Seize the Moment – Day 443
Egypt is not your Home!
Good morning! This is Pastor Jerry Ingalls from New Castle First Baptist Church and today is Thursday, June 3.
As we approach the end of Genesis, God’s chosen people have finally found refuge from the famine in Egypt. The story now moves to Israel’s final sojourning towards death.
Observe a significant moment in Genesis 47:29-31:
When the time for Israel to die drew near, he called his son Joseph and said to him, “Please, if I have found favor in your sight, place now your hand under my thigh and deal with me in kindness and faithfulness. Please do not bury me in Egypt, but when I lie down with my fathers, you shall carry me out of Egypt and bury me in their burial place.” And he said, “I will do as you have said.” He said, “Swear to me.” So he swore to him. Then Israel bowed in worship at the head of the bed.
Israel made a request of Joseph, that he not be buried in Egypt, but that he be returned to his own people in the land that God had promised them.
This is a strategic request because Israel was reminding his sons that Egypt is not Israel’s home! Joseph fulfills his promise in Genesis 50:13: “For his sons carried him to the land of Canaan and buried him in the cave of the field of Machpelah before Mamre, which Abraham had bought along with the field for a burial site from Ephron the Hittite.”
Joseph gets the import of this and with his final words before death makes the same request of his brothers in Genesis 50:25. It would be nearly four hundred years before the people of Israel would keep this promise during the exodus out of Egypt, when God rescued them from slavery.
Seize the moment and remember that Egypt is not your true Home—you are set free in Christ as Paul said in Galatians 5:1, “It was for freedom that Christ set us free.”
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Seize the Moment – Day 442
The Joy of a Family Reunion!
Good morning! This is Pastor Jerry Ingalls from New Castle First Baptist Church and today is Wednesday, June 2.
What do you enjoy about family reunions? Is it the joy of seeing people you love who you haven’t seen in a long time?
Can you imagine what is must have been like for Joseph’s father to be reunited with his son after nearly two decades of thinking that his son had been killed by a wild animal? To not only know that he is alive, but to then, finally, be face to face with him. What joy!
Genesis 46:29-30 captures the scene, “Joseph prepared his chariot and went up to Goshen to meet his father Israel; as soon as he appeared before him, he fell on his neck and wept on his neck a long time. Then Israel said to Joseph, ‘Now let me die, since I have seen your face, that you are still alive.’”
Can you put yourself in Israel’s shoes? Getting your long-lost son back from the dead—what joy!
This makes me think of Easter Sunday. The excitement of those first believers who experienced the resurrection of Jesus in real time and not as a doctrinal statement thousands of years later.
Can you put yourself in the disciples’ shoes? Getting your Lord back from the dead—what joy!
Jesus is alive and whenever a person accepts Jesus as their Lord and Savior, there is a party in Heaven for that one lost family member who has been found.
From death to life—what joy!
Jesus captured this scene in the Parable of the Prodigal Son found in Luke 15:22-24, “‘Let us eat and celebrate; for this son of mine was dead and has come to life again; he was lost and has been found.’ And they began to celebrate.”
Seize the moment and celebrate whenever a lost person is found! Rejoice and throw a party in anticipation of Heaven being the biggest and most joyful family reunion ever!
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Seize the Moment – Day 441
The Abundant God!
Good morning! This is Pastor Jerry Ingalls from New Castle First Baptist Church and today is Tuesday, June 1.
There is a great turn of events in Genesis 45. Joseph, the ruler of Egypt, overcome with emotion announces to his brothers that he is their long-lost estranged brother. He offers reconciliation and then, in concert with Pharoah, showers gifts upon them. The brothers are being sent back to the Promised Land, not to stay, though, but to pick up their father and his household and to move everyone to Egypt, to the land of Goshen, for the five remaining years of famine.
Genesis 45:24 captures an interesting command by Joseph to his brothers, “So he sent his brothers away, and as they departed, he said to them, ‘Do not quarrel on the journey.’”
This got my attention because Paul warned believers in a similar way after he gave the promise of the Fruit of the Spirit in Galatians 5:26, “Let us not become boastful, challenging one another, envying one another.”
Why is it necessary to warn both Joseph’s brothers and all Spirit-filled believers against quarrelling, boasting, challenging, and envying in the midst of receiving such blessings?
James 4:1-3 explains,
What is the source of quarrels and conflicts among you? Is not the source your pleasures that wage war in your members? You lust and do not have; so you commit murder. You are envious and cannot obtain; so you fight and quarrel. You do not have because you do not ask. You ask and do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, so that you may spend it on your pleasures.
Seize the moment and be generous with all that God has entrusted to you for your good, remembering that all that you have is from His gracious hand for His glory. The secret to the abundant life is being generous with God’s grace, lavishly poured out on you by Jesus!
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Live Like a Champion – Week 22
The Promise of Partnership
I. Introduction to Partnership with God
Parents must be modeling Christ at home for their kids, otherwise church has little chance of getting through to them.
II. Jody Maddy, FBC Children’s Director
Our MISSION is to partner with parents to build a strong Biblical foundation in every child.
Mark 10:13-16 (NLT)
13 They brought little children to Jesus that He might put His hand on them. The followers spoke sharp words to those who brought them. 14 Jesus saw this and was angry with the followers. He said, “Let the little children come to Me. Do not stop them. The holy nation of God is made up of ones like these. 15 For sure, I tell you, whoever does not receive the holy nation of God as a little child does not go into it.” 16 He took the children in His arms. He put His hands on them and prayed that good would come to them.
III. Kevin King, FBC Youth Director
4 But God, who is rich in mercy, because of his great love that he had for us, 5 made us alive with Christ even though we were dead in trespasses. You are saved by grace!
12 Don’t let anyone despise your youth, but set an example for the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, and in purity.
Jody comments on a recent DtL Café that Kevin held with a Sci-fi theme.
God wants to partner with us so that we can share in the joy of partnering with Him!
IV. In Conclusion
30 I searched for a man among them who would repair the wall and stand in the gap before me on behalf of the land so that I might not destroy it, but I found no one.
How does God want you to partner with Him to share the Gospel?
You can listen to this message from Kevin & Jody here:
Or you can watch the video by clicking Here.
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Seize the Moment – Day 438
Today’s hymn focus will be “Blessed Assurance”
persuaded that He is able to keep what I have committed to Him until that Day”
In 1873, Fanny Crosby was staying with her friend, Phoebe Knapp. Phoebe owned a palatial mansion in Brooklyn, NY, where she had one of the finest collections of musical instruments in the country.
Phoebe invited her into the music room to play a tune that she had just written. As she sat at the piano and played the new composition, the blind hymnist listened. When she finished, Fanny clapped her hands and exclaimed, “Why, that song says ‘Blessed Assurance, Jesus is mine!’”. She quickly wrote the words down and this great hymn was born.
This is my story, this is my song, praising my Savior all the day long!
This is my story, this is my song, praising my Savior all the day long!
We need to wake up and realize that if we have accepted Christ as our Lord and Savior, we are to live in the absolute conviction and triumphant faith that Paul wrote to Timothy about. AND we need to proclaim that story and praise Him all day long.
YOUTUBE:
Blessed Assurance
Oh, what a foretaste of glory divine!
Heir of salvation, purchase of God,
born of his Spirit, washed in his blood.
This is my story, this is my song,
praising my Savior all the day long.
This is my story, this is my song,
praising my Savior all the day long.
visions of rapture now burst on my sight.
Angels descending bring from above
echoes of mercy, whispers of love.
I in my Savior am happy and bless’d,
watching and waiting, looking above,
filled with his goodness, lost in his love.
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Seize the Moment – Day 437
Judah’s Shining Moment!
Good morning! This is Pastor Jerry Ingalls from New Castle First Baptist Church and today is Friday, May 28.
How do you know if someone is truly sorry for their past behaviors?
Genesis 44 captures a shining moment in the life of Judah! Joseph, the ruler of Egypt and Judah’s long-lost brother, sets them up by placing his silver cup into Benjamin’s bag as they prepare to leave Egypt.
Joseph did that because he had to know if his brothers were truly repentant of their past sins, and words would not be enough. Before Joseph would reveal his identity to them, he had to know if his brothers had changed from the men who would sell a man into slavery, then lie about it and crush their father’s spirit by faking his death.
What happens to a relationship when the word “sorry” has lost all of its meaning?
The set up works! Listen to Judah’s selfless plea to Joseph in verses 32-34,
For your servant became surety for the lad to my father, saying, “If I do not bring him back to you, then let me bear the blame before my father forever.” Now, therefore, please let your servant remain instead of the lad a slave to my lord, and let the lad go up with his brothers. For how shall I go up to my father if the lad is not with me—for fear that I see the evil that would overtake my father?”
Little did Judah know that his willingness to sacrifice his own life to save his half-brother Benjamin, the youngest son of Jacob, was exactly the right response. His sacrificial love for his father’s well-being was such a bright contrast—like night and day—from his past callousness.
Judah’s shining moment demonstrates that he is a changed person; truly sorry for his past.
Seize the moment and walk in repentance. Are there people you need to make amends with from your past?
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Seize the Moment – Day 436
Providence!
Good morning! This is Pastor Jerry Ingalls from New Castle First Baptist Church and today is Thursday, May 27.
How do you respond to difficult circumstances in your life?
Genesis 43:1 tells us about the difficult circumstances facing Jacob and his sons in the Promised Land: “Now the famine was severe in the land.”
We are reminded of the difficult circumstance that is the backdrop of this entire saga. The famine is the driving force of this whole story. Actually, the driving force is not a famine; it is God!
God did for His chosen people what they would not and could not do for themselves: God, using a famine, properly motivated them. Amazingly, this sounds very much like a story that Jesus taught about the Prodigal Son. What was it that finally caused the Prodigal Son to return to his father?
You guessed it: a famine! Luke 15:14 captures this easily missed, but critical detail in Jesus’ parable: “Now when he had spent everything, a severe famine occurred in that country, and he began to be impoverished.”
Jesus understands the importance of God’s providence and builds it into His parable.
We often fret and complain about difficult circumstances, but instead shouldn’t we examine each and every opportunity for God’s providence? “Providence is the governing power of God that oversees His creation and works out His plans for it.”[1]
In fact, providence is the finale of the Joseph saga as we learn from Genesis 50:20, “As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good in order to bring about this present result, to preserve many people alive.”
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Footnotes:
[1] Gerald Bray, “Providence,” in Lexham Survey of Theology, ed. Mark Ward et al. (Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press, 2018). Bray further explains, “Human beings often question God’s good providence in the face of natural disasters—floods, earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, and so on. Christians have recognized that such events are indeed tragic but are also part of God’s overarching good plan for what he has made.”
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Seize the Moment – Day 435
Grappling with Guilt!
Genesis 42
Good morning! This is Pastor Jerry Ingalls from New Castle First Baptist Church and today is Wednesday, May 26.
Do you grapple with guilt over something in your life?
Ten of Joseph’s brothers have traveled to Egypt because they are starving in the famine. They find themselves bowing in front of the ruler of Egypt, who, unknown to them, is their brother Joseph, who was giving them a chance to be free of their past sins.
Genesis 42:21-22 captures the brothers’ conversation during this confrontation:
“Truly we are guilty concerning our brother, because we saw the distress of his soul when he pleaded with us, yet we would not listen; therefore this distress has come upon us.” Reuben answered them, saying, “Did I not tell you, ‘Do not sin against the boy’; and you would not listen? Now comes the reckoning for his blood.”
The first thing that came to their minds was their guilt over Joseph! Isn’t that interesting?
Does your grappling with guilt cause you to feel smothered by a feeling of condemnation or do you experience God’s invitation for a closer relationship with Him?
If you are in Christ Jesus, then you don’t need to feel condemned because Romans 8:1 teaches us that there is no condemnation for those who are in a relationship with Jesus.
How you grapple with guilt leads to either life or death! Just like Joseph, Paul does not regret confronting the sin of his brothers!
From 2 Corinthians 7, Paul discussed with the believers in Corinth a moment of confrontation he caused through a letter he wrote to them. In verse 10, Paul explains, “For the sorrow that is according to the will of God produces a repentance without regret, leading to salvation, but the sorrow of the world produces death.”
You have a powerful choice when grappling with guilt: Choose life through repentance!
Seize the moment and respond to the Holy Spirit’s invitation for a closer relationship with God. Guilt, shame, conviction of sin, regret… all such emotions are invitations for your sanctification! God desires your freedom from sin!
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Seize the Moment – Day 434
Confident Humility!
Good morning! This is Pastor Jerry Ingalls from New Castle First Baptist Church and today is Tuesday, May 25.
Can God use you to do great things for Him?
Joseph is still in prison and the Pharaoh has a dream that no one can interpret for him. The chief cupbearer, having forgotten about Joseph in prison for the last two years, remembers and tells Pharaoh about Joseph’s ability to accurately interpret dreams.
Pharaoh calls for Joseph in Genesis 41:15-16: “‘I have had a dream, but no one can interpret it; and I have heard it said about you, that when you hear a dream you can interpret it.’ Joseph then answered Pharaoh, saying, ‘It is not in me; God will give Pharaoh a favorable answer.’”
This is the opportunity of a lifetime and Joseph seemingly deflects attention from himself. Our culture would have us update Joseph’s resume with something like this, “A reliable track record of interacting with dreams, including two successful interpretations with high government officials in Pharaoh’s court.”
But that’s not what Joseph does. Instead Joseph shows confident humility! God responds by giving Joseph not only a right interpretation of Pharaoh’s dream, but wisdom on how to apply the dream to the nation.
Listen to Pharaoh response from verses 39-40, “Since God has informed you of all this, there is no one so discerning and wise as you are. “You shall be over my house, and according to your command all my people shall do homage; only in the throne I will be greater than you.”
Joseph is a great illustration of Jesus’ promise from Matthew 23:12, “Whoever exalts himself shall be humbled; and whoever humbles himself shall be exalted.”
Humility is not thinking less of yourself, it is simply thinking of yourself less.
Seize the moment and walk in confident humility.
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Seize the Moment – Day 433
Faithful when Forgotten!
Good morning! This is Pastor Jerry Ingalls from New Castle First Baptist Church and today is Monday, May 24.
Have you ever been forgotten? Maybe you were excluded or passed over or not recognized?
Everyone wants to feel included, to be remembered, and to be appreciated, but can you continue to live a faithful life even when you have been forgotten, passed over, or shelved?
In Genesis 40, Joseph is still in prison and he approaches two inmates—the chief cupbearer and the chief baker—who are looking especially dejected. Each had a dream the night before and they had no one to interpret the dream for them.
Joseph faithfully replies to them in verse 8, “Do not interpretations belong to God? Tell it to me, please.”
After interpreting both of the dreams, the chapter ends in Genesis 40:20-23:
Thus it came about on the third day, which was Pharaoh’s birthday, that he made a feast for all his servants; and he lifted up the head of the chief cupbearer and the head of the chief baker among his servants. He restored the chief cupbearer to his office, and he put the cup into Pharaoh’s hand; but he hanged the chief baker, just as Joseph had interpreted to them. Yet the chief cupbearer did not remember Joseph, but forgot him.
Joseph was correct in his dream interpretations, but his faithfulness was rewarded by being forgotten by the chief cupbearer. As we will see in the next chapter, it would be two long years before the cup bearer keeps his promise.
How do you think Joseph responded? Would Joseph remain faithful, even though he had been forgotten and left in a prison for two more years?
How would you respond? Would you be bitter or get better? That is always the choice!
Seize the moment and remain faithful to God, even if you feel shelved, forgotten, passed over, betrayed, or abandoned.
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