A Burning Fire
Today’s Passage – Jeremiah 18 – 22 (Click on the references to listen to the audio – click here to view the text)
(Second Milers also read – Acts 16 – 18; Psalms 91 – 95; Proverbs 19)
Scripture Memory for July – John 3:1 – 21
Listen to this morning’s Scripture song – Psalm 34:6
Read “Seven Ways to See Change in Your Life Now” by Pastor Chappell
Read a previous post from this passage – “The Potter’s House”
“For since I spake, I cried out, I cried violence and spoil; because the word of the LORD was made a reproach unto me, and a derision, daily. Then I said, I will not make mention of him, nor speak any more in his name. But his word was in mine heart as a burning fire shut up in my bones, and I was weary with forbearing, and I could not stay.” (Jeremiah 20:8 & 9)
In chapter 20 of today’s passage we read about Jeremiah being put in jail for preaching exactly what God had told him to preach. Jeremiah was not a popular guy. He was the voice of God at a time when the entire nation of Judah had slipped back into idolatry and immorality, and was content to stay there. As he continued to preach the message of imminent judgment due to the people’s lack of repentance, he became the enemy of all the people. They all thought he was crazy, perhaps a little “over the top”; too zealous, a radical. One thing is for sure, they were certainly not receiving the message. Jeremiah got sick and tired of preaching this message to deaf ears. After all, he was just as human as I am. I’m sure, every once in a while, he wanted to hear, “that was a good message, preacher”; or “that truth you preached from the Word of God really turned my life around”. He never heard those things. He was mocked and persecuted throughout his ministry, yet he was doing exactly what God had wanted him to do. So, what does he do? He quits. Wouldn’t you? I would not have lasted nearly as long as Jeremiah did. I like to have my ego stroked now and again.
However, Jeremiah could not stay. He could not refrain from preaching. Why? Because God’s Word was in his heart like a burning fire. Eventually the fire inside of him became too hot to keep inside of him and he had to let it out.
As a preacher, there are many times that I want to quit. Trials and tests come along; and, at times, it seems as if nothing is going the way it should go. There are also the critics, who feel it is their purpose in life to point out every flaw in my ministry, every mistake that I make. I begin to remember what life was like as a layman, and sometimes I desire to go back to those days. However, though I often struggle with the idea of quitting, I know that God’s Word is inside of me; and it must come out. As miserable as it may be at times inside the will of God, I know that trying to refrain from preaching and teaching the Word of God would make me more miserable.
I remember when God first called me into the ministry. He made it crystal clear to me that he wanted me to go away to school for training. I didn’t go right away. I decided that I would just stay there in South Toms River with Pastor Rick, work for my dad’s candy company, and serve there as a “lay” youth director for the rest of my life. All that would have been easier. I wouldn’t have to leave a very lucrative income; I wouldn’t have to sell my house; I wouldn’t have to leave my church; and I would not have to move my family, find a new job and go back to college. However, that was not God’s will for my life. I kind of drifted along out of the will of God for a while; but the more I drifted, the more miserable I became. God’s Word, and His will was in me; and it needed to come out. I finally surrendered to obey God’s will; and relief came.
What has God put inside of you to do for Him? You will never have peace until you surrender your will to His. By the way, the picture up top is of Bob Hamblen. He underwent major heart surgery a couple of years ago. The doctors don’t really want him to preach anymore; but he can’t stop. The Word is burning inside of him, and it must come out.
Posted in Thoughts from Jeremiah by Phil Erickson with 2 comments.
A Poem – The Saturday Morning Post by Pastor Ted Stahl
Hurting People
by Ted Stahl
There are hurting people in the pew.
Exactly now, what will you do?
Shake a hand and talk a few?
Simply start: “How do you do?”
There are hurting people in the pew.
Exactly now, what will you do?
Turn the blind eye? Never wave goodbye?
Still hurting, they leave, and you just sigh.
There are hurting people in the pew.
Exactly now, what will you do?
What would Jesus say when He sees?
You didn’t do it to them, you didn’t do it to Me.
There are hurting people in the pew.
Exactly now, what will you do?
Pray that you are not like these?
Or pray for mercy and shed some tears?
There are hurting people in the pew.
Now you know. What will you do?
In Acts chapter 15, Elymas the sorcerer was blinded for only a season for perverting the right ways of the Lord. It’s a new season. It’s time we opened our eyes and see… There are hurting people in the pew. Now you know. What will you do?
Peace. (John 3:16)
Posted in Devotions by Phil Erickson with no comments yet.
Who Can Change a Leopard’s Spots? God Can!
Today’s Passage – Jeremiah 10 – 13 (Click on the references to listen to the audio – click here to view the text)
(Second Milers also read – Acts 10 – 12; Psalms 81 – 85; Proverbs 17)
Scripture Memory for July – John 3:1 – 21
Listen to this morning’s Scripture song – Psalm 34
“Can the Ethiopian change his skin, or the leopard his spots? then may ye also do good, that are accustomed to do evil.” (Jeremiah 13:23)
The context of this passage, and the Book of Jeremiah as a whole, is the impending judgment that is facing Judah and Jerusalem because of their sin. They had gotten totally out of control: God had sent prophets to them; God had sent judgment to them; but they did not get the message. They were too far gone. God was about to do something very big in and to Jerusalem. The Babylonians were about to invade. It would be perhaps the worst calamity to hit the people of God. However, the good news is that the judgment that would come would be the very thing that would cause the people of God to repent: to change their spots. The people seemed powerless to change on their own; but through the loving hand of judgment from God, the leopard would indeed have his spots changed.
Sometimes, I get so very frustrated with myself, particularly my inability to get victory over some of the recurring sins in my life. I am utterly powerless, it seems, to win the battle. However, “I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me”; and through the power of the Holy Spirit of God, and through the loving correction of my Heavenly Father, my spots can also be removed. I can’t change my spots, but God can. Do you need a spot remover? God can do it. Yield to Him. Open your heart up and be willing to allow God to make the necessary changes in your life.
God can and will remove our spots, but there are some things that we can do to help God as He cleanses away the stain of sin from our life:
1 We first must acknowledge the fact that we have spots. We need to allow God to completely examine us and show us where the spots are in our life. We cannot withhold any area of our life. He must be able to thoroughly inspect us, and we must agree with His assessment. If He sees a spot, we must agree that it is indeed a spot.
“If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” – (1 John 1:9)
2 We must next be willing to submit ourselves to God’s cure for our spot problem. God may bring us through an uncomfortable process in order to accomplish His will. Trust Him. He knows what He is doing. He is the Great Physician. He knows just how deep to cut. He knows just how much we can handle. He may bring in some people to help Him. He may use a pastor or other counselor to help you as He works on you.
3 We must also be willing to continue down a prescribed path that will keep the spots from coming back in the future. We must stay in fellowship with God. We must daily spend time with Him through His Word and through prayer. He will keep His eye on us, and He will be able to quickly “spot” any new blemishes that may be coming to the surface.
Note – I must be careful to add that, if we are saved, God already sees us positionally as spotless, because He views us through the shed blood of the Lord Jesus Christ.
“As far as the east is from the west, so far hath he removed our transgressions from us.” – (Psalm 103:12)
“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)
“Saying, Blessed are they whose iniquities are forgiven, and whose sins are covered. Blessed is the man to whom the Lord will not impute sin.” – (Romans 4:7 & 8 )
Posted in Thoughts from Jeremiah by Phil Erickson with 1 comment.
Closed Eyes, Closed Ears, and Closed Mouths
Today’s Passage – Jeremiah 7 – 9 (Click on the references to listen to the audio – click here to view the text)
(Second Milers also read – Acts 7 – 9; Psalms 76 – 80; Proverbs 16)
“Seest thou not what they do in the cities of Judah and in the streets of Jerusalem?” – (Jeremiah 7:17)
But this thing commanded I them, saying, Obey my voice, and I will be your God, and ye shall be my people: and walk ye in all the ways that I have commanded you, that it may be well unto you. But they hearkened not, nor inclined their ear, but walked in the counsels and in the imagination of their evil heart, and went backward, and not forward.” – (Jeremiah 7:23 – 24)
“But thou shalt say unto them, This is a nation that obeyeth not the voice of the LORD their God, nor receiveth correction: truth is perished, and is cut off from their mouth.” – (Jeremiah 7:28 )
I hearkened and heard, but they spake not aright: no man repented him of his wickedness, saying, What have I done? every one turned to his course, as the horse rusheth into the battle.” – (Jeremiah 8:6)
“And they will deceive every one his neighbour, and will not speak the truth: they have taught their tongue to speak lies, and weary themselves to commit iniquity.” – (Jeremiah 9:5)
“For this people’s heart is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes they have closed; lest at any time they should see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and should understand with their heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them.” – (Matthew 13:15)
As I was reading this passage of Scripture this morning, I could not help but think about how the condition of Judah in Jeremiah’s day parallels the condition of our nation. America is in trouble today. She has charted a course of rebellion against the God Who gave her all of the prosperity, provision, and prosperity that she enjoys today. But as judgement was imminent for the people of Judah in Jeremiah’s day, I must sound the warning here that judgment is also right around the corner for America. We are an immoral and idolatrous nation. We have thrown God under the bus, and few seem to care.
I noticed in these chapters that God said that the people of Judah could not see how far away from Him that they had gotten. It is no different for us today. I am not sure why we are blind to our condition, but we are. Perhaps it is because the corruption has been gradual, over a period of many years, slow enough that we don’t realize that serious error is taking place. Consider what we are today compared to what we were when this nation was founded. We were a moral nation made up predominantly of Christians that feared the Lord. We preached and believed the Bible, and based our laws and government upon the principles contained in the Word of God. Today, we can’t even mention the Bible without getting in trouble; and it seems that our society is going out its way to promote the violation of God’s Law. And we don’t see it, at least very few do.
We also have turned a deaf ear to the few prophets out there that are trying to shout out the warning. God’s Word is being ignored, not only by our culture, but unfortunately also by many Christians. We truly have gotten to the point to where we have “…a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof”.
The end result of not seeing, and not being willing to hear, has cause the third step in the downward slide: we have silenced many of the voices that are attempting to shout out the warning. The preachers have, for the most part, given up preaching against sin because the people simply do not want to hear it. Unfortunately, the only way that God will be able to turn us back to Him is through judgment. I am not hoping for judgment, but I know that it will wake many people up, and turn them back to God. I hope, however, that even before the judgment comes there will still be a few eyes out there that still see, and a few ears out there that are still listening to the voice of God, and a few mouths that will still speak for the Lord regardless of consequences that may come.
Posted in Thoughts from Jeremiah by Phil Erickson with 1 comment.
Fallow Ground
Today’s Passage – Jeremiah 4 – 6 (Click on the references to listen to the audio – click here to view the text)
(Second Milers also read – Acts 4 – 6; Psalms 71 – 75; Proverbs 15)
Scripture Memory for July – John 3:1 – 21
Listen to this morning’s Scripture song – Psalm 18:3 & 46
Read two older posts from this passage – “The Old Paths” and “Catching Men”
“If thou wilt return, O Israel, saith the LORD, return unto me: and if thou wilt put away thine abominations out of my sight, then shalt thou not remove. And thou shalt swear, The LORD liveth, in truth, in judgment, and in righteousness; and the nations shall bless themselves in him, and in him shall they glory. For thus saith the LORD to the men of Judah and Jerusalem, Break up your fallow ground, and sow not among thorns. Circumcise yourselves to the LORD, and take away the foreskins of your heart, ye men of Judah and inhabitants of Jerusalem: lest my fury come forth like fire, and burn that none can quench it, because of the evil of your doings.” – (Jeremiah 4:1-4)
“Sow to yourselves in righteousness, reap in mercy; break up your fallow ground: for it is time to seek the LORD, till he come and rain righteousness upon you.” – (Hosea 10:12)
My thought this morning concerns the phrase “break up your fallow ground”, which is found here in our passage from Jeremiah, and also in the Book of Hosea. Both passages use the phrase in the same context – revival. God told the people of Israel that if they were going to get back into a right relationship with them, they would have to break up, or cultivate, their hearts. The word “fallow” is defined as being unproductive or uncultivated. It doesn’t necessarily mean that the land is worthless, or without potential. It simply means that it is not being used for what it was intended to be used for, and was not fulfilling it’s potential.
I want to make a few observations this morning about what has to be done to fallow ground in order to make it productive, and then compare those things to what has to be done to the heart of the child of God in order to make him “meet for the master’s use”.
1 It must be smashed or broken – Unproductive ground is usually very hard. In our church parking lot, we have an overflow area that is not paved, but is covered with gravel. Recently, I was attempting drive a stake down through this ground, and almost could not do it, because the soil there became almost like concrete. Nothing but a few of the heartiest varieties of weeds can grow in that overflow lot because the ground is simply too hard. If it were ever to be used for the purpose of growing plants, the ground would have to be cultivated, or broken up. The same is true for the Christian. In order for us to be used of God, we must first be broken, or humbled by God. Pride causes us to harden ourselves. A hard-headed, and hard-hearted Christian is not teachable, and cannot be molded by God. The Holy Spirit cannot control someone who will not yield themselves to the will of God.
2 It must be sifted – If you have ever travelled in mountainous areas, you may have noticed that along the perimeters of any gardens or farms there is usually a pile of rocks. Those rocks were once in the field and had to be removed in order to cultivate the soil. The parable of the sower in the New Testament teaches us that things do not grow well in rocky soil. The rocks have to be removed. Also weeds and parasites need to be removed because they will harm the plant, or eventually starve the plants of the nutrients that they need to survive. So it is with the Christian who is seeking the Lord. He needs to remove the things from his life that are hindering his walk with God.
3 It needs to be saturated – Soil that is going to grow healthy plants needs to first be seeded, and then it needs to be watered. I am told that right now about two-thirds of our nation is experiencing drought conditions. This lack of water will hinder the quantity and quality of the harvest, and will drive up the costs of our food. Lots of water is essential to the growth of healthy crops. Our lives need to be saturated with some things in order to grow. We need to saturated ourselves in the Word of God, and in the fellowship of other believers in the local church.
How about it Christian? Is there any fallow ground that needs to be broken us in your life? God wants the very best for you. He wants to produce abundant and healthy fruit through your life that will in turn help to edify the lives of others; but first you must yield control of your life to Him. Let Him cultivate the soil of your heart, and then seed it and saturate with the Word of God so that you can be a blessing to the people around you.
Posted in Thoughts from Jeremiah by Phil Erickson with no comments yet.
THE STUDY OF WOMEN IN THE BIBLE – By Camille Stahl
Pharaoh’s Daughter
“And there went a man of the house of Levi, and took to wife a daughter of Levi. And the woman conceived, and bare a son: and when she saw him that he was a goodly child, she hid him three months. And when she could not longer hide him, she took for him an ark of bulrushes, and daubed it with slime and with pitch, and put the child therein; and she laid it in the flags by the river’s brink. And his sister stood afar off, to wit what would be done to him. And the daughter of Pharaoh came down to wash herself at the river; and her maidens walked along by the river’s side; and when she saw the ark among the flags, she sent her maid to fetch it. And when she had opened it, she saw the child: and, behold, the babe wept. And she had compassion on him, and said, This is one of the Hebrews’ children.” (Exodus 2:1-6)
Today in the worlds eyes being important, and well known, is everything. But is it really? Pharaoh’s daughter was educated, powerful, and well known in her time. She had all that anyone could ever have. Wealth, servants, beautiful clothing…. Her father was the ruler of Egypt. He just commanded, that all Hebrew boys 2 years old and younger be drowned in the Nile River. When she saw the baby, the Bible says she had compassion on him. She was brave enough to disobey her father and kept the baby. She would later raise Moses in the house of Pharaoh. The education, and training, helped Moses in many areas of his life; and God used him in a mighty way.
Even with the important role she played, and what she did, no one knows her name. The Bible doesn’t say if she came to know the God of the Hebrews, but God placed the right woman in the right place at the right time.
How many people do you know that may be unsaved that performs good deeds? A coworker, a family member, your friends. God can use the unsaved to fulfill his will in our lives. God can use different people to fulfill His goals. However, He never forces them to have faith in Him.
There are many daughters of Pharaoh living among us. They are guided by God and doing His will but lost. We see them and think all is well. They have it all, as Pharaoh’s daughter, and yet they have nothing.
“For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?” (Matthew 16:26)
Will you reach out to one today? Will you give them a track or invite them to church? We can all rejoice when they come to know Jesus too!
Then saith he unto his disciples, The harvest truly is plenteous, but the labourers are few; Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he will send forth labourers into his harvest. (Matthew 9:37-38)
People Need the Lord. Listen to this link.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1uZcGaixMhg&feature=related
Thank You
1 John 5:13
Posted in Devotions by Phil Erickson with no comments yet.
There Is Coming A Day, But It’s Not Here Yet
Today’s Passage – Isaiah 63 – 66 (Click on the references to listen to the audio – click here to view the text)
(Second Milers also read – John 19 – 20; Psalms 61 – 65; Proverbs 13)
Scripture Memory for July – John 3:1 – 21
Listen to this morning’s Scripture song – Joshua 1:8
“The wolf and the lamb shall feed together, and the lion shall eat straw like the bullock: and dust shall bethe serpent’s meat. They shall not hurt nor destroy in all my holy mountain, saith the LORD.”(Isaiah 65:25)
There is coming soon a wonderful period of time when Christ shall rule and reign on the earth, and when that time comes there will be complete peace and harmony among all of the inhabitants of the earth, including the animals. This Book of Isaiah speaks much about this future time where we will not have to fear lions, wolves, snakes, or each other. However that time is “not yet” Right now, we still live on an earth that is plagued with sin of the worst kind. Every creature on earth seems to be out for itself. Animals will do whatever is necessary to survive, and so will man; often at the expense of others.
There are a lot of wolves out there today and we’d better beware of them. They want to come into our homes, and into our churches. They will often disguise themselves as sheep in order to infiltrate the flock and destroy it from within. These wolves may try to pray on the innocence of our children; they may try to bring in false doctrine; or they may try to cause us to stray away from the will of the Shepherd. We need to be sober and vigilant to anything or anybody that will try to move us away from the will of God.
I can’t wait for the Millennium; but for now, if I see a wolf, I am not going to pet it or play with it; I am going to do my best to get rid of it.
“Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.” – (Matthew 7:15 KJV)
“Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves: be ye therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves.” – (Matthew 10:16 KJV)
“For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock.” – (Acts 20:29 KJV)
Posted in Thoughts from Isaiah by Phil Erickson with no comments yet.
Open Your Big, Fat Mouth, and Praise God!
Today’s Passage – Isaiah 58 – 62 (Click on the references to listen to the audio – click here to view the text)
(Second Milers also read – John 17 – 18; Psalms 56 – 60; Proverbs 12)
Scripture Memory for July – John 3:1 – 21
Listen to this morning’s Scripture song – Deuteronomy 32:4
“I have set watchmen upon thy walls, O Jerusalem,which shall never hold their peace day nor night: ye that make mention of the LORD, keep not silence,”(Isaiah 62:6)
Years ago, I attended a Thursday evening service at Solid Rock Baptist Church in Berlin, NJ. As Pastor Clark was leading the singing, he noticed that a few of the young people were not singing. He told them that if they were glad that they were saved, and happy to be in church they should, “open [their] big, fat mouth[s], and praise God.
The context of this chapter and many of the concluding chapters of the Book of Isaiah is the Millennial Reign of Christ on the earth. Things will be radically different in Jerusalem and on the entire planet during this period. There will be a new sheriff in town: one that will reign in righteousness and holiness. The people of God will no longer be a persecuted and oppressed people; and the land itself will be completely safe from any kind of danger.
The above verse tells us that the watchmen that God has placed upon the walls should keep not silence concerning the Lord. Verse 7 says, And give him no rest, till he establish, and till he make Jerusalem a praise in the earth. The day is coming when the earth will be devoid of evil and filled with the presence and holiness of the Lord; but until that day comes God’s watchmen are to be shouting His praises and His principles from the walls.
I don’t think that I am doing the Scripture injustice by stating that today we ought also to be telling everyone that we can about the Lord until He comes back to bring His bride (the Church) up to Heaven with Him. We need to be proclaiming the gospel to the lost world around us. We are often guilty of keeping silent when God wants us to speak. We should not be ashamed of our Lord. This lost world needs to hear about our wonderful Saviour. The Scripture admonishes us,”Let the redeemed of the Lord say so”. Let’s open up our mouths boldly and proclaim the goodness of the Lord to the world around us.
This principle not only applies to our declaration of the Lord to the world around us, but also means that we are to not keep silent in our praise to the Lord in the church. Christians are often way too reserved in their praise for the Lord. The Lord has done so many awesome and wonderful things in our lives and we need to be very vocal about it. Keep not silent.
“Make a joyful noise unto the LORD, all ye lands. Serve the LORD with gladness: come before his presence with singing. Know ye that the LORD he is God: it is he that hath made us, and not we ourselves; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture. Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name. For the LORD is good; his mercy is everlasting; and his truth endureth to all generations.” – (Psalm 100:1-5 KJV)
One last thought. We not only need to be vocal in our proclamation of the Lord to the lost world around us, and in our praise to God in the church; but we also need to encourage our preachers and teachers to “keep not silent” in their preaching and teaching of the Word of God. By this I mean that we should make it easy for them to tell us exactly what the Word of God says without holding anything back. Preachers need to have the liberty to preach the unpopular passages with boldness, and to give us the “whole counsel” of the Word of God. Preach the Word. Keep not silent!
Oh Oh! I just got another thought about this subject. I just can’t keep silent about it. We need to “keep not silent” in our prayers to God. God wants to hear us open up our big, fat mouths, and talk to Him.
Posted in Thoughts from Isaiah by Phil Erickson with 1 comment.
Warning Signs – The Saturday Morning Post by Pastor Ted Stahl
“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
Good morning. Someone once said that confession is good for the soul. According to 1John 1:9, it is. King David committed adultery with Bathsheba, and then had her husband, Uriah, killed to hide her pregnancy. Eventually the sin was exposed, and the baby died. David poured out his heart to God in Psalm 51 for forgiveness. Something that we should consider when we think about sinning is that you can’t hide anything from God: He already knew you were going to sin before you were born. David gives us some warning signs that should direct us to the Lord when we see them in our lives.
WARNING: Verse 7: Do you feel dirty? Unless your conscience has been seared with a hot iron, or you are not saved, the Holy Spirit will not let you be ‘comfortable’ with your sin. “Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean: wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.”
WARNING: Verse 8: How’s your hearing? Can you still hear the wonderful sounds of joy and gladness? “Make me to hear joy and gladness; that the bones which thou hast broken may rejoice.”
WARNING: Verse 10: Do you have an attitude problem? Go to the Lord, He can fix it, or do you like being miserable? “Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me.”
WARNING: Verse 11-12: Are you feeling alone: not able to fit in with the world, or with Christians? Have you lost the joy of your salvation? God promises that He will never leave thee, nor forsake thee. He is patiently waiting for you to come to Him. “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.”
WARNING: Verse 13: “The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life; and he that winneth souls is wise.” (Proverbs 11:30). How is your soul winning? “Then will I teach transgressors thy ways; and sinners shall be converted unto thee.”
WARNING: Verse 14: Do you have a frog in your throat, maybe like Pharaoh may have? How is your singing? The Bible says to make a joyful NOISE! Can you manage a noise that is joyful? God can fix that too. “Deliver me from bloodguiltiness, O God, thou God of my salvation: and my tongue shall sing aloud of thy righteousness.”
WARNING: Verse 15: Can you give God praise for anything that He is doing in your life. He prepared a gourd to give shade to an angry Jonah. “O Lord, open thou my lips; and my mouth shall shew forth thy praise.”
Seven warning signs. Do you see any of them in your life? It may be time to sit down, or kneel down, and talk to the Lord about it. Accept His forgiveness for any wrongs you may have done. Then you will be clean. You’ll rejoice with others. Your fellowship with the Lord will be restored. You will once again give the gospel out to a lost and dying world. Your voice and your mouth will send forth praises. (And if your voice squeaks, just tell people you invented a new note!)
“For thou desirest not sacrifice; else would I give it: thou delightest not in burnt offering. The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise.” (Psalm 51:16-17).
Peace. (1John 1:9)
Posted in Devotions by Phil Erickson with no comments yet.
Bullheaded
Today’s Passage – Isaiah 48 – 52 (Click on the references to listen to the audio – click here to view the text)
(Second Milers also read – John 13 – 14; Psalms 46 – 50; Proverbs 10)
Scripture Memory for July – John 3:1 – 21
Listen to this morning’s Scripture song –1 John 4:7 & 8
Read a previous post from this passage – “Determination”
Read “Five Graces of Servant Leadership” by Pastor Chappell
“Because I knew that thou art obstinate, and thy neck is an iron sinew, and thy brow brass;” – (Isaiah 48:4)
“Behold, I have refined thee, but not with silver; I have chosen thee in the furnace of affliction.” – (Isaiah 48:10)
We have a man in our church, named Gerald, who often tells me stories about his childhood, and his relationship with his dad growing up. His dad was a great man who had the uncommon ability to demonstrate love and tenderness, but could also be very strong, and was not afraid to correct his children when necessary. When Gerald was a teenager, he and his dad would sometimes butt heads. His dad would say to him, “Son, you have a pretty hard head, but that’s OK because I am going to soften it up for you.” I think this is exactly the idea found in our text today. God was telling Israel that they were “bull headed”, but He knew how to take care of that problem.
Stubborn, stiff-necked, bull headed: these are all words that are synonymous to the words that God used to describe Israel in Isaiah 48:4. They are also words that could be used to describe most of us. We are a stubborn lot by nature. We are very slow to learn, yet quick to declare that we are right. We are not very teachable, because we think that we know everything that there is to know. God oftentimes is forced to soften us up through the vehicle of affliction. Isn’t it amazing that we tend to learn much better while enduring a trial than we do when we are on the mountaintop. If fact, many people come to Christ at times in their life when they are going through a tough time. God often has to break us before He can teach us. If you find yourself going through an unusually difficult season in your life, it may just be that God is working “in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure”. (Phillippians 2:13) He may be trying to get you to see something that you could not see otherwise. God loves you, but whom He loves, He corrects; and correction is good; it helps us yield to a God who knows much better about what is good for us.
“My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.” – (James 1:2-4)
“Sow to yourselves in righteousness, reap in mercy; break up your fallow ground: for it is time to seek the LORD, till he come and rain righteousness upon you.” – (Hosea 10:12)
Posted in Thoughts from Isaiah by Phil Erickson with 1 comment.