Scriptures That Have Gripped My Heart: Romans 8:26-28

Scriptures That Have Gripped My Heart

Romans 8:26-28 

By Rev. Lonnie C. Crowe

As we read or hear the Word of God, many times the Holy Spirit will quicken a particular passage and cause it to become powerful in our lives.  In this series, I have the joy of sharing some of those scriptures that have gripped my heart and transformed me by the renewing my mind (Romans 12:2).

Romans 8:26-28 (NKJV): “Likewise the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses. For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. Now He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He makes intercession for the saints according to the will of God. 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.”

We often quote verse 28 without the surrounding context.  We sometimes ask, “All things, God?  All things work together for good?  I don’t see that.  I grieve.  I hurt.  I have been unjustly treated.  How can those things work together for good?”

Notice the two requirements:  loving God and answering the call to His purpose.  What is God’s purpose for our lives?

The Lord spoke through the prophet Isaiah: “Everyone who is called by My name, Whom I have created for My glory; I have formed him, yes, I have made him"  (Isaiah 43:7  NKJV).  Our purpose is to glorify God in our lives.

How can we do this when we are in pain?

Jesus said, ^“”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" (John 16:33 NKJV).  

And we ask. “How can I have peace?  I don’t even know how to pray for peace.”

While we are in anguish, Holy Spirit, Who indwells us, is praying for us.  His intercession for us is too deep for words.  He prays the will of God over us.  God is good and His will for us is good. 

The further context of this passage is even more encouraging.

 
^“Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? As it is written: "For Your sake we are killed all day long; We are accounted as sheep for the slaughter." 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” (Romans 8:35-39 NKJV).

God’s purpose for our lives is to reflect His glory.  When we allow Him to strengthen, guide, love and protect us through our afflictions, we become overcomers and testimonies of His goodness.  And that is how He makes all things work together for good.

Scriptures That Have Gripped My Heart: John 10:10-11

Scriptures That Have Gripped My Heart

John 10:10-11

By Rev. Lonnie C. Crowe

God has spent more than half a century taking me through a learning curve that I am sure will continue on into and throughout forever.  Much of that time was been devoted to unlearning erroneous concepts that blurred my understanding of my covenant relationship through the sacrifice of Jesus.  I had to unlearn false concepts in order to open my mind and my heart to truth.   

One of the scriptures that turned on the light for me was John 10:10-11 (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.  I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd gives His life for the sheep.”

The Holy Spirit implanted in my spirit three important truths from this passage:

▪ Sin is anything that will steal my joy, my hope and even my possessions.  The practice of sin will kill my dreams, my relationships and even my future.  Satan continually seeks to destroy my covenant relationship with God.

▪ The testimonies, precepts and statutes of scripture are not sent by God to trip me up and make life more difficult for me.  The commandments are, instead, given to lead me into His abundant life.  Life is not more difficult when I follow His leading.  It is, in fact, less difficult and more fulfilling. Through the learning process,  I have begun to sing with the psalmist:

Psalm 119:11-18 (NKJV)
^“Your word I have hidden in my heart, That I might not sin against You!
Blessed are You, O LORD! Teach me Your statutes!
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 meditate on Your precepts, And contemplate Your ways.
I will delight myself in Your statutes; I will not forget Your word.
Deal bountifully with Your servant, That I may live and keep Your word.

Open my eyes, that I may see Wondrous things from Your law.”

▪God is not a harsh task master ready to rain down hail fire and brimstone every time I stumble.  He is a good shepherd, guiding, directing and correcting me as I walk the path to abundance and even more abundance in Him.

The desire of God’s heart is that we live abundant, joyful, peaceful lives in Him. Through His Word and His abiding presence, we can grow in our relationship with Him and enjoy the abundance of the fruit of the Spirit in our lives. In Him, we eat of the Tree of Life and that life is abundant.

Jesus, I Come to Thee

By William T. Sleeper

Out of my bondage, sorrow and night,
Jesus, I come, Jesus, I come;
Into Thy freedom, gladness and light,
Jesus, I come to Thee.
Out of my sickness into Thy health,
Out of my want and into Thy wealth,
Out of my sin and into Thyself,
Jesus, I come to Thee.

Out of my shameful failure and loss,
Jesus, I come, Jesus, I come;
Into the glorious gain of Thy cross,
Jesus, I come to Thee.
Out of earth's sorrows into Thy balm,
Out of life's storms and into Thy calm,
Out of distress to jubilant psalm,
Jesus, I come to Thee.

Scriptures That Have Gripped My Heart: Matthew 11:28-30

Scriptures That Have Gripped My Heart

Matthew 11:28-30

By Rev. Lonnie C. Crowe

As we read or hear the Word of God, many times the Holy Spirit will quicken a particular passage and cause it to become powerful in our lives.   I now  enjoy sharing some of those scriptures that have gripped my heart and transformed me by the renewing my mind (Romans 12:2).

It was not the threat of hell that brought me into salvation and a relationship with God the Father through the gateway of His Son. It was the promise of the strength and the rest necessary to ease the burdens of this life. Jesus said, “Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light" (Matthew 11:28-30 NKJV).

I was young and healthy, but also weary and heavy laden.  Though I had read the passage before, at that juncture in my life, the words became living water to me. “Rest” in this passage comes from the Greek word meaning “refreshing”.  Not only are we born again when we accept Jesus, we become “fresh again” as we walk with Him.

He refreshes our souls.  Our souls are our minds, our wills and our emotions. When life seems to overwhelm us, we can come into a bondage of negativity that can burden our souls and weary our inner beings.

When we receive His refreshing of our souls, our bodies are strengthened and refreshed as well.  Our circumstances may not change, but we may find them less stressful, less burdensome.

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

Life often consumes us.  Our merciful Lord refreshes us.

His yoke is easy.  His is a double yoke and He, being gentle and humble, carries the greater part of the load.  The apostle Peter wrote,  ”Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time,  casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you” (1 Peter 5:6-7 NKJV).

Life often burdens us.  Our humble Savior asks us to lay our burdens down so He can pick them up.

I have walked in this scripture for many years.  For just as many years I have been learning to enter more and more into His rest.  I am still a work in process, but the process is proving to be effective.

Turn Your Eyes upon Jesus

By Helen H. Lemmel

O soul, are you weary and troubled?
No light in the darkness you see?
There’s a light for a look at the Savior,
And life more abundant and free!

Turn your eyes upon Jesus,
Look full in His wonderful face,
And the things of earth will grow strangely dim,
In the light of His glory and grace.