Seize the Moment – Day 1451
The Importance of Self-Identity!
Good morning! This is Pastor Jerry Ingalls from New Castle First Baptist Church and today is Thursday, March 7.
Self-identity shapes how you view the world and relate to it. So much of your personal agency is determined by your self-concept. God knows this, which is why Paul proclaimed in 2 Corinthians 5:17, “Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come.” In Christ, you are not who you used to be, the Spirit is transforming you into His likeness through the renewal of your mind (Romans 12:2). In Isaiah 62:1-4, God promised to give His chosen city a new name:
For Zion’s sake I will not keep silent, and for Jerusalem’s sake I will not keep quiet, until her righteousness goes forth like brightness, and her salvation like a torch that is burning. The nations will see your righteousness, and all kings your glory; and you will be called by a new name which the mouth of the Lord will designate. … It will no longer be said to you, “Forsaken,” nor to your land will it any longer be said, “Desolate”; but you will be called, “My delight is in her,” and your land, “Married”; for the Lord delights in you, and to Him your land will be married.
God has promised His people an unbreakable covenant, declaring His delight in choosing Jerusalem as His bride, the bosom of His eternal kingdom (Revelation 21:2-7). Receiving a new name is part of God’s redemptive work, as Jesus promised in Revelation 3:12, “He who overcomes, I will make him a pillar in the temple of My God, and he will not go out from it anymore; and I will write on him the name of My God, and the name of the city of My God, the new Jerusalem, which comes down out of heaven from My God, and My new name” (cf. Revelation 2:17).
God bless you!
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.
YOUTUBE:
If you prefer a video, Pastor Jerry reads his devotion on YouTube as well. Click HERE to visit the page.
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Seize the Moment – Day 1450
Stewards of the Spirit!
Good morning! This is Pastor Jerry Ingalls from New Castle First Baptist Church and today is Wednesday, March 6.
Jesus began His ministry by proclaiming the fulfillment of Isaiah 61. In Luke 4:17-21, we watch Jesus enter a Jewish synagogue:
And the book of the prophet Isaiah was handed to Him. And He opened the book and found the place where it was written, “The Spirit of the LORD is upon Me, because He anointed Me to preach the gospel to the poor. He has sent Me to proclaim release to the captives, and recovery of sight to the blind, to set free those who are oppressed, to proclaim the favorable year of the LORD.” And He closed the book, gave it back to the attendant and sat down; and the eyes of all in the synagogue were fixed on Him. And He began to say to them, “Today this Scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing.”
In quoting Isaiah 61:1-2a, Jesus was declaring the fulfillment of the whole prophecy, in which God promised in verses 6-8, “But you will be called the priests of the Lord; you will be spoken of as ministers of our God. … [to] make an everlasting covenant with them.” This is why Christ came – to establish the New Covenant between God and humanity, of which He is the only Mediator (1 Timothy 2:5; Hebrews 9:15). As disciples of Jesus, we are stewards of the same Spirit promised in Isaiah 61 and fulfilled in 1 Peter 2:9, “You are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God’s own possession, so that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light.”
Seize the moment and live victoriously as a steward of the Spirit. The same Spirit that descended upon Jesus at His baptism (Luke 3:21-22) and led Him into the desert to be tempted by the devil (Luke 4:1-13), empowers your Christian life today (1 John 4:4).
God bless you!
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.
YOUTUBE:
If you prefer a video, Pastor Jerry reads his devotion on YouTube as well. Click HERE to visit the page.
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Seize the Moment – Day 1449
Point to the Final Redemption!
Good morning! This is Pastor Jerry Ingalls from New Castle First Baptist Church and today is Tuesday, March 5.
The gospel of Jesus Christ is more than the forgiveness of your sins; it is the proclamation of the Kingdom of God, which culminates in the redemption of all things. Paul declared this about Jesus in Colossians 1:20, “through Him to reconcile all things to Himself, having made peace through the blood of His cross; through Him, I say, whether things on earth or things in heaven.” God foretold this in Isaiah 60:18-22:
Violence will not be heard again in your land, nor devastation or destruction within your borders; but you will call your walls salvation, and your gates praise. No longer will you have the sun for light by day, nor for brightness will the moon give you light; but you will have the Lord for an everlasting light, and your God for your glory. Your sun will no longer set, nor will your moon wane; for you will have the Lord for an everlasting light, and the days of your mourning will be over. Then all your people will be righteous; they will possess the land forever, the branch of My planting, the work of My hands, that I may be glorified. The smallest one will become a clan, and the least one a mighty nation. I, the Lord, will hasten it in its time.
This imagery concludes the Bible in Revelation 21-22, with a glimpse of the New Heaven and New Earth. At the appointed time, Jesus came to declare the Kingdom of God (Galatians 4:4-5), and He will hasten its completion in the Father’s prescribed time (Matthew 24:36; Acts 1:7). Until then, you are called to be a Spirit-empowered witness of the gospel of the Kingdom of God (Acts 1:8).
Seize the moment and point to the final redemption, demonstrating how God has rescued you through the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus – “You are witnesses of these things” (Luke 24:46-48).
God bless you!
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.
YOUTUBE:
If you prefer a video, Pastor Jerry reads his devotion on YouTube as well. Click HERE to visit the page.
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Seize the Moment – Day 1448
The Offspring of the Messiah!
Good morning! This is Pastor Jerry Ingalls from New Castle First Baptist Church and today is Monday, March 4.
Children say the darndest things. Often, it is just that children will simply parrot what they’ve heard a parent say, which sounds funny when they don’t really know the meaning of the words they are repeating. In the best of situations, a child will repeat something wise, upon which an awestruck adult will quote the Scripture, “Out of the mouth of babes” (Matthew 21:16, KJV). In the same way, you will know a child of God by how their speech reflects the One to whom they spend time listening. Isaiah 59:21 described the children of the coming Messiah, “‘As for Me, this is My covenant with them,’ says the Lord: ‘My Spirit which is upon you, and My words which I have put in your mouth shall not depart from your mouth, nor from the mouth of your offspring, nor from the mouth of your offspring’s offspring,’ says the Lord, ‘from now and forever.’”
To be an offspring of the Messiah, you must receive His Word as from God, just as John announced about the coming of Jesus in John 1:12-13, “But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believe in His name, who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.” When you receive His Word, you are born again when the Spirit comes upon you, as Paul stated in Romans 8:15-16, “For you have not received a spirit of slavery leading to fear again, but you have received a spirit of adoption as sons by which we cry out, ‘Abba! Father!’ The Spirit Himself testifies with our spirit that we are children of God.”
Seize the moment and spend time with Jesus, meditating upon His teachings, so that when the Spirit brings them to your mind, you know what they mean and use them accurately (John 14:26; 16:13-15; 17:7-8).
God bless you!
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.
YOUTUBE:
If you prefer a video, Pastor Jerry reads his devotion on YouTube as well. Click HERE to visit the page.
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Seize the Moment – Day 1446
Today’s worship song focus :
First Things First
Revelation 2:4-5a (NASB95)
and repent and do the deeds you did at first;”
The brotherly trio of Caleb, Jordan and Josh Ward make up the group “Consumed by Fire”. They grew up traveling with their father who was an evangelist, serving others through church planting and medical missions. After their father had a catastrophic stroke, the boys took a hiatus to care for him. Following his passing in the spring of 2022, they reemerged with a fresh passion and commitment to the calling of their ministry through song. Jordan said this song “spearheaded the creation of a new direction for us… We’re saying, ‘Lord, we want what You want.’”
First thing’s first I seek Your will Not my own
Surrender all my wants to you Keep the first thing first
We need to wake up and take the words of this song as a prayer for our own lives. By returning our hearts to our first love, Jesus, we are then moved to love others in the way that He loves us!
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.
YOUTUBE:
If you prefer a video, Pastor Ken reads his devotion on YouTube as well. Click HERE to visit the page.
If you would like to listen to this song, click on this link:
First Things First
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Seize the Moment – Day 1445
Fast to Break the Yoke of Slavery!
Good morning! This is Pastor Jerry Ingalls from New Castle First Baptist Church and today is Friday, March 1.
As I read Isaiah 58:6-11, I find myself contemplating the invitation to fast during Lent, which is an annual rhythm of preparation for Holy Week, which many Christians around the world participate:
Is this not the fast which I choose, to loosen the bonds of wickedness, to undo the bands of the yoke, and to let the oppressed go free and break every yoke? … Then you will call, and the Lord will answer; you will cry, and He will say, “Here I am.” If you remove the yoke from your midst, the pointing of the finger and speaking wickedness, and if you give yourself to the hungry and satisfy the desire of the afflicted, then your light will rise in darkness and your gloom will become like midday.
Throughout this 40-day period, the church has historically participated in the spiritual discipline of fasting as a means of focusing oneself on the crucifixion of Jesus Christ (Good Friday) and His resurrection from the dead (Easter). When I consider the invitation to join with the larger church body in this ancient practice, I seek wisdom from Jesus, who said in Luke 5:34-35, “You cannot make the attendants of the bridegroom fast while the bridegroom is with them, can you? But the days will come; and when the bridegroom is taken away from them, then they will fast in those days.” These are those days as we await the return of Jesus Christ, who has ascended to the right hand of the Father, where He is interceding for us (Romans 8:34). Until His return, we fast to remind ourselves that there is nothing of this world that can satisfy our needs; we are fulfilled in Christ alone!
Seize the moment and find your satisfaction in the easy yoke of Jesus Christ (Matthew 11:28-30), which shatters all other yokes that seek to enslave you (Galatians 5:1).
God bless you!
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.
YOUTUBE:
If you prefer a video, Pastor Jerry reads his devotion on YouTube as well. Click HERE to visit the page.
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Seize the Moment – Day 1444
Lowly of Spirit and Contrite of Heart!
Good morning! This is Pastor Jerry Ingalls from New Castle First Baptist Church and today is Thursday, February 29. Happy Leap Day!
“I dwell on a high and holy place, and also with the contrite and lowly of spirit in order to revive the spirit of the lowly and to revive the heart of the contrite. … Peace, peace to him who is far and to him who is near,” Says the Lord, “and I will heal him.” But the wicked are like the tossing sea, for it cannot be quiet, and its waters toss up refuse and mud. “There is no peace,” says my God, “for the wicked.”
Seize the moment and come to God lowly of spirit and contrite of heart (Psalm 51:17). Jesus promises to guard your heart and mind with His peace that goes beyond anything this world can offer you (Philippians 4:6-9).
God bless you!
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.
YOUTUBE:
If you prefer a video, Pastor Jerry reads his devotion on YouTube as well. Click HERE to visit the page.
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Seize the Moment – Day 1443
Salvation is for Everyone!
Good morning! This is Pastor Jerry Ingalls from New Castle First Baptist Church and today is Wednesday, February 28.
From the beginning, God desired for all the nations to be saved and to know His loving embrace. God expressed His heart to save all the peoples in Isaiah 56:6-7:
Also the foreigners who join themselves to the Lord, to minister to Him, and to love the name of the Lord, to be His servants, every one who keeps from profaning the sabbath and holds fast My covenant; even those I will bring to My holy mountain and make them joyful in My house of prayer. Their burnt offerings and their sacrifices will be acceptable on My altar; for My house will be called a house of prayer for all the peoples.
This passage is quoted by Jesus when He cleared the temple in Matthew 21:12-13, and, as if to put an exclamation point on the context of His quote, in verse 14, Matthew highlighted, “And the blind and the lame came to Him in the temple, and He healed them.” That which was formerly excluded from the people of God has now been invited to come and find salvation in Christ. Jesus’ heart to include the foreigner and the outcast into the fellowship of God, and to heal the blind and the broken as a sign of sabbath rest was one of the reasons they sought to kill Him, as seen in Luke 4:24-30. Jesus took a crowd who was lauding him and stirred them up to the point of trying to kill him, simply by spotlighting that God had always desired to save even those outside of Israel. Furthermore, Paul, who went through a similar experience in Acts 21:21-22, emphasized this truth in 1 Timothy 2:3-4, “This is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth”(cf. 2 Peter 3:9).
God bless you!
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.
YOUTUBE:
If you prefer a video, Pastor Jerry reads his devotion on YouTube as well. Click HERE to visit the page.
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Seize the Moment – Day 1442
Drink of the Living Water!
You often hear people say, “There is nothing for free in this life.” Contrast that thought with the image of a flowing stream or a cascading waterfall, both of which are sources of living water, which refresh one’s body with a single drink. God yokes this bountiful imagery of His provision with the coming Messiah in Isaiah 55:1-3a:
Ho! Every one who thirsts, come to the waters; and you who have no money come, buy and eat. Come, buy wine and milk without money and without cost. Why do you spend money for what is not bread, and your wages for what does not satisfy? Listen carefully to Me, and eat what is good, and delight yourself in abundance. Incline your ear and come to Me.
Seven hundred years later, Jesus invites His disciples in John 7:37-38, “If anyone is thirsty, let him come to Me and drink. He who believes in Me, as the Scripture said, ‘From his innermost being will flow rivers of living water.’” The people hear in Jesus’ words the messianic invitation of Isaiah. This was not the first time Jesus referenced the living water; in fact, the first time was his scandalous interaction to the Samaritan woman at the well. In John 4:13-14, Jesus promised her the living water (10), “Everyone who drinks of this water will thirst again; but whoever drinks of the water that I will give him shall never thirst; but the water that I will give him will become in him a well of water springing up to eternal life.”
Seize the moment and be satiated through the living waters of Jesus Christ – “The Spirit and the bride say, ‘Come.’ And let the one who hears say, ‘Come.’ And let the one who is thirsty come; let the one who wishes take the water of life without cost” (Revelation 22:17; cf. 7:17; 21:6).
God bless you!
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.
YOUTUBE:
If you prefer a video, Pastor Jerry reads his devotion on YouTube as well. Click HERE to visit the page.
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