by Pastor Cecil | May 20, 2014 | Isaiah
Isaiah 52:11
Depart, depart, go out from there! Touch no unclean thing! Come out from it and be pure, you who carry the articles of the Lord’s house.
Have you ever wondered why modern-day Christians are so weak and anemic? They may have the desire to live a victorious life, but regardless of the good intentions, there is an evil influence that seems to pervade.
I was just reading about a family that began experiencing traumatic changes in their family. The husband’s business began to go from bad to worse. Then the husband and wife experienced marital conflicts that were new and unexpected.
As they prayed and sought counsel, they were asked if there was something new in their home? They could only remember a small troll type doll they had purchased while on vacation. They immediately removed the doll and destroyed it. The unclean thing was put out of their life and Christ was on the throne. There was a dramatic change for the better in their family and business.
We have allowed many unclean things to encroach upon our homes and personal lives. It may be a type of music, pornography, fetishes, or any number of things. If you are feeling the blast of evil in your home or personal life, I urge you to spend time with the Lord and allow the Holy Spirit to show you the unclean thing that needs to be removed.
May God richly bless you as you bless others by your words and actions!
– – – Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | May 19, 2014 | 2 Corinthians
2 Thessalonians 3:7-9
For you yourselves know how you ought to follow our example. We were not idle when we were with you, nor did we eat anyone’s food without paying for it. On the contrary, we worked night and day, laboring and toiling so that we would not be a burden to any of you. We did this, not because we do not have the right to such help, but in order to offer ourselves as a model for you to imitate.
“OUGHTAWANTA!” You can check your dictionaries or thesauruses and I can almost assure you that you will not find this word. I have thought of this word for quite a little while now and becomes more evident all of the time.
Once I served on the staff of a large church. The senior pastor had a telephone number that ended with the digits 0202. One of the staff members commented during a staff meeting that he always felt A guilt complex when he called that number. He said all he could think about was: OUGHT TO! – OUGHT TO!
I still remember that chorus we used to sing in Sunday School: “Everybody ought to go to Sunday School, to Sunday School, to Sunday School. The men and the women and the boys and the girls, everybody ought to go to Sunday School.”
In today’s Scripture, Paul is putting himself out as an example to follow. It is not just putting people on a guilt trip, but living a life that is Christlike and righteous. He emphasizes the wanta rather than the oughta. The question I ask myself as well as passing it on to you is are we sharing guilt or desire? I hope it will be the desire to be more like Jesus because they see Him living in us.
May God richly bless you as you bless others by your words and actions!
– – – Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | May 16, 2014 | 1 Corinthians
1 Corinthians 3:10-11
According to the grace of God which was given to me, as a wise master builder I have laid the foundation, and another builds on it. But let each one take heed how he builds on it. For no other foundation can anyone lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ.
Back during my high school days, I worked weekends and summers for a concrete contractor. Believe me when I tell you that things were different back then. There was very little pre-mixed concrete that was delivered by large rotating carriers. We were the mixers! We had a pile of sand, another of gravel and sacks of concrete that we had to combine shovel by shovel and bag by bag, water was then added.
In order to get the sloppy concrete into the foundation, we had to deliver it by manual labor. We had large wheelbarrows that we filled then pushed to the point of delivery. In the building process a solid foundation was essential. A weakened foundation could lead to the building falling.
As we travel through this life we often see people that have not laid a foundation that will withstand the storms of life. Sadly when storms strike, their foundations fail. It is during the storms that we need the solid foundation of the Lord Jesus Christ to keep us safe. John Rippon published this hymn in 1787.
How Firm a Foundation
How firm a foundation, ye saints of the Lord,
Is laid for your faith in His excellent Word!
What more can He say than to you He hath said,
To you who for refuge to Jesus have fled?
Fear not, I am with thee, O be not dismayed,
For I am thy God, I will still give thee aid;
I’ll strengthen thee, help thee, and cause thee to stand,
Upheld by My gracious, omnipotent hand.
When through fiery trials thy pathway shall lie,
My grace all-sufficient shall be thy supply;
The flame shall not hurt thee; I only design
Thy dross to consume, and thy gold to refine.
The soul that on Jesus hath leaned for repose,
I will not, I will not desert to his foes;
That soul, though all hell should endeavor to shake,
I’ll never, no never, no never forsake!
To access How Firm a Foundation, this week’s inspirational video fromGloryScapes Hymn Music Videos, please go to:http://www.gloryscapes.com/howfirmafoundation/ 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 | May 15, 2014 | Proverbs
Proverbs 16:31
Gray hair is a crown of splendor; it is attained in the way of righteousness.
Last week I was blessed to officiate at the wedding of a beautiful young woman who had been a member of the congregation I once pastored. It was a joy to watch as she and her tall fiancé posed for photographs before the ceremony. I could almost visualize when I had dedicated her to the Lord in front of the congregation many years earlier.
As I stood there watching while the photos were being taken, the bride’s younger sister took my hand and shared how much she liked me. Then she uttered the gut honest words that can only come from an eight-year-old. “We have a picture of you in the house. You sure look a lot older now than you did then.”
She did not say these words to show any sort of disrespect, but with a simple awareness of the fact that YES, I DO LOOK OLDER NOW THAN I DID THEN. The reason is that these bodies of ours reflect the years we have lived.
I shudder at the lengths people will go in the attempt to disguise their age. I can still recall when I had a haircut and was shocked at all of the grey hair on the cape the barber had placed around my shoulders. It is nothing to be ashamed about. Oh, how I wish that more appreciation were placed on advanced age in our society. As we read the words of today’s Scripture, we note that these can be the most productive years of our life. Senior citizens, serve the Lord with distinction!
May God richly bless you as you bless others by your words and actions!
– – – Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | May 14, 2014 | Daily-E-Votionals
John 14:27
Peace I leave with you; My peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.
Storms are frightening things. We have lived in areas where storm clouds were a frequent occurrence, especially in the spring or early summer. In Northern Newfoundland, Canada, we experienced winds that exceeded 120 miles per hour. Now that is a storm!
Making our way in a small boat across the Straits of Juan de Fuca in Washington State one day, we encountered gale force winds and waves that towered above the boat — we could certainly relate to the disciples on the Sea of Galilee certain they were all going to drown. Only Jesus could still that storm! Peace, be still!
There are still other storms that can be even more terrifying: The doctor’s office calls and asks you to return as there is an abnormality in some of the tests. Further analysis confirms that it is a terminal illness.
Some storms can be spiritual: We are convinced that God has given a vision for a particular work, but without warning our vision crashes and is dead. We reel under the impact and question our next move.
Can I tell you the next move to make in any storm of life? Call upon Jesus! He is the One who can and will bring life out of death and purpose out of chaos. HE IS OUR PEACE IN THE STORM!
May God richly bless you as you bless others by your words and actions!
– – – Pastor Cecil
