Fighting the Good Fight

Fighting the Good Fight

By Rev. Lonnie C. Crowe

The situation in the Middle East continues to escalate.  Our leaders seem simply baffled.  It is understandable.  No man-made plan alone will alleviate the anguish.  The problem is more than political.  It is spiritual in its roots.  For victory to come, battle must be waged in the heavenlies as well as on the earth. 

I sense four major spirits in the conflict:

A:  the Hittite spirit.  The Hittites are descendents of Heth, a descendent of Canaan, the grandson of Noah.  The meanings of the names have significance.  Canaan means shame.  Heth means terror.  The Hittite spirit is the spirit of terrorism.  It descends from shame.  In ancient times, the Hittite empire spread over the Middle East and up into Turkey.  Both Canaan and Heth are mentioned in Genesis 10.  Therefore, the spirits were in operation before the time of Abraham.  They are deeply entrenched in the culture.  

B: False Religious Spirit.  Remember that Nimrod, the first world leader and type of the anti-Christ, settled Babel.  Babel is the center of false religion.  We can trace the worldly mythologies of Egypt, Greece and Rome back to Babel.  False religion always seeks to place man’s will over God’s will.  It is religion that seeks power in the world. It is never a spirit of peace.

C.   The Prince of Persia.  Remember that the angel carrying the answer to Daniel’s prayer was delayed because he had to defeat the Prince of Persia.  Persia is Iran.  The word “Iran” is derived from “Aryan” which is a spirit of narcissism and, therefore, intolerance.  It is the same spirit that empowered many facets of the Holocaust.  

D. The Spirit of Stupor: This is the spirit that has blinded the eyes and hearts of world leaders.  In this spirit of stupor, many have become confused and immobilized. 

To intercede, we must first walk in the opposite spirit—the spirit of peace, truth, love and spiritual wakefulness.  In other words, we must manifest the fruit of the Holy Spirit in our personal lives. Galatians 5:22-25 (NKJV) “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law. And those who are Christ's have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.”

God has also given us spiritual armor and the power of the Word of God to enable us, not only to stand, but to be victorious in these difficult times.  Ephesians 6:10-18 (NKJV) Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. Put on the whole armor of God, 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 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. Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God; praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints.”

In the power and authority of the Holy Spirit, we can rebuke the demonic oppression and declare triumph in Jesus’ name.  This is not the time for superficial praying.  It is time to stand in the power and authority that Jesus won for us on the cross.

  

1 John 4:3-4 (NKJV) : ^“and every spirit that does not confess that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is not of God. And this is the spirit of the Antichrist, which you have heard was coming, and is now already in the world.  You are of God, little children, and have overcome them, because He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world.”

I am reminded of the old hymn, “Rise Up, Oh, Men of God”.

“Rise up, O men of God!
Have done with lesser things.
Give heart and mind and soul and strength
To serve the King of kings.
Rise up, O men of God!
The kingdom tarries long.
Bring in the day of brotherhood
And end the night of wrong.
Rise up, O men of God!
The church for you doth wait,
Her strength unequal to her task;
Rise up and make her great!
Lift high the cross of Christ!
Tread where His feet have trod.
As brothers of the Son of Man,
Rise up, O men of God!”

William R. Merrill, 1911

The Parables of My Life: The Prodigals

The Parables of My Life:  The Prodigals

By Rev. Lonnie C. Crowe

Most of us are familiar with the “Parable of the Prodigal Son.”  However, take a few moments and refresh your memory by reading Luke 15:11-32.

This is, in truth, the story of two prodigal sons.  We miss the deeper story when we define “prodigal” as wayward. “Prodigal” refers to a specific kind of waywardness.  Merriam-Webster defines “prodigal” as “carelessly and foolishly spending money, time, etc.”

 

One son was prodigal in spending his inheritance foolishly.  The second son was prodigal in foolishly ignoring the resources and relationships that were available to him.  The question we must each ask ourselves is, “Am I prodigal with my inheritance in the Lord?”

Our inheritance in the Lord has little to do with money.  Our riches are heavenly.  They are spiritual.  Psalm 16:5-6 has long been one of my “life verses.”   “O LORD, You are the portion of my inheritance and my cup; You maintain my lot. The lines have fallen to me in pleasant places; Yes, I have a good inheritance” (Psalm 16:5-6 NKJV).

While those verses do not always describe the situations in my life, they aptly describe my position in the Lord. No matter what is happening around me, God is my inheritance and my cup of joy.  Because I can trust Him for my provision, the lines have truly fallen to me in pleasant places.

What is my inheritance in the Lord?  The Bible has much to say about our inheritance.  One of my favorite scriptures is 1 Peter 1:3-4 (NKJV):  “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and that does not fade away, reserved in heaven for you.”

Because our God is a God of abundance, our inheritance is more than spending eternity with Him.  Our inheritance includes living victoriously in this often difficult life.  A glorious part of the inheritance is the fruit of the Spirit that becomes ours when we accept Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior and the Holy Spirit indwells us.  “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law.  And those who are Christ's have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.  If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit” (Galatians 5:22-25 NKJV).

Another question to ask is, “Am I allowing my fleshly passions and desires to tarnish the fruit of the Spirit in my life?”  When we do not walk in the Spirit, we are being prodigal with our inheritance.

Many times we cry out for God to imbue us with the fruit of the Spirit not realizing that He has already done so and we need only to allow the fruit to be manifest in our lives.  In those times, we are prodigal like the second son who had all the resources of his father at hand and did not avail himself of them. 

My greatest inheritance is my relationship with my heavenly Father made possible by the sacrifice of His Son.  “The lines have fallen to me in pleasant places; Yes, I have a good inheritance.”   Oh, Lord, may I not be prodigal with what You have given me

Uncovering and Cleansing

Uncovering and Cleansing

By Rev. Lonnie C. Crowe

Matthew 10:26b (NKJV)
“For there is nothing covered that will not be revealed, and hidden that will not be known.”

Many across our nation and even across the world have, for several months, been declaring the above verse.  We are seeing it come to pass.  It has shaken us. Even more will be revealed in the days to come.  The revelation will shake us even more.

God is in the process of cleansing our nation, preparing us for an outpouring of His Spirit on His people.  In the cleansing process, He has called into accountability some leaders in the Christian community.  That cleansing is confirmed in scripture.  The apostle Peter wrote, “For the time has come for judgment to begin at the house of God; and if it begins with us first, what will be the end of those who do not obey the gospel of God?” (1 Peter 4:17 NKJV). 

Remember that after Jesus’ Triumphal Entry into Jerusalem, He followed the Jewish tradition of cleansing the leaven from the house in preparation for Passover.  Leaven is a biblical symbol for sin.  Cleansing the leaven is a picture of self-examination, repentance and spiritual cleansing.

In preparation for the Passover, Jesus went to the Temple, His Father’s House, and cleared out the buyers and the sellers.  He proclaimed His Father’s House as a House of Prayer.  Luke 19: 45-48).  Judgment had started at the House of God.

As the wickedness in our nation is being revealed, we should  humble ourselves in repentance and pray for the Lord to reveal any wickedness in our own lives.  May we cry out as David did, “Search me, O God, and know my heart; Try me, and know my anxieties; And see if there is any wicked way in me, And lead me in the life everlasting” (Psalm 139:23-24 NKJV).  

Paul confirmed, “Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own? For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God's” (1 Corinthians 6:19-20 (NKJV).  Many of the sins that are pervasive in the world are pervasive in the Church as well:  sexual sin including addiction to pornography, divorce, co-habitation outside of the marriage covenant, substance abuse, domestic violence and even abortion.

Believers want truth and honesty from our leaders.   Therefore, we must be truthful and honest.  We want justice to prevail in our land.  Therefore, we must treat others justly.  We want our government to be fiscally responsible.  Therefore, we must be fiscally responsible. We want out leaders to be moral.  Therefore, we, Your people, must be moral.

Oh, God, we cry out for the cleansing of your Temple.  We cry out for those things that are covered and hidden in Your Bride to be revealed by Your Holy Spirit.  Lord, let that cleansing begin with me.

The Parables of My Life: The Wise Virgins

The Parables of My Life:  The Wise Virgins

By Rev. Lonnie C. Crowe

The parable of the wise and foolish virgins is another parable about the Kingdom of God.  Remember, “The Kingdom is God’s rule or reign.  We come into that Kingdom when we accept Jesus Christ as our Savior and Lord.  When we make Him our Lord, we allow Him to rule over us by being obedient to His word.  In our obedience, His glory and honor are apparent.  The Church is the Kingdom of God manifested on earth.”

Matthew 25:1-13 (NKJV) "Then the kingdom of heaven shall be likened to ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom. Now five of them were wise, and five were foolish. Those who were foolish took their lamps and took no oil with them, but the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps. But while the bridegroom was delayed, they all slumbered and slept.

And at midnight a cry was heard: 'Behold, the bridegroom is coming; go out to meet him!'
Then all those virgins arose and trimmed their lamps. And the foolish said to the wise, 'Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.'
But the wise answered, saying, 'No, lest there should not be enough for us and you; but go rather to those who sell, and buy for yourselves.' And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went in with him to the wedding; and the door was shut.
Afterward the other virgins came also, saying, 'Lord, Lord, open to us!' But he answered and said, 'Assuredly, I say to you, I do not know you.' Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour in which the Son of Man is coming.”

One of the many lessons of this parable is about missed opportunities to serve and to fellowship with our Lord because we are unprepared.

All ten virgins had been invited to meet the bridegroom.  All ten had lamps.  All ten slumbered and slept.  The difference lay in their preparedness.  Five had oil and five had none. 

In scripture, oil often represents the Holy Spirit.  While the Holy Spirit indwells all believers, we do not always avail ourselves of His power and direction in our lives.  He is our Helper (John 14:16). He is the one who leads us into all truth (John 16:13).  He imparts to us the spiritual gifts as described in 1 Corinthians 12.  His presence allows the fruit of the spirit to enrich our lives (Galatians 5:22-23).  He empowers us to do the work of the Kingdom (Acts 1:8).

Attempting to do the Lord’s work with no oil in our lamps leads to frustration, despair, missed opportunities and burn out.  It is imperative that we keep our lamps full. 

In 1 Kings 17, we read the story of Elijah and the widow.  Her flour and oil were continually replenished as she used them to feed her family and the prophet.  Obedience to the Lord kept her supply replenished.  In our obedience, He will supply our need (Philippians 4:19).

Prayerful meditation on the Word will also keep us ready and willing to serve as the Lord would have us serve. The psalmist wrote, “I have more understanding than all my teachers, For Your testimonies are my meditation. I understand more than the ancients, Because I keep Your precepts. I have restrained my feet from every evil way, That I may keep Your word” (Psalm 119:99-101 NKJV).  

  

Worship will cause our cups of oil to overflow.  Declaring to the Lord His glory, majesty and power lifts us to higher ground. Living on that higher ground empowers us to meet our Bridegroom in every circumstance of our lives.

At church camp, we used to sing “Give me oil in my lamp, keep me burning.”  The biblical truth is that in the Holy Spirit we do have oil for our lamps.  It is us to us to replenish that oil through obedience, service, meditation, worship and fellowship with our Lord. Even though they slumbered, the wise virgins were prepared for the arrival of the Bridegroom.