by Pastor Cecil | Dec 31, 2018 | 2 Peter
2 Peter 1:3
“His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue.”
I recall an old saying; If you are not standing on the promises, you’ll just find yourself sitting on the premises. The gripers, moaners, and fault finders of the world, are generally composed of those who are the “sitters on the premises.” If you are one of them, I hope to serve you your eviction notice.
Have you ever asked someone how they doing and hear the response; Pretty good under the circumstances. I often will respond by asking them what they are doing under there.
So, what is Peter saying in this passage? He says that God’s divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of Him. I don’t know what everything means where you live, but in my mind it means the whole ball of wax!
Just take God at His word and start applying His word to your situation and thank Him for the victory. It is all from Him, and for Him, and to Him. Refuse to take credit for what God does through us and praise His mighty name!
Blessings dear hearts! May God richly bless you as you bless others by your words and actions!
– – – Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Nov 7, 2018 | 2 Peter
2 Peter 1:19
“And so we have the prophetic word confirmed, in which you do well to heed as a light that shines in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts.”
Back in my childhood days, the radio program Superman was introduced with the dramatic declaration, “Look! Up in the sky! It’s a bird! No, it’s a plane! No! It’s Superman!”
The words star and satellite are often used as synonyms. They are not the same. I just observed the International Space Station glide silently across the sky. It appeared as the brightest star in the early morning darkness, but I knew it was a satellite.
The difference between a star and satellite is that the star produces its own light while a satellite merely reflects the light from a star. Many people try to be the star of their own life. They will always fail since God alone is the Light!
The next time you feel a little self important, just remember that you are not, nor will you ever be, a star. God calls us to be spiritual satellites to reflect His glory to a dark world.
Blessings dear hearts! May God richly bless you as you bless others by your words and actions!
– – – Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Jul 3, 2018 | 2 Peter
2 Peter 1:3
“I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.”
When Michelangelo was working feverishly on the painting in the Sistine Chapel, the Pope became frustrated at how slow the work was progressing. He asked Michelangelo, “When will you make an end?” Michelangelo replied simply, “When I am finished.”
As we travel this pathway of life there may be times when it seems that our progress is very slow. In God’s economy that is never the case. He knows when the timing is right and is working behind the scenes to accomplish His will.
Our problem is getting out of step with God. We either run way ahead and want Him to catch up with us, or we lag far behind and feel frustrated when we are not able to catch up with Him.
It is time to make a new commitment to discover God’s plan and purpose for us and then stay close to Him in order to be used to accomplish the tasks He has for us. Remember to keep the joy of the Lord in your heart. Do not be discouraged — God is not finished with you yet!
May God richly bless you as you bless others by your words and actions!
– – Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Jul 2, 2018 | 2 Peter
2 Peter 1:3
“His divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness.”
I wonder how many times people feel they deserve commendation for attending church services. They may be singing; “Standing On the Promises” but in actuality they are merely SITTING IN THE PREMISES!
While it is a fact that our labors for the Lord will not merit salvation and a home in Glory, they do demonstrate the degree of our obedient commitment to the Lord and His great cause.
We are called to march forth as a mighty army to live and die for the Lord. None of us know what lies before us, but praise God we do know WHO goes before us to prepare the way.
God’s promises are faithful and true and He will open doors that He wants us to go through and also will close doors that He does not want us to enter. Our task is to remain so close to Him by the study of His Word and prayer to discern the difference. Are you STANDING ON THE PROMISES OR MERELY SITTING ON THE PREMISES?!
May God richly bless you as you bless others by your words and actions!
– – Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Mar 1, 2018 | 2 Peter
2 Peter 3:14
“Therefore, beloved, looking forward to these things, be diligent to be found by Him in peace, without spot and blameless.”
In a world where there is non-stop bickering, arguing, conflict, fights, and war, we need peace and harmony. It is vital that in the midst of the stormy seas of life we can know peace and live in harmony with those around us — especially those who are the hardest to get along with.
God has never promised us that He was going to change our world and give us pleasant, darling people to live with. Don’t expect that to happen! We are stuck with the ones we have.
Jesus prayed to His Father before His crucifixion. He prayed about you and me. His prayer was very significant. He prayed that we not be taken out of the world, but that the Lord would be with us in the world. Listen to His words in John 17:15-17 that are so meaningful to us in our day: “My prayer is not that You take them out of the world but that You protect them from the evil one. They are not of the world, even as I am not of it. Sanctify them by the truth; Your Word is truth.”
Blessings dear hearts. Draw near to God today, trust Him completely and be a blessing!
– – – Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Feb 26, 2018 | 2 Peter
2 Peter 1:3
“His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue.”
I recently recalled the old saying: If you are not standing on the promises, you will find yourself sitting on the premises. One is an active process of involvement, and the other is a passive pastime of taking up space but contributing little. As I am typing this, it suddenly strikes me that the gripers, moaners, and fault finders of the world are generally composed of those who are just sitting on the premises.
The story is told about a poor man who was traveling on a ship from Europe to America. He had just barely scraped up enough money for his ticket and a few things to eat on during the trip.
A few days out to sea the impoverished passenger came upon sight of all the wonderful food in the dining room and inhaled an aroma that sent him into ecstasy. By this time he was so hungry he knew he had to do something about it. Summoning up all of his courage he went to a steward and asked if he might be able to do some work so he could be able to eat a meal or two. The steward was startled by the passenger’s odd request. He sat the man down and explained to him that the ticket he had purchased for the trip included all the food he could eat. It was all his, but he was starving from a lack of knowledge of all he possessed.
Are we taking full advantage of the bounty of God’s promises … or are we just surviving on the scraps of our own efforts?
Blessings dear hearts. Draw near to God today, trust Him completely and be a blessing!
– – – Pastor Cecil
