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 6:12-13: “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 6).

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.

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.