by Pastor Cecil | Sep 23, 2020 | Revelation
Revelation 22:1
“And he showed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding from the throne of God and of the Lamb.”
The Dead Sea is the lowest point on earth. The Dead Sea has no outlet but evaporates rapidly in the desert heat, leaving heavy, caustic, mineral-laden water behind. Fish that flow in with the fresh water, instantly perish. People enjoy floating effortlessly on the surface, but must immediately and thoroughly rinse away the corrosives. Mounds of salt line the shores of the Dead Sea, and a nearby pillar is named for Lot’s wife.
In Ezekiel 47:12 we are promised river that shall bring healing and sustenance—which we may now receive by faith and later witness by sight when Jesus returns. “Fruit trees of all kinds will grow on both banks of the river. Their leaves will not wither, nor will their fruit fail. Every month they will bear, because the water from the sanctuary flows to them. Their fruit will serve for food and their leaves for healing.”
He promised springs of living water to the woman at the well, and to the worshipers in the temple. Each of us is surrounded by Dead Sea people, and—if we are honest—we recognize that we ourselves are much more briny than the fresh flowing water that gives life. The Lord on His throne is ready to answer even one person’s humble, earnest, faith-filled prayer for revival.
Blessings dear hearts. Draw near to God today and be a blessing!
– – – Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Sep 22, 2020 | 1 John
1 John 1:9
“If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”
Increasingly we live in a world that calls righteousness evil and evil righteous. If we as believers speak out against the perverse actions around us we are accused of being judgmental and narrow minded. In fact, much of the time we are called even much more derogatory terms.
Much of the human behavior that the Bible terms perverse has become acceptable in our modern world. If any believer has the audacity to speak out against so-called “alternative lifestyles” they become the targets of those engaged in such abhorrent behavior. But many times other people also attack a righteous view of such behavior.
I sometimes feel we attack such sins as homosexuality while accepting sex outside of marriage as normal. That is not the way God views it. We need to spend more time in the Bible and see that sins may go far beyond sexual sins.
Paul gives us a wide view of what God calls sin in Galatians 5:19-21: “Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like.” It is time for us to confess!
Blessings dear hearts. Draw near to God today and be a blessing!
– – – Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Sep 21, 2020 | Isaiah
Isaiah 40:31
“But those who wait on the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint.”
It is never a good idea to belittle the ordeals that people encounter in life. Perhaps the worst thing we can say to someone who is going through a “valley of the shadow of death” experience is, “I know what you are going through.” We don’t! It is impossible for us to know what is causing the pain within a person. But the Lord knows!
I vividly recall sitting at the bedside of our oldest daughter as she was dying. Joyce had gone home and it was just Brenda and me in that quiet room. In the past weeks I had remembered her as a precocious little girl in a frilly pink dress. Now she was the mother of three beautiful children, just moments from ascending to be with her Lord.
This was no time for me to focus on the loss, but on the joys that awaited her in glory. As I considered the glory which awaited my beloved daughter, I could almost feel a pang of homesickness for heaven. One of the Scriptures I quoted for Brenda was Psalm 23. Verse 4 was especially precious: “Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for You are with me.” It was this promise that made her funeral a few days later a celebration of praise. The Lord knows!
Blessings dear hearts. Draw near to God today and be a blessing!
– – – Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Sep 18, 2020 | Philippians
Philippians 3:10-11
“That I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death, if, by any means, I may attain to the resurrection from the dead.”
All too often there are those who venerate religious objects that relate to the Lord Jesus. I have heard that if all of the supposed fragments of the cross upon which Jesus was crucified were assembled they could build a large building.
God sternly warns that we are never to worship such objects but to worship only the Lord. That old rugged cross can certainly remind us of the price Jesus paid, but His suffering was not just the pain of crucifixion, but that He was totally sinless became sin for us and paid the price for our redemption.
Back in 1913, Salvation Army Officer, George Bennard passed through a trying experience. This experience caused him to reflect seriously about the significance of the cross and, in particular, what the apostle Paul meant when he spoke of by entering into the fellowship of Christ’s suffering. While contemplating on these truths, Bennard was convinced that the cross was not just a religious symbol, but rather the very heart of the gospel. He penned the words of this beloved hymn.
THE OLD RUGGED CROSS
On a hill far away stood an old rugged cross, the emblem of suffering and shame; And I love that old cross where the dearest and best for a world of lost sinners was slain.
Refrain: So I’ll cherish the old rugged cross, till my trophies at last I lay down; I will cling to the old rugged cross, and exchange it someday for a crown.
O that old rugged cross, so despised by the world, has a wondrous attraction for me; for the dear Lamb of God left his glory above to bear it to dark Calvary.
Refrain: So I’ll cherish the old rugged cross, till my trophies at last I lay down; I will cling to the old rugged cross, and exchange it someday for a crown.
In that old rugged cross, stained with blood so divine, a wondrous beauty I see, for ’twas on that old cross Jesus suffered and died, to pardon and sanctify me.
Refrain: So I’ll cherish the old rugged cross, till my trophies at last I lay down; I will cling to the old rugged cross, and exchange it someday for a crown.
To that old rugged cross I will ever be true, its shame and reproach gladly bear; then he’ll call me some day to my home far away, where his glory forever I’ll share.
Refrain: So I’ll cherish the old rugged cross, till my trophies at last I lay down; I will cling to the old rugged cross, and exchange it someday for a crown.
To access this week’s free inspirational video from GloryScapes.com, please go to: https://gloryscapes.com/theoldruggedcross/
Blessings dear hearts. May God richly bless you as you bless others by your words and actions!
– – Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Sep 17, 2020 | Acts
Acts 24:25
“Now as he reasoned about righteousness, self-control, and the judgment to come, Felix was afraid and answered, ‘Go away for now; when I have a convenient time I will call for you.’”
A number of years ago I was attending a Christian conference that was being held on a major university campus. At that time this university boasted the top-ranked football team in the nation.
After lunch a group of us were walking back to the arena when we recognized the head coach and members of his staff walking in the same direction. The coach asked one of his staff what was going on for so many men to be present. The staff member explained that it was a Christian seminar. The coach scoffed and pronounced, “I don’t have time for God today!”
It was heartbreaking to hear such a firm rejection of our Lord Jesus Christ. Unfortunately, there are many who reject the Lord, even if they do not make such a bold statement. Even believers may become so pre-occupied with the things of the world that they simply do not have time for God.
Our Scripture for today gives us the answer. We are to make the time for God and draw near to Him and resist the devil. As we do this, He draws near to us and gives us the power to live a victorious life. Do you have time for God?
May God richly bless you as you bless others by your words and actions!
– – Pastor Cecil
