Wisdom

Today’s Reading – Job 12 – 14

(Second Milers Read – Ephesians 4 – 6; Psalms 36 – 40;Proverbs 8)

“With the ancient is wisdom; and in length of days understanding. With him is wisdom and strength, he hath counsel and understanding. … With him is strength and wisdom: the deceived and the deceiver are his. He leadeth counsellors away spoiled, and maketh the judges fools.” (Job 12:12-13, 16-17)

” If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him. But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed. For let not that man think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord. A double minded man is unstable in all his ways.” (James 1:5-8)

“The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the holy is understanding.” (Proverbs 9:10)

Just a quick thought this morning from the reading passage from Job. Notice in chapter twelve the dialogue is continuing between Job and his three friends. Job’s friends are making their accusations regarding the cause of Job’s calamity, and they are all declaring what they think they know about God. In replying to them, Job teaches us something about wisdom. Wisdom belongs to God. He is wisdom.

Perhaps the greatest need that all of us have is wisdom. One of the first prayer requests I make each day is for wisdom. Like Solomon, “I am but a little child: I know not how to go out or come in”. (1 Kings 3:7) But Solomon got the direction and answers he needed from God. James tells us that God will give any believer wisdom, if they ask it of Him; and He gives it out liberally and doesn’t hold back. The lack of wisdom that is apparent in believers today must simply be due to the fact that we are not asking Him; perhaps because we all too often” lean unto [our] own understanding”. (Proverbs 3:5)

Notice also that the passage declares that God is, not only wisdom, but he is strength as well. If we are going to be able to stand for the Lord today in this dark world, we must have His wisdom, and His strength. Have you asked the Lord for wisdom and strength today?

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Today's Passage - Job 28 - 30 But where shall wisdom be found? and where is the place of understanding? (Job 28:12) And unto man he said, Behold, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom; and to depart from evil is understanding. (Job 28:28) In today's reading we have seen a continuation of…

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Phil Erickson

Pastor Phil Erickson has been the pastor of Jersey Shore Baptist Church since January of 2002. Having grown up in Ocean County, Pastor Phil has always had a burden for the south Jersey area. After graduating from Bible College in Longview, Texas, he and his family moved to Galloway Township with the vision of digging in and serving the Lord and the people of Atlantic County. Pastor Phil and Cindy Erickson have been married since 1985. They have four children and ten grandchildren. Their oldest son, Phil Jr. and his wife Katelyn are serving the Lord in Egg Harbor Twp., NJ. Their oldest daughter, Melissa, is married to Wesley Clayton who is in the Air Force and is currently stationed in New Mexico. Samantha, their third child, is married to Justin Mears and they are both serving the Lord at the church in Galloway. Hannah, the youngest, is married to Lucas McCollum, and they are also serving here in Galloway. In preparation for ministry, the Lord led him through a variety of educational experiences that have equipped him to serve the Lord and His people. He earned a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from Georgian Court University, a Bachelor of Biblical Studies in Pastoral Theology from Texas Independent Baptist Seminary (formerly Texas Baptist College), a Master of Religious Education in Bible from West Coast Baptist College, and a Master of Biblical Studies from The Crown College. More recently, he completed a Graduate Certificate in Biblical Counseling and a Doctor of Ministry degree from Veritas Baptist College. He is thankful for these opportunities to study God’s Word more deeply, and counts it a privilege to use whatever knowledge the Lord has given him for the building up of His church. In addition to pastoring, the Lord has given Phil the wonderful privilege of teaching as an adjunct professor at Vision Baptist College in Berlin, NJ and Veritas Baptist College.