Making A Differencewith Pastor Phil Erickson

Aug 8th, 2020 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 (the NAZI’s in charge) 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 22:1-7)

Aug 6th, 2020 Your God Will Come … by Paul Meyer

Today’s Passage – Isaiah 33 – 36 (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 5 – 6; Psalms 26 – 30; Proverbs 6)

Listen to this morning’s Scripture song – Psalm 47:1

Read the “0806 Evening and Morning” devotion for today, by the late Charles Haddon Spurgeon.

Read a previous post from today’s passage – “Streams in the Desert”

“Strengthen ye the weak hands, and confirm the feeble knees. Say to them that are of a fearful heart, Be strong, fear not: behold, your God will come with vengeance, even God with a recompence; he will come and save you.” (Isaiah 35:3-4)

The Lord is always good to give comfort in our time of need. As the world ages it is ravaged by the effects of sin; effects that began all the way back in Genesis 1. The consequences of this sin can be seen everywhere. There is not a inch of ground that was spared the curse of sin; no woman is spared from the pain of child birth, and all food is gathered by the sweat of our brow. Furthermore, we see the effects of sin on the world system – injustice, riots, uprising, murders, child trafficking, natural disasters. Everyday we turn on the news it seems to be getting worse – and it will get worse, but we have this hope:

“Behold, your God will come with vengeance”.

This passage specifically deals with the deliverance of Israel, but the promises are still true. In Hebrews 13:5 the Bible says,

“…for he that said I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.”

In addition to this promise we see the promise of the Holy Spirit given by Jesus in John 14:

“And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever;”  (John 14:16)

This is not a promise of the lack of trials but the promise of his presence through them. We can take it further and see how this promise is fulfilled:

“but ye know him; for he dwells with you, and shall be in you”. (John 14:17b)

One day we will be taken from this earth to live forever with Jesus Christ, and as we read in the rest of Isaiah 35 we know this to be a place where there is no sin, where there is no pain, where there is everlasting joy. The Bible describes it in Revelation 21:

“And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away. And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And he said unto me, Write: for these words are true and faithful.And he said unto me, It is done. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give unto him that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely.” (Revelation 21:4 – 6)

What a great reminder of the mercies of God and the haven of rest he has for his Children. In this world of sin and despair, remember there is coming a day when it will all be gone. Remember, Your God Will Come! 

Aug 1st, 2020 Jesus Is Coming Soon – 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.

“For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for ever. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will perform this.” (Isaiah 9:6-7)

Good morning. A black gospel blues singer, named Blind Willie Johnson, wrote a song called Jesus Is Coming Soon…

[Chorus: Blind Willie Johnson & Willie B. Harris]
Well, we done told you, God’s done warned you
Jesus coming soon
We done told you, God’s done warned you
Jesus coming soon

In the year of 19 and 18, God sent a mighty disease
It killed many a-thousand, on land and on the seas

Great disease was mighty and the people were sick everywhere
It was an epidemic, it floated through the air

Soldiers died on the battlefield, died in the camps too
Well, the captain said to the lieutenant, “I don’t know what to do.”

Well, God is warning the nation, He’s a’warning them every way
To turn away from the evil and seek the Lord and pray

Well, the nobles said to the people, “You better close your public schools.”
“Until the events of death has ended, you better close your churches too.”

Read the Book of Zachariah, Bible plainly say
Thousands of people, they did die, on account of their wicked ways

We done told you, our God’s done warned you
Jesus coming soon
We done told you, our God’s done warned you
Jesus coming soon

This song was about the Influenza Pandemic 0f 1918. It was estimated that 500 million people were infected with the flu virus world wide. There is also an estimated 50 million deaths of which 675,000 died in the United States. Compared to only 20 million, world wide, who died in World War One.

Today we are faced with another pandemic: Covid 19. 17.3 million cases world wide of which 10.2 million recovered, and 674,000 died. Is this enough to say Jesus is coming soon? Yet the Supreme Court is going against the Constitutional rights of the churches to assemble. They’ve removed the 10 Commandments from all government buildings. They made it legal to kill babies. The World is embracing God-less Socialism. Jesus is coming soon. After the rapture; after the 7 year tribulation period; during the Millennial Kingdom and after, He will put all things in order, creating a new perfect world.

Jesus is coming soon.

Are you ready?

Jul 30th, 2020 Rebellion Met With Grace … by Amanda Olive

Today’s Passage – Isaiah 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 15 – 16; Psalms 141 – 145; Proverbs 30)

Listen to this morning’s Scripture song – 1 John 4:7 & 8

Read the “0730 Evening and Morning” devotion for today, by the late Charles Haddon Spurgeon.

“Hear, O heavens, and give ear, O earth: for the LORD hath spoken, I have nourished and brought up children, and they have rebelled against me. The ox knoweth his owner, and the ass his master’s crib: but Israel doth not know, my people doth not consider. Ah sinful nation, a people laden with iniquity, a seed of evildoers, children that are corrupters: they have forsaken the LORD, they have provoked the Holy One of Israel unto anger, they are gone away backward. … Bring no more vain oblations; incense is an abomination unto me; the new moons and sabbaths, the calling of assemblies, I cannot away with; it is iniquity, even the solemn meeting.” (Isaiah 1:2-4; 13)

In the first chapter of Isaiah, I can feel and hear the sadness that the one and only true God, our Great Father in Heaven, the Creator of all things has towards His children. The spirit behind their worship was absent. These people had no morals, living by the lust of their flesh, they were full of greed, envy and deceit. There was crime and murder. But yet on the Sabbaths, appearing before God as if everything was good. Sounds a lot like the people of today doesn’t it? We live in a world that is immersed in all sorts of idolatry and religion; pride drives mankind to resist God. These people of Israel, their worship, their offerings and their keeping the Sabbath was all worthless, meaningless. because it was all religion. They were just going through the motions. God does care how we worship Him. The Lord has given us commands and examples in the Bible. We are to study and meditate on his Word daily. We are to gain a godly perspective on all things in our life.

Sin, a fallen world. It is a struggle for all. There is no good sin or bad sin it’s all sin. God has always given his people a choice to do what is good in his eyes or what is wrong in his eyes. Our great Father knew that mankind would sin. BUT!!!!

“In that day shall the branch of the LORD be beautiful and glorious, and the fruit of the earth shall be excellent and comely for them that are escaped of Israel.” (Isaiah 4:2)

The beautiful branch of the Lord. That beautiful branch of the Lord is God’s Amazing Grace. Our awesome God sent his son to pay the debt of the sins of mankind.

“If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” (1 John 1:9)

“If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” (1 John 1:9)

Cleansed by his blood! Totally undeserved, If you don’t know Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior, I’m praying that you reach out. To God be all the glory!

Jul 28th, 2020 I Am Here / Where Are You? … by Ashley Acosta

Today’s Passage – Song of Solomon 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 11 – 12; Psalms 131 – 135; Proverbs 28)

Listen to this morning’s Scripture song – James 4:10

Read the “0728 Evening and Morning” devotion for today, by the late Charles Haddon Spurgeon.

“The voice of my beloved! behold, he cometh leaping upon the mountains, skipping upon the hills. My beloved is like a roe or a young hart: behold, he standeth behind our wall, he looketh forth at the windows, shewing himself through the lattice. My beloved spake, and said unto me, Rise up, my love, my fair one, and come away. For, lo, the winter is past, the rain is over and gone; The flowers appear on the earth; the time of the singing of birds is come, and the voice of the turtle is heard in our land; The fig tree putteth forth her green figs, and the vines with the tender grape give a good smell. Arise, my love, my fair one, and come away. O my dove, that art in the clefts of the rock, in the secret places of the stairs, let me see thy countenance, let me hear thy voice; for sweet is thy voice, and thy countenance is comely.” (Song of Songs 2:8-14)

When Issan and I were dating, I wanted to be in his presence all the time. Not only in the same room as him, but I wanted to interact and engage him. I truly enjoyed his company, and wanted to talk to him, do new things with him, and most importantly be present with him. Everything we did was so fun just because we were together. I remember when we took a day trip to Valley Forge with my brother. I was thrilled to walk around a field and take pictures. It was like I was in a new world for the first time, taking time for the small things in life. It’s one of those moments I look back on and remember falling more in love with him that day. I was truly present with him, and he was present with me.

Solomon and his wife describe a world of beauty and adventure that awaits them. With excitement and joy, she awaits for her husband. Even Solomon is looking through the window, intentionally, at his wife. He invites her to come with him so they can enjoy the beauty around them. They show us that enjoyment of life can be greatly enhanced through relationships.

This can only be possible when you are present with each other. I looked up the word “present” The definition is “in a particular place” that seemed simple enough, I thought, I’m with my husband a lot. Then the Lord quickly convicted me. “Is your mind there as well?” Am I truly present?  Am I waiting by the door, upon his arrival like the woman in this passage? Unfortunately, a lot of the time my mind is absent from him. In verse 10 he says “ rise up, my love, my fair one, and come away” He is referring to physically coming away with him, but sometimes we need to tell our spouses, rise up, my love, and come away emotionally, and mentally. Turn off whatever is distracting you from being present with me. 

“78.6% of men, and 91.6 % of women are involved in an emotional affair at some point in their life,” according to fatherly.com. We focus a lot on physical affairs, but do not realize that emotional affairs are even more relevant in our Christian circles; especially with Christian women. We are busy people, and most of our attention is on our ministries. If we aren’t present with our spouses, the truth of the matter is, someone else will be.

This applies to all relationships. It can be with our children, our friends, or family members. We think that the relationships that are the closest to us are the ones we don’t need to be as present with. We tend to turn off emotionally because we have been mentally turned on with so many others all day. What is most important is that we work harder at those relationships. The relationship with Solomon and his wife was an intimate relationship that was truly intentional. Be intentional with your husband or wife. If you’re single, be intentional with the people you love.

Jul 27th, 2020 Prayer Is First … by Jaxon Erickson

Today’s Passage – Ecclesiastes 9 – 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 – Luke 9 – 10; Psalms 126 – 130; Proverbs 27)

Read the “0727 Evening and Morning” devotion for today, by the late Charles Haddon Spurgeon.

“And all things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive.” (Matthew 21:22)

Matthew 21:22 talks about how if you believe God, He will answer your prayers. If it’s God’s will, He will give you an answer. It may not be what you are hoping for, but you can trust in God that He will always do what is right.

So keep praying for your family, your friends, your games (in the future), and school tests.

Love you guys. Be safe.

Jul 25th, 2020 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.

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) is 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

Jul 23rd, 2020 God Has the Answers to All of Your Problems … by Michael Garner

Today’s Passage – Proverbs 25 – 27 (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 1 – 2; Psalms 111 – 115; Proverbs 23)

Listen to this morning’s Scripture song – Micah 6:8

Read the “0723 Evening and Morning” devotion for today, by the late Charles Haddon Spurgeon.

“And thou shalt have goats’ milk enough for thy food, for the food of thy household, and for the maintenance for thy maidens.” (Proverbs 27:27)

When I was around three months old, I was in and out of the Children’s Hospital in Washington D.C. with severe digestive problems. I had bleeding sores all down my esophagus and would stay up late screaming all night. The doctors were prescribing me with many different types of formulas, but none of them were working. After several tests being run, a stay in the NICU, and still no help, a lady at church told my mother about switching over to goat’s milk. My mother went and bought goat’s milk. That evening, my parents saw a difference! I began to sleep, my symptoms began to subside, and I became a completely different baby. My mother took me back to my pediatrician for a follow up appointment from the hospital. She told the doctor that she quit giving me the prescribed medications and the natural goat’s milk was working. The doctor became angry. He told my mother if we continued with the goat’s milk, it was going to kill me due to an excessive amount of calcium the milk contained. He did some blood work and told my mother to stop using the goat’s milk immediately. She left the doctor and went home crying, not knowing what to do. She thought she found the answer in goat’s milk, but was torn with the doctor saying it would kill me. She called her mother and told her what the doctors said. My grandmother told her to read her Bible and ask the Lord what to do. My mother hung up the phone, sat down and prayed. She opened her Bible to a random spot and began reading Proverbs 27. In verse 27, she read, And thou shalt have goats’ milk enough for thy food, for the food of thy household, and for the maintenance for thy maidens. She was young at the time and didn’t even know goat’s milk was in the Bible. She immediately began to cry, knowing God had spoken to her through His Word. She called her parents and told them what God had shown her and decided to stick with the goats milk. She proved the doctors wrong and it helped my body. She would use goat’s milk for all her children from then on.

In that time, my mother didn’t have an answer to our problems, but she went straight to God and He showed her the answer. When we go through confusing or troubling times and don’t know what to do, we must go to God! Through prayer and reading, God will make Himself known and will guide us to the right answer. This world will go through struggles and try to find their “answer,” but will find nothing. We have the answer! We have God!

Maybe today we need to remember when we go through confusing times, we must remember that God will always show us the answers!

Jul 22nd, 2020 The Field of the Slothful … by Justin Mears

Today’s Passage – Proverbs 22 – 24 (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 15 – 16; Psalms 106 – 110)

Listen to this morning’s Scripture song – Isaiah 51:11

Read the “0722 Evening and Morning” devotion for today, by the late Charles Haddon Spurgeon.

“I went by the field of the slothful, and by the vineyard of the man void of understanding; And, lo, it was all grown over with thorns, and nettles had covered the face thereof, and the stone wall thereof was broken down. Then I saw, and considered it well: I looked upon it, and received instruction. Yet a little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to sleep:” (Proverbs 24:30-33)

This is the story of a man who has a field and is slothful, and also a man who has a vineyard and is void of understanding. The slothful man is too lazy to go out and work the field, while the man void of understanding is just ignorant of danger and without discernment. Either way the men described do not take there duties seriously enough to work and think hard. These men will go on with there lives blissfully lacking and never acknowledging the failure until it is too late. Once they are without and in poverty it will be too late, they will be eating of the “fruit of their labor.” They will never get that time back. 

“So shall thy poverty come as one that travelleth; and thy want as an armed man.” (Proverbs 24:34)

I see this field and vineyard as the life God has given. Just as a man must work his field by breaking up the soil, planting seeds, pulling thorns, giving nutrition, and building a wall to protect it from animals that would want to devour it. You must have wisdom, work hard, have good timing, and fervently pray.

“A prudent man foreseeth the evil, and hideth himself: but the simple pass on, and are punished. … The slothful man saith, There is a lion without, I shall be slain in the streets.” (Proverbs 22:3, 13)

A man void of understanding doesn’t make the right moves because he doesn’t have the eyes of wisdom, while the slothful man makes excuses and he really believes he has an impossible feat before him. The slothful man says it can’t be done so they feel better about their laziness. How are we doing managing the field God has given us? Are we taking our duties in life seriously, working hard at home with our families? Training our children and loving our spouses? Or does our life look like the these men’s fields? Read it again

“And, lo, it was all grown over with thorns, and nettles had covered the face thereof, and the stone wall thereof was broken down.” (Proverbs 24:31)

In conclusion God wants to use us for his glory and exalt himself through us. This can only be done if we keep our fields. 

“A good name is rather to be chosen than great riches, and loving favour rather than silver and gold.” (Proverbs 22:1)

Jul 18th, 2020 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 Dead 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 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 Euro-Atlantic countries have moved away from their roots, including Christian values,” Russian President Vladimir Putin said in a 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!