Making a Differencewith Pastor Phil Erickson

Aug 7th Wait Upon The Lord – The Saturday Morning Post

Today’s Passage – Isaiah 37 – 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 – John 7 – 8; Psalms 31 – 35; Proverbs 7)

Read the “0807 Evening and Morning” devotion for today, by the late Charles Haddon Spurgeon.

“Hast thou not known? hast thou not heard, that the everlasting God, the LORD, the Creator of the ends of the earth, fainteth not, neither is weary? there is no searching of his understanding. He giveth power to the faint; and to them that have no might he increaseth strength. Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall: But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.” (Isaiah 40:28-31)

Good morning. Those of you who know me, know how out-of-shape I am, although round is a shape. Every Sunday morning I walk 4 miles on the Atlantic City Boardwalk, from the Tropicana to the Hard Rock Cafe’. We hand out breakfast sandwiches from Wawa, water, coffee, and goody bags. I am always amazed that I can walk that far. But God gave me this to do, so I wait on Him to renew my strength…

“But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.” (Isaiah 40:31)

I know that He is the reason I can walk that 4 miles. He gives us 4 other reasons in His Word that we should wait on Him…

1) Wait on the LORD because He supplies our needs.

“The eyes of all wait upon thee; and thou givest them their meat in due season.” (Psalm 145:15)

2) Wait on the LORD because He is our defence.

“Because of his strength will I wait upon thee: for God is my defence.” (Psalm 59:9)

3) Wait on the LORD because He shows us His mercy.

“Behold, as the eyes of servants look unto the hand of their masters, and as the eyes of a maiden unto the hand of her mistress; so our eyes wait upon the LORD our God, until that he have mercy upon us.” (Psalm 123:2)

4) Wait on the LORD because He is God Almighty: the Creator

“Are there any among the vanities of the Gentiles that can cause rain? or can the heavens give showers? art not thou he, O LORD our God? therefore we will wait upon thee: for thou hast made all these things.” (Jeremiah 14:22)

God has been so good to us. Wait on the the Lord and you will see too.

Peace.

Jul 31st Woe, Woe, Woe! – The Saturday Morning Post

Today’s Passage – Isaiah 5 – 8 (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 – Luke 17 – 18; Psalms 146 – 150; Proverbs 31)

Read the “0731 Evening and Morning” devotion for today, by the late Charles Haddon Spurgeon.

“Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter! Woe unto them that are wise in their own eyes, and prudent in their own sight! Woe unto them that are mighty to drink wine, and men of strength to mingle strong drink: Which justify the wicked for reward, and take away the righteousness of the righteous from him! Therefore as the fire devoureth the stubble, and the flame consumeth the chaff, so their root shall be as rottenness, and their blossom shall go up as dust: because they have cast away the law of the LORD of hosts, and despised the word of the Holy One of Israel.” (Isaiah 5:20-24)

Good morning. It is a shame what America is coming to. This was the week of the Northeast Vision Summit at Solid Rock Baptist Church in Berlin, NJ. I was there for Tuesday night and Thursday night. Wednesday I was at my home church: Jersey Shore Baptist, but I did get to see David Gibbs preach on-line. One of the items he informed us of was that if you share the Gospel with a child, it is considered child abuse. Woe! And telling a child that he can be a different gender than the way God made him or her is not? Is not telling them about Jesus, and sending them to Hell forever, not a hate crime? And teaching them that there is no God is not?

“And said, Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven. Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven. And whoso shall receive one such little child in my name receiveth me. But whoso shall offend one of these little ones which believe in me, it were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and that he were drowned in the depth of the sea.” (Matthew 18:3-6)

Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil.

Woe #1 – They call evil good and good evil.

Woe #2 – They are wise in their own eyes.

Our wonderful Socialist leaders know that we the people cannot govern ourselves: they must do everything for us. They make the decisions for us, and give us free cell phones. They do not consult with God, or God’s people. Woe unto them that are wise in their own eyes…

“For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God. For it is written, He taketh the wise in their own craftiness. And again, The Lord knoweth the thoughts of the wise, that they are vain. Therefore let no man glory in men. For all things are yours; Whether Paul, or Apollos, or Cephas, or the world, or life, or death, or things present, or things to come; all are yours; And ye are Christ’s; and Christ is God’s.” (1Corinthians 3:19-23)

Woe #3 – They take away the righteousness of the righteous.

Who are they? They are them that are mighty to drink wine, and men of strength to mingle strong drink. If you have friends that drink and drug, it can be a stumbling block for you. You may find yourself drinking and drugging also.

“Who hath woe? who hath sorrow? who hath contentions? who hath babbling? who hath wounds without cause? who hath redness of eyes? They that tarry long at the wine; they that go to seek mixed wine. Look not thou upon the wine when it is red, when it giveth his colour in the cup, when it moveth itself aright. At the last it biteth like a serpent, and stingeth like an adder. Thine eyes shall behold strange women, and thine heart shall utter perverse things. Yea, thou shalt be as he that lieth down in the midst of the sea, or as he that lieth upon the top of a mast. They have stricken me, shalt thou say, and I was not sick; they have beaten me, and I felt it not: when shall I awake? I will seek it yet again.” (Proverbs 23:29-35)

What will people think when they see you stagger down the street? Will they see a drunkard, or will they see Jesus. They can take away my righteousness, because my righteousness is as filthy rags: Jesus gave me His righteousness when I got saved. His pure, clean, perfect righteousness comes with His perfect salvation. Jesus is coming back soon. If you are not saved, if you are not 100% sure you’re going to Heaven when you die, you need to take care of it. You need to have a personal relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ. You see…

“As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one: There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God.” (Romans 3:10-11)

“For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God…” (Romans 3:23)

“Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned…” (Romans 5:12)

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

“For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” (Romans 6:23)

“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.” (Ephesians 2:8-9)

“Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.” (Matthew 7:21-23)

“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.” (John6:37-40)

Come to Jesus before it’s too late and avoid the woes.

Peace.

Jul 27th Prayer Is First … by Jaxon Erickson

Today’s Passage – Ecclesiastes 9 – 12 (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 – Luke 9 – 10; Psalms 126 – 130; Proverbs 27)

Read the “0727 Evening and Morning” devotion for today, by the late Charles Haddon Spurgeon.

“And all things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive.” (Matthew 21:22)

Matthew 21:22 talks about how if you believe God, He will answer your prayers. If it’s God’s will, He will give you an answer. It may not be what you are hoping for, but you can trust in God that He will always do what is right.

So keep praying for your family, your friends, your games (in the future), and school tests.

Love you guys. Be safe.

Jul 24th Satan’s Greatest Weapon – The Saturday Morning Post

Today’s Passage – Proverbs 28 – 31 (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 – Luke 3 – 4; Psalms 116 – 118; Proverbs 24)

Read the “0724 Evening and Morning” devotion for today, by the late Charles Haddon Spurgeon.

“When the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice: but when the wicked beareth rule, the people mourn.” (Proverbs 29:2)

Good morning. Do you remember when our country was controlled by the righteous? President George Washington, after he was sworn in, walked next door to pray in a small New York chapel. How he dedicated our new country to God. Every session of congress would open with prayer: our leaders asking God to direct their paths. Matthew Henry gave a comment on this verse…

“The people will have cause to rejoice or mourn according as their rulers are righteous or wicked; for, if the righteous be in authority, sin will be punished and restrained, religion and virtue will be supported and kept in reputation; but, if the wicked get power in their hands, wickedness will abound, religion and religious people will be persecuted, and so the ends of government will be perverted.” (Matthew Henry)

In 1962, the Bible and prayer were taken out of schools: it was all down hill from there. Today we have kids embracing godless Socialism. Instead of being taught reading, writing, and arithmetic, they are taught that homosexuality is okay. If you are a boy, and identify as a girl, you are a girl. If you are a girl, and identify as a boy, you are a boy. And if you tell them that God made you a girl, or God made you a boy, you are labeled as a hater. You violated their rights. You hurt their little feelings. Poor baby. You can put on the clothes of the opposite sex, but you will still be what God made you. But the government says it’s okay, so it must be okay. Depressing isn’t it? Ecclesiastes 10:5 says…

“There is an evil which I have seen under the sun, as an error which proceedeth from the ruler: Folly is set in great dignity, and the rich sit in low place.” (Ecclesiastes 10:5-6)

Even at the birth of Jesus there was wickedness in high places…

“Then Herod, when he saw that he was mocked of the wise men, was exceeding wroth, and sent forth, and slew all the children that were in Bethlehem, and in all the coasts thereof, from two years old and under, according to the time which he had diligently enquired of the wise men. Then was fulfilled that which was spoken by Jeremy the prophet, saying, In Rama was there a voice heard, lamentation, and weeping, and great mourning, Rachel weeping for her children, and would not be comforted, because they are not.” (Matthew 2:16-18)

Herod murdered many children of Bethlehem who were 2 years of age or under. When the Jews made their children pass through the fire to Baal, there were about 7000 children murdered: burned alive. Although abortion have slowed in past few years, in America there have been over 62 million abortions since Roe vs. Wade. Depressing when you see what our country has become? There is medication for depression. One of the side effects is thoughts of suicide. And depression is one of the devil’s most powerful tools. But we can fight it because we know Him who has all the power.

“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 we also know where the devil is going to end up…

“And when the thousand years are expired, Satan shall be loosed out of his prison, And shall go out to deceive the nations which are in the four quarters of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them together to battle: the number of whom is as the sand of the sea. And they went up on the breadth of the earth, and compassed the camp of the saints about, and the beloved city: and fire came down from God out of heaven, and devoured them. And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever.” (Revelation 20:7-10)

So we know Who wins in the end. We also know that the devil will be cast into the lake of fire, where he will remain forever burning. But what can we do now?

1) Believe on the LORD that He will deliver you.

“And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house.” (Acts 16:31)

“These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God.” (1John 5:13)

2) Trust in the LORD that He will deliver you.

“Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.” (Proverbs 3:5-6)

3) Have faith that the LORD will deliver you.

“But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.” (Hebrews 11:6)

“Then the word of the LORD came unto me, saying, Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee; and before thou camest forth out of the womb I sanctified thee, and I ordained thee a prophet unto the nations. Then said I, Ah, Lord GOD! behold, I cannot speak: for I am a child. But the LORD said unto me, Say not, I am a child: for thou shalt go to all that I shall send thee, and whatsoever I command thee thou shalt speak. Be not afraid of their faces: for I am with thee to deliver thee, saith the LORD.” (Jeremiah 1:4-8)

God is God, and His perfect plan is being executed. And you are included in that plan. Knowing that God is in control, knowing that you have a home in heaven, and knowing that Jesus is your Saviour is all you should need to get out of your depression. Don’t give the devil a bullet for his gun.

Peace.

Jul 17th A Cry Goes Out – The Saturday Morning Post

Today’s Passage –Proverbs 7 – 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 – Mark 5 – 6; Psalms 81 – 85; Proverbs 17)

Read the “0717 Evening and Morning” devotion for today, by the late Charles Haddon Spurgeon.

“Doth not wisdom cry? and understanding put forth her voice? She standeth in the top of high places, by the way in the places of the paths. She crieth at the gates, at the entry of the city, at the coming in at the doors. Unto you, O men, I call; and my voice is to the sons of man.” (Proverbs 8:1-4)

Good morning. I think about all the warnings shouted out before disaster strikes. We could still be under the rule of a king or queen if Paul Revere did not make his historic ride, warning that the British were coming. Sensors monitoring fault lines warn that an earthquake can strike. There are devices on the ocean floor that warn of tsunamis. A green sky with rain, hail, and wind could warn that a tornado may be coming. A red hourglass shape on a spider warns: stay away, I’m a poisonous Black Widow. And a violin shape warns of a Brown Recluse spider. “DANGER! DO NOT ENTER” reads a sign on a fence. A warning is only good if you heed it. Heed the cry that wisdom and understanding shout out…

“O ye simple, understand wisdom: and, ye fools, be ye of an understanding heart.” (Proverbs 8:5)

You need to start somewhere…

1) Have an understanding heart and understand wisdom.

Hear…

“Hear; for I will speak of excellent things; and the opening of my lips shall be right things. For my mouth shall speak truth; and wickedness is an abomination to my lips. All the words of my mouth are in righteousness; there is nothing froward or perverse in them. They are all plain to him that understandeth, and right to them that find knowledge.” (Proverbs 8:6-9)

2) Receive instruction and knowledge.

“Receive my instruction, and not silver; and knowledge rather than choice gold. For wisdom is better than rubies; and all the things that may be desired are not to be compared to it.” (Proverbs 8:10-11)

Did you receive instruction and knowledge? Then you should have understanding…

“Counsel is mine, and sound wisdom: I am understanding; I have strength. By me kings reign, and princes decree justice. By me princes rule, and nobles, even all the judges of the earth. I love them that love me; and those that seek me early shall find me. Riches and honour are with me; yea, durable riches and righteousness. My fruit is better than gold, yea, than fine gold; and my revenue than choice silver. I lead in the way of righteousness, in the midst of the paths of judgment: That I may cause those that love me to inherit substance; and I will fill their treasures.” (Proverbs 8:14-21)

3) Be blessed by keeping the ways of understanding.

“Now therefore hearken unto me, O ye children: for blessed are they that keep my ways. Hear instruction, and be wise, and refuse it not. Blessed is the man that heareth me, watching daily at my gates, waiting at the posts of my doors.” (Proverbs 8:32-34)

4) There is life in wisdom and understanding.

“For whoso findeth me findeth life, and shall obtain favour of the LORD. But he that sinneth against me wrongeth his own soul: all they that hate me love death.” (Proverbs 8:35-36)

A cry goes out; heed the warning.

Peace.

Jul 10th I Will Walk At Liberty – The Saturday Morning Post

Today’s Reading – Psalm 119 (Click on the references to listen to the audio – Click here to view the passage from Blue Letter Bible)

(Second Milers also read – Matthew 19 – 20; Psalms 46 – 50; Proverbs 10)

Read the “0710 Evening and Morning” devotion for today, by the late Charles Haddon Spurgeon

“And I will walk at liberty: for I seek thy precepts.” (Psalm 119:45)

Good morning. The second verse of America The Beautiful reads…

O beautiful for pilgrim feet Whose stern impassioned stress,

A thoroughfare for freedom beat Across the wilderness!

America! America!

God mend thine every flaw,

Confirm thy soul in self-control,

Thy liberty in law!

See those last four words? Our freedom is in the law: God’s Law. We have perfect liberty in God’s perfect Law. There is a Hebrew word that has been translated as enough, large, wide, broad, and proud: rachab (raw-khawb’). That is except for one verse in the whole Old Testament. In Psalm 119:45, it is translated liberty. It is good to know that all the liberty you have is…

1) Enough.

“Now there cried a certain woman of the wives of the sons of the prophets unto Elisha, saying, Thy servant my husband is dead; and thou knowest that thy servant did fear the LORD: and the creditor is come to take unto him my two sons to be bondmen. And Elisha said unto her, What shall I do for thee? tell me, what hast thou in the house? And she said, Thine handmaid hath not any thing in the house, save a pot of oil. Then he said, Go, borrow thee vessels abroad of all thy neighbours, even empty vessels; borrow not a few. And when thou art come in, thou shalt shut the door upon thee and upon thy sons, and shalt pour out into all those vessels, and thou shalt set aside that which is full. So she went from him, and shut the door upon her and upon her sons, who brought the vessels to her; and she poured out. And it came to pass, when the vessels were full, that she said unto her son, Bring me yet a vessel. And he said unto her, There is not a vessel more. And the oil stayed. Then she came and told the man of God. And he said, Go, sell the oil, and pay thy debt, and live thou and thy children of the rest.” (2Kings 4:1-7)

When the widow filled all the containers, the oil stopped. She had enough: enough to sell, pay off her debt, and live off the rest: enough.

2) Large, wide, and broad.

When we walk after God’s Precepts, His Law, He gives us all the space we need. Great is the liberty He gives us.

“Who is a God like unto thee, that pardoneth iniquity, and passeth by the transgression of the remnant of his heritage? he retaineth not his anger for ever, because he delighteth in mercy. He will turn again, he will have compassion upon us; he will subdue our iniquities; and thou wilt cast all their sins into the depths of the sea.” (Micah 7:18-19)

“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.” (Psalm 103:11-12)

3) Proud.

Wait a minute, I thought that God did not like pride? He doesn’t. The translation was proud not pride. Thank the Lord for Google. In the British language, proud means slightly projecting from a surface. The example was given: “When the brake is engaged, the lever does not stand proud of the horizontal.”

When I engage my brake lever in my KIA Soul, it only comes up about one and a half inches, so in my case, the brake lever DOES stand proud of the horizontal.

“And when they were come to Capernaum, they that received tribute money came to Peter, and said, Doth not your master pay tribute? He saith, Yes. And when he was come into the house, Jesus prevented him, saying, What thinkest thou, Simon? of whom do the kings of the earth take custom or tribute? of their own children, or of strangers? Peter saith unto him, Of strangers. Jesus saith unto him, Then are the children free. Notwithstanding, lest we should offend them, go thou to the sea, and cast an hook, and take up the fish that first cometh up; and when thou hast opened his mouth, thou shalt find a piece of money: that take, and give unto them for me and thee.” (Matthew 17:24-27)

All it took was a piece of money to keep from offending the tribute collectors. God provided it, Peter gave it, and the collectors received it. Such a small price to pay for obedience pleasing to God.

“And I will walk at liberty: for I seek thy precepts.” (Psalm 119:45)

Peace.

Jul 3rd Seven Truths To Walk In – The Saturday Morning Post

Today’s Reading – Psalm 86 – 89 (Click on the references to listen to the audio – Click here to view the passage from Blue Letter Bible)

(Second Milers also read – Matthew 5 – 6; Psalms 11 – 15; Proverbs 3)

Read the “0703 Evening and Morning” devotion for today, by the late Charles Haddon Spurgeon

“A Prayer of David. Bow down thine ear, O LORD, hear me: for I am poor and needy.” (Psalm 86:1)

Good morning. We have here a prayer of David. And we also know that David was a man after God’s own heart. We should be able to learn something about his relationship with God, and what may be missing from our walk with the LORD.

1) See yourself as David saw himself: poor and needy.

“LORD, thou hast heard the desire of the humble: thou wilt prepare their heart, thou wilt cause thine ear to hear:” (Psalm 10:17)

“Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded. Be afflicted, and mourn, and weep: let your laughter be turned to mourning, and your joy to heaviness. Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up.” (James 4:8-10}

2) Set yourself aside for God’s use.

“Preserve my soul; for I am holy: O thou my God, save thy servant that trusteth in thee.” (Psalm 86:2)

“But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation; Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy.” (1Peter 1:15-16)

3) Pray daily.

“Be merciful unto me, O Lord: for I cry unto thee daily. Rejoice the soul of thy servant: for unto thee, O Lord, do I lift up my soul. For thou, Lord, art good, and ready to forgive; and plenteous in mercy unto all them that call upon thee. Give ear, O LORD, unto my prayer; and attend to the voice of my supplications. In the day of my trouble I will call upon thee: for thou wilt answer me.” (Psalm 86:3-7)

4) Praise Him.

“Among the gods there is none like unto thee, O Lord; neither are there any works like unto thy works. All nations whom thou hast made shall come and worship before thee, O Lord; and shall glorify thy name. For thou art great, and doest wondrous things: thou art God alone.” (Psalm 86:8-10)

5) Walk in His Truth.

“Teach me thy way, O LORD; I will walk in thy truth: unite my heart to fear thy name.” (Psalm 86:11)

6) Glorify God.

“I will praise thee, O Lord my God, with all my heart: and I will glorify thy name for evermore.” (Psalm 86:12)

7) Thank God for what He has done, what He is doing, and what He will do for you.

“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. O turn unto me, and have mercy upon me; give thy strength unto thy servant, and save the son of thine handmaid. Shew me a token for good; that they which hate me may see it, and be ashamed: because thou, LORD, hast holpen me, and comforted me.” (Psalm 86:13-17)

Trust and Obey

Don Moen

When we walk with the Lord in the light of His Word,
What a glory He sheds on our way!
While we do His good will, He abides with us still,
And with all who will trust and obey.

Trust and obey, for there’s no other way
To be happy in Jesus, but to trust and obey.

Peace!