Just One More Time
Pastor Erickson preaches from Luke 24, where two disappointed disciples walk away from Jerusalem on the third day, and he uses Isaac's wells, Peter's nets, Naaman and the walls of Jericho to show that God's people keep trying one more time. He calls the church not to quit on its third day, to stay faithful in every ministry, and to keep pressing on in the hand of God.
The message in 6 points
Don't give up on the third day
He reads Luke 24, where two disciples walk away from Jerusalem on the very day Jesus rose. His title is just one more time, and he pleads with anyone thinking of turning back that the third day is the day of victory and promise, not the day to quit.
53:28Get up one more time
A saint is just a sinner who fell down and got up again, saved by grace. He points out that successful people in every field keep trying after failure, and God's children are called to keep putting one foot in front of the other.
58:52Dig the well again
In Genesis 26 Isaac keeps digging new wells each time the Philistines stop them up or strive for them, because without water his family would die. Pastor Erickson says the church is our well, the place of living water and the bread of life, so we keep coming even when life goes wrong.
1:03:18Try it one more time
He tells a story he heard of a faithful Sunday school teacher ready to hand in her keys, who taught one more Sunday and saw her husband and daughters come to church with her. Peter let down the net again, Naaman dipped seven times, and Israel marched around Jericho once more.
1:08:54Every ministry matters
He urges Sunday school teachers, choir members, coffee shop and media volunteers and department heads not to burn out and quit, because every ministry makes disciples. Reading Ecclesiastes 3, he notes there is a time for everything but never a time to quit.
1:24:11It's my third day
Back on the road to Emmaus, the disciples gave up because life did not turn out as they planned. Pastor Erickson shares how he grew up in home missions with a cardboard box pulpit, reads verses on keeping on and Psalms 37:24, and calls everyone to declare they will not quit.
1:33:21
In his words
“If you're gonna give up, today is not the day. If you're gonna turn back, today is not the day. The third day is the day of victory, it's the day of promise.”
“If you ever stop digging wells, that's your life support. You, you never want to try to live without water, you never want to try to live without the Spirit of God in your life.”
“There's a time for just about everything else, good and bad, but I could not find any verse in the Bible where this says there's a good time to quit.”
Taken word for word from the video, with punctuation added.
Scripture
He reads
Luke 24:12-21
12Then arose Peter, and ran unto the sepulchre; and stooping down, he beheld the linen clothes laid by themselves, and departed, wondering in himself at that which was come to pass. 13And, behold, two of them went that same day to a village called Emmaus, which was from Jerusalem about threescore furlongs. 14And they talked together of all these things which had happened. 15And it came to pass, that, while they communed together and reasoned, Jesus himself drew near, and went with them. 16But their eyes were holden that they should not know him. 17And he said unto them, What manner of communications are these that ye have one to another, as ye walk, and are sad? 18And the one of them, whose name was Cleopas, answering said unto him, Art thou only a stranger in Jerusalem, and hast not known the things which are come to pass there in these days? 19And he said unto them, What things? And they said unto him, Concerning Jesus of Nazareth, which was a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people: 20And how the chief priests and our rulers delivered him to be condemned to death, and have crucified him. 21But we trusted that it had been he which should have redeemed Israel: and beside all this, to day is the third day since these things were done.
King James Version.
Genesis 26:18-22
18And Isaac digged again the wells of water, which they had digged in the days of Abraham his father; for the Philistines had stopped them after the death of Abraham: and he called their names after the names by which his father had called them. 19And Isaac’s servants digged in the valley, and found there a well of springing water. 20And the herdmen of Gerar did strive with Isaac’s herdmen, saying, The water is ours: and he called the name of the well Esek; because they strove with him. 21And they digged another well, and strove for that also: and he called the name of it Sitnah. 22And he removed from thence, and digged another well; and for that they strove not: and he called the name of it Rehoboth; and he said, For now the LORD hath made room for us, and we shall be fruitful in the land.
King James Version.
Ecclesiastes 3:2-8
2A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted; 3A time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up; 4A time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance; 5A time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing; 6A time to get, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away; 7A time to rend, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak; 8A time to love, and a time to hate; a time of war, and a time of peace.
King James Version.
1 Corinthians 9:24
24Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain.
King James Version.
2 Chronicles 15:7
7Be ye strong therefore, and let not your hands be weak: for your work shall be rewarded.
King James Version.
Galatians 6:9
9And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.
King James Version.
Isaiah 41:10
10Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.
King James Version.
Philippians 4:13
13I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.
King James Version.
1 Corinthians 16:13
13Watch ye, stand fast in the faith, quit you like men, be strong.
King James Version.
Psalms 37:24
24Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down: for the LORD upholdeth him with his hand.
King James Version.
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