by Pastor Cecil | Sep 30, 2009 | James
James 1:2-3
“Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance.”
Someone has said that happiness is the result of something good or pleasing happening. Joy on the other hand is the choice a person makes in spite of what happens.
Unfortunately I have counseled many people across the years who behaved as if they had been “baptized in vinegar.” Some of these people have been Christians. I know that their demeanor has been a terrible witness to non-believers.
I have said it before and I will say it again; “The way we live is far more vital than what we say.” I do not want to imply that we are not to share our faith with others, but it needs to be reflected in how we live.
Sadly, we have recently seen prominent religious figures that were vocal proponents of holy living, only to be exposed as participating in the various sinful practices they have preached against.
Cutting to the chase, I would like each of us to prayerfully answer the following questions: If Jesus was standing beside us, would He be pleased with the things we say? The music we listen to? The programs we watch on television? The things we read? The activities we engage in? The people we associate with? This could go on and on couldn’t it? I pray that we will expose our actions to His scrutiny.
Blessings dear hearts. Draw near to God today, trust Him completely and be a blessing!
– – – Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Sep 29, 2009 | Philippians
Philippians 1:20
“I eagerly expect and hope that I will in no way be ashamed, but will have sufficient courage so that now as always Christ will be exalted in my body, whether by life or by death.”
I can remember back in the good old days (come to think about it, I was neither good nor old) when stores would begin to set up their Christmas displays the day after Thanksgiving. As I say, that was in the good old days.
It was just before Labor Day, which this year was September 7th, when I walked into a well known wholesale store. When, what to my wondering eyes should appear, but a miniature sleigh, and eight tiny reindeer.
You are right! Here was the Christmas display complete with all of the worldly paraphernalia commonly associated with the holiday. It aggravates me to no end when I see such commercialization.
Thinking about this rush to celebrate, I wonder just how eager we are to anticipate the great time we will have in glory. Think about being released from pain and distress! Think about all of our tears and sorrows being erased! Think about the best experience you have ever had and then multiply it maybe a gazillion times…maybe even a number we don’t know…yet!
As someone has said, “If that don’t light your fire, your wood is wet!” As believers in the Lord Jesus Christ and the promise of heaven that He has given to us, we should be living in a state of eager anticipation. Are you? If not you should ask the Lord to part the windows of heaven just a little and give you a preview.
Blessings dear hearts. Draw near to God today, trust Him completely and be a blessing!
– – – Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Sep 28, 2009 | Acts
Acts 9:17
“Then Ananias went to the house and entered it. Placing his hands on Saul, he said, ‘Brother Saul, the Lord—Jesus, who appeared to you on the road as you were coming here—has sent me so that you may see again and be filled with the Holy Spirit.’ ”
Ananias is a name that we read about three times in the New Testament. We read about one in Acts 5, who tried to cheat God and paid for it with his life. There was also a man named Ananias who was the High Priest. Then there was the third.
In Damascus there was a man by the name of Ananias. We know very little about him other than he was a disciple. In Acts 22, Paul describes Ananias as a devout observer of the law and one who was highly respected by all the Jews who lived in Damascus.
So, other than that, what makes this devout disciple of the Lord Jesus Christ so special? I think it is the fact that he was obedient in doing what he was called to do. He never preached to multitudes or performed mighty miracles (as far as we know), he simply placed his life on the line and went to one man, Saul, and laid his hands on him to receive his sight.
Whoopee! Big deal! At first glance it may seem to be a rather insignificant thing (other than the fact he could have lost his life) to pray for one single man. However, he had no idea who that man would become.
To Ananias, Saul was the enemy who had been sent with authority to destroy the fledging church in Damascus. To God and the rest of us, Saul would one day be known as Paul and would turn the world upside down for Jesus!
Never wait until there is a crowd to witness to. The very person you witness to may be the next Paul. Are you obedient to look for just one man?
Blessings dear hearts. Draw near to God today, trust Him completely and be a blessing!
– – – Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Sep 25, 2009 | Luke
Luke 2:28-32
“Simeon took Him in his arms and praised God, saying: ‘Sovereign Lord, as You have promised, You now dismiss Your servant in peace. For my eyes have seen Your salvation, which You have prepared in the sight of all people, a light for revelation to the Gentiles and for glory to your people Israel.'”
Charles Wesley lived from 1707 to 1788. During his life he wrote hundreds of hymns and poems and was one of the most prolific English poets. Back in 1744 he wrote the wonderful hymn, “Come, Thou Long-Expected Jesus.” In the first verse he introduces Jesus Christ as the fulfillment of Israel’s promised Messiah.
Isaiah 7:14, spoke of a virgin giving birth to a child whose name “Immanuel” which means “God with us.” In Isaiah 9:6, this long-expected One would be called “Wonderful, Counselor, the Mighty God, eternal Father, the Prince of Peace.”
Because of these and many other prophecies, many devout Jews prayed earnestly for the day when He would arrive. Luke 2 tells of Simeon, a man of faith who was “looking for the consolation of Israel.” When he saw Jesus as an infant, Simeon knew that this Child was the fulfillment of his messianic hope. Charles Wesley was borrowing from this passage when he described Jesus in this song as “Israel’s strength and consolation.”
The second verse tells us that Jesus was “born a child and yet a King.” As the One who is both God and man, Jesus was able to satisfy God’s wrath completely by dying on the cross for our sins. When Wesley wrote about Jesus’ “all sufficient merit,” he was referring to Christ’s ability to bring us to salvation.
“Come Thou Long-Expected Jesus“
Come, Thou long-expected Jesus,
born to set Thy people free;
from our fears and sins release us;
let us find our rest in Thee.
Israel’s strength and consolation,
hope of all the earth Thou art;
dear desire of every nation,
joy of every longing heart.
Born Thy people to deliver,
born a child, and yet a King,
born to reign in us forever,
now Thy gracious kingdom bring.
By Thine own eternal Spirit
rule in all our hearts alone;
by Thine own sufficient merit,
raise us to Thy glorious throne.
To access Come Thou Long-Expected Jesus, this week’s inspirational video from GloryScapes.com, please go to: http://www.gloryscapes.com/comethoulongexpectedjesus 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 | Sep 24, 2009 | Matthew
Matthew 5:11-12
“Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.”
I have just been accused! It is not the accusation that disturbs me or even causes me to be alarmed. As a matter of fact it is a compliment of the highest order.
Here is the story. Two of my friends were meeting this morning and in their conversation, my name was mentioned. One of them asked the other if he had ever heard me say that I was not doing too well. They agreed that I always said, “I am doing great!”
As I reflect on this conversation, it has confirmed once again that our attitude is a choice. I can either choose to be overwhelmed by the situations of life, or I can obey the Word of God.
Repeatedly we are told to rejoice, be exceedingly glad, possess pure joy or other such descriptive terms. It does not matter what the circumstances of my life are, I choose to rejoice.
The fruit of my choice is that I allow the Lord to be the center of my life rather than the thundercloud that may be hovering over my head. So thank you very much for that accusation—I can be counted upon to be “guilty” of this infraction!
Blessings dear hearts. Draw near to God today, trust Him completely and be a blessing!
– – – Pastor Cecil
