On Forgiveness

By Rev. Lonnie C. Crowe

 Genuine forgiveness is a deep and often sluggish river.  It requires an inner change of heart toward the one who has offended us.  Too often we think we have forgiven when we have only masked our hurt. Forgiveness is a decision to let go of resentments and thoughts of revenge. Forgiveness is the act of untying ourselves from the emotions that hold us in bondage to the offense.

A prayer for the journey to total forgiveness: “Lord, I forgive.  Please help my unforgiveness.”

What is forgiveness?

• Forgiveness is not denial.  We cannot forgive what we deny has happened.  We can, and must, forgive without excusing the act.

• Forgiving is wanting God’s best for those who have hurt us and letting God take care of the situation. God’s best for each of us is to walk according to His word. 

• Forgiveness is often a process.  It begins by concentrating on the forgiveness rather than the offense.

The Lord spoke to Israel in Isaiah 43:25: “I, even I, am He who blots out your transgressions for My own sake; And I will not remember your sins.”

If God blots out our sins for His sake, then we should blot out the sins of others for our own sake.

Hebrews 12: 14-15: “Pursue peace with all people, and holiness, without which no one will see the Lord: looking carefully lest anyone fall short of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up cause trouble, and by this many become defiled.”

When we are unforgiving, we pay the price over and over. That root of bitterness can become entangled in every aspect of our lives.   We may bring our anger and acrimony into every relationship and every new experience. Our lives may be so wrapped up in the wrongs of the past that we can't experience the joys of the present nor the hope of the future.

Scientific evidence shows that holding on to grudges and bitterness results in long-term health problems. Forgiveness, on the other hand, offers many benefits, including:

• Lower blood pressure and heart rate

• Less stress and hostility

• Better anger management skills

• Lower risk of alcohol or substance abuse

• Fewer depression and anxiety symptoms

• Reduction in chronic pain

• More and healthier relationships

• Greater spiritual well-being

• Improved psychological well-being

An unforgiving, vengeful, or bitter spirit will not only affect us and those around us, it will separate us from the blessing of God.   Therefore, for our own sake, we must forgive others no matter what the offense.

 

Addiction to Power

Rev. Lonnie C. Crowe

 

A prevailing stronghold in America and the rest of the world is an addiction to power. That addiction has led to division and corruption   The situation calls to mind Lord Acton who said, “Power tends to corrupt and absolute power corrupts absolutely.”

A desire for power causes us to deny our role and to blame-shift. A desire for power will cause people to seek positions to which they are not called.  A desire for power causes us to form opinions based on our own desires rather than upon knowledge and reason.

Remember the words of Paul to his disciple Timothy:

2 Timothy 3:1-5 “But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come: For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good, traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having a form of godliness but denying its power. And from such people turn away!

The above is not only a description of the world today.   It is also a description of many in the Body of Christ.

In “10 Ways Christians Weaponize the Bible”, Joseph   Mattera writes, “10. When we demand biblical ethics that we are not living ourselves. When we use the Bible as a particular standard (in the church or home) that we are not willing to live by, we are weaponizing the Bible against others to have our way.”

We cannot, in authority, declare scriptures like Isaiah 33:22 over our nation if we have not submitted to the truth that “the Lord is our Judge, the Lord is our Lawgiver, the Lord is our King; He will save us”.  

The root of our problem is a spiritual one that has manifested in the political realm.  The axe must be laid at the root.

 

You Will Decree a Thing

By Rev. Lonnie C. Crowe

We continue to pray for a movement of God in both our personal lives and in our nation.  While many are praying fervently, division may be occurring in the ranks about the matter of decreeing and declaring.  Is it biblical to decree a thing? 

 Those in favoring of declaring stand on Job 22:28: “You will also declare a thing, and it will be established for you.”  The context of this scripture tells us that circumstances must be order before we can declare biblically.  Job 22: 25-28: “Yes, the Almighty will be your gold and your precious silver; for then you will have your delight in the Almighty, and lift up your face to God. You will make your prayer to Him, He will hear you, and you will pay your vows. You will also declare a thing, and it will be established for you; so light will shine on your ways.”

Our declaration must be founded in the Word of God.  Our delight must be in Him and not in our ego. In declaring, we make a commitment that requires our involvement in that declaration.  When we declare, we must understand that we are declaring over ourselves, that we are opening ourselves to the leading of the Holy Spirit.  If I want a movement of God in the world, I must understand two things.  First of all, that declaration must be within the promises and the will of God. Secondly, that movement must then begin with me. 

We declare and decree in our church in the full knowledge that we must participate in that declaration.  Our declarations are based on scripture.  As we declare, we understand that we must be participants in our declaration.  For instance, we declare “Our leaders will make right decisions because true authority is established in righteousness.” This declaration is based on Proverbs 16:12: “It is an abomination for kings to commit wickedness, for a throne is established by righteousness.”

Because Jesus has declared that believers are kings and priests, we must understand that it is an abomination, as well, for believers to commit wickedness.  Wickedness can include name calling, angry epithets, and out right curses against those with whom we disagree.  Just as our leaders’ authority must be established in righteousness, our authority in the Lord must also be established in righteousness.

When believers delight themselves in the Lord,  when we lift up our faces to Him, then we will declare according to the Lord and understand our commitment to that declaration, then what we decree will come about, a least in our own lives, and light will shine on our ways.

 

Again, In Spite Of 

By Rev. Lonnie C. Crowe

I first published the following piece in January 2017.  2020 was a difficult year for all. However, in our family, 2016 was a personal uphill climb.  We experienced the deaths of 3 loved ones, a mashed vehicle from an erratic driver, burst water lines, a friend seeking refuge from a harmful relationship and a couple of those infamous Goshen county hail storms that flooded basements and stripped vegetation.

The message then is the same in this new year of 2021.  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.''

I wrote in 2017 and declare again in 2021:

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

What is your favorite color? Breed of dog?  NFL team? Etc.  Etc.

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 the uphill climb, the scene from the mountaintop is spectacular.

2021 is the year the Lord has made.  Determine to rejoice and be glad in it in spite of…..

 

Focus on the Solution to Discouragement

By Rev. Lonnie C. Crowe

Because of the circumstances surrounding us on the national and international levels, Christians must fervently seek to overcome discouragement.  To discourage literally means to deprive of courage, hope, or confidence.  Discouragement is a weapon of the enemy meant to weaken the army of God.

In our difficult world, we are surrounded, bombarded and often overwhelmed with discouragement. Negativity fills the airwaves, the newspapers and the coffee klatches. A spirit of discouragement has attached itself to many people, even believers.

The spirit of discouragement can be so oppressive that we may neglect to cry out to the Lord for encouragement. We may also be so distraught that we do not recognize the encouragement when it comes. 

We must train ourselves to focus on the solution and not the problem. The solution to discouragement is encouragement.  The root word of “encourage” is “courage.” In other words, if we want to be encouraged, we must be filled with courage.  Therefore, we first must be filled with courage in order to encourage others.

The Lord spoke to Joshua as he was stepping into the role of leadership after the death of Moses: “Have I not commanded you? Be strong and of good courage; do not be afraid, nor be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go" (Joshua 1:9).   God is the God of encouragement.

In the Word of God, we will find hope that dispels fear and fills us with courage. Speaking forth the Word causes courage to resonate on the air waves. Declaring the Word allows us to anoint ourselves and others with courage. Meditating on the Word—allowing that truth to become part of our spiritual DNA—enables us to move forward in boldness. 

When we are courageous, we find the confidence to seek solutions.  As individuals and as the body of Christ, we can find solutions that bring us hope and peace in spite of what is happening in the world system.  Teddy Roosevelt once said, “Complaining about a problem without proposing a solution is called whining.” 

Many times the first step in finding a solution begins with a simple question:   “What can I do to improve the situation?” As Christians, our first thought should be to pray. However, seldom do we ask God how to pray.  “Lord, teach us to pray” applies to more than the Lord’s Prayer.

We can gain encouragement by making a list of encouraging scriptures and hiding them in our hearts through memorization and meditation. The Holy Spirit will call them to remembrance in the midst of discouragement. 

Consider these words:

 “For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind” (2 Tim. 1:7). 

 "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)

Jesus said, “Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid” (John 14:27).

In our learning to lean on Him, discouragement will be lifted and we can follow the Holy Spirit to that place where He has prepared a table before us In the presence of our enemies.  We will be able to sense His anointing of peace and power.  Our cup of joy shall then overflow in spite of the joy grabbing world around us. 

 

A Future and a Hope

By Reverend Lonnie C. Crowe.

Jeremiah 29:11:  : “For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope.”

Let’s understand the context of this promise from our Lord.  Jeremiah was speaking to the nation of Israel, a nation hurting, troubled and confused.  God was not promising to deliverer them from the consequences of sin in their nation.  In fact, Jeremiah told the people they were going in to exile in Babylon for 70 years.  God was promising them a future and a hope in spite of what was going on around them.

Consider Jeremiah 29:4-7: “Thus says the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel, to all who were carried away captive, whom I have caused to be carried away from Jerusalem to Babylon:  Build houses and dwell in them; plant gardens and eat their fruit. Take wives and beget sons and daughters; and take wives for your sons and give your daughters to husbands, so that they may bear sons and daughters that you may be increased there, and not diminished. And seek the peace of the city where I have caused you to be carried away captive, and pray to the Lord for it; for in its peace you will have peace”

Pray for the peace of this nation and for the peace of the world.  In that peace you will have peace.

Trust in the truth of the Lord Who has promised: “For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope. Then you will call upon Me and go and pray to Me, and I will listen to you. And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart.” (Jeremiah 29:11-13)

Happy New Year!

A Bit of a Rant from Pastor Lonnie

 A Bit of a Rant from Pastor Lonnie

I am in a ranting groove this evening.  Before I enter into the rant, I want to give some background.  Several years ago, the Holy Spirit sent me a prophetic dream.  In the dream several friends and I were walking hurriedly through the woods in an effort to reach a stream that we needed to cross.  We had started out together, but as the journey wore on, some lagged behind because they were stopping to feed the bears.  While the rest of us felt an urgency to move on, we were concerned for those who were lagging.

We heard a voice telling us to move on.  Those who were behind were behind because they had made the choice to feed that which would devour them.  If we stopped for them, we, too, would fall into the trap of feeding the devourers.

Now, back to the rant.  Last week, someone near to me fell seriously ill with Covid 19.  While many stood with us in prayer, others attempted to get us to feed their particular devourer. Choice tidbits:  “my civil rights are being violated because I have to wear a mask to work,”  “only those already old and feeble are seriously affected,”  “the doctors falsify death reports to make the epidemic sound worse,” “the Democrats are behind it all,” “it’s Trump’s fault,” “God is punishing us,” “we are becoming  too clean.  We need bacteria to build up our immune systems,” “I don’t mind washing my hands and social distancing.  I just don’t like being told to do it.”

(The present restrictions are basically what God told the Israelites to do when they were in the wilderness for 40 years.  Read Leviticus 13 among other passages.)

The juicy tidbit that pushed me to the limit today came from someone hoping to bring me comfort.  He said, “I found an article by a Chinese scientist who admitted that China purposely sent the virus world- wide.”  This is a person who, like many, forms an opinion and then searches the internet until he finds someone who agrees with him.  If we search enough, we will probably find someone who agrees with us.  Then we must be careful not to research the source to ascertain its validity.  We want to be sure that we have a tasty bit to feed the devourer.

My response:  That information brings me no comfort at all.  I don’t want to feed the grizzly devourer more fear, doubt, misinformation, half-formed opinions and assumptions.  Too many Bible believing Christians are lagging behind feeding the devourer more fear and discontent.  They are feeding what could destroy them. 

I want us to be on our knees storming the gates of heaven, repenting of attitudes that feed into the problem instead of calling out to the Lord of healing and resolution.  I am so thankful for the many who stood faithfully with us in prayer during this difficult time.  Let’s go forward together and cross this river as the Lord leads. 

The rest of my dream showed that we are not really leaving the laggers behind because when we come through, the showers of blessing fall on both the just and the unjust.  It is those who continue to go forward that bring the rainfall of blessing on those who have lagged behind.

Check thereturn.org  to see how you can join in on the National Day of Prayer and Repentance led by Jonathan Cahn on September 25-26.