Because of Jesus, 2016 Was a Good Year

Because of Jesus, 2016 Was a Good Year

By Rev. Lonnie C. Crowe

Philippians 4:4-8:  “Rejoice in the Lord alway: and again I say, Rejoice.  Let your moderation be known unto all men. The Lord is at hand.  Be careful for nothing; but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.”

In these last days of 2016, the Holy Spirit has led me to meditate on the above passage.  During this past year, I have often struggled to take every thought captive, but the Lord has even more often pulled me up by “my boot straps” and brought to mind those things that are honest, just, pure, lovely, of good report, virtuous and praise worthy.  In the past months, Psalm 23 has become deeply ingrained in my spiritual DNA.

Moment by moment, the Lord has shown Himself to be my shepherd. He has richly supplied every need out of His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.  In the midst of confusion and chaos, He has taken me to green pastures of rest in Him, to the quiet waters of His restoration so that my soul has found peace and the right direction.  I have literally walked through the valley of the shadow of death three times this year with the passing of my dear husband, one brother-in-law, and, a couple of weeks ago, my older brother.  My younger brother has been seriously ill; my remaining brother-in-law has been injured.  Yet, God has comforted, guided and strengthened me.

In the midst of all, He has taken me to His banqueting table and covered me with His banner of love.  When I look back over this year, I see where my cup of joy has overflowed again and again and again. Because of my journey with Him through this tumultuous year, I know that I know that I know goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life and I will dwell with Him forever.

It has been a good year.

In Him Is Life

In Him Is Life

By Rev. Lonnie C. Crowe

John 1:1-4;10-14

“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made. In Him was life, and the life was the light of men….He was in the world, and the world was made through Him, and the world did not know Him. He came to His own, and His own did not receive Him. But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believe in His name: who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God. And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.”

The essence of Christmas is the eternal, divine and glorious life given to the believers when the Word became flesh and dwelt among us.

What did Jesus give up in order to come to earth? 

Philippians 2:5-8

“Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross.”

The most humbling aspect of Jesus’ appearance on earth as a full human being is that He gave up his glory and came into a world system that vilified Him 2000 years ago and continues to vilify Him today.

In the Garden, He prayed, “And now, O Father, glorify Me together with Yourself, with the glory which I had with You before the world was (John 17:5).”

Jesus left heaven and the Word become flesh.

He created all that has been created.  Yet, He submitted himself to the authority of His parents, the government of Rome, the religious leaders and even unto death. He gave up the glory of heaven to pay the price for our redemption.  He gave up everything for our salvation.

God loves us so much that He gave His Son.  That truth is what makes Christmas truly merry.

If That Isn't Love

By Dottie Rambo

He left the splendor of heaven

Knowing His destiny

Was the lonely hill of Golgotha

There to lay down His life for me

If that isn't love

The ocean is dry

There's no star in the sky

And the sparrow can't fly

If that isn't love

Then heaven's a myth

There's no feeling like this

If that isn't love.

Carpe Vita/Carpe Diem

Carpe Vita/Carpe Diem

By Rev. Lonnie C. Crowe

Psalm 90:12: “So teach us to number our days, That we may gain a heart of wisdom.”

The Latin poet Horace wrote, “carpe diem, quam minimum credula postero, which can be translated as "Seize the day, put little trust in the future".  The first two words, “carpe diem” have become a cultural watchword. We are rightly encouraged to “seize the day”, but only in the context of seeking the Kingdom of God, in the context of seeking to live the way God would have us live.

Jesus said, "Therefore do not worry, saying, `What shall we eat?' or `What shall we drink?' or `What shall we wear?' For after all these things the unbelievers seek. For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble” (Matthew 6:31-34).

The psalmist asked the Holy Spirit to teach us to number (to value) our days, not just today. In valuing our days, in valuing our lifetime (which includes eternity to come), we find a source of wisdom.

Another Latin phrase is “carpe vita” which means to seize life.  In seizing the opportunities of life, of both our earthly life and our eternal life, we find the scope of God’s plan and, therefore, our purpose.  Our journey has purpose.  We often ask, "What is our purpose?"

That is the first question in the Westminster Shorter Catechism.  The answer is, “Man’s chief end is to glorify God and to enjoy him forever.”  When we read the Bible through, from Genesis to Revelation, we see that God’s desire is to restore us to Himself that we may walk with Him as Adam walked with Him before the Fall. When we see His purpose, we embrace His glory and dance with the angels as we enjoy Him now and forever more.  That is carpe vita.

As we embrace the scope, the sequence of life opens before us.  Each day presents opportunities to know Him more and to glorify Him more in our lives.  Let's put things in order.   First, carpe vita.  Then, carpe diem.

Enter into His Gates with Thanksgiving

Enter into His Gates with Thanksgiving

By Rev. Lonnie C. Crowe

Psalm 100:4:  Enter into His gates with thanksgiving, And into His courts with praise. Be thankful to Him, and bless His name.  

If we desire a closer relationship with our Lord, thanksgiving is the first step.

The Israelites murmured in the wilderness even though the Lord had brought them through the Red Sea, guided them by day and by night, supplied manna and fresh water and kept their shoes from wearing out.  

As a society, we have no grounds for throwing self-righteous stones at the Israelites.  I don’t recall any scriptures that tell us to overlook our blessings and wallow in what we consider to be our misery.  Complaining has, unfortunately, become a cultural trait. 

God is calling us out of that complaining and into more than occasional thanksgiving.  He is calling us to a lifestyle of thanksgiving and praise. "Rejoice in the Lord, O ye righteous, for praise is comely for the upright.  Praise the Lord with harp; sing unto him with the psaltry and an instrument of ten strings.  Sing unto Him a new song" (Psalm 33:1-3).

Praise is “comely”?  Yes, the Word of God says that we are more attractive when we are praising.  Furthermore, scientific research indicates that not only are we more attractive when we are overflowing with praise, we are both physically and emotionally healthier.  

 “New research shows that practicing gratitude may be the fastest single pathway to happiness, health, long life, and prosperity. In a remarkable study performed by Dr. Emmons, people who kept a gratitude journal for just 3 weeks measured 25% higher on life satisfaction afterwards. They exercised more, drank alcohol less, and their families and friends noticed that they were nicer to be around. And the effects lasted for several months beyond the initial 3 week study.”  Read the entire article at: http://www.happylifeu.com/Attitude-of-Gratitude.html

 A lifestyle of thanksgiving is key to our relationship with our Lord.  It is thanksgiving and praise that usher us into His presence.  Psalm 100:4 “Enter His gates with thanksgiving, And His courts with praise. Be thankful to Him and bless His name.”

As we come before Him in thanksgiving, we can lay all our cares and petitions at His feet knowing that He is our provision, our hope, our peace.  Philippians 4:6-7 (NKJV) “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.” 

We often hear Christians say that we must be thankful for all things.  That is a misquotation of 1 Thessalonians 5:18. The scripture says, “in all things be thankful; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.”  It is not the will of God that we be thankful for disease, devastation, and despair because those things are not good gifts which come from above from the Father of lights” (James 1:17). However, we are to be thankful in the midst of and in spite of those things.  God is with us and in Christ we have victory over death itself.  

 Let’s be thankful as for the creative power of the One who created the universe and holds it in the palm of His hand.   Let’s rejoice in the mercy and resources of the One who supplies our daily  bread and loves us with agape love. More than anything else, praise Father God for sending Jesus to pay the price for our sins and for the Holy Spirit Who indwells all believers.

“Give thanks with a grateful heart
Give thanks to the Holy One
Give thanks because He's given
Jesus Christ His Son”—Henry Smith

Becoming a Mighty Army of the Lord

Becoming a Mighty Army of the Lord

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 that's marching through the land
With deliverance in our souls and healing in our hands
Everlasting joy and gladness in our hearts
And in this army, I've got a part.”

Our times are perilous, but God has an army and 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 5:12-13: “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 stand?

Soldiers in obedience to the King of Kings and Lord of Lords are issued the spiritual armor of truth, righteousness, peace, faith and a salvation which includes deliverance, healing and victory (Ephesians 5).

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 often desired to be dependent upon their oppressors. He changed that new generation into a conquering powerhouse.

 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.  Members of his army have been immortalized in Scripture as the “mighty men of Israel.”   

“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?

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

Yom Kippur--the Day of Atonement--2016

Yom Kippur--the Day of Atonement

By Rev. Lonnie C. Crowe

  Religious Jews believe Yom Kippur is the holiest day of the year. It is the day they feel the closest to God. It is the Day of Atonement--"For on that day the priest shall make atonement for you to cleanse you so you may be clean from all your sins before God" (Leviticus 16:30).

This is the day when the Jews hope that their sins have been covered and that their names are written in the Book of Life for the coming Year.

As Christians, we have just spent the past 10 days meditating on the atoning work of Jesus Christ. We know that if we have received the His blood’s atoning, our names are written in the Lamb's Book of Life, not just for the coming year, but for all eternity. On Yom Kippur, we can say in Hebrew, "Baruch HaShem Ha Maschiach Yeshua, blessings in the Name of Messiah Jesus."

Yom Kippur figures in End-Times prophecy as a picture of the final day of atonement when the books are closed. Revelation 21:11-15, "Then I saw a great white throne and Him who sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away. And there was found no place for them. And I saw the dead, small and great, standing before God, and books were opened. And another book was opened, which is the Book of Life. And the dead were judged according to their works, by the things which were written in the books. The sea gave up the dead who were in it, and Death and Hades delivered up the dead who were in them. And they were judged, each one according to his works. Then Death and Hades were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. And anyone not found written in the Book of Life was cast into the lake of fire."

We receive Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior when we acknowledge to Him that we have sinned and that our sin has separated us from God. We must confess that Jesus Christ, the Son of God, both man and God, paid the price for our sin with His death on the Cross and testify that He was buried and rose again in triumph over sin and death. We wait in eagerness for His soon return as King of Kings and Lord of Lords.

Isaiah 1:18 (NKJV)

"Come now, and let us reason together," Says the LORD, "Though your sins are like scarlet, They shall be as white as snow; Though they are red like crimson, They shall be as wool. 

Celebrate Yom Kippur. Receive The Lord's Supper in communion with Him.  Praise Him for making it possible for your name to be written in the Lamb's Book of Life. He is our "kippur", our atonement.  His sacrifice on Calvary makes it possible for us to live victoriously during our sojourn of earth and to dwell with Him for all eternity.

"Oh, the blood of Jesus,
Oh, the blood of Jesus,
Oh, the blood of Jesus,
That washes white as snow."

Choosing to Speak Life

Choosing to Speak Life

By Rev. Lonnie C. Crowe

            Proverbs 18:21 declares that both death and life are in the power of the tongue.  We are cautioned many times in scripture to guard our mouths.  However, throughout the ages, we seem to have forgotten the power of our words.  The reason we have forgotten the power of our words is that we have not regarded the source of that power.

            In the beginning, the power of the spoken word was evident when the Lord spoke into the formless void and created the universe.   We are created in His image, and in that image is the power to create through the words we choose to speak.

            We live in a world where incivility abounds.  As children we often chanted, “Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me.”  We chanted to hide the fact that words spoken to us had crushed us.  In truth, broken bones heal more quickly than damaged emotions.

            The Spirit of God is grieved when our words create pain and anguish for others and, therefore, for ourselves.  In Ephesians 4:30-32, Paul directs, “And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, and evil speaking be put away from you, with all malice. And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you.”  (NKJV)

Simply put, God is pleased when we choose to create life with our words.

            Proverbs 10:11 reminds us that the “mouth of the righteous is a well of life.”  Our words can heal. (Proverbs 12:18) Our words can bring joy and gladness. (Proverbs 12:25) Our words can impart grace to others. (Ephesians 4:29) Our words allow us to stand in the presence of God. (Psalm 15:3) By our words, we will either be justified or condemned. (Matthew 12:36-37.)

            The Word of God encourages us to speak the word of God over ourselves and others so that we can more fully walk in His image.  We can choose to begin each day with a declaration of life.  The psalmist proclaimed, “This is the day the Lord has made; I will rejoice and be glad in it” (Psalm 118:24).

            We can follow the course Jesus himself prescribed for us in Matthew 5:44-45, “But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven.” (NKJV)              

                If we are seeking the “good life”, we must speak blessings over ourselves and others. “For He who would love life And see good days, Let him refrain his tongue from evil, And his lips from speaking deceit” (1 Peter 3:10 NKJV).

            We have the freedom to speak words that bring either life or death. I pray that we will choose to speak life.

Let No Corrupt Word

Let No Corrupt Word

By Rev. Lonnie C. Crowe

We are currently navigating the maelstrom of political rhetoric which includes some truth and much name-calling, stone throwing and chaos on both sides.  As Christians, we are called to be salt and light and ambassadors of the Kingdom of God. 

Now, more than ever, we must stand for truth. We must not back away from righteousness. We must be firm in our defense of the things of God and our constitutional right to worship Him. In His Word, our Father has given us strategy for standing.  

Much of that strategy is found in Ephesians 6:11-18 (NKJV).  Paul wrote the epistle during his first Roman imprisonment. 

“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-- "

We do not struggle against flesh and blood. We struggle against spiritual forces of evil.   No matter what political forces are in play, what the Word says is right is right, and what the Word says is sin is sin.  While standing for the truth of God, we must also stand in the nature of God.  Our only offensive weapon is the sword of the Word delivered truth, righteousness, peace, faith.

Among those sinners highlighted in Romans 1:29-31 are whisperers, backbiters, haters of God, the violent, boasters, those who are undiscerning, untrustworthy, unloving, unforgiving, unmerciful. We must guard against sinking to the level of those who exhibit such behaviors.  

We must speak the truth in love (Ephesians 4:15) without resorting to harsh words and name-calling. We can be forceful, even aggressive, without being hostile.  

In Ephesians 4:29-31 (NKJV), Paul wrote (again from prison), “Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth, but what is good for necessary edification, that it may impart grace to the hearers. And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.  Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, and evil speaking be put away from you, with all malice.”

Holy Spirit of God, convict us of those times when, in standing for truth, we have grieved You. We repent of the bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor and malice that have spewed forth from our inner being.  We are reminded that out of our bellies should flow forth rivers of living water. We cry out according to Psalm 78:72, “Oh, God, our heart’s desire is that our government will be led by those who, like David, have integrity of heart and skillfulness of hand. Amen.”

In Spite Of

In Spite Of

By Rev. Lonnie C. Crowe

Surveys posted by Facebook friends often quiz about our “favorites.”

What is your favorite color? Breed of dog?  NFL team? Etc.  Etc.  I love all God’s colors.  I prefer stuffed dogs.  I like whichever NFL team my daughter-in-law’s nephew, Dennis Kelly, plays for.  It is currently the Tennessee Titans. 

However, this year of both difficulty and triumph has given me cause to embrace a new favorite, a favorite prepositional phrase, “in spite of.”

In this year, in spite of deep grief, we have experienced God’s comfort and grace.  In spite of our loss, our cup runneth over in the outpouring of love from people whose lives have tenderly touched ours.

In spite of hail storms, basements flooding, smashed fenders and battered friends, God has provided and given us an abundance so that we can be blessings to others.   

We are testimonies to the words of Jesus in John 16:33:  "These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.''

In spite of the tribulations of the past year, we are testimonies to the overcoming power of Jesus Christ.  In Him, we truly are more than conquerors. We have, in the Lord, allowed the seasons of our lives to overlap.  In our time of weeping, we have laughed as well.  In our time of mourning, we have danced in step with our Lord. Tears of sorrow and tears of joy often flow together. 

In spite of sorrow and in the face of discouragement, we have celebrated and will continue to celebrate the blessings of our heavenly Father and the joy of family and friends.

In spite of the fiery darts of the enemy, we are experiencing an abundant life in Jesus Christ.  

 In spite of our uphill climb, the scene from the mountaintop is spectacular.

Standing in the Freedom of Christ

Standing in the Freedom of Christ

Rev. Lonnie C. Crowe

Galatians 5:1 For freedom did Christ set us free: stand fast therefore, and be not entangled again in a yoke of bondage.

Freedom is autonomy, independence and the power and authority to make wise choices that will lead us into an abundant life in Jesus Christ.  The freedom that comes from knowing who God is and the freedom that comes from knowing who we are in Christ is true freedom.  This freedom comes when we choose to walk out of the bondage of the past. 

The way our past determines our present and our future is established by our response to it. In 2 Corinthians 5:17, the apostle Paul encourages, Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new..

God has made all things new, but how do we walk into our newness without the excess baggage of our past?  One of the first bits of baggage that we need to leave behind is blaming others for our mistakes.  When we own our failures, we can move past them.  When I understand that I am my worst enemy, I can begin my growth toward emotional and spiritual wellbeing.  I learn from my failures and move past them. When I acknowledge that I have missed the mark, I open the door to forgiveness.  When I accept the forgiveness of God, I can move on to forgiving myself.  When I forgive myself, I can better forgive others.

Shame and unforgiveness are excess baggage that hinder our freedom in Christ. Romans 8:1 says, There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit.  When we walk according to the Spirit, we walk out of condemnation of both ourselves and others and into the freedom of who we were created to be.

  

     In Micah 7:18-19, the prophet encourages, Who is a God like You, pardoning iniquity and passing over the transgression of the remnant of His heritage? He does not retain His anger forever because He delights in mercy. He will again have compassion on us and will subdue our iniquities. You will cast all our sins Into the depths of the sea.  God is omniscient. Yet He chooses to forget what He has forgiven.  To grow in the grace of newness, we, too, must choose to forget what God has forgiven whether it is our own sin or the sin of others.  God has cast our sins into the depths of the sea.  We don't have a license to fish them out again.

When we rid our lives of the anguish and regret of the past, we are set free to learn from our experiences.   In Romans 8:28, Paul writes, And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose. God uses both the joys and the difficulties of our lives to teach us the peace of faithfulness, the power of His authority, the blessings of obedience, and His plans and purposes for our lives.

In that sense, it bodes well for us to revisit the past, but we must be careful not to pitch our tents there. It is important to examine and resolve issues from our past, but God never intended for us to dwell there.  He has called us to be present and future people.  When we have a healing and healthy perspective of the past, we are free to move into our destiny in Christ, a destiny founded on an abundant life in relationship with our Savior.

Part 3: Fulfilling Our Nation’s Destiny

Part 3:  Fulfilling Our Nation’s Destiny

Rev. Lonnie C. Crowe

As we focus on believers as the key to fulfilling the destiny that God has for our nation, we have examined the importance of consecration and regeneration in activating the righteousness that exalts a nation.  As we continue this week in Joshua 5, we see the provision of our Lord in His loving care for His own. 

Joshua 5: 10-12: “Now the children of Israel camped in Gilgal, and kept the Passover on the fourteenth day of the month at twilight on the plains of Jericho. And they ate of the produce of the land on the day after the Passover, unleavened bread and parched grain, on the very same day. Then the manna ceased on the day after they had eaten the produce of the land; and the children of Israel no longer had manna, but they ate the food of the land of Canaan that year.” 

God had fed the Israelites manna for forty years.  When the wilderness years were over, the manna ceased, but the provision of God continued.  Our God is Jehovah Jirah, the God who provides.  When we forget that, we will act out of our fear rather than out of our faith.  Our nation’s current financial crisis has caused many believers to forget our Lord’s ability to provide.  We panic rather than pray.  The crisis appears to be  overwhelming, but “with God nothing will be impossible.” (Luke 1:37)

Matthew 6:31-33:”Do not be over-anxious, therefore, asking ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For all these are questions that Gentiles are always asking; but your Heavenly Father knows that you need these things—all of them. But make His Kingdom and righteousness your chief aim, and then these things shall all be given you in addition.” (MSNT) The key to divine provision is seeking the Kingdom of God and His righteousness. 

We must remember, also, that God’s provision is not limited to food and clothing.  He has provided us with salvation through the sacrifice of Jesus on the cross.  We usually have a limited concept of what all is involved in salvation.  When we examine the definition of two Greek words translated as “salvation”, we find that the word means deliverance, safety, healing, health and prosperity.  If salvation meant only that we may have eternity with our Lord, it would be enough to cause us to live always in hope.  However, our God is a God of abundance.  Not only does salvation insure our eternity, it insures our today. 

We need the total package that salvation provides.  We need deliverance and healing from fear, hopelessness, and despair.  We are conscious of the war of terror that is being waged on the international front.  We are not so aware of the war of terror that is being waged in our own hearts.  The news media reports what happening in the world, but can offer no solution or hope.  Even most believers have resolved to expect the worst. 

How can believers reconcile what we see and hear around us with God’s word that He delights in us and has a future and a hope for us?  We must walk in faith in the promises of God.  Philippians 4:19: “And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.”  Do you need faith?  God will supply it.  Do you need hope?  God will supply it.  Do you need wisdom?  God will supply it.  Is a solution to our nation’s needs available?  Yes, and God has it.

As consecrated, regenerated believers, walking in His righteousness, let’s intercede before the throne of God on behalf of our nation.  Let’s declare His promises and walk in His hope.  One of my favorite hymns is “I Don’t Know about Tomorrow” by Ira Stanphill. 

“I don’t know about tomorrow, I just live from day to day;

I don’t borrow from its sunshine, For its skies may turn to gray.

I don’t worry over the future, For I know what Jesus said;

And today I’ll walk beside Him, Because He knows what is ahead.

Many things about tomorrow

I don’t seem to understand

But I know who holds tomorrow

And I know who holds my hand.”

Father, we are thankful that when we walk in Your righteousness, we can trust in Your provision.  We receive Your wisdom and Your hope.  We rebuke any spirit of fear that tries to attach itself to us.  We pray for the decision-makers of our nation that they, too, will seek Your wisdom. Amen.

Part 2--Fulfilling Our Nation's Destiny

Fulfilling Our Nation’s Destiny–Part 2

–by Rev. Lonnie C. Crowe

            The fulfillment of our nation’s destiny lies within the hearts of our nation’s believers. God’s justice is dispensed based on what is happening in the hearts of His people and not on what is happening in the hearts of others.  Believers are the representatives within America who carry the destiny that God sees for our nation. 

Proverbs 14:34 declares, “Righteousness exalts a nation.” However, the righteousness that exalts a nation is not righteousness as determined by man.  Through the sacrifice of Jesus on Calvary, righteousness has been imputed to those who have accepted Him as Lord and Savior. (Romans 4: 22-25): Speaking of Abraham, Paul writes, “And therefore “it was accounted to him for righteousness.” Now it was not written for his sake alone that it was imputed to him, but also for us. It shall be imputed to us who believe in Him who raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead, who was delivered up because of our offenses, and was raised because of our justification.”  To impute is to assign, to empower, to allot.  When we accept Jesus as our Lord and Savior, God assigns righteous to us and empowers us to live righteously in Him.

 Righteous living is seen in those who honor God by following His ways.  (John 14:15) Jesus said, “if you love me, keep my commandments.”  Through our imputed righteousness in Jesus Christ, we are to live lives that honor Him. Not only does righteous living honor God, but righteous living also brings blessing into our lives. Many blessings come to us because, through the power of the Holy Spirit in our lives, we are able to make better choices.  God’s Holy Word has given us a road map to attaining the heart attitude for righteous living.  Joshua, Chapter Five, is only one of many passages of scripture that outline that heart attitude

In Joshua 5, the Israelites have followed the Ark of the Covenant across the Jordan River near Jericho.  The conquering of the Promised Land is both historical and spiritual.  The battles represent spiritual battles we must all overcome in order to walk fully in the promises of God in this life.  Israel came out of Egypt with a slave mentality, wandered in the wilderness for forty years, and developed into a nation empowered to fulfill God’s destiny for them.  God prepared them spiritually for the battles ahead.  The first step was consecration. 

All those who had left Egypt had entered into a covenant with Jehovah through circumcision.  However, all those who had left Egypt, except Joshua and Caleb, had died in the wilderness.  Although they were God’s chosen, the new generation had not yet entered into the covenant and had to be circumcised as a sign of their consecration unto the Lord.  Consecration comes as we embrace what God has prepared for us and choose to walk with Him in covenant.  Consecration goes hand in hand with biblical regeneration. 

“Therefore if any man be in Christ he is a new creature; old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new” (II Corinthians 5:17). Regenerated people can testify that things are different now. We have received a new power and pattern for living. Regeneration and consecration bring with them new life, and new desires and new goals. 

In the New Covenant, the sign of consecration is baptism. In believer’s baptism, those who have accepted Christ as their Lord and Savior, enter into the baptismal waters to declare their decision to leave the old life behind and enter into a new life consecrated to our heavenly Father.  (Romans 6:4)

It is in that new life consecrated to God that we will become more than conquerors in the chaotic world around us. It is there that believers will, through righteous living and intercession, fulfill the destiny that God sees for our nation. When we believers humble ourselves, pray, seek His face and turn from our wicked ways, God will forgive our sin and heal our land. (2 Chronicles 7:14.)

Father, we pray for Your guidance to walk in the righteousness that You have imputed to us.  We covenant with You to leave our old lives of defeat and discouragement behind and to walk in victory in Jesus Christ.

Amen.

Fulfilling Our Nation's Destiny

Fulfilling Our Nation's Destiny
 by Rev. Lonnie C. Crowe

As Christians and concerned citizens, we can easily be overcome by the barrage of discouraging reports that fill our newspapers and television and computer screens.  Our economy is not what we want it to be.  Our family structure is threatened.  Sensuality seems to have become our god.  Devastating tornadoes and floods have left many Americans homeless, frightened and in despair. Many feel that God has abandoned us or has, at least, withdrawn His blessing from us.   If God has turned His back on us, where, then, is our hope? 

Whenever we have questions about our heavenly Father, the first place to look is in the Book He has written for us. In Jeremiah 17:7-8, we read, "Blessed is the man who trusts in the LORD, And whose hope is the LORD. For he shall be like a tree planted by the waters, Which spreads out its roots by the river, And will not fear when heat comes; But its leaf will be green, And will not be anxious in the year of drought, Nor will cease from yielding fruit."  

According to His Word, if our hope is in the Lord, we can prosper in the midst of and in spite of the circumstances around us. A nation's destiny lies not within the halls of the Congress in Washington or the Knesset in Israel, but within the hearts of believers. To understand the destiny and purpose of God for a nation, we must look with spiritual discernment at the believing remnant within that nation.  More simply put, God's justice is based more on what is happening in the hearts of His people than on what is happening in the hearts of others. Believers are the representatives within America and every other nation who carry the destiny that God sees for that nation.  

We often quote 2 Chronicles 7:14: "If My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land."  We quote this passage and point our fingers at non-believers and declare their need to repent.  We often choose to overlook the fact that God is calling His people, believers, into repentance and holiness
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In Genesis 18:17-23, God agrees to spare Sodom from destruction if only 10 righteous men can be found within the city walls.  In Ezekiel 22:30, God says that He will spare Jerusalem if only one righteous person is willing to stand in the gap and intercede for the city. It is a righteous remnant who can, through the power of the Holy Spirit, bring into fulfillment the destiny of a people.

How can we, as individuals, join the righteous remnant whose intercession can determine the destiny of our nation?   Through righteous and holiness.  Today, via the internet, many of God's people are praying what we have come to call "The Harp" prayer based on 2 Chronicles 7:14:

H: humble ourselves
A: Acknowledge God
R: Repent of our sins
P: Pray for our land

"Lord, I humble myself before you and acknowledge that You alone are my God and my Savior.  I repent, first of all, for my own sins, and then for the sins of my nation.  I pray that You, in Your mercy, will heal our land.  In Jesus' Name, Amen."

Let Justice Run Down Like Water

Let Justice Run Down Like Water

By Rev. Lonnie C. Crowe

Take away from Me the noise of your songs, for I will not hear the melody of your stringed instruments. But let justice run down like water, and righteousness like a mighty stream. - Amos 5:23, 24 (NKJV)

God is just; therefore, He desires justice for and from His church. Influenced by the world’s system, we often equate justice with punishment alone, demanding to see the perpetrator suffer, and once that suffering is exacted, we walk away.

There is a passage in Matthew that is often used to justify this harsh way of dealing with people, but the overall context and purpose of these words gets lost. God wants us to have His perspective regarding the compassionate justice and reconciliation He desires. Let’s look at the larger context:

Take heed that you do not despise one of these little ones, for I say to you that in heaven their angels always see the face of My Father who is in heaven. For the Son of Man has come to save that which was lost. What do you think? If a man has a hundred sheep, and one of them goes astray, does he not leave the ninety-nine and go to the mountains to seek the one that is straying? And if he should find it, assuredly, I say to you, he rejoices more over that sheep than over the ninety-nine that did not go astray. Even so it is not the will of your Father who is in heaven that one of these little ones should perish. Moreover if your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault between you and him alone. If he hears you, you have gained your brother. But if he will not hear, take with you one or two more, that “by the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established.” And if he refuses to hear them, tell it to the church. But if he refuses even to hear the church, let him be to you like a heathen and a tax collector. (Matthew 18:10-17; NKJV)

Several points are worthy of examination:

1. “The little ones” are not necessarily children. The Greek word translated “little” could also be translated “least.”  The little ones, therefore, can be those who are new or immature in their faith; it could also be those who are weakest or most vulnerable. In some respects, we are all “little ones.”

If one of us goes astray, the heart of Father God is for that one to be rescued from the rocky perils of worldliness and to be restored to His flock.

2. In this passage, God gives us the process for reconciliation. We are just as accountable for following this progression as the wayward sheep is for his actions in leaving the fold of the Shepherd.

Unfortunately, we frequently follow another path: we gossip over coffee, take one or two others with us to “ambush” the offender, which humiliates the “lost sheep.” Then we quickly spread the word that God will remove blessing from the church if that wayward one remains. This is neither compassionate nor just.

3. God tells us that, if the offenders do not repent, we are to treat them as we would treat unbelievers or the tax collectors. We have generally taken that to mean cutting them off or dismissing them, but what if we were to consider what that means in the context of how God Himself treated the heathen or tax collector in Scripture?

Remember, Abraham came from a family that worshipped false gods (Joshua 24:2), but God revealed Himself to this heathen and made a profound covenant with him.

In the New Testament, Matthew, who is sometimes called Levi, was a tax collector, yet he was called out to be one of Jesus’ disciples. Zaccheus—another tax collector—was sought out by Jesus and invited into a life-changing encounter.

The heathen and the tax collector represent those regarded with great disdain in the Hebrew culture, yet the Lord pursued them, loved them, and discipled them.

4. Godly justice requires not only that we are held accountable for our decisions and our actions, but we are also to be loved, counseled, discipled, and brought back into the fold. And while it is true that sometimes people resist this process, still God’s unfailing love never writes anyone off.

Since the Fall, God’s plan has been to redeem and to reconcile a people for Himself.  True justice—compassionate justice—requires making a pathway to repentance and restoration. Reconciliation, rather than ostracism, will create an atmosphere where justice can run down like water and righteousness like a mighty stream.

The Church: God’s Voice in Media

The Church:  God’s Voice in Media

By Rev. Lonnie C. Crowe

“Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth, but what is good for necessary edification, that it may impart grace to the hearers.”  (Ephesians 4:29; NKJV)

We are weary of falsehoods, misrepresentation, half-truths, name calling, etc. that have become part of worldly media.  However, one reason that the Church has had so little effect in bringing change in the media, is that we are too often guilty of the same shortcomings.  The sinful practices we engage in have power over us rather than vice versa.

Each Sunday, our church makes declarations over the seven mountains of cultural influence.

Over the media particularly, we declare that this industry will be the result of truth and integrity in the lives of those who produce it. Through these words, the Holy Spirit has convicted us with the truth that we, too, are a form of media. God’s people are His voice crying in the desert, “Prepare ye the way of the Lord.” Therefore, we must guard our words, and we must live and speak with integrity.

There are many Scriptures that have significant implications for the concept of the body of Christ’s role as media to the world:

·         We are instructed on what things we should definitely speak up about: “Open your mouth, judge righteously, and plead the cause of the poor and needy” (Proverbs 31:9).

·         We are reminded to be guarded in how we speak: “He who guards his mouth preserves his life, But he who opens wide his lips shall have destruction” (Prov. 13:3). We must do all things—even speaking up for truth—in love, with gentleness and forbearance.  

·         Perhaps most significantly for us these days, Paul even extends caution about engaging in the divisive language we’re so used to in the media:

But avoid foolish and ignorant disputes, knowing that they generate strife. And a servant of the Lord must not quarrel but be gentle to all, able to teach, patient, in humility correcting those who are in opposition, if God perhaps will grant them repentance, so that they may know the truth, and that they may come to their senses and escape the snare of the devil, having been taken captive by him to do his will. (2 Timothy 2:23-26)

Our purpose as God's media representatives is to display the loving nature of our God so that those in opposition may be drawn to Him, especially through the words of life we speak.

Consider Proverbs 18:21: “Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruit.” Our words, both positive and negative, both truth and fabrication, bear eternal consequences. They also expose our inner nature; they flow from our hearts and reveal what is actually there. (See Luke 6:45; Eph. 4:29)

Too often, our conversation sounds more like the gossip columns that appear on the back pages of the newspaper or those celebrity gossip shows. This even spills into our prayer groups sometimes. We do not have to know all the “down and dirty” details in order to pray. Some prayer requests should not go public. Just because we heard it in the beauty salon does not mean that it should go on the church prayer chain or be discussed in the coffee shop. We must respect the privacy of those in need. The private, fervent prayer of the righteous still avails much.

The gospel is good news—and our world is hungry for good news, for the knowledge that God thinks good thoughts toward us, that His desire is to give us a future and a hope. We are to broadcast that good news not only by our words, but also by our lifestyle, by our joyful countenance, and by our work ethic.

We are the newspaper that our friends and neighbors read daily. We are the social network that joins together a disjointed community. We are the news commentators who bring hope in the midst of despair.

As with all renewal, revitalization of the media must begin in the House of God. When individual members of the Body of Christ step out of the pews and become the media of God in our daily lives—when we speak truth and life—we will eventually see that change reflected in the worldly media as well.

(Originally published at https://www.generals.org/articles/)