Making a Differencewith Pastor Phil Erickson

Apr 24th He Is Risen!!!

HE IS RISEN!!! Praise the Lord. I am verv excited about preaching the Word of God four times today. Three of the messages will be on the Resurrection. This morning’s devotion, however, will be taken from this morning’s Scripture passage.

A Little Humility

Today’s Reading – 1 Kings 20, 21; Proverbs 24

(Second Milers also read – Luke 3 – 4; Memorize John 11:25 – 26)

Ahab was probably the worst king in Israel’s history.  He tolerated all kinds of immorality and idolatry in his kingdom, and even promoted it.  He married a woman (Jezebel) whose name has become synonomous with wickedness.   Together, Ahab and Jezebel were responsible for the slaughter of many of the prophets of the Lord in Israel.  These were bad people. Ahab was a bad man and an even worse king.

Notice, however, in the last part of chapter 21.  Ahab humbled himself before the Lord.  Now don’t misunderstand, this was not a complete turnaround.  He didn’t surrender to go to the mission field or anything like that; but he did humble himself before the Lord; and as a result, God spared him some of the judgment that he had planned for him.  Apparently, a little humility went a long way for Ahab.

I don’t think there are too many people reading this that are as wicked as old King Ahab; but it would do us well to follow his example in just this one instance.  Let’s kill some of the pride in our lives and humble ourselves before the Lord.  Let’s surrender to Him and submit ourselves to His will for our lives.  Let’s allow him to correct us when necessary.  It may just be that a little humility before the Lord will go a long way in our lives as well.

Apr 23rd The Saturday Morning Post by Pastor Ted Stahl – How To Start A Fire

Today’s Reading: 1Kings 18-19, Luke 1-2, and Proverbs 23.

Today’s Passage: 1Kings 18:37: “Hear me, O LORD, hear me, that this people may know that thou art the LORD God, and that thou hast turned their heart back again.”

Good morning. Today we’re going to learn how to get fire with two sticks and some dried grass, or leaves. Take a long, straight stick and carve a point at one end. Take the other piece of wood and carve a small round gully for the pointy stick to fit in. On one of the sides of the gully, carve a small triangle or knoch out. Now place the point into the gully and using a downward motion, with the straight sick in your palms, rub your hands together rolling the stick to create friction. Soon you will see smoke appear. Keep going until you can see a spark glowing. Add some of the dried grass and blow on the ember and the grass should ignite. Add more leaves, dried grass, and wood to keep the fire going. Anybody can use this method, it just takes a little work.

Here is another way to start a fire. If you are saved and backslide then you know how miserable your life can be. Yet there is that small spark within you that keeps trying to call you back. It takes work, but you can do it if you want to. You have friction going between your spirit and your flesh. God sent Elijah to meet with Ahab, and there was friction. “And it came to pass, when Ahab saw Elijah, that Ahab said unto him, Art thou he that troubleth Israel? And he answered, I have not troubled Israel; but thou, and thy father’s house, in that ye have forsaken the commandments of the LORD, and thou hast followed Baalim. (1Kings 18:17-18).

Now you need some kindling. Wood, hay, and stubble are good to burn. In Elijah’s case: the prophets of Baal. All they did was cause all but 7000 Israelites to bow their knee to Baal. Isn’t that what sin does to you: causes you to turn away from God? Good sent the spark (or fire from heaven) that was an answer to Elijah’s prayer.

1Ki 18:36 And it came to pass at the time of the offering of the evening sacrifice, that Elijah the prophet came near, and said, LORD God of Abraham, Isaac, and of Israel, let it be known this day that thou art God in Israel, and that I am thy servant, and that I have done all these things at thy word. “Hear me, O LORD, hear me, that this people may know that thou art the LORD God, and that thou hast turned their heart back again. Then the fire of the LORD fell, and consumed the burnt sacrifice, and the wood, and the stones, and the dust, and licked up the water that was in the trench. And when all the people saw it, they fell on their faces: and they said, The LORD, he is the God; the LORD, he is the God.” (1Kings 18:37-39).

Empowered by God, Elijah was able to rid Israel of the 400 prophets of Baal. Now God could bless. Just like you looked for that small spark, Elijah was looking for a blessing from God. “And Elijah said unto Ahab, Get thee up, eat and drink; for there is a sound of abundance of rain. So Ahab went up to eat and to drink. And Elijah went up to the top of Carmel; and he cast himself down upon the earth, and put his face between his knees, And said to his servant, Go up now, look toward the sea. And he went up, and looked, and said, There is nothing. And he said, Go again seven times. And it came to pass at the seventh time, that he said, Behold, there ariseth a little cloud out of the sea, like a man’s hand. And he said, Go up, say unto Ahab, Prepare thy chariot, and get thee down, that the rain stop thee not. And it came to pass in the mean while, that the heaven was black with clouds and wind, and there was a great rain. And Ahab rode, and went to Jezreel. And the hand of the LORD was on Elijah; and he girded up his loins, and ran before Ahab to the entrance of Jezreel. (1Kings 18:41-46).

Remember when you backslide, it only takes a little effort on your part to allow the Lord to start the fire in you again.

Peace (Colossians 3:15)

Apr 16th The Saturday Morning Post by Pastor Ted Stahl

Today’s Reading: 1Kings 1-2, Mark 3-4, Proverbs 16

Today’s Passage: Mark 4:35-40

After reading the last part of Mark chapter 4, I was reminded of a song from a cassette given to me to listen to. The passage I’m referring to is Mark 4:35-39. Jesus and His disciples are in a ship, crossing over to the other side of the sea. All of a sudden, a storm hits. The winds sent waves of water which filled the ship threatening to sink it. Where was Jesus? He was asleep on a pillow in the rear of the ship. Well, preaching takes a lot out of you. He must have been exhausted. Besides that, He is God: what did He have to fear? Nothing, of course. Just remember, as the Bible says in Philippians chapter 2, God the Son humbled Himself and was obedient to God the Father’s will, even the death of the cross (see Phil 2:5-8). So, here is Jesus, asleep in the back of the ship, while all His disciples are in a panic because they think the ship is going to sink. I would guess they did not understand just how powerful their God really is. They did not understand that they were in the same boat as the Creator of the universe. And they woke up Jesus saying, “Master, carest thou not that we perish?” Of course He cares, He was on His way to die on a cross so we would not perish…

“And he arose, and rebuked the wind, and said unto the sea, Peace, be still. And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm. And he said unto them, Why are ye so fearful? how is it that ye have no faith?” (Mark 4:39-40).

Do you see the world in turmoil? It’s just a sign that we are getting close to the Lord’s return. All the prophecy that needed to be fulfilled has been fulfilled. We are just waiting because the Lord is not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance (2Peter 3:9). That brings me to the song I heard. It was from the album, ‘My Favorite Hymns’ by Roy Clark, and called ‘Safely In The Arms Of Jesus’. The first verse and chorus go like this…

I said, old time preacher man

Help me understand

What you’ve got that’s always got you smiling

I’m afraid to die

And I don’t know how to live

He raised his worn out Bible and he said

I’m safely in the arms of Jesus

Held like a mother holds her babe

And safely in the arms of Jesus

I will be when he calls me away

You see, even though the world around us is in turmoil, the winds of change are blowing, and the worldly waters could wash us all away, we are all in the same boat with Jesus. We are safely in His arms from our second birth to our appointed time. Jesus said, “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).

How about John 10:27-30: “My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father’s hand. I and my Father are one.”

Let me paint a picture, and please don’t be offended because this is for every Christian…

Jesus is taking a nap, while He waits for you wake Him. Instead we run around like a chicken with it’s head cut off, in a panic from whatever tumult is attacking our lives. Isn’t that a sight for the unbelievers eyes. Is it any wonder that Jesus would ask, “Why are ye so fearful? How is it that ye have no faith?”

Before we get overwhelmed by life, let’s run to Jesus first. Allow Him to demonstrate in your life just how powerful of a God He is.

Peace. (Mark 4:39)

Apr 14th God Doesn’t Forget

Today’s Passage – 2 Samuel 20-22; Proverbs 14

(Second Milers also read Matthew 27 – 28; Memorize 1 Corinthians 15:14 – 17)

“Then there was a famine in the days of David three years, year after year; and David enquired of the LORD. And the LORD answered, It is for Saul, and for his bloody house, because he slew the Gibeonites.” (2 Samuel 21:1)

Remember back in 1 Samuel when King Saul was mad at the priests because they had helped David. (See 1 Samuel 21 & 22) Saul ended up killing all of the priests (85 of them) and then proceeded to wipe out Nob, the city that the priests lived in.  What Saul did to the priests and to their families was bad enough; but there was also a group of people who lived in Nob as servants to the priests who were not Israelites:  they were Gibeonites.  Now you may also remember from the book of Joshua that the Gibeonites were the people who tricked Joshua into making a covenant with them.  Joshua promised these people with an oath that Israel would let them live, and in return the Gibeonites would be Israel’s servants.  God never forgot that covenant, so when Saul (acting on behalf of Israel) broke the covenant and slew the Gibeonites living in Nob; God held them (Israel – not just Saul) accountable.  God doesn’t forget, even when we want to.  Here an entire nation is suffering for the decision of one man.

We should be admonished when we read passages like this.  First of all, we should realize that our actions affect more people than we think; and we should carefully consider the outcome on others around us from the decisions we make  today as well as the impact they will have on future generations.  Secondly, we need to think about any unfinished business we may have with God or other people.  We are so quick to promise things; but so slow to deliver the things that we promise.  God never forgot the promise that Israel made with the Gibeonites.

Note – A separate thought from this passage of Scripture.  Notice in 21:8 that five of  the “sons of Saul” (actually grandsons) that were to be killed were the sons of Michal, David’s first wife.  Michal had lived a troubled life due to men who have used her for their own gain.  Saul promised her to David and reluctantly gives her to be his wife; later Saul took her back and gave her to another man; After Sauls death when David is in power he takes her back, away from a man that loves her;  and now here she is losing  her sons.

Apr 13th Bittersweet

Today’s Passage – 2 Samuel 18 – 19; Proverbs 13

(Second Milers also read – Matthew 25 – 26; Memorize 1 Corinthians 15:14 – 17)

“And the victory that day was turned into mourning unto all the people: for the people heard say that day how the king was grieved for his son.” – (2 Samuel 19:2)

This was a “no win” situation for David. David won the nation back, but lost his son. After his son Absalom rebelled against David, and forced him to flee from Jerusalem with all of his men, David had to do something. Absalom certainly wanted to see his father dead; but David, however, wanted somehow to undo the damage that Absalom had done to the nation, and still keep him as a son. He asked his men in the final battle to “deal gently… with the young man”, which they did not do. The men were right. Absalom had to die. David should have realized that. I can understand, though, how David felt. He did not blame Absalom for the way he turned out. I think David blamed himself. And even though David and his men won the victory and got the kingdom back, he still wished that he could go back and re-do some things  with his son Absalom.

I can relate to that. I wish that I could go back and re-do some things with my family as well. I know one thing that I would change is  that I would give each one of them a little more of my time. Instead of consuming my life with my goals and ambitions, I would give a little more of myself to helping them reach theirs. David ignored his son Absalom for a long time, and now he wished that he had the opportunity to give him his attention. The rebellion of Absalom grew with every passing day that his father neglected him. Most of my children are grown now, but I am trying to spend more time with them even now. I cannot re-claim what I missed, but I can make the most of what I have left. I do have one daughter, Hannah, who is young and still at home. I am doing things differently with her. If you still have children to influence, I encourage you to take every opportunity to do it. I bet you if David was to do it all over again, he would trade some of his successes as king for a good relationship with his children.

Apr 11th The Consequences of Sin

Today’s Passage – 2 Samuel 12-14; Proverbs 11

(Second Milers also read – Matthew 21 – 22; Memorize 1 Corinthians 15:14 – 17)

“Now therefore the sword shall never depart from thine house; because thou hast despised me, and hast taken the wife of Uriah the Hittite to be thy wife. Thus saith the LORD, Behold, I will raise up evil against thee out of thine own house, and I will take thy wives before thine eyes, and give them unto thy neighbour, and he shall lie with thy wives in the sight of this sun.” – (2 Samuel 12:10-11)

“And Nathan departed unto his house. And the LORD struck the child that Uriah’s wife bare unto David, and it was very sick.” – (2 Samuel 12:15)

I have to admit, that I wish passages like this were not in the Bible. In a perfect world, there would be no sin, and none of the pain and misery that come as a result of  sin. Passages like this remind us of God’s passionate hatred for sin. In chapter 11, we heard nothing from God until the very last verse of the chapter:

“…But the thing that David had done displeased the LORD.”

Of course, the “thing” that David had done was actually more than one individual thing. It began with David’s not being where he was supposed to be. He was the king, and it was the time for king’s to go forth to war, but David was home taking it easy. Next thing he knows, he finds himself lusting after a woman (Bathsheba) that was another man’s wife. Soon he takes her, and she becomes pregnant. When he cannot conveniently cover that situation up, he eventually goes so low as to have the woman’s husband killed in battle so that he can take his wife for his own. As I said at the beginning, God does not say a word to David until he thought it was all over. But once God starts speaking, He doesn’t stop for a very long time. David would suffer much at the hand of God as a result of this “thing” that he did that displeased the Lord.

1  The baby that was born to Bathsheba dies.

2  His son Amnon rapes his sister Tamar. (Notice – another sin of lust)

3  His other son Absalom kills Amnon because of what he did to Tamar.

4  David alienates himself from Absalom.

5  Absalom rebels against David, causing David to have to flee Jerusalem.

6  Absalom sleeps with David’s concubines in the sight of all Israel.

7  Absalom is killed.

All of these sins can be traced back to the sin with Bathsheba. Don’t believe me? Look at verses 10 and 11 above again. Does God not say, “I will raise up evil against thee out of thine own house”? I am not saying that God caused these people to do what they did. They did what they did because they are sinners, but I am saying, that God did not do anything to prevent all of this tragedy either. Why? Because God wants us to know how much He hates sin, and how much He wants us to stay away from it. We live in a time when sin seems to no longer be sin, but let me warn you that God has  never changed his mind on the subject. What are the consequences of sin? A lot of unnecessary pain and suffering for a lot of people. It’s just not worth it.

Apr 9th The Saturday Morning Post by Pastor Ted Stahl

Today’s Reading: 2Samuel 4-7; Matthew 17-18; Proverbs 9

Today’s Passage: 2Samuel 4:4: And Jonathan, Saul’s son, had a son that was lame of his feet. He was five years old when the tidings came of Saul and Jonathan out of Jezreel, and his nurse took him up, and fled: and it came to pass, as she made haste to flee, that he fell, and became lame. And his name was Mephibosheth.

Good morning. Aren’t you glad to be an IFB? I’ll get to that in a minute, but let’s take a look at 2Samuel 4:4. Mephibosheth was Jonathan’s son, Saul’s grandson. He was lame in his feet. It wasn’t his fault that he was lame. When he was 5 years old, his nurse picked him up to flee the city. As they were fleeing, she dropped him, and he became lame.

Many people are lame in some way or another. They could be mentally, or physically lame. Did you know that 75% of adults in America use some kind of devise to correct their vision? Seventy-five percent. I guess not everyone has “20/20” vision. If you did not watch the Phillies loose last night, then you probably know where I’m going with this. This expose’ presented a lot of eye-opening items. I found it hard to believe that there is a “preacher” out there who is advocating spanking your child as young as 2-weeks old! Can I ask you something? Does a 2-week old child know what he or she is doing wrong that they deserve a spanking? No. If they are crying, there is something wrong. This is their only way to communicate: you need to check out what is wrong.

And my heart goes out to the rape victims. It was good to see that the rapist did finally get jail time. I know of pastors who have called the police on rapists or even made the rapist call.

But to lump all Fundamental Independent Baptist churches together as one, and then label us as cults: 20/20 – you need glasses.

Peace. (John 16:33)

Apr 4th Who Is Able To Stand Before Envy?

Today’s Passage – I Samuel 19-21; Proverbs 4

(Second Milers also read – Matthew 7 – 8; Memorize 1 Corinthians 1 – 4)

“And Saul spake to Jonathan his son, and to all his servants, that they should kill David.” – (1 Samuel 19:1)

I feel sorry for Saul. I don’t think that deep down inside he wants to hate David, but there is something about david that Saul just can’t get past. He is so envious of David; so afraid that the people are going to love David more than him, and more than his son Jonathon. David has done nothing to warrant this treatment from Saul. He has never challenged Saul’s authority; he has never rebelled against Saul’s orders; he has never failed to exceed anything that Saul has ever asked him to do. David’s sin is that he does things too well. Saul sees very plainly that the hand of God is upon David, and what’s worse is that Saul also knows that God is no longer with Saul. Samuel had told Saul that there was going to come another man, a man after God’s own heart, that God would use to replace Saul. Saul was smart enouth to realize that David was the man that God had chosen.

I said that I feel sorry for Saul because I know what it is like to be envious of other people. It is something that I pray about all the time. I think envy is rooted in insecurity. Saul was insecure. He didn’t trust himself (or God) enough to fight Goliath, so he let a young boy do his fighting for him, and when David succeeded and was praised by the people it made Saul even more insecure. We can plainly see what Saul’s problem is, but how could it be fixed? And how can we get rid of the green eye of envy from our own lives? Well, to begin with we must recognize the problem; and then, like any other sin, we must confess it and ask God’s help in overcoming it. I don’t think, however, that it is a problem that will go away overnight. I have been struggling with envy all of my life. I am gradually learning, though, to not compare myself with anybody else. God has uniquely designed me for a specific purpose, which is very different from anybody elses purpose. My job is to be the best that I can be at what God has called me to do. And I need to keep my focus on God, and His will, not on anyone else. You can see that Saul couldn’t see God’s will, because he was consumed with David. What a shame.

Can you relate to Saul? Do you ever find yourself being jealous and envious over other people’s abilities or maybe their possessions? Ask God to help. I believe that if we really want to be delivered from the bondage of envy, and are willing to humble ourselves before God, He will help us.

Apr 3rd (No Title)

Today’s Passage – I Samuel 17, 18; Proverbs 3

(Second Milers – Matthew 5 – 6; Memorize 1 Corinthians 15:1 – 4)

Apr 2nd The Saturday Morning Post by Pastor Ted Stahl

Today’s Reading: 1Samuel 15-16; Matthew 3-4; Proverbs 2.

Today’s Passage: 1Corinthians 1:10.

Good afternoon. Sorry I’m late. I’ve been battling with a sinus infection since Friday. Too many Ibuprofen will wipe you out. After getting home from our Saturday morning church prayer, around 8:00 am, I too 1000mg more. Then I laid down for a few, which turned out to be 6 hours. That’s why I’m late.

You also may be wondering why am I using 1Corinthians 1:10, which is outside the scheduled readings. Because of Romans 8:28 – And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose: Preacher never changed the reading schedule, I was in a fog and never noticed, and that’s how the Lord led us to 1Corinthians 1:10. Talk about mysterious ways, huh?

God sends out an invitation through Paul here…

“Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you; but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment.” (1Cor 1:10)

Is your church like that? Neither is ours. We have our share of gossip, worldliness, and drama. I’m not quite sure what the ladies mean by ‘drama’. I guess I don’t watch Days of Our Lives, or As The World Turns enough. If our church, and your church, would speak the same thing, and be perfectly joined together in the same mind and judgment imagine what the Holy Spirit could do through us. We need the mind of the Lord Jesus Christ. The best way is through reading your Bible and prayer. “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.” (Romans 12:1-2)

There were seven of us at the church praying this morning. Seven from a church that runs over a hundred. That’s less than 10%. Usually it’s 10% doing 90% of the work in churches. I guess, as spirits grow cold, that percentage will keep getting lower. That’s why I give this invitation: if your church has an early morning prayer time -be there. If they do not – start one. And read your Bible daily. If you don’t have time, what I do is burn a CD with all the tracks for this weeks reading, and play them while driving to and from work. It’s not as good as reading, but it helps.

I hope this will be a help to you. Let me leave you with a little bit more of Romans 12…

“For as we have many members in one body, and all members have not the same office: So we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another. Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, whether prophecy, let us prophesy according to the proportion of faith; Or ministry, let us wait on our ministering: or he that teacheth, on teaching; Or he that exhorteth, on exhortation: he that giveth, let him do it with simplicity; he that ruleth, with diligence; he that sheweth mercy, with cheerfulness. Let love be without dissimulation. Abhor that which is evil; cleave to that which is good. Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honour preferring one another; Not slothful in business; fervent in spirit; serving the Lord; Rejoicing in hope; patient in tribulation; continuing instant in prayer; Distributing to the necessity of saints; given to hospitality. Bless them which persecute you: bless, and curse not. Rejoice with them that do rejoice, and weep with them that weep. Be of the same mind one toward another. Mind not high things, but condescend to men of low estate. Be not wise in your own conceits. Recompense to no man evil for evil. Provide things honest in the sight of all men. If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men. (Romans 12: 4-18)

Peace (Romans 12:18)