Making a Differencewith Pastor Phil Erickson

Mar 30th, 2024 The Circuit Riders – The Saturday Morning Post

Today’s Passage – 1 Samuel 4 – 7 (Click on the references to listen to the audio – Click here to view the passage from Blue Letter Bible)

(Second Milers also read – Revelation 13 – 15; Proverbs 30; Psalms 146 – 150)

Read the “0330 Evening and Morning” devotion for today, by the late Charles Haddon Spurgeon.

“And Samuel judged Israel all the days of his life. And he went from year to year in circuit to Bethel, and Gilgal, and Mizpeh, and judged Israel in all those places. And his return was to Ramah; for there was his house; and there he judged Israel; and there he built an altar unto the LORD.” (1Samuel 7:15-17)

Good morning. As the High Priest of Israel, Samuel followed a circuit of towns judging God’s people. Jesus was with His eleven apostles…

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

In America, back in the 1700’s and the 1800’s, the Methodists had preachers that would go from town to town preaching the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. This was something that the Methodists had done in England. As the settlements in America grew they would start churches. And just like Samuel they would spread the Word of God throughout America. The circuit riders were also known as saddlebag preachers. Everything they had, and needed, was carried in their saddle bags. They braved the elements, riding their horses through rain and snow. They knew the Lord would take care of them. We have circuit riders today called Evangelists. They also go from city to city, town to town with the Gospel. Paul wrote to Timothy…

“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.” (2Timothy 4:1-5)

But this message goes out to us also to do the work of an Evangelist. Our call is in all the Gospels. Besides Mark 16:15…

“And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.” (Matthew 28:18-20)

“Then opened he their understanding, that they might understand the scriptures, And said unto them, Thus it is written, and thus it behoved Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead the third day: And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. And ye are witnesses of these things.” (Luke 24:45-48)

“Then said Jesus to them again, Peace be unto you: as my Father hath sent me, even so send I you.” (John 20:21)

Even the wisest king Israel ever had (Solomon) wrote…

“The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life; and he that winneth souls is wise.” (Proverbs 11:30)

So send I you to bind the bruised and broken

Over wandering souls to work, to weep, to wake

To bear the burdens of a world a-weary

So send I you to suffer for My sake

Pray for our circuit riders.

Peace.