by Pastor Cecil | Aug 29, 2018 | Job
Job 2:9
“Then his wife said to him, ‘Do you still hold fast to your integrity? Curse God and die!’”
More and more I am impressed with the necessity of allowing God to have total and complete control of our lives. If it seems that I repeat this concept again and again, it is because it is so vital to me. Job’s wife could not see the purpose God had for her husband’s suffering and she doubted the wisdom of his integrity.
There will always be those who are critical of us when we choose to trust in God. They seem to think they are wise by using worldly wisdom, and we are utter fools for trusting in the Lord. Right now, I can tell you, I would rather be a fool for Jesus than to be wise in my own eyes.
There is an old adage which goes: You can keep your mouth closed and just look stupid, or you can open your mouth and remove all doubts! The same goes for trust in God. Our trust in God must not be based upon what other people will think, but because we know that God is the blessed controller of all things, and He will do what is right.
This brings me to a thought about why we trust. It is not that we are lazy, indifferent, or lack the initiative to control things. No, it is a willful choice of the ownership of our life. That is true INTEGRITY!
Blessings dear hearts. May God richly bless you as you bless others by your words and actions!
– – Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Jul 9, 2018 | Job
Job 38:1-2
“Then the Lord spoke to Job out of the storm. He said: ‘Who is this that obscures My plans with words without knowledge?’”
Sometimes we, like Job, spend too much time dwelling on our misfortunes instead of asking the Lord to show us the plans He has for us. Paul learned that the Lord allowed his “thorn in the flesh” to remain in order to teach him to be used of God in the midst of his pain.
I have always enjoyed the comic strip Hagar the Horrible by Chris Browne. Years ago Chris depicted Hagar standing on the top of a high mountain peak with his battered old sword raised high over his head. There high aloft the mere mortals below, Hagar declared that he had reached the top after all of these years!
Hagar declares that this is what every man wants, but he is the only one to have achieved! He proclaims: “I am invincible! I am indestructible! No one can challenge me! I am the greatest! I’m number one!” Suddenly a bolt of lightning flashes and thunder rumbles. Hagar ducks, looks toward heaven and meekly asks, “Okay — how about the second greatest?”
Pride goes before a fall. When subjected to proud boasts, the only one who is impressed is the braggart. Humility is our constant awareness of our need of the Lord at all times in our life, not just in the emergencies.
May God richly bless you as you bless others by your words and actions!
– – Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Nov 29, 2017 | Job
Job 42:5-6
“I have heard of You by the hearing of the ear, but now my eye sees You. Therefore I abhor myself, and repent in dust and ashes.”
I frequently receive messages from readers who feel as if the enemy of our souls has his weapons trained directly on them. They seem to give Satan more credit than he deserves.
I have been thinking of a few questions that may help to put things in perspective.
- Who is more powerful, God or Satan?
- Who is the defeated foe, God or Satan?
- Who wants to make your life miserable, God or Satan?
- Who wants you to allow Him to fight your battles, God or Satan?
- Who wants to tempt you into giving up, God or Satan?
You could add many more such questions. The important thing is to come to the same conclusion that Job did in today’s Scripture. It is not just hearing about God, but opening our spiritual eyes to see Him ready to meet our need.
Blessings dear hearts. May God richly bless you as you bless others by your words and actions!
– – – Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Sep 23, 2014 | Job
Job 42:2-3
I know that You can do all things; no purpose of Yours can be thwarted. You asked, ‘Who is this that obscures My plans without knowledge?’ Surely I spoke of things I did not understand, things too wonderful for me to know.
My wife and I attended high school at College High School in Nampa, Idaho, located on the campus of Northwest Nazarene College. The college educated many future teachers and tried to do the best job possible.
One college professor wanted his students to have a fresh opinion about what we high schoolers thought about the strengths and weaknesses of our teachers. He invited three of us to come to his class. We were as candid as possible and, without exception, agreed that one of our professors was a very poor example of what a good teacher should be.
The comments we made were so specific that if anyone knew this man they would know to whom we were referring. At the last moment it suddenly dawned on us that this man’s son was enrolled in that class and no doubt knew we were speaking of his own father. EMBARRASSING!
Job had been afflicted to such a degree that he was almost crushed. He had lost his wealth, his ten children, and his health. He endured abuse from so-called friends who were sure that for him to suffer this much he must be guilty of some terrible sin. Job defended himself and yearned for a chance to confront God. That changed when God appeared. Job realized his limitations: “Surely I spoke of things I did not understand, things too wonderful for me to know.” When God appears we need to be on our knees and open to hear Him!
Blessings dear hearts. Draw near to God today, trust Him completely and be a blessing!
– – – Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Aug 28, 2014 | Job
Job 1:20-21
At this, Job got up and tore his robe and shaved his head. Then he fell to the ground in worship and said:‘Naked I came from my mother’s womb,and naked I will depart.The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away; may the name of the Lord be praised.’
Over the years I have come to appreciate the book of Job. It is amazing that this very righteous man could lose all of his wealth, most of his servants, and worst of all, his ten children. Having lost one daughter, I know something of the heartache that must have seized him.
It brings us to consider what is important in life. We know that the things of this world, even the people of this world, will pass away, but there is a glorious eternity waiting for all who will receive Jesus Christ as personal Savior.
It is not what we do that merits that wonderful home in glory that is waiting for us. It is only by the precious atoning blood of Jesus that we have the confident assurance that our name is written down in glory.
Job could look beyond the horrible losses in his life and see that God is good. Some people wait for health or wealth in order to praise the Lord. Job could not have known what was going on in heaven between God and Satan that resulted in his pain. The one thing he did know: “The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away;may the name of the Lord be praised.” I want that kind of faith!
May God richly bless you as you bless others by your words and actions!
– – – Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Feb 11, 2014 | Job
Job 2:3
Then the LORD said to Satan, ‘Have you considered My servant Job? There is no one on earth like him; he is blameless and upright, a man who fears God and shuns evil. And he still maintains his integrity, though you incited Me against him to ruin him without reason.’
It has always been somewhat of a mystery to me that there are conversations in heaven between God and Satan. These conversations concern those of us here on earth. We know that Satan is the enemy of our souls and the accuser of the believers.
As we read the account of Job we see that God boasts to Satan about the integrity of Job. What this tells me is that God watches our actions and more than that, the motivations behind our actions. In other words, God knows the thoughts and intents of our hearts. He not only sees what we do but knows why we do it.
In the New Testament we read that Jesus told Peter that Satan had desired to sift him and the other disciples as wheat. Even though Peter proclaimed his steadfast faithfulness and willingness to die for Jesus, we know he fell short.
What do we do when our integrity falls short of our best intentions? The answer is to confess our failures and get up to serve the Lord. Peter and the other disciples that failed the Lord at the moment of His arrest and trial eventually became martyrs for Him after the Resurrection. Integrity is confessing our failures and going on to live for Him!
May God richly bless you as you bless others by your words and actions!
– – – Pastor Cecil
