Making a Differencewith Pastor Phil Erickson

Jul 14th Open Your Big Fat Mouth and Praise God!

Today’s Passages – Psalm 146 – 150; Proverbs 14

(Second Milers also read – Matthew 27 – 28; Memorize John 10:30)

“Praise ye the LORD. Praise God in his sanctuary: praise him in the firmament of his power. Praise him for his mighty acts: praise him according to his excellent greatness. Praise him with the sound of the trumpet: praise him with the psaltery and harp. Praise him with the timbrel and dance: praise him with stringed instruments and organs. Praise him upon the loud cymbals: praise him upon the high sounding cymbals. Let every thing that hath breath praise the LORD. Praise ye the LORD.” – (Psalm 150:1-6)

I remember visiting Solid Rock Baptist Church years ago, and Pastor Clark had noticed some teenagers that weren’t singing, and he rebuked them saying, “open your big fat mouth and praise God”. I will never forget that and I often want to shout the same thing at our church.

It amazed me this morning how many times the word praise is used in the Psalms. In fact, every Psalm hat we have read this morning mentions the word “praise” several times. The Lord deserves our praise. We should praise him first because of who He is; and then because of all that He’s done for us. We should praise God all the time, but it is especially important to praise the Lord in the church house. We can praise Him through our singing, and in our prayrs and testimonies. We serve on awesome God so “open your big fat mouth and praise God”!

Jul 10th Running with the Right Crowd

Today’s Passages – Psalm 119; Proverbs 10

(Second Milers also read – Matthew 19 – 20; Memorize – John 10:30)

Today’s Passage – Psalms 117 – Psalm 119:88

“I am a companion of all them that fear thee, and of them that keep thy precepts.” (Psalm 119:63)

I love the 119th Psalm.  Nearly every verse has some type of reference to the Bible in it.  Each verse contains a word that represents God,s Word.  You will find the words  law, commandments, word, statutes, judgments, etc.; but the whole Psalm has to do with the Bible.  In verse 63 we see the word,precept; another word that is synonymous with God’s Word or Law.

Notice, however, that in this verse the Psalmist declares that his companions: the people he runs with; the men he is associated with, are people that keep God’s precepts; people that fear God.  It is very important that we hang around people who love the Lord and are at least trying to live for Him as best as they can.  Conversely, we need to avoid people who will influence us away from the word of God. The Bible says that “iron sharpeneth iron”, meaning that we have an impact and are impacted by those we rub against.

Who do you run with?  Are you surrounding yourself with companions that fear and obey God? Someone once said that you are or soon will be who you hang around. Why not try to run with a crowd that will bring you closer to the will of God.  We need to be friendly to everybody; we need to love everybody, even our enemies; but we should only be friends with those who are going the same direction that we are going.

“Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them.” Romans 16:17

“Can two walk together, except they be agreed?” (Amos 3:3)

Jul 9th The Truth – The Saturday Morning Post by Pastor Ted Stahl

Today’s Reading: Psalm 115-118, Proverbs 9, and Matthew 17-18

Today’s Passage: Psalm 117: “O praise the LORD, all ye nations: praise him, all ye people. For his merciful kindness is great toward us: and the truth of the LORD endureth for ever. Praise ye the LORD.”

Good morning! What is truth? Charles Caleb Colton (1780-1832) said that, “Pure truth, like pure gold, has been found unfit for circulation, because men have discovered that it is far more convenient to adulterate the truth than to refine themselves.”

Some people say that truth is relative: what may be truth to me, may not be truth to you. To that, I say, “Truth is truth. If you try to bend it, or shape it into something else then it becomes a lie.” Can you imagine if the government started telling the truth? Just a simple truth. They come out and admit they were wrong about our nation: we are a Christian nation, and the operation of our government can be found in the Bible. But then they would have to admit that there is a true and living God. They would have to allow the Ten Commandments back into it’s buildings. After all – they would have to admit – we’re trying to keep the government from interfering with God, but allow God to work His will inside government. (Can I let you in on a little secret? God is working His will inside our government whether they believe it or not!)

So truth is solid: it cannot be moved or changed. If anything is not the truth, or if the truth is flexed and stretched, then it is no longer truth, but a lie. Malachi 3:6 says, “For I am the LORD, I CHANGE NOT; therefore ye sons of Jacob are not consumed.” and in John 14:6: “Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the TRUTH, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.” Jesus also said, “But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in TRUTH: for the Father seeketh such to worship him. God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in TRUTH.” (John 4:23-24).

And what is the truth?

The truth is that we are all sinners. “As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one: [AND] For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God…” (Romans 3:10, 23)

It’s in our blood to sin, and to lie, and to not do the truth: because Adam sinned, we all sin. Romans 5:12 says, “Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned…” So the truth is that we are all sinners. And the wages of sin is death (Romans 6:23a).

“But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” (Romans 5:8)

And the truth is that it is so easy to get this love for your self. And He made it so easy for us. Jesus took on Himself the hard part: dying for our sins on the cross. All we need do is receive Him into our hearts. That’s the truth.

“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 whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.” (Romans 10:8-10,13)

And that’s the truth.

Peace. (Luke 24:36)

Jul 8th He Won’t Budge

Today’s Passage – Psalm 108 – 114; Proverbs 8

(Second Milers also read – Matthew 15 – 16; Memorize – 1 John 5:7)

“Surely he shall not be moved forever…” (Psalm 112:6)

“…his heart is fixed, trusting in the Lord” (Psalm 112:7)

“His heart is established…” (Psalm 112:8)

“Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord,  forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.” (1Cor 15:58)

“But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed….A double minded man is unstable in all his ways.” (James 1:6,8)

There is far too much instability among God’s people today; they just can’t seem to make up there minds as to where they stand. The Bible says about Jesus that His face was set like a flint, meaning He wasn’t budging from the will of God.  Why is it that His children, however, are always moving in their doctrinal positions, and in their personal convictions.  We need to learn the lesson that the Psalmist teaches here in the 112th Psalm.

Notice the characteristics of this unbending, righteous man spoken of here in the Psalm:

1  He is unmoveable about His Bible.

He delighteth greatly in his commandments (v 1)

He is not the type of guy that changes the Bible he uses, or what he believes about the Bible.  He is bull-dogmatic about Bible principles.  He believes and applies what God says; and doesn’t deviate off of the course that the Word charts.

2  He is gracious and full of compassion. (v 4)

Even though you are not going to move him about what he believes, he will be gracious and compassionate with those who have not yet grown to where he is.  He gives people who are heading in the right direction time to get there.  He is willing to give somebody a second and third chance when they demonstrate true contrition and repentance.

3  He is generous in his giving. (v 5, 9)

He knows that the source of all of his wealth is God.  He knows also that God expects him to distribute the wealth that he has given him in order to be a blessing and a help to others.

How often do we change our minds and our actions regarding our Christian walk.  We need to be a little more like this man mentioned in the Psalm.  We need to dig in, find out what we believe from the Bible, and stick with it until the Lord takes us home.

Jul 7th Never Satisfied

Today’s Passages – Psalm 106 – 107; Proverbs 7

(Second Milers also read – Matthew 13 – 14; Memorize – 1 John 5:7)

“And he gave them their request; but sent leanness into their soul.”   (Psalm 106:15)

The Scripture referenced above has to do with the children of Israel during their wilderness wanderings.It seems that the people were always griping and complaining about their condition; always discontented about what God had provided for them.  You will remember that God gave them manna from Heaven, but the people lusted after meat.  God gave them what they wanted, but at what price?  The Psalmist tells us they received leanness into their souls.  I don’t think that God was upset with them because they had a physical hunger; but He did judge them because they put their lust for the physical above their love for Him.

How often do we put our physical, and other fleshly desires over the things of God.  There is nothing wrong with food, but when we become so consumed with eating, playing, enjoying, etc. that we become negligent of the spiritual we too will suffer the consequences of a spiritual famine.  I love to eat, I love to enjoy the good things that God has given us to enjoy in this life, but I don’t want to trade off the spiritual blessings that God has for me because of an over-appetite for the physical.

Notice the historical reference of this event from Numbers 11:

And while the flesh was yet between their teeth, ere it was chewed, the wrath of the LORD was kindled against the people, and the LORD smote the people with a very great plague. (Numbers 11:33)

Our flesh is enemy # 1.  If we are not careful, we will allow our flesh to take over our lives.  We may be physically fat, but we will also be spiritually famished.

Jul 6th (No Title)

Today’s Passages – Psalm 103 – 105; Proverbs 6

(Second Milers also read – Matthew 11 – 12; Memorize 1 John 5:7)

Jul 5th Singing, Thanksgiving, and Praise

Today’s Passages – Psalm 96 – 102; Proverbs 5

(Second Milers also read – Matthew 9 – 10; Memorize – 1 John 5:7)

“Serve the LORD with gladness: come before his presence with singing.” (Psalm 100:2)

“Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name.” (Psalm 100:4)

Gladness, singing, thanksgiving, and praise.  These are the words that the Psalmist uses in connection with the presence of God.  These words do not have exactly the same meaning, but they are all closely related.  Do these words describe your relationship with the Lord.  It has always amazed me that God’s people, the people that have more reason to be joyous than anybody else, tend to be the most miserable people on the planet.  Why is that?  Maybe it’s because that we don’t often come “before His presence”.  We serve a wonderful, glorious, and awesome Saviour.  Why shouldn’t we be happy and fulfilled as we walk in this life.  If we would just take a moment to reflect on God’s goodness to us, our hearts would be filled with the gratitude for Him.

I think the problem is that we so often become focussed on a small negative in life instead of the big picture.  When you feel a little bit down, and you are tempted to gripe and complain about your situation, why not try to refocus on the blessing of being a child of God:

1  Consider His Provision – God has been good to us.  He has promised to meet our needs, and he even graciously provides some of our desires.

2  Consider His Protection – God may not shield us from every evil and hurt that is out there; but think of all that he has protected us from already.  How many times has God miraculously kept me safe from some accident, or from some other painful experience?

3  Consider His Purpose – God has given us a reason to live; a reason to exist.  We get to represent Him; to shine His light in this dark and evil world.

If we were to take the time to think about it, we would realize that we have a lot to be thankful for; a lot to praise Him for; a lot to sing about.  God is good all the time.  God’s ways are right all the time.  This is the day which the Lord hath made;  we will rejoice and be glad in it. Besides, it’s a lot more fun to go through life rejoicing than griping regardless of your circumstances.

Jul 4th Happy Birthday America – 235 years old!

Today’s Passages – Psalm 90 – 95; Proverbs 4

(Second Milers also read – Matthew 7 – 8; Memorize – 1 John 5:7)

“And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free. …If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed.” (John 8:32; 36)

Praise the Lord for America!  This is the greatest nation on the face of the earth.  When I think about Independence Day I am filled with praise and gratitude to our God for three specific things:

1  I thank the Lord for Jesus who died on the cross for my sins, giving me liberty from the Law and from the bondage of sin.  To think that Christ would love someone like me is really beyond my comprehension.

2  I also thank the Lord for the men and women of God throughout the centuries who have given their lives delivering the message of salvation.  I could not be saved today if it weren’t for people who sacrificed greatly communicating the truth of God’s Word.

3  Finally, I am filled with gratitude for the men and women who have given their lives for the cause of freedom here in America.  With all of her faults, America is by far the best place in the world to live.  I can carry my Bible here; I can open it on any street corner and proclaim the glorious name of Christ.  I have the freedom to worship God here according to the convictions that God has given me through His Word.  I do a lot of complaining about the direction our country is heading sometimes; but today I am going to lay aside  all of the negatives, and be thankful for the blessing of America!

One more thing.  I am going to think today about what sacrifice I can make to send the message of Christ to not just America, but to every living, breathing soul on this earth.

Thank you Jesus for setting me free from sin.  Thank you America for giving me the freedom to thank and serve Jesus.

Jul 3rd Teach Me Thy Way

Today’s Passages – Psalm 86 – 89; Proverbs 3

(Second Milers also read – Matthew 5 – 6; Memorize – 1 John 5:7)

Just a quick thought from the Word of God this morning. As I was reading this 86th Psalm, I gave some extra thought to the verse above. God wants to teach His children, but unfortunately many of His children are not very teachable. God will use several methods to instruct us, but the easiest way for us to learn is to apply what we read or hear from the Word of God to our lives. However, if we choose not to learn the lessons taught in the Word, then God will have to put us through the “School of Hard Knocks”. I spend much of my time in this learning center, and I bet many of you do as well. It’s too bad that we are not as mold-able and teachable as God would have us to be.