The Prisoner by Pastor Ted Stahl

Today’s Passages – Philemon – Hebrews 4; Proverbs 18

(Second Milers also read – Psalms 86 – 90; Memorize – Luke 2:11)

Listen to this morning’s Scripture song – Listen to this morning’s Scripture song – Isaiah 51:11

Good morning? Hope so. I would assume it all depends on what prison you are in. Maybe money is your warden. Will you have to work 80 hour weeks in the new year to pay for Christmas gifts because you are spending money like the government? Is time your warden? Are you a prisoner of time? I’ll be 57 in February (the 11th – mark your calendar). That means I may have only 13 years left on earth. Any time after that is borrowed. What about friends and family? Does family keep you confined from doing what you could, or should, be doing? I now about a person who would like to attend church service, but the spouse wants them home. That person only attends Sunday school. Maybe you are a prisoner of the church you attend. Are you there to see friends or worship God? Are you there to learn the latest gossip, or learn more about Jesus? Who’s prisoner are you?

Philemon 1:1 says, “Paul, a prisoner of Jesus Christ…”

Being Christ’s prisoner is so much better than being a prisoner of the world. Think about it. Think about a real prison. You get your 3 meals a day, a bed, a roof over your head, and 4 walls to hold everything in, including you. As a prisoner of Christ, we have LIBERTY! We are FREE! The only walls that contain us is God’s will. Even then when we try to escape over that wall, the Lord knows exactly what to do to get us back in. To be a prisoner of Christ, He supplies our every need. And, just like a prisoner who is waiting for his release date, we are also looking forward to that day, when we get to meet the Lord face to face. Because of God’s grace, we have a life-time sentence that we are serving. Even though we are confined sometimes by the cares of this world, we will be totally, absolutely, 100% free, one day. So when the cares of this world, the hustle and bustle of Christmas shopping, and anything else get’s you down, run to the Warden, there is freedom and liberty in Christ Jesus. Become a prisoner of Jesus Christ.

Peace (John 14:27)

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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.