by Pastor Cecil | Aug 24, 2009 | Revelation
Revelation 3:5
“He who overcomes will, like them, be dressed in white. I will never blot out his name from the book of life, but will acknowledge his name before My Father and His angels.”
“Why should I let you into My heaven?” All too often we hear anecdotes or jokes using this statement or one like it. The fact of the matter is that it is so far from Scripture that it sends a wrong message.
Back in my Air Force days I served on a combat missile crew. Access to our launch capsule was extremely restricted and without the proper code you were not going to be permitted entry.
As a crew we may recognize the voice of the person wanting access—No entry! The person may have a sterling reputation—No entry! We may have tremendous respect for that person—No entry! It may be that the person requesting access may be of much higher rank—No entry!
There was only one way to be cleared for entry into our restricted capsule—The code! Without the proper recognition code there would be no way we would allow the door to be opened and the visitor admitted.
There is only one way that we will have access to heaven—THE CODE! That is to say that we must have our name entered in the Lamb’s Book of Life. All of our recognition, reputation, respect or rank will avail us nothing unless our name has been recorded.
How do we record our name in this most important book of all time? By repenting of our sins and being born again by inviting Jesus Christ into our heart and life. That is the Code that will allow us entry into God’s heaven.
Blessings dear hearts. Draw near to God today, trust Him completely and be a blessing!
– – – Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Aug 21, 2009 | Psalm
Psalm 90:1-2
“Lord, you have been our dwelling place throughout all generations. Before the mountains were born or you brought forth the earth and the world, from everlasting to everlasting you are God.”
“O God, Our Help in Ages Past” is a hymn by Isaac Watts and paraphrases Psalm 90. It originally consisted of nine stanzas. In present usage, however, the hymn is usually limited to stanzas one, two, three, five and nine.
The hymn was originally part of The Psalms of David Imitated in the Language of the New Testament, published by Watts in 1719. It has often been sung for special occasions in England. It was sung in 1941, at a religious service on board HMS Prince of Wales attended by Winston Churchill and Franklin Delano Roosevelt as part of the conference creating the Atlantic Charter. It was also sung at the funeral of Winston Churchill in 1965.
Later composers subsequently incorporated the tune in their own works. For example, George Handel used the tune in an anthem entitled, “O Praise the Lord.”
“Oh God, Our Help In Ages Past“
Our God, our help in ages past,
Our hope for years to come,
Our shelter from the stormy blast,
And our eternal home.
Under the shadow of Thy throne
Thy saints have dwelt secure;
Sufficient is Thine arm alone,
And our defense is sure.
Before the hills in order stood,
Or earth received her frame,
From everlasting Thou art God,
To endless years the same.
A thousand ages in Thy sight
Are like an evening gone;
Short as the watch that ends the night
Before the rising sun.
The busy tribes of flesh and blood,
With all their lives and cares,
Are carried downwards by the flood,
And lost in following years.
O God, our help in ages past,
Our hope for years to come,
Be Thou our guide while troubles last,
And our eternal home.
To access Oh God, Our Help In Ages Past, this week’s inspirational video from GloryScapes.com, please go to: http://www.gloryscapes.com/ogodourhelpinagespast in your browser or click on the image below.
Blessings dear hearts. Draw near to God today, trust Him completely and be a blessing!
– – – Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Aug 20, 2009 | Philippians
Philippians 2:5-7
“Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made Himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness.”
I just read an article today in which an editor confessed a glaring error he made as a young reporter. He was writing about a meal an Amish family had enjoyed—he typed, “fried children” instead of “fried chicken.” He thinks many people stopped reading his column after that glaring mistake.
I am not so sure that today’s title is all that wrong. “Attitude” and “altitude” have something in common. Our attitude can be either up or down. In fact some people even make the comment that they are having a “down” day. That should not be true of victorious Christians.
So how can we maintain an “attitude” that has “altitude”? I am so glad you asked. We have the answer right here in Paul’s letter to the church at Philippi. He says that we should have the same attitude as Christ Jesus.
Wow! That is an amazing bit of instruction—at least it is until we read the rest of the passage. Jesus made Himself nothing, even lowering Himself to the position of a servant. Not many of us are willing to be submissive to others. In fact we most often want to have the highest position.
Pride is an enemy that is always crouching at the door of our life, just waiting to be let loose. We may try to act humble, but given the opportunity, we love to hear words of praise about some little thing we have done.
It is well for us to pattern our life after Christ Jesus. He was always giving of Himself to others. Listen to the last verse of a poem whose author is unknown: “Only one life, yes only one, Now let me say, ‘Thy will be done’; And when at last I’ll hear the call, I know I’ll say ‘twas worth it all’; Only one life,’twill soon be past, Only what’s done for Christ will last.”
Blessings dear hearts. Draw near to God today, trust Him completely and be a blessing!
– – – Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Aug 19, 2009 | Jeremiah
Jeremiah 9:24
“‘Let him who boasts boast about this: that he understands and knows Me, that I am the LORD, who exercises kindness, justice and righteousness on earth, for in these I delight,’ declares the LORD.”
There is a police officer in Phoenix, Arizona, who experienced a life-changing event. He was handsome, a fine officer, married to a beautiful wife and the father of two children.
While he was parked at an intersection, waiting for the light to change, his car was struck and he was engulfed in flames. He survived the fiery crash, but his face was badly disfigured. His beautiful wife had married the man, not because he was handsome, but because of his inner qualities. She stood beside him and loved him as he struggled through rehabilitation and return to duty.
Unfortunately there are those who love for the wrong reasons. They see only the outward appearance and are swept away by their emotions. The reality is that these bodies of our change, either through accident or aging. I can honestly say that my dear wife is more beautiful now than when we married 57 years ago.
In today’s Scripture we see that God finds delight in our boasting about what a great and mighty God we serve. As we praise and glorify His name, He takes delight. Isn’t it amazing that we can delight the God who created the entire universe. I want to boast about His greatness with all of my strength. What a mighty God we serve!
Blessings dear hearts. Draw near to God today, trust Him completely and be a blessing!
– – – Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Aug 18, 2009 | Deuteronomy
Deuteronomy 5:21
“You shall not covet your neighbor’s wife. You shall not set your desire on your neighbor’s house or land, his manservant or maidservant, his ox or donkey, or anything that belongs to your neighbor.”
“If I only had that job I would be content!” “If I was good looking and talented like her I would be popular and have no problems!” “If I was young and full of energy I would be able to conquer the world!” “If I was older and more mature I would have no problems!” “If I had something more I would be content!”
Learning to be contented with what we have is sometimes a difficult task. All too often people feel that just to possess something additional will satisfy that lack in their life.
The Apostle Paul experienced many ups and downs in his life and ministry. He suffered many things from his persecutors, but also had periods of plenty. In Philippians 4:12-13, Paul has this to share with believers of all ages: “I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do everything through Him who gives me strength.”
Are you content? Do you find satisfaction with what the Lord has chosen to bless you with? Can you sincerely agree with what Paul wrote in I Timothy 6:6-8? “But godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it. But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that.”
Blessings dear hearts. Draw near to God today, trust Him completely and be a blessing!
– – – Pastor Cecil
