by Pastor Cecil | Jul 31, 2012 | Matthew
Matthew 28:18-20
Then Jesus came to them and said, ‘All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to Me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.
In the middle of the night I was awake and thinking of the day so long ago when I stood, along with several hundred other Officer School graduates, in the middle of the parade ground at Lackland AFB, in San Antonio, Texas. After a long and exhaustive training, we were about to be commissioned as Second Lieutenants in the United States Air Force.
Finally, a high-ranking officer rose and asked us to raise our right hands and repeat after him: I, (state your full name), do solemnly swear or affirm, that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States, against all enemies, foreign and domestic, that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same, and that I will obey the orders of the President of the United States, and the orders of the officers appointed over me, according to regulations and the Uniform Code of Military Justice, so help me God.
As we were dismissed, hats were thrown into the air and new gold bars that marked our rank as Second Lieutenants were pinned onto our lapels. For better or worse we were now called upon to obey the commission we had just been given. Ours was not to reason why, ours was just to do or die!
In today’s Scripture we read of the Great Commission that Jesus left for His church. It is imperative that we understand that we are not our own, but are bought with the price of the precious blood of our Savior. To fulfill His commission may lead many of us through deep water and trying circumstances. May we be faithful to His call!
Blessings dear hearts. Draw near to God today, trust Him completely and be a blessing!
—Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Jul 30, 2012 | Romans
Romans 11:33-36
Oh, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable His judgments, and His paths beyond tracing out! Who has known the mind of the Lord? Or who has been His counselor? Who has ever given to God, that God should repay them? For from Him and through Him and for Him are all things. To Him be the glory forever! Amen.
Unscrutable. What a strange sounding word. The actual spelling is inscrutable, but I much prefer the wrong spelling. Chuck Swindoll recalls one of his professors in seminary saying to his class, “Never try to unscrew the unscrutable!” Basically the word means the qualities and ways of God that are so far beyond the intellect and reasoning capacity of our human minds that we can never fully know them.
I think it was in this context that Chuck commented that probably one of the first words that will be uttered when we get to heaven will be: Ahhhh! Our questions will all be answered. We will finally be able to understand it all. Like the song we used to sing; By and by, when the morning comes, when the saints of God are gathered home, we’ll tell the story how we’ve overcome, for we’ll understand it better by and by. I think it will be more that we will finally be able to see things from God’s perspective.
As we walk through this life trying to please God there will be many things that we will not understand. I want to encourage each of us that it is not the understanding that God is looking for, but the trust in Him even when things seem to have no reason. Have faith, trust totally in the grace of God and we will understand it completely by and by.
Blessings dear hearts. Draw near to God today, trust Him completely and be a blessing!
—Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Jul 27, 2012 | Isaiah
Isaiah 26:3
You will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on You, because he trusts in You.
I recall listening to a sermon tape by Donald Grey Barnhouse many years ago. He told of how he had just completed a meeting many miles from his home in Philadelphia, when he was given a telegram that his son had been in a serious accident and was near death.
Travel at that time was by rail and as Dr. Barnhouse entered his sleeper, his spirit was greatly disturbed. He knew that it would be hours before his train arrived back home and that there was nothing he could do but leave his son in God’s hands.
As he prayed, he recalled a phrase from Isaiah 65:25, ” . . . but dust will be the serpent’s food.” He prayed for the Lord to feed the serpent his dust and to give him a good night’s rest. The next thing he knew the porter was touching his shoulder to tell him that they were nearing Philadelphia. The Lord had answered his prayer.
If you have been having trouble getting to sleep at night, ask the Lord to give you His blessed rest and to feed the serpent dust.
To You Before the Close of Day
To you before the close of day,
Creator of the world we pray!
Your grace and peace to us allow,
And be our guard and keeper now.
From evil dreams defend our sight,
From all the terrors of the night.
From all deluding thoughts that creep,
On heedless minds disarmed by sleep.
O Father, this we ask be done,
Through Jesus Christ, Your only Son.
Who with the Holy Spirit and with You,
Shall live and reign all ages through. Amen.
To access To You Before the Close of Day, this week’s inspirational video from GloryScapes™ Christian Music Hymns & Songs, please go to: http://www.gloryscapes.com/toyoubeforethecloseofday 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 | Jul 26, 2012 | Philippians
Philippians 1:21-24
For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain. If I am to go on living in the body, this will mean fruitful labor for me. Yet what shall I choose? I do not know! I am torn between the two: I desire to depart and be with Christ, which is better by far; but it is more necessary for you that I remain in the body.
More than once I have had people come into my office with a defeated attitude. They feel at the end of themselves because they lack purpose in their life. In most instances they were more interested in how they felt than in seeking a way to be of service to the Lord and to others. Are you at that place in your life?
Paul was in prison and facing death. He never knew from moment to moment how much time he had left on this earth. In the face of his impending death he was writing these words to give comfort to each of us facing an unknown future. It is not as important to know the future as it is to know the God who controls the future.
Paul had a unique purpose for his life. It was to serve his Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. It really did not matter to Paul whether he lived or died. If he died his pain would be ended and he would be with the Lord and have that peace that is free from all suffering.
Therefore he was torn emotionally. He was eager for the eternity with the Lord that awaited him, but he had PURPOSE while he was still here. That purpose was to minister to those who crossed his path. With that ultimate purpose in mind he could resound with a clarion cry: “For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain.” I desire that to be my purpose as well.
Blessings dear hearts. Draw near to God today, trust Him completely and be a blessing!
—Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Jul 25, 2012 | Philippians
Philippians 1:12-14
Now I want you to know, brothers and sisters, that what has happened to me has actually served to advance the gospel. As a result, it has become clear throughout the whole palace guard and to everyone else that I am in chains for Christ.And because of my chains, most of the brothers and sisters have become confident in the Lord and dare all the more to proclaim the gospel without fear.
I lie in a hospital bed with tubes and gadgets attached and strange beeping sounds all around. I know I have just had a triple heart by-pass surgery, but I need to be about the work of the Lord. I have a funeral scheduled as well as other commitments. Why am I here? Does God know what He is doing?
All of that took place back in early February 2011. Yes, God did know what He was doing and the lessons I learned during that medical emergency remain with me today. I have come more and more to realize that God places us in difficult situations in order for us to shine brightly with His love and grace.
The Apostle Paul was one of the greatest champions of the faith the world has ever known. We might be tempted to feel that God would make the way easier for such a faithful servant. Instead he endured beating, stoning, lashing, shipwreck, and prison after prison. In fact he is writing the book of Philippians from prison.
Rather than asking himself why God allowed him to be treated this way, he rejoices that he has been counted worthy to suffer for Christ. Notice in today’s Scripture that even the palace guards were aware that he was there for proclaiming Jesus as Lord. I am very confident that many of the guards became believers because of his witness. Why was he there? Why are we in our own dungeon? To proclaim the good news of Jesus!
Blessings dear hearts. Draw near to God today, trust Him completely and be a blessing!
—Pastor Cecil
