Scripture | Craig T. Owens

March 2026
S	M	T	W	T	F	S
1	2	3	4	5	6	7
8	9	10	11	12	13	14
15	16	17	18	19	20	21
22	23	24	25	26	27	28
29	30	31

Don’t Stop At Salvation

May 6, 2019 — Craig T. Owens

The Holy Spirit is vital in everything concerning a Christian’s life. Dr. Donald Stamps emphatically said it this way:

“It is essential that believers recognize the importance of the Holy Spirit in God’s redemptive purpose. Many Christians have no idea what difference it would make if there were no Holy Spirit in this world. Without the Holy Spirit there would be no creation, no universe, no human race (Genesis 1:2; Job 33:4). Without the Holy Spirit there would be no Bible (2 Peter 1:21), no New Testament (John 14:26; 15:26-27; 1 Corinthians 2:10-14), no power to proclaim the gospel (Acts 1:8). Without the Holy Spirit there would be no faith, no new birth, no holiness, no Christians at all in the world.”

Sometimes I think we have in our mind that the “old” in Old Testament somehow means outdated or no longer applicable to our lives, and the “new” in New Testament should be our sole focus. But Jesus affirmed again and again that all of the Scriptures—what we now refer to as the Old Testament—all point to Him.

The outpouring of the Holy Spirit on that Pentecost Sunday was not something new to the New Testament Christians. He was always a part of a believer’s life. Even 1000 years before Christ’s public ministry, David knew the importance of the Holy Spirit in both salvation, and in living a consistently holy lifestyle (Psalm 51:10-12, 143:10).

The role of the Holy Spirit in Christ’s public ministry was foretold in the Old Testament Scriptures and then fulfilled in the New Testament era (see Isaiah 11:1-2; Luke 3:21-22; Isaiah 61:1-2; Luke 4:18-21).

If Jesus needed the baptism in the Spirit to empower Him, direct Him, and give Him success, how much more do we need this?! That’s why Jesus imparted the Holy Spirit to His followers at their moment of salvation, but then admonished them to eagerly expect the baptism in the Holy Spirit as well (John 20:22; Luke 24:49; Acts 1:8).

**Quite simply Jesus is saying—*DON’T STOP AT SALVATION***

Jesus didn’t, the apostles didn’t, Paul didn’t, Apollos didn’t, the Ephesian Christians didn’t, I didn’t, and you shouldn’t either!

Keep on going…

Ask Jesus to forgive you of your sins
Eagerly desire the baptism in the Spirit
Ask God to baptize you in His Spirit
Expect that He will answer that prayer (Acts 2:38; Isaiah 44:3; John 7:37-39; Luke 11:13; Mark 11:24)

Join me again this Sunday as we continue to learn what it means for Christians today to be Pentecostal.

If you missed any of the messages in this series, you can access the full list of messages by clicking here.

Thursdays With Spurgeon

May 2, 2019 — Craig T. Owens

Nearly 10 years ago I began a series of posts called “Thursdays With Oswald,” in which I shared the thoughts that were working their way through my heart and mind as I journeyed through the complete works of Oswald Chambers. Now, almost a decade later, I have finished all 1500 pages of his wisdom.

I think it is wise to frequently spend time with the “old guys”—those whom the years have proven their godly wisdom to be true. So I am now moving on to another prolific writer and speaker, the man called the Prince of Preachers: Charles Haddon Spurgeon.

As with my series with Oswald Chambers, I will be sharing some passages from the Spurgeon book or sermon I am reading. On some, I will offer some thoughts that I’m contemplating in light of that reading, and on others, I will simply let the Prince’s words speak for themselves.

Let me begin with three simple quotes:

“The words of God have more power over me than ever David’s fingers had over his harp strings.”

“It is better to preach five words of God’s Word than five million words of man’s wisdom.”

“There is a power in God’s gospel beyond all description.”

I love how completely Spurgeon’s thoughts are grounded on God’s Word! Spurgeon had no formal theological training, but he expounded on Scriptures as few ever did or ever have.

Posted in Uncategorized. Tags: Bible study, Charles Spurgeon, God's Word, lifelong learner, quotes, Scripture, sermon, wisdom. 178 Comments »

The Infographic Bible (book review)

April 30, 2019 — Craig T. Owens

I love studying the Bible! I enjoy reading it in different translations, consulting my atlas to see where certain events took place, studying the culture of the biblical settings, and even diving in to the Hebrew and Greek definitions of words. But I’ve never seen the biblical story portrayed as uniquely and so visually beautiful as Karen Sawrey has done it in The Infographic Bible.

The subtitle of this work is “visualizing the drama of God’s Word,” and Karen does this in ways you have never seen before.

The Infographic Bible flows in the same order as the Biblical text, except that there is very little text involved. You will see how the biblical books were compiled and then walk through God’s story in both the Old and New Testaments.

In graphics that typically span the full two-page spread (and sometimes even more), you will see in vivid colors, bold designs, and memorable graphics how God set about to redeem His people and tell His story. You will see the two Genesis accounts of Creation portrayed side-by-side, you will understand genealogies better by seeing their timelines flow through generations, you will appreciate the biblical themes and fulfilled prophesies, and you will look forward to the hope of things to come in Revelation.

There is so much to discover in this book! The Infographic Bible is a coffee-table-size book, and the beautiful graphics inside will definitely make it a conversation piece to leave on display for your guests. I commend Karen Sawrey for her outstanding work, and I highly recommend this book to you.

Posted in Uncategorized. Tags: Bible study, book review, Creation, genealogy, infographic, Karen Sawrey, New Testament, Old Testament, prophesy, Scripture. 5 Comments »

Poetry Saturday—Christ Jesus Lay In Death’s Strong Bands

April 13, 2019 — Craig T. Owens

Christ Jesus lay in death’s strong bands,

For our offenses given;

But now at God’s right hand He stands

And brings us life from heaven;

Therefore let us joyful be

And sing to God right thankfully

Loud songs of hallelujah.

Hallelujah!

It was a strange and dreadful strife

when life and death contended;

the victory remained with life,

the reign of death was ended;

Holy Scripture plainly saith

that death is swallowed up by death,

his sting is lost forever.

Hallelujah!

Here the true Paschal Lamb we see,

whom God so freely gave us;

He died on the accursed tree—

so strong His love!—to save us.

See, His blood doth mark our door;

faith points to it, death passes o’er,

and satan cannot harm us.

Hallelujah! —Martin Luther

Posted in Uncategorized. Tags: blood, Calvary, crucified, death, God's love, Good Friday, hymn, Jesus Christ, Lamb of God, Martin Luther, Passover, poem, poetry, prophesy, salvation, Scripture, victory. 1 Comment »

Thursdays With Oswald—Spiritual Grit

April 4, 2019 — 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.

Spiritual Grit

Salvation is God’s “bit,” it is complete, we can add nothing to it; but we have to bend all our powers to work out His salvation. It requires discipline to live the life of a disciple in actual things. “Jesus knowing…that He was come from God, and went to God,…took a towel…and begin to wash the disciples’ feet” [John 13:1, 4]. It took God Incarnate to do the ordinary menial things of life rightly, and it takes the life of God in us to use a towel properly. … And we can do it every time because of the marvel of God’s grace. …

A stoot hairt tae a stae brae (i.e. a strong heart to a difficult hill). The Christian life is a holy life; never substitute the word “happy” for “holy.” We certainly will have happiness, but as a consequence of holiness. Beware of the idea that so prevalent today that a Christian must always be happy and bright, “keep smiling.” That is preaching merely the gospel of temperament. If you make the determination to be happy the basis of your Christian life, your happiness will go from you; happiness is not a cause but an effect that follows without striving after it. …

There is something in us that makes us face temptation to sin with vigor and earnestness, but it requires the stout heart that God gives to meet the cares of this life. I would not give much for the man who had nothing in his life to make him say, “I wish I was not in the circumstances I am in.” “In the world you will have trouble; but be of good cheer! I have overcome the world” [John 16:33]—“and you will overcome it too, you will win every time if you bank on your relationship to Me.” Spiritual grit is what we need.

From Studies In The Sermon On The Mount

If you have placed your faith in what Jesus did for you on Calvary, and if you have asked the Father to forgive you of your sins, then His Holy Spirit resides in you.

Therefore, you have all that you need to be successful every single time. The question is: Am I using the spiritual grit that God gives me to be holy? Or am I merely looking for a way to be happy?

Posted in Uncategorized. Tags: Bible study, Christian, Gospel of John, Gospel of Matthew, grit, Heavenly Father, Holy Spirit, Jesus Christ, Oswald Chambers, salvation, Scripture, Sermon on the Mount, stick-to-it-iveness, success, temptation, trials. 1 Comment »

Jesus Prepares Us For The Path

March 25, 2019 — Craig T. Owens

In His final week of ministry leading up to the Cross, Jesus got the most out of every minute He had.

After a busy Monday where He cleared the temple, Jesus went back to Bethany, where He spent the night, only to return to the same temple courts Tuesday morning to teach His disciples.

Tuesday is a preparation day. This is His last day in public before His trial and crucifixion and He has many final words to impart to His followers. Much of His teaching comes in response to the increasing onslaught from the religious leadership, who are desperately trying to find a way to silence Him once and for all.

It’s important to note that Jesus doesn’t prepare the path for us, but He prepares us for the path.

Jesus prepares us for…

1. OPPOSITION

Not only did Jesus face opposition, but He told His followers that we would too (see Matthew 5:11; 10:17-22). Indeed as Jesus sat in the temple courts teaching on this Tuesday, group after group of religious leaders attacked Him (Matthew 21:23; 22:15, 23, 34-35). There are many lessons we can learn, but here are a few important takeaways:

- Answer entrapping questions with a question of your own.
- You don’t have to answer everything people ask you.
- Either-or questions probably need a both-and answer.
- The better we know the Scriptures, the better we can know those both-and answers.
- Consider the source of the questioner.
- We shouldn’t have an unhealthy obsession with nonessential things.
- Love fulfills the law.
- When we teach in love, some people will finally get it.

2. DAILY LIVING

Between all of the entrapping questions, Jesus taught some valuable lessons.

- The power of faith-filled prayer
- Obedience to God is valuable whenever it happens and in whomever it occurs
- We are only stewards of God’s resources
- The ugliness of hypocrisy

3. END TIMES EVENTS

Jesus doesn’t want us to be surprised, so He tells us upfront what is coming. Some of what He teaches here would have partial fulfillment in about 30 years when the Romans besieged Jerusalem, but the ultimate fulfillment is still to come—Matthew 24-25; Mark 13; Luke 21.

Christ’s passionate journey was out of love for us. Which means everything He taught us was for our benefit. To honor Him, we need to know the Scriptures and God’s power (Matthew 22:29).

So we study the Word of God to get to know the God of the Word. Keeping our eyes on Jesus will keep us prepared for the path ahead of us, no matter how rough it is.

Thursdays With Oswald—The Love Behind The Warning

March 21, 2019 — Craig T. Owens

The Love Behind The Warning

“Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.” —Jesus (Matthew 7:13-14)

Always distinguish between warning and threatening. God never threatens; the devil never warns. A warning is a great arresting statement of God’s, inspired by His love and patience. …

It is the great patience of God that gives the warning, “The way of transgressors is hard.” Go behind that statement in your imagination and see the love of God. God is amazingly tender, but the way of transgressors cannot be made easy. God has made it difficult to go wrong, especially for His children. …

If Jesus came to be a teacher only, He had better have stayed away. What is the use of teaching a human being to be what no human being can be—to be continually self-effaced, to do more than his duty, to be completely disinterested, to be perfectly devoted to God? If all Jesus came to do was to teach men to be that, He is the greatest taunter that ever presented any ideal to the human race. But Jesus Christ came primarily and fundamentally to regenerate man. He came to put into any man the disposition that ruled His own life, and immediately that is given to a man, the teaching of Jesus begins to be possible.

From Studies In The Sermon On The Mount

The opposite of love is not hate; it’s apathy. If God didn’t love us, He wouldn’t care what road we attempted to take. But He does love us, so He tells us the one and only way to get to Him: Jesus Christ is THE way.

Chambers is exactly right when He says that Jesus was not just a great Teacher. If that’s all that Jesus came to do, we would be miserable people because we could never walk the narrow road that He taught. But Jesus came to enable and empower us to walk that road. He came to purchase our atonement (our “at-onement” with Him) so that we could live out all that He taught.

Jesus is a Teacher, but He is also the Enabler that makes it possible for us to obey His teaching. For that, we should be eternally grateful!

Posted in Uncategorized. Tags: apathy, Bible study, God's love, Gospel of Matthew, gratitude, Jesus Christ, Oswald Chambers, salvation, Scripture, Sermon on the Mount, threat, warning. Leave a Comment »

Escaping The Devil’s Deception

March 20, 2019 — Craig T. Owens

“Not only does he choose when he will tempt, satan also chooses the best methods for displaying his temptations. One strategy is to hang out false colors. He comes up to the Christian disguised as a friend, so that the gates are open to him before his true identity is discovered. Paul says we should not be shocked to find false teachers masquerading as apostles of Christ, ‘…satan himself is transformed into an angel of light’ (2 Corinthians 11:13-14). Of all his plots, this is perhaps the most dangerous to the saints; when he appears in the mantle of a prophet and silver-plates his corroded tongue with fair-sounding language. In this manner he corrupts some in their judgment by interpreting gospel truth in such a way that God appears to condone questionable behavior. These Christians get caught up in the world’s morality under the guise of Christian liberty. … How we need to study the Scriptures, our hearts, and satan’s wiles, that we may not bid this enemy welcome and all the while think it is Christ who is our guest!” —William Gurnall, in The Christian In Complete Armor (emphasis mine)

Posted in Uncategorized. Tags: Christian, deception, devil, introspection, Jesus Christ, quote, satan, Scripture, self-deception, spiritual warfare, temptation, William Gurnall. Leave a Comment »

Poetry Saturday—Let Not My Words

March 16, 2019 — Craig T. Owens

Let not my words fall to the ground, O Lord,

like Onan’s wasted, self-indulgent seed.

Let mine convey Your ever-fruitful Word,

and let them be far-flung, and gladly heard

or read according to each person’s need.

Let not my words fall to the ground, O Lord,

like some discarded, useless, broken shard.

Let many take them up, and as they read,

let my words bear Your ever-fruitful Word;

and in the chambers of men’s souls, deep bored,

let them embed and germinate with speed.

Let not my words fall to the ground, O Lord,

but draw them from Your scabbard with Your Sword,

and both together for Your glory wield.

Let mine with Yours be ever fruitful, Lord.

This calling, this vocation, let me heed

with diligence and faithfulness, I plead.

Let not my words fall to the ground, O Lord,

but let them prove Your ever-fruitful Word. —T.M. Moore (based on 1 Samuel 3:19)

Posted in Uncategorized. Tags: 1 Samuel, God's Word, pastors, poem, poetry, prayer, preaching, Scripture, T.M. Moore. Leave a Comment »

Unmistakable

March 13, 2019 — Craig T. Owens

…I tell you before it comes… (John 13:19)

Jesus made His passion, crucifixion, and resurrection unmistakable.

He told us the Scriptures that He would fulfill (13:18).

He told us the details of His crucifixion and resurrection (John 3:14).

And He received the “stamp of approval” from His Father (13:31-32).

When Jesus came into Jerusalem, was arrested by the religious leaders, condemned by Pilate, crucified by Roman soldiers, and resurrected three days after His death, no one should have been surprised because Jesus made it unmistakable!

Jesus also told us how to make our belief in all He did for us unmistakable too—“By this will all know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another” (v. 35).

Q—How unmistakeable is my gratitude for the Gift of Jesus?

A—It is unmistakably seen in how I love others!