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.

Passover/Feast of Unleavened Bread

Passover/Feast of Unleavened Bread 

By Rev. Lonnie C. Crowe

This year, Passover will begin at sunset, Friday, April 15 and end at sunset on April 23.    Passover is also called The Feast of  Unleavened Bread and commemorates the finished work of the cross. 

In the Bible, leavening (yeast) symbolizes sin. The Feast of Unleavened Bread is a seven day memorial of not only the Israelites being taken from the bondage of Egyptian slavery, but also, the journey of Christians as we have been set free from the bondage of sin and grow in grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior. 

This is a time to meditate on some promises of God that will empower us to walk away from doubt, unbelief and fear and into a restful relationship with our Lord.  

Consider the following scriptures.

 Matthew 11:28-30 (NKJV)  “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."

John 14:1-3 (NKJV) "Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me. In My Father's house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also.”

Hebrews 13:5-6 (NKJV) "Let your conduct be without covetousness; be content with such things as you have. For He Himself has said, "I will never leave you nor forsake you."
So we may boldly say: "The LORD is my helper; I will not fear. What can man do to me?"

2 Chronicles 7:14 (NKJV)  "If My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land."

Jeremiah 29:11 (NKJV) "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."

1 John 1:8-9 (NKJV) "If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness."

James 1:5-6 (NKJV) "If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him. But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind.

Our prayer:  Oh, Lord, may the words of my mouth and the mediation of my heart be acceptable in Your sight  (Psalm 19:14).

Bless the Lord, oh my soul.  And let all that is within in me bless His holy name (Psalm 103:1).

“Baruch HaShem Hamashiach Yeshua.  Barach HaShem Adonai.”

“Blessing in the name of Jesus the Messiah.  Blessing in the name of the Lord.”

Trusting in Mortality?

Trusting in Mortality?

By Rev. Lonnie C. Crowe

The political and moral chaos which whirls around us promises half-truths, fabrications, discord, disunity, confusion and fear.  Where can we go to learn of that truth that brings clarity from the chaos?

Several days ago, I felt an urging in my spirit to open my Bible, seemingly at random, and simply read where it fell open.  However, nothing orchestrated by the Holy Spirit is random. I found myself at Psalm 146.  If you think the Bible is not relevant for today, please read with me through this Psalm.

Psalm 146:1-2 (NKJV)
^“Praise the LORD! Praise the LORD, O my soul!  While I live I will praise the LORD; I will sing praises to my God while I have my being.”

The passage begins with an exhortation for us to praise the Lord in our souls.  Our souls are our minds, will and emotions.  It is in the soul that we make choices.  In these verses, we are encouraged to make the choice of praising God.  In English grammar, “I shall” is declarative.  “I will” is emphatic.  We are to make a determination to praise in all  our situations and in spite of our circumstances. We must remember that God enthrones Himself in our praise (Psalm 22:3).

Psalm 146:3-4 (NKJV)
^“Do not put your trust in princes, Nor in a son of man, in whom there is no help.
His spirit departs, he returns to his earth; In that very day his plans perish.”

Even those who have the most power in the earth are mortal, subject to death.  Their plans, likewise, are mortal.  The older and wiser we become, the more we consider the history of our own lives, the more we will understand the ephemeral nature of mortal man and mortal thoughts.  Do we even remember the slogans of the past:  The New Deal, The New Frontier, The War on Poverty, and It’s the Economy, Stupid.  While we endured the hype, many bought into the programs with their votes and the results were negligible.

Psalm 146:5-6 (NKJV)
^“Happy is he who has the God of Jacob for his help, Whose hope is in the LORD his God, Who made heaven and earth, The sea, and all that is in them; Who keeps truth forever.”

We are nearly always disappointed in our elected officials.  Much of the fault lies in us.  We want and expect politicians to meet our needs and insure our happiness.  Even the best governmental programs can meet our needs only on a superficial level.  The programs cannot touch the deeper needs, the needs of our hearts.  Our happiness is in the One who made heaven and earth, the One who made us in His own image. 

He is the one Who executes justice, without bribery, for the oppressed, Who gives both spiritual and physical food to the hungry and freedom to the prisoners trapped in the bondage of sin, hopelessness and negativity.  It is the LORD Who opens the eyes of those who have been blinded by deceit and their own desires. 

Praise the LORD.  He raises those who are bowed down; He loves the righteous because He loves righteousness and not self-righteousness.

The LORD watches over the strangers without pandering for votes; He relieves the fatherless and widow and does not seek to enslave them in hopelessness; But the way of the wicked, He turns upside down (based on Psalm 146:7-9 NKJV).

Just sayin’.

The Warrior Bride

The Warrior Bride

By Rev. Lonnie C. Crowe

Judges 4:4-9 (NKJV):  “Now Deborah, a prophetess, the wife of Lapidoth, was judging Israel at that time. And she would sit under the palm tree of Deborah between Ramah and Bethel in the mountains of Ephraim. And the children of Israel came up to her for judgment.
Then she sent and called for Barak the son of Abinoam from Kedesh in Naphtali, and said to him, "Has not the LORD God of Israel commanded, 'Go and deploy troops at Mount Tabor; take with you ten thousand men of the sons of Naphtali and of the sons of Zebulun; and against you I will deploy Sisera, the commander of Jabin's army, with his chariots and his multitude at the River Kishon; and I will deliver him into your hand'?"
And Barak said to her, "If you will go with me, then I will go; but if you will not go with me, I will not go!"
So she said, "I will surely go with you; nevertheless there will be no glory for you in the journey you are taking, for the LORD will sell Sisera into the hand of a woman."                     Then Deborah arose and went with Barak to Kedesh.”

And together they routed the enemy and sent the enemy captain, Sisera on the run.  Later in Judges 4, we learn the story of Jael.  She invited Sisera into her tent, lulled him to sleep with warm milk and drove a tent peg through his head.

The stories of Deborah and Jael cause me to paraphrase an old song by Nancy Sinatra.  My version:                

"These boots are made for walking, and that's just what they'll do.
Devil, these boots are gonna walk all over you.”

Deborah, a mother in Israel, a judge and a prophetess, and Jael, a nomadic housewife, picture the Church, the Bride of Christ, willing to go into battle to defeat the enemy of our souls.   

Revelation 19:6-8 (NKJV) pictures the Bride of Christ, the Church:
^“And I heard, as it were, the voice of a great multitude, as the sound of many waters and as the sound of mighty thunderings, saying, "Alleluia! For the Lord God Omnipotent reigns! 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.”

Notice that the Bride has made herself ready.  Too many of us are sitting on our blessed assurances, whining and waiting to be raptured into glory.  However, we are to engage in His business until He comes. (Luke 13.)  That business includes standing up, speaking out, rebuking the enemy and declaring victory in the name of Jesus.

Revelation 19:11-16 (NKJV)
“Now I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse. And He who sat on him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He judges and makes war. His eyes were like a flame of fire, and on His head were many crowns. He had a name written that no one knew except Himself. He was clothed with a robe dipped in blood, and His name is called The Word of God. And the armies in heaven, clothed in fine linen, white and clean, followed Him on white horses.
"Now out of His mouth goes a sharp sword, that with it He should strike the nations. And He Himself will rule them with a rod of iron. He Himself treads the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God. And He has on His robe and on His thigh a name written: KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS.”

The armies of heaven, clothed in righteous, follow the Lord into battle.  The weapon of the Lord is the Word of God.

Church, arise like Deborah and Jael.  Behave righteously, speak the Word of God that declares victory to those who love Him.  Think about this:  If God inhabits the praises of His people, then who inhabits our fearful whining and complaining?

Devil, listen carefully, these boots, these people of God, are gonna walk all over you and your deceit.

Habakkuk--a Voice for Today

Habakkuk--a Voice for Today

By Rev. Lonnie C. Crowe

Although the prophet Habakkuk wrote more than 2,600 years ago, his message is pertinent today.  In that day, Israel faced the peril of the Babylonian empire which occupied much of the same area that the terrorist organizations occupy today.  Today, Israel, the United States, and the world face the peril of the terrorism.  Habakkuk’s message should resonate with us in this difficult time.

First, Habakkuk speaks out and questions God.  Habakkuk 1:3-4 (NKJV) “Why do You show me iniquity, And cause me to see trouble? For plundering and violence are before me; There is strife, and contention arises. Therefore the law is powerless, And justice never goes forth. For the wicked surround the righteous; Therefore perverse judgment proceeds.”

Habakkuk, like many today, asks why evil seems to be triumphing over good.

God answers.  Habakkuk 1:5 (NKJV) "Look among the nations and watch-- Be utterly astounded! For I will work a work in your days Which you would not believe, though it were told you.”

God continues to outline His plan for the defeat of Israel’s enemies. All the powerful nations in that area of the world would fall. History records that Babylon later fell to the Greeks.  God allowed Babylon to rule for only a period of time.

Allow yourself to be encouraged.  The book of Revelation prophesies that in the end times, Babylon, the great harlot representing the worldly, humanistic, secular society will again fall through the intervention of God.

In chapter two, God encourages His people. Habakkuk 2:4 (NKJV) "Behold the proud, His soul is not upright in him; But the just shall live by his faith.”

The just shall live by faith, not by fear, whining and complaining.

In the last chapter of the book, Habakkuk describes his vision of the Lord and worships. Habakkuk 3:4-6 (NKJV) “His brightness was like the light; He had rays flashing from His hand, And there His power was hidden. Before Him went pestilence, And fever followed at His feet. He stood and measured the earth; He looked and startled the nations. And the everlasting mountains were scattered, The perpetual hills bowed. His ways are everlasting.”

Because he had come to realize the nature, the majesty, power, authority and faithfulness of God, the prophet declares, Habakkuk 3:17-19 (NKJV) “Though the fig tree may not blossom, Nor fruit be on the vines; Though the labor of the olive may fail, And the fields yield no food; Though the flock may be cut off from the fold, And there be no herd in the stalls-- Yet I will rejoice in the LORD, I will joy in the God of my salvation. The LORD God is my strength; He will make my feet like deer's feet, And He will make me walk on my high hills.”

Is your faith in the One who is omnipotent, omniscient, omnipresent and omnibenevolent strong enough to do the same?