Making a Differencewith Pastor Phil Erickson

Apr 17th, 2010 Looking Forward to a Great Weekend of Ministry

Praise the Lord for our softball team.  They played their first game against Bethel Baptist Church on Friday night.  They lost the game (14 – 10), but they did great for their first game.  More importantly they maintained a great Christian testimony.  Their next game is next Friday night at 6:30 at Solid Rock Baptist Church in Berlin.  Come out and support our team.

We are looking forward to a great weekend of ministry.  Today, we gathered for prayer at 6:00 AM.  Later on we will be going out: some will knock doors, and some will visit folks trying to encourage them to come out to church tomorrow.  Please pray that God will breathe today and tomorrow upon this area and the area around the chapel in Little Egg Harbor.  Pray for both churches  to be filled tomorrow.  Pray for lives to be changed; and souls to be saved.  Also pray for a place for the chapel to meet after May 30th.

Todays Reading – 2 Samuel 22 – 24

And David was then in an hold, and the garrison of the Philistines was then in Bethlehem. And David longed, and said, Oh that one would give me drink of the water of the well of Bethlehem, which is by the gate! And the three mighty men brake through the host of the Philistines, and drew water out of the well of Bethlehem, that was by the gate, and took it, and brought it to David: nevertheless he would not drink thereof, but poured it out unto the LORD. And he said, Be it far from me, O LORD, that I should do this: is not this the blood of the men that went in jeopardy of their lives? therefore he would not drink it. These things did these three mighty men.

(2 Samuel 23:14 – 17)

I bet you David regretted making the request for water.  I don’t think he really intended to state it audibly.  He was probably doing what we sometimes call, “thinking out loud”.   Leaders, you especially need to be careful about what you say publically, because there are people around you that will give their lives trying to please you, and give you the things that you desire.  It may not be what you really want for them to do.

We also need to be careful about what we say, because people sometimes repeat it; and it may not be something that should be repeated.  I have often said things in the presence of people that was mis-represented later on.  I have also thought out loud about an idea and the next thing I know the idea became something that was “etched in stone”.  Leaders, be careful that you clearly think about what you say; and also think about the people who are in your presence when you say it.