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The blog contains daily devotions and notes from the weekly messages. We encourage you to review the notes during the sermon or through the week! Most of the posts will have an audio and/or video link at the end of the notes. From time to time the pastors will share other insights and devotions here.
Note:
We realize it isn’t easy to always find what you are looking for, so we are in the process of organizing these blogs. Click HERE to go to an index of blogs that reference our YouTube channel in order to get you where you need to go…
To find a particular book and chapter, use the magnifying glass in the upper right hand corner of this page. Type the name of the book and the chapter. It should appear as one of your choices. (ex: John 2)
19
Mar '22
Seize the Moment – Day 732
19
Mar '22
Today’s hymn focus will be
Tell Me the Story of Jesus
Acts 5:42 (ESV)
“And every day, in the temple and from house to house, they did not cease teaching and preaching that the Christ is Jesus.”
In her lifetime, Fanny Crosby wrote over 8000 hymns and poems, many of which are in our hymn book at FBC. Left blind after a failed medical treatment, she never grew bitter, but rather grew into a woman who “saw God” in everything around her and through all of life’s circumstances. She was always giving full credit to God for what she was able to accomplish, wanting nothing more than to help others have a deep loving relationship with Him. Whether it be through missionary work in the poverty-stricken areas of various large cities, or at camp meeting services where area churches came together, she wanted God’s name to be praised
Tell me the story of Jesus, write on my heart every word.
Tell me the story most precious, sweetest that I ever heard.
We need to wake up and let this hymn by Fanny Crosby ignite a burning desire in our heart to know more about Jesus. Never grow tired of reading His story and allowing it to speak in and through your life.
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.
Videos are posted about a week after the devotion appears in the blog.
If you would like to hear this song, click on the link below:
Tell Me the Story of Jesus
1
Tell me the story of Jesus,
write on my heart every word;
tell me the story most precious,
sweetest that ever was heard.
Tell how the angels, in chorus,
sang as they welcomed His birth,
“Glory to God in the highest!
Peace and good tidings to earth.”
write on my heart every word;
tell me the story most precious,
sweetest that ever was heard.
Tell how the angels, in chorus,
sang as they welcomed His birth,
“Glory to God in the highest!
Peace and good tidings to earth.”
Refrain:
Tell me the story of Jesus,
write on my heart every word;
tell me the story most precious,
sweetest that ever was heard.
Tell me the story of Jesus,
write on my heart every word;
tell me the story most precious,
sweetest that ever was heard.
2
Fasting alone in the desert,
tell of the days that are past;
how for our sins He was tempted,
yet was triumphant at last.
Tell of the years of His labor,
tell of the sorrow He bore;
He was despised and afflicted,
homeless, rejected, and poor. [Refrain]
tell of the days that are past;
how for our sins He was tempted,
yet was triumphant at last.
Tell of the years of His labor,
tell of the sorrow He bore;
He was despised and afflicted,
homeless, rejected, and poor. [Refrain]
3
Tell of the cross where they nailed Him,
writhing in anguish and pain;
tell of the grave where they laid Him,
tell how He liveth again.
Love in that story so tender,
clearer than ever I see:
stay, let me weep while you whisper,
love paid the ransom for me. [Refrain]
writhing in anguish and pain;
tell of the grave where they laid Him,
tell how He liveth again.
Love in that story so tender,
clearer than ever I see:
stay, let me weep while you whisper,
love paid the ransom for me. [Refrain]
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18
Mar '22
Seize the Moment – Day 731
18
Mar '22
The Power of Petition!
Good morning! This is Pastor Jerry Ingalls from New Castle First Baptist Church and today is Friday, March 18.
Have you ever petitioned God passionately for a miracle in your life?
Hannah did and, in doing so, she was misunderstood by Eli, the head priest. Hannah was a righteous woman and a good wife. But she was tormented by a rival concubine and oppressed by an empty cradle. Weeping bitterly, she went to the temple of the Lord in Shiloh where she petitioned God passionately by making a vow that if God would grant her a son, then she would dedicate him as a Nazirite. Watch how Eli responds to what he saw, but couldn’t hear, in 1 Samuel 1:14-18:
Then Eli said to her, “How long will you make yourself drunk? Put away your wine from you.” But Hannah replied, “No, my lord, I am a woman oppressed in spirit; I have drunk neither wine nor strong drink, but I have poured out my soul before the Lord. Do not consider your maidservant as a worthless woman, for I have spoken until now out of my great concern and provocation.” Then Eli answered and said, “Go in peace; and may the God of Israel grant your petition that you have asked of Him.” She said, “Let your maidservant find favor in your sight.” So the woman went her way and ate, and her face was no longer sad.
The good news is that both Hannah’s passionate petition and Eli’s priestly blessing were heard by God, and God bestowed a son on Hannah (19-28). This is the birth narrative of Samuel, the last Judge of Israel, and the great prophet of God, who would ultimately anoint the first two kings of Israel – Saul and David. Samuel, the namesake of two books of the Bible, was Hannah’s baby. All because of the effective prayer of a righteous woman (James 5:16).
Seize the moment and petition God passionately for the needs of your life.
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.
Videos are posted about a week after the devotion appears in the blog.
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17
Mar '22
Seize the Moment – Day 730
17
Mar '22
The Rescue of Ruth!
Good morning! This is Pastor Jerry Ingalls from New Castle First Baptist Church and today is Thursday, March 17.
Have you ever needed to be rescued? Maybe you have been lost and needed to be found, or you got a cramp in the deep end of the pool, and someone needed to jump in to rescue you, setting your feet on solid ground once again?
That is exactly what Boaz was doing for Ruth and Naomi, he was rescuing them as their kinsmen-redeemer, the closest relative with the responsibility to deliver them and to set their feet on solid ground. Boaz testified of this in Ruth 4:9-10:
You are witnesses today that I have bought from the hand of Naomi all that belonged to Elimelech and all that belonged to Chilion and Mahlon. Moreover, I have acquired Ruth the Moabitess, the widow of Mahlon, to be my wife in order to raise up the name of the deceased on his inheritance, so that the name of the deceased will not be cut off from his brothers or from the court of his birth place; you are witnesses today.
Interestingly, the same word used to describe Boaz as the kinsmen-redeemer in Ruth 4:14, was also used of God in Job 19:25a, when Job proclaimed, “As for me, I know that my Redeemer lives.” This is also the same word used by God when He promised Moses that He would rescue His people from slavery in Exodus 6:6. To redeem is to rescue and deliver!
Do you recognize your own need to be rescued and delivered? Ruth did! In Ruth 3:9, she asked Boaz to “spread your covering over your maid, for you are a close relative.” This points to the Living Redeemer, Jesus Christ, and why He came from Heaven to Earth – “to seek and to save that which was lost” (Luke 19:10).
Seize the moment and pray to God today that Jesus Christ would rescue you from sin and place your feet on the solid rock of His salvation!
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.
Videos are posted about a week after the devotion appears in the blog.
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16
Mar '22
Seize the Moment – Day 729
16
Mar '22
Build a Good Reputation!
Good morning! This is Pastor Jerry Ingalls from New Castle First Baptist Church and today is Wednesday, March 16.
Do you have a good reputation? If you do, it is easier for people to trust you. People won’t be quick to believe accusations against you or listen to gossip about you. But, if your character has been compromised, people tend to think the worst of your actions and mistrust your motives.
Ruth and Boaz have been presented as virtuous characters with righteous motives. Their good reputations are necessary for us to not read into their behavior on the threshing floor in Ruth 3, especially when reading Naomi’s advice to Ruth in verses 3-4:
Wash yourself therefore, and anoint yourself and put on your best clothes, and go down to the threshing floor; but do not make yourself known to the man until he has finished eating and drinking. It shall be when he lies down, that you shall notice the place where he lies, and you shall go and uncover his feet and lie down; then he will tell you what you shall do.
While we want to think the best of what Naomi is asking Ruth to do to secure Boaz, the biblical language is neither simple nor innocent. The Hebrew is suggestive, filled with idioms and sexual innuendo, which honestly would not be very surprising considering this was happening in the time of the Judges, when people did what was right in their own eyes.
It is because of Ruth’s and Boaz’s good reputations that I interpret this story without it including a Hollywood scandal. It was Boaz himself who said of Ruth in verse 11, upon awakening to discover her at his feet: “Now, my daughter, do not fear. I will do for you whatever you ask, for all my people in the city know that you are a woman of excellence.”
Seize the moment and build a good reputation (Proverbs 22:1; Ecclesiastes 7:1; 1 Timothy 3:7; 1 Peter 2:15).
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.
Videos are posted about a week after the devotion appears in the blog.
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15
Mar '22
Seize the Moment – Day 728
15
Mar '22
The Willingness to Work Hard!
Good morning! This is Pastor Jerry Ingalls from New Castle First Baptist Church and today is Tuesday, March 15.
Are you willing to work hard? Naomi’s daughter-in-law shows her true colors in Ruth 2:2-3:
And Ruth the Moabitess said to Naomi, “Please let me go to the field and glean among the ears of grain after one in whose sight I may find favor.” And she said to her, “Go, my daughter.” So she departed and went and gleaned in the field after the reapers; and she happened to come to the portion of the field belonging to Boaz, who was of the family of Elimelech.
Ruth was an outsider, despised because she was from Moab. She had only one chance at a new life in Bethlehem. There are many ways she could have responded to her circumstances, such as complain and grumble, but, instead, Ruth’s character shined brightly. She labored willingly in the fields of Boaz, gleaning to survive while hoping for a miracle of provision that would care for Naomi. Her willingness to work hard paid off as Ruth 2:11-12 captures Boaz’s response to her selfless service to Naomi:
All that you have done for your mother-in-law after the death of your husband has been fully reported to me, and how you left your father and your mother and the land of your birth, and came to a people that you did not previously know. May the Lord reward your work, and your wages be full from the Lord, the God of Israel, under whose wings you have come to seek refuge.
In Philippians 2:14-15, Paul commanded all believers to be like Ruth in their circumstances:
“Do all things without grumbling or disputing; so that you will prove yourselves to be blameless and innocent, children of God above reproach in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you appear as lights in the world.”
Seize the moment by letting your faith shine brightly through your willingness to work hard!
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.
Videos are posted about a week after the devotion appears in the blog.
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14
Mar '22
Seize the Moment – Day 727
14
Mar '22
The Power of Conversion!
Good morning! This is Pastor Jerry Ingalls from New Castle First Baptist Church and today is Monday, March 14.
The book of Ruth is a sad story with a happy ending. It is a short, four-chapter story, that takes place during the time of the Judges. It is the story of Elimelech and his wife, Naomi, who, with their two sons Mahlon and Chilion, traveled to the land of Moab to avoid a famine. They lived in the land for ten years, during which Naomi’s husband died, the two sons take Moabite women as wives, then both sons died. This sad chain of events left Naomi alone with two Moabite woman as her daughters-in-law. As Naomi prepared to return to Bethlehem, she released the two Moabite women from their commitments to her, but one of them would not depart. Ruth’s response to Naomi’s urging is found in Ruth 1:16-17:
Do not urge me to leave you or turn back from following you; for where you go, I will go, and where you lodge, I will lodge. Your people shall be my people, and your God, my God. Where you die, I will die, and there I will be buried. Thus may the Lord do to me, and worse, if anything but death parts you and me.
Did you know that Ruth’s proclamation of faith is the key to this entire story? As a Moabite woman she would not be allowed to enter the assembly of God’s people (Deuteronomy 23:3), but her conversion brought great blessing to her and to Naomi. Without her declaration of loyalty love, this story could be nothing more than another flagrant violation of the Law of God in the time of the Judges, but with it, it is transformed into a story of love and loyalty – a foreshadowing of God’s redemptive love through Jesus Christ.
Seize the moment and declare your loyal love to God and His people. Your conversion transforms your story through the gospel of Jesus Christ.
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.
Videos are posted about a week after the devotion appears in the blog.
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13
Mar '22
Train to Live on Mission – Week 6
13
Mar '22
Battle Drill #6: Choose to Do Good
My child, don’t lose sight of common sense and discernment. Hang on to them, for they will refresh your soul. They are like jewels on a necklace. They keep you safe on your way, and your feet will not stumble. You can go to bed without fear; you will lie down and sleep soundly. You need not be afraid of sudden disaster or the destruction that comes upon the wicked, for the Lord is your security. He will keep your foot from being caught in a trap.
Do not withhold good from those who deserve it when it’s in your power to help them. If you can help your neighbor now, don’t say, “Come back tomorrow, and then I’ll help you.” Don’t plot harm against your neighbor, for those who live nearby trust you. Don’t pick a fight without reason, when no one has done you harm. Don’t envy violent people or copy their ways. Such wicked people are detestable to the Lord, but he offers his friendship to the godly.
The Lord curses the house of the wicked, but he blesses the home of the upright. The Lord mocks the mockers but is gracious to the humble. The wise inherit honor, but fools are put to shame!
Last week, we were reminded by Pastor Jerry that according to Proverbs 3:5-6. We are told to “Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. Seek his will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take.” Since trust is to fully and truly rely on God, you would think it would only be common sense for us to do that which He tells us to do, and not take matters into our own hands and do what we want to do instead. To take that course of action just does not seem like common sense. But we have found that in many areas of our lives. That which we thought was common sense has not been taught. A couple of examples that come immediately to mind are: Covering a cough or a sneeze (tissue or sleeve); or who has the right of way when two or more cars approach a four way stop sign (the name should give it away).
Common sense for Christians has to be taught as well, especially since man is by nature a sinner. Common sense is defined by the Oxford Dictionary as “Good sense and sound judgment in practical manners.” So, for us to understand this portion of the scriptures today, Solomon is reminding us not lose sight of those things that we were taught, which is why we need to first and foremost…
I. Know the field manual by keeping focused on the Word.
A. More than just a head knowledge, but how it is lived out in your daily life.
Proverbs 3:21-23
Refreshes your soul
Visibly evident like shiny jewelry
Provide protection in your daily walk.
B. We are being reminded of a command given to the people of Israel in training up their children.
Deuteronomy 6:6-7
“And you must commit yourselves wholeheartedly to these commands that I am giving you today. Repeat them again and again to your children. Talk about them when you are at home and when you are on the road, when you are going to bed and when you are getting up.” (emphasis added by me!)
As a parent, it is your responsibility to teach, train, talk about the things of God with your kids. The church is here to help reinforce what you are teaching them.
C. Why is this important?
Matthew 7:12
“Do to others whatever you would like them to do to you. This is the essence of all that is taught in the law and the prophets.” (Golden Rule)
What about the ‘Golden Results? It is a direct corollary to the Golden Rule: “Other people will usually treat you the way you treat them.”
“Blame others and they blame you; admit you were wrong, and often they will do the same; listen patiently and openly to others and hold off making premature judgments, and others will be inclined to do the same for you, which will open the way for understanding and increase the likelihood of agreement.” (article: NCBaptist.org, Jan.7, ’21 See reference at end.)
II. Importance of Training Together Brings Familiarity.
A. We must know the abilities of those on our squad
Romans 12:8-10
“ If your gift is to encourage others, be encouraging. If it is giving, give generously. If God has given you leadership ability, take the responsibility seriously. And if you have a gift for showing kindness to others, do it gladly.
Don’t just pretend to love others. Really love them. Hate what is wrong. Hold tightly to what is good. Love each other with genuine affection and take delight in honoring each other.”
We all have different gifts and abilities, but that is what makes it so that not just one person is carrying out the tasks given to us by Command Central!
We cannot expect one person to have ALL of these abilities/gifts
B. We are all fighting for the same side in the same battle.
Romans 12:12-13
“The human body has many parts, but the many parts make up one whole body. So it is with the body of Christ. Some of us are Jews, some are Gentiles, some are slaves, and some are free. But we have all been baptized into one body by one Spirit, and we all share the same Spirit.”
At the foot of the cross, it is level ground. No one is better because of where they were born or position they hold.
The Blood of Jesus paid the same price for each and every one of us so that we become joint heirs with Jesus…Children of God!
III. Seek the Commander’s Approval in all things!
A. We must put forth the effort
Ephesians 6:7-8
“Work with enthusiasm, as though you were working for the Lord rather than for people. Remember that the Lord will reward each one of us for the good we do, whether we are slaves or free.”
It’s all in the attitude! Who are you doing it for…You or Jesus?
Not a half-baked effort
Illustration: Paul Hollywood handshake “Great British Bake Off”
B. How will this be best accomplished?
1 Thessalonians 5:15-18
“See that no one pays back evil for evil, but always try to do good to each other and to all people. Always be joyful. Never stop praying. Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus.”
Always doing good (each other and all people)
Always joyful
Always praying
Always thankful in all circumstances
IV. How do we Live on Mission?
A. Never grow tired of doing good
Galatians 6:9-10
“So, let’s not get tired of doing what is good. At just the right time we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don’t give up. Therefore, whenever we have the opportunity, we should do good to everyone—especially to those in the family of faith.”
It all belongs to God anyhow, we are just to be good stewards
This does not mean that we are to be doormat Christians and allow people to abuse our love and service.
2 Thessalonians 3:6-15
“Idle” is defined as disorderly, loafing, remiss of daily work or conduct. This is contrary to the teaching and example that Paul demonstrated.
B. Follow the instructions that Paul gave to Timothy
1 Timothy 6:11-12
“But you, Timothy, are a man of God; so run from all these evil things. Pursue righteousness and a godly life, along with faith, love, perseverance, and gentleness. Fight the good fight for the true faith. Hold tightly to the eternal life to which God has called you, which you have declared so well before many witnesses.”
The previous verses tell Timothy what to avoid, calling them the “evil things” (false teachings that stir up arguments or just a way to make a name for themselves or make a profit that ultimately leads to their ruin and destruction)
We live on mission when we…
Pursue righteousness
Pursue a godly life
Pursue faith
Pursue love
Pursue perseverance
Pursue gentleness
As we stay in God’s Word every day, and come together for discipleship times of training, and strive to please God in all that we do while we share the message of Hope to a world in need, we discover that we have to make the right decisions and choices. These are the choices that we make every day: We choose to be Bitter or be Better; to be Hopeless or be Hopeful; to Love less or Love More. So I need to ask you…Do you believe that you can do all things through Christ who gives you strength? You have heard His commands, straight from the Bible. Now you are responsible for what you are going to do with this information. I pray that you choose to truly trust God and do good!
You can listen to the message here:
You can watch the message by clicking HERE.
Reference:
*Article: “20 Ways To Prevent and Resolve Conflict in the Church” Jan. 7, 2021
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12
Mar '22
Seize the Moment – Day 725
12
Mar '22
Today’s hymn focus will be
The Love of God
I John 4:7 (ESV)
“Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God.”
Today’s hymn was written by Frederick Lehman in 1917. He was born in Schwerin, Germany and his family emigrated to America when he was about 4 years old. He grew up in Iowa and studied for the ministry at Northwestern College in Naperville, IL. Even while serving as pastor in various churches, he devoted much of his life to writing sacred songs. He was at a camp meeting service when he heard the pastor share a line of a poem describing the immense love of God. He later moved to California and while taking a break from his manual labor job of crating lemons, he grabbed a scrap piece of paper and a stub of a pencil to write with those words echoing in his mind…
O love of God, how rich and pure, how marvelous and strong
It shall forevermore endure, the saints’ and angels’ song.
We need to wake up and realize that our action of showing God’s love has to be seen in EVERYTHING that we do. That is what will draw people to a real relationship with Him. They will know we are Christians by our love, for one another AND for those who are lost and in need of a Savior.
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.
Videos are posted about a week after the devotion appears in the blog.
If you would like to hear this song, click on the link below:
The Love of God
1
The love of God is greater far
Than tongue or pen can ever tell.
It goes beyond the highest star
And reaches to the lowest hell.
The guilty pair, bowed down with care,
God gave His Son to win;
His erring child He reconciled
And pardoned from his sin.
The love of God is greater far
Than tongue or pen can ever tell.
It goes beyond the highest star
And reaches to the lowest hell.
The guilty pair, bowed down with care,
God gave His Son to win;
His erring child He reconciled
And pardoned from his sin.
Chorus:
O love of God, how rich and pure!
How measureless and strong!
It shall forevermore endure—
The saints’ and angels’ song.
O love of God, how rich and pure!
How measureless and strong!
It shall forevermore endure—
The saints’ and angels’ song.
2
When hoary time shall pass away,
And earthly thrones and kingdoms fall;
When men who here refuse to pray,
On rocks and hills and mountains call;
God’s love, so sure, shall still endure,
All measureless and strong;
Redeeming grace to Adam’s race—
The saints’ and angels’ song.
When hoary time shall pass away,
And earthly thrones and kingdoms fall;
When men who here refuse to pray,
On rocks and hills and mountains call;
God’s love, so sure, shall still endure,
All measureless and strong;
Redeeming grace to Adam’s race—
The saints’ and angels’ song.
3
Could we with ink the ocean fill,
And were the skies of parchment made;
Were every stalk on earth a quill,
And every man a scribe by trade;
To write the love of God above
Would drain the ocean dry;
Nor could the scroll contain the whole,
Though stretched from sky to sky.
Could we with ink the ocean fill,
And were the skies of parchment made;
Were every stalk on earth a quill,
And every man a scribe by trade;
To write the love of God above
Would drain the ocean dry;
Nor could the scroll contain the whole,
Though stretched from sky to sky.
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11
Mar '22
Seize the Moment – Day 724
11
Mar '22
Something Must Change or Else!
Good morning! This is Pastor Jerry Ingalls from New Castle First Baptist Church and today is Friday, March 11.
Have you ever got to the end of your rope and realized that if something didn’t change in your life, and quick, then there would be no future worth living? That is exactly where the people of God found themselves at the end of the book of Judges – something had to change or else!
The last five chapters of Judges turn my stomach, which is exactly the point. These final two stories are some of my least favorite stories in the Bible, and there are some horrifying stories in the Bible, like the judgment of all humanity through a world-wide flood. But there’s no way to turn this level of debauchery into cute children’s stories to domesticate the Bible and sanitize the absolute horror of its intended message!
Judges 17-21 intentionally close out the history books of Joshua and Judges, transitioning between Moses and the monarchy. They have set the stage for Israel’s need for a king. We know this because these last five chapters are bookended by its theme: “In those days there was no king in Israel; everyone did what was right in his own eyes” (Judges 17:6 & 21:25). With this thematic statement found at the beginning and end of these last five chapters, we know that everything between them is intended to illustrate this one point – Israel was a hot mess without a king!
Me too! I’m a hot mess without King Jesus ruling over my life, and, from my life, I have plenty of stories that should never be domesticated or sanitized to make my life look more presentable. In fact, some of my worst stories are what led me to bow my knee to King Jesus. Isn’t that the point? I wasn’t willing to surrender all until I realized that something must change or else! How about you?
Seize the moment and submit your life to King Jesus! Apart from Him you are hell-bent, but with Him you are Heaven-bound!
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.
Videos are posted about a week after the devotion appears in the blog.
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10
Mar '22
Seize the Moment – Day 723
10
Mar '22
The Near Death of Benjamin!
Good morning! This is Pastor Jerry Ingalls from New Castle First Baptist Church and today is Thursday, March 10.
Have you ever had a near death experience? The tribe of Benjamin did!
Judges 20 continues the story of how the nation of Israel responded to the appalling news of the Levite’s concubine’s rape and murder at the hands of the sons of Benjamin, in the city of Gibeah. They declared war on their cousins – eleven tribes against the one tribe of Benjamin. It was a massacre on both sides as the Benjamites were fierce warriors (14-21). Judges 20:46-48 ends this heart-breaking chapter with the near-death experience of the tribe of Benjamin:
So all of Benjamin who fell that day were 25,000 men who draw the sword; all these were valiant warriors. But 600 men turned and fled toward the wilderness to the rock of Rimmon, and they remained at the rock of Rimmon four months. The men of Israel then turned back against the sons of Benjamin and struck them with the edge of the sword, both the entire city with the cattle and all that they found; they also set on fire all the cities which they found.
Before his death, when Israel blessed his twelve sons, he spoke these words over Benjamin in Genesis 49:27: “Benjamin is a ravenous wolf; in the morning he devours the prey, and in the evening he divides the spoil.” These people were not to be taken lightly, yet they were nearly destroyed because of the evil they did against the Levite’s concubine. Why did God preserve this rebellious tribe? Because from the tribe of Benjamin came King Saul, the first king of Israel. Then, a thousand years later, came the Apostle Paul, God’s appointed apostle to the Gentiles, who wrote thirteen letters of the New Testament.
Seize the moment and be slow to judge a whole nation as deserving destruction. We never know what God may do in and through them for the good of all our futures.[1]
God bless you!
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YOUTUBE:
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FOOTNOTE:
[1] A scene that captures this action item comes from J.R.R. Tolkien’s The Fellowship of the Ring, when Gandalf stated to Frodo, after Frodo had commented that Gollum deserved death for his many horrible deeds: “Many that live deserve death. And some that die deserve life. Can you give it to them? Then do not be too eager to deal out death in judgement. For even the very wise cannot see all ends.”
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