Enjoying God (Part 2)

By Reverend Lonnie C. Crowe

In order to deeply enjoy God, we must be transformed.

Romans 12:1-2: “I beseech you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God to present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, pleasing to God, which is your reasonable service. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, in order to prove by you what is that good and pleasing and perfect will of God."

 
We are to be living, breathing, functioning proof of what is that good and pleasing and perfect will of God.

1 Corinthians 2:14-16:” But a natural man does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually appraised. But he who is spiritual appraises all things, yet he himself is appraised by no one. For who has known the mind of the Lord, that he will instruct Him? But we have the mind of Christ.”

To walk in the mind of Christ, we must grow in our knowledge of God.  We must know, truly know, down in the depths of our being that God is good and that He wants the best for us.  God spoke through the prophet Jeremiah to Israel.  Jeremiah 29:11” For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope.” 

Romans 11:24 tells us that we as Christians have been crafted into the olive tree of Israel. What God spoke then to Israel, He is speaking to us today. 

In Him, we can have peace, a future and a hope.  Before the storm, during the storm and after the storm. 

Zephaniah 3:17 “The Lord your God in your midst, the Mighty One, will save; He will rejoice over you with gladness, He will quiet you in His love, He will rejoice over you with singing.''  

Some favorite scriptures that help us to see ourselves as God sees us.

▪Job 33:4—“The Spirit of God has made me, And the breath of the Almighty gives me life.”

▪Psalm 8:3-5—“When I look at your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have set in place, What is man that You are mindful of him, And the son of man that You visit him? For You have made him a little lower than the angels, And You have crowned him with glory and honor.”

▪Psalm 139:13-14—“For You formed my inward parts; You covered me in my mother’s womb I will praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; Marvelous are Your works, And that my soul knows very well. “

▪Romans 8:38—“For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

Romans 12:3 cautions us not to think of ourselves more highly than we ought.  Grammatically speaking, that means that we are to think of ourselves highly, just not more highly that we ought.  We are radically loved by God, but we are not God. 

We must come to expect that God will intervene in our lives.  God’s intervention will most often involve changing us rather than changing our circumstances.  Paul wrote to the church at Philippi from the confines of prison and said, Philippians 4:11-13 :“Not that I speak in regard to need, for I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content:   I know how to be abased, and I know how to abound. Everywhere and in all things I have learned both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.”  

Paul, even in the confines of the dungeon, stood in hope.  He did not allow his circumstances to interfere with his relationship with his Lord.

Accepting who we are in Jesus Christ, we fulfill His covenant and we can pray the Lord’s Prayer as a recognition of His covenant promises:

“Our Father, You are in heaven.  Your name is holy.

In Jesus Christ, Your kingdom has come.  Your will is being done in my life on earth as Your will is done in heaven.

You give me my daily bread. 

You forgive my trespasses just as I forgive those who have trespassed against me.

You do not lead me into temptation, but you rescue me from evil.

I declare that You are King of Kings and Lord of Lords, that

You are all powerful and all glorious forever  and ever.

Amen”

 

 God knows what is happening in our world and is not overwhelmed by it. Let's go to Him for strategies and solutions . In spite of what is happening around us, we can rejoice in our Redeemer and in our redemption. With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible (Matthew 19:26).

Rather than trying to predict the future, we should trace God’s faithfulness in our past.  He was faithful then.  He will be faithful now.

   Zephaniah 3:17 says that God will rejoice over us with singing. I love the concept of God, so full of joy over our walk with Him that He bursts into song. We are created in His image. How can we help but be like Miriam?   Remember what Miriam did when they had crossed through the Red Sea?  She picked up her tambourine and sang and danced in worship. 

We must pick up our tambourines, either real or metaphorical, and dance as we sing praises for what the Lord has done, is doing, and will do. Then we will be singing and dancing with him.

 

Enjoying God (Part 1)

By Reverend Lonnie C. Crowe

Westminster Shorter Catechism:

“Q. 1. What is the main purpose of mankind? A. Mankind’s main purpose is to glorify God and to enjoy him forever. Q. 2. What rule has God given to direct us how we may glorify and enjoy him? A. The Word of God, which is contained in the Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments, is the only rule to direct us how we may glorify and enjoy him.”

God enjoys us.  Let us learn to enjoy Him. The Bible tells us how to enjoy Him.

The prophet Zephaniah foretold a time when the day of the Lord would bring great judgment on the sins of the world. His prophecy speaks of the destruction of life on earth and is especially pointed at false religions. Our time parallels the time of Zephaniah. He mentions the fertility cults of Baal. The perverse sexuality of our world is nothing more than the worship of Baal. The prophet condemns those who worship the “hosts of heaven.” Astrology and reliance on zodiac predictions were rampant in ancient cultures and are just as rampant today.

Zephaniah decries the worship of Milcom who is also called Molech and Chemosh. The worship of Milcom included the sacrifice of children. God spoke to Israel in Leviticus 18:21, “And you shall not let any of your descendants pass through the fire to Molech, nor shall you profane the name of your God: I am the LORD. (NKJV).”

Milcom is often associated with the Greek god Cronus, whose Roman name is Saturn. Cronus/Saturn, fearing one of his children would overthrow him, swallowed them at birth. Milcom, under several names and guises, has long been a destroyer of children. Abortion is, in reality, sacrifice to Molech.

This is our context.

The purpose of God’s judgment is always to eradicate sin and to bring forth His mercy. We cannot enjoy God while living in sin, doubt and unbelief. 

Zephaniah chapter 3 is an anthem to the restorative mercy of our God. There is a process.

The process begins in our commitment to the Lord, continues in our reformed minds, in our new hearts and is expressed in our speech and actions.

Romans 12:1-2:  I beseech you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God to present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, pleasing to God, which is your reasonable service. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, in order to prove by you what is that good and pleasing and perfect will of God. 

We are to be living, breathing, functioning proof of what is that good and pleasing and perfect will of God. 

Zephaniah 3:12 “I will leave in your midst a meek and humble people, And they shall trust in the name of the LORD. (NKJV)"  ( a people who do not trust in their own abilities alone but who desire strength and direction from the Lord).

Zephaniah 3:9:"For then I will restore to the peoples a pure language, That they all may call on the name of the LORD, To serve Him with one accord. (NKJV)”

Our culture is truly in need of a pure language.  Even if we don’t use “cuss words”, our language can often express hurt, doubt and unbelief.  Our language can express our lack of joy.  Joy is a fruit of the spirit.  When we have accepted Jesus as our Lord and Savior, joy resides within us.  We must learn to call forth our joy and practice walking in it.  Our God Is a joyful God and when we are walking in Him, He rejoices over us.

Zephaniah 3:17: “The LORD your God in your midst, The Mighty One, will save; He will rejoice over you with gladness, He will quiet you with His love, He will rejoice over you with singing. (NKJV)"

What a delight to know that even in the midst of perverse and troubled times, the Lord our God is in our midst. He saves His people. He comes against those who come against us. He quiets us with His love. He rejoices over us with singing.

When I was a small child, my daddy often held me in his arms and sang over me, and I was quieted in my spirit. I can so easily picture my heavenly Father doing the same thing, and I am, likewise, quieted in my spirit.

In ancient times, God gave His people plenty of time to repent before judgment came. He has done the same in modern times. In spite of the seasons of judgment, those, who are faithful, experience deliverance, forgiveness, joy and peace in the most difficult of times.

Hallelujah! What a Savior! What a message for today!

 Becoming a Mighty Army of the Lord: Part 2

By Rev. Lonnie C. Crowe

2 Timothy 2: 1-3

“You therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. And the things that you have heard from me among many witnesses, commit these to faithful men who will be able to teach others also. You therefore must endure hardship as a good soldier of Jesus Christ”.

In the wilderness of Sinai, He changed a generation that had been born of fearful people operating in a slave mentality. He changed the children of those people who had often desired to be dependent upon their oppressors. He changed that new generation into a conquering powerhouse.

He can do the same for us.

We must battle dressed in the Whole Armor of God

Eph 6:10-12: Finally, my brothers, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. Put on the whole armor of God so that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the world's rulers, of the darkness of this age, against spiritual wickedness in high places. Therefore take to yourselves the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.

Eph 6:14 Therefore stand, having your loins girded about with truth,

John 8:31-32 “Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed; And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.”

Truth is protection. Truth is power. Truth is predicated on the Word of God. When we walk in the truth of the Word, we experience the freedom of God. When we walk in the lie of worldly philosophies, we experience the bondage of the enemy’s lies.

Eph 6:14b “and having on the breastplate of righteousness.”

A physical breastplate will protect the heart and lungs, the vital organs of the body. A spiritual breastplate will protect the vital organs of the spirit.

Proverbs 4:23 " Keep your heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life."

Matthew 5:8 Blessed are the pure in heart! For they shall see God.

With our lungs we breathe air to function in the world. With the Holy Spirit within us, we breathe the breath of life to function in righteousness in the spiritual realm and the worldly realm. Now go do the right thing.

Ephesians 6:15 “and your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace.”

We must be prepared to walk in peace. Walking in the truth and in righteousness prepares us to walk in peace.

1 Peter 3:10-11 “For he that wants to love life and to see good days, let him restrain his tongue from evil, and his lips from speaking guile. Let him turn aside from evil and do good. Let him seek peace and pursue it.”

Philippians 4:6-7 “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God which passes all understanding shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.”

2 Corinthians 13:11 “Finally, brothers, rejoice. Perfect yourselves; encourage yourselves; mind the same thing; be at peace. And the God of love and peace will be with you.”

Graham Cooke has written, “Peace isn’t something you create through stress management or positive thinking. It is already yours in Christ, waiting to be accessed. The Father doesn’t give you peace as a reward for handling life well or having everything figure out. His peace is available in the chaos, in the uncertainty, in the middle of the storm—because its flows from His character, not your circumstances.

“Peace isn’t the absence of problems—it’s the presence of God’s perspective in every problem. When you see from His elevated view, circumstances lose their power to steal your calm.”

Ephesians 6:16 Above all, take the shield of faith, with which you shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.

Faith is proactive protection.

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 report.

Hebrews 11:6 But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.

Romans 10:17 So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.

Faith, too, is predicated on the word of God. Abraham knew that Isaac would come down from the mountain of sacrifice because he knew that God would fulfill His word that Isaac was the son of promise, the conduit though with the blessing of Abraham would flow through all the generations.

David had been anointed to become the next king of Israel. He wasn’t king yet. He knew that God would fulfill that promise, so Goliath was the one who had to die.

Faith is believing that God is Who He say He is and God will do what He says He will do.

Ephesians 6:17a And take the helmet of salvation.

In both Greek and Hebrew, salvation means rescue, deliverance, help, victory, and the well-being that comes from obedience to God. It is more than a get out of hell free card.

Romans 12:2 teaches that we are transformed by the renewing of our mind. The helmet pictures the need for us to not only allowing God to renew our minds, but also the need for us to take charge of and control our minds and our thoughts.

2 Corinthians 10:4-5: (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;) Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ."

Proverbs 23:7 for as he thinks in his heart, so is he.

Philippians 4:8 Finally, my brothers, whatever things are true, whatever things are honest, whatever things are right, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report; if there is any virtue and if there is any praise, think on these things.

When we think of those things, when we hold these ideals in our heart, what is in our heart will guide us in the issues of our life.

Proverbs 4:23 Keep your heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life.

Ephesians 6:17b and the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God.

Psalm 119:11-16 I have hidden Your Word in my heart, so that I might not sin against You. Blessed are You, O Jehovah; teach me Your Precepts. With my lips I have declared all the judgments of Your mouth. I have rejoiced in the way of Your testimonies, as much as in all riches. I will think on Your Commandments and have respect to Your ways. I will delight myself in Your Precepts; I will not forget Your Word."

When David fled from Saul, outlaws and other outcasts of society joined him as he hid in the caves of the En Gedi wilderness. With the Holy Spirit to anoint, guide and empower him, David became a warrior king, a man after God’s own heart and the sweet singer of Israel. David was both a man of war and a man of worship. Members of his army have been immortalized in Scripture as the “mighty men of Israel.” (2 Samuel 23)

“Israel” means “one who is triumphant with God” or “one who prevails with God.” Are you willing to be trained for the spiritual warfare of today, to find safety in the promises of the armor of God and to be a mighty warrior who prevails because of a relationship with our Lord Who will, in the fullness of time, return leading the army of heaven.

God is Who He say He is and God will do what He says He will do.

In God’s army, all believers have a part.

 Becoming a Mighty Army of the Lord (Part 1)

By Rev. Lonnie C. Crowe

2 Timothy 2: 1-3

“You therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. And the things that you have heard from me among many witnesses, commit these to faithful men who will be able to teach others also. You therefore must endure hardship as a good soldier of Jesus Christ”.

Remember this old Sunday School song?

“God's got an army we’re marching through the land

Deliverance in our songs and healing in our hands

Everlasting joy and gladness in our hearts

And in God’s army, I've got a part.”

Our times are perilous, but God has an both a heavenly army and an earthly army. Our Commander-in-Chief has issued a call for us to join Him. Yet, many Christians are sitting on their blessed assurance, fearfully complaining as they await the coming rapture.

The rapture is coming. It is coming in God’s timing. Jesus told His followers in Acts 1:7: "It is not for you to know times or seasons which the Father has put in His own authority.”

This is not a season to wrap ourselves in the rapture. It is a time to go to war. It is the mission of the Church, the earthly army of the Lord, to be about our Father’s business until our Lord returns. Our mission is to preach the good news of deliverance, healing and everlasting joy that comes through a covenant relationship with God that has been purchased and sealed by Calvary.

It is a time to decree Psalm 144:1-2: “Blessed be the Lord my Rock, Who trains my hands for war, And my fingers for battle, my lovingkindness and my fortress, my high tower and my deliverer, my shield and the One in whom I take refuge.”

Paul describes the battle we are facing in Ephesians 6:12-13: “for we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. Therefore, take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.”

This is an evil day. Are you ready and willing to withstand?

Eph 5:15-20: See then that you walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise, redeeming the time, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be unwise, but understand what the will of the Lord is. And do not be drunk with wine, in which is excess, but be filled with the Spirit, speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord; always giving thanks for all things to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ."

How are you speaking to yourself?

God is training His army today just as He has done in the past. In the wilderness of Sinai, He changed a generation that had been born of fearful people operating in a slave mentality. He changed the children of those people who had often desired to be dependent upon their oppressors. He changed that new generation into a conquering powerhouse.

He can do the same for us.

 Huldah:  The Prophetic Bride of Christ

By Rev. Lonnie C. Crowe

Several biblical symbols represent the church. Among them is the church's calling as the holy, radiant, spotless Bride of Christ, the Lamb of God. Many times women in scripture picture the attributes of the church as that Bride.  Such is the history of Huldah.

We read the context of her story in 2 Chronicles 34.  Huldah the prophetess lived in Jerusalem during the reign of King Josiah, who was one of only a few God honoring kings of Judah.  He took action against the pagan worship in Judah.  However, during this time, the Torah, the Book of the Law, had been hidden and forgotten for many years. The high priest, Hilkiah, found a copy and brought it to King Josiah.

When the scroll was read, King Josiah realized the depth of Judah’s apostasy and the circumstances of that apostasy. In grief and repentance, the king tore his clothing.  With a broken spirit, he called Hilkiah and other officers of the court. He sent his advisers to Huldah the prophetess, asking for a word from the Lord.

2 Chronicles 34:22-28:  “And Hilkiah, and those of the king, went to Huldah the prophetess, the wife of Shallum the son of Tikvath, the son of Hasrah, the keeper of the robes. (And she lived in Jerusalem in the second part.) And they spoke to her about this. And she answered them, So says Jehovah, the God of Israel, Tell the man who sent you to me, So says Jehovah, Behold, I will bring evil on this place and upon its people, all the curses that are written in the Book which they have read before the king of Judah, because they have forsaken Me, and have burned incense to other gods, so that they might provoke Me to anger with all the works of their hands. And My wrath shall be poured out on this place and shall not be quenched. And as for the king of Judah, who sent you to inquire of Jehovah, so shall you say to him, So says Jehovah, the God of Israel whose words you have heard, Because your heart was tender and you humbled yourself before your God when you heard His words against this place and against its people, and humbled yourself before Me, and tore your garments and wept before Me, I have even heard also, says Jehovah. Behold, I will gather you to your fathers, and you shall be gathered to your grave in peace, nor shall your eyes see all the evil which I will bring on this place and upon its people. And they brought the king word again.” 

Huldah the prophetess gave the king’s men a message from God: disaster would strike the nation because they had forgotten God and instead had worshiped idols . But God had a different message for Josiah. Despite the absence of the Law, King Josiah had honored God by getting rid of idol worship in Judah and Jerusalem. While Josiah’s actions were admirable, it was his humility and repentance that brought God’s blessing into his life.  As a result of Josiah’s grieving over the wickedness of the people of Judah, the destruction of Judah would not occur during Josiah’s lifetime. Josiah repented, but the people of Judah did not.

We are to be the Huldahs of hope in our world. Our humble, obedient spirits bring peace and refreshing into our lives.

When we walk with the Lord
in the light of his word,
what a glory he sheds on our way!
While we do his good will,
he abides with us still,
and with all who will trust and obey.

Trust and obey, for there's no other way
to be happy in Jesus, but to trust and obey.

John H. Sammis

 

Forgiving Your Worse Enemy

By Reverend Lonnie C. Crowe

Who is my worst enemy? 

Charles Spurgeon said, “Beware of no man more than of yourself; we carry our worst enemies within us.”

More simply put, we are our own worst enemy.  Praise God! We often preach and practice the forgiveness of God in our lives and the necessity of forgiving those who have wounded and betrayed us.  So seldom do we forgive the enemy within.

Many times, even when we have accepted that God has forgiven us, we continue to torture ourselves for our past failures. We must learn to forgive ourselves and to love ourselves in the Lord.  The greatest commandments:  Mark 12:30-31: “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength." This is the first commandment.  And the second is like this: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. There is no other commandment greater than these.” 

Notice, we must forgive ourselves and love ourselves in the Lord before we can forgive and love others.

Give Them All to Jesus By Phil Johnson and Bob Benson, Sr.
Give them all, give them all, give them all to Jesus Shattered dreams, wounded hearts, and broken toys. Give them all, give them all, give them all to Jesus And He will turn your sorrows into joy.

 

Standing Fervently

By Rev. Lonnie C. Crowe

Eze 22:29-31: The people of the land have used oppression, and exercised robbery, and have vexed the poor and needy: yea, they have oppressed the stranger wrongfully.  And I sought for a man among them, that should make up the hedge, and stand in the gap before me for the land, that I should not destroy it: but I found none. Therefore have I poured out mine indignation upon them; I have consumed them with the fire of my wrath: their own way have I recompensed upon their heads, saith the Lord GOD. 

Jas 5:16b The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man avail much. The operative word is “fervently”. 

Are you willing to stand fervently in the gap?