Making A Differencewith Pastor Phil Erickson

Sep 12th, 2020 Toxic Waste – Part Two – The Saturday Morning Post

Today’s Passage – Ezekiel 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 – 1 Timothy 1 – 3; Psalms 56 – 60; Proverbs 12)

Read the “0912 Evening and Morning” devotion for today, by the late Charles Haddon Spurgeon.

Afterward he brought me to the gate, even the gate that looketh toward the east: And, behold, the glory of the God of Israel came from the way of the east: and his voice was like a noise of many waters: and the earth shined with his glory. And it was according to the appearance of the vision which I saw, even according to the vision that I saw when I came to destroy the city: and the visions were like the vision that I saw by the river Chebar; and I fell upon my face. And the glory of the LORD came into the house by the way of the gate whose prospect is toward the east. So the spirit took me up, and brought me into the inner court; and, behold, the glory of the LORD filled the house. And I heard him speaking unto me out of the house; and the man stood by me. And he said unto me, Son of man, the place of my throne, and the place of the soles of my feet, where I will dwell in the midst of the children of Israel for ever, and my holy name, shall the house of Israel no more defile, neither they, nor their kings, by their whoredom, nor by the carcases of their kings in their high places.” (Ezekiel 43:1-7)

Good morning. In chapter 40, Ezekiel is taken on a tour of the wall and the gates that surround the temple. In our reading today, chapters 41 and 42, Ezekiel is given the grand tour of the temple. But his greatest sight is in chapter 43, seeing the glory of the LORD come through the eastern gate, and fill the house. And the spirit took him to the inner court where the LORD spoke to him, declaring that this is where He would dwell in the midst of the children of Israel for ever. And the LORD also declares that His Holy Name would not be defiled by them any more.

Let me take you on a tour of God’s temple…

“Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you? If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are.” (1Corinthians 3:16-17)

You are God’s temple! Let’s start our tour with your heart. Jesus said…

“For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies: These are the things which defile a man: but to eat with unwashen hands defileth not a man.” (Matthew 15:19-20)

But…

“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.” (Romans 10:9-10)

What kind of heart do you have? The signals that our next stop, the mind, receives depends on your heart…

“For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be.” (Romans 8:6-7)

Is your mind carnal? There is a cure…

“Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.” (Philippians 2:5-8)

The apostle Paul told us…

“For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind. Be not thou therefore ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me his prisoner: but be thou partaker of the afflictions of the gospel according to the power of God; Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began, But is now made manifest by the appearing of our Saviour Jesus Christ, who hath abolished death, and hath brought life and immortality to light through the gospel: Whereunto I am appointed a preacher, and an apostle, and a teacher of the Gentiles.” (2Timothy 1:7-11)

And it is your mind that is going to send it’s signals to the body to tell it’s members what to do. Your soul is who you are. The works of your body parts (your mouth, your hands, your feet, etc.) makes up a great portion of who you are. So, who are you? Are you a child of the King? Are you joint heirs with Christ? You can be who you should be by following Jesus’ instructions in Matthew 22…

“Then one of them, which was a lawyer, asked him a question, tempting him, and saying, Master, which is the great commandment in the law? Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.” (Matthew 22:35-40)

If your heart and mind and soul are focused on loving God, He will clean up the toxic waste that is in your life.

“I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.” (Romans 12:1-2)

Peace!

Sep 11th, 2020 Have You Forgotten?

Today’s Passage – Ezekiel 38 – 40 (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 – 2 Thessalonians 1 – 3; Psalms 51 – 55; Proverbs 11)

Listen to this morning’s Scripture song – Psalm 92:1 – 4

Read the “0911 Evening and Morning” devotion for today, by the late Charles Haddon Spurgeon.

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

19 years ago today our nation was attacked by radical Muslim terrorists filled with hatred for our culture and our freedom. I have not forgotten that day, and I am sure that all of you who read this who were alive on September 11th have not forgotten either. We remember exactly where we were and what we were doing on that day. It is my prayer that as the years go by the memory of 9/11 will remain vivid in our hearts and minds for several reasons:

1 I do not want to forget that there is an enemy out there that wants to destroy us. In this world of distraction, we go about busily living our lives almost oblivious to the fact that evil still exists in our world. Satan is still very active, and His hatred for God and God’s people has only become more intense as years have passed. His influence on people has also increased; and there are more people than ever out there who are under his influence, and are willing to do his evil bidding. As Christians, we are admonished to be alert:

“Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:” – (1 Peter 5:8)

2 I do not want to forget that there is still a cause worth fighting for. The evil that exists in the world reminds me that I must be daily in the battle, fighting the devil, and working to deliver people from his spell. The gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ is still the most powerful weapon in our arsenal against the wiles of the devil. The more people that we can reach with the message of salvation, the less people Satan will have to do his bidding. Evil cannot be removed by more evil. It can only be eradicated through the love of Christ.

3 I do not want to forget that there are still people out there that are willing to die for that cause; and there are still folks out there worth dying for. Jesus died to set us free:

“And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.” – (John 8:32)

“If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed.” – (John 8:36)

“For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death.” – (Romans 8:2)

“Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage.” – (Galatians 5:1)

Jesus died to give us liberty, and there are many still today who are willing to lay down there life for the same cause. The men and woman who are fighting today are fighting for our liberty and freedom. The men and women who were murdered by the terrorists nineteen years ago were murdered because the concept of liberty and freedom was under attack.

The greatest demonstration of love is sacrifice. Jesus commended His love for us by dying on the cross for our sins. Parents show their love for their children by what they sacrifice for them. The men and women that went into those buildings in order to save lives were putting their lives on the line for other people. The men and women that fight for our freedom today are putting their lives in jeopardy for the cause of our liberty. They are sacrificing their own liberty in order to help us keep ours.

Let’s not forget these things. Let’s not forget these people. And let’s get in the battle ourselves, and be willing to sacrifice some of our liberty so that we can help others enjoy theirs.

Sep 9th, 2020 Keep Your Eyes on the Shepherd … by Moriah Rice

Today’s Passage – Ezekiel 32 – 34 (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 – Colossians 1 – 4; Psalms 41 – 45; Proverbs 9)

Listen to this morning’s Scripture song – Psalm 61:1 – 3

Read the “ 0909 Evening and Morning” devotion for today, by the late Charles Haddon Spurgeon.

The passage of Scripture that spoke to my heart follows chapter 32 and 33 of Ezekiel, but as I read through those chapters it struck me how Ezekiel 32 is a picture of death and destruction (of Pharaoh and Egypt) and Ezekiel 33 is one of repentance and hope. We continue with chapter 34, where these verses struck the hope that we see in Ezekiel 33 to life. I want to focus on the following passage and see what we can glean from it:

“For thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, I, even I, will both search my sheep, and seek them out. As a shepherd seeketh out his flock in the day that he is among his sheep that are scattered; so will I seek out my sheep, and will deliver them out of all places where they have been scattered in the cloudy and dark day. And I will bring them out from the people, and gather them from the countries, and will bring them to their own land, and feed them upon the mountains of Israel by the rivers, and in all the inhabited places of the country. I will feed them in a good pasture, and upon the high mountains of Israel shall their fold be: there shall they lie in a good fold, and in a fat pasture shall they feed upon the mountains of Israel. I will feed my flock, and I will cause them to lie down, saith the Lord GOD. I will seek that which was lost, and bring again that which was driven away, and will bind up that which was broken, and will strengthen that which was sick: but I will destroy the fat and the strong; I will feed them with judgment.” (Ezekiel 34:11-16)

This passage is one of comfort. It is a picture of God (our Shepherd) searching us (His sheep) out from the world (a dark and cloudy place). It leads us to the realization that God seeks after our hearts even when we entangle ourselves in the world; He searches for us. He desires to have a relationship with us and in the following verses He promises to feed us, guide us, and protect us. What a good Shepherd we have that He would not only search for us when we are wandering and lost, but that He would strengthen us and bring us back to Him. It is easy to wander off the trail, but when we do it only leads us towards death and destruction as we can see in Ezekiel 32. But, we still have the hope of repentance in chapter 33. Repentance is not only sorrow, but rather turning away from those things that give us temporal satisfaction and lasting sorrow. And finally, in chapter 34, we can have comfort in the fact that God desires to be with us, to protect us as His sheep, and to guide us on this daily journey. Let’s keep our eyes on the Shepherd as He guides us through this journey of life!

Sep 5th, 2020 Toxic Waste – The Saturday Morning Post

Today’s Passage – Ezekiel 20 – 21 (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 – Galatians 4 – 6; Psalms 21 – 25; Proverbs 5)

Read the “0905 Evening and Morning” devotion for today, by the late Charles Haddon Spurgeon.

“But I wrought for my name’s sake, that it should not be polluted before the heathen, among whom they were, in whose sight I made myself known unto them, in bringing them forth out of the land of Egypt.” (Ezekiel 20:9)

“But I wrought for my name’s sake, that it should not be polluted before the heathen, in whose sight I brought them out.” (Ezekiel 20:14)

“Nevertheless I withdrew mine hand, and wrought for my name’s sake, that it should not be polluted in the sight of the heathen, in whose sight I brought them forth.” (Ezekiel 20:22)

“But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation; Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy.” (1Peter 1:15-16)

Good morning. How many of you remember Love Canal? It was a small community near Niagara Falls, NY. There was an old abandoned canal there on property owned by the Hooker Chemical Co. They used this abandoned canal from 1942 to 1953 to dump almost 22 tons of hazardous industrial waste. Toxic Waste. So now this small community of about 900 people is sitting on a time-bomb. They were starting to get sick. There were many miscarriages by ladies who were pregnant. There were boils and rashes that popped up too. Twenty-four years later, 1977, the winter was harsh, there was a lot of snow, and it melted. When it did melt, the excessive water caused some of the 22 tons of toxic waste to seep into the water supply, and also come oozing out to the surface. There is now a 70 acre site that is fenced in. The site has been capped, and there is no leakage. Or is there? In 1990, two-hundred and sixty houses outside the contaminated area were given new siding, and roofs. They were sold for 20% below the market value. People bought the houses, and moved in. They started getting sick. In 2013, the lawsuits came pouring in. Will they ever get Love Canal fixed, and cleaned up? It is doubtful.

Let me tell you of another toxic waste site. One that only God can ever fix. In our three text verses from Ezekiel chapter 20, the Lord said that He worked hard so that His name would not be polluted in front of the heathen (or the unsaved). Do you think a good testimony is important to God? Do you think God wants His name dragged through the mud? Do you think God meant it when He told Solomon to write…

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

…and also…

“A good name is better than precious ointment…” (Ecclesiastes 7:1)

What does God want to see happen with His good name? This…

“That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” (Philippians 2:10-11)

How is your witness? How is your testimony? Does God have to work hard with you so His name is not appear as toxic waste among the unsaved?

“Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling. For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure. Do all things without murmurings and disputings: [WHY?] That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world; Holding forth the word of life; that I may rejoice in the day of Christ, that I have not run in vain, neither laboured in vain.” (Philippians 2:12-16)

We get all excited about what is happening in the world. We see by the signs of the times that Jesus may be back soon, real soon. We see all this, and we are ready to be raptured out of here. We see all that is happening, but we forget our original purpose. We need to be ready.

“But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear: Having a good conscience; that, whereas they speak evil of you, as of evildoers, they may be ashamed that falsely accuse your good conversation in Christ.” (1Peter 3:15-16)

How do you appear to the unsaved? Do you appear to the unsaved as toxic waste, or have you allowed the Holy Spirit to transform us into the kind of witness you should be? God told us 3 times in Ezekiel 20, that He wrought (or worked hard) for His name’s sake, that it should not be polluted before the heathen. Are you working hard to die to self and allow Jesus to shine through? Will the unsaved get saved by seeing you or Jesus? Time is moving quickly and this country is moving further and further away from God. Around five years ago, it was announced that First Baptist Church of Greenville, NC is going to start ordaining gay pastors, and will offer same-sex marriage ceremonies.

Is not homosexuality still an abomination to the Lord?

“For I am the LORD, I change not; therefore ye sons of Jacob are not consumed.” (Malachi 3:6)

“Thou shalt not lie with mankind, as with womankind: it is abomination.” (Leviticus 18:22)

He didn’t change, so why should His Word change? The unsaved world is not getting the truth. The unsaved world is getting a polluted picture of God, and not the God of the Bible. We need to change. Allow the Holy Spirit to change us, and help us to stop being the hypocrites that the world sees. He is the only One that can clean up this toxic waste called sin.

“For I am the LORD your God: ye shall therefore sanctify yourselves, and ye shall be holy; for I am holy: neither shall ye defile yourselves with any manner of creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth. For I am the LORD that bringeth you up out of the land of Egypt, to be your God: ye shall therefore be holy, for I am holy.” (Leviticus 11:44-45)

Peace!

Aug 29th, 2020 Therefore Have I Hope – The Saturday Morning Post

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Great is Thy faithfulness!

Great is Thy faithfulness!

Morning by morning new mercies I see;

All I have needed Thy hand hath provided,

Great is Thy faithfulness,

Lord unto me!

Therefore have I hope.

Peace…

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

Aug 22nd, 2020 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!

Aug 20th, 2020 Thank You! … by Wesley Clayton

Today’s Passage – Jeremiah 23 – 25 (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 16 – 18; Psalms 96 – 100; Proverbs 20)

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

Read the “0820 Evening and Morning” devotion for today, by the late Charles Haddon Spurgeon.

“From the thirteenth year of Josiah the son of Amon king of Judah, even unto this day, that is the three and twentieth year, the word of the LORD hath come unto me, and I have spoken unto you, rising early and speaking; but ye have not hearkened. And the LORD hath sent unto you all his servants the prophets, rising early and sending them; but ye have not hearkened, nor inclined your ear to hear.” (Jeremiah 25:3-4)

Jeremiah had a tough ministry. 23 years and no one turned to God, but he kept preaching. I have been blessed to have had many men and women of God in my life who have influenced me through the preaching and teaching of the Word of God, and I just want to say thanks. From the bus worker/driver that was faithful to drive 15 minutes out of their way to come pick me up all those years; to the many Sunday school teachers who spent countless hours praying and preparing on how to keep my attention; to the youth pastors and pastors, evangelist, and missionaries that followed God by faith to get to where I was; and finally to all the godly laymen and women that simply showed the loved of God to me and kept me coming back: THANK YOU. Without them I don’t know where I would be or where I would be headed.

And, in regards to chapter 24, I don’t know what basket I would be in. So why don’t we all purpose in our heart to go to someone who made a godly difference in our lives and simply tell them thanks for having a Jeremiah-like faithfulness during the hard times and not quitting. Because, without them, there is a possibility things could be very different in your life and mine. 

Aug 18th, 2020 Spiritual Drought … by Mason Atwood

Today’s Passage – Jeremiah 14 – 17 (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 10 – 12; Psalms 86 – 90; Proverbs 18)

Listen to this morning’s Scripture song – Isaiah 40:31

Read the “0818 Evening and Morning” devotion for today, by the late Charles Haddon Spurgeon.

“Are there any among the vanities of the Gentiles that can cause rain? or can the heavens give showers? art not thou he, O LORD our God? therefore we will wait upon thee: for thou hast made all these things.” (Jeremiah 14:22)

In this passage, God is speaking to Jeremiah concerning the impending drought about to come upon the land of Judah and Jerusalem. God promises to Jeremiah that because the people of Jerusalem have wandered about and become overtaken in sin, He is going to visit them. This visiting will not be one of peace and providence but one of death and destruction. 

As God reveals to Jeremiah what is about to come upon these wicked people, He makes a very odd statement. In verse 11 and 12, God said:

“Pray not for this people for their good.When they fast, I will not hear their cry; and when they offer burnt offering and an oblation, I will not accept them: but I will consume them by the sword, and by the famine, and by the pestilence.” (Jeremiah 14:11 – 12)

Living in the Dispensation of Grace, we do not know this side of God. Not long, and this same fate will rest upon those who have not accepted His Son. 

Next, Jeremiah tells God of the prophets in that day and how they are prophesying messages of peace. They were telling the people that they needed not to fear the sword, famine, or pestilence. How much does this sound exactly like the so-called preachers of our world today. They speak of how God is a God of love and that He would never send someone to Hell. In this specific passage in the Word of God, God is telling Jeremiah not to pray for them because God would not regard it. God does not tolerate sin. His grace is only dispensed for a short time. 

I’ve chosen verse 22 because of the light in which it shines upon who God is. God is the Alpha and Omega, Beginning and End, Creator of the universe. He controls the sword of our enemies, He controls the clouds which pour the rain, and He controls the largest of pestilences. Jeremiah points out in this verse that the gods of the Gentiles could in no way cause rain to fall. For that matter it was only God who could cause the rain to cease in the first place.

In conclusion, in chapter 15 God tells Jeremiah that even if Moses or Samuel had entreated on behalf of these people that God would not honor it. We are in a drought. Our country is ridden with sin and the only hope we have is if God sends us revival. Remember during this season of pestilence that the rain falls (or ceases) upon the just and the unjust, so let us not forget the One who controls it… even if this disease lasts until His Bride is raptured out.

Aug 15th, 2020 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 are surpass that of the wicked (Israel may have only caused 1,000 children to be killed – passed through the fire – unto Moloch, but, at over 61,800,000 abortions, we have surpassed them (1973-2018)). 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.

“But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope.  For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him.  For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep. For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. Wherefore comfort one another with these words.” (1Thesselonians 4:13-18)

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.

“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 I do in the end thereof.”

Peace!

Aug 14th, 2020 God’s Presence and Provision … by Pastor Corey Woolner

“Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee; and before thou camest forth out of the womb I sanctified thee, and I ordained thee a prophet unto the nations.” (Jeremiah 1:5)

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

(Second Milers also read – John 21; Psalms 66 – 70; Proverbs 14)

Listen to this morning’s Scripture song – Psalm 119:105

Read the “0814 Evening and Morning” devotion for today, by the late Charles Haddon Spurgeon.

Here in chapter 1, we see that the Word of the Lord came to Jeremiah as a young child. Jeremiah, the Weeping Prophet, heard the voice of the Lord in his younger years. In verse 5, we see a strong reference to life in the womb. God knew him when he was in the womb, proving that life begins at conception!  When a baby is in the womb, God knows that baby and that baby is a precious life! Abortion is the murder of that precious life and we as Christians need to speak up about that.

Continuing on, God tells Jeremiah that he was ordained a prophet to the nations. Jeremiah claims that his age and inexperience mean he cannot do and be what God wanted. The Lord gave Jeremiah assurances. In verse 7, the Lord tells Jeremiah that this calling was not about Jeremiah himself, but about his God. In the next verse, God told him to not be afraid of their faces, since that would be tempting because of his youth.

At times, I feel like Jeremiah. The Lord opened the door for me to become a Pastor back in October. After much prayer, we accepted the position. I’m 25, and trust me, my age was a great concern. “God is this too much for me? Am I too young?” These questions would run through my mind. One passage that helped me was in Joshua 1, where God told Joshua that just as He was with Moses, He would be with him. The assurance the Lord gave Joshua was His presence, and that’s the same assurance He gave Jeremiah. As a young Pastor, I am not to be afraid of their faces, but rather to preach the Bible as God commands.

God also gave Jeremiah the assurance of provision. He said in verse 8 “…for I am with thee to deliver thee, saith the Lord.” God is able to deliver us from anything we face! There is nothing too hard for Him! The God we serve is the God of Jeremiah and the other prophets. As Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego said “…our God whom we serve is able to deliver us…” Christian, you have nothing to fear. You have been promised His presence and His provision. God will take care of you!