Ephesians 2
The Gift of Hope!
Early this morning, as I was spending time with the Lord, in His Word and in prayer, I received the sad news that our beloved sister in the Lord, Gay, passed away. Please join me in praying for her family and friends as we all grieve this loss. Also, please join me in praying for the family and friends of our beloved sister Vee Ann who passed away last week. I will be conducting her service tomorrow morning. While we grieve our losses, let us surround these families with faith, hope, and love.
We all need faith, hope, and love in these dark days so let us turn to God’s Word for the living hope—Jesus Christ.
Listen to Ephesians 2:4-9, “But God, being rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in our transgressions, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), and raised us up with Him, and seated us with Him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, so that in the ages to come He might show the surpassing riches of His grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works, so that no one may boast.”
The only hope that will never disappoint us is our hope in God’s love to us through faith in Jesus Christ. “But God”, those two words in Scripture change everything. Never forget those two words, no matter how difficult your trials and tribulations, “but God”…
Death – but God
Disease – but God
Depression – but God
Disappointment – but God
COVID-19 – but God
Seize the moment and rest in the promises of God for your life and the lives of your loved ones. Whatever giant you may be facing today, “but God”… This is the gift of hope!
If you would like to receive a personal phone call today, all you have to do is dial the phone number below right now and one of us will call you soon.
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Ephesians 1
Thankful to be Blessed!
Good morning! This is Pastor Jerry Ingalls from New Castle First Baptist Church and today is Thursday, November 19.
I’ve noticed that more and more people are using the word “Blessed!” to describe themselves, their families, and their situations.
Listen to how Paul starts off his letter to the Ephesians in 1:3, “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places.”
In the NIV, the first “blessed” is translated “Praise” as in “Praise be to the God and Father…” That should tell us something right away about this rich word.
It is true and right for a Christian to say they are blessed; for in Christ we have every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places. This is an amazing truth of God’s Word and one of the promises of God to us! Praise be to God who has done this and given this gift to us!
What does it mean to be blessed? It means that we are forgiven and adopted by the Father, redeemed through the shed blood of Jesus Christ, and sealed by the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. Please keep reading Ephesians 1:3-14 to learn more.
Jesus Christ has blessed us, brought us to God, by taking all the curses of God that we deserve for our sin onto Himself and has given us His relationship with God—His righteousness (2 Corinthians 5:21). In Christ, God will never withhold any blessing from you because you rightfully and legally belong to Him as an adopted son with right of inheritance as one of His chosen people.
That is a Good Father. This is your heavenly blessing as a child of God!
Seize the moment and be thankful: you have been blessed to be a blessing!
If you would like to receive a personal phone call today, all you have to do is dial the phone number below right now and one of us will call you soon.
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Galatians 6
The Right Time for Right Relationships!
Good morning! This is Pastor Jerry Ingalls from New Castle First Baptist Church and today is Wednesday, November 18.
Have you ever had a hard time with relationships?
Paul exhorts us in Galatians 6:1-2, “Brothers, if anyone is caught in any transgression, you who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness. Keep watch on yourself, lest you too be tempted.”
Let me highlight three simple principles to help us have right relationships:
- “ANYONE” means every person and “ANY TRANSGRESSION” means any and all offenses which you can think or imagine. We need to make a premeditated decision to forgive and grant grace to people.
- We are called to restore the person “in a spirit of gentleness.” Gentleness is a fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22, 23) which means if you feel like you can’t do this all the time every time, you are right! God invites you to submit to His Spirit and let Him love people through you! As Christians, we don’t represent ourselves or our self-interest; we represent Jesus and the Kingdom of God.
- Focus on being healthy. Right now, people are ¾ of the way to a meltdown and we are all feeling it. I truly believe many people are walking around looking like they have it all together, but at the moment, they have the emotional intelligence of a teenager. Paul says, “Keep watch on yourself, lest you be tempted.” We are called to be emotionally and spiritually intelligent enough to rise above the hot mess of our circumstances to be different; to not give ourselves over to the offenses and irresponsible behaviors of the people around us.
With all that is happening, right now is the right time to focus on right relationships!
Seize the moment and remain faithful to God and others.
Have a wonderful day!
If you would like to receive a personal phone call today, all you have to do is dial the phone number below right now and one of us will call you soon.
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Galatians 5
True Freedom!
Good morning! This is Pastor Jerry Ingalls from New Castle First Baptist Church and today is Tuesday, November 17.
What does the Bible say about our freedom?
Paul explains in Galatians 5:1, “For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery.”
From what has Christ set us free? In one word: sin. Sin is rebellion against God and His revealed will for our lives. The Bible teaches us that we all have gone our own way and done what it is right in our own eyes and that prevents us from being members of His household (Romans 3:23). You see, sin separates us from God and from the true freedom He has for us.
Sin breaks relationships! That’s the bad news, but what is the good news?
But, when we confess our sin, and turn away from its control of our lives by surrendering to Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior, we receive eternal life and are set free from sin; we are now forgiven to live a new way—“the new way of the Spirit” (Romans 7:6).
In a renewed relationship with God!
In Galatians 5:13-14, Paul says it this way, “For you were called to freedom, brothers. Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another. For the whole law is fulfilled in one word: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’”
Love! Love is the test of your freedom! The test of your freedom is how you walk in the Spirit which is most clearly made visible in how you think about and treat other people.
True freedom is the freedom to live and love in healthy relationships—first with God and then with others.
Seize the moment and walk in true freedom—Love God and love people!
Have a wonderful day!
If you would like to receive a personal phone call today, all you have to do is dial the phone number below right now and one of us will call you soon.
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Galatians 4
Live the Real Deal!
Good morning! This is Pastor Jerry Ingalls from New Castle First Baptist Church and today is Monday, November 16.
Do you know how bankers learn the difference between real money and counterfeit bills?
They study the real thing so that they know what is right and true.
In the same way, Paul calls us not to live according to the “elementary principles of the world”, but according to the Word of God. Listen to Galatians 4:3-7:
In the same way we also, when we were children, were enslaved to the elementary principles of the world. But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons. And because you are sons, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, “Abba! Father!” So, you are no longer a slave, but a son, and if a son, then an heir through God.
Listen to three contrasts between the counterfeit and the real:
Press into God so you can know the real from the counterfeit?
Seize the moment and live for the real deal—you are not a slave to fear, you are a child of God!
Have a wonderful day!
If you would like to receive a personal phone call today, all you have to do is dial the phone number below right now and one of us will call you soon.
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Responding to Jesus by Giving Thanks – Week 3
“The Perfect Prayer for All Circumstances!”
1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 (NAS95)
Let me just confess, up front, that I have been tested on this sermon… every step of the way this week. I am preaching this message to you as a fellow learner of the Way of Jesus. So much has been going on and frankly, not a lot of it has been praiseworthy. As we approach this teaching, I do so with humility towards its application, but with conviction of its truth!
Please pray with me…
I was taught that when you don’t know what to pray, then you say the most important two words you can say to God—“Thank You!” Thanksgiving is worship!
“Rejoice always; pray without ceasing; in everything give thanks; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.”
Today, I am going to emphasize and try to make sense of “in everything give thanks” because Paul teaches us that “this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” As hard and nonsensical as this command sounds, Paul backs it up with a statement that cannot be denied… it is the will of God to give thanks in everything.
“For this is the will of God, your sanctification.”
There is that big statement again, “the will of God”… but this time, it is for our sanctification!
Let’s play the wonderful systematic theology game called “connect the dots”: our ability to give thanks in all circumstances is connected to our sanctification. Here is the interpretation that has a built in application: I cannot fulfill the will of God to give thanks in all circumstances apart from the consecrating work of God to make me holy unto His plans and purposes—my sanctification. The only way to pray the perfect prayer of thanksgiving in all circumstance—to cultivate the attitude of gratitude—is by being in union with Christ, yoked to His easy yoke and light burden, abiding in His vine, carrying my cross, built on the rock…
“But we should always give thanks to God for you, brethren beloved by the Lord, because God has chosen you from the beginning for salvation through sanctification by the Spirit and faith in the truth.”
This is getting deep! How deep are you willing to dive into God’s Word? Our ability to give thanks always for all the people who are the beloved brethren of the church is not dependent on our abilities, but is connected to the reality that we, each one of us, are the chosen of God, who have been set apart/consecrated for this purpose by the Spirit and faith in the truth.
Thankfulness is a work of God’s Spirit that has been gifted to us and is being worked out in us through the sanctifying work of the Holy Spirit as walk by faith and not by sight.
Let’s follow the logic loop here and see the importance of this to our discipleship: God’s will for my life is that I pray without ceasing while always rejoicing and giving thanks to God in all circumstances. This is possible because God’s will for my life is my sanctification, which is God’s work to choose me and set my life apart, make me holy, consecrated for God’s plans and purposes, for His glory and my good. When I am able to sincerely pray the perfect prayer, it is because I am on the journey of sanctification! Therefore, the more I can honestly say “Thank you” to God in all my circumstances the more God is at work in me for His glory.
“Thank. You. Those two hallowed words reverently dictate what you ought to be, what you can be, what you will be. They are your rallying points to build courage when courage seems to fail, to regain faith when there seems to be little cause for faith, to create hope when hope becomes forlorn.”[1]
Your sanctified self, the best version of you to the glory of God, is always giving thanks and always rejoicing because the more we seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness (Matthew 6:33), the more we will then trust that God is working all things together for the good of those who love God and are called according to His purposes (Romans 8:28)!
“For those whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son.”
Do you know the big fancy word for being conformed to the image of His Son? Sanctification!
The ability to pray the perfect prayer is intimately connected to God’s perfecting work in our lives. It’s that simple. Our gratitude and ability to intimately express it to God is a shining light to God’s glory in us—the reality that we are in union with the One to whom we give thanks!
“Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift!”
Does it sound impossible to give thanks in all circumstances? Does it sound impossible to pray the perfect prayer every time in every situation?
“Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you entirely; and may your spirit and soul and body be preserved complete, without blame at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. Faithful is He who calls you, and He also will bring it to pass.”
Say “Thank You” to the One who can bring about His will in your life in every circumstance. Turn to Him each and every time. He invites us to complete surrender—absolute dependence.
That is what this is about—it is about a life-perspective that looks for the opportunity to be a part of God’s perfect and pleasing will in all things, but it requires an emptying of self, a forsaking of the paradigm—my will be done. You have heard me say: “every crisis is an opportunity.” That is truth, but it requires a sanctified mind to see that truth and believe it in the way we respond.
“Therefore I urge you, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.”
What does it mean that this presenting of yourself as a “living and holy sacrifice” is “your spiritual service of worship”? It is the ultimate commitment of praying the perfect prayer no matter what—it is faith in God and trust in His will; it is thanksgiving unto God for who He is, what He has done, is doing, and will do in every circumstance!
Your spiritual service of worship is to be sanctified to a place of continual praise to know and walk in what is God’s will, that which is good and acceptable and perfect. It is the life of believing God for His promises!
The perfect prayer of giving thanks in every circumstance is God’s will for your life because it will transform you through the renewal of your mind. It is circular logic and it requires to grace to enter into the flow. It is the river of life and its current will nourish you and lead you.
We cannot live lives of gratitude until we have surrendered ourselves to the One who has given us all things and in all things teaches us to give thanks. We can only bear the fruit of gratitude as we love Him and give ourselves to Him. And the more we love Him and give ourselves to Him the more we learn to trust Him, the more we thank Him, the more we love Him and give ourselves to Him.
It is a perpetual cycle of thanksgiving, which is our eternal destiny—our perfect union in glory—the life of complete worship, which truly, to be frank, is the life of absolute surrender! This is the only way to have rest for your soul—it is the life of the yokefellow who has learned to be completely submissive to the will of the Father—gentle and humble in heart—like Jesus, who lived by the power of the Spirit. It is the life that abides in the Vine and bears much fruit.
The perfect prayer… those two hallowed words… Thank. You. I can’t think of a time when it is not the perfect prayer even though I can think of plenty of times in my own life when it was not the prayer I prayed. May the Lord close the gap between my will and His will until there is not a circumstance in my life that thank you is not the first and last words on my lips.
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Footnotes:
[1] I don’t expect many people to catch this, but I just want to point out that this is a modification of a memorized section of General Douglas MacArthur’s 1962 “Duty, Honor, Country” speech that all West Point cadets must memorize and recite so many times in their Academy years that it is tattooed to their brains. J
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Hymn: Praise Ye the Lord, the Almighty
Praise Ye the Lord, the Almighty
“Let all that I am praise the Lord; with my whole heart, I will praise his holy name. Let all that I am praise the Lord; may I never forget the good things he does for me.” (NLT)
We owe a debt of gratitude to Catherine Winkworth for translating this German hymn of Joachim Neander. He was born in 1650 was a fifth-generation minister of the gospel. But he was not just “born” into the “family business.” As a twenty year-old, he joined a group of students intent on going to St. Martin’s Church in Bremen to cause trouble during the service, only to be convicted by the message he heard. A few years later, he became the rector of the German Reform Church’s Latin School at Dusseldorf.
He loved nature and would go on worship walks, especially in a beautiful gorge near Dusseldorf, that would later be named after him called Neander Valley. He would usually compose hymns and sing them to the Lord during this time. When he was 30, while battling tuberculosis, he wrote these words:
Praise Ye the Lord, the Almighty, the King of Creation.
O my soul praise Him, for He is Thy health and Salvation.
Here is yet another hymn that came out of a time when it would have been easy to follow the advice of people like Job’s friends that told him to just curse God and die. But Joachim Neander chose to seek God and declare his praise to Him as long as he had life and breath.
Wake up! Don’t let your circumstances dictate or decide how or when you will praise God. Remember, He is with you always, and desires us to worship Him in all things.
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LYRICS:
O my soul, praise him, for he is your health and salvation!
Come, all who hear; now to his temple draw near,
join me in glad adoration.
sheltering you under his wings, and so gently sustaining!
Have you not seen all that is needful has been
sent by his gracious ordaining?
surely his goodness and mercy shall daily attend you.
Ponder anew what the Almighty can do,
if with his love he befriends you.
All that has life and breath, come now with praises before him.
Let the Amen sound from his people again;
gladly forever adore him.
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Galatians 3
Absolute Dependence!
Good morning! This is Pastor Jerry Ingalls from New Castle First Baptist Church and today is Friday, November 13.
We all have favorite passages of the Bible. One of my favorites is Galatians 3:3 because of its deep impact upon my testimony as a pastor who is learning to be totally dependent on the Word and Spirit and no longer dependent on my own competencies and charisma.
Listen to Paul’s questions in Galatians 3:3, “Are you so foolish? After beginning with the Spirit, are you now trying to attain your goal by human effort?”.
I was on a silent retreat in 2015 when this Scripture came alive and spoke personally to me. The Lord was graciously teaching me, and is still teaching me, absolute dependence on Him—a full surrender—a forsaking of all—a crucified life. This was the beginning of the journey that has led me to learn the life of a Yokefellow; the life of the easy yoke of Jesus Christ (Matthew 11:28-30).
When we learn to work from grace and restfully work, then we can do much for God without hurry in our souls because our souls are at rest in Him. We learn that all things, from justification to glorification and every step of sanctification along the way, comes only from grace and not from anything we can do! When we learn to stop being foolish and trying to do on our own power only what God can do through His Holy Spirit, then we stop fighting against God’s will for our lives—our sanctification, which is our conformity to the image of Christ for the glory of the Father through the indwelling of the Holy Spirit.
Seize the moment and learn to submit to the work of the Holy Spirit in you. This the life of faith. This is what it means to believe.
Have a wonderful day!
If you would like to receive a personal phone call today, all you have to do is dial the phone number below right now and one of us will call you soon.
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Leadership Update!
Seize the Moment – Day 240
Leadership Update!
A leadership update this morning: Indiana’s governor just announced a new targeted county-level system of restrictions on social gatherings that goes into effect this Sunday, November 15. This is a major adjustment from the Stages 1-5 plan and your church leaders are in discussion on its implications to us. I encourage you to read the state-wide directive to learn more.
The good news is that churches are exempt from these restrictions, but we are still a place of concern for community health and well-being. Therefore, we are to wear face masks when not social distanced and to follow social distancing plans for all activities. As you know, we have been on top of safety and sanitary efforts at FBC, and we will continue to do so. This is a new normal.
We are fully open and I encourage everyone to prayerfully come back to church and rebuild good spiritual rhythms in their lives, we also call you to prudence and patience if you have health concerns. Never forget that your mental, emotional and spiritual health are important, too.
In other news: thank you to everyone who participated and voted in Sunday’s congregational meeting. We had a good turnout, well exceeded our quorum, and the 2021 budget and slate of officers all were approved with a high majority of votes. It is so good to dwell in unity as a church, especially in a culture that is so divided over everything. I am hopeful for our future!
As you drive by our church building, you will see a lot of great work being done. All of our new HVAC units are being installed. Those antiquated, original to the Wal Mart building HVAC units are finally going away and new more energy-efficient and cost-effective units are going up. More visible improvements on their way; stay engaged and remain hopeful for 2021.
2021 is going to be a year of promise!
Seize the moment and be hope-bearers!
If you would like to receive a personal phone call today, all you have to do is dial the phone number below right now and one of us will call you soon.
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Galatians 2
On-Purpose Christians!
Good morning! This is Pastor Jerry Ingalls from New Castle First Baptist Church and today is Wednesday, November 11. Happy Veteran’s Day to all of my fellow veterans! Take time today to thank the veterans in your life because our freedoms are only possible because of their blood and sacrifice. Today, please take time to pray for our veterans and their families, past and present.
Listen to Paul from Galatians 2:16 & 20, “We know that a person is not justified by works of the law but through faith in Jesus Christ, so we also have believed in Christ Jesus, in order to be justified by faith in Christ and not by works of the law, because by works of the law no one will be justified…. I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.”
Jesus Christ gave His life for a purpose—so that God’s family can be restored to Him. That means you can be saved—accepted, justified, redeemed, restored into right relationship with God—through the shed blood of Jesus Christ. Jesus lived and died on purpose!
All of us who claim Christ as Lord and Savior are called to live with the same intentional focus—on purpose—for Jesus Christ by not only receiving Christ through faith, but then living our lives on purpose for Jesus, through faith and thankfulness for His life, death, and resurrection.
Many understand and embrace their salvation, if not celebrate it every Sunday, but do each of us understand that we are called, saved, and transformed by the love of God to walk with Jesus and His purposes to restore God’s family back to Him.
Seize the moment and live on purpose for Jesus
Have a wonderful day!
If you would like to receive a personal phone call today, all you have to do is dial the phone number below right now and one of us will call you soon.
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