Seize the Moment – Day 623
God’s Word is for our Good!
Good morning! This is Pastor Jerry Ingalls from New Castle First Baptist Church and today is Tuesday, November 30.
Do you believe that the Bible is God’s Word and given to us through trustworthy men for our good?
In Deuteronomy 5:1-5, Moses legitimized and authorized the “second giving” of the Law by establishing it as a divine revelation from God and not something he wrote:
Hear, O Israel, the statutes and the ordinances which I am speaking today in your hearing, that you may learn them and observe them carefully. The Lord our God made a covenant with us at Horeb. The Lord did not make this covenant with our fathers, but with us, with all those of us alive here today. The Lord spoke to you face to face at the mountain from the midst of the fire, while I was standing between the Lord and you at that time, to declare to you the word of the Lord; for you were afraid because of the fire and did not go up the mountain.
This chapter lays the foundation for the next twenty-one chapters so that the new generation would know and remember that it was God who rescued them from slavery, gathered them at Sinai, and brought them through these last forty years to prepare them for this moment in time.
Moses was helping the new generation to remember that the God who gave these commandments is the One who rescued and delivered them from slavery—God’s intentions are trustworthy, and His Law is good!
Seize the moment and trust God and that all His ways are for your good!
God bless you!
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Seize the Moment – Day 622
Wholehearted Obedience!
Good morning! This is Pastor Jerry Ingalls from New Castle First Baptist Church and today is Monday, November 29.
Have you ever had to repeat yourself to ensure effective communication?
Deuteronomy 4 summarizes the purpose of Moses’ historical recap in the first chapters and provides a transition to the second giving of the Ten Commandments in chapter 5 and the Law in chapters 6-26. Deuteronomy 4:39-40 calls the people to a wholehearted obedience to God and His Law:
Know therefore today, and take it to your heart, that the Lord, He is God in heaven above and on the earth below; there is no other. So you shall keep His statutes and His commandments which I am giving you today, that it may go well with you and with your children after you, and that you may live long on the land which the Lord your God is giving you for all time.
Moses warned the people in verse 24: “For the Lord your God is a consuming fire, a jealous God.” Furthermore, he laid out the dangers of false worship and explained the consequences of idolatry in verses 25-28.
But there is hope for those who faithfully return to God with a whole heart! God’s mercy was promised in verses 29-31:
But from there you will seek the Lord your God, and you will find Him if you search for Him with all your heart and all your soul. When you are in distress and all these things have come upon you, in the latter days you will return to the Lord your God and listen to His voice. For the Lord your God is a compassionate God; He will not fail you nor destroy you nor forget the covenant with your fathers which He swore to them.
The key to experiencing the promises of God is wholehearted obedience—a return to God “with all of your heart and all of your soul.”
Seize the moment and be faithful to God!
God bless you!
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Advent 2021 Hope – Week 1
A Message of Hope
Missionary Jim White
Hope is not thinking that something might happen, it is the assurance that something will happen! As I look around me, it seems that people are living in “survival mode.” Many of us seem to be just barely making it. I suggest that sometimes it is because we get distracted from what God wants us to be doing.
It’s unhealthy to live like this for an extended period of time. It causes fatigue, ulcers, headaches – a general feeling of being overwhelmed.
I am convinced that God can set us free from bondage to drinking, drugs, etc. You don’t have to just get by.
When surviving becomes your daily focus, you forget about your goals, about your dreams for the future. You only think about how you will get through today.
There are three questions we ask ourselves:
- How did I get here?
- Did I cause at least some of it?
- How do I get out of this place I find myself?
We must first be able to discern whether God has put these “things” into my life or whether it is from Satan. That makes a big difference on how we approach it.
Many times we bring it on ourselves, because we turn from the Lord:
1 Kings 11:3-6 Solomon turned from the Lord and went after other gods.
Numbers 12 Miriam complained against Moses’ leadership.
But God wants us to experience the Abundant Life!
John 10:10 The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.
Ephesians 3:19 …and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.
He wants us to overcome all obstacles through faith in Him! We have authority over all evil forces in this world. When people lose hope, they act out of desperation & that leads to chaos. We believers are to live with hope as an example to those in the world without hope!
John 14:12-14 12 “Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever believes in me will also do the works that I do; and greater works than these will he do, because I yam going to the Father. 13 Whatever you ask in my name, this I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. 14 If you ask me anything in my name, I will do it.
You can listen to Jim’s message here:
You can watch the video HERE.
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Seize the Moment – Day 620
“O Come, O Come Emmanuel”
Anglican Priest and hymn writer John Mason Neale enjoyed finding early and medieval Greek and Latin hymns to help people focus on the feasts and fasts of the Christian year. He is credited for translating this late 8th or 9th century Benedictine Gregorian chant into English in the mid 19th century. History tells us that in the weeks prior to Christmas, the monks would sing a verse a day to prepare their hearts and minds.
O Come, o come Emmanuel, and ransom captive Israel
That mourns in lonely exile here, until the Son of God appear
If you look at each of these verses, they have a double purpose. Not only what His coming as a babe in a manger means, but also preparing our hearts and growing excitement for Jesus’ return to take us home.
YOUTUBE:
O come, O come, Immanuel
O come, O come, Immanuel,
and ransom captive Israel
that mourns in lonely exile here
until the Son of God appear.
Rejoice! Rejoice! Immanuel
shall come to you, O Israel.
O come, O Wisdom from on high,
who ordered all things mightily;
to us the path of knowledge show
and teach us in its ways to go. Refrain
O come, O come, great Lord of might,
who to your tribes on Sinai’s height
in ancient times did give the law
in cloud and majesty and awe. Refrain
O come, O Branch of Jesse’s stem,
unto your own and rescue them!
From depths of hell your people save,
and give them victory o’er the grave. Refrain
O come, O Key of David, come
and open wide our heavenly home.
Make safe for us the heavenward road
and bar the way to death’s abode. Refrain
O come, O Bright and Morning Star,
and bring us comfort from afar!
Dispel the shadows of the night
and turn our darkness into light. Refrain
O come, O King of nations, bind
in one the hearts of all mankind.
Bid all our sad divisions cease
and be yourself our King of Peace. Refrain
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Seize the Moment – Day 619
Enter the Rest of God!
Good morning! This is Pastor Jerry Ingalls from New Castle First Baptist Church and today is Friday, November 26.
Have you entered the “rest” of God?
The Promised Land was not a place of rest until the kingdoms that served false gods were removed from the area. Deuteronomy 3 references places such as Bashan and Mount Hermon, which are just names to us, but were commonly known as the ancient domains of evil. The ancient worldview of these geographic locations is significant for us to be able to grasp the depth of God’s victories so that His people could enter His rest:
Canaanite (Ugaritic) peoples, then, literally believed Bashan to be the gateway to the Underworld—the dwelling place of the dead. … According to Jewish theology of the Second Temple period (from books like 1 Enoch), the sons of God (called “watchers”) of Gen 6:1–4 descended to Mount Hermon in Bashan before carrying out the deeds described in Gen 6:1–4. Bashan and Hermon thus had sinister reputations.[1]
God bless you!
YOUTUBE:
FOOTNOTES:
[1] Michael S. Heiser, “Bashan and the Gates of Hell,” in Faithlife Study Bible (Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press, 2016).
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Seize the Moment – Day 618
Give Thanks for God’s Provision and Protection!
Good morning! This is Pastor Jerry Ingalls from New Castle First Baptist Church and today is Thursday, November 25. Happy Thanksgiving!
In remembering where we have come from to where we are now, no matter what may be facing us tomorrow, we have much to give thanks for today because “God is good and His lovingkindess is everlasting” (Psalm 136)!
Psalm 136 recounts the goodness of God to the nation of Israel and after every historical episode you hear this refrain, “For His lovingkindness is everlasting.”
Deuteronomy 2 retells a segment of the epic journey of the Israelites from Mount Seir to the Transjordan where two-and-a-half tribes would ultimately settle. It is a theological travel log with the aim of emboldening the younger generation to trust that God will keep His word and do His part in the conquest of the Promised Land.
The following are two promises for which they needed to trust God:
1) Provision. Moses recounted God’s provision throughout their wanderings in the wilderness in verse 7: “For the Lord your God has blessed you in all that you have done; He has known your wanderings through this great wilderness. These forty years the Lord your God has been with you; you have not lacked a thing.”
2) Protection. Moses detailed how God either gave them favor with the nations as they wandered through the desert or He gave them the nations, as in verse 30: “But Sihon king of Heshbon was not willing for us to pass through his land; for the Lord your God hardened his spirit and made his heart obstinate, in order to deliver him into your hand, as he is today.”
Don’t just believe in God, believe God! God always provides for that which God promises! Give thanks for God’s provision and protection!
Seize the moment and give thanks to God in every circumstance of your life for His lovingkindness is everlasting (1 Thessalonians 5:18; Psalm 136).
Have a great day! Happy Thanksgiving! God bless you!
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Seize the Moment – Day 617
The Right Place at the Right Time!
Good morning! This is Pastor Jerry Ingalls from New Castle First Baptist Church and today is Wednesday, November 24.
When I teach people conflict resolution skills, I highlight the importance of saying the right thing at the right time and in the right place. Location and timing are key!
Deuteronomy is the last of the five Books of Moses. It means “second giving” and is composed primarily of the final sermons of Moses, which he gave to the new generation on the eve of their entrance into the Promised Land.
Moses wanted to ensure that the young people who would enter the Promised Land were not ignorant of God and His ways, so, at 120 years old, he passionately recounted the story of Israel and gave them, for the second time, the Law of God.
Deuteronomy 1:1-5 begins the book with a key phrase, “These are the words which Moses spoke to all Israel across the Jordan in the wilderness … In the fortieth year, on the first day of the eleventh month, Moses spoke to the children of Israel, according to all that the Lord had commanded him to give to them …”
And the people listened attentively to Moses’ words because they were facing the task that their fathers had forsaken forty years prior. This moment had loomed over them their entire lives!
This was the right place and the right time for Moses to confront them with what lay before them. In verse 37, Moses grieved that he was not allowed to enter the Promised Land with them: “The Lord was angry with me also on your account, saying, ‘Not even you shall enter there.’”
This was his last chance—the right time and the right place—for Moses to fulfill God’s call to the people he faithfully, though not perfectly, led for over forty years. He gave them his heart, yet again!
Seize the moment and pray about the right place and right time for you to communicate what is important to you to the people in your life!
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Seize the Moment – Day 616
The Politics of Inheritance!
Good morning! This is Pastor Jerry Ingalls from New Castle First Baptist Church and today is Tuesday, November 23.
It pains me to see families fight over estate issues, but the politics of inheritance are real, especially when there is a transfer of property or wealth.
As we enter the final chapter of Numbers, a concern was expressed in the inheritance laws regarding the tribal allotments of land. Previously, in Numbers 27, Moses decreed that Zelophehad’s daughters were allowed to inherit their father’s property because he had no sons (1-11). Now in Numbers 36, as they are about to enter the Promised Land, the question was raised: Would the tribe lose an allotment of the Promised Land forever if a daughter were to marry outside the tribe (1-4)?
Even though Israel was one nation, each tribal leader was like a prince over their own tribe and looked out for their people’s best interest, which included protecting their allotments of the Promised Land.
Moses’ decision in verses 6-9 legislated marriage to mitigate the politics of inheritance between the tribes of Israel with the hope of minimizing tribal infighting in the future:
Every daughter who comes into possession of an inheritance of any tribe of the sons of Israel shall be wife to one of the family of the tribe of her father, so that the sons of Israel each may possess the inheritance of his fathers. Thus no inheritance shall be transferred from one tribe to another tribe, for the tribes of the sons of Israel shall each hold to his own inheritance.
Seize the moment and accept your birthright through Jesus Christ. God’s politics of inheritance allows you to be His child and enter His Kingdom!
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Seize the Moment – Day 615
God Provides for Justice!
Good morning! This is Pastor Jerry Ingalls from New Castle First Baptist Church and today is Monday, November 22.
Before they entered the Promised Land, the Israelite leaders were required to make provision for justice; in fact, that is what Numbers 35 is all about!
First, in verses 1-8, God commanded each tribe to give the Levites some of their cities and pasture lands around those cities to live. This was a necessary provision because the Levites had no right of land ownership because their inheritance was the Lord and service in the tabernacle (Numbers 18:23).
Second, in verses 6-34, God commanded the Israelites to give up six more cities –the “cities of refuge” to ensure effective justice in the land. Verses 10-15 explain God’s provision for justice:
When you cross the Jordan into the land of Canaan, then you shall select for yourselves cities to be your cities of refuge, that the manslayer who has killed any person unintentionally may flee there. … You shall give three cities across the Jordan and three cities in the land of Canaan; they are to be cities of refuge. These six cities shall be for refuge for the sons of Israel, and for the alien and for the sojourner among them; that anyone who kills a person unintentionally may flee there.
God provides for justice! God anticipated the Levites’ practical needs so that they would not have to live at the mercy of the other tribes of Israel. God planned cities of refuge to protect justice and ensure legal due process.
Seize the moment and do justice, love kindness, and walk humbly with your God (Micah 6:8)!
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Table of Blessings
Table of Blessings
Pastor Jerry Ingalls hosted today’s time of sharing.
Those sharing today:
SCOTT LEE
I am thankful for the things God has seen me through this year. (ex: a motorcycle accident)
And now as a new father.
Prayer of Blessing over fathers.
JILL STONEROCK
God took care of me and Kevin during times of financial dryness and broken bones.
There were also times of spiritual dryness during COVID. I was distracted by all of the Media Hype.
It gave me a false sense of being in charge and responsible to solve the world’s problems.
I finally stopped and began to draw closer to God as He called me back to Him.
TITUS RAGLE
I am a student athlete at Valop University. My coaches called me out as a leader on my team. I am not certain why. God reminded me that it was a platform for glorifying Him.
A back injury stopped me from playing during the Spring season. I was asked to speak to the team and give a devotion.
They call me Pastor Titus now.
I wanted to begin a small group but couldn’t imagine that many fellow athletes wanting to join. God has drawn several fellow players to the group and are looking to me to God to renew their faith!
CHELSEA ELDRIDGE
I am Natasha’s sister and I thank God for the bond that we have shared.
NATASHA HAMILTON
You can watch the video HERE.
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