Tag: Rev. Dr. Ken Crawford

Through the power of the Holy Spirit who lives within us, carefully guard the precious truth that has been entrusted to you.
– 2 Timothy 1:14 nlt

We are not left to guard the truth trusted to us on our own strength. We have the Holy Spirit who lives within us. The Spirit is our anointing to help us know the truth. The Spirit is our Advocate-Comforter-Counselor-Helper to lead us into all truth and help us know truth from error. The Spirit’s work within us allows us to understand the spiritual messages of God through the Biblical writers, and those who truthfully proclaim Jesus. So rather than relying on our insight, wisdom, intellect, and study alone, we are called to seek the Spirit as we open the Bible, listen to the word proclaimed, seek to apply God’s truth to our lives, and commit to guard the truth of God that has been deposited into our hearts.

Father God, please send your Spirit to be at work in my heart as I seek to live for you and reflect the character and compassion of Jesus, my Lord, in whose name I pray. Amen.

 

[Jesus said,] “When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all truth. He will not speak on his own but will tell you what he has heard. He will tell you about the future.
– John 16:13 NLT

Father, Son, and Holy Spirit work in harmony as the one, true, living God. Jesus sends the Spirit to us when we become his true followers (Titus 3:3-7). The Spirit guides us into the truth about the will of God and about Jesus — the truth about both Jesus’ ministry while he was physically on earth and his subsequent ministry, including his ministry now. So let’s ask for the Spirit to guide us into all the truth about Jesus.

Almighty God, I address you as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. I thank you for your love, mercy, and grace. I am astounded at your majesty, greatness, and holiness. I ask now, O God, that the Holy Spirit guide me into all truth about Jesus and into wisdom, understanding, and conviction about the life you want me to live. In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen.

Jesus declared, “I am the bread of life. He who comes to me will never go hungry, and he who believes in me will never be thirsty.”
– John 6:35 (NIV)

We crave food at regular intervals during the day. During this holiday season food occupies our thoughts and fills up our activities. But deep in our soul is a hunger, a soul hunger. This hunger cannot be filled by food, drink, or chemicals. This hunger was the desire built into us by our Creator, placed there when he knit us together in our mother’s womb. This hunger can only be satiated by Jesus.

Please fill me, my Father, with Jesus. Give me today, my Daily Bread, that I may find life in all its fullness. Precious Lord, Jesus my brother and Savior, fill me and touch me with your presence so that I can serve you by blessing those around me with your grace. In the name of Jesus, my Living Bread, I pray. Amen.

In the past God spoke to our forefathers through the prophets at many times and in various ways, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom he made the universe.
– Hebrews 1:1-2 (NIV)

God is a speaking God. He loves us and has chosen to get his message to us in words. First there were the patriarchs and great prophets. Then there was the written record in the Scriptures. But God’s greatest message, his most powerful words, were not really words at all, but a person named Jesus of Nazareth, who is Christ and Lord of all. For us, his Church, to be what he wants us to be, we must not just look at Scripture, we must also look at him. He is the key to understanding what Scripture means and how it is to be lived. Our part in mission and ministry today is to continue to deliver the message with our actions and use words if we must to tell of the wonders of Jesus.

Holy Father, help me to see Jesus and his work and purpose more clearly as I open your Book and seek to understand your will. Fill me with your Spirit, so that I may greet each decision awakened to the answer to “What would Jesus do?” In the name of Jesus, my Lord and Savior may my daily service and work be acceptable and worthy of my own calling. Amen.

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.
– John 1:1-2 and 14 (NIV)

The world is not some cosmic accident. We are created by a God that has the power to speak us into existence. His interest in us is so great that He also has guarded and guided our lives in order to become the ultimate rescue of our souls so that our relationship with our Creator is both personal and permanent. Science challenges the reasoning of faith but offers no concrete solution that satisfies the answer to “Why and I here?”.   In Christ we have purpose and the ability to change the world around us.  Some individuals have to leave the planet to realize how great God is and how we fit into His plan.  Some, simply by faith, accept the facts of the grandeur of a creating and sustaining God. Why are you here? Ask God to reveal His plan for you.

Glorious Father, thank you for putting me where I am. I know I am here to do your work and carry on Jesus’ ministry. Help me seize the opportunities you give me today to bless others in the name of Jesus. In that mighty name of my Lord I pray. Amen.

….or so the old song goes. Yet it doesn’t always feel that way. Sometimes it is marked with loneliness or missing a loved one who has passed on. And the often-hectic nature of the season can pile on more challenges and stress. The good news is – there is hope.

Hope, Love, Joy, and Peace – to be exact. Let’s make this Advent season one to set aside time to prepare our hearts for the coming of Christ. You are invited to experience a four-week God With Us series to set our focus on the greatest gift ever given – and to experience his presence in our lives today.

Everyone is Welcome!
Sunday Mornings at 10:00 am
Chrisman First Baptist Church
308 East Madison Avenue
Chrisman, Illinois 61924

Follow us on FaceBook:
First Baptist Church of Chrisman Illinois
http://www.fbcchrisman.org
217-269-2459

 

Since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe.
– Hebrews 12:28 (NIV)

We are receiving the triumphant and glorious victory of God in his Kingdom. We will join with the angels and the saints of old and live with the Father forever in victorious and never ending joy. But this Kingdom doesn’t just begin when Jesus returns. This Kingdom has started now in his Church, his people, those in whom God’s will is cherished and obeyed. So our worship should be filled with awe that the holy God of Israel is also the lowly God in Jesus who has redeemed us and made us to be a holy people unto himself. What else can we do but worship with heartfelt thanksgiving and wonder struck awe.

Father God, all things are yours. Thank you for sharing your blessings, your promises, your hope, and your victory with us in Jesus. Please help me to live a more thankful, victorious life before my unbelieving friends and as an example to my children so they may come to share your glorious Kingdom and ultimate victory. In Jesus’ mighty name I pray. Amen.

 

In the past God spoke to our forefathers through the prophets at many times and in various ways, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom he made the universe.
– Hebrews 1:1-2 (NIV)

God is a speaking God. He loves us and has chosen to get his message to us in words. First there were the patriarchs and great prophets. Then there was the written record in the Scriptures. But God’s greatest message, his most powerful words, were not really words at all, but a person named Jesus of Nazareth, who is Christ and Lord of all. For us, his Church, to be what he wants us to be, we must not just look at Scripture, we must also look at him. He is the key to understanding what Scripture means and how it is to be lived. Our part in mission and ministry today is to continue to deliver the message with our actions and use words if we must to tell of the wonders of Jesus.

Holy Father, help me to see Jesus and his work and purpose more clearly as I open your Book and seek to understand your will. Fill me with your Spirit, so that I may greet each decision awakened to the answer to “What would Jesus do?” In the name of Jesus, my Lord and Savior may my daily service and work be acceptable and worthy of my own calling. Amen.

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.
– John 1:1-2 and 14 (NIV)

The world is not some cosmic accident. We are created by a God that has the power to speak us into existence. His interest in us is so great that He also has guarded and guided our lives in order to become the ultimate rescue of our souls so that our relationship with our Creator is both personal and permanent. Science challenges the reasoning of faith but offers no concrete solution that satisfies the answer to “Why and I here?”.   In Christ we have purpose and the ability to change the world around us.  Some individuals have to leave the planet to realize how great God is and how we fit into His plan.  Some, simply by faith, accept the facts of the grandeur of a creating and sustaining God. Why are you here? Ask God to reveal His plan for you.

Glorious Father, thank you for putting me where I am. I know I am here to do your work and carry on Jesus’ ministry. Help me seize the opportunities you give me today to bless others in the name of Jesus. In that mighty name of my Lord I pray. Amen.

Give thanks to the Lord, call on his name; make known among the nations what he has done.
– 1 Chronicles 16:8 (NIV)

Giving thanks is more than being thankful to God, it is letting others know of his gracious works so they too can come to know him as Father, Redeemer, and Victorious Lord. Then others can join their voices with our own in a chorus of thanksgiving from the hearts those God’s love has redeemed.

Holy God, Almighty King, bless all those who serve you in difficult places today. I especially am thankful for all the missionaries in other cultures sharing the grace of Jesus with people who need to know you as Abba Father. Empower their words, protect their lives and families, and bless their efforts with fruit. Please help me to understand that true thankfulness involves sharing your grace with others. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.