by Pastor Cecil | Dec 17, 2019 | Colossians
Colossians 1:9
“For this reason we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to ask that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding.”
I am ashamed to admit that I have often promised to pray for someone—even had the best intentions to do so—but became busy and forgot my promise. Because of this I have made a separate file for visits and prayer requests. That being said, what kind of prayers should we offer up?
Paul had heard of the faith of the church in Colossae and sent this letter as an encouragement to their faith in the face of persecution. In today’s Scripture Paul says he is praying for God to fill them with the knowledge of His will through all wisdom and understanding.
In the next few verses Paul becomes very specific in what he anticipates as the result of his prayer. Let me list four of them for you:
- Bear fruit in every good work.
- Grow in the knowledge of God.
- Be strengthened with God’s power for endurance and patience.
- Joyfully give thanks to the Lord.
May God richly bless you as you bless others by your words and actions!
– – Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Dec 16, 2019 | Luke
Luke 2:26
“And it had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord’s Christ.”
God had spoken through His prophets across the ages that the Messiah was to be born in Bethlehem, and to a virgin. It seemed to be an impossible occurrence and there were far more skeptics than believers. Most of the religious leaders of that day were more interested in their own position than they were in listening to God. They were not prepared when God sent His Son in accordance with prophecy.
There were two exceptions – Simeon and Anna. Both expectantly spent their time in the Temple waiting for the promised Messiah. When Joseph and Mary appeared on the eighth day to have Jesus circumcised and named, they were prepared and found joy that their preparation was not in vain.
It was tragic that others in Israel were so filled with themselves that they could not have an open heart to welcome the Savior of the world. It is time to evaluate our own life to be able to determine if we are prepared to welcome the Lord. He came once and He is coming again. It is time to be prepared!
The Boy Scout motto is – BE PREPARED! – It means to be expectant and with the necessary equipment or techniques to meet any type of unexpected event. Let us be expectant to welcome Jesus into our lives!
May God richly bless you as you bless others by your words and actions!
– – – Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Dec 15, 2019 | Proverbs
Proverbs 14:34
“Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a reproach to any people.”
It is quite depressing to wake up each morning and be struck with the reality that we live in the midst of a sinful and unrighteous day and age. The writer of Proverbs states without equivocation that a nation is exalted when it is characterized by righteousness. That virtue is hard to be found these days!
The writer also states that sin is a reproach to any people. The word reproach as used in this verse in the Hebrew word chesed, which in this context means a wicked thing. That is certainly an apt description of the effect sin has on our society.
What should be our response to the sinful condition of our world? We find the answer in 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 I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land.”
Many revivals in the past have been started by a few believers who were willing to humble themselves and pray until they touched the hem of His garment. It is time to evaluate our commitment to obey God.
May God richly bless you as you bless others by your words and actions!
– – – Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Dec 13, 2019 | Psalm
Psalm 98:4
“Shout joyfully to the Lord, all the earth; break forth in song, rejoice, and sing praises.”
Throughout scripture we are called upon to make a joyful noise before the Lord. In Psalm 98, all of creation is called upon to make a joyful noise before God. All around us we see the hand of a loving God who cared enough about us to send His own dear Son into the world to provide us with salvation.
This beautiful hymn was written by Isaac Watts. As we read and listen to the words of this moving Christmas hymn, we need to stop and ask ourselves if we are making a joyful noise before the Lord or just noise.
Joy to the World
Joy to the world! The Lord is come.
Let earth receive her King
Let every heart Prepare Him room,
And heaven and nature sing;
And heaven and nature sing
And heaven and heaven and angels sing
Joy to the world, the Savior reigns;
Let men their songs employ
While fields and floods; rocks, hills and plains,
Repeat the sounding joy;
Repeat the sounding joy
Repeat, Repeat, the sounding joy
No more will sins and sorrows grow;
Nor thorns infest the ground;
He comes to make His blessings flow;
Far as the curse is found,
Far as the curse is found,
Far as, far as the curse is found.
He rules the world with truth and grace;
And makes the nations prove,
The glories of His righteousness,
And wonders of His love;
And wonders of His love;
And wonders, wonders of His love.
Enjoy this week’s free inspirational video, “Joy To the World” from GloryScapes.com by going to: https://gloryscapes.com/joytotheworld/
Blessings dear hearts. Draw near to God today, trust Him completely and be a blessing!
—Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Dec 12, 2019 | Psalm
Psalm 103:1, 4
“Bless the Lord, O my soul, and all that is within me, bless His holy name! – – Who redeems your life from destruction, who crowns you with lovingkindness and tender mercies.”
Way back in 1952 I went to a jewelry store and selected an engagement and wedding ring set for the woman (then a girl of 18) of my dreams. It was a small set with hearts on either side of a diamond.The hearts were a symbol of our love for each other.
I did not have much money so I put them on lay-a-way. For those of you who are rich and have never heard of the term “lay-a-way,” it is reserving the item and paying on it a little at a time until you have met the price.You may then REDEEM your item.
The Hebrew word for redeem as used in Psalm 103:4 is the word ga’al. In addition to redeem something, it also means to ransom someone.Many of you may have read about modern-day pirates taking over large vessels and holding the ship and crew until their ransom demands have been met.
Each and every one of us born into this world is held hostage to sin. We do not have to learn how to sin—it comes naturally.It is the common characteristic of each and every human. The blessed thing is that we have been redeemed by the sacrifice of Jesus. He paid the price and we have been REDEEMED!
May God richly bless you as you bless others by your words and actions!
– – – Pastor Cecil
