by Pastor Cecil | Sep 15, 2017 | Hebrews
Hebrews 12:1-2
“Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.”
This week’s hymn was written over 300 years ago by Isaac Watts. It would be impossible to fully know the number of lives it has touched since he wrote it. One of those lives was the blind hymn writer, Fanny J. Crosby. In the autumn of 1850 revival meetings were being held in the Thirtieth Street Methodist Church in New York City.
Fanny and some of her friends attended each night and she craved for spiritual joy, but could not find it. On the evening of November 20, 1850, it seemed to her that the light must indeed come then or never. After a prayer was offered, they began to sing this hymn. When they sang “Here Lord, I give myself away,” her soul was flooded with a celestial light. She realized what her problem had been. She realized that she had been trying to hold the world in one hand and the Lord in the other.
At the Cross
1. Alas! and did my Savior bleed, And did my Sovereign die? Would He devote that sacred head, For sinners such as I?
Refrain: At the cross, at the cross where I first saw the light, And the burden of my heart rolled away, It was there by faith I received my sight,
And now I am happy all the day!
2. Was it for crimes that I had done, He groaned upon the tree? Amazing pity! grace unknown! And love beyond degree!
Refrain: At the cross, at the cross where I first saw the light, And the burden of my heart rolled away, It was there by faith I received my sight,
And now I am happy all the day!
3. Well might the sun in darkness hide, And shut his glories in, When Christ, the mighty Maker died, For man the creature’s sin.
Refrain: At the cross, at the cross where I first saw the light, And the burden of my heart rolled away, It was there by faith I received my sight,
And now I am happy all the day!
4. But drops of grief can ne’er repay, The debt of love I owe: Here, Lord, I give myself away, ’Tis all that I can do.
Refrain: At the cross, at the cross where I first saw the light, And the burden of my heart rolled away, It was there by faith I received my sight,
And now I am happy all the day!
Are you like Fanny Crosby—looking for joy to fill your soul? Her answer is our answer— Here, Lord, I give myself away, ’Tis all that I can do.
To access this week’s free inspirational video from GloryScapes.com. please go to:http://www.gloryscapes.com/atthecross/
Blessings dear hearts. Draw near to God today, trust Him completely and be a blessing!
—Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Sep 8, 2017 | Hebrews
Hebrews 10:22
“Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water.”
Those of us who have said farewell to beloved family and friends experience the pangs of separation. The pain of separation is eased with the assurance that there is a bright tomorrow waiting for us when we will be united with those who have died in the Lord.
Fanny J. Crosby was visiting the home of a friend, Phoebe Knapp. Phoebe was playing a new melody she had just composed and mentioned to Fanny that she called it Assurance. Fanny responded, “Blessed Assurance.”
Fanny returned home and quickly penned the words to the hymn that has become such a favorite since it was published way back in 1873. It is just as much a blessed assurance today as it was back then.
Blessed Assurance
Blessed assurance, Jesus is mine!
Oh, what a foretaste of glory divine!
Heir of salvation, purchase of God.
Born of His Spirit, washed in His blood.
Refrain: This is my story, this is my song,
Praising my Savior all the day long.
Perfect submission, perfect delight,
Visions of rapture now burst on my sight;
Angles descending, bring from above
Echoes of mercy, whispers of love.
Refrain: This is my story, this is my song,
Praising my Savior all the day long.
Perfect submission, all is at rest,
I in my Savior am happy and blest;
Watching and waiting, looking above,
Filled with His goodness, lost in His love.
Refrain: This is my story, this is my song,
Praising my Savior all the day long.
Enjoy this free inspirational video of, “Blessed Assurance” by going to: http://www.gloryscapes.com/blessedassurance/
May God richly bless you as you bless others by your words and actions!
—Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Aug 7, 2017 | Hebrews
Hebrews 3:13
“But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called ‘Today,’ so that none of you may be hardened by sin’s deceitfulness.”
I recall Professor Howard Hendricks commenting about how easy it is to dampen the fervor of a new Christian. The new believer will share a spiritual truth he or she has just discovered and the more mature believer they share it with will blow it off as if a three year old could find such a thing.
Professor Hendricks shared how he makes it a point of being so thrilled over the new believer’s discovery that he fairly jumps up and down in excitement and encouragement. This sort of encouragement causes the new believer to want to spend even more time searching the Word.
Each of us has the choice to either encourage or discourage people. Perhaps there is a third option of simply ignoring people. I have heard it said that being ignored is almost worse than being demeaned. It is like they do not exist.
How do you feel you rate in the encouragement department? Do others feel motivated to draw closer to the Lord after they have spent time with you? Are they excited to share what they have discovered in their personal Bible study? Do not let Satan have the victory because of your indifference. Be an encourager!
May God richly bless you as you bless others by your words and actions!
– – – Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Feb 27, 2017 | Hebrews
Hebrews 11:1-2
“Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. For by IT the elders obtained a good testimony.”
Throughout Scripture we find the tiny word IT. To better understand the meaning, I took the time to look it up in a dictionary: Used to represent an inanimate thing understood, previously mentioned, about to be mentioned, or present in the immediate context.
In today’s Scripture the word it refers to faith. Faith is that attribute that steps forward on the basis of God’s Word rather than relying on our own understanding. There are many things that we will not be able to fully understand as we travel through this life.
We will experience fiery trials and tribulations from time to time, but IT will be able to hold us through. IT is that blessed assurance that Jesus knows what we need to see us through the difficult times by knowing that He is with us.
I desire to spend more time thinking about how the Lord is my all sufficiency. It is not necessary for me to know everything about what is going on around me. I only need to have the IT of faith. Teach me, Lord!
Blessings dear hearts. Draw near to God today, trust Him completely and be a blessing!
– – – Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Jan 24, 2017 | Hebrews
Hebrews 6:11
“And we desire that each one of you show the same diligence to the full assurance of hope until the end.”
I was once speaking to a man about heaven and what awaited us there. He had been a believer for many years and it shocked me when he expressed the hope that he would make it to heaven.
Wow! That blew me away. I prayed with him and shared Scriptures to give him the eternal HOPE of his salvation. That encounter inspired me to share the idea of the word HOPE with you.
Here in Hebrews 6:11 the Greek word for hope is elpis. Here is the meaning in the Greek: joyful and confident expectation of eternal salvation. I really like this definition. That is the kind of hope each believer should have.
What is your hope for eternity? If you have received Jesus as your Savior and Lord and are walking with Him, you need to put a smile on your face and a spring in your step. Walk with Him and I will see you in heaven!
Blessings dear hearts. Draw near to God today, trust Him completely and be a blessing!
– – – Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Dec 19, 2016 | Hebrews
Hebrews 9:27
“And as it is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgment.”
It is usually unwise to state that everyone is doing some particular thing. It is a common ploy that teenagers use to persuade their parents to allow them to do something that is questionable. — “But, everyone is doing it!” (Let me interject at this point that just because others are doing something does not mean it is a wise or prudent thing to do.)
However, there is one thing that I can state with all certainty that every single person on the face of the earth is doing: Each of us is in the process of dying! That is such a sobering truth, but it is an undeniable truth regardless.
While the reality and certainty of death was passed down to us after the fall of Adam and Eve in the Garden, we have been offered the gift of eternal life if we choose to accept it. This was made possible only through the birth, death, and resurrection of our Savior and Lord, Jesus Christ.
The fantastic reality is that our eternal life begins at the moment of our spiritual birth. Our physical bodies may grow weaker and deteriorate, but the vital part of our being can have eternal life. Everyone is destined for physical death, but we have a wonderful life that will go on and on forever and forever!
Blessings dear hearts. Draw near to God today, trust Him completely and be a blessing!
– – – Pastor Cecil
