Making a Differencewith Pastor Phil Erickson

Mar 18th, 2023 All Came To Pass – The Saturday Morning Post

Today’s Passage – Joshua 19 – 21 (Click on the references to listen to the audio – Click here to view the passage from Blue Letter Bible)

(Second Milers also read – Philemon – Hebrews 4; Proverbs 18; Psalms 86 – 90

Read the “0318 Evening and Morning” devotion for today, by the late Charles Haddon Spurgeon.

“And the LORD gave unto Israel all the land which he sware to give unto their fathers; and they possessed it, and dwelt therein. And the LORD gave them rest round about, according to all that he sware unto their fathers: and there stood not a man of all their enemies before them; the LORD delivered all their enemies into their hand. There failed not ought of any good thing which the LORD had spoken unto the house of Israel; all came to pass.” (Joshua 21:43-45)

Good morning. I sometimes wonder if Israel fully understood that God had fulfilled His promise made to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. Israel had become a great nation. They finally had rest. They were in the promised land, a land flowing with milk and honey. All came to pass. Off course the time would come when Israel would turn their back on God, and God would raise up nations to punish Israel. Eventually God would remove them from the promised land. In 70 A.D., the Roman general Titus destroyed Jerusalem, and the Jews were scattered throughout the world. In 1948, God restored the nation of Israel and started bringing His people back into the land.

America has found it’s way to a different situation. Psalm 9:17 says…

“The wicked shall be turned into hell, and all the nations that forget God.” (Psalm 9:17)

Our nation has tried to blot out God. They have tried to get people to forget about God. The godless Liberals have been working hard. They had the Bible taken out of schools. They had the Ten Commandments taken out of government office buildings. They have legalized murder in the abortion industry. They made boys to think they should have been girls, and girls to think they should have been boys: teaching that God must have made a mistake. God doesn’t make mistakes. There was a time when Homosexuality was a crime. America has legalized what God calls an abomination…

“And Rehoboam the son of Solomon reigned in Judah. Rehoboam was forty and one years old when he began to reign, and he reigned seventeen years in Jerusalem, the city which the LORD did choose out of all the tribes of Israel, to put his name there. And his mother’s name was Naamah an Ammonitess. And Judah did evil in the sight of the LORD, and they provoked him to jealousy with their sins which they had committed, above all that their fathers had done. For they also built them high places, and images, and groves, on every high hill, and under every green tree. And there were also sodomites in the land: and they did according to all the abominations of the nations which the LORD cast out before the children of Israel.” (1Kings 14:21-24)

There were good kings also…

“And in the twentieth year of Jeroboam king of Israel reigned Asa over Judah. And forty and one years reigned he in Jerusalem. And his mother’s name was Maachah, the daughter of Abishalom. And Asa did that which was right in the eyes of the LORD, as did David his father. And he took away the sodomites out of the land, and removed all the idols that his fathers had made. And also Maachah his mother, even her he removed from being queen, because she had made an idol in a grove; and Asa destroyed her idol, and burnt it by the brook Kidron. But the high places were not removed: nevertheless Asa’s heart was perfect with the LORD all his days.” (1Kings 15:9-15:14)

“Jehoshaphat was thirty and five years old when he began to reign; and he reigned twenty and five years in Jerusalem. And his mother’s name was Azubah the daughter of Shilhi. And he walked in all the ways of Asa his father; he turned not aside from it, doing that which was right in the eyes of the LORD: nevertheless the high places were not taken away; for the people offered and burnt incense yet in the high places. And Jehoshaphat made peace with the king of Israel. Now the rest of the acts of Jehoshaphat, and his might that he shewed, and how he warred, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Judah? And the remnant of the sodomites, which remained in the days of his father Asa, he took out of the land.” (1Kings 22:42-46)

Many times we think if we have a Christian president and vice-president that all will be well. The liberals want to renew their license to sin, and be able to freely do their abominations again. When we had the team of Trump/Pense, every time they tried to do something good for the country, the God rejecting Socialists would block it. We need to keep our leaders in prayer that they don’t fall into the hands of the devil. The Lord may give America more time, however, most scholars will tell you that America, in the end times, is not in the Bible. Everything revolves around God’s city and the nation of Israel. As a nation, and as individuals, we can turn our backs on God and Israel, or we can turn and fight for God and Israel.

“The wicked shall be turned into hell, and all the nations that forget God.” (Psalm 9:17)

“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)

“…all came to pass.” (Joshua 21:45)

Peace.

Mar 11th, 2023 Moses’ Epitaph – The Saturday Morning Post

Today’s Passage – Deuteronomy 32 – 34 (Click on the references to listen to the audio – Click here to view the passage from Blue Letter Bible)

(Second Milers also read – Colossians 1 – 4; Proverbs 11; Psalms 51 – 55

Read the “0311 Evening and Morning” devotion for today, by the late Charles Haddon Spurgeon.

“And there arose not a prophet since in Israel like unto Moses, whom the LORD knew face to face, In all the signs and the wonders, which the LORD sent him to do in the land of Egypt to Pharaoh, and to all his servants, and to all his land, And in all that mighty hand, and in all the great terror which Moses shewed in the sight of all Israel.” (Deuteronomy 34:10-12)

Good morning. Inscribed here, by God, at the end of the book of Deuteronomy is Moses’ epitaph. An epitaph is an inscription, usually on a tombstone like: R.I.P., …He was a good father and husband, …a loving son or daughter; things like that. Supposedly, the epitaph on the grave of actor W. C. Fields reads: “All things considered, I’d rather be here than in Philidelphia.”

But Moses did not have a headstone for his epitaph, so the Lord put an epitaph here at the end of Deuteronomy. There are three characteristics we can glean about Moses from his epitaph.

1) Moses knew the LORD face to face: he had a personal relationship with the Loed Jesus Christ.

“And there arose not a prophet since in Israel like unto Moses, whom the LORD knew face to face…” (Deuteronomy 34:10)

Moses met the Lord when he went to see the burning bush. And the Lord was with him all the way through his death and burial. Moses will not hear what many so-called “Christians” will hear…

“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)

Jesus said…

“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)

The LORD knew Moses face to face, and He would never leave him nor forsake him. The second characteristic we can glean from Moses’ epitaph is that…

2) He did the signs and wonders which the Lord sent him to do.

Ephesians 2:10 tells us…

“For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.” (Ephesians 2:10)

Moses walked in the good works that God ordained for him to walk in. Moses had to show God’s strong and mighty hand before Egypt would let God’s people go. Moses had faith that God would resue them even when they had their backs to the Red Sea, and watched as the Egyptian chariots came closer to them. God stopped them with fire, and then parted the sea so Israel could escape. A mirical of faith…

“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)

An impossible situation at the Red Sea. An impossible situation getting water from a rock. An impossible situation that Israel crossed the Red Sea on dry land. An impossible situation that non of their clothes or sandles wore out while wondering through the wildernes for forty years.

“But Jesus beheld them, and said unto them, With men this is impossible; but with God all things are possible.” (Maqtthew 19:26)

We have good works that God has ordained for us to walk in. I wonder how many I missed because of a lack of faith… how about you?

The third characteristic we can glean from Moses’ epitaph is…

3) He was an example to his people.

“In all the signs and the wonders, which the LORD sent him to do in the land of Egypt to Pharaoh, and to all his servants, and to all his land, And in all that mighty hand, and in all the great terror which Moses shewed in the sight of all Israel.” (Deuteronomy 34:11-12)

As the Bible said in Ephesians 2:10, that God ordained good works for us to walk in. Just like Jesus, we are to be an example to others…

“So after he had washed their feet, and had taken his garments, and was set down again, he said unto them, Know ye what I have done to you? Ye call me Master and Lord: and ye say well; for so I am. If I then, your Lord and Master, have washed your feet; ye also ought to wash one another’s feet. For I have given you an example, that ye should do as I have done to you. Verily, verily, I say unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord; neither he that is sent greater than he that sent him. If ye know these things, happy are ye if ye do them.” (John 13:12-17)

The apostle Paul wrote to Timothy…

“But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them; And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.” (2Timothy 3:14-17)

What kind of example do we put forth to the people God has given us. If you look at Moses, and this is a great example that he put forth, every time Israel sinned, Moses would be on his face begging God to forgive them. What kind of example do we put forth? Makes me wonder what my epitaph will say. How about you?

Peace.

Mar 4th, 2023 Filthy Rags And Sin – The Saturday Morning Post

Today’s Passage – Deuteronomy 9 – 11 (Click on the references to listen to the audio – Click here to view the passage from Blue Letter Bible)

(Second Milers also read – 2 Corinthians 5 – 8; Proverbs 4; Psalm 16 – 20)

Read the “0304 Evening and Morning” devotion for today, by the late Charles Haddon Spurgeon.

“Speak not thou in thine heart, after that the LORD thy God hath cast them out from before thee, saying, For my righteousness the LORD hath brought me in to possess this land: but for the wickedness of these nations the LORD doth drive them out from before thee. Not for thy righteousness, or for the uprightness of thine heart, dost thou go to possess their land: but for the wickedness of these nations the LORD thy God doth drive them out from before thee, and that he may perform the word which the LORD sware unto thy fathers, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. Understand therefore, that the LORD thy God giveth thee not this good land to possess it for thy righteousness; for thou art a stiffnecked people.” (Deuteronomy 9:4-6)

Good morning. Isaiah wrote…

“But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away.” (Isaiah 64:6)

The Lord told us…

“I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.” (John 15:5)

Our righteousness is as filthy rags, and without Jesus we can do nothing. But yet, like the Jews, we are a stiffnecked people doing what we want to do, even trying to serve the Lord in our own power.

Israel was getting ready to enter the promised land. God wanted to make it clear to them why. There were two reasons given…

1) Because of the wickedness of the nations they were going to displace.

These people worshipped false gods, and did many evil and wicked things, much like America today. The abomination known as Homosexuality is freely allowed to be practiced here. The murder of unborn babies and then butchering them for parts. Let me ask you a question here, just something to think about: if what is conceived in a mother’s womb is just a blob of goo and not a baby, how is Planned Parenthood selling the parts? All for the sake of the almighty dollar, and the convenience.

“This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.” (2Timothy 3:1-5)

The second reason is…

2) God promised Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.

As the sand of the sea and the stars of the sky, God promised to make Israel a great nation…

“By faith Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance, obeyed; and he went out, not knowing whither he went. By faith he sojourned in the land of promise, as in a strange country, dwelling in tabernacles with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise: For he looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God. Through faith also Sara herself received strength to conceive seed, and was delivered of a child when she was past age, because she judged him faithful who had promised. Therefore sprang there even of one, and him as good as dead, so many as the stars of the sky in multitude, and as the sand which is by the sea shore innumerable.” (Hebrews 11:8-12)

America was also a great nation, until it turned away from God and became self-righteous. But America still has hope if we turn back to God.

“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)

Some times I wonder what country will replace our nation because of our wickedness? Remove the filthy rags, and put on the righteousness of the Lord Jesus Christ.

Peace.

Feb 25th, 2023 Get On A Schedule – The Saturday Morning Post

Today’s Passage – Numbers 27 – 29 (Click on the references to listen to the audio – Click here to view the passage from Blue Letter Bible)

(Second Milers also read – Romans 9 – 12; Proverbs 25; Psalms 126 – 130

Read the “0225 Evening and Morning“ devotion for today, by the late Charles Haddon Spurgeon.

“And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, Command the children of Israel, and say unto them, My offering, and my bread for my sacrifices made by fire, for a sweet savour unto me, shall ye observe to offer unto me in their due season. And thou shalt say unto them, This is the offering made by fire which ye shall offer unto the LORD; two lambs of the first year without spot day by day, for a continual burnt offering. The one lamb shalt thou offer in the morning, and the other lamb shalt thou offer at even…” (Numbers 28:1-4)

“These things ye shall do unto the LORD in your set feasts, beside your vows, and your freewill offerings, for your burnt offerings, and for your meat offerings, and for your drink offerings, and for your peace offerings. And Moses told the children of Israel according to all that the LORD commanded Moses.” (Numbers 29:39-40)

Good morning. Between the two passages above, God gives Israel a schedule for their sacrifices, and everything involved. We should be on a schedule too, if we want to get anything accomplished. Our schedule is going to look a little different, depending on our priorities. Our first priority should be God: schedule your Walking With God time. Start with prayer time: praise Him for what He’s done for you; confess what you failed to do; make your requests known (others, you); thank Him for what He is going to do and ask Him to show you something from His Word. That brings us to Bible Reading. Schedule a time to read your Bible daily. Keep a journal of verses or passages the Holy Spirit wants you to focus on as you read.

Secondly, schedule time for your wife and family. Not TV time. Quality time. Take them to the park and throw the Frisbee around for a while. Do something to make good memories. Believe me, the time goes too quick.

Thirdly. Everything else comes third. Work, church, soul winning, sleep, hobbies, etc. When you put God first, everything will fall into place.

“Let all things be done decently and in order.” (1Corinthians 14:40)

Peace.

Feb 18th, 2023 What’s That Sound? – The Saturday Morning Post

Today’s Passage – Numbers 8 – 10 (Click on the references to listen to the audio – Click here to view the passage from Blue Letter Bible)

(Second Milers also read – Acts 13 – 15; Proverbs 18; Psalms 91 – 95)

Read the “0218 Evening and Morning“ devotion for today, by the late Charles Haddon Spurgeon.

“And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, Make thee two trumpets of silver; of a whole piece shalt thou make them: that thou mayest use them for the calling of the assembly, and for the journeying of the camps.” (Numbers 10:1-2)

Good morning. In chapter 10 of today’s reading, the LORD tells Moses to make two trumpets, each using a whole piece of silver. Did you know that silver will give more of a clearer tone than brass? The people needed to hear a clear sound from these trumpets throughout the camp. Numbers chapter 1 can give us an approximate idea of how many people made up the nation of Israel at this time.

“So were all those that were numbered of the children of Israel, by the house of their fathers, from twenty years old and upward, all that were able to go forth to war in Israel; Even all they that were numbered were six hundred thousand and three thousand and five hundred and fifty. But the Levites after the tribe of their fathers were not numbered among them.” (Numbers 1:45-47)

So if you take the 603,550 from the 11 tribes, and add the tribe of Levi, all the wives and children, and those who were too old and unable to go to war, you would have at least a population of 1 million people. These two silver horns had to give a loud, and clear enough sound to reach everybody in this multitude.

“And when they shall blow with them, all the assembly shall assemble themselves to thee at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation. And if they blow but with one trumpet, then the princes, which are heads of the thousands of Israel, shall gather themselves unto thee. When ye blow an alarm, then the camps that lie on the east parts shall go forward. When ye blow an alarm the second time, then the camps that lie on the south side shall take their journey: they shall blow an alarm for their journeys. But when the congregation is to be gathered together, ye shall blow, but ye shall not sound an alarm.” (Numbers 10:3-7)

There is a real Heaven and a real Hell. Around 55.3 million people die each day. How many have trusted Jesus, and are in Heaven? How many have not trusted Jesus as their own personal Saviour, and are in Hell? How is your trumpet? Is it sounding a clear, understandable warning? Do you want to be a better soul winner? Here are some tips that could help you do this…

1) Set a goal.

If your goal is nothing, you will hit it every time. Back in college, we were required to make at least 5 gospel presentations per week. How many do you make now? I’m not in college, so how many am I required to make?

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

Jesus said to go into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. Jesus also said…

“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.” (John 3:16)

And that brings us to Tip #2…

2) You have to love people.

“Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal. And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing. And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing. Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up, Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil; Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth; Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things. Charity never faileth: but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away.” (1Corinthians 13:1-8)

If you have not charity, or love, the sound you make is like sounding brass, a blast that is not as bright as silver, nor as pure and clear. Or it is just a tinkling cymbal: the sound is not that loud enough to reach everybody, or even anybody. You need to love people: God loved you…

“But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” (Romans 5:8)

God gave us a way out by coming down from Heaven to die on a cross to pay sin’s wage which was death. That’s how we should love others… even our enemies…

“Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbour, and hate thine enemy. But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you; That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust. For if ye love them which love you, what reward have ye? do not even the publicans the same? And if ye salute your brethren only, what do ye more than others? do not even the publicans so?” (Matthew 5:43-47)

That means you need to love ISIS, but not the evil they do. You need to love the LBGT community, but not their abominable acts of lust. You need to love the Liberals, poor and misguided, they have no idea of the damages they are inflicting on a nation that wants to turn back to following the true and living God. Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you. You have to love people.

3) Know the Gospel

“Therefore seeing we have this ministry, as we have received mercy, we faint not; But have renounced the hidden things of dishonesty, not walking in craftiness, nor handling the word of God deceitfully; but by manifestation of the truth commending ourselves to every man’s conscience in the sight of God. But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost: In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them. For we preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord; and ourselves your servants for Jesus’ sake.” (2Corinthians 4:1-5)

Know the Gospel of the Roman’s Road…

“As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one…” (Romans 3:10)

“For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God…” (Romans 3:23)

“Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned…” (Romans 5:12)

“But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” (Romans 5:8)

“For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” (Romans 6:23)

“But what saith it? The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is, the word of faith, which we preach; That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed. For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him. For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.” (Romans 10:8-13)

And be ready to give assurance. Jesus said…

“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)

4) Know the LORD

“I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.” (John 15:5)

“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.” (1Corinthians 3:5-7)

Tap into His Power and you will become a better soul winner…

“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)

Peace!

Feb 11th, 2023 Thank You – The Saturday Morning Post

Today’s Passage – Leviticus 22 – 23 (Click on the references to listen to the audio – Click here to view the passage from Blue Letter Bible)

(Second Milers also read – John 15 – 16; Proverbs 11; Psalms 56 – 60

Read the “0211 Evening and Morning“ devotion for today, by the late Charles Haddon Spurgeon.

“And when ye will offer a sacrifice of thanksgiving unto the LORD, offer it at your own will.” (Leviticus 22:29)

“A Psalm of praise. Make a joyful noise unto the LORD, all ye lands. (2) Serve the LORD with gladness: come before his presence with singing. (3) Know ye that the LORD he is God: it is he that hath made us, and not we ourselves; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture. (4) Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name. (5) For the LORD is good; his mercy is everlasting; and his truth endureth to all generations.” (Psalm 100:1-5)

Good morning. Is it in your will to say thank you to God? It should be. God has done so much for us. While the world is going crazy, He keeps us safe. While prices increase, and our paychecks decrease, He supplies our every need. He gave Himself to die on a cross, and pay the price for our sins. When we come before Him, we should be thankful, praising and blessing His name. As I’m writing this, my cat, Bela, is sitting next to me in the chair, purring. Even though she walks across the keyboard while I’m trying to put this blog together, I still love her, and feed her, and clean her litter box. Take a look around you, everything you have, God has given you. Sometimes we need to say thank you. Most of the time we need to be thankful all of the time. Why? It should be your will to do so. Psalm 100 and verse 5 gives us three reasons why…

1) Because the LORD is good.

Look at all the good things that God has blessed you with.

“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)

Even the gifts that we perceive as being bad are good…

“And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.” (Romans 8:28)

So the LORD is good and everything He gives us is an extension of that goodness.

2) The mercy of the LORD is everlasting.

“And the LORD passed by before him, and proclaimed, The LORD, The LORD God, merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abundant in goodness and truth, (7) Keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, and that will by no means clear the guilty; visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children, and upon the children’s children, unto the third and to the fourth generation. (8) And Moses made haste, and bowed his head toward the earth, and worshipped.” (Exodus 34:6-8)

Now I could have grabbed Bella, and threw her across the room when she walked across my laptop’s keyboard. But I realize that she is only a cat, and I have mercy on her. God shows us mercy: forgiving our iniquity, our transgressions, and our sin: He remembers we are just dust.

3) The truth of the LORD endureth to all generations.

“Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.” (John 14:6)

“Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil. (18) For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled. (19) Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.” (Matthew 5:17-19)

“I have given them thy word; and the world hath hated them, because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. (15) I pray not that thou shouldest take them out of the world, but that thou shouldest keep them from the evil. (16) They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. (17) Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth. (18) As thou hast sent me into the world, even so have I also sent them into the world. (19) And for their sakes I sanctify myself, that they also might be sanctified through the truth.” (John 17:14-19)

God preserved His Truth, written for English speaking people, in the King James Bible, so that we will know how to be saved from eternity in Hell.

“And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. (12) He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life. (13) These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God.” (1John 5:11-13)

“O give thanks unto the LORD; for he is good: for his mercy endureth for ever. (2) O give thanks unto the God of gods: for his mercy endureth for ever. (3) O give thanks to the Lord of lords: for his mercy endureth for ever. (4) To him who alone doeth great wonders: for his mercy endureth for ever. (5) To him that by wisdom made the heavens: for his mercy endureth for ever. (6) To him that stretched out the earth above the waters: for his mercy endureth for ever. (7) To him that made great lights: for his mercy endureth for ever: (8) The sun to rule by day: for his mercy endureth for ever: (9) The moon and stars to rule by night: for his mercy endureth for ever. (10) To him that smote Egypt in their firstborn: for his mercy endureth for ever: (11) And brought out Israel from among them: for his mercy endureth for ever: (12) With a strong hand, and with a stretched out arm: for his mercy endureth for ever. (13) To him which divided the Red sea into parts: for his mercy endureth for ever: (14) And made Israel to pass through the midst of it: for his mercy endureth for ever: (15) But overthrew Pharaoh and his host in the Red sea: for his mercy endureth for ever. (16) To him which led his people through the wilderness: for his mercy endureth for ever. (17) To him which smote great kings: for his mercy endureth for ever: (18) And slew famous kings: for his mercy endureth for ever: (19) Sihon king of the Amorites: for his mercy endureth for ever: (20) And Og the king of Bashan: for his mercy endureth for ever: (21) And gave their land for an heritage: for his mercy endureth for ever: (22) Even an heritage unto Israel his servant: for his mercy endureth for ever. (23) Who remembered us in our low estate: for his mercy endureth for ever: (24) And hath redeemed us from our enemies: for his mercy endureth for ever. (25) Who giveth food to all flesh: for his mercy endureth for ever. (26) O give thanks unto the God of heaven: for his mercy endureth for ever.” (Psalm 136:1-26)

Thank You, LORD, for all that You’ve done for me.

Peace!

Feb 4th, 2023 This Is The Law Of The… – The Saturday Morning Post

Today’s Passage – Leviticus 5 – 7 (Click on the references to listen to the audio – Click here to view the passage from Blue Letter Bible)

(Second Milers also read – John 1 – 2; Proverbs 4; Psalms 21 – 25

Read the “0204 Evening and Morning“ devotion for today, by the late Charles Haddon Spurgeon.

“Command Aaron and his sons, saying, This is the law of the burnt offering: It is the burnt offering, because of the burning upon the altar all night unto the morning, and the fire of the altar shall be burning in it.” (Leviticus 6:9)

“And this is the law of the meat offering: the sons of Aaron shall offer it before the LORD, before the altar.” (Leviticus 6:14)

“Speak unto Aaron and to his sons, saying, This is the law of the sin offering: In the place where the burnt offering is killed shall the sin offering be killed before the LORD: it is most holy.” (Leviticus 6:25)

“Likewise this is the law of the trespass offering: it is most holy.” (Leviticus 7:1)

“And this is the law of the sacrifice of peace offerings, which he shall offer unto the LORD.” (Leviticus 7:11)

“For it pleased the Father that in him should all fulness dwell; And, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself; by him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven. And you, that were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now hath he reconciled In the body of his flesh through death, to present you holy and unblameable and unreproveable in his sight…” (Colossians 1:19-22)

Good morning. Leviticus chapters 6 and 7 show the Laws concerning the various offerings to the Lord. Colossians chapter 1, verses 19-22, concludes that our peace with God is only due to the perfect sacrifice of the Lord Jesus Christ. Now we are holy, unblameable, and unreproveable in His sight. What about the sight of others? Maybe it’s a good thing that the unsaved don’t know this verse? Do they see that we are unreproveable, unblameable, and holy? Or do they see that we are reprove-able, blamable, and unholy? There is a simple, 2-part check you can make. You see…

“A man that hath friends must shew himself friendly: and there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother.” (Proverbs 18:24)

“Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.” (John 15:13)

Jesus is your best friend. He will never leave you nor forsake you: He is always with you. Your best friend. Now… part 1… How is your prayer life? You always want to talk to your friends, right? Prayer is how we talk to Jesus, our best friend. Sometimes, if we do wrong to a friend, we try to avoid talking with them. So once again, how is your prayer life? Part 2 is a simple question also.

“Iron sharpeneth iron; so a man sharpeneth the countenance of his friend.” (Proverbs 27:17)

How is your Bible reading? If there is something wrong in your relationship with your friend, you may not want to hear from them. A true friend will tell you like it is, and you may not want to hear that. But something can be done…

“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)

The problem is with us. God sees us as unreproveable, unblameable, and holy. We see ourselves from the mess we just made, and can’t face the reality of sin in our lives. But God did everything for us…

“For the law having a shadow of good things to come, and not the very image of the things, can never with those sacrifices which they offered year by year continually make the comers thereunto perfect. For then would they not have ceased to be offered? because that the worshippers once purged should have had no more conscience of sins. But in those sacrifices there is a remembrance again made of sins every year. For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and of goats should take away sins. Wherefore when he cometh into the world, he saith, Sacrifice and offering thou wouldest not, but a body hast thou prepared me: In burnt offerings and sacrifices for sin thou hast had no pleasure. Then said I, Lo, I come (in the volume of the book it is written of me,) to do thy will, O God. Above when he said, Sacrifice and offering and burnt offerings and offering for sin thou wouldest not, neither hadst pleasure therein; which are offered by the law; Then said he, Lo, I come to do thy will, O God. He taketh away the first, that he may establish the second. By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all. And every priest standeth daily ministering and offering oftentimes the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins: But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God; From henceforth expecting till his enemies be made his footstool. For by one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified. Whereof the Holy Ghost also is a witness to us: for after that he had said before, This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, saith the Lord, I will put my laws into their hearts, and in their minds will I write them; And their sins and iniquities will I remember no more. Now where remission of these is, there is no more offering for sin. Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus, By a new and living way, which he hath consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say, his flesh; And having an high priest over the house of God; Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised;) And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works: Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.” (Hebrews 10:1-25)

“By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.” (John 13:35)

Peace.

Jan 28th, 2023 A Sanctuary For The Lord – The Saturday Morning Post

Today’s Passage – Exodus 25 – 27 (Click on the references to listen to the audio – Click here to view the passage from Blue Letter Bible)

(Second Milers also read – Luke 11 – 12; Proverbs 28; Psalms 136 – 140

Read the “0128 Evening and Morning“ devotion for today, by the late Charles Haddon Spurgeon.

“And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, Speak unto the children of Israel, that they bring me an offering: of every man that giveth it willingly with his heart ye shall take my offering. And this is the offering which ye shall take of them; gold, and silver, and brass, And blue, and purple, and scarlet, and fine linen, and goats’ hair, And rams’ skins dyed red, and badgers’ skins, and shittim wood, Oil for the light, spices for anointing oil, and for sweet incense, Onyx stones, and stones to be set in the ephod, and in the breastplate. And let them make me a sanctuary; that I may dwell among them.” (Exodus 25:1-8)

“What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?” (1Corinthians 6:19)

“Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates?” (2Corinthians 13:5)

Good morning. In our passage this morning, the Lord wants a sanctuary, a tabernacle, a temple, so He can dwell with His people. God gave Moses specific instructions on how to build it and what material to use, even the quantity. How is your temple?

“Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?” (1Corinthians 3:16)

It all starts with Jesus. God said in Exodus 25, verse 2, “…bring Me an offering…”

“And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweetsmelling savour.” (Ephesians 5:2)

“And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up: That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life. 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. He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.” (John 3:14-18)

Also in Exodus 25, verse 2, God said, “…of every man that giveth it willingly with his heart ye shall take my offering.”

When you realized you were a sinner and on your way to Hell, you brought the only offering you could with a willing heart… yourself. And Jesus received you as His own.

“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)

He did all that for us. He sacrificed Himself for our sins. He took the punishment that we deserved. And all because He loved us. And yet, we don’t obey Him. We do what we want to do. We drag Him through all the muck and mire of all the ungodly places we frequent. What do you think of the following verses?

“And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption.” (Ephesians 4:30)

“Quench not the Spirit.” (1Thesselonians 5:19)

We grieve the Holy Spirit by doing the things we should not be doing. We quench the Holy Spirit by not doing the things we should be doing. So let me ask again, how is your temple? Is it what it should be? Is it a sanctuary for the Lord? Jesus said…

“…and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world…” (Matthew 28:20)

Peace.

Jan 21st, 2023 A Dry Thirsty Land – The Saturday Morning Post

Today’s Passage – Exodus 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 – Mark 13 – 14; Proverbs 21; Psalms 101 – 105

Read the “0121 Evening and Morning“ devotion for today, by the late Charles Haddon Spurgeon.

“And it shall come to pass, if they will not believe also these two signs, neither hearken unto thy voice, that thou shalt take of the water of the river, and pour it upon the dry land: and the water which thou takest out of the river shall become blood upon the dry land.” (Exodus 4:9)

Good morning. Did you know that in Philadelphia – the city of brotherly love – in 2022, crime in the city ranked 162% higher than the national average? Violent crime was 420% higher. I had read that about 10 years ago, a Vietnam War veteran had his jaw broken and his skull fractured by a youth gang. What happened? America has gone dry: it’s a dry land. And it’s because people’s hearts have gotten harder.

“This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away. For of this sort are they which creep into houses, and lead captive silly women laden with sins, led away with divers lusts, Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.” (2Timothy 3:1-7)

Many of us are to blame. We are afraid to stand on what the Word of God says. We are afraid to speak out and say that any Jew, Muslim, Catholic, Protestant, Baptist, Atheist, Agnostic, Unbeliever, Charismatic, Evolutionist, Secular Humanist, self-proclaimed Christian, or anybody else not mentioned in these groups are going to Hell if they have not received Jesus Christ as their personal Savior. This is not being hateful to any group. This is not a hate crime. This is what God’s Word says in 1John chapter 5…

“And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life.” (1John 5:11-12)

Do you know what a real hate crime is? Allowing souls to slip into hell without giving them the Gospel: telling them about Jesus. Even if you are shy, you can still leave a Gospel tract. Leave one with a tip when you dine out. Give one to the gas station attendant when you get gas in your car or truck. You could even mail some out to addresses in the phone book. Can you afford 60 cents a week? That’s 52 people you could reach with God’s plan for salvation in one year.

Without the shedding of blood, there is no remission [of sins]. We need to pour out the water of God’s Word on this dry land, and let the people know that the blood of Jesus cleanses you from all sin.

“And it shall come to pass, if they will not believe also these two signs, neither hearken unto thy voice, that thou shalt take of the water of the river, and pour it upon the dry land: and the water which thou takest out of the river shall become blood upon the dry land.” (Exodus 4:9)

“For it pleased the Father that in him should all fulness dwell; (20) And, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself; by him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven.” (Colossians 1:19-20)

Peace.

Jan 19th, 2023 God Wants To Use You – By Camille Stahl

Today’s Passage – Genesis 48 – 50 (Click on the references to listen to the audio – Click here to view the passage from Blue Letter Bible)

(Second Milers also read – Mark 9 – 10; Proverbs 19; Psalms 91 – 95)

Read the “0119 Evening and Morning“ devotion for today, by the late Charles Haddon Spurgeon.

Genesis 49:33  And when Jacob had made an end of commanding his sons, he gathered up his feet into the bed, and yielded up the ghost, and was gathered unto his people.

Genesis 50:1-3  And Joseph fell upon his father’s face, and wept upon him, and kissed him.  (2)  And Joseph commanded his servants the physicians to embalm his father: and the physicians embalmed Israel.  (3)  And forty days were fulfilled for him; for so are fulfilled the days of those which are embalmed: and the Egyptians mourned for him threescore and ten days.

When we read about people in the Bible, we believe they lived perfect lives. Sometimes we think what we read are just stories, but they’re not. They were real people who had real problems like us who God greatly used. So lets look at the family of Abraham to Joseph.

When God put Adam and Eve in the Garden, everything was perfect until the fall. Then we get to the Tower of Babel were God scatters the rebellious world. In the second half of Genesis, we read about one family who God made a promise to. God is going to use this family to restore humanity back to the Garden and His original plan. So Abraham had Isaac, Isaac had Jacob and Jacob had twelve sons. In each of these generations God assured them of His blessing of making them a great nation. So because of this great family, one would think they would be a great example to follow to become a great Christian. But lets look at how dysfunctional this family really was.

Abraham – Gave his wife Sarah, away to other men, so he could save his own life.

Sarah – Got impatient and tells Abraham to have a child with her servant. This caused problems in the family that are still going on today.

Isaac- Then had Esau and Jacob and things seem to be going well until Jacob deceives Isaac and receives the Blessing which belonged to Esau.

Jacob – He had twelve sons and loved his eleventh son more then the others. This caused problems for the brothers, in so much that they wanted to kill him. So instead of killing him, Joseph, the eleventh son, was sold into slavery.

And to shorten the story, we know that God elevated Joseph over the land of Egypt under Pharaoh.

Jacob, Israel, had a funeral like no other besides Pharaoh. The people mourned for him seventy day and they mourned for Pharaoh seventy-two days.

But Jacob was a liar and deceiver until we get to Genesis 50:1-3, a man who was greatly used of God and loved by the people.

Not a perfect family, but God still used them all and kept His promise.

When man keeps turning to evil, God directs man back to HIM.

So how about us. To many times we convince ourselves that we’re not worthy to be use of God because of what we did in the past. There is nothing we’ve done that could stop us from being used of God. It’s important to remember who we are in Christ. We are a child of the King of Kings and He loves us more than we can ever imagine.

What is God calling you to do that seems unattainable?

Remember this

Philipians 1:6  Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ:

TRUST GOD!