Jesus Christ | Craig T. Owens

May 2026
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In Name Only

November 4, 2013 — Craig T. Owens

Philadelphia, as most people know is “The City of Brotherly Love.” The original Philadelphia in Asia Minor was founded in the second century BC by a man named Attalus who, quite the contrary to cultural norms, kept his brother in a position of power and influence alongside him.

Where many leaders were suspicious of anyone who could make a claim on the throne, Attalus loved (the Greek word is phileo) his brother (Greek adelphos meaning “from the same womb”), so the city took on this name and attitude as well. After the city was leveled by an earthquake in 17 AD, Emperor Tiberius sent the funds needed to rebuild. Out of gratitude to the emperor’s generosity there was a movement to rename the city Neocaesarea in his honor. But the people liked being known for their brotherly kindness, so the name Philadelphia stuck.

At least it stuck in name only. As the first century progressed, Philadelphians bowed more and more to Rome’s influence and this city once known for kindness to all began to persecute Christians.

This reminds me of the United States of America today. Our pledge of allegiance still includes “one nation under God,” and “in God we trust” is still on our currency, and we haven’t repealed the First Amendment which gives us freedom of religion. It appears that we are a “Christian nation,” but in name only.

Many cast the blame far and wide, but as Jesus addressed the people in the first city of Philadelphia (see Revelation 3:7-13), we see the blame is on those self-professing Christians who didn’t live Christ-like lives. They were Christians in name only.

For those who “have kept My Word and not denied My name” Jesus promises a list of rewards longer than the list for any of the other seven churches addressed in the book of Revelation! Those promises are still in effect for those who will not deny Christ. More specifically for those who by their words and their lifestyle hold true to Jesus Christ.

Brennan Manning was exactly right when he said, “The greatest single cause of atheism in the world today is Christians: who acknowledge Jesus with their lips, walk out the door, and deny Him by their lifestyle. That is what an unbelieving world simply finds unbelievable.”

My prayer is that Christians everywhere would be known not just by the name Christian, but by the way they hold true to Christ and His Word!

Please join me next Sunday as we look at the last of the churches in our series The 7-Star Church.

Posted in Uncategorized. Tags: atheism, Brennan Manning, Calvary Assembly of God, Christian, Christianity, Christlike, Jesus Christ, lifestyle, Philadelphia, rewards, Rome, Tiberius, United States of America. Leave a Comment »

Thursdays With Oswald—Strength For Others

October 31, 2013 — 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.

Strength For Others

The real reason for prayer is intimacy of relationship with our Father.

We kneel, how weak, we rise full of power.

Why therefore should we do ourselves this wrong

For others that we are not always strong,

That we are ever overcome with care

That we should ever weak or heartless be

Anxious or troubled, when with us is Prayer

And joy and strength and courage are with Thee?

From Christian Disciplines

It’s a pretty simple principle: I cannot give to others what I do not possess.

Jesus rose early in the morning to find a place of private prayer (see Mark 1:35) so that He would be filled with His Father’s presence and able to meet the pressing needs of people that day. Why, oh why, don’t I follow my Lord’s example more?

People all around me need encouragement, light, hope, love. I cannot give what I do not possess. But I can possess these things in abundance if I will make use of prayer to tap into that intimate relationship with my Heavenly Father.

Prayer provides the strength I need for the day, so that I can provide the strength that others need for the day. Without prayer, I not only rob myself of God’s help, I rob others as well.

Posted in Uncategorized. Tags: anxiety, discouragement, encouragement, God's power, God's strength, help, intimacy, Jesus Christ, Oswald Chambers, poetry, prayer, relationship. 2 Comments »

If Thou Wilt Be Perfect (book review)

October 29, 2013 — Craig T. Owens

Oswald Chambers points out something very interesting in his book If Thou Wilt Be Perfect: discipleship with Jesus is optional.

Chambers writes: “Whenever our Lord speaks of discipleship He prefaces what He says with an ‘IF.’ ‘If any man come after Me….’” So this book focuses on the IFs of discipleship, reminding us that is optional for us to step into this deeper relationship with Jesus.

Each chapter was originally a lecture that Chambers gave at the Bible Training College in 1912, and they clearly reveal the mindset that drives him. Most of the chapters/lectures are entitled “The Philosophy Of …” so you will gain a deeper insight into how Oswald Chambers reads the Bible and applies the truths there to the Christian walk.

As I have said before, there are few authors who challenge me to go deeper in Christ than Oswald Chambers. All of the chapters are meaty, but well worth your time and attention.

Posted in Uncategorized. Tags: Bible study, book review, discipleship, Jesus Christ, Oswald Chambers. Leave a Comment »

Making A Name For Yourself

October 28, 2013 — Craig T. Owens

It’s a focus of far too many people: “I’ve got to make a name for myself.” It’s nothing new but has been going on as long as men have been on earth.

In Revelation 3, Jesus is addressing the church in Sardis about their pursuit of a reputation. Jesus tells them, “You have definitely made a name for yourself. People know you are making things happen, and you have a reputation of being successful.” Sounds good, right? Except Jesus goes on to say, “But I’m not concerned about your reputation; I’m more interested in your character.”

Jesus uses the same Greek word four times in just six short verses to show the progression He is looking for to go from a popular reputation to godly character:

You have tried to make a name for yourself, but your focus is wrong (Rev. 3:1).
The name you should focus on is My name—you should be glorifying Me, not yourself (v. 4).
If you glorify Me, I will make sure your name is never erased from the Book of Life (v. 5a).
Not only that, if you glorify Me, I will personally introduce you to My Father. I will say, “This one is Mine!” (v. 5b)

Wow!

Contrast that with people who say, “Jesus, didn’t we do some pretty amazing things in Your name? Did you check us out?!?” And Jesus will reply to them, “I never knew you because you were only using Me to make yourself look good” (see Matthew 7:21-23; Revelation 3:2).

I am not living for the applause of men, but only for the applause of nail-scarred Hands.

I don’t want the headlines here, but I want to hear my Lord say, “Well done, good and faithful servant!”

I don’t want a reputation here, but I want a godly character in Heaven.

That’s the name I want!!

If you are near Cedar Springs this weekend, please join us for part six of this series The 7-Star Church.

Posted in Uncategorized. Tags: Calvary Assembly of God, character, God's glory, Gospel of Matthew, Jesus Christ, reputation, Revelation, Sardis, sermon, video. 1 Comment »

Lord, Save Me

October 27, 2013 — Craig T. Owens

He shall save His people from their sins. (Matthew 1:21)

Lord, save me from my sins. By the name of Jesus I am encouraged thus to pray.

Save me from my past sins, that the habit of them may not hold me captive.

Save me from my constitutional sins, that I may not be the slave of my own weaknesses.

Save me from the sins which are continually under my eye that I may not lose my horror of them.

Save me from secret sins; sins unperceived by me from my want of light.

Save me from sudden and surprising sins: let me not be carried off my feet by a rush of temptation.

Save me, Lord, from every sin. Let not any iniquity have dominion over me. —Charles Spurgeon

Posted in Uncategorized. Tags: Charles Spurgeon, Gospel of Matthew, Jesus Christ, prayer, sin, temptation, victory. Leave a Comment »

A Pastoral Prayer

October 25, 2013 — Craig T. Owens

Daniel Payne

I love this prayer that Bishop Daniel Payne (1811-1853) prayed for himself. Pastor, do you think you could pray this? Could you pray to become invisible so that only Jesus Christ is seen and heard?

“Lord, Thou knowest my weakness—be Thou my strength. Thou knowest my ignorance—be Thou my wisdom. Teach me, that I may not be a blind leader of the blind, but a scribe well instructed unto the Kingdom of Heaven. O, let not the people see me; let them see You in Your vesture dipped in blood. Let them not hear me; let them hear You in Your voice of saving truth!”

Lord, may I be able to live this out in my pastoral ministry!

Posted in Pastoring. Tags: Daniel Payne, God's glory, humility, Jesus Christ, pastors, prayer. Leave a Comment »

Sometimes God Fights Me

October 23, 2013 — Craig T. Owens

Sometimes life is hard, and God is walking right alongside me. Sometimes life is hard, and God is the One creating my difficulties.

Why? Because He loves me too much to allow me to head down a dangerous path.

Once a man named Balaam was heading to a meeting that he shouldn’t have been going to. As he trotted along on the back of his donkey, suddenly the donkey pulled up, dug on her hooves and would not move. Balaam beat her and still she wouldn’t budge. This next part is amazing to me: the donkey turned and talked to Balaam! She said, “Why are you beating me? Haven’t I always been faithful to take you where you needed to go?”

But Balaam was so intent on getting to his ill-advised meeting that the fact that his donkey was talking didn’t even phase him! What did get his attention, though, is when he saw what his donkey had seen all along. Jesus was standing in the middle of the road with a drawn sword.

Jesus said to Balaam, “I have come here to oppose you because your path is a reckless one before Me” (Numbers 22:32).

You and I should count it as a blessing when God opposes us—when He makes our path difficult—because we are heading somewhere reckless.

When life is hard, when things aren’t going as you had hoped, when your donkey suddenly stops carrying you along, you should ask a question: Why is this happening? Sometimes it just may be that life is hard, but God is still with you. Or it just might be that God is opposing you because your path is a reckless one. Don’t keep beating trying to get your donkey to move, but pause and ask why your donkey has stopped.

God’s opposition to your reckless path is a blessing!

Posted in Uncategorized. Tags: Balaam, blessing, difficulties, Jesus Christ, opposition, prayer, reckless, trials, trouble. Leave a Comment »

Is Confrontation A Dirty Word?

October 21, 2013 — Craig T. Owens

Jesus takes the church of Thyatira to task because they are tolerating someone with a Jezebel spirit to remain in a position of leadership and influence (Revelation 2:18-29). This is still a message to the church today!

However, for some reason Christians have made “confrontation” a dirty word. We don’t confront people in error, especially those who are in leadership positions within their church. Perhaps equally as wrong: when we do confront, we do it in a way that is destructive.

The goal of confrontation is restoration, not destruction!

In Revelation 2, Jesus gives us five steps toward healthy, biblical, God-honoring confrontation:

Don’t tolerate a Jezebel spirit by remaining silent (v. 20). Instead we need to follow the principles in Matthew 18:15-17 and 1 Timothy 5:19.
Allow the one whom you’ve confronted time to repent (v. 21a).
If they don’t repent, don’t rescue them from God-inflicted punishment (vv. 21b-23).
Run away from secrets (v. 24). If something more than Scripture is required by the Jezebel leader, reject it.
Don’t run away from the situation, but hold on to Jesus until Jesus returns (vv. 25-28).

Not one human is infallible, but Jezebel not only claims infallibility, but also demands blind allegiance to her teachings. But it is just as wrong to tolerate Jezebel as it is to confront her unbiblically; Jesus opposed both.

One way for us to always avoid these two extremes: Try to out-serve one another, just as Jesus directed us—

“You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them. Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be your slave—just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life as a ransom for many.” (Matthew 20:25-28)

If you are near Cedar Springs next Sunday, please join me as we continue our series on The 7-Star Church.

Check out this clip about confrontation—

Posted in Uncategorized. Tags: 1 Timothy, Bible, Calvary Assembly of God, church, confrontation, discipline, Gospel of Matthew, Jesus Christ, Jezebel, punishment, repentance, restoration, Revelation, unrepentant, video. 3 Comments »

Thursdays With Oswald—Confident Access

October 17, 2013 — Craig T. Owens

Confident Access

It is not our earnestness that brings us into touch with God, nor our devotedness, nor our times of prayer, but our Lord Jesus Christ’s vitalizing death; and our times of prayer are evidences of reaction on the reality of Redemption, so we have confidence and boldness of access into the holiest.

What an unspeakable joy it is to know that we each have the right of approach to God in confidence, that the place of the Ark is our place, “Having therefore, brethren, boldness.” What an awe and what a wonder of privilege, “to enter into the holiest,” in the perfectness of the Atonement, “by the blood of Jesus.”

From Christian Disciplines

It’s not what I do that gives me access to God, but what Jesus already did! He paid the price that was beyond my reach so that I can now come directly into God’s presence in full confidence that He will receive me.

Amazing love!

Posted in Uncategorized. Tags: atonement, confidence, forgiveness, God's holiness, Jesus Christ, Oswald Chambers, prayer, redemption. 1 Comment »

The Sin Of Silence

October 14, 2013 — Craig T. Owens

“All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing.” —Edmund Burke

This is as true for Christians as it is for anyone else.

In addressing the church at Pergamum (see Revelation 2:12-17), Jesus calls the Christians out for their silence. He tells them that what He has against them is their close relationship with those who hold to unbiblical ideas.

Pergamum’s sin is our sin in the USA today: tolerance. We let things slide, hoping to get along with others, trying not to rock the boat, trying to avoid being labeled a “hater,” and finding ways to be everyone’s friend.

There is a Latin phrase used in legal circles that says: Qui tacet consentire, which means Silence gives consent. If you don’t speak up to challenge what is stated, it is assumed that you believe it.

Jesus calls the church at Pergamum to repent for their tolerance. He calls for them to speak the truth of God’s Word. Twice the phrase is used to remind us of God’s Word being sharper than a double-edged sword.

Our job as Christians is not to win an argument, bring conviction, or become the sin police. Our job is to speak God’s truth in love.

True friends speak out when someone they care about is making a foolish choice. True Christians loving speak The Truth when the world around them is selling out to a convenient lie.

“In keeping silent about evil, in burying it so deep within us that no sign of it appears on the surface, we are implanting it, and it will rise up a thousandfold in the future. When we neither punish nor reproach evildoers … we are ripping the foundations of justice from beneath new generations.” —Alexander Solzhenitsyn

I will be continuing our series The 7-Star Church: Becoming The Church That Pleases Christ next Sunday. If you are in the area, I would love to have you join me.