Sola Scriptura

October 8, 2012 — Craig T. Owens

Of all the other sola statements that came out of the Reformation, sola scriptura has to be one of the most foundational. Without a firm understanding of the truthfulness of God’s Word, all other doctrinal statements are without authority. Sola scriptura means that we use the Bible as our authoritative guide for everything in our lives.

Jesus confronted the religious leaders for their misuse and abuse of Scripture. The Sadducees had a tendency to ignore the parts of Scripture which didn’t fit their “theology.” The Pharisees, on the other hand, would over-exaggerate some Scriptures which would leave other passages dwarfed or forgotten.

In Matthew 23, Jesus took on both of these incorrect approaches. What I love is that Jesus didn’t share His opinion, He didn’t argue with them, He didn’t try to convince them to accept His viewpoint. Jesus just took them back to Scripture.

  • You are in error because you do not know the Scriptures or the power of God (23:29).
  • Have you not read what God said to you (23:31).
  • David, speaking by the Spirt…says… (22:43).

When Jesus said, “You are in error,” the verb tense is the passive voice. This means it was something done to them, not something they did. These religious leaders were not purposely straying from Scripture, but by listening to men instead of God they allowed themselves to be lead astray.

That’s why this insight from Luke is so powerful:

Now the Bereans were of more noble character than the Thessalonians, for they received the message with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures every day to see if what Paul said was true. (Acts 17:11)

This is great counsel for all of us. We should all listen to pastors and teachers, or read authors, through the filter of Scripture. We need to make sure we aren’t passively straying, and we do this by examining the Scripture.

If you have missed any of the messages in this series, you can find them all here.

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I Have Arrived!

October 3, 2012 — Craig T. Owens

Listen to the podcast of this post by clicking on the player below, and you can also subscribe on Apple, Spotify, or Audible.

Do you remember when you got your first job that came with your name on a business card? What about when you were promoted to an office with your name on the door? Even better: what if you became so influential that your name is now on the stationary, or even becomes a part of the organization’s official name?!?

Look at you! You’ve arrived!

At least that’s how a lot of people see it. The more their name is plastered all over something, the more powerful they feel.

On Sunday evenings our Next Level Bible study is looking at the Book of James. In the first week of our study, we barely got past the first word: James. Who was this guy that has his name attached to a book in the Bible?

  • James was the half-brother of Jesus. In fact, since his name is listed first, he probably was the next oldest sibling after Jesus. Isn’t this the carpenter’s Son? Isn’t His mother’s name Mary, and aren’t His brothers James, Joseph, Simon and Judas? (Matthew 13:55).
  • Since Joseph (the earthly father of Jesus) is not mentioned again in the New Testament, many feel he died while Jesus was a teenager. As a result, after Jesus began His public ministry, the head-of-the-household responsibilities would have passed to James.
  • James met with Jesus one-on-one after His resurrection. Then [Jesus] appeared to James, then to all the apostles (1 Corinthians 15:7).
  • James was recognized by others as the leader of the Church in Jerusalem. James, Peter and John, those reputed to be pillars… (Galatians 2:9). He was also the chairman of the Council in Acts 15, and his decision was the final decision at that meeting.

From all appearances, it looks as though James has arrived! He’s got his name in all the right places, and is one of the most influential people in the early Church.

Yet look at how James referred to himself: James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ (James 1:1).

If James thought he had “arrived,” it was only to arrive as a servant. His name may have been on the business card, or the church door, or the church letterhead. But he was only there to serve!

History gives us two other names for this great man: James The Just and Old Camel Knees (because of how much time he spent kneeling in prayer, and kneeling in service to Jesus and His followers).

If I ever “arrive,” I pray that like James I’ve only arrived to serve!

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Respecting Elected Officials

September 5, 2012 — Craig T. Owens

During our prayer time yesterday, I was contemplating the Apostle Peter’s instruction to, “Fear God, and respect the king” (1 Peter 2:17).

  • How do I respect the king (or the other elected officials in my city, state, and country)?
  • Does respect mean saying “yes” to every law that’s passed?
  • Can I be respectful and still disagree with those in elected office? How?

During our hour of prayer at the church last night, I was really wrestling with how I as a Christian should show respect to those in authority in our governments. Here are the nine things the Holy Spirit showed me.

I can show respect to those in authority by:

  1. Not forgetting that God placed them in their office (Daniel 4:25).
  2. Praying for them regularly (1 Timothy 2:1-2).
  3. Obeying all laws that aren’t immoral (Luke 20:25; Acts 5:29).
  4. Disobeying laws that are immoral (Esther 4:16; Acts 4:19).
  5. Holding them to biblical standards (Proverbs 8:15).
  6. Insisting they uphold the United States Constitution (Ecclesiastes 8:2).
  7. Reminding them that God’s wisdom is the ultimate standard (Proverbs 8:22-23).
  8. Requiring them to honor their promises, unless those promises conflict with God’s Word or the Constitution (Esther 1:13; 8:8).
  9. Speak to and about them without complaining or arguing (Philippians 2:14-15).

(Check out all of the above passages by clicking here.)

I’m working on living these out. What do you think?

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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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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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Could You Be A Missionary?

August 22, 2012 — Craig T. Owens

When I say missionary, what images come to your mind?

  • …a remote wilderness?
  • …a third-world country?
  • …asking churches and friends to support you financially?
  • …packing up to leave your home for years at a time?
  • …learning a new language?

Yes, many of our missionaries do all of these things. But if this is your only concept of missions, you’ve missed something important.

When Jesus told His followers that they would go out as witnesses (missionaries) for Him, He began with—

…you will be My witnesses in Jerusalem… (Acts 1:8)

The first place He sent them was to Jerusalem.

  • This was a missions opportunity right in their neighborhood.
  • They already knew the culture.
  • They already knew the language.
  • They didn’t have to pack up and leave their family behind.

Missions is not always far away. Sometimes it’s in your own neighborhood!

In Cedar Springs, I love the partnerships that the Cedar Springs Ministerial Association has helped foster, and the opportunities for local missions work that have been presented. One of our ongoing projects is providing weekend food for students who may be struggling to have enough over the weekend. It is a program called Hand2Hand. We are always looking for volunteers (missionaries!) who can work, collect food, or donate funds to help.

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Open Door

June 26, 2012 — Craig T. Owens

Listen to the podcast of this post by clicking on the player below, and you can also subscribe on Apple or Spotify.

The phrase open door shows up several times in the New Testament, and it shows up quite a bit in the present-day vocabulary of many Christians too. But I’m not sure we mean the same thing.

I hear Christians saying things like, “I’m praying for God to open a door for a new job,” or “I’m waiting to see what door God will open for my schooling,” or something to that effect. In other words, the open door seems to be for our personal benefit.

The apostle Paul said this:

A great door for effective work has opened to me, and there are many who oppose me (1 Corinthians 16:9).

Let’s get one thing clear: God opens doors (we don’t), and our job is to obediently walk through those open doors (God won’t shove us through them).

Paul knew that the open door was not for his benefit, but for the benefit of those who were presently outside of the Kingdom of God. God opens doors for His people so that those outside His Kingdom can come inside (see Acts 14:27; 2 Corinthians 2:12; Colossians 4:3).

It might look like God opened a door by providing a job, but that job is His means to help you invite others into His Kingdom. The open door (the job, in this case) isn’t primarily for you; it’s for you to invite others in.

That’s why when God opens doors there will be many who oppose you. They are not really opposing you, but they are opposing the opportunity for the kingdom of darkness to be robbed and the Kingdom of God to be enriched.

So when you pray for open doors, remember:

  • When God opens a door, it’s mainly for the benefit of those outside the Kingdom of Heaven
  • You will be opposed by the kingdom of darkness

If you’re ready for both of those, then by all means pray for open doors!

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My Prayer

June 23, 2012 — Craig T. Owens

I want people to say this after every encounter with me: Everyone was gripped with great wonder and awe, and they praised God, exclaiming, “We have seen amazing things today!” (Luke 5:26)

Why not?

Why do I think this should be something just in the past? Didn’t Jesus say…

I tell you the truth, anyone who believes in Me will do the same works I have done, and even greater works, because I am going to be with the Father. You can ask for anything in My name, and I will do it, so that the Son can bring glory to the Father. Yes, ask Me for anything in My name, and I will do it! (John 14:12-14)

Jesus continues in John 14 to talk about the help the Holy Spirit would bring us. And in Acts 1:8 Jesus tells us that the Holy Spirit is the source of power for being living witnesses.

Oh, how I want the Spirit’s presence!

To be filled.

To be changed.

To be fruitful.

To be a witness.

To bring glory to God!

Let it be: Everyone was gripped with great wonder and awe, and they praised God, exclaiming, “We have seen amazing things today!”

That’s my prayer.

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Immersed

May 16, 2012 — Craig T. Owens

What happens when we truly let the Holy Spirit have His way in our lives?

Could we experience today the things that are recorded in the Book of Acts?

Is it possible that God wants to do so much more through our lives than we are allowing Him to do now?

That last question, I believe is the most important one. One of the apostle Paul’s prayers went like this:

And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge — that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God. Now to Him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to His power that is at work within us, to Him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen. (Ephesians 3:17-21)

This is an expansive prayer … a mind-blowing prayer … a prayer that is asking God to go beyond our ability to contain all that He has for us.

The only way we can get to this place (and I want all of us to get to this place) is if we let go. In other words, if we will let the Holy Spirit totally immerse us in His presence, if we will not try to box Him up, or shut Him out of any area of our lives.

We’ll be learning more about Immersed this Sunday at Calvary Assembly of God. If you’ve missed any of the messages in this series, you can check them out here:

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Always Be The Majority

March 7, 2012 — Craig T. Owens

In Acts 27, Paul is on his way to Rome to stand trial before Caesar. The weather has hindered them, so they are currently behind schedule. As they are docked at a town called Lasea, Paul advises the ship’s crew that they should stay right where they are.

But then comes this key phrase: “The majority decided that we should sail on” (Acts 27:12).

The majority in this case includes the sailing experts: the sailors, the ship captain, and even the ship’s owner. Julius, the centurion in charge of Paul, even sided with the majority.

But the majority was wrong.

As the ship is being ripped apart and driven way off course by a fierce storm, this majority even begins to give up on living through this nightmare.

But one man—Paul—with a word from God and “faith in God that it will happen just as He told me” (v. 25), became the most influential voice. From this point on, everyone listened to Paul: the sailors, the captain, the centurion.

One man + Faith in God’s Word = A Majority

Are you in a storm?

Is the majority telling you what you should do?

What has God said to you? Have you heard His Word?

Once you hear from God, cling to that Word in faith, and you will be the influential majority.

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