Walking in Newness

Walking in Newness

By Rev. Lonnie C. Crowe

While we are always cognizant of the new year, we are not so often aware of our own newness in Jesus Christ.  Our God is the Father of new beginnings:  Passover begins a new spiritual year.  Rosh Hashanah marks the new civil year.  Hanukkah is a time of rededication.

The prophet Jeremiah declared in Lamentations 3:22-23 (NKJV): “Through the LORD'S mercies we are not consumed, Because His compassions fail not. They are new every morning; Great is Your faithfulness.”

In the Lord, each day, each moment is a chance for a new beginning and an abundant life.  John 10:10 (NKJV) “The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.”  Being reborn by accepting Jesus as both our Savior and our Lord, we have access to life abundantly.  It is never too late to step into that abundant new life.

In our born-again experience, we actually become new creations. Corinthians 5:17 (NKJV) “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.”

Each day we can walk in that newness.  Romans 6:3-4 (NKJV) “Or do you not know that as many of us as were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death? Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.”

Paul gave both the Galatians and the entire Church advice in walking in newness. Galatians 5:16-17 (NKJV):  “I say then: Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh. For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another, so that you do not do the things that you wish.”

In Romans 8:14-15 we learn that when we walk according to the Holy Spirit, we become sons of God.  ^“For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God. For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, "Abba, Father." The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God.”

“Abba” is the Hebrew word for “Papa.”   The word embraces more that a legal relationship.  Abba connotes an emotional and spiritual tie.  A few years ago, I was sitting in the lobby of a hotel in Jerusalem.  A group of orthodox Jewish men were mingling in the lobby as well.  They were dressed in the traditional garb of black suits, white shirts, and black hats.  A small boy of 3 or 4 was dressed similarly. 

Suddenly he broke from the group, ran toward a young man who had just come through the door.  He called “Abba, Abba, Abba” as he threw himself in the arms of his father.  His abba picked him up, held him close and kissed him all over his face while the little one giggled with delight.

That is the Abba relationship.  It is the relationship that God wants with each of us.  That relationship brings newness of life.

Romans 8:16-17 continues:  “The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs--heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him, that we may also be glorified together.” 

Paul confirms what David wrote:  Psalm 16:5-6 (NKJV): “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.”

As a new creation, I am a child of God and I have a good inheritance in Him.  That inheritance is manifested in the fruit of the Spirit:  “Galatians 5:22-23 (NKJV):  “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law.”  

Love is foundational to all the other gifts and nothing can separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus.  Romans 8:37-39 (NKJV):  “Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. 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.”

When we digest the truth of our newness, when we abide in an Abba relationship with our God, when we know that we are loved unconditionally by the One Who is Love, no matter the circumstances in our lives, we will have a joyous new year.

Everything God touches becomes new.  Let’s allow Abba to touch our lives even more deeply in this new year.  

May this new year find your heart  filled to overflowing with the Abba love that our God desires to shower upon us. 

May the ashes of the past be changed to beauty.  May your years of mourning be exchanged for the oil of joy.  May your spirit of heaviness be replaced with a garment of praise.  May you be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the Lord, that He may be glorified. 

(Isaiah 61:3) 

Simeon and Anna (Hannah): Blessing the Christ Child

Simeon and Anna (Hannah): Blessing the Christ Child 

By Rev. Lonnie C. Crowe

In relating the Christmas story, we often overlook the significance of Simeon and Anna (her Hebrew name is Hannah.)  These two elderly people, who had long waited for the coming of Messiah, picture the hope, the contentment, the fulfillment of the coming of Messiah into each of our lives. 

They picture the ministry that can come in our glory years.  (Proverbs 16:31 (NKJV): ^“The silver-haired head is a crown of glory, If it is found in the way of righteousness.”

We must never feel that we no longer have a ministry. I often think of a lovely lady in her nineties who used to call me, a young mother, and say, “Honey, I have some extra time today.  Is there anything you want me to pray about?”  Always, I poured out my heart to her and she prayed, comforted and consoled.  She had the spirit of Simeon and Anna. 

  

We learn much from knowing the meanings of Biblical names.  Simeon means one that hears or obeys; one that is heard. Simeon was obedient to the call of God on his life.  It had been prophesied that he would not die until he had see the Messiah.

Luke 2:29-32 (NKJV)   "Lord, now You are letting Your servant depart in peace, According to Your word; For my eyes have seen Your salvation Which You have prepared before the face of all peoples, A light to bring revelation to the Gentiles, And the glory of Your people Israel."

Simeon was righteous man who spent his waiting for the Savior. He was waiting  for the comfort  promised in Isaiah 40:1 (NKJV)  "Comfort, yes, comfort My people!" Says your God.Upon seeing the Christ Child, Simeon called forth the salvation of both Gentiles and Jews who will accept the light of Jesus Christ into their lives.

Luke 2:33-36 (NKJV) : "And Joseph and His mother marveled at those things which were spoken of Him. Then Simeon blessed them, and said to Mary His mother, "Behold, this Child is destined for the fall and rising of many in Israel, and for a sign which will be spoken against (yes, a sword will pierce through your own soul also), that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed." 

 

Simeon revealed that Jesus will shake up the world around Him.  Not everyone will accept Him as Lord and Savior.  Many will speak out against Him. Mary will suffer the heartbreak of seeing her Son suffering on the Cross. Salvation came with a price.

In times of persecution and vilification, Christians in every age are call to pay the price of salvation as well:  

Matthew 16:24-26 (NKJV): ^“Then Jesus said to His disciples, "If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me. For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it. For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul?”  

We, too, are to shake up the world around us.  How do we do it?

It is a spiritual war and we must come in the opposite spirit of the one that permeates so much of the world today.  The world will be shaken by our words and our behavior.

The Tenors sang of that spirit.

An Instrument of peace

Where there is hatred, let me bring love
Where there is doubt, let me bring faith

Where there is falsehood, let me bring truth
Where there is pain, I'll comfort you

Where there is silence, let me sing praise
Where there's despair, let me bring hope

Where there is blindness, let me bring sight
Where there is darkness, let me bring light

And that brings us to Anna.

Luke 2:36-38 (NKJV); “Now there was one, Anna, a prophetess, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was of a great age, and had lived with a husband seven years from her virginity;  and this woman was a widow of about eighty-four years, who did not depart from the temple, but served God with fastings and prayers night and day.  And coming in that instant she gave thanks to the Lord, and spoke of Him to all those who looked for redemption in Jerusalem.”

Anna lived in the Temple.  That speaks of relationship with the Lord.  Her name means gracious; merciful; one that gives. She was the daughter Phanuel.  Phanuel means face or vision of God.  She was of the tribe of Asher.  Asher means happiness.

Her relationship with the Lord brought mercy and grace into her life.  She had the gift of prophecy and with it visions from the Lord.  Therefore, she happily awaited the fulfillment of God’s word. After that, at the age of eighty-four she preached redemption.

As we walk through this season, may we shine forth the spirit of Simeon and Anna.  May we be obedient, merciful and happy because the joy of the Lord is our strength. The world needs our strength and our joy.

Let Your Light Shine: Happy Hanukkah

Let Your Light Shine:  Happy Hanukkah 

By Rev. Lonnie C. Crowe

 Hanukkah is a festival commemorating the rededication of the Temple in Jerusalem. It is also a festival of lights.    It is a time of rededicating our lives to the Lord and a time to let the light of Jesus shine out into the world.  Jesus celebrated this festival and so should we.  John 10:22-23 (NKJV) “Now it was the Feast of Dedication in Jerusalem, and it was winter. And Jesus walked in the temple, in Solomon's porch.”

The eight branches on the Hanukkah menorah represent the miracle of the oil that kept the Temple menorah lighted for eight days after the rededication.  Notice that the eight branches are attached to a taller candle that is called the Servant candle.  The Servant candle is used to light the other candles.  To Christians, the Servant candle represents Jesus Who lights our way through the power of the Holy Spirit Who resides within us.  In Him, we are to be servant candles to light the way in our world.

During these 8 days of Hanukkah, let’s meditate on the following:

1.     Light was the first order of creation.  It is foundational to the rest of creation.  Everything in creation was good because it was created in the light of the Creator.  Since the Fall of Man, Creation itself has been yearning for God’s people to bring the light.  Romans 8:19 (NKJV):  “For the earnest expectation of the creation eagerly waits for the revealing of the sons of God.”

2.      Light dispels darkness.  Darkness is not the opposite of light.  It is the absence of light.  A tiny flicker of light diminishes darkness. Light exposes that which is hidden in darkness. Luke 8:16-17 (NKJV) "No one, when he has lit a lamp, covers it with a vessel or puts it under a bed, but sets it on a lampstand, that those who enter may see the light. For nothing is secret that will not be revealed, nor anything hidden that will not be known and come to light.”

4.     Light  lessens the anguish of wintertime seasonal depression.  Just as we await the lengthening of days that comes with the winter solstice, we await the coming of our Lord and the eternal light of the New Jerusalem,  Revelation 21:22-23 (NKJV) “But I saw no temple in it, for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are its temple. The city had no need of the sun or of the moon to shine in it, for the glory of God illuminated it. The Lamb is its light.”

5.     Jesus is the light of the world. John 8:12 (NKJV) “Then Jesus spoke to them again, saying, "I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life."  In the darkness that surrounds us, He is our Light, our Hope and our Redemption.

6.     He has called us to be light in this world.  Matthew 5:14-16 (NKJV) “You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house.  Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.” 

7.     There is light at the end of the tunnel and wise people follow that light.  During the Exodus from Egypt, the Israelites followed the light that appeared as a cloud by day and a pillar of fire by night.  That light was the Shekinah glory of God that both led them and protected them.  The Magi followed the star, the supernatural light, that led them to the Christ Child in Bethlehem.  Jesus is still the Light and knows the way through the morass of this life.  All we have to do is follow.

8.     Avoid the trap of doubt, fear and unbelief.  Rise up, take your candle and go light your world.