by Pastor Cecil | Jun 9, 2010 | Acts
Acts 16:25-26
“About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening to them. Suddenly there was such a violent earthquake that the foundations of the prison were shaken. At once all the prison doors flew open, and everybody’s chains came loose.”
As a Juvenile Probation Officer, I experienced many incidents. One stands out clearly in my mind. I was leaving my office at the close of the day when I heard a wail. Not only a wail, but one calling my name: “Mr. Thompson, I want to go home! Please let me go home!” I looked up and realized it was coming from the County Juvenile Detention cell.
The young man who was calling to me had been arrested by the police for about the tenth time. Time after time the Judge had warned him that his conduct had to change, but each time he was released he would get in more trouble and once more find himself in jail. Now he was wailing away to be released.
I called up to him that the judge had left for the day and that the earliest he could be considered for release would be the next day. I had to leave him crying out for release, even when he knew that there was no way out.
Many people find themselves in prisons of their own making. Others are victims of the offense of someone else―regardless, they feel trapped without hope of release. Are you there? It is when we are in these situations that we need to remember that the apostles went through the same ordeals―probably much worse. As we read in today’s Scripture, Paul’s reaction to being beaten and thrown into prison was to praise. Try praising God from your own prison!
Blessings dear hearts. Draw near to God today, trust Him completely and be a blessing!
– – – Pastor Cecil
360-570-0074
PastorCecil@Daily-E-Votional.com
by Pastor Cecil | May 4, 2010 | Acts
Acts 12:7
“Suddenly an angel of the Lord appeared and a light shone in the cell. He struck Peter on the side and woke him up. “Quick, get up!” he said, and the chains fell off Peter’s wrists.”
Prison yards can be fearful places. They can also be fruitful harvest fields just waiting for workers to reap what is ripe. The harvesters may be chaplains, visiting ministers or even other prisoners.
Over the years I have been uniquely used of God in very unusual ways. One of those ways was working for the Idaho Law Enforcement Planning Commission. We funded many criminal justice jurisdictions, one of which was the Idaho State Correction Center (The state Pen).
I can’t recall how it got started, but I began having a weekly Bible study for the inmates. We had 15 or 20 in our group. These men had been convicted of minor offenses all the way up to first degree murder. We were not concerned about the offense they had committed as much as the wonderful Savior that had given them a new life in Christ.
One summer evening we were having our study on a grassy area outside one of the cell blocks. Our study that evening centered on how we are set free from sin and death when we are born again. As we laughed about this wonderful freedom in Christ, one of the inmates looked up at an armed guard standing on the stone wall. He made a comment I will never forget: “With Christ in our heart, we are freer in here than that guard is up there if he doesn’t have Christ in his heart!” Wow!
Blessings dear hearts. Draw near to God today, trust Him completely and be a blessing!
– – – Pastor Cecil
360-570-0074
PastorCecil@Daily-E-Votional.com
by Pastor Cecil | Apr 13, 2010 | Acts
Acts 16:27-28
“The jailer woke up, and when he saw the prison doors open, he drew his sword and was about to kill himself because he thought the prisoners had escaped. But Paul shouted, ‘Don’t harm yourself! We are all here!’ ”
Last week I shared the embarrassment of my very first sermon. Several of you have asked what I preached on after discovering that I only had the grocery list and not my sermon notes. My response was that after 50 years I could not recall.
The mind is a funny thing (at least mine is). Out of the clear blue I will recall an incident in my past and wonder how in the world I survived. At 11:37 p.m. on August 17, 1959, there was a large earthquake that was centered in Yellowstone Park. I was working on the night shift for the Nampa, Idaho, Police Department. Things began to shake, rattle and roll in a very threatening manner.
Let Us Out!
I was responsible for all incoming calls and immediately all lines were filled with frightened citizens. It was then that I heard cries from the jail cells. I am not sure how many prisoners we had at the time, but they were terrified that the building would collapse with them locked inside. (I was also confined to this building, but it was my duty to remain). I quickly grabbed the keys to the cells and, leaving the phone unattended, I ran to release the prisoners. I begged them to remain on the lawn outside and not escape.
When things quieted down, I ventured outside and there were all of my prisoners. No one had tried to escape. We all laughed together about how helpless we felt when our world was shaking like the waves of the sea. It may be that your world has been shaken by some outside source. If so, now is the time to call out to the Lord for Him to protect you in the quakes of life.
Blessings dear hearts. Draw near to God today, trust Him completely and be a blessing!
– – – Pastor Cecil
360-570-0074
PastorCecil@Daily-E-Votional.com
by Pastor Cecil | Nov 19, 2009 | Acts
Acts 14:12, 19
“Barnabas they called Zeus, and Paul they called Hermes because he was the chief speaker.” “Then some Jews came from Antioch and Iconium and won the crowd over. They stoned Paul and dragged him outside the city, thinking he was dead.”
I would like to let you in on a little secret. You probably are well aware of this truth, but I want to share it anyway — popularity is fleeting and fickle. Popularity polls can reverse in such a moment of time that it takes your breath away.
Some of the most tragic counseling sessions I have ever experienced were with people who had placed their confidence in what others thought of them. When the fickle finger of fame turned away from them, they were devastated.
Paul repeatedly received the accolades from crowds who even elevated him to the position of a god. Even when he protested their adoration, they proclaimed their faith in him and the God he preached. That lasted until trouble makers arrived and suddenly he was stoned and left for dead. There has never been a time in my life when I experienced anything of this sort, but I have had those who professed to be faithful friends turn against me.
In prayer and contemplation I have found comfort in the life that Paul lived. He never sought applause or popularity from the people. He only wanted to be faithful to his Lord so that one day he would hear the words that really count: “Well done, good and faithful servant!” That is the way I want to live.
Blessings dear hearts. Draw near to God today, trust Him completely and be a blessing!
– – – Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Oct 13, 2009 | Acts
Acts 5:40-41
“They called the apostles in and had them flogged. Then they ordered them not to speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go. The apostles left the Sanhedrin, rejoicing because they had been counted worthy of suffering disgrace for the Name.”
Do you ever feel discouraged with yourself because you fail to stand tall for the Lord? Do you start strong but become spiritually sidetracked by the cares of the world? Do you sometimes care more about what people think than what God’s Word says?
If you answered yes to any or all of the above questions, the Apostle Peter should be your example. Peter seemed to spend much of his time limping when he was with Jesus because he had his foot in his mouth. He failed in his boast to stand strong for the Lord, even to the death.
Suddenly Peter changed. After the Holy Spirit came on the Day of Pentecost, Peter stood boldly in front a huge crowd and preached the good news of salvation. His sermon resulted in three thousand receiving Jesus as their personal Savior that day.
Before Jesus was crucified, Peter denied Him three times—but now he was willing to receive a flogging for his preaching the message of salvation. Jesus had promised the Comforter, the Holy Spirit who would never leave nor forsake the believer. Peter allowed the Holy Spirit to work through him and he was a changed man.
Living a vital Christian life is not simply following a ritual or going through the motions. It is a dynamic change like putting a new engine under the hood. Paul sums up the change in Philippians 4:12-13: “I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do everything through Him who gives me strength.” Have you experienced the change?
Blessings dear hearts. Draw near to God today, trust Him completely and be a blessing!
– – – Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Sep 28, 2009 | Acts
Acts 9:17
“Then Ananias went to the house and entered it. Placing his hands on Saul, he said, ‘Brother Saul, the Lord—Jesus, who appeared to you on the road as you were coming here—has sent me so that you may see again and be filled with the Holy Spirit.’ ”
Ananias is a name that we read about three times in the New Testament. We read about one in Acts 5, who tried to cheat God and paid for it with his life. There was also a man named Ananias who was the High Priest. Then there was the third.
In Damascus there was a man by the name of Ananias. We know very little about him other than he was a disciple. In Acts 22, Paul describes Ananias as a devout observer of the law and one who was highly respected by all the Jews who lived in Damascus.
So, other than that, what makes this devout disciple of the Lord Jesus Christ so special? I think it is the fact that he was obedient in doing what he was called to do. He never preached to multitudes or performed mighty miracles (as far as we know), he simply placed his life on the line and went to one man, Saul, and laid his hands on him to receive his sight.
Whoopee! Big deal! At first glance it may seem to be a rather insignificant thing (other than the fact he could have lost his life) to pray for one single man. However, he had no idea who that man would become.
To Ananias, Saul was the enemy who had been sent with authority to destroy the fledging church in Damascus. To God and the rest of us, Saul would one day be known as Paul and would turn the world upside down for Jesus!
Never wait until there is a crowd to witness to. The very person you witness to may be the next Paul. Are you obedient to look for just one man?
Blessings dear hearts. Draw near to God today, trust Him completely and be a blessing!
– – – Pastor Cecil
