by Pastor Cecil | Oct 21, 2015 | 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 I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land.”
In the past I have had experience in hiring and supervising individuals. One of the first things I did was to explain the conditions they were expected to meet in order to remain in good standing and receive their salary. It would have been inconceivable for them to tell me what I should do to meet their expectations.
Isn’t it strange that we try to tell God what to do before we obey Him? We have heard prayers that go something like this; “Lord if you will get me out of this mess then I promise I will go back to church and serve You.” Another type of bargaining prayer might sound like this; “Lord if you heal me (or my loved one) of this disease then I will dedicate myself completely to You.”
How many times have we prayed that our nation turn back to God? How many times have we prayed for revival? Most of the time we pray for God to send healing to our nation or revival in our midst, but as we read today’s Scripture we see that there is a condition we must meet before God answers.
Do you see the four conditions that God requires?
- Humble ourselves
- Pray
- Seek God’s face
- Turn from our wicked ways
Have you met His conditions?
May God richly bless you as you bless others by your words and actions!
– – – Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Aug 27, 2015 | 2 Chronicles
2 Chronicles 7:14-15
“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. Now My eyes will be open and My ears attentive to prayer made in this place.”
I recently received an email advertisement for sleep masks and earplugs. It sounded intriguing especially if you are working night shift. Back in my college days we had three kids and I was working full-time from 11 o’clock in the evening till 7 o’clock in the morning. Try as she might, Joyce could not always keep the kids silent. A sleep mask and ear plugs might have helped, but it was not to be.
I am sure you realize that there is a strong spiritual application. The majority of people go through life with sleep masks and earplugs to block out anything that has spiritual significance.
The sleep masks and earplugs may often be identified by activities, studies, infatuations, alcohol, drugs, and on and on the list may go. If you have ever spent any amount of time in the company of unsaved people you will hear them mock anything that has to do with eternal values. They often make statements to indicate that they live a good life and that should qualify them for heaven.
According to Scripture we know that is not the case. When we try to tell them they are deaf and blind. But never give up! There may be a brief moment when they are open to hear and believe. Our job is to be ready when they’re open to hear and see.
May God richly bless you as you bless others by your words and actions!
– – – Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Aug 5, 2015 | 2 Chronicles
2 Chronicles 32:7-8a
“Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or discouraged because of the king of Assyria and the vast army with him, for there is a greater power with us than with him. With him is only the arm of flesh, but with us is the Lord our God to help us and to fight our battles.”
Many years ago I was listening to a pastor being interviewed on the radio. He was commenting about a man who had been in one of his exhaustive studies in the book of Revelation. The pastor asked if anyone in the class could sum up what the book of Revelation meant to them. An older gentleman stood and quietly stated, “Jesus wins!”
As we look around our world, we sometimes feel as though we are on the losing side. That is absolutely untrue! We have victory in Jesus! Let me be quick to point out that our victory is not because of our strength or are mental superiority. Our victory comes through the Lord Jesus Christ!
In today’s Scripture, King Hezekiah of Judah was faced with an enemy that seemed unbeatable. Surrounded by an army that had crushed other nations, he was ordered to surrender. But God told Hezekiah to stand fast. You may recall that Hezekiah took the letter that the Assyrian king had sent ridiculing the Lord into the Temple and laid before the God of Israel. The battle was not Hezekiah’s but God’s! In one night 185,000 enemy soldiers were cut down and the siege against Jerusalem was over. Never feel that we are on the losing side. Just remember the comment that that older gentleman made: “Jesus wins!”
May God richly bless you as you bless others by your words and actions!
– – – Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Aug 4, 2015 | 2 Chronicles
2 Chronicles 26:4-5
“He did what was right in the eyes of the Lord, just as his father Amaziah had done. He sought God during the days of Zechariah, who instructed him in the fear of God. As long as he sought the Lord, God gave him success.”
There is no way we can ever place conditions on God. I think most of us have heard of foxhole conversions where someone in grave danger cries out to God, promises to serve Him and become His child . . . if only He will save them from the terrible situation they find themselves in. That’s not the way it works! We are to come to God unconditionally!
It works just the opposite with God. As the Master of the Universe, God is free to place conditions on us. He has promised to bless us, but only when we follow after Him and do the things that He calls us to do. He delights in showering the bounty of heaven upon us when we trust and obey.
There is no way that God finds pleasure in causing us difficulty of any type. In fact it’s just the opposite. God wants us to prosper spiritually and emotionally. It is heartbreaking to observe people who once enjoyed God’s blessing turn their backs on God thinking they can find pleasure in the things of the world. The things of the world are going to pass away, but the things of God will last for eternity.
Here’s the challenge! Are we living our lives to please God? Do we find the highest pleasure in spending time with Him in prayer and reading His precious word? My prayer is that we will seek to find what is right in the eyes of the Lord and then make that our highest priority.
May God richly bless you as you bless others by your words and actions!
– – – Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Jul 27, 2015 | 2 Chronicles
2 Chronicles 16:9a
“For the eyes of the Lord range throughout the earth to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to Him.”
You may have heard the story of the young man who was ardently pledging his love to a young woman. He wrote to her: “My dear, I would climb the highest mountain for you! I would cross the widest river for you! I would fight a cage full of lions for you! That is how much I love you. I will be by to pick you up on Friday, if it doesn’t rain.”
We might be amused at the inconsistency of one that professed much but demonstrated little. I am sad to say how very much like that we are with the Lord. We are quick to proclaim our undying love for Him, yet spend virtually no time in prayer or reading His Word.
The passage of Scripture today concerned Asa, the king of Judah who had experienced unexpected victory over his enemy when he relied upon the Lord. However, later on when a new emergency arose, rather than returning to the Lord and asking for His help, King Asa took silver and gold from the temple and sent it to the king of Aram to ask for his help against the forces attacking Israel. The emergency was averted but God’s judgment fell; Asa would always be at war.
We may be critical of King Asa, but think of the number of times we rely upon lending institutions, counselors, or helpers of all sorts rather than calling upon the name of the Lord. God calls us to trust in Him and let Him bring the victory!
May God richly bless you as you bless others by your words and actions!
– – – Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Dec 1, 2014 | 2 Chronicles
2 Chronicles 1:11-12
“God said to Solomon, ‘Since this is your heart’s desire and you have not asked for wealth, possessions or honor, nor for the death of your enemies, and since you have not asked for a long life but for wisdom and knowledge to govern My people over whom I have made you king, therefore wisdom and knowledge will be given you. And I will also give you wealth, possessions and honor, such as no king who was before you ever had and none after you will have.’”
When I first entered school, I seemed to be somewhat behind the learning curve. The year was 1940, and I am not sure if there was any consideration given to delaying the start of a child’s schooling. Things might have been different if I had started one year later, but that was not the plan the Lord had for me.
Having that knowledge gap meant that I was required to answer “I don’t know” many times. I became used to brighter students laughing when I did not know the answer and had to use my usual response — “I don’t know.” It was not until my senior year in high school that I finally caught up, eventually graduating from college and earning a master’s degree. How? I DON’T KNOW?!!! (Just kidding.)
Looking back, I am so glad that I went through that experience. It taught me to rely on the Lord. Even today there are so many spiritual questions that I do not have answers to, but I have learned that God’s Word is my source and I can search it for the answers.
I love what Paul wrote in the first few verses of I Corinthians 2: “When I came to you, I did not come with eloquence or human wisdom as I proclaimed to you the testimony about God. For I resolved to know nothing while I was with you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified.” That is my sincere desire.
May God richly bless you as you bless others by your words and actions!
– – – Pastor Cecil
