by Pastor Cecil | Sep 2, 2014 | 2 Corinthians
2 Corinthians 5:17
Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.
I enjoy hearing people talk about what they do. I recall listening to fighter pilots talk about the terror of combat and how close they came to death. I have also been enthralled as deep sea fishermen in Newfoundland related their close calls with death.
The apostle Paul was a tent-maker by trade. I can almost visualize his calloused fingers and hands. I am sure that there were some tents that bore marks from years of stretching and stitching the fabric to repair the tents. He knew when a tent could be repaired or when it was time to throw the tattered remains of the old tent away and go about making a new one.
In today’s Scripture, Paul uses his profession as a tent-maker to illustrate a spiritual truth: This human body of ours is not going to survive. There are those who try to reverse the aging process in various ways, but nothing is going to keep us from coming to the end of our life and entering eternity.
It is sad that most of us spend far too much time and effort on things that will pass away. By spending so much time on earthly things, we neglect the things that really count—those things that have eternal value.
Spending time with God in prayer and reading His Word will prepare us for that heavenly home that will never pass away. Which home are you spending your time and effort to build?
May God richly bless you as you bless others by your words and actions!
– – – Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Sep 1, 2014 | 1 Corinthians
1 Corinthians 15:58
Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.
Please indulge me by reading today’s Scripture over two or three times. Having done so do you see something a little strange? When Paul uses the term “stand firm,” It is a labor for Christ. It reminds me of something I read in the book by David Benson, Miracle In Moscow. (I think it is available from Amazon). David has granted me permission to quote from it. During the cold war he risked his life to deliver Bibles to believers in the USSR. It was 6 months since he had contact with the Christian brother and as he stood at the place where he was to meet his contact, he did not appear and David had no way of locating him in a city of 7 million people. Let me quote from David’s book:
“I began to pray for guidance, but before I could get one word out, God said, Benson, for once keep quiet! Before the sun goes down you will see My glory.’ Then the great promise God gave the children of Israel; ‘Fear not, stand still and see the salvation of the Lord!’ flashed into mind.
“At that time of year the sun over Moscow goes down around 4:00 P.M. That gave two hours to work! Also I was to ‘stand still.’ I did not take that literally for to stand like a statue in front of the Bolshoi Theater with luggage would certainly draw the attention of some policeman, who at best might think I was a lost tourist and offer his unwanted aid. I took ‘stand still’ to mean that I should not try to figure a way out of my predicament, that I must do something contrary to what I thought I should do.
—-On former trips to I had bought all kinds of of plays, speeches and poetry readings recorded on long play discs. These I shipped back to the States and used to improve my Russian. The only play I had been unable to find was one by Chekhov.
Across the square from the Bolshoi theater is the Metropole Hotel, a grand structure built by the Tsars. It is now used for tourists, and most of the rooms were outfitted with listening devices. —
I took a long shot, not really knowing why. With Bibles in bags and clothing, I walked into this hall lined on both sides with desks behind which sat Communist agents ‘ready to help you with any of your travel problems.’ I had a problem all right, but no one in that room must know it. I recognized a woman I had met before. — She never smiled but was all efficiency and obviously a sold-out Marxist. I knew if I wanted answers she would have them. — As I asked about the Chekhov plays I was well aware of the large number of Bibles I carried.”
I will break away from his narrative to say that this woman scribbled out an address of a particular record shop and said “You will find everything you want there.” She emphasized the words I have highlighted. The cab driver used the same words and the same emphasis; “You will find everything you want there.”
As David arrived near the record shop and placed his bags on the icy sidewalk he was aware of many people rushing up and down. As he stared in the shop window, he thought of the song, “Fools Rush in Where Angels Fear to Tread.” David picked up his bags and was bumped into by a short, stocky man. It was Vitya! The contact to whom he was to deliver the Bibles.
Only by the grace of God was this wonderful miracle performed. The Communist authorities had moved Vitya and there was no way for him to let David know where he was, but God knew where Vitya was. As David stood firm, the Lord did a mighty thing.
Are we standing firm in our daily walk with the Lord? Are we trying to do God’s work our way hoping it will please God? God is not interested in our efforts to do His work our way. He is looking for followers who will stand firm and allow Him to lead us.
May God richly bless you as you bless others by your words and actions!
– – – Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Aug 29, 2014 | Luke
Luke 15:19-20
So he got up and went to his father. But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him.
One of my most pleasurable jobs as a pastor is helping families restore broken relationships. I once was called upon to officiate at a funeral service. The son of the deceased told me that he had not spoken to his sister for years and wanted me to reconcile them before the service. Right! Just like that!
Less than an hour before the service I met with the two and their families. Each of them had ten or fifteen children, spouses and others on their side. He and his family were on one side and she and her family on the other side of the aisle. I had prayed for just the right words and to this day cannot recall what Scripture I used. I had just finished when the brother stood and walked across the aisle and hugged his sister. The two families merged with great joy.
Fanny J. Crosby lived from 1820 to 1915. This remarkable lady never let problems keep her away from the Lord. Her blindness as an infant meant that she spent her entire life without physical sight, but was blessed with a keen spiritual sight.
When she was only eight years old she wrote the following poem: Oh, what a happy child I am, although I cannot see! I am resolved that in this world contented I will be! How many blessings I enjoy that other people do not! So weep or sigh because I am blind, I cannot – nor I will not.
The hymn, Draw Me Nearer expresses her desire to draw nearer to her blessed Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.
Draw Me Nearer
I am Thine, O Lord, I have heard Thy voice,
And it told Thy love to me;
But I long to rise in the arms of faith
And be closer drawn to Thee.
Refrain:
Draw me nearer, nearer blessed Lord,
To the cross where Thou hast died;
Draw me nearer, nearer, nearer blessed Lord,
To Thy precious, bleeding side.
Consecrate me now to Thy service, Lord,
By the pow’r of grace divine;
Let my soul look up with a steadfast hope,
And my will be lost in Thine.
Refrain:
Draw me nearer, nearer blessed Lord,
To the cross where Thou hast died;
Draw me nearer, nearer, nearer blessed Lord,
To Thy precious, bleeding side.
Oh, the pure delight of a single hour
That before Thy throne I spend,
When I kneel in prayer, and with Thee, my God
I commune as friend with friend!
Refrain:
Draw me nearer, nearer blessed Lord,
To the cross where Thou hast died;
Draw me nearer, nearer, nearer blessed Lord,
To Thy precious, bleeding side.
There are depths of love that I cannot know
Till I cross the narrow sea;
There are heights of joy that I may not reach
Till I rest in peace with Thee.
Refrain:
Draw me nearer, nearer blessed Lord,
To the cross where Thou hast died;
Draw me nearer, nearer, nearer blessed Lord,
To Thy precious, bleeding side.
To access Draw Me Nearer, this week’s inspirational video fromGloryScapes™ Christian Music Hymns & Songs, please go to:http://www.gloryscapes.com/drawmenearer/ 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 28, 2014 | Job
Job 1:20-21
At this, Job got up and tore his robe and shaved his head. Then he fell to the ground in worship and said:‘Naked I came from my mother’s womb,and naked I will depart.The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away; may the name of the Lord be praised.’
Over the years I have come to appreciate the book of Job. It is amazing that this very righteous man could lose all of his wealth, most of his servants, and worst of all, his ten children. Having lost one daughter, I know something of the heartache that must have seized him.
It brings us to consider what is important in life. We know that the things of this world, even the people of this world, will pass away, but there is a glorious eternity waiting for all who will receive Jesus Christ as personal Savior.
It is not what we do that merits that wonderful home in glory that is waiting for us. It is only by the precious atoning blood of Jesus that we have the confident assurance that our name is written down in glory.
Job could look beyond the horrible losses in his life and see that God is good. Some people wait for health or wealth in order to praise the Lord. Job could not have known what was going on in heaven between God and Satan that resulted in his pain. The one thing he did know: “The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away;may the name of the Lord be praised.” I want that kind of faith!
May God richly bless you as you bless others by your words and actions!
– – – Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Aug 27, 2014 | John
John 14:15-17
If you love Me, keep My commands. And I will ask the Father, and He will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever—the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept Him, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him. But you know Him, for He lives with you and will be in you.
Years ago I was listening to a sermon tape of Donald Grey Barnhouse. (Yes it was the old reel to reel type). For that time it was state-of-the-art.) He related that a lady in his church (Let’s call her Jane) was traveling to a conference with three other women. One of them mentioned that they were going to have drinks and asked Jane if she would like to join them.
Jane had recently committed her life to the Lord and was not living the same lifestyle she previously lived. In reply to their invitation she asked them to wait just a moment, then she prayed, “Holy Spirit do you want a slug of liquor?” Then to the woman who had invited her, she said, “The Holy Spirit and I say no.”
Wow! I am sure it became very quiet in that car as they continued their journey. As we read the last few words of today’s Scripture we find a truth that many times is overlooked; “He lives with you and will be in you.” Stop and ask where you have been or are now taking the Holy Spirit. If He was visible would you feel comfortable having Him there?
There is another aspect to this issue. Are we making the decisions about where we are going? Since the Holy Spirit lives within should we not seek His guidance in our life? It means surrender to self, but it will result in victory.
May God richly bless you as you bless others by your words and actions!
– – – Pastor Cecil
