by Pastor Cecil | Sep 23, 2015 | Romans
Romans 5:6-8
“For when we were still without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. For scarcely for a righteous man will one die; yet perhaps for a good man someone would even dare to die. But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”
This year, September 23, 2015, is designated as Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement. It is the most sacred day for Jews. A day for confessing the sins of the people as well as their individual sins. The solemn day is marked by deep contrition and fasting.
Unfortunately, most Christians pay very little attention to the seven Feasts that were established by God and given to Moses. This is one of those days. As we read today’s Scripture, we realize that Jesus is our atoning sacrifice.
What does atonement mean? Basically we can say it means paying a price for sins that have been committed. We can never pay the steep price that is required for our sins. There is no way we can be good enough or to accomplish enough good deeds that merit the atonement for what we are guilty of. Jesus paid the price!
Even though Jesus is our atoning sacrifice, it is important that we go through our memory banks and recall the things that we have done that are displeasing to God as well as hurting others. Let us purpose in our hearts to ask forgiveness for anything that we have done that is displeasing to the Lord. If restitution is required, so be it! If confessing our faults to others is required, so be it!
May God richly bless you as you bless others by your words and actions!
– – – Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Sep 22, 2015 | Philippians
Philippians 1:9-11
“And this I pray, that your love may abound still more and more in knowledge and all discernment, that you may approve the things that are excellent, that you may be sincere and without offense till the day of Christ, being filled with the fruits of righteousness which are by Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God.”
All too often our prayers for others are limited to their physical or financial needs. While that is well and good, it seems that it is very shortsighted. If we were to study the prayers in the Word of God, we would find that seldom are those prayers directed toward healing or financial gain.
Paul is praying for the saints who live in Philippi. It is interesting to notice what he is praying for concerning them: That their love may abound more and more; that they may have more knowledge and discernment; that they may approve of things that are excellent; that they may be sincere; that they may be without offense until the day of Christ, and that they may be filled with the fruits of righteousness which are by Christ Jesus. What a fantastic prayer! I would love to have those prayers directed at me.
The question arises about the state of our prayer life. Are we more interested in the things that make us or others comfortable or are we interested in what will make us fruitful? I fear that most of the time we desire to be at ease in Zion.
God calls us to be prayer warriors. As prayer warriors we need to pray and encourage others to be strong and vital in serving the Lord. We need to pray that spiritual insight will be given and maturity increased. Along with our prayers we need to call or write to let others know that we are there for them.
May God richly bless you as you bless others by your words and actions!
– – – Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Sep 21, 2015 | Philippians
Philippians 1:3-6a
“I thank my God upon every remembrance of you, always in every prayer of mine making request for you all with joy, for your fellowship in the gospel from the first day until now, being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it.”
For some of us old folks the name Bob Hope elicits warm memories. One of his signature songs was the title of today’s Blessings From the Heart. Memories are very precious things. Memories will always remain with us. Our precious loved ones may have slipped off into eternity, but the memories that they have left are always there.
I have often mentioned to families that I meet with prior to officiating a funeral service that the greatest inheritance that can ever be given are their sweet memories. Families may fuss, fight, and sue over property and funds, but memories are irrevocable.
Frequently I receive email or snail mail messages from individuals or families that I once served as pastor. They often share the memory of some incident that has remained with them over the years. The flood of memories that I experience fills me with determination to keep on keeping on.
With or without such messages, we can receive encouragement as we recall people who have been a part of our life and ministry. Please consider sending a prayer and a message to them. It will bless you as well as them.
May God richly bless you as you bless others by your words and actions!
– – – Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Sep 18, 2015 | 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 | Sep 17, 2015 | Psalm
Psalm 51:10-11
“Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me. Do not cast me away from Your presence, and do not take Your Holy Spirit from me.”
It sometimes feels as if we are continually appealing to the Lord to forgive some sin we have committed in thought, word or deed. We are sinners by birth and without a Savior, we are eternally lost. Even after receiving Jesus Christ as our personal Savior we find that there are thoughts or actions that need forgiveness.
I heard the story of a saintly man of God who seemed to constantly live close to the Lord. Someone asked him the secret of consistently having a victorious Christian life. His response was electrifying and very revealing; “I try not to allow more than one minute to pass between my sin and my confession.”
Most of us are familiar with first John 1:9; “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” Knowing it and practicing it are two different things. The longer we try to excuse our actions instead of confessing them as a sin the farther we draw away from God.
If you want victory in your life constantly be prepared to confess when you fail or fall short. There was only one perfect human born on this earth and he was nailed to the cross. Not for His sins, but for ours! Restore me Lord to a closer walk with You.
May God richly bless you as you bless others by your words and actions!
– – – Pastor Cecil
