Thank You – The Saturday Morning Post by Pastor Ted Stahl
Today’s Reading – 2 Chronicles 6 – 8 (Click on the references to listen to the audio – Click here to view the passage from Blue Letter Bible)
(Second Milers Read – Acts 7 – 9; Psalms 86 – 90; Proverbs 18)
Scripture Memorization for May – Romans 10
Listen to this morning’s Scripture song – Psalm 119:105
Read a great article by Pastor Paul Chappell– “Launch Out“
Read the “0518 Evening and Morning” devotion for today, by the late Charles Haddon Spurgeon
Read previous posts from this morning’s passage – “Forgive” & “The Fire Came Down From Heaven“
“I will praise thee, O Lord my God, with all my heart: and I will glorify thy name for evermore. For great is thy mercy toward me: and thou hast delivered my soul from the lowest hell. O God, the proud are risen against me, and the assemblies of violent men have sought after my soul; and have not set thee before them. But thou, O Lord, art a God full of compassion, and gracious, longsuffering, and plenteous in mercy and truth.” (Psalm 86:12-15)
I had just finished doing some work around the house, and sat down outside on the deck to take a break. I got notified a few days before this, that my work was out of work so I was out of work. I had submitted a claim to Unemployment, and was considering a plan of action in my hunt for another job. So, I’m sitting there, and my eye catches a squirrel coming over to the deck. He made his way to the top of the railing, about 7 feet away from me, and started to eat an acorn. Did you know that squirrels have fairly large claws? I could see his clearly as I watched him devour the last bit of nut. Then he stared at me with his black beady eyes. Oh great! He’s going to jump and dig his claws into my leg, bite me, and then I’ll have to go to the hospital and get rabies shots. The squirrel started to scamper across the railing, stopping every yard or so to check on me: eying up his target. He didn’t jump on me, but made his way to the end of the railing where we have this large river rock with a hollow in it. It was almost like a bowl. And the squirrel started drinking the rainwater out of it. The more I thought about what just happened, the more I rejoiced in my heart. The Lord led this squirrel to a hidden acorn to eat. The Lord supplied the rain the night before, filling the hollow, and giving the squirrel water to drink. He will supply all my needs also. When the right job comes along, it will come from God, and in His timing.
“Bless the LORD, O my soul: and all that is within me, bless his holy name. Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits: Who forgiveth all thine iniquities; who healeth all thy diseases; Who redeemeth thy life from destruction; who crowneth thee with lovingkindness and tender mercies; Who satisfieth thy mouth with good things; so that thy youth is renewed like the eagle’s. The LORD executeth righteousness and judgment for all that are oppressed. He made known his ways unto Moses, his acts unto the children of Israel. The LORD is merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and plenteous in mercy. He will not always chide: neither will he keep his anger for ever. He hath not dealt with us after our sins; nor rewarded us according to our iniquities. For as the heaven is high above the earth, so great is his mercy toward them that fear him. As far as the east is from the west, so far hath he removed our transgressions from us. Like as a father pitieth his children, so the LORD pitieth them that fear him. For he knoweth our frame; he remembereth that we are dust. As for man, his days are as grass: as a flower of the field, so he flourisheth. For the wind passeth over it, and it is gone; and the place thereof shall know it no more. But the mercy of the LORD is from everlasting to everlasting upon them that fear him, and his righteousness unto children’s children; To such as keep his covenant, and to those that remember his commandments to do them. The LORD hath prepared his throne in the heavens; and his kingdom ruleth over all. Bless the LORD, ye his angels, that excel in strength, that do his commandments, hearkening unto the voice of his word. Bless ye the LORD, all ye his hosts; ye ministers of his, that do his pleasure. Bless the LORD, all his works in all places of his dominion: bless the LORD, O my soul.” (Psalm 103).
Thank You, Lord, for everything that You have given us.
Peace. (Psalm 69:30).
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He That Winneth Souls Is Wise – The Saturday Morning Post by Pastor Ted Stahl
Today’s Reading – 1 Chronicles 13 – 15 (Click on the references to listen to the audio – Click here to view the passage from Blue Letter Bible)
(Second Milers Read – John 13 – 14; Psalms 51 – 55; Proverbs 11)
Scripture Memorization for May – Romans 10
Listen to this morning’s Scripture song – Psalm 48:1 & 2
Read a great article by Pastor Pastor Paul Chappell – “How to Choose an Accountibility Partner“
Read the “0511 Evening and Morning” devotion for today, by the late Charles Haddon Spurgeon
Read a previous post from this passage – “God’s Will, God’s Way“
Good morning. Proverbs 11:30 tells us that,
“The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life; and he that winneth souls is wise.”
Why are these two statements in the Bible? They go together hand in hand. The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life. According to Isaiah 64:6, our righteousnesses are as filthy rags. The only one who was ever righteous, is the Lord Jesus Christ. When we got saved, God gave us the righteousness of the Lord Jesus Christ. We, those who are saved are the righteous. Not of our own righteousness, but Christ’s. The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life: the righteous will tell others about the salvation they received through the Lord Jesus Christ: giving life to others: bearing fruit. Jesus said, “I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman. Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit. Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you. Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me. I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing. If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned. If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you. Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples.”
And Jesus commands us to go out into the world and preach the Gospel: he that winneth souls is wise…
“And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.” (Matthew 28:18-20)
“And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.” [They have a choice!] (Mark 16:15-16)
“Then opened he [Jesus] their understanding, that they might understand the scriptures, And said unto them, Thus it is written, and thus it behoved Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead the third day: And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. And ye are witnesses of these things. And, behold, I send the promise of my Father upon you: but tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem, until ye be endued with power from on high.” (Luke 24:45-49)
“Then said Jesus to them again, Peace be unto you: as my Father hath sent me, even so send I you.” (John 20:21)
Jesus gave us the power to go. Acts 1:8 says, “But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.”
We need to go! We must go! God made it easy for a person to get saved. “For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher? And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things! But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Esaias saith, Lord, who hath believed our report? So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.” (Romans 10:13-17)
Do it. He that winneth souls is wise. Do it for Jesus. Do it because you love the Lord, and want to obey His command. Do it to keep people from joining the devil in Hell. Do it for yourself: Jesus said, “Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.” (Matthew 6:19-21)
The whole problem is the doctrine of predestination which is found in Romans chapter 8. “Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God. 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. For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren. Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified. What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us?” (Romans 8:26-31)
I believe in predestination. But I had to choose. And here is what Hyper-Calvinists do not understand: because God is all-knowing, He knew that I would receive the Lord Jesus Christ as my Saviour, and He sent people throughout my life to tell me about Jesus. But I still had to choose.
Let me ask my Hyper-Calvinist friends out there in cyberspace, how do you know if someone is predestined to go to Heaven unless you ask them: tell them about Jesus: give them a chance to choose? And let me ask you, Christian, how are your feet: are they beautiful, or are they ugly and stink? He that winneth souls is wise.
Peace! (Romans 10:13-15)
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It’s A Gift – The Saturday Morning Post by Pastor Ted Stahl
Today’s Passage –2 Kings 4 – 6 (Click on the references to listen to the audio – Click here to view the passage from Blue Letter Bible)
(Second Milers also read – Luke 9 – 10; Proverbs 27; Psalms 131 – 135
Scripture Memorization for March – John 1:1 – 18
Listen to this morning’s Scripture song – Matthew 6:33
Read a great article by Pastor Cary Schmidt – “10 Stretching Experiences of a New Pastor“
Read the “0427 Evening and Morning” devotion for today, by the late Charles Haddon Spurgeon
Read a previous post from this passage -”God Will Take Care of You“
Congratulations! You have won a FREE trip to Bermuda! Wow, a free cruise? A gift for me? Well not exactly. First you need to drive to King-Of-Prussia, PA to pick up your tickets. Then you need to spend several hours with a high pressure salesman as he explains that the product produced by the company who is giving you the FREE trip is something you just can’t live without. The price for this product that you can’t live without (even though the world has done without it for 6000 years) is more than you can afford. But it is cheaper than your FREE (?) cruise to Bermuda. So you sign the contract, get your tickets, and your off to Bermuda… next week, after you drive to Florida, where the ship is leaving from. And to top everything off, your ship sails right through the Bermuda Triangle, you disappear forever, and you never get to see Bermuda, or enjoy whatever it is you signed the contract to buy.
Nothing is free, it always costs somebody something. Well we still live in a free country. Then how come I have to pay taxes? You have freedom of speech. Then why is it considered a hate crime when I quote God as saying homosexuality is an abomination? Even the freedom that we have was not free. Others died for those freedoms that are being tossed aside by the Liberal-Nazi-Commi-Socialist government we have in office. Nothing is free. Except…
In Matthew chapter 10, Jesus is about to send His disciples to the people of Israel. “These twelve Jesus sent forth, and commanded them, saying, Go not into the way of the Gentiles, and into any city of the Samaritans enter ye not: But go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. And as ye go, preach, saying, The kingdom of heaven is at hand. Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out devils: freely ye have received, freely give.” (Matthew 10:5-8)
Jesus told them they received the power to heal the sick, cleanse lepers, raise the dead, and cast out devils freely. They should use this power freely to help others.
In 2Kings 5, we have the story of Naaman the leper. God used Elisha the prophet to heal Naaman of his leprosy. Naaman tried to give gold, silver, and clothing to Elisha to say thank you. Elisha would not accept these. Freely he received, so freely he gave. So Naaman started on his journey back to Syria. But Gehazi, Elisha’s servant, did not understand. Gehazi ran after Naaman, and lied to get two talents of silver, and two changes of garments. After Gehazi received the items and returned home…
“But he went in, and stood before his master. And Elisha said unto him, Whence comest thou, Gehazi? And he said, Thy servant went no whither. And he said unto him, Went not mine heart with thee, when the man turned again from his chariot to meet thee? Is it a time to receive money, and to receive garments, and oliveyards, and vineyards, and sheep, and oxen, and menservants, and maidservants? The leprosy therefore of Naaman shall cleave unto thee, and unto thy seed for ever. And he went out from his presence a leper as white as snow.” (2Kings 5:25-27)
God’s gift of salvation is the only thing that is truly free to us, yet millions refuse to believe this. Ephesians 2:8-9 tell us, “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.”
Salvation is a free gift: you cannot work for it, you cannot buy it. “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” (John 3:16)
Salvation: God gave it; Jesus paid for it, and now offers it freely to you.
Peace! (John 10:7-18)
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And That’s The Way It Is – The Saturday Morning Post by Pastor Ted Stahl
Today’s Passage – 1 Kings 10 – 11 (Click on the references to listen to the audio – Click here to view the passage from Blue Letter Bible)
(Second Milers also read – Mark 11 – 12; Proverbs 20; Psalms 96 – 100
Scripture Memorization for March – John 1:1 – 18
Listen to this morning’s Scripture song – Psalm 119:105
Read a great article by Pastor Paul Chappell – “A Checklist that Matters“
Read the “0420 Evening and Morning” devotion for today, by the late Charles Haddon Spurgeon
Good morning. That title is the closing line used by Walter Cronkite on his CBS news show. I couldn’t help thinking of that while watching the capture of suspected Boston Marathon bomber Dzhokhar A. Tsarnaev. The one reporting said that the older brother was in hell, and that the younger brother would be joining him there. Terrorists get the death penalty. Maybe, instead of taking away our rights to bare arms, and limit the rounds in our defense rifles, the government should make jail an unpleasant experience instead of a vacation. And if you take someone’s life, you forfeit your own.
And that’s the way it is. Unless someone reaches that kid with the gospel of Jesus Christ. He should have read…
Proverbs 19:19 – “A man of great wrath shall suffer punishment: for if thou deliver him, yet thou must do it again.”
A man of great wrath WILL suffer punishment. A man of great wrath will continue to be a man of great wrath. And, if a man of great wrath could be delivered, you would have to deliver him over and over again. Jesus tells us to love our enemies. But this 19 year-old has never heard that. He believes a lie. He should have read…
Proverbs 20:17 – “Bread of deceit is sweet to a man; but afterwards his mouth shall be filled with gravel.”
The only cure for a man of great wrath is either death, or the Lord Jesus Christ. God tells us to make ourselves living sacrifices (Romans 12:1), not dead ones. God also tells us that if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new (2Corinthians 5:17). Only God can change a person, and the man of great wrath is passed away: gone. You see, God loves the man of great wrath, just as He loves every sinner. We are all sinners (Romans 3:10 & 23). And, because God knew that being sinners we could not save ourselves, He put on flesh, became a man, and died on a cross to pay the price for our sins (John 1:1-14; Romans 5:8-11, 6:23). The only thing we can do is ask Him to save us (Romans 10:13).
Peace! (Exodus 20:3)
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What Is The Real Hate Crime? – The Saturday Morning Post By Pastor Ted Stahl
Today’s Passage – 1 Samuel 25 – 27 (Click on the references to listen to the audio – Click here to view the passage from Blue Letter Bible)
(Second Milers also read – Matthew 11 – 12; Proverbs 6; Psalm 26 – 30
Scripture Memorization for March – John 1:1 – 18
Listen to this morning’s Scripture song – Joshua 1:8
Read the “0406 Evening and Morning” devotion for today, by the late Charles Haddon Spurgeon.
Good morning. There are many preachers in jail today because of our freedom of speech is becoming a myth, and it is considered breaking the law to tell the truth. If you Google it, the one who comes up most is a street preacher in the United Kingdom. He told a passerby that he thought homosexuality was a sin. The last time I looked, it was (and still is). What would you do in the same situation? What does the Bible say?
Twice in Ezekiel, God says, “The soul that sinneth, it shall die.” (vs 20 & 4).
Ezekiel 33:1-8 tell us, “Again the word of the LORD came unto me, saying, Son of man, speak to the children of thy people, and say unto them, when I bring the sword upon a land, if the people of the land take a man of their coasts, and set him for their watchman: If when he seeth the sword come upon the land, he blow the trumpet, and warn the people; Then whosoever heareth the sound of the trumpet, and taketh not warning; if the sword come, and take him away, his blood shall be upon his own head. He heard the sound of the trumpet, and took not warning; his blood shall be upon him. But he that taketh warning shall deliver his soul. But if the watchman see the sword come, and blow not the trumpet, and the people be not warned; if the sword come, and take any person from among them, he is taken away in his iniquity; but his blood will I require at the watchman’s hand. So thou, O son of man, I have set thee a watchman unto the house of Israel; therefore thou shalt hear the word at my mouth, and warn them from me. When I say unto the wicked, O wicked man, thou shalt surely die; if thou dost not speak to warn the wicked from his way, that wicked man shall die in his iniquity; but his blood will I require at thine hand.”
If I call a politician a liar who is just trying to keep his job, and not serving those who elected him; is that a hate crime? If I tell them they are going to spend all eternity in Hell; is that a hate crime? Jesus said, “But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.” (Rev 21:8).
When those in power started pushing evolution as a fact to be taught in schools, while God’s truth was removed; when those in power gave their blessing to abort babies; when those in power think more about being politically correct instead of correct, they stopped serving the people. So I ask you, which is the real hate crime? Telling others about sin and how Jesus died for their sins; or not saying anything, and allowing them to go to Hell? The way the world is going, if Jesus delays His return, you may have to decide.
God’s Word is clear: Jesus died for the sins of the world: He shed His precious blood: He paid sin’s wage for us. We need to share this with others no matter what the consequences. The only sin that will not be forgiven is blasphemy of the Holy Ghost. Just like you and me, others need to decide to reject or receive Jesus Christ as their Saviour.
Peace. (1Corinthians 11:24).
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The Sun’s Coming Up In The Morning – The Saturday Morning Post by Pastor Ted Stahl
Today’s Passage – 1 Samuel 4 – 7 (Click on the references to listen to the audio – Click here to view the passage from Blue Letter Bible)
(Second Milers also read – Revelation 13 – 15; Proverbs 30; Psalms 146 – 150
Scripture Memorization for March – 1 Corinthians 6:9 – 20
Listen to this morning’s Scripture song – Psalm 121
Read previous posts from this passage – “A Good Luck Charm”; and “Get It Out“
Read a great article by Pastor Paul Chappell – “When You Can Borrow A Tomb, Steps to the Resurrection, Part 6“
Read the “0330 Evening and Morning” devotion for today, by the late Charles Haddon Spurgeon.
Good morning! One of my favorite hymns is ‘The Sun’s Coming Up’ by Dee Gaskin. Every time I read Revelation chapter 21 and 22, I think about this hymn and what Heaven is like.
“And the sun’s coming up in the morning. Every tear will be gone from my eye…”
“And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea. And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God. And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away. And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And he said unto me, Write: for these words are true and faithful.” (Revelation 21:1-5)
One day God will make all things new. We will get to talk with Him face to face. All the pain, the suffering, the wrongs done to us will pass away with all the other former things. No more death. No more sorrow. No more pain. And no more crying: God will wipe away all the tears from our eyes.
“And the sun’s coming up in the morning. Every tear will be gone from my eye; This old clay’s gonna give way to glory, And like an eagle, I’ll take to the sky.”
One day we will all be changed in the twinkling of an eye, as this old clay gives way to glory. Paul explains in 1Corinthians 15…
“Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption. Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory. O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory? The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. 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.” (1Corinthians 15:50-58)
But what I love the most about this passage in Revelation is the end of verse 5, where God tells John, “Write: for these words are true and faithful.”
“And the sun’s coming up in the morning. Every tear will be gone from my eye; This old clay’s gonna give way to glory, And like an eagle, I’ll take to the sky.”
Peace. (Revelation 22:20)
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He Pitched His Tent Towards Sodom – The Saturday Morning Post by Pastor Ted Stahl
Today’s Passage – Genesis 13 – 16 (Click on the references to listen to the audio – Click here to view the passage from Blue Letter Bible)
(Second Milers also read –Matthew 9 – 10; Proverbs 5; Psalms 21 – 25
Scripture Memorization for January – Philippians 3
Listen to this morning’s Scripture song – Psalm 92:1
Read a previos post from this passage – “Relationships Are More Important Than Riches”
Read “Be A Clutter Buster” by Pastor Paul Chappell
Good morning. This passage from Genesis chapter 13 marks the downfall of Lot, Abraham’s nephew. He would move into a city of exceeding wickedness.
He would lose his wife. He would father a child by each of his two daughters. He would lose everything he had.
“And there was a strife between the herdmen of Abram’s cattle and the herdmen of Lot’s cattle: and the Canaanite and the Perizzite dwelled then in the land. And Abram said unto Lot, Let there be no strife, I pray thee, between me and thee, and between my herdmen and thy herdmen; for we be brethren. Is not the whole land before thee? separate thyself, I pray thee, from me: if thou wilt take the left hand, then I will go to the right; or if thou depart to the right hand, then I will go to the left. And Lot lifted up his eyes, and beheld all the plain of Jordan, that it was well watered every where, before the LORD destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah, even as the garden of the LORD, like the land of Egypt, as thou comest unto Zoar. Then Lot chose him all the plain of Jordan; and Lot journeyed east: and they separated themselves the one from the other. Abram dwelled in the land of Canaan, and Lot dwelled in the cities of the plain, and pitched his tent toward Sodom. But the men of Sodom were wicked and sinners before the LORD exceedingly.” (Genesis 13:7-13).
The beautiful picture of Christ’s love for His church has been trampled upon by three states: Maryland, Maine, and Washington. Illinois could be falling soon too. Lawmakers in several other states may consider the issue later this year: Delaware, Hawaii, Minnesota, New Jersey, and Rhode Island. The issue: the perverted, lustful union between a man and a man, or a woman and a woman. The truth about Homosexuality is found in Romans chapter 1…
“For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness; Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed it unto them. 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 1:18-32).
God calls it an abomination in Leviticus 20:13: “If a man also lie with mankind, as he lieth with a woman, both of them have committed an abomination: they shall surely be put to death; their blood shall be upon them.”
But there is hope. You see all sins can be forgiven except one. The sin of sodomy is just as bad as the sin of over eating, murder, or telling a lie. All sin condemns a person to death. “But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” (Romans 5:8).
Jesus loves the Homosexual. He shed His precious blood to forgive the sin of Homosexuality as well as any other sin you can think of. If you are trapped in this ‘lifestyle’, you can be set free. That’s why Jesus came: to seek and to save that which was lost (Luke 19:10). And, “If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed.” (John 8:36)
“Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.” (1Corithians 5:17)
Peace! (John 3:16)
Posted in Guest Posts, Thoughts from Genesis by Phil Erickson with no comments yet.
Great Advice – The Saturday Morning Post by Pastor Ted Stahl
Today’s Passage –Mark 8 – 9 (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 96 – 100; Proverbs 20
Scripture Memory for October – Matthew 5:1 – 16
Listen to this morning’s Scripture song – Psalm 25
Read “When Your Teen Says No – Part One” by Pastor Chappell
A great gettin’ up mornin’ to ya, fair ye well, fair ye well. And I hope you do fair well today. I don’t know if it’s just me, or not, but when I mount the pulpit to lead the congregation singing, all the cares of my world seem to melt away. And why not? I get to lose myself in singing praises to Jesus.
Psalm 100 says: “A Psalm of praise. 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.”
Looking out over the congregation, I can see some people clapping, some people swaying, most singing, but some not, and some being obedient to Psalm 100 and making a “joyful NOISE” unto the LORD! I think about the music David played on his harp and the evil spirit left king Saul. I think about Joshua and all Israel as they marched around Jericho and they shouted a great shout – they made a joyful noise, if you will – and walls came a tumblin’ down. What evil spirits has the Lord removed from your life? What walls has He torn down so that you could be free? As I look out at the congregation again, some are not singing, some look like they would rather be somewhere else. They are not allowing the Holy Spirit to work in them through the song. Dr. Lester Roloff said something like if you can’t sing songs in the night, don’t come to me with songs in the light. When you are going through the night, or times of trouble, God will give you a song to sing. Will you sing it? “It will be worth it all…”
Psalm 100 is a Psalm of praise. There are several instructions contained here that we should know about.
We need to make a joyful noise unto the LORD.
We need to serve the LORD with gladness.
We need to come before his presence with singing.
We need know the Lord who created us, and made us His people
We need to come before Him with thanksgiving and praise.
We need to be thankful unto him, and bless his name.
Why?
Because the Lord is good.
Because the Lord gives us His everlasting mercy.
Because the Lord gave us His truth.
God’s goodness, mercy, and truth should be enough to give us the song in our hearts whether it be day or night.
And speaking of songs, I found a good one. I was flipping through the tv channels when I came to the Create Network. There was a show just coming on called Danny’s Guitar Shop. I wasn’t going to watch it, but this episode was about Gospel music. The church’s choir was practicing this song called Ride On King Jesus. I found the lyrics to it…
from « American Negro Songs »by J. W. Work, 1940
Ride on King Jesus !
No man can hinder him
Ride on King Jesus !
No man can hinder him
Jesus rides o a milk white horse
No man can hinder him
The river Jordan he did cross
No man can hinder him
If you want to find your way to God
No man can hinder him
The gospel highway must be trod
No man can hinder him
I was young when I begun
No man can hinder him
But now my race is almost run
No man can hinder him
Peace! (Revelations 19:11-16)
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Perilous Times – The Saturday Morning Post by Pastor Ted Stahl
The headline was buried on the Internet, but I found it. I had watched in horror, the events happening on the news the night before. The headline read: “Teens Laugh While Recording Violent Beating Of Woman In Chester.”
This bothered me to no end because the woman was reported as being ‘mentally challenged’. All five years of my college experience was working with the mentally challenged. And believe me, looking back, I would not have wanted it any other way.
America is reaping what it sowed, in taking the Bible out of schools. They teach children that they evolved from a blob of goo that slithered out of the ocean instead of being created in the image of God. Well, there’s your proof of evolution, except the scientists have it reversed: mankind starts out in the image of God, and then evolves into a godless animal. “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 1:28-32)
The Apostle Paul, in writing to Timothy tells him the same thing about the end times. “This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away. For of this sort are they which creep into houses, and lead captive silly women laden with sins, led away with divers lusts, Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth. Now as Jannes and Jambres withstood Moses, so do these also resist the truth: men of corrupt minds, reprobate concerning the faith. But they shall proceed no further: for their folly shall be manifest unto all men, as theirs also was. But thou hast fully known my doctrine, manner of life, purpose, faith, longsuffering, charity, patience, Persecutions, afflictions, which came unto me at Antioch, at Iconium, at Lystra; what persecutions I endured: but out of them all the Lord delivered me. Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution. But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived. But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them; And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.” (2Timothy 3)
Paul instructs Timothy with one simple instruction: continue in what you have learned from the Word of God, all of God’s Word: from “In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.” to “The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.”
Peace. (Revelation 22:20)
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Just for Ladies – By Camille Stahl
Today is 9/11 – Read “We Still Have Not Forgotten”
Today’s Passage – Ezekiel 38 – 40 (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 – 1 Timothy 1 – 3; Psalms 51 – 55; Proverbs 11)
Scripture Memory for July – Philippians 2:1 – 18
Listen to this morning’s Scripture song – Deuteronomy 32:4
THE STUDY OF WOMEN IN THE BIBLE
The Woman Who Anointed Jesus’ Feet
“And one of the Pharisees desired him that he would eat with him. And he went into the Pharisee’s house, and sat down to meat. And, behold, a woman in the city, which was a sinner, when she knew that Jesus sat at meat in the Pharisee’s house, brought an alabaster box of ointment, And stood at his feet behind him weeping, and began to wash his feet with tears, and did wipe them with the hairs of her head, and kissed his feet, and anointed them with the ointment. Now when the Pharisee which had bidden him saw it, he spake within himself, saying, This man, if he were a prophet, would have known who and what manner of woman this is that toucheth him: for she is a sinner. And Jesus answering said unto him, Simon, I have somewhat to say unto thee. And he saith, Master, say on. There was a certain creditor which had two debtors: the one owed five hundred pence, and the other fifty. And when they had nothing to pay, he frankly forgave them both. Tell me therefore, which of them will love him most? Simon answered and said, I suppose that he, to whom he forgave most. And he said unto him, Thou hast rightly judged. And he turned to the woman, and said unto Simon, Seest thou this woman? I entered into thine house, thou gavest me no water for my feet: but she hath washed my feet with tears, and wiped them with the hairs of her head. Thou gavest me no kiss: but this woman since the time I came in hath not ceased to kiss my feet. My head with oil thou didst not anoint: but this woman hath anointed my feet with ointment. Wherefore I say unto thee, Her sins, which are many, are forgiven; for she loved much: but to whom little is forgiven, the same loveth little. And he said unto her, Thy sins are forgiven. And they that sat at meat with him began to say within themselves, Who is this that forgiveth sins also? And he said to the woman, Thy faith hath saved thee; go in peace.” (Luke 7:36-50)
Think with me and imagine the scene. Simon, a Pharisee, was having a dinner party. He asked Jesus to join them. Now the Pharisee’s didn’t believe in Christ, yet He accepted the invitation and ate with them. In walks a woman with a questionable background. Now I don’t know about you, but if I was home and a stranger walked in….., or was she. According to verse 39 Simon knew what this woman was. How did he know who she was and why didn’t anyone asked her to leave when she first came in? Just asking.
This woman, with a bad reputation, heard the preaching of Jesus with conviction. She realized who Jesus was and brought Him what she had. She did not approach Him eye to eye. She felt so unworthy that she humbled herself at His feet and kiss them. Her tears of joy washed the feet of Jesus. Her hair became a towel to dry them. There was no pride found in her. She anointed His feet with oil, owning Him as “The Anointed One”. Finally someone who excepted and truly loved her. The Pharisee’s also heard His preaching and yet there was no humility or conviction. They sat and watched as she touched Jesus thinking, how can He let her touch Him. If He only knew who she was. If she would have touched Simon he may have said “ …Stand by thyself, come not near to me; for I am holier than thou…. (Isaiah 65:5)
God’s warnings are all around us. Time is short.
“This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away. For of this sort are they which creep into houses, and lead captive silly women laden with sins, led away with divers lusts, Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.” (2Timothy 3:1-7)
Sinners of all kinds will be invited by the Holy Spirit to enter into our churches to receive the “Free Love Gift” of God. Will we be willing to “rub elbows” with ALL types of repented sinners.
“Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.” (Mat 22:37-39)
I don’t understand how a God so divine,could lower Himself to a life such as mine.
And consider me worth every minute of time,
to rescue a sinner like me.
When I think of my Saviour alone on the cross,
I know without Him that my life would be lost.
If He had not been willing to suffer the cost,
to rescue a sinner like me.
To rescue a sinner like me, LORD,
to rescue a sinner like me.
He abandoned His throne and His kingdom above,
to rescue a sinner like me.
My mind is so limited that I cannot see,
the reason He died and arose just for me.
So unworthy was I, yet He came willingly,
to rescue a sinner like me.
To rescue a sinner as worthless as I,
Yet He gave me a reason to sing.
It’s so hard to believe, that it happened to me,
Hallelujah to Jesus my King!
To rescue a sinner like me, LORD,
to rescue a sinner like me.
He abandoned His throne and His kingdom above,
to rescue a sinner like me.
“But God commendeth His love toward us, that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” (Romans 5:8)
Thank You
1 John 5:13
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