Encouragement in the Midst of Whatever

By Rev. Lonnie C. Crowe

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

Several years ago, I was ministering in the Philippines. Part of our ministry took us on a catamaran to a nearby island. When we left, the tide was in, and we easily stepped from the dock onto the boat and sailed away. When we returned in the evening, the tide was out, and our boat sat about ten feet below the dock. Our only egress was a rickety ladder sitting precariously in the rocking boat. I don’t normally like to climb short, firmly grounded ladders, so I definitely was not comfortable with the thought of climbing that ladder.  

Discouragement settled over me. However, suddenly, through my spirit and out of my mouth came “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me” (Phil. 4:13). One of the men holding the ladder gave me a hand, and I went up that ladder like a seasoned sailor. Courage came when I knew that I didn’t have to do it in my own strength. 

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. 

The Merriam-Webster dictionary defines encourage as: to make (someone) more determined, hopeful, or confident; to make (something) more appealing or more likely to happen; to make (someone) more likely to do something: to tell or advise (someone) to do something. 

These definitions are all about doing something. They miss the mark by not telling us what we need in our lives in order to do something. In order to chop down the tree of discouragement, we need to lay the axe to the root. 

The root word of “encourage” is “courage.” In other words, if we want to be encouraged, we must be filled with courage. 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 does not want us to be afraid. Fear robs us of courage, and we must lay the axe to the root of fear. We fear tomorrow. We fear the unknown. We fear because we lack understanding. We fear because we feel that God has distanced Himself from us. 

Believers, however, are called to be Joshuas in this world. God has commanded us to be strong and of good courage. The word translated as courage has many synonyms. In the Hebrew, to be courageous is to be strengthened, established, strong, fortified, and obstinate.

   
Courage is the strength to overcome in spite of fear. Courage means being established in the truth of the Word of God. Courage produces strength and fortification. Courage enables us to stand firmly for the Lord. We need 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. 

Make a list of encouraging scriptures and hide them in your heart through memorization and meditation. The Holy Spirit will call them to your 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). 

Encouragement comes in realizing that the spirit of fear, the discouragement that we feel, has not come from God. Instead, God has given us the strength in Himself to overcome that fear. We don’t have to face it alone. We face it in the power and love of God. Our relationship with Him brings us into a sound mind. 

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). God has instructed us to guard ourselves against trouble and fear.  Encouragement is  a choice.  Let’s open our hearts to the encouragement of the Lord, so that we may encourage ourselves and others.

Civilla D. Martin said it well:

“Why should I feel discouraged, why should the shadows come,
Why should my heart be lonely, and long for heaven and home,
When Jesus is my portion? My constant friend is He:
His eye is on the sparrow, and I know He watches me;
His eye is on the sparrow, and I know He watches me.”

 Jesus died on Passover as the Passover sacrifices were being offered. He rose again on the Feast of First Fruits.

1 Corinthians 15:20: "But now Christ is risen from the dead, and has become the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep."

Jesus is both the Passover Lamb and the first fruit of resurrection to eternal life.

Hallelujah! What a Savior!

 Purim:  Remembering Esther

By Lonnie C. Crowe

Like Esther, we have been called for such a time as this.  Esther, a Jewish woman named Hadassah, divinely became the wife of the King of Persia, the most powerful man of his time.  His deceitful henchman, Haman, plotted to annihilate all the Jews living in Persia. 

Mordechai, Esther’s relative and guardian, reminded her that with privilege comes responsibility.

Esther 4:14:  “For if you remain completely silent at this time, relief and deliverance will arise for the Jews from another place, but you and your father’s house will perish. Yet who knows whether you have come to the kingdom for such a time as this?”

Women in the Old Testament are most often pictures of the Church, the Bride of Christ. Through the story of Esther, God is saying to the Church, “if you remain completely silent at this time, relief and deliverance will arise from another place, but you and your generation will perish. Yet who knows whether you have come to the Kingdom for such a time as this?”

What did Esther do at that decisive moment?  Though she was queen and held a privileged position, she also knew she risked her life in approaching her husband on behalf of her peoples  She was willing to take that risk.   She knew both her privileged position and her responsibility to her people.

In preparation, she called the people to fast—in other words, she turned to God for wisdom and protection. 

As we prepare for our Purim we must identify our privileges:

• We have the privilege of knowing God personally.

• We have the privilege of living in a country that still has the greatest wealth and the greatest freedom in the world.

We must also understand our circumstances.

• We are not safe just because we are Christians.

• If my nation suffers, I suffer.

• Being Christian doesn't mean we are safe from external factors.

Then let us intercede and ask the Lord to touch our nation and our world.

• God has called the Church for such a time as this.

• God knows what Satan is planning for each country and nation of the world. He appointed each of us to intercede for our nation. He wants us to change the destiny of this world and make history.

• God is faithful to those who are sincere.  Our hope is in the Lord not in earthly governments.

• We are, like all generations, a generation that God has called into destiny. Esther changed the history of the Jews through courage and sacrifice and the grace of God. We can do the same thing if we obey the calling.

In intercession, we must follow the admonitions of our Lord to His people.

•2 Chronicles 7:14—“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.”  God has called His people, believers, to turn from our wicked ways and pray.

•1 Timothy 2:1-2—“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.”

1. Pray that leaders, if they are not already believers, will become believers.

2. Pray that the leaders will come to a knowledge of the Truth.

3. Pray that they will acknowledge, honor, and praise God who is the sovereign ruler of heaven and earth.

With great privilege comes great responsibility. With great responsibility comes great opportunity.  We have a divine opportunity to be God’s instruments in leading our nation into God’s destiny for us.

 More than Leprechauns and Green Beer

By Rev. Lonnie C. Crowe   

St. Patrick’s Day, like many Christian Holy Days, is celebrated more with the pagan customs the Church has hoped to overcome than with Christianity.  The Easter bunny often overshadows the Resurrection; Santa Claus and reindeer are more politically correct than the Advent.  In the same way, on St. Patrick’s Day, many eat corned beef and cabbage, wear green, drink beer and give no thought to the sacrifices and sufferings of the one who brought Christianity to Ireland.

St. Patrick was a missionary to Ireland during the latter part of the fifth century.  According to his Confessio, when he was in his teens, Irish pirates kidnapped him from his home in Britain and took him to Ireland.  After six years of enforced servitude among the pagans and druids, he escaped and returned to his family home.  After becoming a priest, he returned to Ireland to bring the gospel to the land of his captors. He was later ordained as bishop.  March 17 is thought to be the day of his death. 

What do we learn from St. Patrick?  First of all, we learn forgiveness.  In a prophetic dream, he received a call to return to Ireland.  In the dream, the people of Ireland were calling out to him "We beg you, holy youth, to come and walk among us once more." In forgiveness, he returned to Ireland to bring the light of Christ to those who were living in the darkness of paganism.  He preached in Ireland for 40 years. 

We also learn the truth of Romans 1:19-20, “because what may be known of God is manifest in them, for God has shown it to them. For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse (NKJV)."   St. Patrick used the simple 3-leaf clover, the shamrock, to illustrate the Trinity, the God-head, Three-in-One.  

The sad truth, a truth that would break the heart of St. Patrick as it breaks the heart of Jesus, is that Ireland, for centuries, has been embroiled in a political war that has become identified as a religious war.  May, not only the Church in Ireland, but the Church universal, lay down our political and religious animosities toward one another.   May we walk in the reality of Psalm 133:1-3 (NKJV): ^“Behold, how good and how pleasant it is For brethren to dwell together in unity!  It is like the precious oil upon the head, Running down on the beard, The beard of Aaron, Running down on the edge of his garments. It is like the dew of Hermon, Descending upon the mountains of Zion; For there the LORD commanded the blessing-- Life forevermore. “

In this world today, we need to pray the following taken from the Lorica of St. Patrick.  (A lorica is a prayer for protection.)

“Christ shield me today
Against wounding
Christ with me, Christ before me, Christ behind me,
Christ in me, Christ beneath me, Christ above me,
Christ on my right, Christ on my left,
Christ when I lie down, Christ when I sit down,
Christ in the heart of everyone who thinks of me,
Christ in the mouth of everyone who speaks of me,
Christ in the eye that sees me,
Christ in the ear that hears me.”

It is all about Jesus.

 Do Not Be Dismayed 

By Rev. Lonnie C. Crowe 

We have all walked through stressful times and seasons. Often our faith has faltered in the fiery face of fear. Most of us are familiar with Isaiah 41:10: “Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, yes, I will help you, I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.”  

The Glossary of the One New Man Bible shares in depth clarity to the phrase “Do not in any way be awed! Do not be dismayed.” "The Hebrew negative command is very powerful, with no direct English equivalent. It is even stronger than saying, “Do not even dare to think about...! Know that faith in God is what you need to replace the fear and dismay. Although usually translated as “fear not", the Hebrew means to revere, to hold in awe. There is only One Whom we are to revere, to hold in awe and we are not to be in terror of Him, but to give the respect and honor to which He is due. Do not be awed by the size and strength of the enemy, but respect and revere the awesome God we serve.” 

 Are You Tired, Weak and Worn?

Rev. Lonnie C. Crowe

Are you doing things the way you have always done them and are still disappointed in the outcome? Have you reached the end of your rope and there is no knot to hold on to? Have you come to the end of yourself? Are you willing to admit that your way hasn't been successful so that God can bring the blessings of His Kingdom into your life? Allow the following to be your prayer: “Lord, I am so weary of my way. In humility and with a submissive heart, I desire to live my life Your way.”

“Precious Lord, take my hand,

Lead me on, let me stand,

I am tired, I am weak, I am worn;

Through the storm, through the night,

Lead me on to the light.

Take my hand, precious Lord,

Lead me home.”

---Thomas A. Dorsey

 Thinking Outside the Traditional Sermon Box

By Rev. Lonnie C. Crowe

“...let the wise listen and add to their learning, and let the discerning get guidance…” - Proverbs 1:5 (NIV)

In our world of changing technology and increasing confusion, I have become more and more aware of some of the issues and shortcomings with our traditional methods of teaching and discipling in church—an area of consideration that is often overlooked because we are used to the way it has always been done.

Church teaching, doctrine and discipline are frequently aimed at the fast track learners, those with proficient vocabularies, and/or theologians. We are aware of slower learners or those with different intelligences in the educational system, but we seem to be unaware that these same people may be struggling to understand sermons, Sunday school lessons, and Bible studies. Additionally, few people in the congregation have seminary level vocabularies.

Several years ago, Cindy, one of my students, brought a theological concern to me.

Cindy: Mrs. Crowe, I understand about the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, but who is Trinity?

Me: I don’t understand your question.

Cindy: You know, the Trinity, the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Who is Trinity?

Cindy was in an English class, so we discussed the Father, Son and Holy Spirit as appositives to Trinity (they are additional words used to explain what is meant by Trinity). I use this example because I know that many reading this may have no understanding of appositives; however, those same readers will understand when I explain that the Father, Son and Holy Spirit make up the Trinity. We all bring different types of understanding and learning to our study of Scripture.

For another example, I was leading a Bible study on the Holy Spirit. One woman had been reading from the King James Bible on her own, and she had somehow come to the conclusion that we have both the Holy Spirit and the Holy Ghost. She approached me wanting to know how to differentiate between the ministries of the two. A disconnect had occurred because we were each approaching the subject matter from a different context. 

I highlight these stories to challenge us to think about the methods we are using to teach and disciple people. Is it possible we are not reaching them as effectively as we could because we are only considering our own backgrounds, experiences, educational levels, etc.?

I am blessed to pastor a small church filled with people who have difficulty understanding for various reasons. Some have limited vocabularies because English is their second language. Others have limited education. Some simply learn at a slower rate.

Most have become uncomfortable in traditional churches because they feel left out. Many do not have the “church manners” that require them to sit quietly. If my parishioners don’t understand a word, they simply raise their hands and ask. If they have a comment, they make it. This works in our small church, but what about larger churches where they would be disruptive? How are we going to effectively communicate spiritual truths when many people struggle to understand or just have a different learning style?

Through the ages, churches have primarily taught with the lecture (sermon) method. However, research shows that the lecture method is the least effective method of teaching! In contrast, interaction is one of the most effective methods. PowerPoint and other projection programs have enhanced the lecture method by supplying a visual, but we can do more. Here are some ideas to consider:

·         While it is important to use standard theological terms so that our people become aware of the vocabulary that is normal in the Church, it is even more important to ensure those words are defined in terms that most congregants can understand. Many who attend church regularly struggle with “Christianese.”  I recently met with a group of pastors where we decided to promote the city-wide Thanksgiving service as “The Community Thanksgiving Gathering” rather than as an ecumenical service. Several seminary-trained pastors present admitted they did not know the meaning of “ecumenical.”

·         Brief breakout sessions during or immediately following the sermon would give people opportunities to discuss a particular point with those sitting around them.

·         Bible memorization is crucial. Paraphrasing in addition to rote memorization enhances understanding of passages.

·         Teachers and preachers should foster an atmosphere where every question is considered a good question and deserves a thoughtful answer. My experience has shown that if one person has a question, many others have the same question. Jesus often responded to questions and suggestions from His disciples. It was the disciples who said, “Lord, teach us to pray.” Pastors could find out some of the major questions on the minds of their church members and plan a sermon series to address them.

·         Dramatic readings, sketches and full dramatic productions increase learning.

·         As much as possible, lessons should include examples and explanations pertinent to the culture of the congregation. Farmers understand farming analogies. Those in the technological industries appreciate examples from their experience.

·         We live in a visual society. Maps and other graphics help learners to focus and understand. For example, with all the turmoil in our world today, it is vital that people have an understanding of geography and Israel’s physical relationship to the conflict. 

·         Handouts can be more effective with the use of colored fonts, pictures and interesting formatting.

In all our efforts to present a well-organized lesson, we must remember that we do not truly teach unless others learn. The above suggestions don't work in every church, and that’s ok. But this is a starting place for thought, especially for those of us on the church mountain who are positioned to lead and teach others. Are there ways we can do this more effectively, ways that will help people truly take hold of spiritual truths with understanding and the ability to practically apply them to their lives?

We’ve all heard countless traditional sermons, and there will continue to be a place for them. But let’s not be afraid of asking the Holy Spirit to help us think outside the box in order to help people’s hearts connect to Him in a deeper way.