Making a Differencewith Pastor Phil Erickson

Oct 19th Out Of The Heart – The Saturday Morning Post By Pastor Ted Stahl

“And he said, That which cometh out of the man, that defileth the man. For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders, Thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lasciviousness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness: All these evil things come from within, and defile the man.” (Mark 7:20-23)

Good morning. In our passage from Mark chapter 7, Jesus is explaining that the things that defile you come from within: from the heart. Jesus said…

“O generation of vipers, how can ye, being evil, speak good things? for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh. A good man out of the good treasure of the heart bringeth forth good things: and an evil man out of the evil treasure bringeth forth evil things.” (Matthew 12:34-35)

What is coming out of your heart? Is it good, or is it evil treasure. Does your treasure hurt or help others: do you lift them up, or do you tear them down? Does gossip build up or tear down? Do you direct your anger at others or the actual source of your anger? Are you bothered by evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders, thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lasciviousness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, or foolishness? There is hope; in Jesus there is always hope. First…

“Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates?” (2Corinthians 13:5)

There was a time when I was not sure of my salvation. I was at Texas Baptist College for only a couple of months. I gave Dr. Gray, my pastor at Longview Baptist Temple, a letter explaining my situation. He gave me the best advice I ever received. During the evening service, at the invitation, he called me up front to pray with me. Before we prayed he told me, “…I can’t tell you if you are saved or not. But if you aren’t 100% sure, you need to take care of it.”

So on July 23, 1995, at the evening service in Longview Baptist Temple, at the invitation, I called on Jesus to save me. I am 100% sure of my salvation, and have been since then. The devil has tried to shake me up with past sins a few times, but I know I’m saved. And this is the same advice I’m giving you: if you are not 100% sure, take care of it. Now. You are not guaranteed tomorrow. Ask Jesus into your heart. Would you rather have people see Jesus coming from your heart, or would you like them to see the evil things coming out? Take care of your heart…

“But what saith it? The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is, the word of faith, which we preach; 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. For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed. For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him. For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.” (Romans 10:8-13)

Secondly, remember…

“Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation; To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation. Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ’s stead, be ye reconciled to God. For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.” (2Corinthians 5:17-21)

We become a new creature in Christ: one who has given Jesus their sins, and received His righteousness. This is why Jesus told the Jews, if their righteousness did not exceed the righteousness of the Pharisees, they could not enter the kingdom of heaven (see Matthew 5:20). You, me. or the Pharisees will not make it into heaven with our own righteousness: we need God’s righteousness: freely available to all who come to the Lord Jesus Christ.

“There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death. For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh: That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit. 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. So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God. But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his. And if Christ be in you, the body is dead because of sin; but the Spirit is life because of righteousness.” (Romans 8:1-10)

Lastly, in Joshua chapter 7, Israel went up against the small city of Ai. They lost, and ran away from their enemies…

“And the men of Ai smote of them about thirty and six men: for they chased them from before the gate even unto Shebarim, and smote them in the going down: wherefore the hearts of the people melted, and became as water. And Joshua rent his clothes, and fell to the earth upon his face before the ark of the LORD until the eventide, he and the elders of Israel, and put dust upon their heads. And Joshua said, Alas, O Lord GOD, wherefore hast thou at all brought this people over Jordan, to deliver us into the hand of the Amorites, to destroy us? would to God we had been content, and dwelt on the other side Jordan! O Lord, what shall I say, when Israel turneth their backs before their enemies! For the Canaanites and all the inhabitants of the land shall hear of it, and shall environ us round, and cut off our name from the earth: and what wilt thou do unto thy great name? And the LORD said unto Joshua, Get thee up; wherefore liest thou thus upon thy face? Israel hath sinned, and they have also transgressed my covenant which I commanded them: for they have even taken of the accursed thing, and have also stolen, and dissembled also, and they have put it even among their own stuff. Therefore the children of Israel could not stand before their enemies, but turned their backs before their enemies, because they were accursed: neither will I be with you any more, except ye destroy the accursed from among you. Up, sanctify the people, and say, Sanctify yourselves against to morrow: for thus saith the LORD God of Israel, There is an accursed thing in the midst of thee, O Israel: thou canst not stand before thine enemies, until ye take away the accursed thing from among you.” (Joshua 7:5-13)

God told Joshua to get up and fix it. We need to do the same thing. If we sin (which we will) we need to confess it…

“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)

If someone sins against you, confront them and take care of it: be reconciled…

“Therefore if thou bring thy gift to the altar, and there rememberest that thy brother hath ought against thee; Leave there thy gift before the altar, and go thy way; first be reconciled to thy brother, and then come and offer thy gift.” (Matthew 5:23-24)

As Jesus made His way to Calvary, there were many people around Him. Some cried out in anger. Some hit Him. Some ripped off His beard. Some spit on Him. And some wept. What would be coming out of your heart?

Peace. (John 13:34-35)

Oct 12th Your Minister – The Saturday Morning Post by Pastor Ted Stahl

Today’s Passage – Matthew 19 – 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 – Psalms 56 – 60; Proverbs 12)

Scripture Memorization for August – Revival Verses

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

Read “Getting Out of the Gospel’s Way” by Cary Schmidt.

Watch Growth Points Video by Pastor Paul Chappell – “Characteristics of a Healthy Church“

Read the “1012 Evening and Morning“ devotion for today, by the late Charles Haddon Spurgeon.

“But Jesus called them unto him, and said, Ye know that the princes of the Gentiles exercise dominion over them, and they that are great exercise authority upon them. But it shall not be so among you: but whosoever will be great among you, let him be your minister; And whosoever will be chief among you, let him be your servant: Even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.” Matthew 20:25-28

Good morning. Jesus said, in the above passage, “…and whosoever will be chief among you, let him be your servant: even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.” Jesus, God Almighty in flesh, came to earth to minister to us. He is our example, and we should be striving to emulate Him. God the Son submitted Himself to God the Father’s will. This is what Jesus said about the Father’s will…

“All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out. For I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of him that sent me. And this is the Father’s will which hath sent me, that of all which he hath given me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up again at the last day. And this is the will of him that sent me, that every one which seeth the Son, and believeth on him, may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the last day.” (John 6:37-40)

If you are looking for the will of God for your life, to start, be a servant: a minister for the Lord. As a student, be a servant to your Sunday School teacher. As a Sunday School teacher, be a servant to your students and the Sunday School Director. Director of whatever ministries the Lord has entrusted you with, deacons, assistant pastors; be a servant to those given to your charge and your pastor. As a pastor, be a servant to all those who the Lord has given you. If we all do this we will be ministering to our Lord Jesus Christ. And if God Almighty could wash the feet of men, why can’t we do the same?

“Jesus knowing that the Father had given all things into his hands, and that he was come from God, and went to God; He riseth from supper, and laid aside his garments; and took a towel, and girded himself. After that he poureth water into a bason, and began to wash the disciples’ feet, and to wipe them with the towel wherewith he was girded. Then cometh he to Simon Peter: and Peter saith unto him, Lord, dost thou wash my feet? Jesus answered and said unto him, What I do thou knowest not now; but thou shalt know hereafter. Peter saith unto him, Thou shalt never wash my feet. Jesus answered him, If I wash thee not, thou hast no part with me. Simon Peter saith unto him, Lord, not my feet only, but also my hands and my head. Jesus saith to him, He that is washed needeth not save to wash his feet, but is clean every whit: and ye are clean, but not all. For he knew who should betray him; therefore said he, Ye are not all clean. So after he had washed their feet, and had taken his garments, and was set down again, he said unto them, Know ye what I have done to you? Ye call me Master and Lord: and ye say well; for so I am. If I then, your Lord and Master, have washed your feet; ye also ought to wash one another’s feet. For I have given you an example, that ye should do as I have done to you. Verily, verily, I say unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord; neither he that is sent greater than he that sent him. If ye know these things, happy are ye if ye do them.” (John 13:3-17)

What is your attitude towards your sister or brother in Christ? The Greek word for minister is the root word: Diakonos. This is the same word we get deacon from. A minister is one who executes the commands of another, especially of a master. If we as Christians were more like Jesus, maybe the world would want to receive Him too, and stop chasing after false gods and religions like Islam, Buddhists, Secular Humanism, Baal, and any other false god you can think of.

Peace! (John 13:16-17)

Oct 8th JUST FOR LADIES – BY CAMILLE STAHL

Today’s Passage – Matthew 10 – 11 (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 – Psalms 36 – 40; Proverbs 8)

Scripture Memorization for August – Revival Verses

Listen to this morning’s Scripture song –  Psalm 51

Watch Growth Points Video by Pastor Paul Chappell – “Why We Don’t Evangelize“

Read the “1008 Evening and Morning“ devotion for today, by the late Charles Haddon Spurgeon.

“Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” (Matthew 11:28-30)

We all love to be invited to some type of gathering, a wedding, birthday party, a dinner…. Well here we have the very God of the universe inviting us to come to Him. It’s a promise to all who have burdens. But He is saying I’ll have to carry a yoke and burden. What does it all mean?

There are those who are burdened with guilt and weary with the burdens of life they face each day. They are heavy laden with loads they are unable to carry. Jesus said to give them to Him and He will give you rest them. He offers this rest freely.

When Jesus spoke about burdens and loads that were too heavy to bear, back then, the people understood it well.

The Pharisees would load heavy weights on the backs of people, and they were teaching if you worked hard enough you could keep the law. They were taught that this was the way to be accounted righteous before God. Only the best of the best and most dedicated could hope to live up to that.

But they didn’t have to carry their burdens.

Today we also find ourselves under great burdens. Many women have to work outside the home to provide extra income. Many have the burden of failing health. What ever your burden is, the Lord invites you to give them to Him.

Think back with me to a time when you were very young. Maybe there was a time when you fell and skinned your knee. You started crying as you watched the blood rolling down your leg. You ran home to mom or dad. Can you remember how much better you felt? It was only because there was someone there that you loved, and they loved you. You were still in pain, the blood was still dripping, but you knew everything would be all right.

My experience was with my dad and splinters. I would get one, start to cry and go right to my daddy. He would get out this BIG magnifier and a sewing needle. He’d light a match, put the needle in the flame, and then very gently take out the splinter. ‘My Hero’!

That’s the way God wants us to be with Him.

Do you have a burden? Jesus invites you to give it to Him. Do it today!

Are you weary, are you heavy hearted?
 Tell it to Jesus, tell it to Jesus.
Are you grieving over joys departed?
 Tell it to Jesus alone.

Tell it to Jesus, tell it to Jesus,
 He is a Friend that’s well known. 
You’ve no other such a friend or brother,
 Tell it to Jesus alone.

Do the tears flow down your cheeks unbidden?
 Tell it to Jesus, tell it to Jesus.
Have you sins that to men’s eyes are hidden?
 Tell it to Jesus alone.

Tell it to Jesus, tell it to Jesus,
 He is a Friend that’s well known.
 You’ve no other such a friend or brother,
 Tell it to Jesus alone.

Do you fear the gathering clouds of sorrow?
 Tell it to Jesus, tell it to Jesus.
 Are you anxious what shall be tomorrow?
 Tell it to Jesus alone.

Tell it to Jesus, tell it to Jesus,
 He is a Friend that’s well known.
 You’ve no other such a friend or brother,
 Tell it to Jesus alone.

Are you troubled at the thought of dying?
 Tell it to Jesus, tell it to Jesus.
 For Christ’s coming kingdom are you sighing?
 Tell it to Jesus alone.

Thank You

1 John 5:13

Oct 5th The Growing Glowing – The Saturday Morning Post by Pastor Ted Stahl

“Now when Jesus had heard that John was cast into prison, he departed into Galilee; And leaving Nazareth, he came and dwelt in Capernaum, which is upon the sea coast, in the borders of Zabulon and Nephthalim: That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Esaias the prophet, saying, The land of Zabulon, and the land of Nephthalim, by the way of the sea, beyond Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles; The people which sat in darkness saw great light; and to them which sat in the region and shadow of death light is sprung up.” (Matthew 4:12-16)

Good morning. While I was in a Home Depot store the other day, a lady came up to me looking for concrete patch in a tube. I showed her where it was, and then told her I liked her shirt. Her shirt had “I Love Jesus” across the front. I believe, if I remember correctly, that she said she had been saved for around 43 years.

Camille and I were going to take the Toyota to the dealer to get it fixed. I asked her if there was anything she needed out of the car: just her Bible. I grabbed it and proceeded to walk across the street where my truck was parked. A voice called out, “We really need that today more than ever.” I said, “What?”, turning around startled. A woman parked in front of my house, sitting in her car, said, “The Bible.”, and we had a little conversation about Jesus coming back soon.

“And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions: And also upon the servants and upon the handmaids in those days will I pour out my spirit.” (Joel 2:28-29)

God promises, in the end days to pour out His Spirit. We are definitely in the end times. Every thing is in place. Matthew 4:16 says…

“The people which sat in darkness saw great light; and to them which sat in the region and shadow of death light is sprung up.”

America is sitting in darkness, in the region and shadow of death. We as a nation have turned our backs on God. The Sodomites are running rampant throughout our nation. We’ve removed God from our government offices, and our schools. The atheists are trying to get ‘In God We Trust’ off our money, and ‘One Nation Under God’ out of our pledge. But whether the Liberal-Commie-Nazi-Socialists want to believe it: we are still ONE NATION UNDER GOD. Take a look at the last paragraph from George Washington’s first inaugural address…

“Having thus imparted to you my sentiments as they have been awakened by the occasion which brings us together, I shall take my present leave; but not without resorting once more to the benign Parent of the Human Race in humble supplication that, since He has been pleased to favor the American people with opportunities for deliberating in perfect tranquillity, and dispositions for deciding with unparalleled unanimity on a form of government for the security of their union and the advancement of their happiness, so His divine blessing may be equally conspicuous in the enlarged views, the temperate consultations, and the wise measures on which the success of this Government must depend.” (George Washington on April 30, 1789)

We must depend on God, and we haven’t. We have become full of ourselves: we don’t need God, we can do it by ourselves. And it is the Christian’s responsibility to intercede with God. If my people which are called by my name… if… if… if…

“If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.” (2Chronicles 7:14)

Our land needs healing. Little by little, lights are beginning to spring up. Last year we even said Merry Christmas instead of Happy Holidays. And with God, all things are possible. It reminds me of a passage from Ezekiel…

“The hand of the LORD was upon me, and carried me out in the spirit of the LORD, and set me down in the midst of the valley which was full of bones, And caused me to pass by them round about: and, behold, there were very many in the open valley; and, lo, they were very dry. And he said unto me, Son of man, can these bones live? And I answered, O Lord GOD, thou knowest. Again he said unto me, Prophesy upon these bones, and say unto them, O ye dry bones, hear the word of the LORD. Thus saith the Lord GOD unto these bones; Behold, I will cause breath to enter into you, and ye shall live: And I will lay sinews upon you, and will bring up flesh upon you, and cover you with skin, and put breath in you, and ye shall live; and ye shall know that I am the LORD. So I prophesied as I was commanded: and as I prophesied, there was a noise, and behold a shaking, and the bones came together, bone to his bone. And when I beheld, lo, the sinews and the flesh came up upon them, and the skin covered them above: but there was no breath in them. Then said he unto me, Prophesy unto the wind, prophesy, son of man, and say to the wind, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Come from the four winds, O breath, and breathe upon these slain, that they may live. So I prophesied as he commanded me, and the breath came into them, and they lived, and stood up upon their feet, an exceeding great army.” (Ezekiel 37:1-10)

Peace. (John 20:21)

Sep 21st A Hot Time In The Old Town… Tonight? – The Saturday Morning Post By Pastor Ted Stahl

“The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up. Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness, Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat?” (2Peter 3:9-12)

CHICAGO (AP) — A 3-year-old boy who was among 13 people wounded in a late-night attack on a southwest Chicago park was alert when he arrived at the hospital and was apparently doing well, his family and friends said early Friday. The attack late Thursday in the city’s Back of the Yard neighborhood left three victims, including the boy, in critical condition. The others were reportedly in serious or fair condition. The child’s uncle, Julian Harris, told the Chicago Sun-Times that dread-locked men in a gray sedan shot at him Thursday night before turning toward nearby Cornell Square Park and opening fire. He said his nephew was shot in the cheek. “They hit the light pole next to me, but I ducked down and ran into the house,” Harris said. “They’ve been coming round here looking for people to shoot every night, just gang-banging stuff. It’s what they do.”

“It’s what they do.”

Good morning. Question: What is this world coming to? Answer: The End. How would you like to know that every night someone is going to be in your neighborhood looking for someone to kill. You may be in the cross hairs of the killer’s sight. What about earlier in the week, and the shootings at the Navy Yard? It was a normal day at work for the victims until the shooting started. They had no idea that the gunman was coming that day.

Herein is a good argument against evolution: every thing is supposed to improve: evolution takes us up to the next level. But if you look at the world around us, home and abroad, you can see the cable has snapped and the Evolution Elevator is plummeting down it’s shaft faster than ever. Jesus said that without Him, we could do nothing. The world can’t even get evolution right! This is what we “evolved” into…

“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. Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves: Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen. For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature: And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompence of their error which was meet. And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient; Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers, Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, Without understanding, covenantbreakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful: Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them.” (Romans 1:20-32)

And the majority of what happened to this nation is our fault, Christian. While we have been bickering among ourselves about what preacher we should be following, what this or that person is doing, gossip, back-biting, the devil has gotten a foothold. He came in and started to turn this nation against the Living God it was created to serve. It’s our fault, Christian, but there is something we can do.

“If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.” (2Chronicals 7:14)

We need to humble ourselves, pray, seek the Lord’s face, and turn from all the junk we have been doing. Galatians 5:16 tells us if we walk in the Spirit, we shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh. Our lives will start showing the fruit of that walk…

“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law. And they that are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts. If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. Let us not be desirous of vain glory, provoking one another, envying one another.” (Galatians 5:22-26)

If we do this, God promises that He will heal our land. Will we see “One nation under God” again? I don’t know, but look at what David said…

“To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David, when Nathan the prophet came unto him, after he had gone in to Bathsheba. Have mercy upon me, O God, according to thy lovingkindness: according unto the multitude of thy tender mercies blot out my transgressions. Wash me throughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin. For I acknowledge my transgressions: and my sin is ever before me. Against thee, thee only, have I sinned, and done this evil in thy sight: that thou mightest be justified when thou speakest, and be clear when thou judgest. Behold, I was shapen in iniquity; and in sin did my mother conceive me. Behold, thou desirest truth in the inward parts: and in the hidden part thou shalt make me to know wisdom. Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean: wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow. Make me to hear joy and gladness; that the bones which thou hast broken may rejoice. Hide thy face from my sins, and blot out all mine iniquities. Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me. Cast me not away from thy presence; and take not thy holy spirit from me. Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me with thy free spirit. Then will I teach transgressors thy ways; and sinners shall be converted unto thee. Deliver me from bloodguiltiness, O God, thou God of my salvation: and my tongue shall sing aloud of thy righteousness. O Lord, open thou my lips; and my mouth shall shew forth thy praise.” (Psalm 51:1-15)

Peace! (Psalm 51:13)