Spirit Rising (book review)

September 4, 2012 — Craig T. Owens

Every time I read or hear Jim Cymbala speak, I know I’m hearing from a man who is hearing from God. This is a humble man who has his spiritual ears tuned-in to the Holy Spirit’s voice, and in Spirit Rising we hear a clear call for us to tune-in to the Spirit’s voice as well.

As I began to read this book, a quote near the beginning jumped off the page and into my heart—

“Many of us want more of God but not to the point of being ridiculed. Our Western minds think, I will serve the Lord, but I will remain in control as I do it. But whether we like it or not, that’s not how the church began. The church began with Spirit-controlled Christians who yielded themselves to God. That’s radical, yes, but that’s the way the Lord did it.

“Some might say, ’Yeah, but we’ve improved upon the New Testament style of Christianity.’ If that’s true, I want to see the spiritual fruit our improvements have produced. People may have mocked those first, ’unsophisticated’ Christians, but thousands got saved in the first four chapters of Acts. The Word of God was treasured. The churches were filled with sacrificial love. A holy excitement pervaded the atmosphere. Have we really improved upon that?”

Through a closer look at the New Testament church, through personal experience, through the voices of notable leaders in the church’s history, and through personal testimonies, Pastor Cymbala makes it clear that today’s Christianity is sadly missing an intimate connection with the Holy Spirit. The subtitle—tapping into the power of the Holy Spirit—is an apt description of what you will find in this book.

If you are hungry for more of God’s presence in your life, in your church, in your community, please dive into Spirit Rising and be prepared to have your spiritual eyes opened!

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Prayer Focus: Elections

September 4, 2012 — Craig T. Owens

As this week marks the beginning of a “new year,” (as students are heading back to school and we’re all settling in to our fall routines), we are taking time to focus our prayers.

Today’s pray focus is on our governmental elections. 

Election day in the United States is just two months away. As Christians we have a responsibility to pray for those who are in authority over us. We have a responsibility to know where political candidates stand on the issues. And we have a responsibility to vote. We can also pray that God will raise up leaders who call on His help and honor His Word in their decisions.

I love praying Scriptures. Here is an important passage related to today’s prayer focus—

Submit yourselves for the Lord’s sake to every authority instituted among men: whether to the king, as the supreme authority, or to governors, who are sent by him to punish those who do wrong and to commend those who do right. For it is God’s will that by doing good you should silence the ignorant talk of foolish men. Live as free men, but do not use your freedom as a cover-up for evil; live as servants of God. Show proper respect to everyone: Love the brotherhood of believers, fear God, honor the king. (1 Peters 2:13-17)

I urge you, first of all, to pray for all people. Ask God to help them; intercede on their behalf, and give thanks for them. Pray this way for kings and all who are in authority so that we can live peaceful and quiet lives marked by godliness and dignity. This is good and pleases God our Savior. (1 Timothy 2:1-3)

Mark Driscoll has an excellent post called Pray For Our Leaders. He says,

We should be informed citizens who take our privilege of voting seriously. Our involvement with the political process is what makes the form of government in the United States work. But God has something much more in mind for us when it comes to our political involvement.

When it comes to politics, there is one thing in particular that pleases God. What pleases God is that we pray for our leaders, regardless of who they are and what political party they represent.

I encourage you to read the rest of Pastor Mark’s post by clicking here.

UPDATE: Here are the things we prayed for today…

Week of prayer – government

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Myopia

September 4, 2012 — Craig T. Owens

Myopia is also known as nearsightedness. It occurs when light entering the eye is focused incorrectly, making distant objects appear blurred. Nearsightedness is a type of refractive error of the eye. If you are nearsighted, you have trouble seeing things that are far away.

Myopia is a problem physically and spiritually.

Consider the Apostle Paul. He was in prison, and yet he wrote:

Because of my chains, most of the brothers in the Lord have been encouraged to speak the Word of God more courageously and fearlessly. (Philippians 1:14)

The definition of nearsightedness says that an incorrect refracting of the light makes far object blurry, so we tend to focus only on what’s near to us.

How many of us would have blamed Paul if from his prison cell he cried out, “Why me, O God? What have I done wrong? Please get me out of here!”

This would have been a very myopic view, where Paul was only concerned about what was close; namely, himself and his needs! But Paul allowed the light of God to be properly refracted in his spiritual sight, and he could see the big picture.

As a result of his imprisonment, many other brothers were now encouraged to speak out more boldly than before. 

If you’re going through some trying times, don’t give in to myopia. Lift up your spiritual eyes to your loving Heavenly Father. He can shine the light of His Holy Spirit in a way that just may help you to see what He is accomplishing. Through this you will be encouraged AND be an encouragements to others.

As Billy Graham noted, “Courage is contagious. When a brave man takes a stand, the spines of others are often stiffened.”

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Pornography Robs A Man Of His Humanness

September 3, 2012 — Craig T. Owens

Last week I shared some thoughts from Oswald Chambers on dealing with temptation.

In our internet age, where pornography is so easily accessible, this is a temptation that way too many people battle so often. This is a temptation that you can defeat, but you cannot defeat it on your own!

Here are some very insightful thoughts from Ed Welch, a Christian counselor, that may help you be victorious in your battle with pornography—

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Even Greater Things

September 3, 2012 — Craig T. Owens

I’m a fourth-generational Pentecostal. I’ve grown up in the church. Over many years I’ve seen and heard some incredible things.

And yet I’m so hungry for God to do more!

I’ve had an amazing last three years as the pastor of Calvary Assembly of God. We’ve seen God move in awesome ways!

And yet I’m so hungry for God to do more! 

I feel like the prophet Habakkuk who cried out,

Lord, I have heard of Your fame; I stand in awe of Your deeds, O Lord. Renew them in our day, in our time make them known. (Habakkuk 3:2)

What God has done in my personal history, and in the history of our church, is nothing compared to what I believe is coming!

You won’t find me standing on the sidelines. I’m not dreaming about “the good ol’ days.”

I’m going to live my life like Jesus taught us. He announced that His ministry was anointed by the Holy Spirit to tell everyone the good news of God’s favor (Luke 4:18-19). And then He lived this out by doing good everywhere He went (Acts 10:38).

Jesus instructed us to conduct our lives the same way (Matthew 28:19-20), living in the anointing of His Holy Spirit (Acts 1:8). The same Spirit which anointed Christ Jesus for ministry will anoint your life for ministry!

I am so hungry for God to do more in me … in my church … in Cedar Springs! Like the words of the song say, “Greater things are yet to come!”

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Good News!

September 2, 2012 — Craig T. Owens

When I say, “I ♥ My Church!” that is not some throw-away phrase. I’m not saying it to try to whip up some emotion, or get Calvary Assembly of God to live up to some unreasonable standard. I say it because I truly mean it. I sometimes sit down in my office on Sunday after our service, and I can hardly force myself to head home because I’m just basking in all that God has done.

Some highlights from today:

  • I so enjoy watching my church family during the greeting time. I just stand back and smile as I watch everyone being greeted as a long-last friend. As Mary told me on my very first Sunday here, “We don’t shake hands here. We hug!” And it’s true. Honestly, I think if I didn’t step back to the microphone and say, “Ahem!” the greeting time would continue all morning long. There is some amazing one-on-one ministry that was happening in that greeting time today!
  • It was great to hear from our special guests Bill & Melissa Chappel. They are preparing to go to an unreached area in Asia, and their enthusiasm is contagious! 
  • A brother shared a spontaneous praise report this morning. He lives on a fixed income and has had several unexpected bills lately. So when the “Check Engine” light came on in his van, he was quite upset about it. He drove his van for about a week, wondering how he was going to pay for the repairs. Before the offering last Sunday, I prayed that God would take care of anything that was perplexing us. Gary shared that after service he got in his van to head home and the “Check Engine” light didn’t come back on… and it hasn’t been back on since!
  • As I shared this morning about the ministry that we’ve been doing, as well as the ministry we are planning for this fall, I read an email I received. This email came from a business owner in Cedar Springs after our Halloween outreach (that’s called the “Spooktacular” in our city) last year—

Hey Craig, I just wanted to tell you that I think it’s fantastic that you participate in Spooktacular.  It seems like sometimes churches and pastors are so scared to step out into the community when it comes to Halloween.  But, in my opinion, Jesus went to the people.  When I see christians stepping out to love on people rather than bowing to fear, I really see God at work.  And I think people in the community do too.

Amazing stuff happening around here!

If you live near Cedar Springs and don’t have a home church, I invite you to come visit with us. I think you will quickly discover why I and so many others around here say, “I ♥ My Church!”

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Prayer Before Words, Prayer After Words

August 31, 2012 — Craig T. Owens

Pastor, as you are putting the finishing touches on your message for Sunday, even as you are getting ready to begin the service, consider this counsel from Augustine of Hippo—

“He should be in no doubt that any ability he has and however much he has derives more from his devotion to prayer than his dedication to oratory; and so, by praying for himself and for those he is about to address, he must become a man of prayer before becoming a man of words. As the hour of his address approaches, before he opens his thrusting lips he should lift his thirsting soul to God so that he may utter what he has drunk in and pour out what has filled him.”

Pray for yourself—that you would be a living example of what you preach.

Pray for your vocabulary—that the Holy Spirit would direct your words.

Pray for your ego—that you would not be puffed up nor brought down by the people’s response.

Pray for your congregation—that they would receive and apply the Word of God.

Pray for your community—that they would desire the life of Christ that is evident in you and your congregation.

And on Monday morning perhaps you will pray this prayer of commitment from Augustine—

Breathe in me, O Holy Spirit, that my thoughts may all be holy. 

Act in me, O Holy Spirit, that my work, too, may be holy. 

Draw my heart, O Holy Spirit, that I love but what is holy. 

Strengthen me, O Holy Spirit, to defend all that is holy. 

Guard me, then, O Holy Spirit, that I always may be holy. 

Amen.

I’m praying for you this weekend!

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Thursdays With Oswald—Temptation

August 30, 2012 — Craig T. Owens

This is a weekly series with things I’m reading and pondering from Oswald Chambers. You can read the original seed thought here, or type “Thursdays With Oswald” in the search box to read more entries.

Temptation 

     The old Puritan idea that the devil tempts men had this remarkable effect, it produced the man of iron who fought; the modern idea of blaming his heredity or his circumstance produces the man who succumbs at once. … 

     When we say a thing is “satanic” we mean something abominable according to our standards: the Bible mean something remarkably subtle and wise. … The Holy Spirit is the only One who can detect the temptations of satan, neither our common sense nor our human wisdom can detect them as temptations. …

     satan does not tempt to gross sins, the one thing he tempts to is putting myself as master instead of God. …How are we to face the tempter? By prayer? No. With the Word of God? No. Face the tempter with Jesus Christ, and He will apply the Word of God to you, and the temptation will cease. “Because He Himself suffered when He was tempted, He is able to help those who are being tempted” (Hebrews 2:18). The moments of severest temptation are the moments of His divinest help. 

From Disciples Indeed 

There’s not much to add to Oswald Chambers’ words, except this: Beware of your pride which says, “I am above temptation.” The Bible says,

So, if you think you are standing firm, be careful that you don’t fall! (1 Corinthians 10:12).

And one more thought: Beware of your pride which says, “I can defeat temptation on my own!” In order to defeat temptation you need (a) God’s Word to fortify you, (b) the Holy Spirit to apply that Word; (c) Christ’s nature to stand up to the tempter; and (d) iron-sharp friends who will hold you up and hold you accountable.

You will be tempted.

You can defeat temptation.

You cannot defeat temptation on your own.

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Disciples Indeed (book review)

August 29, 2012 — Craig T. Owens

If you’ve been keeping track of my reading habits, you will know how much I appreciate the wisdom of Oswald Chambers. If you are not as familiar with his works, a great book for pastors and ministry leaders to get initiated into his wisdom is Disciples Indeed.

One reason that My Utmost For His Highest has been so popular (I believe) is the singular thought that Chambers presents each day. In Disciples Indeed you are taken into Chambers’ classroom at the Bible Training College in London, where he is instructing those preparing themselves for full-time vocational ministry. His teaching style was not to weigh his students down with lengthy lectures, but to give these students a place to think more deeply about the things of God.

Disciples Indeed is made up of nearly two dozen lectures. Each lecture presents a single thought in a series of small paragraphs, some of them only a single sentence in length. Chambers’ style of teaching in bullet-point fashion was intended to present profound truths upon which the student could meditate at length. Each chapter appears short on the pages of the book, but there is so much in each lecture for us to ponder.

I highly recommend Disciples Indeed to all “Christian workers” (as Oswald Chambers called his students) who have answered God’s call on their lives to step into a role of teacher, pastor, evangelist, youth leader, or the like. I am confident that your biblical thinking will be greatly enhanced by “sitting in” on these lectures.

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Need Power?

August 29, 2012 — Craig T. Owens

In many ways, Labor Day marks the beginning of a “new year.” The summer fun is behind us, a new school year is starting, and everyone is settling back into their normal routine.

Undoubtedly many people begin this part of their “new year” with the same excitement as New Year’s Day, with a renewed passion to accomplish greater things. Perhaps you are thinking about some new habits for this “new year.” Or maybe you are taking a deep breath before you have to dive in to all that awaits you in the next few months.

In any case, the greatest and best thing we can do to prepare ourselves is prayer.

I always start January with a week of prayer, so I want to begin this “new year” with a week of prayer as well. So we will be having a special prayer focus September 4-7. The church will be open each evening from 5:30-6:30pm, but I encourage you to pray with us wherever you are during that week.

Here are some great quotes on the power we can gain in prayer:

“Prayer does not equip us for greater works—prayer is the greater work.” —Oswald Chambers 

“Prayer provides the powerto do what we love to do, but can’t do without God’s help.” —John Piper 

“The most healthy state of a Christian is to be always empty in self and constantly depending upon the Lord for supplies; to be always poor in self and rich in Jesus; weak as water personally, but mighty through God to do great exploits…. As the runner gains strength for the race by daily exercise, so for the great race of life we acquire energy by the hallowed labor of prayer. …Prayer girds human weakness with divine strength, turns human folly into heavenly wisdom, and gives to troubled mortals the peace of God. We know not what prayer cannot do!” —Charles Spurgeon

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