Running with the Right Crowd

Today’s Passages – Psalm 119; Proverbs 10

(Second Milers also read – Matthew 19 – 20; Memorize – John 10:30)

Today’s Passage – Psalms 117 – Psalm 119:88

“I am a companion of all them that fear thee, and of them that keep thy precepts.” (Psalm 119:63)

I love the 119th Psalm. Nearly every verse has some type of reference to the Bible in it. Each verse contains a word that represents God,s Word. You will find the words law, commandments, word, statutes, judgments, etc.; but the whole Psalm has to do with the Bible. In verse 63 we see the word,precept; another word that is synonymous with God’s Word or Law.

Notice, however, that in this verse the Psalmist declares that his companions: the people he runs with; the men he is associated with, are people that keep God’s precepts; people that fear God. It is very important that we hang around people who love the Lord and are at least trying to live for Him as best as they can. Conversely, we need to avoid people who will influence us away from the word of God. The Bible says that “iron sharpeneth iron”, meaning that we have an impact and are impacted by those we rub against.

Who do you run with? Are you surrounding yourself with companions that fear and obey God? Someone once said that you are or soon will be who you hang around. Why not try to run with a crowd that will bring you closer to the will of God. We need to be friendly to everybody; we need to love everybody, even our enemies; but we should only be friends with those who are going the same direction that we are going.

“Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them.” Romans 16:17

“Can two walk together, except they be agreed?” (Amos 3:3)

Who Are You Running With?

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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.

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Gary Geiger says:

July 10, 2011 at 9:15 am

“Be ye not unequally yoked together.” This applies to membership in Secret Orders. A yoke is that which unites. Those who belong to a “lodge” are united in solemn oath and covenant with their “brother” members. Many of their fellow members give no evidence of being born again. They may believe in a “Supreme Being,” but what love have they for God’s Word? what is their relation to God’s Son? “Can two walk together except they be agreed?’ (Amos 3:3) Can those who owe their all to Christ, both for time and eternity, have fellowship with those who “despise and reject” Him? Let any Christian reader who is thus unequally yoked get from under it without delay.
Gary Geiger says:

July 10, 2011 at 9:08 am

"Beware of no man more than of yourself...we carry our worst enemies within us."

Charles Haddon Spurgeon
1834-1892.