by Pastor Cecil | Dec 31, 2007 | Daily-E-Votionals
Ephesians 6:10-13
“Finally, be strong in the Lord and in His mighty power. Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand.”
Once more we are standing by the final thread of one more year of our human existence. 2007 is only a short time from passing into history. New Year’s Eve has become a time when many people make resolutions for changes which they want to make in their life. The reality is that most resolutions are soon broken and often many hearts are broken along with those resolutions.
As we look back over the past year, we are struck by the good, the bad and the ugly. There have been blessings that have lifted our spirits, but on the other hand we recall the horrible calamities that have befallen our families, our communities, our nation and our world.
Hearts have turned to the Lord in faith by confessing their sins and their need of the Lord Jesus Christ in their life. Others have remained steadfast in total disbelief. Some communities have chosen to acknowledge God, while others have remained obstinate and have allowed a tiny minority of atheists to take away the freedom of believers to name the Name of the Lord.
Back on September 11, 2001, when our nation was rocked by the senseless acts of terrorists who took so many innocent lives, people seemed to change. Prior to those events, to speak the name of Christ in public was almost a punishable offense.
After September 11th, we heard the congress of the United States singing without embarrassment, “God Bless America.” People joined hands and prayed that God would bind up the wounds that had fallen, not only upon America, but upon all God fearing people around the world.
How sad that this attitude was so short-lived. It lasted scarcely longer than the typical New Year’s resolution. We do not need New Year’s Day resolutions, we need a heart changing spiritual transformation all through our land. We often hear the prayer for revival. Generally it is a desire that “those” other reprobates and lukewarm believers to get right with the Lord. But what about the prayer for our own revival? Prayer for revival is wonderful on the surface. We certainly see the need around us. There has been so much compromise in our churches, that anything goes. We accept anything that appeals to the flesh for fear that those who are doing such sinful things may be offended. Where is the clarion call to obey God’s Word?
We have seen churches and even entire denominations abandon the strong absolutes of the faith. They have placed authority in their clerical governing bodies, rather than holding firm to the Word of God as the unchanging Word from God to His people.
Yes, we certainly stand in need of revival, but it is not for “THEM,” but for ourselves. It is not in the nature of a resolution, but in a transformation. We need to become changed from the inside out. We need to be re-made in His likeness.
Some of you who read this may have been trying to do a good job of being good. I can tell you right now that none of us are capable of that. It is only as we are born again by the Holy Spirit of God, that we become new creatures. After the new birth, we may very possibly become indifferent in our walk with the Lord. We have become spectators of the spiritual battle instead of participators in it. God does not call us to come and watch the battle against the devil, but to become mighty warriors for His cause.
Paul is instructing the church at Ephesus concerning spiritual warfare. In our Scripture for today, he admonishes believers to put on the whole armor of God. I implore you to read beyond today’s verses and realize what it means to be prepared for battle against the enemy of our soul.
My prayer for each of us is that in the days that lie before us, we may be found worthy. It is not necessary for us to be brilliant or well educated. It is those who in simple faith, trust in Him, that the battle may be won. The more we learn, the more the Lord will reveal to us. Welcome to a new world of hope and victory through our Savior and Lord, Jesus Christ.
Blessings dear hearts. Walk with God today, trust Him completely and be a blessing.
— Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Dec 28, 2007 | Daily-E-Votionals
Deuteronomy 6:6-7
“These commandments that I give you today are to be upon your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up.”
God is so good, it is hard to find the words to express that goodness and blessing—but we need to find the words and express the gratitude. As a pastor/counselor, I have been grieved by the lack of communication which characterizes many of our modern family relationships.
It seems that often the only time there is communication between family members is when someone wants another person to do something. This is usually transmitted in a demanding tone, which results in the other member becoming resentful, and responding in a negative manner. Do you get the picture!
I may have previously mentioned about a wall hanging in our guest bathroom. It is called, “Life’s Little Instructions.” It has hung there for several years. There are such suggestions as, “Sing in the shower,” “Rekindle old friendships.” “Count your blessings,” and the last one that always was the source of an admonition when my mom was still alive and came to visit from Idaho—“Call your mother.”
We laughed a lot about it, but it was a big joke between us since we talked daily on the phone. In other families the suggestion is not a joking matter. There is a real need in some families to establish or re-establish communications.
I have conducted many funerals across the years. I always meet with family members prior to the services. These times are not just for me to learn about the person who had died, but it is a time of sharing heart with heart. Healing often takes place and old hurts are forgiven.
Many times as I return from these meetings, I find my wife, Joyce, sitting in her cozy little reading area writing in her journal. It is a delight to sit across from her and share some of the things which the family has shared.
Some of our friends are surprised at how freely and frequently we take the time to talk with each other. Over the years we have developed a communion of hearts that causes us to look forward to our times together. I guess that is what comes from being each other’s best friend for over 60 years. We never think of it as being out of the ordinary.
Today’s Scripture gives a wonderful pattern for families to follow in communicating. It is strong medicine for sick families. It starts with God’s Word. Without the Word of God and His commandments, we are left with our own human thoughts and imaginings, and they are a poor basis for interaction.
The Word of God is to be in our heart in such a manner that they flow out in our conversations. We are often very critical of what our children say and do, only to realize that they so often act as mirrors of our very statements and attitudes.
It is the responsibility of fathers to take the lead in this area of communication. Please, men, go back and read the sixth chapter of Deuteronomy. See what God has placed upon our shoulders as an awesome responsibility.
If your are a wife and mother with an unsaved husband, you can assume this roll in a tender way without becoming an offense to that unsaved husband. Remember that wives are told that the godly wife can win the unsaved husband, not by words, but a gentle and quiet spirit.
Well, perhaps I have stirred the pot sufficiently for you to have a wonderful family conversation about the rabble-rousing E-mail pastor. That may be your jump-start to begin talking together.
Blessings dear hearts. Walk with God today, trust Him completely and be a blessing.
— Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Dec 27, 2007 | Daily-E-Votionals
Genesis 12:10-13
“Now there was a famine in the land, and Abram went down to Egypt to live there for awhile because the famine was severe. As he was about to enter Egypt, he said to his wife Sarai, ‘I know what a beautiful woman you are. When the Egyptians see you, they will say, ‘This is his wife.’ Then they will kill me but let you live. Say you are my sister, so that I will be treated well for your sake and my life will be spared because of you.'”
I am amazed by how many significant things we see in this passage. Sarai was a woman in her 70’s, yet she possessed such beauty that it made Abram fearful that he would be killed so the Egyptians could steal her from him.
Here is an assignment for you. Spend a little time examining the women (or men) who are in their 70’s. You will soon discover that they are not the raving beauties they were when they were in their twenties.
It is sad that many people, both men and women are attracted to external beauty. When it begins to fade in the object of their affection, they begin to seek another to fill the place of the fading rose.
How sad! My precious Joyce and I have been sweethearts for almost 60 years. The first time I saw her my heart did a double flip. That was when were going into the 9th grade. We went through high school together and were married just after graduation. After all of these years Joyce possesses a beauty has not faded with the passing years. It is an inner beauty that grows sweeter with each passing year.
But that is not the focus of my attention for today. What I really want to consider is why Abram was going to Egypt in the first place?
Think about it. He was specifically called by God to go into a land that God would show him. He acted in obedience by following God into the land of Canaan. Having been there for awhile, there was a famine in the land.
We find nowhere that Abram inquired of the Lord. It seems that he neglected the importance of seeking out God to ask for guidance and direction in this decision. He took it upon his own initiative to go to Egypt.
As we carefully study the life of Abram, who became Abraham, it is easy for us to question his lack of trust in God. We can almost scream across the millennia of time – – “Wait on the Lord!” We must consult God first before we act! We can readily see the failure in Abram, but what about our own oversights? How many times are we guilty of making choices on our own without praying first and waiting for God’s direction?
Here is how we usually operate: We get ourselves into a mess, and then call out to the Lord to rescue us. Someone has observed that it is easier to ask forgiveness than to ask permission. That is poor logic and even poorer theology.
It is amazing that God often blesses our messes, but how much better things would be if we stopped running ahead of God. It is well to remember that not only are the steps of the righteous ordered of the Lord, but also the stops of the righteous are ordered of the Lord.
We only have a few more days left in this year of 2007. It would be well to spend some time in prayer and commitment. Resolve that we will endeavor to seek God in all of our actions — before we make those moves.
Here is a wonderful passage to serve as our guide: Proverbs 3:5,6 “Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight.”
Blessings dear hearts. Walk with God today, trust Him completely and be a blessing.
— Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Dec 26, 2007 | Daily-E-Votionals
Genesis 11:31
“Terah took his son Abram, his grandson Lot son of Haran, and his daughter-in-law Sarai, the wife of Abram, and together they set out from Ur of the Chaldeans to go to Canaan. But when they came to Haran, they settled there.”
What a heartbreaking verse this is. It begins with so much promise and hope, but it ends in a place that was the end of life for Terah. He must have been convinced that the promise which the Lord had given to his son Abram was true. Terah started out to see that promise fulfilled, but he stopped far short of the goal.
There is so much we are not told about why the family stopped in Haran. But there is one phrase that has been troubling to me for years, ” – – they settled there.”
It was not that they were stopping for a rest, or to re-provision themselves before the journey resumed — THEY SETTLED THERE!
Think of the many times we see people (perhaps we are those people) who receive a glimpse of what might be, but stop short of the goal? To settle for anything less than God’s will for our life is being out of His will.
There may have been a time in our life when God’s call was new, fresh and exciting. Then we came to our very own Haran. We may have intended only to pause and look around a bit, but days turned into weeks, and weeks into months, and we must confess, we have “settled” in Haran.
I wish we had more information about the final years of Terah’s life. I wonder if there was a deep regret that he had ever stopped in this place? Do you suppose he might have wept tears of sorrow for not going on with God?
Remember that this was hundreds of years before the Law was given to Moses. Yet, in spite of not having the written Word of God, the Lord was able to speak and give both promise and His personal direction.
If God spoke to those hearts which were open to Him back then, how much more so in our day and age, with the written Word of God, the testimony of saints across the ages, the indwelling Holy Spirit who is with us at all times.
What God calls us to do, is to get up, roll all of our baggage on Him—he has promised to bear all of our burdens—and get on our way. He will not only carry our load, He will lead us in the way which we are to go.
It is not necessary to mention those things that may have caused you to settle in Haran. You know what they are, and God knows what they are. It is in the confession of them to Him, that we have forgiveness and release. While it is not necessary to know all the details, it is important to act in obedience to the things that we do know.
Yesterday I wrote about the Magi, who were wise men from the east. These men were descendents of those wise men who had been trained by Daniel. From time to time I hear other ministers who also have come to this conclusion. It is not clear what Daniel had left for them that led them—but it was enough!
There must have been hardships and dangers across the many miles they had to travel. They were committed to follow that star at all costs. The Magi may have had only a shred of God’s Word, from the book of Daniel, possibly only a few verses, but it was enough! It was not the amount of God’s Word that made the difference, but what they did with the Word they had! They refused to “settle” anywhere until they reached their goal! Praise the Lord!
Blessings dear hearts. Walk with God today, trust Him completely and be a blessing.
— Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Dec 25, 2007 | Daily-E-Votionals
Matthew 2:1-2
“After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east came to Jerusalem and asked, ‘Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star in the east and have come to worship him.'”
So where was the star? It was leading the Magi to seek after the Messiah so they might worship Him. Here in Matthew chapter 2, we are introduced to the Magi. These mysterious visitors are very interesting. It is thought that had traveled from somewhere in modern day Iraq.
We read in Daniel 2:48 that king Nebuchadnezzar placed Daniel in charge of all the wise men (Magi) in the kingdom. Subsequent kings honored Daniel greatly, so it is reasonable that he taught these men about the One True God. It is interesting to read what king Darius decreed in Daniel 6:26: “I issue a decree that in every part of my kingdom people must fear and reverence the God of Daniel. For He is the living God and He endures forever; His kingdom will not be destroyed, His dominion will never end.”
Can you imagine a modern day king or president making such a proclamation? To me it illustrates that Daniel had been in a position to teach these sincere seekers of truth about God and the promised Messiah. Somehow they knew that the star they saw in their homeland represented the long awaited King.
There was almost certainly a large contingent of Magi, not just three as we commonly think. As they asked the people of Jerusalem about the birth of the promised King, they created furor. Word came to Herod who called his spiritual advisors. They all knew that the birth was to be in Bethlehem in accordance with the prophecy of Micah 5:2.
So here is the big question. Why did they not go to worship the prophecied Messiah? I believe it was because it would mean yielding up their spiritual authority. Herod was jealous of his political authority and they their spiritual. So instead of going to worship they remained.
When Herod called the Magi to tell them that Jesus was to be born in Bethlehem, it does not say that the Magi went there. According to Luke 2:21-40, His parents took Him to the Temple on the eighth day. Then in verse 39, we read; “When Joseph and Mary had done everything required by the Law of the Lord, they returned to Galilee to their own town of Nazareth.”
In the Matthew account, it just says that Herod told them where Jesus was to be born and asked them to return after they had found Him so he too could go and worship. They did not use Herod’s directions to find Jesus, the star led them, and it stopped over a house.
They worshiped the precious king of Kings and lord of Lord’s, and gave Him gifts fit for a king—gold, frankincense and myrrh. God sent an angel to warn them not to return to Herod, but to return home by another route.
Much more could be said, but I want to stress that it was the Lord who sent a star to lead them to Jesus. In much the same manner He has sent the Holy Spirit to lead sincere hearts to worship Jesus in our day. Will we be like the wise men who pay the price to bow before the Lord, or will we be like Herod and the spiritual “elite” who refused to follow His star. HAVE YOU SEEN HIS STAR? FOLLOW IT TO HIM! MERRY CHRISTMAS!
Blessings dear hearts. Walk with God today, trust Him completely and be a blessing.
— Pastor Cecil
