New Beginning: Rosh Hashanah

New Beginning:  Rosh Hashanah

By Rev. Lonnie C. Crowe

And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, "Speak to the children of Israel, and say to them: ‘The feasts of the Lord, which you shall proclaim to be holy convocations, these are My feasts” (Leviticus 23:1-2).

 

The Feasts (Appointed Times) of the Lord comprise God’s Prophetic Calendar.  Each of the feasts declare a prophetic picture of the ministry of our Lord Jesus. We are currently entering into the appointed times for Fall Feasts.

The first of the Fall Feasts is Rosh Hashanah.  Rosh Hashanah literally means "the head of the year.”  The Feast begins on the evening of the first new moon after the fall equinox and lasts for 2 days.  This year, Rosh Hashanah begins at sundown on September 25 and ends at sundown of September 27.    

The name "Rosh Hashanah" is not used in the Bible. The Bible refers to the holiday as Yom Ha-Zikkaron (the day of remembrance) or Yom Teruah (the day of the sounding of the shofar).

The Lord commanded Moses, “Speak unto the children of Israel, saying, In the seventh month, in the first day of the month, shall ye have a sabbath, a memorial of blowing of trumpets, an holy convocation" (Leviticus 23:24).

Rosh Hashanah celebrates new beginnings in the Lord starting with God’s creation of the universe. Tradition states that Rosh Hashanah marks the sixth day of creation, when the LORD created Adam and Eve.

Rosh Hashanah also recalls the story of Isaac's near-sacrifice when God commanded Abraham to sacrifice his son as an offering.  Abraham obeyed God's command, built an altar, and prepared to sacrifice Isaac, but at the very last minute he was stopped by the Angel of the LORD. The Angel pointed out a ram caught by its horns in a nearby bush and told Abraham to sacrifice it in place of Isaac. The trumpet of God, the shofar (the ram’s horn), commemorates that event.

The account is a clear picture of the sacrifice of the Son of God by the Father.

The Lord continued speaking to Moses, "Speak unto the children of Israel, saying, In the seventh month, in the first day of the month, shall ye have a sabbath, a memorial of blowing of trumpets, an holy convocation" (Leviticus 23:24).

The ram's horn (shofar) should be blown on Rosh Hashanah to remind believers of the sacrifice provided by the LORD Himself—Jesus, the Lamb of God.

Every time the shofar is blown, it is a reminder that God keeps His promises.  

On Rosh Hashanah, we Christians have an opportunity to celebrate our salvation through the atoning work of Calvary. Though we have no righteousness in ourselves, He has imputed unto us His righteousness.   

Romans 3:23:  "For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.“

Romans 6:23a:  "...The wages of sin is death..."

We all face physical death, which is a result of sin.  But a worse death is the spiritual death that separates us from God and will last for all eternity.  

Romans 6:23:   "...But the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord."

Salvation is a free gift from God to us.  We can't earn this gift.  We must reach out and receive it.

Romans 5:8:  "God demonstrates His own love for us, in that while we were yet sinners Christ died for us.“

When Jesus died on the cross He paid sin's penalty. He bought us out of the slavery of sin and death! The only condition is that we believe in Him and what He has done for us.  Then we are joined with Him, and our life is in Him.  He did all this because He loves us and gave Himself for us!

God’s love poured out in Jesus on the cross is our only hope to have forgiveness and change.  His love bought us out of our slavery to sin.  His sacrifice is what saves us.. 

Romans 10:9,10:  "...If you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Jesus from the dead, you shall be saved; for with the heart man believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses, resulting in salvation."

Our Rosh Hashanah is the result of our being born again into the family of God. The Feasts of the Lord are all about Jesus.

Shana Tovah!! (Happy New Year!)

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.