Making a Differencewith Pastor Phil Erickson

Oct 11th But Whom Say Ye That I Am? – The Saturday Morning Post

Today’s Passage – Matthew 16 – 18 (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 51 – 55; Proverbs 11)

“When Jesus came into the coasts of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, saying, Whom do men say that I the Son of man am? And they said, Some say that thou art John the Baptist: some, Elias; and others, Jeremias, or one of the prophets. He saith unto them, But whom say ye that I am? And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God.” (Matthew 16:13-16)

Good morning. The World knows who Jesus Christ is. Exodus chapter 20 contains God’s Ten Commandments. In verse 7 we find the third commandment…

“Thou shalt not take the name of the LORD thy God in vain; for the LORD will not hold him guiltless that taketh his name in vain.” (Exodus 20:7)

I have never heard someone say Buddah darnit. Or somebody stub there toe and start chanting: Harri-Krishner, Harri-Lama, while holding his foot and dancing around on one leg. Jehovah False Witnesses know Him as Michael the archangel. The Mormons know Him as the product of physical intercourse between God the Father, and the virgin Mary. Hulk Hogan calls Him the Man Upstairs. The Beatles thought they were more popular than Him. Islam recognizes Him as a great prophet, but not as God in the flesh. He is Ian Anderson’s buddy (Jethro Tull): who says they will both put on their cordaroy pants, go down to the mall, and overturn the tables of bluegenes. But whom say ye that I am?

He is the Creator – John 1:3.

He is the Living Word of God – John 1:1-2, 14.

He is God – John 1:1; 10:30.

He is the image of the invisible God – Colossians 1:15.

He is the Alpha and Omega: the Beginning and the End: the First and the Last – Revelation 22:13.

And His name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace – Isaiah 9:6.

He is the King of Kings, and Lord of Lords – 1Timothy 6:15; Revelation 17:14; 19:16.

He is Christ the Lord – Luke 2:11

Peace! (1John 4:10)

Oct 4th Stubble – The Saturday Morning Post

Today’s Passage –Malachi 1 – 4 (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 – Psalm 16 – 20; Proverbs 4)

“For, behold, the day cometh, that shall burn as an oven; and all the proud, yea, and all that do wickedly, shall be stubble: and the day that cometh shall burn them up, saith the LORD of hosts, that it shall leave them neither root nor branch. But unto you that fear my name shall the Sun of righteousness arise with healing in his wings; and ye shall go forth, and grow up as calves of the stall. And ye shall tread down the wicked; for they shall be ashes under the soles of your feet in the day that I shall do this, saith the LORD of hosts.” (Malachi 4:1-3)

Good morning. Did you ever see stubble burn? Stubble burns very quickly and we use it to get a campfire going. And if you look at the definition of the word ‘stubble’, it means, “The short stalks left in a field after the crops have been harvested.”

The wicked are as stubble. Solomon warned his son to stay away from the wicked in Proverbs 4…

“Enter not into the path of the wicked, and go not in the way of evil men. Avoid it, pass not by it, turn from it, and pass away. For they sleep not, except they have done mischief; and their sleep is taken away, unless they cause some to fall. For they eat the bread of wickedness, and drink the wine of violence.” (Proverbs 4:14-17)

There is going to be a great harvest someday. All that is left on the earth will be stubble. But, did you know that a seed can be planted directly into the stubble, and it will bring forth a new plant?

“Therefore 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)

“The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up. Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness, Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat? Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness.” (2Peter 3:9-13)

Peace. (Revelation 7:13-17)

Sep 27th The Window To The Soul – The Saturday Morning Post

Today’s Passage – Nahum 1 – 3 (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 – Revelation 10 – 12; Psalms 131 – 135; Proverbs 27)

“God is jealous, and the LORD revengeth; the LORD revengeth, and is furious; the LORD will take vengeance on his adversaries, and he reserveth wrath for his enemies. The LORD is slow to anger, and great in power, and will not at all acquit the wicked: the LORD hath his way in the whirlwind and in the storm, and the clouds are the dust of his feet. He rebuketh the sea, and maketh it dry, and drieth up all the rivers: Bashan languisheth, and Carmel, and the flower of Lebanon languisheth. The mountains quake at him, and the hills melt, and the earth is burned at his presence, yea, the world, and all that dwell therein. Who can stand before his indignation? and who can abide in the fierceness of his anger? his fury is poured out like fire, and the rocks are thrown down by him. The LORD is good, a strong hold in the day of trouble; and he knoweth them that trust in him. But with an overrunning flood he will make an utter end of the place thereof, and darkness shall pursue his enemies.” (Nahum 1:2-8)

“The light of the body is the eye: if therefore thine eye be single, thy whole body shall be full of light. But if thine eye be evil, thy whole body shall be full of darkness. If therefore the light that is in thee be darkness, how great is that darkness!” (Matthew 6:22-23)

Good morning. I get chills whenever I think about some of the things my eyes have seen. What do people see when they look me in the eye? I would hope they see light. Sometimes you can see the evil in a person. You can see the darkness, the demonic possesion in the eyes of Bin Laden as he watches the World Trade Center come crashing down on 9/11. You can see the darkness in the eyes of Charles Manson while being interviewed about the Sharron/Tate murders. You can see it in the eyes of Adolf Hitler, as he gloates over his conquest of Europe. You may be able to see it in the eyes of the ISIS Executioner. I haven’t been able to find a clear enough picture yet, but I’m sure the darkness is there. As long as they continue the way they are going. the darkness will pursue them.

“Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it.” (John 8:44)

A tear comes to my eye as I think about the darkness that is pursuing our nation. And we have nobody to run to for protection. Our nation has rejected God, and God is allowing the devil to reign terror, and destruction on our nation. Romans 1 gives a complete description of our trouble…

“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)

A good description of America today. You can’t even trust your government leaders to tell the truth. There is only one solution…

“Behold, I come quickly: blessed is he that keepeth the sayings of the prophecy of this book.

And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last.

He which testifieth these things saith, Surely I come quickly. Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.” (Revelations 22:7. 12-13, 20-21)

Peace! (2Chronicles 7:14)

Sep 20th God Is Still On The Throne – The Saturday Morning Post

Today’s Passage – Hosea 8 – 14 (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 Peter 1 – 5; Psalms 96 – 100; Proverbs 20)

“For Israel hath forgotten his Maker, and buildeth temples; and Judah hath multiplied fenced cities: but I will send a fire upon his cities, and it shall devour the palaces thereof.” (Hosea 8:14)

Good morning. God is still on the throne, and prayer changes things. I always wanted to use that opening line from South West Radio Church. In our verse, we find that Israel has forgotten God, but God is still on the throne. Judah thinks having a large amount of fenced cities will protect him from the God he to has forgotten about. But God is still on the throne. God is till on the throne, and in complete control. And God is getting ready to send fire upon the temples of Israel, and the fenced cities of Judah. God IS still on the throne, but also: prayer changes things.

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

Because God is still on the throne, and prayer still changes things.

America has forgotten it’s Maker. America has forgotten God. They teach that there is no God. And they build fenced cities, but Homeland Security will not protect them because God is still on the throne, but prayer changes things. America has all of it’s idols on TV. But God is still on the throne, and prayer changes things.

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

Peace. (Jeremiah 18:8)

Sep 13th America, America – The Saturday Morning Post

Today’s Passage – Ezekiel 44 – 46 (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 4 – 6; Psalms 61 – 65; Proverbs 13)

“He that spareth his rod hateth his son: but he that loveth him chasteneth him betimes.” (Proverbs 13:24)

Good morning. America, where is the brotherhood from sea to shining sea? When a child in a wheelchair (12 years old with cerebral palsy) is attacked by two others (they could also be as young as 12) and robbed, I have to say something. An EMT was indicted for stealing the victim’s credit card during an emergency call. Or how about the dad accused of killing his five children. There is a reflection on the parants of the young muggers, the theif, and the accused murderer that is not good. The Bible says…

“Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.” (Proverbs 22:6)

“Foolishness is bound in the heart of a child; but the rod of correction shall drive it far from him.” (Proverbs 22:15)

Did they drop the ball? Did you know it is LEGAL to spank you children in New Jersey? Just remember, you are trying to train up your child, not kill him or her. Did you ever see the Handicap Parking Only sign? There is usually a sign below it that reads Penalty $250-First Offence. Subsequence Offences $250 Minimum And/Or Up To 90 Days Community Service. Tow Away Zone. Now you know what the penalties are. Now you need to descide if you will pay the price for breaking the law. Train up a child in the way he should go. So…

1) Get a paddle and a Sharpie, or other permanent marker.

2) Sit down with your better half and discuss what offences your child is commiting, and what the penalties should be.

3) Write on the back of the paddle: CRIME……….PUNISHMENT

4) Write the list you made also…

Stealing………………….2 swats

Liing……………………..2 swats

Fighting………………….2 swats

Bad Language………….2 swats

Tantrums……………….4 swats, etc.

5) Sit down with you child and explain that this is what you will get if you do this. He now knows the price he will have to pay if he is disobedient, and SO DO YOU. You need to train your child, you need to follow through with the punishment. The judge is not going to say to you, “Well, I understand it was raining, and you didn’t want to ruin your new hairdo. And that you were only going to be in the store for a minute. Case dismissed.” No. The judge will say, “First offence: $250. Pay the bailief.” If you don’t follow through, your child will think he can get away with anything.

6) After the first offence and punishment, explain to your child that the penalty for that offence is going up one swat: from two to three. Also explain that you are doing this for his own good; to keep him out of the detention center, and maybe, even jail.

7) Tell him that you love him, and he will always be your baby.

That’s what an earthly father or mother should do. What do you think your Heavenly Father should do when He hears His name spoken in vain. His laws removed from the government He put together through His Word. Inocent babies sacrificed to Baal in discuise as abortions. What would you think your Heavenly Father would do when His churches bring false teachings and false doctrines in the form of other bibles: other than the King James Bible into English speaking churches…

“And thou shalt say to the rebellious, even to the house of Israel, Thus saith the Lord GOD; O ye house of Israel, let it suffice you of all your abominations, In that ye have brought into my sanctuary strangers, uncircumcised in heart, and uncircumcised in flesh, to be in my sanctuary, to pollute it, even my house, when ye offer my bread, the fat and the blood, and they have broken my covenant because of all your abominations. And ye have not kept the charge of mine holy things: but ye have set keepers of my charge in my sanctuary for yourselves. Thus saith the Lord GOD; No stranger, uncircumcised in heart, nor uncircumcised in flesh, shall enter into my sanctuary, of any stranger that is among the children of Israel. And the Levites that are gone away far from me, when Israel went astray, which went astray away from me after their idols; they shall even bear their iniquity.” (Ezekiel 44:6-10)

Look around, America, it is not a pretty site. And the solution is right in front of us. Run to God. Confess that we have done wrong. Ask the LORD for His forgiveness and help…

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

Peace. (Hosea 13:4)

Sep 6th The New King James Version – The Saturday Morning Post

Today’s Passage – Ezekiel 22 – 23 (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 – Ephesians 1 – 3; Psalms 26 – 30; Proverbs 6)

“And the word of the LORD came unto me, saying, Son of man, say unto her, Thou art the land that is not cleansed, nor rained upon in the day of indignation. There is a conspiracy of her prophets in the midst thereof, like a roaring lion ravening the prey; they have devoured souls; they have taken the treasure and precious things; they have made her many widows in the midst thereof. Her priests have violated my law, and have profaned mine holy things: they have put no difference between the holy and profane, neither have they shewed difference between the unclean and the clean, and have hid their eyes from my sabbaths, and I am profaned among them. Her princes in the midst thereof are like wolves ravening the prey, to shed blood, and to destroy souls, to get dishonest gain. And her prophets have daubed them with untempered morter, seeing vanity, and divining lies unto them, saying, Thus saith the Lord GOD, when the LORD hath not spoken. The people of the land have used oppression, and exercised robbery, and have vexed the poor and needy: yea, they have oppressed the stranger wrongfully. And I sought for a man among them, that should make up the hedge, and stand in the gap before me for the land, that I should not destroy it: but I found none. Therefore have I poured out mine indignation upon them; I have consumed them with the fire of my wrath: their own way have I recompensed upon their heads, saith the Lord GOD.” (Ezekiel 22:23-31)

Good morning. Lately I have been delving into other bibles. There is a book called ‘Things That Are Different Are Not The Same.’ This title is 100% correct. Around 130 pastors, thealogians, and a host of others with capitol letters after their names, were selected to translate the New King James Version. Let me show you a paragraph from The General Editor’s Acknowledgements from a NKJV study bible…

“The New King James Version of the Bible preserves the precise scholarship of the original King James Version while updating the literary form of the text. The most noticeable change is the deletion of seventeenth-century pronouns (thee, thou) and verb endings (lovest). The NKJV is a dependable version of the classic text in language that make sense for today’s readers.”

Really?!

Do you know what Keveh is? It’s a place, a region in southeastern Anatolia, named Cilicia by the Greeks. In the NKJV the verse reads…

“Also Solomon had horses imported from Egypt and Keveh; the king’s merchants bought them in Keveh at the current price.” 1Kings 10:28

The NKJV tells us that Solomon imported horses from Egypt and Keveh and he must have got a better deal from the Egyptians: he paid the current price in Keveh. Now, if you look at the King James Bible…

“And Solomon had horses brought out of Egypt, and linen yarn: the king’s merchants received the linen yarn at a price.” (1Kings 10:28)

The King James Bible tells us that Solomon received horses, and linen yarn from Egypt, but had to pay for the linen yarn. So what does Keveh have to do with this? The New King James Version was copyrighted in 1979. In order to copyright something, it must be an original work. Unless Thomas Nelson Publishers made enough changes to the King James Bible, they would not be able to copyright theirs. Let’s look at another word…

Ezekiel 31:14 says in the NKJV…

“The waters made it grow; Underground waters gave it height, With their rivers running around the place where it was planted, And sent out rivulets to all the trees of the field.” Ezekiel 31:14

What are rivulets? The dictionary says it is a small brook or stream. But what does that have to do with what the King James Bible says…

“To the end that none of all the trees by the waters exalt themselves for their height, neither shoot up their top among the thick boughs, neither their trees stand up in their height, all that drink water: for they are all delivered unto death, to the nether parts of the earth, in the midst of the children of men, with them that go down to the pit. (Ezekiel 31:14)

Which one is right? The NKJV indicates life, The Holy Bible indicates death. Which one is right? Things that are different are not the same. Here is another one for you: Acts chapter 12. The King James Bible reads…

“Now about that time Herod the king stretched forth his hands to vex certain of the church. And he killed James the brother of John with the sword. And because he saw it pleased the Jews, he proceeded further to take Peter also. (Then were the days of unleavened bread.) And when he had apprehended him, he put him in prison, and delivered him to four quaternions of soldiers to keep him; intending after Easter to bring him forth to the people.” (Acts 12:1-4)

The New King James Version says…

“Now about that time Herod the king stretched out his hand to harass some from the church. Then he killed James the brother of John with the sword. And because he saw that it pleased the Jews, he proceeded further to seize Peter also. Now it was during the Days of Unleavened Bread. So when he had arrested him, he put him in prison, and delivered him to four squads of soldiers to keep him, intending to bring him before the people after Passover.” Acts 12:1-4

All your other bibles translate Easter as Passover. Which is right? Let’s see what God’s Word says…

“And the LORD spake unto Moses and Aaron in the land of Egypt, saying, This month shall be unto you the beginning of months: it shall be the first month of the year to you. Speak ye unto all the congregation of Israel, saying, In the tenth day of this month they shall take to them every man a lamb, according to the house of their fathers, a lamb for an house: And if the household be too little for the lamb, let him and his neighbour next unto his house take it according to the number of the souls; every man according to his eating shall make your count for the lamb. Your lamb shall be without blemish, a male of the first year: ye shall take it out from the sheep, or from the goats: And ye shall keep it up until the fourteenth day of the same month: and the whole assembly of the congregation of Israel shall kill it in the evening. And they shall take of the blood, and strike it on the two side posts and on the upper door post of the houses, wherein they shall eat it. And they shall eat the flesh in that night, roast with fire, and unleavened bread; and with bitter herbs they shall eat it. Eat not of it raw, nor sodden at all with water, but roast with fire; his head with his legs, and with the purtenance thereof. And ye shall let nothing of it remain until the morning; and that which remaineth of it until the morning ye shall burn with fire. And thus shall ye eat it; with your loins girded, your shoes on your feet, and your staff in your hand; and ye shall eat it in haste: it is the LORD’S passover. For I will pass through the land of Egypt this night, and will smite all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, both man and beast; and against all the gods of Egypt I will execute judgment: I am the LORD. And the blood shall be to you for a token upon the houses where ye are: and when I see the blood, I will pass over you, and the plague shall not be upon you to destroy you, when I smite the land of Egypt. And this day shall be unto you for a memorial; and ye shall keep it a feast to the LORD throughout your generations; ye shall keep it a feast by an ordinance for ever. Seven days shall ye eat unleavened bread; even the first day ye shall put away leaven out of your houses: for whosoever eateth leavened bread from the first day until the seventh day, that soul shall be cut off from Israel.” (Acts 12:1-15)

This passage is God’s instruction for the Passover and the Feast of Unleaven Bread. But to make things a little clearer…

“And in the fourteenth day of the first month is the passover of the LORD. And in the fifteenth day of this month is the feast: seven days shall unleavened bread be eaten.” (Numbers 28:16-17)

What did the Bible say in Acts 12:3?

“And because he saw it pleased the Jews, he proceeded further to take Peter also. (Then were the days of unleavened bread.)” (Acts 12:3)

The Passover was past, they were in the days of unleavened bread. In order for the translators to be true to God’s Holy Word, they needed to use the pagan holiday: Easter. If they wolud have used Passover, they would have been wrong: passover was over. All bibles that say passover are worng. Things that are different are not the same.

These are only a handful of the differences in a bible that was only going to change the thee’s and the thou’s. There have even been changes that cause the New King James Version to agree with the New World Translation (Jehovah false Witnesses’ bible). Search it out yourself, and you will find that the King James Bible IS the inspired, preserved Word of God for the English speaking people.

Peace! (Psalm 119:160)