Making a Differencewith Pastor Phil Erickson

Jun 28th Acceptable in thy Sight

Today’s Passage – Psalm 16 – 20

Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O LORD, my strength, and my redeemer. (Psalm 19:14)

I love the Word of God.  I thoroughly enjoyed the Book of Job; but I am also having a wonderful time each morning in the Psalms.  As I read this morning, I was captured by the beauty of Psalm 19.  Verses 1-6 are expressions of David’s worship of God.  Verses 7 – 11 are remarks that lift up the Word of God, and the reader is admonished to place a higher value on the Word of God than gold.  Great Advice!

However, the verses that really caught my attention were verses 12 – 14 where David prays to God regarding God’s help in keeping him from sin.  In verses 12 and 13, he speaks of secret sins and presumptuous sins.  The presumptuous sins are those that we do blatantly, proudly, and in public view.  David begs God’s help in the removal of these things.

Verse 14 is the prayer that all of us should have on our lips and in our hearts the moment that we awake from sleep.  How often do we violate our relationship with God by allowing evil thoughts to take hold of our meditations.  we muse on things that are clearly outside of the will of God.  Ask God to control your thought life.  The minute the devil causes you to think about something that is wrong, take it to God.  Ask Him to help you.  Purposely divert your thoughts to things that are true, honest, just, and pure, etc.  Our sin begins with the musings of our heart.

Notice also the petition regarding his words.  Oh how I wish that I could take back some of my words.  The tongue can be a consuming fire, a deadly poison.  Why not ask God to help you get your tongue under control.

I wonder how many mistakes we could have avoided in the past had we made this our prayer?  We don’t have to make the same mistake in the future.  Let God control your thought life and your tongue!

Jun 27th (No Title)

Today’s Passage – Psalms 11 – 15

Jun 25th Kiss the Son

Today’s Passage – Psalms 1 – 5

I have enjoyed our reading in the Book of Job but I am also excited now that we are exploring the Psalms.  My though this morning comes from the second Psalm.  In this Psalm we get a glimpse into Heaven and we hear from the throne of God; but we also have a view into the earth where we see that the rulers of this world have set themselves in rebellion against God.  In verse 4 we see that God laughs at this.  Who does little man think he is in comparison to an almighty God.  The rulers of this world may think that they have power and authority, but few of them realize that it was God that gave them their power, and God could remove it at any time.

As we get closer to the end of this present age we will see the mighty men of this earth become more brazen in their fight against God.  At times it may seem that God is absent or even powerless to fight back; but don’t lose heart, He is in full control of His universe, and His patience with the rulers of this present world is quickly running out.

God’s warning to the kings of the earth holds true for the common man as well.  He tells us to “serve the Lord with fear” and to “kiss the Son”.  If you have not yet received Christ as your Savior you need to “kiss the Son” by receiving the forgiveness that only He can give you through His shed blood on the cross of Calvary.  If you are saved, you still need to “kiss the Son” by living your live in complete submission to His will.

Jun 24th I’d Better Keep My Mouth Shut

Today’s Passage – Job 40 – 42

Behold, I am vile; what shall I answer thee? I will lay mine hand upon my mouth. (Job 40:4)

Who is he that hideth counsel without knowledge? therefore have I uttered that I understood not; things too wonderful for me, which I knew not. (Job 42:3)

Have you ever made the statement, “I’d better keep my mouth shut”?  Have you ever told your child the same thing?  We can really get ourselves in trouble with our mouths, can’t we?  Sometimes it’s better not to say anything.  I remember when I was a brand new Christian.  I was having a discussion with Pastor Thompson about reaching the people around me for the Lord.  He said something that I never forgot: he said that if you don’t have an answer to their questions, or even their arguments, tell them that you don’t know the answer.  His exact words were, “Don’t snow them”.  What he meant was that we shouldn’t try to offer something on behalf of God that isn’t what God said.  We shouldn’t offer what we feel or think about God; but only tell people what we know to be true.  These friends of Job (and Job himself) were doing a lot of talking about God: each offering their own opinion about the situation; but how much of what they said was actually true.

The Bible says that we are God’s ambassadors.  We represent God to this world around us.  We speak on his behalf.  Shouldn’t we be very careful about what we say?  I wonder what God will have to say about me someday, especially the things that I have taught others about Him.  Preachers and teachers have an awesome responsibility.  Therefore we need to make sure that we are daily spending time with God in His word so that we can know how He thinks; and know what He teaches about any given subject.  And then when we are given the opportunity to speak on His behalf, whenever possible, we should tell people what God actually said, instead of what our opinion is.  As God’s ambassadors we have no right to represent ourselves, or present ourselves, or try to make ourselves look good in the eyes of the people.  We need to make God look good; and we need to give people the actual Words of God.

In God’s rebuke of Job, He said, “will thou condemn me, that thou mayest be righteous”?  What God was saying was that Job said things to justify himself; to make himself look good.  How often do I do that.  I am so afraid of the opinion of men that I have often condemned others in order to elevate myself.  Shame on me! and shame on all of us.  The Bible is very plain in its teaching that we don’t have to say too much, and that it is wise to hold our peace at times; and then when we do speak, we should be very careful about what we say.

Jun 22nd Speaking On God’s Behalf

Today’s Passage – Job 34 – 36

Suffer me a little, and I will shew thee that I have yet to speak on God’s behalf. (Job 36:2)

In our reading we have been listening to a long speech (chapters 32 – 37) given by a man named Elihu, who claims to be speaking on behalf of God.  I am still trying to figure Elihu out.  At first, I included him with Job’s other three friends who were condemning Job.  However, at second glance, it does not appear that Elihu’s purpose is to condemn Job.  It seems to be the aim of Elihu to justify God.  It is interesting that at the end of the book God does not rebuke Elihu as he does the other three men.  Elihu seems to be defending God’s right as the God of the universe to do whatever He wants; and that everything He does is right.  Elihu further seems to be inferring that Job’s grumbling about his present distress is really a grumbling against God.  I can’t find fault in much of what Elihu has to say , particularly what he says about God.

What I really wanted to talk about, however, is the little phrase in verse 2 of chapter 6, “…I have yet to speak on God’s behalf”.  And then in verse 3 he says, “…I will ascribe righteousness to my Maker”.  That’s some good stuff right there.  Elihu says that he has a lot left to say about the righteousness of God.

Christian, you and I have a lot to say on behalf of God as well.  Paul told the church at Corinth that they were ambassadors for the Lord Jesus Christ.  We have the awesome privilege and responsibility of representing the Lord on this earth; and the people of this world have a lot to learn about the Lord.  Take full advantage of every opportunity that you get to ascribe righteousness to the Lord, and to speak on His behalf.  This world needs to hear about their Creator; but how shall they hear if His children are clamming up.

Jun 21st Oh Be Careful Little Eyes What You See

Today’s Passage – Job 31 – 33

I made a covenant with mine eyes; why then should I think upon a maid? (Job 31:1)

In our reading we have been following the conversation between Job and his friends.  Job has been declaring hi innocence: not that he claims sinlessness; but he does contend that his sins were open and confessed to God, and that he was not living a double life.  His friends, however, are sure that Job must have some heinous secret sin in his life.  In this chapter Job seems to be answering a charge regarding his fidelity.  Perhaps the underlying accusation was that Job was an adulterer.  Job’s answer in chapter 31 is that he had been faithful, not only in not touching that which is forbidden, but in not looking on another woman besides his wife.

In our culture the accepted instruction is, “you can look, but you just can’t touch”.  Funny, my wife never bought into that line of reasoning.  The fact of the matter is that looking might just lead to touching.  Job said that he made a covenant, a commitment to himself and his eyes not to think (let alone look) upon a maid.  David said something similar when he said that he would set no wicked thing before his eyes.

Men, we need to do the same thing regarding the opposite sex.  We need to determine to keep our eyes and our minds on that which is pleasing to the Lord.  Turn off the TV if you have to; get rid of the internet if you must, but do what you have to do to keep yourself from sinning against your God and your wife.  It is wise to know your limitations and put up some fences to protect yourself.  A little accountability will go a long way.  And ladies, your not exempt from this either.  Your lusting may not be for the opposite sex per say, but I am sure you have your weak areas as well.  Maybe with you the struggle involves seeing things at the mall that you can’t afford.  We all need to make this same covenant that Job made to keep us from seeing and thinking about the things that we know are not part of God’s perfect will for our lives.

Jun 20th Where Can I Find Wisdom?

Today’s Passage – Job 28 – 30

But where shall wisdom be found? and where is the place of understanding? (Job 28:12)

And unto man he said, Behold, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom; and to depart from evil is understanding. (Job 28:28)

In today’s reading we have seen a continuation of what we have been reading for the past several days.  Job is debating with his three friends regarding his calamity: they are claiming that Job is responsible; and Job is declaring his innocence.  However, in the middle of this discussion is a passage dealing with wisdom.  At first glance i wondered why God would put this teaching right in the middle of the discourse between Job and his friends regarding Job’s suffering; but then I remembered a similar teaching from the New Testament regarding trials and testing from the epistle penned by James.  Remember that James admonished us to “count it all joy” in the trials; but then he added some instruction regarding wisdom:

If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him. (James 1:5)

Apparently there is an association between enduring trials and wisdom.  God doesn’t hold back wisdom to those who fear him and depart from evil.  Job had the wisdom of God.  We know this to be true because later on when God enters into the discussion He states that Job spoke of Him the thing that is right.

If you are going through a time of testing, don’t seek the world and its counselors for wisdom: go to God.  If you fear Him and are seeking to do that which is right, God will give you the wisdom that you need to see your way through the trial.  In order for you to get to the other side you will need God’s wisdom, coupled with God’s grace.  It is apparent that Job had both of these attributes.