He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake. Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me. Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever.” (Psalm 23:1-6)
Good morning. Reading through the 23rd Psalm, I sometimes think about other verses that go along with. If you are saved, the Holy Spirit may bring things to mind about this Psalm. Let me just share with you what the 23rd Psalm means to me…
The LORD is my shepherd…
“I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep. But he that is an hireling, and not the shepherd, whose own the sheep are not, seeth the wolf coming, and leaveth the sheep, and fleeth: and the wolf catcheth them, and scattereth the sheep. The hireling fleeth, because he is an hireling, and careth not for the sheep. I am the good shepherd, and know my sheep, and am known of mine. As the Father knoweth me, even so know I the Father: and I lay down my life for the sheep. And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold, and one shepherd.” (John 10:11-16)
The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want…
“But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 4:19)
He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters. He restoreth my soul…
“Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.” (John 14:27)
…he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.
“For whom the LORD loveth he correcteth; even as a father the son in whom he delighteth.” (Proverbs 3:12)
Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me…
“My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father’s hand. I and my Father are one.” (John 10:27-30)
…thy rod and thy staff they comfort me. Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.
“Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.” (James 1:17)
Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life…
“Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.” (Hebrews 13:5)
…and I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever.
“All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out. For I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of him that sent me. And this is the Father’s will which hath sent me, that of all which he hath given me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up again at the last day. And this is the will of him that sent me, that every one which seeth the Son, and believeth on him, may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the last day.” (John 6:37-40)
Ain’t God good to give us so many blessings? Undeserving, that’s what we are. We aught to thank Him, love and praise Him; a little more today, and a whole lot more tomorrow!
Peace! (Isaiah 45:21)
Posted in The Saturday Morning Post by Pastor Ted Stahl with 1 comment.