by Pastor Cecil | Jun 23, 2014 | 2 Chronicles
2 Chronicles 7:14
If My people, who are called by My name, will humble themselves and pray and seek My face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land.
Johnny and his younger sister, Judy, had been outside playing when Judy rushed into the house crying. Judy told her mother that Johnny had hit her. Their mother asked Johnny why he had hit his sister. He replied: “I didn’t hit her—she just ran into my fist!”
It is always easier to blame someone else for our sins and transgressions than to confess them ourselves. This is especially true as we look at our sin-sick world. We cluck our tongues and pray for God to change our rotten society.
I certainly do not mean to imply that we are to accept what is going on in our world, but how does God expect us to respond? I think the answer is that we need to look into the mirror of God’s Word.
In today’s Scripture, God is speaking to His people. That means those of us who are born-again believers. So what does this passage say to us? 1. Humble ourselves. 2. Pray. 3. Seek God’s face. 4. Turn from our wicked ways.
Before we can ever hope to change our world, we have to examine ourselves and discover areas of sin and compromise that lurk deep within. We can never hope to see our world change until we are willing to experience a change in our own life. Are you willing to change?
May God richly bless you as you bless others by your words and actions!
– – – Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Jun 20, 2014 | 2 Kings
2 Kings 6:17
And Elisha prayed, and said, ‘LORD, I pray, open his eyes that he may see.’ Then the LORD opened the eyes of the young man, and he saw. And behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha.
This passage is one of my favorites. Elisha, by the power of the Holy Spirit, had been supplying the king of Israel up-to-date reports on any traps that the king of Aram had been setting for him. When the king of Aram discovered that it was Elisha who had been warning the king of Israel, he sent troops by night to arrest Elisha and bring him back to him.
In the morning the servant of Elisha saw the armed force of Aram surrounding them. In utter terror he reported to Elisha that they were surrounded and there was no hope of escape for them. It was then that Elisha prayed this prayer to allow his servant what he already was able to see. Oh, how I wish we could see the army of the Lord that He has placed around us.
Clara Fiske Scott lived from 1841 to 1897 when she died after being thrown from a buggy by a runaway horse. She was a prolific hymn writer, but only this week’s featured hymn is still in circulation. Think of her hymn as a prayer such as Elisha had prayed so long ago.
Open My Eyes
Open my eyes, that I may see,
glimpses of truth Thou hast for me;
Place in my hands the wonderful key,
that shall unclasp and set me free.
Refrain: Silently now I wait for Thee,
ready my God, Thy will to see.
Open my eyes, illumine me, Spirit divine.
Open my ears, that I may hear,
voices of truth Thou sendest clear;
And while the wave notes fall on my ear,
everything false will disappear.
Refrain: Silently now I wait for Thee,
ready my God, Thy will to see.
Open my eyes, illumine me, Spirit divine.
Open my mouth, and let me bear,
gladly the warm truth everywhere;
Open my heart and let me prepare,
love with Thy children thus to share.
Refrain: Silently now I wait for Thee,
ready my God, Thy will to see.
Open my eyes, illumine me, Spirit divine.
To access Open My Eyes, this week’s inspirational video fromGloryScapes™ Christian Music Hymns & Songs, please go to:http://www.gloryscapes.com/openmyeyes 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 | Jun 19, 2014 | Hebrews
Hebrews 3:12-13
See to it, brothers and sisters, that none of you has a sinful, unbelieving heart that turns away from the living God. But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called ‘Today,’ so that none of you may be hardened by sin’s deceitfulness.
There are a few things I have been aware of across the years. The first is that we need encouragement and the second is that we need to encourage each other. We might think of it as the ministry of encouragement. You do not need a degree in divinity to minister to those around you. You just need to remind them of Jesus.
The writer of Hebrews starts this passage by giving a personal challenge: “See to it, brothers and sisters, that none of you has a sinful, unbelieving heart that turns away from the living God.” Looking at that passage from a different point of view we see that turning away from God results in a sinful and unbelieving heart.
How tragic to see the shipwreck of people who turn away from God. What are we to do about it? The writer is very clear; “Encourage one another daily.” We have a purpose in life and that purpose is a daily purpose.
Having spent time in police and military work, I know what it is to be given an assignment to be completed that day. Failure to accomplish the assignment could often result in lives being lost. It is a far greater responsibility to rescue the perishing and care for the dying. That is OUR ASSIGNMENT!
May God richly bless you as you bless others by your words and actions!
– – – Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Jun 18, 2014 | Genesis
Genesis 40:21-23
He restored the chief cup bearer to his position, so that he once again put the cup into Pharaoh’s hand—but he impaled the chief baker, just as Joseph had said to them in his interpretation. The chief cup bearer, however, did not remember Joseph; he forgot him.
Promises! How many times have we had our hearts crushed because the promises that were made have been violated? It seems as if we live in a time when our promise to fulfill a vow is null and void. If we feel like it, okay. If it is easier to do something else–forget the promise!
It is the same way with our relationship with the Lord. We may remember when we were filled with the thrill and excitement of our new walk with Christ. We promised to give our best to the Master, but that promise faded in the light of those temporary pleasures that make us feel good.
Here is a question I want to pose. I frequently ask the question of myself, so this is not intended to sound as if I am Mr. Goody-Goody Two Shoes. Here is the million dollar question: Ten seconds after we breathe our last breath on this earth, what will be important?
Power, prestige, pleasure, popularity, plush surroundings–they will have no value. There is an old quotation that seems as if it is a Scriptural passage, but I can’t find it in the Bible. Here it is: “Only one life, t’will soon be past, only what’s done for Christ will last!”
Remember your first love and the joy you had in serving the Lord!
May God richly bless you as you bless others by your words and actions!
– – – Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Jun 17, 2014 | 1 Peter
1 Peter 5:5-6
Young men, in the same way be submissive to those who are older. All of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because, ‘God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.’ Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that He may lift you up in due time. Cast all your anxiety on Him because He cares for you.
It has been a long time since I first took my driving test, was given a driver’s license, and was able to operate my dad’s car. It was always a mystery to me why he was so ashen faced and somber when the keys were placed into my youthful hands and I rocketed out to the car and backed carefully out of the driveway.
I discovered the reason for his terrified appearance when my own kids applied for their first driver’s license and waited eagerly for my shaking hands to deliver the car keys into their all too eager hands. Ah, the passage of time has a way of bringing around memories of the past—some good, some terrifying.
Our eagerness to be the one to operate a motor vehicle is an object lesson to teach us about our spiritual life —WE WANT TO DRIVE! We may not be qualified or adequately aware of the hazards which may lie up ahead, but we still want to take control.
The Apostle Peter tells the young men of the world to demonstrate humility. While this is a quality that is greatly prized by writers of Scripture, unfortunately it is not esteemed in our society. We are more prone to see strutting, swaggering, bragging, and disdain by many young people who are disrespectful of their elders.
I hope you caught the words in this passage, “. . . In the same way.” Immediately we should ask ourselves the question, “In the same way – what?” Peter has just been admonishing the elders to come under the authority of the Lord — serving in humility to Christ.
This strong, carnal desire to be our own master is contrary to God’s pattern for His people. We are told to be gentle and humble before Him and with others. In the Old Testament book of Micah, we find this same pattern established. It tells us that, from the very beginning, God has desired a yielded and humble people. Look what it says in chapter 6, verse 8: “He has showed you, O man, what is good. And what does the LORD require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.”
That, my dear friend, is cutting to the bottom line. If you really and truly desire to find peace with God, and harmony with those around you, do things God’s way. These words in Micah are words of instruction for the daily walk of the believer.
So you want to drive, do you? If you insist, but I want to warn you of the dangers you face. The way is far too treacherous for us to do the driving. Our inexperience can only lead to disaster. It is so much better to let the One who knows the way control the wheel of our life.
May God richly bless you as you bless others by your words and actions!
– – – Pastor Cecil
