by Pastor Cecil | Aug 13, 2014 | 2 Chronicles
2 Chronicles 7:13-14
When I shut up the heavens so that there is no rain, or command locusts to devour the land or send a plague among My people, 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 I will forgive their sin and will heal their land.
Back when I was a young man, I was a Boy Scout. Before each meeting we would recite the Scout oath. “On my honor, I will do my best to do my duty to God and my country and to obey the Scout Law; To help other people at all times; To keep myself physically strong, mentally awake and morally straight.”
Wow! Wouldn’t it be good if every politician elected to public office would be required to recite an oath of that nature, and then would be required to adhere to the words they had sworn to uphold?
Let us take it a step further. I would like to see every pastor or church staff member make this same pledge of honor. To take it another step, I would like to see every elder, deacon, board member, teacher, or any such individual pledge themselves to live a life above reproach.
There is one last step in the roll of honor. That is you! You may not have any office in the church and your only task is to make it to church on time; but will you make the pledge of honor? It will bring a change in our homes, churches, communities and even our country. On my honor I will!
May God richly bless you as you bless others by your words and actions!
– – – Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Aug 4, 2014 | 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 will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land.
The humorous story is told of two children, Johnny and his younger sister Judy. The two had been outside playing when Judy rushed into the house crying. Judy told her mother that Johnny had hit her. Their mother asked Johnny why he had hit his sister. His reply: “I didn’t hit her—she just ran into my fist!”
It is always easier to blame someone else for our sins and transgressions than to confess them ourselves. This is especially true as we look at our sin-sick world. We cluck our tongues and pray for God to change our rotten society.
I certainly do not mean to imply that we are to accept what is going on in our world, but how does God expect us to respond? I think the answer is that we need to look into the mirror of God’s Word.
In today’s Scripture, God is speaking to His people. That means those of us who are born-again believers. So what does this passage say to us? Humble ourselves, pray, seek God’s face and turn from our wicked ways.
Before we can ever hope to change our world, we have to examine ourselves and discover areas of sin and compromise that lurk deep within. We can never hope to see our world change until we are willing to experience a change in our own lives. Are you willing to change?
May God richly bless you as you bless others by your words and actions!
– – – Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Jun 23, 2014 | 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 will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land.
Johnny and his younger sister, Judy, had been outside playing when Judy rushed into the house crying. Judy told her mother that Johnny had hit her. Their mother asked Johnny why he had hit his sister. He replied: “I didn’t hit her—she just ran into my fist!”
It is always easier to blame someone else for our sins and transgressions than to confess them ourselves. This is especially true as we look at our sin-sick world. We cluck our tongues and pray for God to change our rotten society.
I certainly do not mean to imply that we are to accept what is going on in our world, but how does God expect us to respond? I think the answer is that we need to look into the mirror of God’s Word.
In today’s Scripture, God is speaking to His people. That means those of us who are born-again believers. So what does this passage say to us? 1. Humble ourselves. 2. Pray. 3. Seek God’s face. 4. Turn from our wicked ways.
Before we can ever hope to change our world, we have to examine ourselves and discover areas of sin and compromise that lurk deep within. We can never hope to see our world change until we are willing to experience a change in our own life. Are you willing to change?
May God richly bless you as you bless others by your words and actions!
– – – Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Jun 16, 2014 | 2 Chronicles
2 Chronicles 7:13-14
When I shut up the heavens so that there is no rain, or command locusts to devour the land or send a plague among my people, 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 I will forgive their sin and will heal their land.
It seems like the older I get the more I recall the silly things I did as a child. It is almost as if God has parted the curtains of my life and allowed me to see things that the stuff of life has hidden. I wonder if our prayer life also has a “childish” nature.
We want God to do for us what He has commanded us to do. When God speaks, He does not revise His demands for our obedience. Thank God that He remains the same yesterday, today, and tomorrow. We, on the other hand, we are prone to stray one way or the other.
As I read the Scripture for today, I see several things. First of all, I notice that God does bring devastation on the land. Certainly the reason is because of the sin of the people, but it is also to draw His people back to Him. We like to pray the last part of this passage without regard to the first part.
We pray for revival without first paying the price. What is the price? We have to humble ourselves, pray, seek God’s face, and turn from our wicked ways. I must ask this question: Have we really met those requirements? It is far too easy to ask God to fulfill His part without doing our part. FORGIVE US, LORD!
May God richly bless you as you bless others by your words and actions!
– – – Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | May 12, 2014 | 2 Chronicles
2 Chronicles 7:13-14
When I shut up the heavens so that there is no rain, or command locusts to devour the land or send a plague among my people, 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 I will forgive their sin and will heal their land.
When I was a boy we would typically have a revival service in our church twice a year. A traveling evangelist would come and conduct the meetings every night for two weeks. Now in the day of labor saving devices we just do not seem to have the time and energy for extra meetings. Could it be our misplaced priorities?
Churches have encountered problems and families have been fractured because of the sin of pride. It often seems that there is a gigantic contest between churches to see which one is the best.
People hop from one congregation to another on a whim. Instead of searching the Scriptures to discover the will of God for their lives in Christ Jesus, they seek some new pew to park themselves while trying to feel satiated.
God’s plan for revival is for His people who are called by His name (myself included) to get on our faces and humbly confess our need for a refreshing encounter with the God who created everything. Lord we need You now more than ever before. Come and bring refreshing renewal!
May God richly bless you as you bless others by your words and actions!
– – – Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Sep 9, 2013 | 2 Chronicles
2 Chronicles 7:13-14
When I shut up the heavens so that there is no rain, or command locusts to devour the land or send a plague among My people, 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 I will forgive their sin and will heal their land.
For some time now my attention has been drawn to the anti-Christian atmosphere of many governments. Christians have been urged to become militant in an effort to bring about a change. We have been told that the answer is to elect believers to office and everything will be better. Sad to say that is not the answer.
Jesus sent His disciples into the world as sheep among wolves. Those early disciples did not establish the church by changing the political climate of their day. They established the church by their own blood!
These brave men and women did not actively seek out persecution and death, but they considered their lives nothing in comparison to the command that Jesus gave them to go and make disciples. It often cost them their all!
We are instructed in today’s Scripture that revival starts with us. We will never change our world by political means, but on our faces before God. I want the Lord to change me, whatever the cost. CHANGE ME LORD!
Blessings, Dear Hearts, draw near to God today, trust Him completely, and be a blessing!
—Pastor Cecil
