Psalm 131
The Consolations of the Spirit!
Good morning! This is Pastor Jerry Ingalls from New Castle First Baptist Church and today is Tuesday,
Take a moment to contemplate Spurgeon’s insight on Psalm 131, “It is one of the shortest Psalms to read, but one of the longest to learn.”[1] While the promises of Psalm 131 will be simple to memorize, the practices of experiencing the consolations of the Spirit will take a lifetime to master. Stop everything and meditate upon today’s psalm:
O Lord, my heart is not proud, nor my eyes haughty; nor do I involve myself in great matters, or in things too difficult for me. Surely I have composed and quieted my soul; like a weaned child rests against his mother, my soul is like a weaned child within me. O Israel, hope in the Lord from this time forth and forever.
Jesus promised in Matthew 18:4, “Whoever then humbles himself as this child, he is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.” How are you to become like a weaned child, resting peacefully against the comforting presence of its loving mother? The consolations of the Spirit are found when you take God at His Word and trust Him the same way a weaned child has learned to trust its mother – totally and without reservation. Paul teaches us a few of these practices in Philippians 4:6-7, “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”
Seize the moment and pray Psalm 131, meditating upon the promises of God and how you can walk in them today so that you may experience the consolations of the Spirit, as Jesus promised in John 14:27, “Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Do not let your heart be troubled, nor let it be fearful.”
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.
FOOTNOTE:
Read more...
Psalm 130
From Out of the Depths!
Good morning! This is Pastor Jerry Ingalls from New Castle First Baptist Church and today is Monday, September 4. Happy Labor Day!
One of my favorite backcountry hikes was a rim-to-rim hike of the Grand Canyon. We descended the south rim, crossed the Colorado River to hike across the canyon, and then ascended the north rim. With the north rim being a thousand feet higher than the south rim, we literally climbed out of the depths of the Grand Canyon. It was an exhilarating experience!
Psalm 130:1-3 describes the pilgrim crying out to God, “Out of the depths I have cried to You, O Lord. Lord, hear my voice! Let Your ears be attentive to the voice of my supplications. If You, Lord, should mark iniquities, O Lord, who could stand?” Starting from this place of quiet desperation, you can hear the psalmist ascend to the vista of God’s redemption in verses 5-8:
I wait for the Lord, my soul does wait, and in His word do I hope. My soul waits for the Lord more than the watchmen for the morning; indeed, more than the watchmen for the morning. O Israel, hope in the Lord; for with the Lord there is lovingkindness, and with Him is abundant redemption. And He will redeem Israel from all his iniquities.
It is only by the power of the Holy Spirit that anyone can cry out to God from the depths. To ascend to the vista of abundant redemption, you must put your hope in Christ alone. As Paul explained in Ephesians 2:5-6, “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.”
Seize the moment and pray Psalm 130, meditating upon the elevated vista of your abundant redemption – Jesus Christ raised you out of the depths of your sin and depravity so that you can soar on wings like eagles (Isaiah 40:31). From what perspective are you looking at your life and circumstances?
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.
Read more...
Grow Strong in God’s Grace – Wk23
Learning How to be a Faithful Farmer for God’s Harvest!
A Faith That Calls You to Be Weak!
Hebrews 11:32-40 (NASB)
God is in the business of transforming stories through the gospel of Jesus Christ. We are to grow strong in God’s grace as active participants in the world He created. God has entrusted His creation to His people to work as His Harvest workers – “All the world’s a field, and all the disciples of Jesus Christ merely farmers!” Therefore, let’s be faithful farmers by following the four-step strategy of a hard-working farmer: 1) cultivate people with faith; 2) sow the good seed of God’s grace (the gospel) into their hearts and minds; 3) care for them as their stories are transformed into fruit-bearing plants; and 4) reap a harvest of praise as the church of Jesus Christ. This strategy must be empowered by the Holy Spirit because apart from God we cannot bear any good fruit (John 15:5). Therefore, harvest workers of God’s kingdom are called to grow strong in God’s grace. Let’s take the first step by learning from the transforming stories of the Hall of Faith, found in Hebrews 11.
STEP #1 OF THE FARMER’S STRATEGY: CULTIVATE THE SOIL WITH FAITH
Today’s story is about Samson, found in Hebrews 11:32-40:
And what more shall I say? For time will fail me if I tell of Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, of David and Samuel and the prophets, who by faith conquered kingdoms, performed acts of righteousness, obtained promises, shut the mouths of lions, quenched the power of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, from weakness were made strong, became mighty in war, put foreign armies to flight. Women received back their dead by resurrection; and others were tortured, not accepting their release, so that they might obtain a better resurrection; and others experienced mockings and scourgings, yes, also chains and imprisonment. They were stoned, they were sawn in two, they were tempted, they were put to death with the sword; they went about in sheepskins, in goatskins, being destitute, afflicted, ill-treated (men of whom the world was not worthy), wandering in deserts and mountains and caves and holes in the ground. And all these, having gained approval through their faith, did not receive what was promised, because God had provided something better for us, so that apart from us they would not be made perfect.
Samson’s story is found in Judges 13-16. What is it about this story that put Samson in the hall of faith? Let us pray and then we will look at the next action step to answer that question.
STEP #2 OF THE FARMER’S STRATEGY: SOW THE GOOD SEED OF GOD’S GRACE
God providentially works in and through our lives for His purposes. The first thing we learn from Samson’s life is that he was chosen by God from before he was born. In fact, according to Judges 13:3-5, Samson was chosen with a purpose in mind:
Then the angel of the Lord appeared to the woman and said to her, “Behold now, you are barren and have borne no children, but you shall conceive and give birth to a son. “Now therefore, be careful not to drink wine or strong drink, nor eat any unclean thing. “For behold, you shall conceive and give birth to a son, and no razor shall come upon his head, for the boy shall be a Nazirite to God from the womb; and he shall begin to deliver Israel from the hands of the Philistines.” [emphasis added]
This is a profound truth of God’s Word, as reinforced in Jeremiah 1:5, “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, and before you were born I consecrated you; I have appointed you a prophet to the nations” (cf. Psalm 139:13-17). Samson was not the only one who was listed in Hebrews 11 who had supernatural intervention in their birth narrative, so did Isaac, Moses, and Samuel. The reality is that God has a plan, and He chooses people who He will bring about His purposes for His glory! Don’t be deceived, faith is not a way to get God to make your life work for you; faith is about God choosing you to bring about His plans for His glory! In Ephesians 2:8-10, Paul reminds us, “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. For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them.” You were chosen and redeemed for a purpose – this is why God gives you His Spirit – to empower you to walk in what God has given you to do.
Samson’s purpose was to begin the deliverance of Israel from the hands of the Philistines, so God stirred up Samson, directed him into the way of the Philistines, and then empowered him with His Spirit to accomplish what God chose him to do. Watch God at work in and through Samson’s life:
- Judges 13:25 transitions from Samson’s birth narrative to his adult years, “And the Spirit of the Lord began to stir him in Mahaneh-dan, between Zorah and Eshtaol.”
- Judges 14:4 when Samson chose a Philistine wife, “However, his father and mother did not know that it was of the Lord, for He was seeking an occasion against the Philistines. Now at that time the Philistines were ruling over Israel.”
- Judges 14:6 when Samson protects his parents from a lion, “The Spirit of the Lord came upon him mightily, so that he tore him as one tears a young goat though he had nothing in his hand; but he did not tell his father or mother what he had done.”
- Judges 14:19 when he was dealing with the Philistine men at the wedding, “Then the Spirit of the Lord came upon him mightily, and he went down to Ashkelon and killed thirty of them and took their spoil and gave the changes of clothes to those who told the riddle. And his anger burned, and he went up to his father’s house.”
- Judges 15:14-15 when he had a great victory over the Philistines after being captured, “When he came to Lehi, the Philistines shouted as they met him. And the Spirit of the Lord came upon him mightily so that the ropes that were on his arms were as flax that is burned with fire, and his bonds dropped from his hands. He found a fresh jawbone of a donkey, so he reached out and took it and killed a thousand men with it.”
- Judges 15:19 when he needed water and cried out to the Lord for help, “But God split the hollow place that is in Lehi so that water came out of it. When he drank, his strength returned and he revived. Therefore he named it En-hakkore, which is in Lehi to this day.”
Let’s take the next step to learn how this seed of faith, which can be planted into others through our faithfulness to act according to our own faith and convictions, growing into a faith that takes God at His Word.
STEP #3 OF THE FARMER’S STRATEGY: CARE FOR THE MATURING PLANT
We must persevere in our calling, realizing that God has chosen us for a purpose. Our tenacity of purpose, our focus on the mission of God, will form us into what God intended us to be, even if we don’t see it or understand it. The Lexham Bible Dictionary makes a very interesting parallel that draws us the heart of Samson’s story, and why I believe he made it into Hebrews 11:32:
Samson’s actions parallel the actions of Israel in the book of Judges. Samson’s primary weakness was his proclivity to pursue Philistine women; one of Israel’s major faults was their inclination to worship foreign gods. Smith argues that “Samson is an example of Israel’s ‘playing the harlot after other gods’ (Judg 2:17; 8:27, 32)” (Smith, “The Failure of the Family in Judges, Part 2: Samson,” 431).[1]
To further emphasize this point, I am going to highlight two sections of Romans 11, emphasizing to you this biblical principle found in verse 29, “for the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable.” This is a truth that I hold near and dear to my heart because there is redemption available through the power of the Spirit – this is the miracle of resurrection! Can God use a divorced person in the church of Jesus Christ or are they forever stigmatized by the most painful experience of his or her life? Can God use a person who served time in prison to proclaim the gospel of Jesus Christ in the church of Jesus Christ or are they forever marginalized by the most painful experiences of his or her life? The examples can be as mundane or as heartbreaking as needed to make the point, but the heart of the issue remains: in the New Covenant, does God remove His gifts and callings from a person? Does God remove His Spirit from those He has chosen? I stand before you today and say, No! Absolutely not! Listen now to Paul’s argument about how the church is grafted into Israel, not a replacement of, in Romans 11:1-6, 25-35:
I say then, God has not rejected His people, has He? May it never be! For I too am an Israelite, a descendant of Abraham, of the tribe of Benjamin. God has not rejected His people whom He foreknew. Or do you not know what the Scripture says in the passage about Elijah, how he pleads with God against Israel? “Lord, they have killed Your prophets, they have torn down Your altars, and I alone am left, and they are seeking my life.” But what is the divine response to him? “I have kept for Myself seven thousand men who have not bowed the knee to Baal.” In the same way then, there has also come to be at the present time a remnant according to God’s gracious choice. But if it is by grace, it is no longer on the basis of works, otherwise grace is no longer grace. … For I do not want you, brethren, to be uninformed of this mystery—so that you will not be wise in your own estimation – that a partial hardening has happened to Israel until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in; and so all Israel will be saved; just as it is written, “The Deliverer will come from Zion, He will remove ungodliness from Jacob.” “This is My covenant with them, When I take away their sins.” From the standpoint of the gospel they are enemies for your sake, but from the standpoint of God’s choice they are beloved for the sake of the fathers; for the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable. For just as you once were disobedient to God, but now have been shown mercy because of their disobedience, so these also now have been disobedient, that because of the mercy shown to you they also may now be shown mercy. For God has shut up all in disobedience so that He may show mercy to all. Oh, the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments and unfathomable His ways! [emphasis added]
Samson’s transforming story of faith foreshadows the irrevocable grace of God upon a person’s life. As we have already learned, Samson was chosen, stirred, directed, and empowered by God to fulfill the very purpose for which God chose him – “he shall begin to deliver Israel from the hands of the Philistines.” Here’s the man point of this entire sermon: Samson is not an example of how to act but an example of God’s scandalous grace! He is not a hero to emulate, but a real person in real history with real faith that God used to bring about His plans. His life is in the hall of faith because Samson shows us the power of God’s faith, bestowed on His children so that we would walk in His ways, bringing about His purposes for His glory. Therefore, let’s now turn to the last action step so that our lives will reap a harvest of praise to the glory of God.
STEP #4 OF THE FARMER’S STRATEGY: REAP A HARVEST OF PRAISE
There is an interesting literary difference in Samson’s story as compared to other stories in the book of Judges. In Judges 15:20, we read what is usually the concluding statement of one of the judge’s lives, “So he judged Israel twenty years in the days of the Philistines.” What you would expect to be the end of Samson’s story is not; in fact, what comes next is another chapter with big finish of Samson’s story in which we see Samson at his downright worst behavior – an absolute scoundrel, but also, by God’s grace alone, the greatest victory of Samson’s life. Judges 16:28-31 narrates the captivating conclusion of Samson’s life:
Then Samson called to the Lord and said, “O Lord God, please remember me and please strengthen me just this time, O God, that I may at once be avenged of the Philistines for my two eyes.” Samson grasped the two middle pillars on which the house rested, and braced himself against them, the one with his right hand and the other with his left. And Samson said, “Let me die with the Philistines!” And he bent with all his might so that the house fell on the lords and all the people who were in it. So the dead whom he killed at his death were more than those whom he killed in his life. Then his brothers and all his father’s household came down, took him, brought him up and buried him between Zorah and Eshtaol in the tomb of Manoah his father. Thus he had judged Israel twenty years.
Interestingly, it was God’s providence that placed Samson in a position to have such a great victory while in such a weakened state. Pointedly, for a man committed to be a Nazarite, this is only the second time we see Samson praying to God; the first was when he was about to die from thirst and the second is when his eyes were gouged out, head shaved with a little peach fuzz growing back, in captivity to the Philistines. Yet, in the most desperate moment of Samson’s life, he pulls of an amazing display of strength and courage. Yet in doing so, the normal equation of Samson’s feats of strength is blatantly missing from this pericope: “The Spirit of the Lord came upon him mightily.” It’s so obviously omitted that there must be a reason!
In Hebrew 11:34, there are some descriptive statements made that can be applied to Samson’s transforming story of faith: “escaped the edge of the sword, from weakness were made strong, became mighty in war, put foreign armies to flight.” There is one that I want to highlight to you today – “from weakness were made strong.” I believe this captures the heart of why Samson is listed in Hebrews 11, a chapter that should never again be called the heroes of the faith, but rather the triumphs of faith in God’s people, just like the book of Acts should not be called the Acts of the Apostles, but rather the Acts of the Holy Spirit. The emphasis should never be on a person, but on God! It’s God’s power; He is the operative agent of our faith – it’s all grace, the gift of God! And, as we’ve learned, God doesn’t revoke His gifts or callings. God’s grace perseveres in a person, transforming them into the very person God chose them to be, just as Jesus promised His disciples in Mark 1:17, “Follow Me, and I will make you become fishers of men.” Paul, believing this, prayed from a place of weakness in 2 Corinthians 12:7-10:
Because of the surpassing greatness of the revelations, for this reason, to keep me from exalting myself, there was given me a thorn in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to torment me – to keep me from exalting myself! Concerning this I implored the Lord three times that it might leave me. And He has said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness.” Most gladly, therefore, I will rather boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me. Therefore I am well content with weaknesses, with insults, with distresses, with persecutions, with difficulties, for Christ’s sake; for when I am weak, then I am strong.
As described of Samson in Hebrews 11, Paul described of himself when struggling with the realities of living in his flesh while answering God’s call of faith – “for when I am weak, then I am strong.” One of the greatest threats to the gospel of Jesus Christ is when people strive to be strong in their own flesh, based on their own merits, convinced of their own righteousness. This only leads to legalism and moralism, distortions of the gospel. There is only one kind of life that will bring down the house for the glory of God, producing a harvest of praise; that is the life of faith that calls you to be weak. I join you to embrace the example of Jesus Christ, by joining with Paul in saying Galatians 2:20, “I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me.” This is the way of the cross!
“You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great men exercise authority over them. It is not this way among you, but whoever wishes to become great among you shall be your servant, and whoever wishes to be first among you shall be your slave; just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.”
~ Jesus of Nazareth, Matthew 20:25-28
“Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus, who, although He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men. Being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. For this reason also, God highly exalted Him, and bestowed on Him the name which is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee will bow, of those who are in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and that every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”
You can watch the message by clicking HERE.
FOOTNOTE:
Read more...
Hymn: When We See Christ
Seize the Moment – Day 1264
Today’s song focus will be
When We See Christ
Philippians 3:8 (NASB95)
“More than that, I count all things to be loss in view of the surpassing value of
knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things,
and count them but rubbish so that I may gain Christ,”
Esther Kerr Rusthol was a very accomplished woman. She was the sister of musical evangelist Phil Kerr, married to pastor and evangelist Howard Rusthol, was an author, poet, composer, singer and evangelist and associate pastor at
Pentecostal Angeles Temple of Los Angeles. But her life was not without struggles as she suffered from ill health, passing away at the age of 53. But this 1941 hymn is probably her best-known song, echoing the words of Paul with the value of knowing Christ.
It will be worth it all when we see Jesus!
Life’s trials will seem so small when we see Christ.
One glimpse of his dear face, all sorrow will erase.
So, bravely run the race till we see Christ.
We need to wake up and take the words of this song to encourage our hearts in both the good and the bad times of our lives. We make the choice to change our perspective and focus on what is worth it all!
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:
When We See Christ
We’re tempted to complain, to murmur and despair;
But Christ will soon appear to catch His Bride away,
All tears forever over in God’s eternal day.
It will be worth it all when we see Jesus,
Life’s trials will seem so small when we see Christ;
One glimpse of His dear face all sorrow will erase,
So bravely run the race till we see Christ.
We’re tossed and driven on, no human help in sight;
But there is one in heav’n who knows our deepest care,
Let Jesus solve your problem – just go to Him in pray’r.
We’ll cross the great divide, to glory, safe at last;
We’ll share the joys of heav’n – a harp, a home, a crown,
The tempter will be banished, we’ll lay our burden down.
Read more...
Psalm 129
Persevere with a Purpose!
Good morning! This is Pastor Jerry Ingalls from New Castle First Baptist Church and today is Friday, September 1.
Through all they have been through, the mere survival of Israel proves the inspiration of the Bible. Psalm 129:1-2 describes their perseverance, “‘Many times they have persecuted me from my youth up,’ Let Israel now say, ‘Many times they have persecuted me from my youth up; yet they have not prevailed against me.’” Boice remarks on Israel’s perseverance:
The Jews are the longest-enduring distinct ethnic people on the planet. They have been slandered, hated, persecuted, expelled, pursued, and murdered throughout their long existence, but they have survived intact. In fact, many are now back in their own traditional homeland of Israel. They are a brilliant, talented people, but survival has been their chief achievement.[1]
There is a difficult reality that Christians must share with Israel: as God’s chosen people, we must suffer for His purposes. We are to walk in God’s ways so that all the peoples of the world would come to know God and be blessed by Him. While one would think that such a lofty and laudable goal would lead to peace and harmony amongst the nations, especially toward Israel and the church, the opposite has occurred. Instead, the people of God have had to learn how to persevere on their divine mission while striving to survive. Paul testified to this truth in 2 Corinthians 4:7-10:
But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, so that the surpassing greatness of the power will be of God and not from ourselves; we are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not despairing; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed; always carrying about in the body the dying of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our body.
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.
FOOTNOTE:
Read more...
Psalm 128
The Way of Blessing!
Good morning! This is Pastor Jerry Ingalls from New Castle First Baptist Church and today is Thursday, August 31.
God loves the children! Jesus made this abundantly clear in word and deed, as He commanded in Matthew 19:14, “Let the children alone, and do not hinder them from coming to Me; for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.” In this scene, it is easy to imagine the children flocking to Jesus, like sheep to a shepherd. Jesus’ desire to bless the children should not have been a surprise to His disciples, as we find the blessings of God upon the family, especially children, in Psalms 127 and 128:
- Psalm 127:3-5, “Behold, children are a gift of the Lord, the fruit of the womb is a reward. Like arrows in the hand of a warrior, so are the children of one’s youth. How blessed is the man whose quiver is full of them; they will not be ashamed when they speak with their enemies in the gate.”
- Psalm 128:3, “Your wife shall be like a fruitful vine within your house, your children like olive plants around your table.”
- Psalm 128:5-6, “The Lord bless you from Zion, and may you see the prosperity of Jerusalem all the days of your life. Indeed, may you see your children’s children. Peace be upon Israel!”
Poetically written, the psalmist makes a profound connection between God’s blessings upon the family and His blessings upon the city and nation. Peace over your nation and prosperity for your city begin with your faithfulness to God at home with your children – parents carry the power to bless or curse, not only for their children, but their city and nation by how they manage their households. This is a promise with a praxis, “How blessed is everyone who fears the Lord, who walks in His ways” (1).
Seize the moment and pray Psalm 128, meditating upon God’s call to focus on the family through faithful living – “Behold, for thus shall the man be blessed who fears the Lord” (4). This is the way!
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.
Read more...
Psalm 127
The Greatest Vanity of Life!
Good morning! This is Pastor Jerry Ingalls from New Castle First Baptist Church and today is Wednesday, August 30.
There are so many vanities in this life! Of all the ones you can think of, which is the greatest? Is it the houses, the cars, or the cash? No, it is when a person seeks to rule over his or her own life. The greatest vanity of life is self-idolatry, when I believe I am my own savior – the master of my own fate or the captain of my own soul. Self-worship is the greatest threat to the health of your soul! Psalm 127:1-2 challenges us to remain sincere in our fundamental need for God, “Unless the Lord builds the house, they labor in vain who build it; unless the Lord guards the city, the watchman keeps awake in vain. It is vain for you to rise up early, to retire late, to eat the bread of painful labors; for He gives to His beloved even in his sleep.”
Today’s psalm challenges us, at our basest level, to live free of vanity by trusting God as the Lord of our lives, inviting His involvement in everything we think, say, and do. It is not surprising that it was Solomon who wrote this because he had to learn it the hard way. In Ecclesiastes 1:2-3 he wrote, “‘Vanity of vanities,’ says the Preacher, ‘Vanity of vanities! All is vanity.’ What advantage does man have in all his work which he does under the sun?” The Hebrew word for vanity literally means “empty” or “without result.” We are exhorted in James 4:14-15, “You are just a vapor that appears for a little while and then vanishes away. Instead, you ought to say, ‘If the Lord wills, we will live and also do this or that.’”
Seize the moment and pray Psalm 127, meditating upon God’s will for your life – “Whatever you do, do your work heartily, as for the Lord rather than for men” (Colossians 3:23). Do something of eternal significance today!
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.
Read more...
Psalm 126
Sow Like a Hard-Working Farmer!
Good morning! This is Pastor Jerry Ingalls from New Castle First Baptist Church and today is Tuesday, August 29.
“Bringing in the Sheaves” is a classic gospel song, written by Knowles Shaw in 1874, which quotes today’s psalm. Psalm 126:5-6 provided him with the name and inspiration, “Those who sow in tears shall reap with joyful shouting. He who goes to and fro weeping, carrying his bag of seed, shall indeed come again with a shout of joy, bringing his sheaves with him.” A sheaf is a bundle of grain stalks, often used in the Bible to symbolize abundance and prosperity, and, in this case, the promise that we will reap what we sow when we work hard to scatter the good seed of God’s Word (Galatians 6:6-9).
While the historical context for today’s psalm is a return from great suffering, possibly from the seventy years of Babylonian exile (Psalm 126:1), the promise is to all who trust in God for rescue and deliverance. There are many things in this life from which we need to be rescued, but all of them pale in comparison to our total need for redemption through the shed blood of Jesus Christ. The sowing of this seed to all the nations is the work of every follower of Jesus, as Paul exhorted his protégé in 2 Timothy 2:6, “The hard-working farmer ought to be the first to receive his share of the crops” (cf. 1 Corinthians 9:10). Truly, as every farmer knows, you will reap what you sow. This is true in the spiritual, as much as it is in the natural.
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.
Read more...
Psalm 125
Pray with Security!
Good morning! This is Pastor Jerry Ingalls from New Castle First Baptist Church and today is Monday, August 28.
The high ground of any region is a prominent place because it gives you a defensible location. Mount Zion, which was previously called Mount Moriah in Genesis 22 and 2 Chronicles 3, is a strategic location because of its elevation. For this reason, the fortified city of Jerusalem was built there to take advantage of its commanding position over the region, with the temple mount at this highest place to symbolize its proximity to Heaven on Earth. This high ground is significant in the prophecies of God’s people, and in the poetry of the psalms, especially in these Songs of Ascents, as the pilgrims ascended the elevation gain to enter Jerusalem for the pilgrimage feasts. Poetically, the psalmist writes of its importance in Psalm 125:1-2, “Those who trust in the Lord are as Mount Zion, which cannot be moved but abides forever. As the mountains surround Jerusalem, so the Lord surrounds His people from this time forth and forever.”
The psalmist was taking the everyday geographical imagery, which God’s people were familiar with, to make an eternal theological point: God is immovable and unshakeable! He is our high ground – our secure place in which we can build our lives and find peace, living under His protection. In the same way Zion will abide forever, so will the promises of Zion’s King, the Messiah, who will establish His throne in Zion, from which He will renew all creation and usher in the Kingdom of God on Earth, bringing all things under His sovereign rule (Psalm 47:8; Ezekiel 43:7; Revelation 21-22). Are you building your life on the high ground of God’s promises through His Son Jesus Christ?
Seize the moment and pray Psalm 125, meditating upon the security and stability of God’s promises – “He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will abide in the shadow of the Almighty” (Psalm 91:1). Put your trust in Jesus today!
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.
Read more...
Be A Blessing
Be A Blessing
Romans 12:4-16; 1 Peter 3:8-11
A couple of weeks ago, Pastor Jerry spoke about Gideon and his need for a sign from God. I have to admit, my mind immediately chased a rabbit and went to “What if God used church signs to speak to us?” Let’s look at a few…
“Try these four-letter words: LOVE PRAY HOPE”
“If you don’t study the Bible, you won’t get the answer!”
“This too shall pass. It might pass like a kidney stone, but it’s gonna pass.”
“Our church is like fudge – sweet with a few nuts.”
“Forgive your enemies – it messes with their heads.”
“Kind words can be short and sweet, but their echoes are truly endless.”
All too often, we forget that our words carry a lot more weight than we give them credit. When we think of being a blessing, we tend to only think about tangible ways like giving someone money or meeting a need. But what about the blessing that all of us can give with our words? Not something just to pacify them, but to truly speak life over them and into their lives.
We are to be the Body of Christ, which means we have to all work together. That is why we all have been given different gifts. This makes it possible for us to be that Body.
ILLUS: Fold thumb over on both hands. Pick up Bible and turn to Romans 12
Thumbs have been given a bad rap. Have you ever heard “I’m all thumbs”? In the movie “Spy Kids” the Thumbkins were the bumbling henchman. We NEED our thumbs! They are the ones that help us to get a grip on things. “Okay, Ken, but I don’t feel like I am an important part of the body….I feel like I am the appendix.” Well, at first people thought it was a part that was no longer useful to the body, but now they are finding that it provides “good” bacteria for the intestines to help with digestion and our immune system. * So, while we could live without it, it serves a purpose. This is why every part of the body is important.
*https://www.verywellhealth.com/what-does-the-appendix-do-5270731
READ: Romans 12:4-16
Paul wrote these words to the people of Galatia and to us to remind us that we are to use our gifts selflessly, never for selfish gains, but in order to honor God and to see His blessings poured out on the whole body!
Peter has some similar words to say as he wrote to the people of Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia (which is now modern day Turkey)
READ: 1 Peter 3:8-11
What does that have to do with being a blessing? EVERYTHING!
We are all to be working together to build the kingdom of God for His glory and honor, not just for our own benefit. The late Rev. Dr. Jack Hyles, pastor of First Baptist Church in Hammond, IN once stated: “The greatest blessing in the whole world is being a blessing.” He was known for building one of the nations largest bus ministries that then led to opening schools and training resources to help minister to the needs of the church and community. God used his giftings and those of the people in the church to make a difference for both current and eternal needs.
So today we are going to give you scriptural answers to the following questions:
- Who is to be a blessing?
- When are we to be a blessing?
- How are we to be a blessing?
- Why are we to be a blessing?
Let us pray….
I. Who is to be a blessing?
1 Peter 3:8:
“Finally, all of you should be of one mind. Sympathize with each other. Love each other as brothers and sisters. Be tenderhearted, and keep a humble attitude.”
- Be of one mind (the body)
- Sympathize with each other
- Love each other as family
- Be tenderhearted with each other
- Keep a humble attitude toward each other.
II. When are we to be a blessing?
“Rejoice in our confident hope. Be patient in trouble, and keep on praying. When God’s people are in need, be ready to help them. Always be eager to practice hospitality.
- Rejoice always
- Be patient
- Keep praying
- Be ready to help
- Eager to practice hospitality
- Encourage each other
- Build each other up
ILLUS: George Mraz and weightlifting training.
III. How are we to be a blessing?
“In his grace, God has given us different gifts for doing certain things well. So if God has given you the ability to prophesy, speak out with as much faith as God has given you. If your gift is serving others, serve them well. If you are a teacher, teach well. 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.”
- God has given each of us different gifts:
- Prophesy, speak the words God has given you.
- Serving, then serve others well
- Encouragement, then be encouraging
- Giving, then give generously
“When God blesses you financially, don’t raise your standard of living. Raise your standard of giving.” (Matt Batterson)
- Leadership, then take it seriously
- Showing kindness, then 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.”
- Can’t fake it till you make it!
- Not just for married couples.
- Really love and be genuine.
- Keep in mind what is good.
- Enjoy recognizing that love by honoring each other.
IV. Why are we to be a blessing?
- 1 Peter 3:9:
“Don’t repay evil for evil. Don’t retaliate with insults when people insult you. Instead, pay them back with a blessing. That is what God has called you to do, and he will grant you his blessing.”
- Don’t do what sinful nature leads you to do, but rather allow the Spirit to lead you to pay back with a blessing.
- Do what God has called you to do…and you will be blessed.
- Think about it this way…God did not add another day to your life because you needed it. He did it because someone out there needs you!
- When we serve others in love, we are showing our love for God in what we do and say.
Conclusion:
Today, I have given you the scriptural evidence that proves 1) Who is to be a blessing; 2) When we are to be a blessing; 3) How we are to be a blessing; and 4) Why we are to be a blessing. Imagine what our world would be like if we, as Christians, put this into practice as a “norm” for our lives. Peter quoted the Psalmist David in 1 Peter 3:10-11 (repeats Psalm 34:12-14) to give encouragement as to why we should live this way.
“For the Scriptures say, “If you want to enjoy life
and see many happy days, keep your tongue from speaking evil
and your lips from telling lies. Turn away from evil and do good.
Search for peace, and work to maintain it.”
So take this as your next challenge to help change the atmosphere of this world in which we live. Live on purpose to be a blessing.
Closing Blessing Prayer: EPHESIANS 1:16b-19a
“I pray for you constantly, asking God, the glorious Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, to give you spiritual wisdom and insight so that you might grow in your knowledge of God. I pray that your hearts will be flooded with light so that you can understand the confident hope he has given to those he called—his holy people who are his rich and glorious inheritance. I also pray that you will understand the incredible greatness of God’s power for us who believe him.”
You can watch the message by clicking HERE.
Read more...
Hymn: Raise a Hallelujah
Seize the Moment – Day 1257
Today’s song focus will be
Raise a Hallelujah
James 1:2-4 (NASB95)
“Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, knowing
that the testing of your faith produces endurance. And let endurance have its
perfect result, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.”
While facing both their two year old son, Jaxon, and their four year old daughter, Addie, battling an E coli infection, Bethel Music’s CEO Joel and Janie Taylor were at a point where they were totally drained, emotionally, physically and spiritually.
But they said they could feel the prayers from around the world for their family. Their friends, Jonathan David and Melissa Helser, were interceding in prayer when God gave them this song. They shared it with the Taylor family and they made it
Their anthem, seeing both their children improve and receive their healing.
I’m gonna sing, in the middle of the storm Louder and louder,
you’re gonna hear my praises roar, Up from the ashes, hope will arise
Death is defeated, the King is alive!
We need to wake up and realize that worship is a powerful weapon against the forces of the enemy. We need to raise up our voices in praise over doubt, fear and unbelief and see God bring the victory.
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:
Raise a Hallelujah
Read more...
Psalm 124
The Prayer of What-Ifs!
Good morning! This is Pastor Jerry Ingalls from New Castle First Baptist Church and today is Friday, August 25.
Have you ever found yourself stuck in the rut of asking, “What-if?” Life is full of what-ifs, but we need not be paralyzed by the indecisiveness that can come from not knowing what will happen or how other people will react. The Bible uses if-statements in a different way – to pointedly declare God’s sufficiency! A classic example of this is found in Romans 8:31, “If God is for us, who is against us?” Psalm 124:1-5 is a psalm of corporate thanksgiving that begins with the proclamations of their faith:
“Had [If] it not been the Lord who was on our side,” Let Israel now say, “Had [If] it not been the Lord who was on our side when men rose up against us, then they would have swallowed us alive, when their anger was kindled against us; then the waters would have engulfed us, the stream would have swept over our soul; then the raging waters would have swept over our soul.”
Most translations begin the first two verses with “if” instead of “had,” emphasizing the abruptness of the poetry and hinting to the conclusion in verse 8, “Our help is in the name of the Lord, Who made heaven and earth.” In other words, if the God who created all things is for us, who can stand against us?
Here’s the good news – God is for you! You don’t have to what-if God’s desire to rescue you from your sin and make you His own. Peter, a man who personally learned of God’s grace, stated in 2 Peter 3:9, “The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance.”
Seize the moment and pray Psalm 124, meditating upon the favor of God – He is for you! Trust God in all your ways today (Proverbs 3:5-6).
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.
Read more...
Psalm 123
Keep Your Chin Up!
Good morning! This is Pastor Jerry Ingalls from New Castle First Baptist Church and today is Thursday, August 24.
When one of my athletes is discouraged, I will often say, “keep your chin up!” While this is a common idiom that means to be encouraged and remain hopeful during a difficult circumstance, it is also a coaching cue to help the athlete’s posture. There is a physical reality to keeping your chin up, but there is also a spiritual one: Your body follows your head, just like your life follows your heart!
Psalm 123 teaches us to keep our chins up. The psalmist is discouraged (3-4), but in verses 1-2, he coaches himself, “To You I lift up my eyes, O You who are enthroned in the heavens! Behold, as the eyes of servants look to the hand of their master, as the eyes of a maid to the hand of her mistress, so our eyes look to the Lord our God, until He is gracious to us.” God alone is our hope in times of discouragement!
Just like your physical posture is affected by keeping your chin up, so is the state of your heart. By uplifting the perspective of your heart, focusing on God and not your circumstances, you are filled with hope, confidence, and expectation. Hebrews 12:2-3 teaches you to keep your chin up so that you may live the victorious life of Jesus Christ:
Fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. For consider Him who has endured such hostility by sinners against Himself, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.
Seize the moment and pray Psalm 123, meditating upon the posture of your heart when you are going through difficult circumstances. Keep your chin up and not only will you walk taller, but also you will persevere with God! Don’t Quit! CM![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.
FOOTNOTE:
Read more...
Psalm 122
Pray for God’s Chosen People!
Good morning! This is Pastor Jerry Ingalls from New Castle First Baptist Church and today is Wednesday, August 23.
Today’s psalm is a call to prayer. Psalm 122:6 commands, “Pray for the peace of Jerusalem.” While the church may be God’s focus during this time of Pentecost – the pouring out of the Spirit upon the church for the proclamation of the gospel, it is important to realize that once the church is raptured, God’s focus will be on fulfilling His covenant with Israel. We must not forsake our sacred responsibility to pray for the peace of Jerusalem; it’s impossible for God to lie, and He will not break His covenant promises with Israel.
Psalm 122:6-9 calls us to pray for Jerusalem, and I invite you to do so with your whole heart, but not just for Jerusalem, pray for the church throughout the world:
“May they prosper who love you. May peace be within your walls, and prosperity within your palaces.” For the sake of my brothers and my friends, I will now say, “May peace be within you.” For the sake of the house of the Lord our God, I will seek your good.
We are to pray for the fulness of God’s will to be completed in His time and according to His plan. Paul made it clear in Romans 11:17-24 that the church has been grafted into the people of God. God is not done with Israel, who has only temporarily lost the privilege of heralding the good news of God, but God’s desire is that “all Israel will be saved” (11:25-28). Never look down upon God’s chosen people, for while there has been a partial hardening of their hearts, God’s plan will come about in His time (11:25-36).
Seize the moment and pray Psalm 122, meditating on the promises of God for all His people – “Oh, the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments and unfathomable His ways!” (Romans 11:33).
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.
Read more...
Psalm 121
The Lord is My Keeper!
Good morning! This is Pastor Jerry Ingalls from New Castle First Baptist Church and today is Tuesday, August 22.
There are times when God is described in human terms. This is called anthropomorphism; it’s a very common literary device in the Bible. In Psalm 121, the Hebrew word shamar is used six times to describe God’s activity as a military guard or night watchman. In verses 7-8, it is used three times, “The Lord will protect you from all evil; He will keep your soul. The Lord will guard your going out and your coming in from this time forth and forever.” [emphasis added] Scholars explain this robust Hebrew word, translated three different ways in the above passage:
The Hebrew verb shamar means “to keep,” but it is also translated in overlapping and similar ways: to care for, be careful, obey, guard, watch, or observe. Shamar is used by the Lord when He commands Adam to “take care of” the Garden of Eden (Gen. 2:15) or Eleazar “to guard” the ark of the Lord (1 Sam. 7:1).[1]
In the same way that God watches over us, we are to keep Him as the priority of our lives. God’s people have been charged with keeping the commandments of God (Exodus 19:5; 20:6; Leviticus 18:5). In the New Covenant, we are to “keep” ourselves in the love of God (Jude 1:21) and “be on guard” for ourselves and all the flock of God (Acts 20:28). We are to train into our own lives of faith the same diligence a soldier applies to his mission of protecting people.
Seize the moment and pray Psalm 121, meditating on your enlistment as a good soldier of Jesus Christ, who does not “entangle himself in the affairs of everyday life, so that he may please the one who enlisted him as a soldier” (2 Timothy 2:4). How are you training yourself to live on mission today? What distractions do you need to guard against so you can live a Christ-centered 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.
FOOTNOTE:
Read more...
Psalm 120
A Prayer to Come Home!
Good morning! This is Pastor Jerry Ingalls from New Castle First Baptist Church and today is Monday, August 21.
Is your home a place of rest where you and others can find peace? Today, we start a fifteen-day journey through the Songs of Ascents (Psalms 120-134), which are pilgrimage psalms used when people would travel to Jerusalem for one of the prescribed Jewish feasts – Passover, the Feast of Weeks, and the Feast of Tabernacles. Whereas people would ascend to Jerusalem because of its higher elevation, this term has a spiritual meaning because of what Mount Zion represents to the people of God. It was here that God established His temple where people would pilgrimage to find peace with Him through the atonement of their sins.
For the ancient pilgrim, to be away from Jerusalem was to be away from the presence of God. Just as Jerusalem was the center of Jewish life, the temple was the home of God’s presence on earth. The psalmist writes of his desire to come home to this place of peace in Psalm 120:5-7, “Woe is me, for I sojourn in Meshech [northwest of Canaan in modern Turkey], for I dwell among the tents of Kedar [southeast of Canaan in northern Arabia]! Too long has my soul had its dwelling with those who hate peace. I am for peace, but when I speak, they are for war.”
Home should be a place of peace. How do you make your home a haven from life’s tribulations? By inviting the Prince of Peace to bring His peace into your heart so that He may dwell wherever you may be. Jesus promised in John 14:27, “Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Do not let your heart be troubled, nor let it be fearful” (cf. John 16:33).
Seize the moment and pray Psalm 120, meditating upon the presence of God in your life through your relationship with Jesus Christ. May the Prince of Peace make His home in your heart.
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.
Read more...
Grow Strong in God’s Grace (Wk 22)
Learning How to be a Faithful Farmer for God’s Harvest!
A Faith that Invites Partnership!
Hebrews 11:32-40 (NASB)
God is in the business of transforming stories through the gospel of Jesus Christ. We are to grow strong in God’s grace as active participants in the world He created. God has entrusted His creation to His people to work as His Harvest workers – “All the world’s a field, and all the disciples of Jesus Christ merely farmers!” Therefore, let’s be faithful farmers by following the four-step strategy of a hard-working farmer: 1) cultivate people with faith; 2) sow the good seed of God’s grace (the gospel) into their hearts and minds; 3) care for them as their stories are transformed into fruit-bearing plants; and 4) reap a harvest of praise as the church of Jesus Christ. This strategy must be empowered by the Holy Spirit because apart from God we cannot bear any good fruit (John 15:5). Therefore, harvest workers of God’s kingdom are called to grow strong in God’s grace. Let’s take the first step by learning from the transforming stories of the Hall of Faith, found in Hebrews 11.
STEP #1 OF THE FARMER’S STRATEGY: CULTIVATE THE SOIL WITH FAITH
Today’s story is about Barak, found in Hebrews 11:32-40:
And what more shall I say? For time will fail me if I tell of Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, of David and Samuel and the prophets, who by faith conquered kingdoms, performed acts of righteousness, obtained promises, shut the mouths of lions, quenched the power of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, from weakness were made strong, became mighty in war, put foreign armies to flight. Women received back their dead by resurrection; and others were tortured, not accepting their release, so that they might obtain a better resurrection; and others experienced mockings and scourgings, yes, also chains and imprisonment. They were stoned, they were sawn in two, they were tempted, they were put to death with the sword; they went about in sheepskins, in goatskins, being destitute, afflicted, ill-treated (men of whom the world was not worthy), wandering in deserts and mountains and caves and holes in the ground. And all these, having gained approval through their faith, did not receive what was promised, because God had provided something better for us, so that apart from us they would not be made perfect.
Barak’s story is found in Judges 4-5. What is it about this story that put Barak in the hall of faith? Let us pray and then we will look at the next action step to answer that question.
STEP #2 OF THE FARMER’S STRATEGY: SOW THE GOOD SEED OF GOD’S GRACE
Barak was a general and not the judge of Israel; Deborah was the judge, and she summoned Barak to the place she ruled over Israel. Listen to how Barak is introduced and his first recorded exchange with Deborah in Judges 4:6-10:
Now she sent and summoned Barak the son of Abinoam from Kedesh-naphtali, and said to him, “Behold, the Lord, the God of Israel, has commanded, ‘Go and march to Mount Tabor, and take with you ten thousand men from the sons of Naphtali and from the sons of Zebulun. I will draw out to you Sisera, the commander of Jabin’s army, with his chariots and his many troops to the river Kishon, and I will give him into your hand.’ ” Then Barak said to her, “If you will go with me, then I will go; but if you will not go with me, I will not go.” She said, “I will surely go with you; nevertheless, the honor shall not be yours on the journey that you are about to take, for the Lord will sell Sisera into the hands of a woman.” Then Deborah arose and went with Barak to Kedesh. Barak called Zebulun and Naphtali together to Kedesh, and ten thousand men went up with him; Deborah also went up with him.
This story has been used in many controversial ways over the years, but the emphasis of the story is simple – the Judge of Israel, Deborah a prophetess, commanded her general to go into battle based on the word of the Lord given to her. Barak wanted the prophetess of God to be with him as he led the army. This possibly could have been to ensure that the one receiving the word of the Lord was there to give timely words (as she does!), and maybe even to ensure that she was not giving a false prophecy. Because while you may or may not remember that the penalty for giving a false word was death, according to Deuteronomy 18:20, the reality of leading a military operation with bad intel is also death. In this case, if she was giving a false word, it would mean the death of Barak and his army. I don’t see any evidence that Barak was abdicating his responsibilities to Deborah. The text makes it clear that he still did everything that was expected of him as the general, Deborah just traveled with them. Her going showed her confidence in God and that she had received a word from Him. In my book, gold stars to both of them!
The fact that Deborah was a woman leading Israel has caused some stir in how this story has been used, but let’s not use this story for our own agendas, let’s just tell it as it is – Barak wanted his leader to go with him, especially since she was a prophetess. Interestingly, for people who have not yet read the rest of this story, it is commonly misunderstood that Deborah was saying that she would get the honor instead of Barak, but that is not what she was saying at all. Since she has been shown by God what would happen, she let Barak know that he would not get the honor. I don’t think this was a struggle between a man and a woman for power or authority. This was a general pulling together all his resources to ensure the victory, and what I find most appealing about Barak was that he cared more about the well-being of his army and its victory in battle, than about who got the honor.
Barak was a man of God who submitted to the authority over him, cared about the people entrusted to him, and didn’t care who receive the credit for accomplishing the mission. Imagine what God would do through His people if none of us cared about who got the credit, as long as God received all the glory! Let’s take the next step to learn how we can become this type of people!
STEP #3 OF THE FARMER’S STRATEGY: CARE FOR THE MATURING PLANT
Through Barak’s partnership with Deborah, God won the victory, and Israel experienced forty years of rest. But, as the continuation of the story teaches us, it was neither Barak, nor Deborah, who received the honor for this great victory, but, rather, the woman Jael. They each had a part to play, and we see this clearly in Judges 4:
- Deborah the prophetess gave them God’s timing in verse 14a, “Deborah said to Barak, ‘Arise! For this is the day in which the Lord has given Sisera into your hands; behold, the Lord has gone out before you.’”
- Barak faithfully and courageously, like Joshua before him, led his army to victory against the Canaanite army in Judges 4:14b-16, “So Barak went down from Mount Tabor with ten thousand men following him. The Lord routed Sisera and all his chariots and all his army with the edge of the sword before Barak; and Sisera alighted from his chariot and fled away on foot. But Barak pursued the chariots and the army as far as Harosheth-hagoyim, and all the army of Sisera fell by the edge of the sword; not even one was left.”
- Jael’s killed Sisera, the commander of Jabin’s army, with her brutal victory recorded in Judges 4:17-22. I’m not going to read it because it’s horrific, but if you want to read how she does it, open your Bible. Nevertheless, this is a woman you don’t want to mess with!
I’m not sure if you caught some of the nuances of this story, but the summary statement says it all, from Judges 4:23-24, “So God subdued on that day Jabin the king of Canaan before the sons of Israel. The hand of the sons of Israel pressed heavier and heavier upon Jabin the king of Canaan, until they had destroyed Jabin the king of Canaan.” To mature into a fruit-bearing plant that reaps a harvest of praise to the glory of God, you must learn that it is God who gives the victory and it is God who brings together His people to do what must be done – whether we see this through the lens of military language, athletic imagery, farming, or family, God has established us as one body for His glory! Let’s now turn to the last action step so that our lives will reap a harvest of praise to the glory of God.
STEP #4 OF THE FARMER’S STRATEGY: REAP A HARVEST OF PRAISE
God intends for us to work together as many members of one body. This is emphasized by the Apostle Paul in 1 Corinthians 12-14, Ephesians 4:11-16; and in Roman 12:4-8. The latter passage captures some of the heart of Barak and Deborah’s partnership:
For just as we have many members in one body and all the members do not have the same function, so we, who are many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another. Since we have gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, each of us is to exercise them accordingly: if prophecy, according to the proportion of his faith; if service, in his serving; or he who teaches, in his teaching; or he who exhorts, in his exhortation; he who gives, with liberality; he who leads, with diligence; he who shows mercy, with cheerfulness.
I read Judges 4-5 as a faith story, describing a man and woman of God learning how to work together within God’s call to serve Israel with their gifts and talents. As they grew in the faith that invites partnership, they sang a beautiful duet together. Do you have a favorite duet? Maybe when Barbra Streisand and Neil Diamond came together to sing, “You Don’t Bring Me Flowers,” or Faith Hill and Tony Bennett when they sang, “The Way You Look Tonight.” There is something magical about a beautiful duet – when it is done properly the gifts of both complement one another and they are better together.[1]
The story of Deborah and Barak is told twice – Judges 4 tells the story in prose and Judges 5 shares it as poetry, in the form of a duet. Judges 5:1-3 introduces, then begins, their beautiful song, “Then Deborah and Barak the son of Abinoam sang on that day, saying, ‘That the leaders led in Israel, that the people volunteered, bless the LORD! Hear, O kings; give ear, O rulers! I – to the LORD, I will sing, I will sing praise to the LORD, the God of Israel.’” [emphasis added] This is a rare discovery, because the next closest thing to a duet in the Bible was the Song of Miriam (Exodus 15:20-21), which immediately followed the Song of Moses (Exodus 15:1-19). Even more than Moses and Miriam, who songs are recorded separately, Deborah and Barak sang, as one, of their victory, and they gave God all the glory! Just as foretold, the song gave honor to a woman for the victory, as Judges 5:24 declared of the heroine, “Most blessed of women is Jael, the wife of Heber the Kenite; most blessed is she of women in the tent.” Not Deborah or Barak! But, as you listen to their song, they are giving honor to many; they not only honor the champion, but the many from the tribes who fought, whether volunteer or commander.
That leads us to the closing point of today’s teaching on the transforming story of Barak’s faith. When we live by faith, realizing that we are in this together, then it doesn’t matter who gets the credit or is honored, but that God gets all the glory! As the church of Jesus Christ, we are the body of Christ, and we must bring all that we have together to fulfill the mission and bring glory to God. Paul taught this in 1 Corinthians 12:12-27:
For even as the body is one and yet has many members, and all the members of the body, though they are many, are one body, so also is Christ. For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body, whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free, and we were all made to drink of one Spirit. For the body is not one member, but many. If the foot says, “Because I am not a hand, I am not a part of the body,” it is not for this reason any the less a part of the body. And if the ear says, “Because I am not an eye, I am not a part of the body,” it is not for this reason any the less a part of the body. If the whole body were an eye, where would the hearing be? If the whole were hearing, where would the sense of smell be? But now God has placed the members, each one of them, in the body, just as He desired. If they were all one member, where would the body be? But now there are many members, but one body. And the eye cannot say to the hand, “I have no need of you”; or again the head to the feet, “I have no need of you.” On the contrary, it is much truer that the members of the body which seem to be weaker are necessary; and those members of the body which we deem less honorable, on these we bestow more abundant honor, and our less presentable members become much more presentable, whereas our more presentable members have no need of it. But God has so composed the body, giving more abundant honor to that member which lacked, so that there may be no division in the body, but that the members may have the same care for one another. And if one member suffers, all the members suffer with it; if one member is honored, all the members rejoice with it. Now you are Christ’s body, and individually members of it.
You can watch the message by clicking HERE.
FOOTNOTE:
Read more...
Hymn: How Deep the Father’s Love for Us
Seize the Moment – Day 1250
Today’s song focus will be
How Deep the Father’s Love for Us
John 3:16-17 (NASB95)
““For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that
whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life. For God did
not send the Son into the world to judge the world, but that the world might
be saved through Him.”
Today’s song was written by Christian Worship Leader Stuart Townsend in an effort bring our focus on our Lord more than ourselves. He desired to help believers to put Christ as the center of our worship, no matter the situation. Many times, our emotions try to be the center when, if we put Christ as the center, we will never be disappointed.
How deep the Father’s love for us, How vast beyond all measure,
That He should give His only Son to make a wretch His treasure.
We need to wake up and focus our worship on the One Who did so much for us. Our worship should never be self-seeking or self-serving, making it all about how we feel or what we need. Our worship should be focused on the One who deserves our highest praise…our wonderful, omnipotent God. Then our emotions will be a by-product of that focus.
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:
How Deep the Father’s Love for Us
How vast beyond all measure,
That He should give His only Son
To make a wretch His treasure.
How great the pain of searing loss –
The Father turns His face away,
As wounds which mar the Chosen One
Bring many sons to glory.
Behold the man upon a cross,
My sin upon His shoulders;
Ashamed, I hear my mocking voice
Call out among the scoffers.
It was my sin that held Him there
Until it was accomplished;
His dying breath has brought me life –
I know that it is finished.
No gifts, no power, no wisdom;
But I will boast in Jesus Christ,
His death and resurrection.
Why should I gain from His reward?
I cannot give an answer;
But this I know with all my heart –
His wounds have paid my ransom.
Read more...
Psalm 119
Live a Life of Devotion!
Good morning! This is Pastor Jerry Ingalls from New Castle First Baptist Church and today is Friday, August 18.
Are you living a life of devotion? In the longest chapter of the Bible, Psalm 119, the psalmist proclaims the majesty of God’s Word. He does so in a masterful alphabetic acrostic poem that blesses every person who commits to reading and meditating upon it. Moreso, the psalmist illuminates the way to live a life of devotion, according to the majesty of God’s Word. He calls the reader to action as one Bible teacher commented:
In Psalm 119 the psalmist used many verbs to speak of his response to God’s Word: walk according to, keep, obey, follow, trust in, seek out, delight in, meditate on, consider, rejoice in, see, understand, hope in, teach, speak of, remember, not forget, not forsake, not depart from, not stray from, not turn from, believe in, consider, long for, love, stand in awe of, tremble at, sing of, and choose.[1]
His action-oriented proclamation of the majesty of God’s Word is clearly explained in verses 33-35, “Teach me, O Lord, the way of Your statutes, and I shall observe it to the end. Give me understanding, that I may observe Your law and keep it with all my heart. Make me walk in the path of Your commandments, for I delight in it.” Uncompromisingly, the psalmist invites you to an all-consuming passion for God and His Word, as he testified from his own experience in verse 164, “Seven times a day I praise You, because of Your righteous ordinances.” What an anointed way to live your life! For 176 verses, the psalmist teaches you to love God’s Word and to live according to His “precious and magnificent promises” (2 Peter 1:3-11).
Seize the moment and pray Psalm 119, meditating upon the majesty of God’s Word and how you are called to respond to it by living a life of devotion! How are you applying all diligence to your life of devotion today?
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.
FOOTNOTE:
Read more...
Psalm 118
Cry Out in Praise!
Good morning! This is Pastor Jerry Ingalls from New Castle First Baptist Church and today is Thursday, August 17.
When the religious leaders asked Jesus to rebuke His disciples for praising Him as the coming Messiah and King, Jesus answered in Luke 19:40, “I tell you, if these become silent, the stones will cry out!” The people’s praise was rooted in Psalm 118, which is why the Pharisees were so scandalized. Listen to Boice explain the significance of what was happening:
When we remember that Psalm 118 is part of the Egyptian Hallel, that the Hallel was sung by Jews at the time of the Passover, and that it was Passover when Jesus entered Jerusalem and later died on Calvary, it is understandable that these words would have been in the minds of the people who greeted him as he entered the city. Jesus entered Jerusalem on the day the lambs were being taken into the Jewish homes in preparation for the sacrifice.[1]
Here are some of the statements made in Psalm 118, from which the disciples praised God during Jesus’ triumphal entry:
- Jesus is the “chief corner stone” of verse 22 – “the stone which the builders rejected” (cf. Acts 4:8-12).
- The “Hosanna” is proclaimed in verse 25, “O Lord, do save, we beseech you” (Matthew 21:9, John 12:13).
- Verse 26 is proclaimed by the crowd, “Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the lord” (Matthew 21:9, John 12:13).
- Jesus is the “festival sacrifice” of verse 27, “Bind the festival sacrifice with cords to the horns of the altar” (cf. 1 Peter 1:18-19).
Seize the moment and pray Psalm 118, meditating upon the triumphal entry of Jesus Christ so that He would fulfill the good pleasure of His Father for our salvation. I pray for you to grow in your faith and cry out in praise. Cry out in praise of God today, or the rocks will do that work for you!
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.
FOOTNOTE:
Read more...
Psalm 117
Praise the Lord, All Nations!
Good morning! This is Pastor Jerry Ingalls from New Castle First Baptist Church and today is Wednesday, August 16.
The shortest verse in the Bible is John 11:35, “Jesus wept.” The shortest chapter in the Bible is today’s psalm – Psalm 117. While it may be the shortest psalm, it is large in its scope because it proclaims the enduring faithfulness of God to reach all the nations. Today’s two-verse chapter starts and finishes with the same exhortation to all the peoples: “Praise the Lord, all nations; laud Him, all peoples! For His lovingkindness is great toward us, and the truth of the Lord is everlasting. Praise the Lord!” It begins and ends with Hallelujah! Yahweh is to be praised by all the peoples; every nation is under His sovereign rule. This is no small declaration of faith!
As one of the Egyptian Hallel psalms, the psalmist was boldly reflecting upon God’s victory over the Egyptians and their gods, projecting God’s victory over every nation and the evil that rules them (Psalm 82). Later, in Romans 15:11, Paul quoted this promise in his apologia for his apostleship to the Gentiles, which he saw as a direct fulfillment of God’s promise to reach “all nations.” Read Paul’s triumphant prayer in Romans 15:5-13 to see why we must work for the ingathering of all the nations into the kingdom of God. This is the ongoing work of the Holy Spirit through the church (Acts 3:26). This is the enduring faithfulness of God to reach all the nations, and it is happening through the church in this age of Pentecost – to fulfill the Great Commission, which Jesus gave His disciples in Matthew 28:18-20. This was not only Paul’s special call as an apostle, but this is every Christian’s call as a disciple of Jesus Christ.
Seize the moment and pray Psalm 117, meditating upon the Holy Spirit’s power in your life to be His witness today (Acts 1:8). God has called you to reach the nations, one person at a time.
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.
Read more...
Psalm 116
My Chains are Gone!
Good morning! This is Pastor Jerry Ingalls from New Castle First Baptist Church and today is Tuesday, August 15.
During my first two decades of pastoral ministry, I have buried a lot of people whom I love and respect – the saints of Jesus’ church. Psalm 116:15-16 captures my imagination of what it must be like for those brethren who have entered their eternal rest, “Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of His godly ones. O Lord, surely I am Your servant, I am Your servant, the son of Your handmaid, You have loosed my bonds.” Often, when I conduct funeral services, I read this passage in its context, starting with verse 12 and concluding in verse 19. Take time to read and experience what a beautiful liturgy it is – a call and response of God’s salvation for us and our commitments to Him.
You can experience rest in this life when you learn to live today in the truth of God’s promise for eternity. Years before her passing, Carole Hiatt, one of our dearly beloved saints shared with me that Psalm 116:7 was her life-rhythm verse, “Return to your rest, O my soul, for the Lord has dealt bountifully with you.” How much more has she experienced the fulness of this promise now that God has loosed the bonds of her mortal body!? She has been freed from her chains, as the NIV translates verse 16, and as Chris Tomlin’s popular chorus of Amazing Grace states. Have you put your faith and hope in Jesus Christ to rescue you from the chains of sin and death?
Seize the moment and pray Psalm 116, meditating upon God’s amazing grace, how sweet the sound, that saved a wretch like me. Live freely from sin and the fear of death because Jesus has loosed your bonds so that you may experience rest for your soul for eternity and in the unforced rhythms of God’s grace today (Matthew 11:28-30).
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.
Read more...
Psalm 115
The Focus of Loyalty!
Good morning! This is Pastor Jerry Ingalls from New Castle First Baptist Church and today is Monday, August 14.
The ultimate test of your loyalty to a relationship is your focus on it. For example, a married man is a “one-woman man.” When they say yes to one another, they are saying no to all others. In the same way, God calls us to be a “one-God worshipper.” Psalm 115:1 starts, “Not to us, O Lord, not to us, but to Your name give glory because of Your lovingkindness, because of Your truth.” When you commit your life to Jesus, you are vowing to worship Christ alone.
The proof of our focus on who or what we are worshipping is that we will become like it. God designed us to be His image bearers (Genesis 1:26-27). To fulfill this intent in and through our lives He gives us His Spirit to conform us into the image of His Son Jesus Christ (Romans 8:29), who is the image of the invisible God (Colossians 1:15). Therefore, for this very reason, God calls us into a relationship with Himself through Jesus – to be the light of the world, a city on a hill who reflects the glory of God (Matthew 5:14-16).
There is a grave danger in losing focus – we no longer reflect the One we were designed to become like in the first place. Psalm 115:4-8 explains the process:
Their idols are silver and gold, the work of man’s hands. They have mouths, but they cannot speak; they have eyes, but they cannot see; they have ears, but they cannot hear; they have noses, but they cannot smell; they have hands, but they cannot feel; they have feet, but they cannot walk; they cannot make a sound with their throat. Those who make them will become like them, everyone who trusts in them.
Seize the moment and pray Psalm 115, meditating upon the lovingkindness of the Lord! Remove from your life today that which distracts you from true worship of God.
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.
Read more...
Grow Strong in God’s Grace (Wk 21)
Learning How to be a Faithful Farmer for God’s Harvest!
A Faith that Takes God at His Word!
Hebrews 11:32-40 (NASB)
God is in the business of transforming stories through the gospel of Jesus Christ. We are to grow strong in God’s grace as active participants in the world He created. God has entrusted His creation to His people to work as His Harvest workers – “All the world’s a field, and all the disciples of Jesus Christ merely farmers!” Therefore, let’s be faithful farmers by following the four-step strategy of a hard-working farmer: 1) cultivate people with faith; 2) sow the good seed of God’s grace (the gospel) into their hearts and minds; 3) care for them as their stories are transformed into fruit-bearing plants; and 4) reap a harvest of praise as the church of Jesus Christ. This strategy must be empowered by the Holy Spirit because apart from God we cannot bear any good fruit (John 15:5). Therefore, harvest workers of God’s kingdom are called to grow strong in God’s grace. Let’s take the first step by learning from the transforming stories of the Hall of Faith, found in Hebrews 11.
STEP #1 OF THE FARMER’S STRATEGY: CULTIVATE THE SOIL WITH FAITH
Today’s story is about Gideon, found in Hebrews 11:32-40:
And what more shall I say? For time will fail me if I tell of Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, of David and Samuel and the prophets, who by faith conquered kingdoms, performed acts of righteousness, obtained promises, shut the mouths of lions, quenched the power of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, from weakness were made strong, became mighty in war, put foreign armies to flight. Women received back their dead by resurrection; and others were tortured, not accepting their release, so that they might obtain a better resurrection; and others experienced mockings and scourgings, yes, also chains and imprisonment. They were stoned, they were sawn in two, they were tempted, they were put to death with the sword; they went about in sheepskins, in goatskins, being destitute, afflicted, ill-treated (men of whom the world was not worthy), wandering in deserts and mountains and caves and holes in the ground. And all these, having gained approval through their faith, did not receive what was promised, because God had provided something better for us, so that apart from us they would not be made perfect.
Gideon’s story is found in Judges 6-8. What is it about this story that put Gideon in the hall of faith? In my Seize the Moment devotional on Judges 8, I posed this question, “Gideon will always be remembered as one of the heroes of faith for his military victories, as seen in Hebrews 11:32, but what should we emulate from his life?”[1] Let us pray for God to cultivate the soil of our hearts and minds, and then we will look at the next action step to answer that question.
STEP #2 OF THE FARMER’S STRATEGY: SOW THE GOOD SEED OF GOD’S GRACE
Gideon’s story proclaims the gospel of grace in a beautiful way, and pointedly not because of Gideon himself – his is a God-story, and maybe that’s the point! It is almost as if Paul was thinking of the book of Judges when he explained how God called people according to the power of the gospel in 1 Corinthians 1:21-31:
For since in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom did not come to know God, God was well-pleased through the foolishness of the message preached to save those who believe. For indeed Jews ask for signs and Greeks search for wisdom; but we preach Christ crucified, to Jews a stumbling block and to Gentiles foolishness, but to those who are the called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men. For consider your calling, brethren, that there were not many wise according to the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble; but God has chosen the foolish things of the world to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to shame the things which are strong, and the base things of the world and the despised God has chosen, the things that are not, so that He may nullify the things that are, so that no man may boast before God. But by His doing you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, and righteousness and sanctification, and redemption, so that, just as it is written, “Let him who boasts, boast in the Lord.”
Today’s story of Gideon’s transforming faith builds off what we learned from Rahab last week: God chooses people on purpose! It doesn’t matter your past or present, or what other people think about you, or even what you think about yourself; when God calls, He has plans to do good works through you, just as Ephesians 2:8-10 makes clear, “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. For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them.” Let’s look at the story of Gideon’s call to illustrate this and then we’ll move on to see how God used Him for His glory. Gideon is introduced to us and called by God in Judges 6:11-16:
Then the angel of the Lord came and sat under the oak that was in Ophrah, which belonged to Joash the Abiezrite as his son Gideon was beating out wheat in the wine press in order to save it from the Midianites. The angel of the Lord appeared to him and said to him, “The Lord is with you, O valiant warrior.” Then Gideon said to him, “O my lord, if the Lord is with us, why then has all this happened to us? And where are all His miracles which our fathers told us about, saying, ‘Did not the Lord bring us up from Egypt?’ But now the Lord has abandoned us and given us into the hand of Midian.” The Lord looked at him and said, “Go in this your strength and deliver Israel from the hand of Midian. Have I not sent you?” He said to Him, “O Lord, how shall I deliver Israel? Behold, my family is the least in Manasseh, and I am the youngest in my father’s house.” But the Lord said to him, “Surely I will be with you, and you shall defeat Midian as one man.”
Obviously, God had more faith in Gideon than Gideon had in either God or himself! Today’s lesson is about learning to trust God’s Word. Let’s take the next step to learn how this seed can grow into a faith that takes God at His Word. With Gideon, as we will see, it’s a process!
STEP #3 OF THE FARMER’S STRATEGY: CARE FOR THE MATURING PLANT
Gideon in not my hero even though he was included in the Hebrews 11 hall of faith. There are a couple men listed that I will be teaching you about who I consider counterexamples, rather than models of the faith. But I would not be considered a very good example either if all my personal times with God were recorded on paper and my doubts, fears, and bad decisions were highlighted for all to see. So, like we just learned, I choose to take God at His Word, submitting to Him and His choosing of us – aren’t we a happy family of ragamuffins… God is far more gracious and forgiving than I am, as I wouldn’t choose me, just like Gideon tried to opt out of God’s calling. I can tell you many ways that I consider myself disqualified, and that led to me delaying in answering God’s call on my life to be a pastor for five years.
But God! Watch Gideon continue to carry on with God in Judges 6:17, “So Gideon said to Him, ‘If now I have found favor in Your sight, then show me a sign that it is You who speak with me.’” God responded to his request, Gideon worshipped Him, and then obeyed the Word of the Lord and faithfully accomplished God’s will (18-25). Gideon was faithful, and you think he would have learned his lesson to take God at His Word with this amazing victory. Unfortunately, he had more to learn, as we all do; it’s a process! Gideon carried on with God again, in what has probably become one of the most misapplied stories in the Bible, from Judges 6:36-40:
Then Gideon said to God, “If You will deliver Israel through me, as You have spoken, behold, I will put a fleece of wool on the threshing floor. If there is dew on the fleece only, and it is dry on all the ground, then I will know that You will deliver Israel through me, as You have spoken.” And it was so. When he arose early the next morning and squeezed the fleece, he drained the dew from the fleece, a bowl full of water. Then Gideon said to God, “Do not let Your anger burn against me that I may speak once more; please let me make a test once more with the fleece, let it now be dry only on the fleece, and let there be dew on all the ground.” God did so that night; for it was dry only on the fleece, and dew was on all the ground.
First off, can I just say thank you God for persevering with us in our moments of unbelief! How many times does God have to demonstrate His faithfulness to us until we get it and just trust Him enough to take Him at His Word? Secondly, can I ask that we stop normalizing Gideon’s testing of God by joining him in our metaphorical putting out of fleeces. Just because Gideon did it doesn’t mean it’s the right thing to do. I don’t see us casting lots to choose our next pastor (ref. Acts 1:26). There are some things we find in the Bible that are descriptive of what happened, not prescriptive for what should happen. We need to learn the difference.
We are to grow in the kind of faith that takes God at His Word, which obeys Him so that we can say with Jesus, who testified of His own life in John 17:4, “I glorified You on the earth, having accomplished the work which You have given Me to do.” Let’s now turn to the last action step so that our lives will reap a harvest of praise to the glory of God.
STEP #4 OF THE FARMER’S STRATEGY: REAP A HARVEST OF PRAISE
Ultimately, because God is faithful, Gideon’s life reaped a harvest of praise to the glory of God for two primary reasons, and this is what I want us to learn from him and emulate:
- The battle belongs to the Lord. To participate in God’s victory and experience the spoils of it we must trust God and take Him at His Word. This is beautifully illustrated in Gideon’s story from Judges 7-8. Taking God at His Word, Gideon took his army of 22,000 fighting men down to 300 and they defeated overwhelming odds, ushering in a 40-year period of peace. It is a radical story of faith that demonstrates how much Gideon had learned to trust God and believe His Word as the way of victory.
- God is the only king. Following Gideon’s many military victories, including his political leadership to unite Israel, the people tried to make him king, even offering to make his son kings after him, but Gideon showed integrity by refusing. He declared in Judges 8:23, “I will not rule over you, nor shall my son rule over you; the Lord shall rule over you.”
The peace that Gideon won both militarily and politically, as God’s chosen judge, lasted until his death, but then the people turned back to idol worship, as Judges 8:33-35 describes:
Then it came about, as soon as Gideon was dead, that the sons of Israel again played the harlot with the Baals, and made Baal-berith their god. Thus the sons of Israel did not remember the Lord their God, who had delivered them from the hands of all their enemies on every side; nor did they show kindness to the household of Jerubbaal (that is, Gideon) in accord with all the good that he had done to Israel.
The cycle of the period of Judges continued, as the people of God entered a period of disobedience, rebellion, and oppression. It doesn’t need to be this way for the church of Jesus Christ. Every judge of Israel followed God in imperfect ways, but how is that different from us? Gideon was slow to trust God, but ultimately, every victory that He had was because He took God at His Word. Every pastor, just like every leader you look to, or try to be yourself, will be imperfect. We must learn from Gideon’s story and realize he is not in the hall of faith because he was perfect, but for his faith that led him to act upon the Word of the Lord.
We have a king, the rightful King of kings, who has established us as rightful citizens of His Kingdom. He has won us the victory over sin and death, giving us everything we need to experience His victory if only we have a faith that takes Him at His Word; we, too, must act upon the Word of the Lord. Jesus Christ speaks to you today from John 14:11-15, 21, and 23:
Believe Me that I am in the Father and the Father is in Me; otherwise believe because of the works themselves. Truly, truly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do, he will do also; and greater works than these he will do; because I go to the Father. Whatever you ask in My name, that will I do, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you ask Me anything in My name, I will do it. If you love Me, you will keep My commandments. … He who has My commandments and keeps them is the one who loves Me; and he who loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I will love him and will disclose Myself to him. … If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our abode with him.
You can watch the message by clicking HERE.
FOOTNOTE:
Read more...
Hymn: Gonna Be Alright
Seize the Moment – Day 1243
Today’s new worship song focus will be
Gonna Be Alright
Romans 8:28 (NASB95)
“And we know that God causes all things to work together
for good to those who love God,
to those who are called according to His purpose.”
When was the last time you faced a difficulty, a storm or trial in your life? An hour ago? Or a day ago? Or a week ago? That is where this song comes from for Christian Music artist Ryan Ellis, as he was writing from a season of deep pain in his family. He shared the song with his friends and family, and they all could see how it spoke of God showing up and how He spoke peace into their hearts and lives.
Everything’s gonna be alright, everything’s gonna be alright
You hold me in your arms, until my storm is calm
Everything’s gonna be alright, hmmm, everything’s gonna be alright.
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:
Gonna Be Alright
Read more...