by Pastor Cecil | Sep 25, 2009 | Luke
Luke 2:28-32
“Simeon took Him in his arms and praised God, saying: ‘Sovereign Lord, as You have promised, You now dismiss Your servant in peace. For my eyes have seen Your salvation, which You have prepared in the sight of all people, a light for revelation to the Gentiles and for glory to your people Israel.'”
Charles Wesley lived from 1707 to 1788. During his life he wrote hundreds of hymns and poems and was one of the most prolific English poets. Back in 1744 he wrote the wonderful hymn, “Come, Thou Long-Expected Jesus.” In the first verse he introduces Jesus Christ as the fulfillment of Israel’s promised Messiah.
Isaiah 7:14, spoke of a virgin giving birth to a child whose name “Immanuel” which means “God with us.” In Isaiah 9:6, this long-expected One would be called “Wonderful, Counselor, the Mighty God, eternal Father, the Prince of Peace.”
Because of these and many other prophecies, many devout Jews prayed earnestly for the day when He would arrive. Luke 2 tells of Simeon, a man of faith who was “looking for the consolation of Israel.” When he saw Jesus as an infant, Simeon knew that this Child was the fulfillment of his messianic hope. Charles Wesley was borrowing from this passage when he described Jesus in this song as “Israel’s strength and consolation.”
The second verse tells us that Jesus was “born a child and yet a King.” As the One who is both God and man, Jesus was able to satisfy God’s wrath completely by dying on the cross for our sins. When Wesley wrote about Jesus’ “all sufficient merit,” he was referring to Christ’s ability to bring us to salvation.
“Come Thou Long-Expected Jesus“
Come, Thou long-expected Jesus,
born to set Thy people free;
from our fears and sins release us;
let us find our rest in Thee.
Israel’s strength and consolation,
hope of all the earth Thou art;
dear desire of every nation,
joy of every longing heart.
Born Thy people to deliver,
born a child, and yet a King,
born to reign in us forever,
now Thy gracious kingdom bring.
By Thine own eternal Spirit
rule in all our hearts alone;
by Thine own sufficient merit,
raise us to Thy glorious throne.
To access Come Thou Long-Expected Jesus, this week’s inspirational video from GloryScapes.com, please go to: http://www.gloryscapes.com/comethoulongexpectedjesus in your browser or click on the image below.
Blessings dear hearts. Draw near to God today, trust Him completely and be a blessing!
– – – Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Sep 4, 2009 | Luke
Luke 24:29
“But they constrained Him, saying, Abide with us: for it is toward evening, and the day is far spent. And He went in to tarry with them”
Henry F. Lyte was a man who greatly loved the Lord with his whole being. He came up with the saying, “It is better to wear out than to rust out,” and it perfectly described his life.
During the last 23 years of his life he pastored a poor church in England. He always suffered from poor health but during this time his health started to decline even more. When he finally preached his last sermon on September 4, 1847, it is reported that he practically had to crawl to the pulpit.
Shortly before preaching his last sermon he wrote the words and tune to the hymn, “Abide With Me.” He based his hymn on today’s Scripture that tells the story of Jesus walking with two disciples on the way to Emmaus and their statement, “Abide with us: for it is toward evening and the day is far spent.” He went to be with the Lord shortly after writing the hymn.
Later William Monk wrote a new tune for the hymn. During a time of personal sorrow, he was inspired by the beauty of a magnificent sunset.
“Abide With Me“
Abide with me—fast falls the eventide;
The darkness deepens—Lord, with me abide;
When other helpers fail and comforts flee,
Help of the helpless, O abide with me!
Swift to its close ebbs out life’s little day;
Earth’s joys grow dim, its glories pass away;
Change and decay in all around I see;
O Thou who changest not, abide with me!
I need Thy presence every passing hour;
What but Thy grace can foil the tempter’s power?
Who like Thyself my guide and stay can be?
Through cloud and sunshine, O abide with me.
Hold Thou Thy word before my closing eyes,
Shine thru the gloom and point me to the skies;
Heaven’s morning breaks and earth’s vain shadows flee
In life, in death, O Lord, abide with me!
To access Abide With Me, this week’s inspirational video from GloryScapes.com, please go to: http://www.gloryscapes.com/abidewithme in your browser or click on the image below.
Blessings dear hearts. Draw near to God today, trust Him completely and be a blessing!
– – – Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Jun 26, 2009 | Luke
Luke 18:35-38
“As Jesus approached Jericho, a blind man was sitting by the roadside begging. When he heard the crowd going by, he asked what was happening. They told him, ‘Jesus of Nazareth is passing by.’ He called out, Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!'”
I was watching a recent episode of “The First 48.” The suspect in a homicide was a young woman with an extensive criminal history. As the detectives questioned her, she was defiant and bitter. She railed out at them because of her miserable life and denied any involvement in the murder.
As it so happens, her interrogation took place on Thanksgiving Day. There were many police officers on duty that day and so the department had brought in a complete buffet of Cuban food.
After spending fruitless time interrogating the young woman, the detectives left her alone and went into the main office to get a plate of food. One of the detectives suddenly remembered the young woman and filled a plate for her and took it back into the interrogation room.
When the detective placed the plate of food in front of the young woman he observed a heart-stopping transformation. The detective said; “Let’s thank the Lord for the food.” He took her hand and the other detective’s and prayed for each of them at that table and thanked the Lord for the food.
The young woman began to weep and said, “I need to get right with the Lord. I want to tell you everything that I did and I want the Lord to forgive me.” Wow! In that moment, this miserable girl cried out to the Lord to not pass her by, and He didn’t. It reminds me of the old hymn, “Pass Me Not, Oh Gentle Savior.”
“Pass Me Not, Oh Gentle Savior“
Pass me not, O gentle Savior,
Hear my humble cry;
While on others Thou art calling,
Do not pass me by.
Refrain: Savior, Savior,
Hear my humble cry;
While on others Thou art calling,
Do not pass me by.
Let me at Thy throne of mercy
Find a sweet relief,
Kneeling there in deep contrition;
Help my unbelief.
Refrain:
Trusting only in Thy merit,
Would I seek Thy face;
Heal my wounded, broken spirit,
Save me by Thy grace.
Refrain:
Thou the Spring of all my comfort,
More than life to me,
Whom have I on earth beside Thee?
Whom in Heav’n but Thee?
Refrain:
Whatever you do, do not let the Savior pass you by!
To access Pass Me Not, this week’s inspirational video from GloryScapes.com, please go to: http://www.gloryscapes.com/passmenot in your browser or click on the image below.
Blessings dear hearts. Draw near to God today, trust Him completely and be a blessing!
– – – Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Jun 19, 2009 | Luke
Luke 18:15-17
“People were also bringing babies to Jesus to have him touch them. When the disciples saw this, they rebuked them. But Jesus called the children to him and said, ‘Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. I tell you the truth, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.'”
Warner wrote a novel titled, “Say and Seal.” She alluded to the fact that Jesus loves little children. After the novel had been published and circulated, she was informed by a Sunday School teacher that a young boy was lying in the hospital near death.
Susan called her sister, Anna, and asked if she could write a hymn for the teacher to sing to the dying lad. Anna wrote the first verse and two years later, William Bradbury wrote the second and third stanzas.
The simple words of this song speak volumes. I heard the story of an old retired minister who had returned to speak at the church he had pastored for many years. He had not been seen by the congregation for a very long time and they were very anxious to hear what his words of wisdom would be. Slowly he made his way to the microphone and spoke in a soft voice: “Jesus loves me, this I know, for the Bible tells me so!” His words were more powerful than the best prepared sermon.
“Jesus Loves Me“
Jesus loves me! This I know,
For the Bible tells me so.
Little ones to Him belong;
They are weak, but He is strong.
Refrain: Yes, Jesus loves me!
Yes, Jesus loves me!
Yes, Jesus loves me!
The Bible tells me so.
Jesus loves me He who died,
Heaven’s gate to open wide;
He will wash away my sin,
Let His little child come in.
Refrain: Yes, Jesus loves me!
Yes, Jesus loves me!
Yes, Jesus loves me!
The Bible tells me so.
Jesus, take this heart of mine,
Make it pure and wholly Thine;
On the cross You died for me,
I will try to live for Thee.
Refrain: Yes, Jesus loves me!
Yes, Jesus loves me!
Yes, Jesus loves me!
The Bible tells me so.
Jesus really cares for you, regardless of your age, in His eyes you are one of His “little children!” Let Him love you and care for you.
To access Jesus Loves Me, this week’s inspirational video from GloryScapes.com, please go to: http://www.gloryscapes.com/jesuslovesme in your browser or click on the image below.
Blessings dear hearts. Draw near to God today, trust Him completely and be a blessing!
– – – Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | May 5, 2009 | Luke
Luke 12:54-56
“He said to the crowd: ‘When you see a cloud rising in the west, immediately you say, ‘It’s going to rain,” and it does. And when the south wind blows, you say, ‘It’s going to be hot,’ and it is. Hypocrites! You know how to interpret the appearance of the earth and the sky. How is it that you don’t know how to interpret this present time?'”
I really enjoy watching the weather channel. It is amazing to see the eye of a hurricane or typhoon from outer space. Modern technology is able to predict the path of storms long before they actually arrive.
Starting next Sunday there will be an expert team of weather trackers scattered across the middle of America in an attempt to study and report on tornadoes. Many of the pictures will be sent back to the Weather Channel and shown live.
Jesus seems to have something of this in mind when He spoke about people knowing how to predict weather patterns, but fail to understand what is happening in fulfillment of the prophecy given in God’s Word.
In Matthew 24, Jesus gives us over twenty signs that mark His second coming. If you go there and read that chapter you will see a description of what is happening in our world at the present time. If you are feeling overwhelmed in your walk with the Lord, there is hope and comfort in knowing that the time is near.
So what does this mean to us? It means that there is a lost and dying world around us facing an eternity in hell unless they repent and accept Jesus Christ as their personal Savior. We have work to do while we remain, so let us be faithful and rescue the perishing.
Blessings dear hearts. Draw near to God today, trust Him completely and be a blessing!
– – – Pastor Cecil
by Pastor Cecil | Apr 29, 2009 | Luke
Luke 12:35-36
“Let your waist be girded and your lamps burning; and you yourselves be like men who wait for their master, when he will return from the wedding, that when he comes and knocks they may open to him immediately.”
This past weekend we had a long visit with good friends we had not seen for many years. Both Stewart and I had worked with US Air Force programs that were designed to protect our nation from attack.
One of the major elements in defending against aggression is being on alert at all times. I can still recall the long night hours when I was on alert for any sign of threat to our nation. Thankfully we were never attacked, but there were many simulated threats to insure our readiness to react.
When you are wide awake and expectant it is much easier to react quickly and appropriately. When the night hours slip by and your eyes feel like they are filled with sand, it is necessary to react in a professional manner that comes from long hours of training.
In our spiritual walk we never know when the enemy will mount an attack. We can almost be certain that this attack will occur when we are weary and worn. If we have not spent the time in self examination, prayer, and Bible study, we will be very vulnerable to the attack.
There is one thing we can be sure about—we will meet our Lord face to face. It may be at the moment our eyes close in death or it may be when the trumpet sounds and we are called up to meet the Lord in the air. Either way, we must be on the alert with our lamps burning bright. Are you on the alert?
Blessings dear hearts. Draw near to God today, trust Him completely and be a blessing!
– – – Pastor Cecil
