The Bride of Christ 

By Rev. Lonnie C. Crowe 

Several biblical symbols represent the church. Among them is the church's calling as the holy, radiant, spotless Bride of Christ, the Lamb of God. Many times women in scripture picture the attributes of the church as that Bride. None is flawless, but each is beloved. Even so, the church, the Bride of the Lamb, though not without flaw, is dearly loved of our Lord. 

After the death of his wife Sarah, Abraham sent his servant to hand Mesopotamia, to the city of Nahor, Abraham’s brother.  The purpose of the journey was to acquire a bride for Abraham’s son Issac.  

The servant asked God for a specific sign to guide his choice of the intended bride.  “Then he said, "O LORD God of my master Abraham, please give me success this day, and show kindness to my master Abraham.  Behold, here I stand by the well of water, and the daughters of the men of the city are coming out to draw water. Now let it be that the young woman to whom I say, 'Please let down your pitcher that I may drink,' and she says, 'Drink, and I will also give your camels a drink'--let her be the one You have appointed for Your servant Isaac. And by this I will know that You have shown kindness to my master."  (Genesis 24:12-14 NKJV) 

Before the servant had finished praying, Rebekah, the daughter of Nabor came to the well.  When the servant asked her for water, she fulfilled the request by offering to water the camels as well.  “Now the young woman was very beautiful to behold, a virgin; no man had known her. And she went down to the well, filled her pitcher, and came up.” (Genesis 24:16 NKJV) 

We see Rebekah demonstrating several qualities of a mature Christian:  beauty, purity, servanthood, and hospitality. 

▪ beauty:  We are to worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness.  (1 Chronicles 16:29, 2 Chronicles 20:21, Psalm 29:2, and Psalm 96:9) Pretty is superficial.  Beauty emanates from within, from holiness. 

▪ purity: “Blessed are the pure in heart, For they shall see God.” (Matthew 5:8 NKJV) It is in purity of heart that we can discern the heart and hand of God.    

 ▪ servanthood: “But they kept silent, for on the road they had disputed among themselves who would be the greatest. And He sat down, called the twelve, and said to them, "If anyone desires to be first, he shall be last of all and servant of all" (Mark 9:34-35 NKJV).  We are called to serve not to be served.  Everything we do for the Lord has value in the Kingdom of God.  God’s blessings are on those who clean the toilets the same as on those who stand in the pulpit. 

▪ hospitality: “Do not forget to entertain strangers, for by so doing some have unwittingly entertained angels” (Hebrews 13:2 NKJV).  Jesus said, “Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest”(Matthew 11:28 NKJV). We, too, are to offer rest and comfort to those in need 

Rachel was the beloved wife of the patriarch Jacob.  Her Hebrew name, Rochel, is numerically equivalent to the phrase “and there was light.”  In her features and in her demeanor was light; she illuminated the lives of those in her presence. 

Like Rachel, we are to bring light into the darkness of our age. “You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven” (Matthew 5:13-16). 

The story of Leah, the first wife of the patriarch Jacob, begins in Genesis 29:16: “Now Laban had two daughters: the name of the elder was Leah, and the name of the younger was Rachel.  Leah's eyes were delicate, but Rachel was beautiful of form and appearance. Now Jacob loved Rachel”. 

Scriptures tell us, “When the LORD saw that Leah was unloved, He opened her womb; but Rachel was barren” (Genesis 29:31 NKJV).  Jacob’s sons became the heads of the twelve tribes of Israel.  Leah was the mother of six of those tribes. 

Through the life of Leah, God teaches that the joy and blessing of the Lord can be ours, not necessarily, because of our circumstances.  In truth, the joy and the blessing of the Lord can be often ours, in spite, of our circumstances.  The blessings on Leah’s life include eternal blessings for those choosing to walk with the Lord. Leah is an ancestress of Jesus. 

Who prepares the Bride? 

 
   "Let us be glad and rejoice and give Him glory, for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and His wife has made herself ready. And to her it was granted to be arrayed in fine linen, clean and bright, for the fine linen is the righteous acts of the saints." (Revelation 19:7-8) 

 
  The Bride must make herself ready. Righteousness has been bestowed upon the Bride.  It is only through cooperation with the Holy Spirit that we are able make ourselves ready by walking in that righteousness and bringing righteousness into our surroundings.  Our righteousness is possible only through the grace of God, but we are to grow in grace and knowledge and determine to become more Christ-like in our walk. 

 
   Romans 3:10 reminds us that left to our own devices, "There is none righteous, no, not one”.  If none are righteous, how can we possibly prepare ourselves for our Bridegroom? 

 
   Matthew 19:26 declares: "With men this is impossible, but with God all things are possible. "The preparation of the Bride involves the Bride's living, moving and having our being in the Holy Spirit of God (Acts 17:28). 

 
   The preparation of Queen Esther exemplifies this process. "Now the young woman pleased him (the king), and she obtained his favor; so he readily gave beauty preparations to her, besides her allowance. Then seven choice maidservants were provided for her from the king's palace, and he moved her and her maidservants to the best place in the house of women." (Esther 2:9.) 

 
   The seven maidservants represent the Holy Spirit, the seven ministries or spirits of God as detailed in Isaiah 11:2: His presence, wisdom, understanding, counsel, might, knowledge and reverence for holiness. 

 
   As symbols of God's Holy Spirit, the maidservants become the provision needed by Esther in her preparation to become the bride of the king. 

 
 

   Just as cooperation with the seven maidservants was necessary for the preparation of Esther, the preparation of the Bride of the Lamb of God is a cooperative relationship between the Holy Spirit and the Bride.  As we cooperate more fully with the Holy Spirit who indwells us, as we learn more and more to live and move and have our being in Him, we become more and more the glorious church, without spot or wrinkle, holy and without blemish. (Ephesians 5:27.) 

 
   May we desire to be dressed in the fine linen which symbolizes the righteous acts of the saints. 
  May we prepare ourselves for our Bridegroom.

 Moving Upward toward Civility Updated Again

By Rev. Lonnie C. Crowe

           

            (I first published this piece in November 2013.  I published it again in February 2017. I am updating it once more.)

We are today a culture of the uncontrolled tongue. News reporting too often becomes a shouting match.  Children have been bullied into suicide by the words of others.  Politics has degenerated into blame shifting and name calling. Comedy seethes with insults and character assassination. Many people go for days and weeks without hearing a kind word.  Incivility is devouring us and serves only to exacerbate the trials of our lives.

            We live in a world that is famished for an uplifting word.  It is time for the family of God to arise, speak up and speak forth words of kindness, life, and solution.   Paul wrote to the church at Ephesus: “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, just as God in Christ forgave you.” (Ephesians 4:31-32--NKJV)

            While we must exercise our freedom of speech, we must also endeavor to speak the truth in love and to choose our words in the power of the Holy Spirit.  Although the following suggestions would be useful on the national and international level, they are beneficial on the grassroots level as well.  It is at the grassroots that the reformation back to civility must begin. 

        Let's agree together in prayer: “Lord, please send civility to our world, and let it begin with me.  I desire to speak out of Your love rather than out of my fear, low self esteem, anger and disappointment.”

Suggestions for more civility in dialogue:

1.     “Before we get any further into this discussion, let me point out where I agree with you.”

2.    “I appreciate the thought and effort you have put into this.”

3.    “We can disagree and still be friends.”

4.    “I am sure that if we put our heads together, we can come up with a solution that we can agree on.”

5.    “Please go ahead and share your concerns.  Then give me an opportunity to share mine.”

6.    “I have a problem with some of your ideas.  Can you help me to understand your thoughts?”

7.    “Let’s have this discussion over  lunch.”                                                                                                                                                                                   

8.    “Please” and “thank you” are still politically correct phrases.  So is, “It’s good to see you.” 

9.    Nearly everyone responds positively to a sincere smile.

Scripture admonishes us to pray for those in authority over us even if we don’t like their policies:  

     ^“Therefore I exhort first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions,and giving of thanks be made for all men, for kings and all who are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence. For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior.” (1Timothy 2:1-3--NKJV).

What a thought:  I am more likely to lead a quiet and peaceable life if I pray for people, including those in authority, than if I complain about them. 

One of my favorite prayer-hymns is “Turn My Heart” by Lynn Deshazo based on Proverbs 21:1, “The king's heart is in the hand of the Lord, like the rivers of water; He turns it wherever He wishes.” 

Remembering that in His kingdom, we are all called to be kings and priests, we must first sing this song over ourselves.  Cultural transformation must begin with me.

Turn My Heart

By Lynn Deshazo

Turn my heart O Lord
Like rivers of water
Turn my heart O Lord
By Your hand
Till my whole life flows
In the river of Your Spirit
And my name brings honor
To the Lamb.

When we have allowed the Lord to turn our hearts, we can ask Him to turn the hearts of our leaders.  We can pray again with on a few word changes:

We will then be praying for the Lord’s agenda and not our own.

     Our Lord Jesus said, “A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good things, and an evil man out of the evil treasure brings forth evil things. But I say to you that for every idle word men may speak, they will give account of it in the day of judgment. For by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned." (Matthew 12:35-37--NKJV)

Insults, insinuations and invective are idle words. Idle words do nothing to change anyone's opinion.  Remember "Insults are the last resort of insecure people with a crumbling position trying to appear confident." (Wisdom Quotes)

     Father God, today I pray Your word over my life and the lives of others around me.  ”Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in Your sight, O LORD, my strength and my Redeemer.” (Psalm 19:14--NKJV)

 

Considering the Mark of the Beast 

By Rev. Lonnie C. Crowe 

We know we are in the end times or seasons of the Lord.  However, we do not know how close we are to the ending of the end times.  One of the concerns of many in the Body of Christ is, as always, the mark of the beast mentioned in Revelation 13.  Are tattoos the mark of the beast?  What about body piercing and vaccinations?  I don’t know the definitive answers to questions such as these.   

I do know that the enemy cannot sneak in and give a Christian the mark and, thus, condem that person to hell. Ephesians 1:13-14 is one of several scriptures that negate that thought: “in whom also you, hearing the Word of Truth, the gospel of our salvation, in whom also believing, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise, who is the earnest of our inheritance, to the redemption of the purchased possession, to the praise of His glory.”  As a friend of mine once said, “The devil cannot sneak up behind you and steal you from Jesus.” 

Two scriptures, one in the Old Testament and one in the New Testament, when taken together can us some insight into the mark of the beast. 

Deu 6:4-8: “Hear, O, Israel. Jehovah our God is one Jehovah.  And you shall love Jehovah your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might. And these words which I command you this day shall be in your heart. you shall carefully teach them to your sons, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise up. And you shall bind them for a sign upon your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes.” 

“And you shall bind them for a sign upon your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes.” Because of this verse, Orthodox Jewish men have, from ancient times unto the present, bound scriptures to their wrists and foreheads in small boxes called phylacteries whenever they enter into morning and evening prayers.   

The phylacteries are reminders that our thoughts guide what we do and where we walk. Proverbs  23:7 “for as he thinks in his heart, so is he.” 

Now, let’s consider Revelation13:15-16: “ And there was given to it (the second beast) to give a spirit to the image of the beast, so that the image of the beast might both speak, and might cause as many as would not worship the image of the beast to be killed.  And it causes all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to receive a mark on their right hand, or in their foreheads.” 

“To receive a mark on their right hand, or in their foreheads.” 

Oh, be careful little mind what you think. 

Oh, be careful little hands what you do. 

Oh, be careful little feet where you walk. 

  Walking Out of Presumption and Into Assurance: A Word for the New Year

By Rev. Lonnie C. Crowe

James 4:14-16 (NLT)
“How do you know what your life will be like tomorrow? Your life is like the morning fog—it’s here a little while, then it’s gone. What you ought to say is, “If the Lord wants us to, we will live and do this or that.” Otherwise you are boasting about your own plans, and all such boasting is evil.”

While the above scripture refers to presumption in an arrogant sense, it is also applicable to the negative presumptions that permeate the news and the gossip of today. The root of both types of presumptions is fear. We must replace our fear with faith. Faith comes by hearing and repeating the word of God. 

One of those negative presumptions swirling around us today is that Christianity is dying out.  While Christianity is under attack in the United States and in the world, Christianity has not been and will not be defeated.  Jesus said that He would establish His Church and the gates of Hades would not prevail against it. (Matt. 16:18.) We must stop speaking death over what Jesus has established forever.

Scripture has warned us that in this world and under the world system, things will not go well and will become even worse.  We listen to the negative reports and forget that we are citizens of the Kingdom which is ruled over by the King of Kings who has promised to meet our every need.

When the world situation brings doubt, fear and unbelief into our lives, an important scripture to remember is John 16:33 (NKJV): “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 what is happening in the world, we can have peace in our relationship with the Lord and confidence in His benevolence.

Philippians 4:6-7 (NKJV)
6 Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God;
7 and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

The economy in the United States looks bleak.  However, we still have the strongest economy in the world.  We need to be good stewards of what the Lord has given us while making wise provision for the future.  We need, also, to remember the promise Paul wrote of in Philippians 4:19 (NKJV):  “And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.” 

As I have been meditating on the future, the Lord brought to my mind the old hymn, “I Know Who Holds Tomorrow” by Ira Stanphill.

“I don't know about tomorrow
I just live from day to day
I don't borrow from the sunshine
For it's skies may turn to gray
I don't worry o'er the future
For I know what Jesus said
And today He'll walk beside me
For He knows what lies ahead
“Every step is getting brighter
As the golden stairs I climb
Every burden's getting lighter
Every cloud is silver lined
There the sun is always shining
There no tear will dim the eye
At the ending of the rainbow
Where the mountains touch the sky.”
Refrain:
“Many things about tomorrow
I don't seem to understand
But I know who holds tomorrow
And I know who holds my hand.”

A Word for the New Year:

The Lord would say to us at the beginning of this new year, “Don’t borrow from the sunshine of today by longing for the past and fearing the future.  The past is gone and cannot be retrieved.  You have no need to fear in the future.  In Me, your future is filled with hope and goodness

Each day, you must look beyond your current situation and experience the transcending power and glory of walking with Me.  Look beyond the frustration of the things you cannot understand and into the assurance that I hold tomorrow, and, if you will allow Me, I will hold your hand.

 The path that I have chosen for you goes above and beyond anything that you can think of or imagine and into the realm of perfect peace purchased for you on the Cross.  Remember Proverbs 4:18 (NKJV): “But the path of the just is like the shining sun, That shines ever brighter unto the perfect day.” 

Allow the One who holds tomorrow to be the One who holds your hand.

 A Christian Celebration of Hanukkah

By Rev. Lonnie C. Crowe

Happy Christian Hanukkah!  “Blessed are You, O King of the Universe, who has commanded us to be a light unto the world.”

 Although the events leading up to Hanukkah are not described in the Protestant canon, we can find the story in the Apocrypha in 1 and 2 Maccabees. In 164 B.C. Israel was ruled by the Greek empire.  The Greeks forbade the Jews from worshiping Jehovah and practicing the Mosaic Law.  The conquerors desecrated the Temple in Jerusalem by sacrificing a pig on the altar and placing a statue of Zeus in the Holy of Holies. 

 Matthais Maccabeus, a priest, gathered true worshipers, including his five sons, into a small, but stalwart, army of only 12,000.  Matthais’ son Judas, became their leader. Miraculously, they defeated the Greeks and cleansed the Temple.  

 After rededicating the Temple, they wanted to light the Menorah (Lampstand) that stood in the Holy Place.  They found enough of the specially prepared olive oil to the light the Menorah for only one day.  Even so, in faith, they lighted the Menorah, and, again, miraculously, the oil burned 8 days until new oil could be prepared.

 Therefore, Hanukkah, the Hebrew word for “dedication”, is celebrated for 8 days.  Jewish people place lighted candles in the windows in celebration of this holiday.  Because of the candle lighting, Hanukkah is also called the Festival of Lights.

Biblically speaking, eight is the number of new beginnings.

 What is the significance of Hanukkah for Christians?  First of all, Scripture tells us that Jesus recognized Hanukkah. John 10:22-23 (NKJV) "Now it was the Feast of Dedication in Jerusalem, and it was winter. And Jesus walked in the temple, in Solomon's porch". 

It was during this same time that Jesus declared His role as messiah. John 10:27-30:  "My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me. And I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; neither shall anyone snatch them out of My hand. My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of My Father's hand. I and My Father are one.'' 

 Secondly, the events in our world today are, in many ways, parallel, to what was happening in the time of the Maccabees.  In that time the Greeks did not seek to physically destroy the Jews.  They wanted to take away from them their faith and their customs.  They wanted to convert them to the worldly philosophies that denied the existence of a personal God and extolled the virtues of man. We see the same thing happening in the world today where many believe that man is a law unto himself and that the ways of God are antiquated and have no place in the modern world.  We identify with the struggle of the Macabees in our efforts to secure the right to celebrate Christmas and to maintain our Christian identity. 

 Hanukkah is a time to remember and to rededicate ourselves to those values that are worth fighting for and that bring love, joy and peace into our lives.  Hanukkah is a time to remember that it is the truth that sets us free.  Hanukkah is a time to declare the light of Jesus Christ.

 Below are 8 verses, one for each day, to meditate on during this Hanukkah season:

1.  Genesis 1:1-4 (NKJV) 

 In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. 

The earth was without form, and void; and darkness was on the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters. Then God said, "Let there be light"; and there was light.  And God saw the light, that it was good; and God divided the light from the darkness. 

2.   Psalm 27:1 (NKJV) 

A Psalm of David. The LORD is my light and my salvation; Whom shall I fear? The LORD is the strength of my life; Of whom shall I be afraid? 

3.  Psalm 36:9 (NKJV) 

For with You is the fountain of life; In Your light we see light. 

4.  Psalm 119:105 (NKJV) 

Your word is a lamp to my feet And a light to my path. 

5.  Isaiah 9:2 (NKJV) 

The people who walked in darkness Have seen a great light; Those who dwelt in the land of the shadow of death, Upon them a light has shined. 

6. Isaiah 60:1-3 (NKJV) 

Arise, shine; For your light has come! And the glory of the LORD is risen upon you. 

For behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, And deep darkness the people; But the LORD will arise over you, And His glory will be seen upon you. 

The Gentiles (the unbelievers) shall come to your light, And kings to the brightness of your rising. 

7.  John 8:12 (NKJV) 

Then Jesus spoke to them again, saying, "I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life." 

8.  Matthew 5:16 (NKJV)  Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven. 

 During Hanukkah, I pray that we will rededicate our lives to the Lord and seek to walk in His light. Hanukkah Tova! (Happy Hanukkah.)

 Sharing a Christmas Prayer

Rev. Lonnie C, Crowe

One of my favorite authors is Robert Lewis Stevenson.  One of my favorite prayers is his Christmas prayer.  It is my joy to share it with you.

Loving God, Help us remember the birth of Jesus,
that we may share in the song of the angels,
the gladness of the shepherds,
and worship of the wise men.

Close the door of hate
and open the door of love all over the world.
Let kindness come with every gift and good desires with every greeting.
Deliver us from evil by the blessing which Christ brings,
and teach us to be merry with clear hearts.

May the Christmas morning make us happy to be thy children,
and Christmas evening bring us to our beds with grateful thoughts,
forgiving and forgiven, for Jesus' sake. Amen.

-- Robert Louis Stevenson

 Abiding in Emmanuel

By Rev. Lonnie C. Crowe

Emmanuel, Emmanuel
His name is called Emmanuel
God with us, revealed in us
His name is called Emmanuel  

Bob McGee's lovely praise song often resonates in my spirit, particularly at Christmas time. The words “God with us, revealed in us” especially capture my heart and remind me of Paul’s words in Acts 17:28: “. . . for in Him we live and move and have our being.”  

When Paul’s declaration becomes embedded in our spirits, the concept of Emmanuel, God with us shifts from being a passive knowledge of truth to an active experience of deliverance, warfare, victory, and the fruit of the Spirit in our lives. While we delight in and invite the manifest presence of God into our worship, we often fail to remember that His presence indwells us and empowers us every single day.  

Perfectly Positioned

Considering the truth that we live, move and have our being in Him, let’s reflect on some of the comforting words in Psalm 91.

When we are in God’s will, the revelation that our whole being exists in Him awakens us to the understanding that we are perfectly positioned in “the secret place of the Most High.” Emmanuel means that He has placed us “under His wings.” We do not need to run to His protection; we are already there.  

Because of our position in Him, we can rest; we can cease from struggling. We can say of the Lord, “He is my refuge and my fortress; My God, in Him I will trust. Surely He shall deliver you from the snare of the fowler and from the perilous pestilence” (Psalm 91:2-3, NKJV).

The power and authority of Emmanuel is released when we make the decision to abide in Him. To abide is more than just “to live”; it is “to accept” or “to act in accordance with.”  When we abide in the Lord, we accept Him and act in accordance with Him. We live our lives in harmony with Him because we know that the path He has chosen for us is the best path. Cherish the admonition that, “Because you have made the LORD, who is my refuge, even the Most High, your dwelling place, no evil shall befall you, nor shall any plague come near your dwelling” (Psalm 91:9-10, NKJV).

The hope of Emmanuel is revealed in God’s promises to us:

Because he has set his love upon Me, therefore I will deliver him; I will set him on high, because he has known My name. He shall call upon Me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him and honor him. With long life I will satisfy him, and show him My salvation. - Psalm 91:14-16 (NKJV)

Hope Available Now

I love the old hymn frequently heard this time of year:

O come, O come, Emmanuel,
And ransom captive Israel,
That mourns in lonely exile here,
Until the Son of God appear.

Rejoice! Rejoice!

Emmanuel shall come to thee, O Israel.

The Latin text was first documented in Germany in 1710; however, the tune most familiar in the English-speaking world originated in 15th-century France. Most versions end with the yearning, hopeful cry: “Rejoice. Emmanuel shall come to thee, O Israel.”

Sadly, when we do not know the power, authority and protection afforded us in Emmanuel, we cry out for that time in eternity when the trials of this life will be over. That is a form of godliness that denies the power of Him in whom we live and move and have our being (see 2 Timothy 3:5).

Many modern psalmists who know His presence and His power have changed the last chorus into a proclamation:  “Rejoice, rejoice, Emmanuel has come to thee, O, Israel.”

As I rest in Emmanuel, fear and doubt flee. As I rest in Emmanuel, faith and truth become steadfast. Emmanuel is manifested when we, like Paul, declare:

I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me. - Galatians 2:20 (NKJV)

Emmanuel—God is with us. Oh, that He may be revealed in us.

Reflection

1. Are there areas in your life where you find yourself striving and struggling rather than resting in the reality of who God is in your life? Take some time to specifically name those things, and ask the Holy Spirit to help you receive the rest He has for you.
2. Consider dropping a note of encouragement to someone today, reminding them of the reality of Emmanuel in their lives. No matter how long we have known God, we can always use the reminder that He truly is with us!