Words From Keith and Debbie Crews

Now the LORD had prepared a great fish to swallow Jonah.  And Jonah was in the belly of the fish three days and three nights (Jonah 1:17).
God prepared a great fish.  There are no fish like this today!  Jonah was running from God.  Three days and three nights in the fish brought Jonah to his senses.  He was ready to do what God asked.  What does it take to bring us to our senses?  Must we end up like Jonah in the pits of despair with no hope?  Serving God gives us hope and happiness.  We may suffer for a while but we look to the reward as Moses did (Heb 11:24-26).  A life without God is a life without hope.  
By the way, Jesus confirmed the true account of Jonah and the great fish in Matthew 12:40.
Keith

Words From Keith and Debbie Crews

Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air.  And thus we shall always be with the Lord (1 Thess 4:17).

For those who sleep in Jesus, there is hope of a resurrection of the dead (1 Thess 4:13-14).  Some will be alive at the coming of the Lord (1 Thess 4:15).  The dead in Christ will rise first when the trumpet of God sounds (1 Thess 4:16).  The living and the dead in Christ will be caught up together in the clouds to meet the Lord (1 Thess 4:17).  There will be no heaven on earth (2 Pet 3:10).  Jesus has prepared a place for His followers (John 14:1-3).

Keith

Words From Keith and Debbie Crews

The coming of the lawless one is according to the working of Satan, with all power, signs, and lying wonders, and with all unrighteous deception among those who perish, because they did not receive the love of the truth that they might be saved (2 Thess 2:9-10).

We must love the truth.  God has always put an emphasis on truth.  Be honest and tell the truth.  God’s word is truth (John 17:17).  Some people want to be deceived because it suits their interests (2 Tim 4:3-4).  Some people deceive themselves.  Do not be deceived.  Search the Scriptures for truth.  Do not believe every thing you hear.  Search the written word of God for truth (Acts 17:11).

Keith

Words From Keith and Debbie Crews

For I desire mercy and not sacrifice, and the knowledge of God more than burnt offerings (Hosea 6:6).

The prophet Hosea was urging Israel to return to the LORD.  Israel had been unfaithful just like Hosea’s wife had been unfaithful.  “My people ask counsel from their wooden idols” (Hosea 3:12).  They had rejected the knowledge of God (Hosea 3:6).  They broke all restraint by swearing and lying and killing and stealing and committing adultery (Hosea 4:2).  Sacrifice and burnt offerings are worthless without mercy and knowledge of God.  Vain worship (Matt 15:8-9) is prevalent today because people have no knowledge of God’s laws and choose to worship their way instead of God’s way.  Grow in knowledge (2 Pet 1:5-7; 3:18).

Keith

Words From Keith and Debbie Crews

Now when Daniel knew that the writing was signed, he went home.  And in his upper room, with his windows open toward Jerusalem, he knelt down on his knees three times that day, and prayed and gave thanks before his God, as was his custom since early days (Dan 6:10).

Jealous of Daniel for his position of authority, men of Babylon sought a charge against Daniel.  They had the king issue a decree that no god or man could be petitioned for 30 days except for the king.  Daniel always prayed to God every day.  He did not try to hide it since he left the window open for any outside to see.  Would we have such courage to defy our government if challenged to choose between our God or serving man?  Daniel was consistent.  This was his custom since early days.  Are we consistent?  Do you pray every day?  Do you allow anything to hinder your prayers?  Do you thank God or do you only ask for things?  Daniel was on his knees.  Do you ever pray on your knees?

Keith

Words From Keith and Debbie Crews

The coming of the lawless one is according to the working of Satan, with all power, signs, and lying wonders, and with all unrighteous deception among those who perish, because they did not receive the love of the truth that they might be saved (2 Thess 2:9-10).

We must love the truth.  God has always put an emphasis on truth.  Be honest and tell the truth.  God’s word is truth (John 17:17).  Some people want to be deceived because it suits their interests (2 Tim 4:3-4).  Some people deceive themselves.  Do not be deceived.  Search the Scriptures for truth.  Do not believe every thing you hear.  Search the written word of God for truth (Acts 17:11).

Keith

Words From Keith and Debbie Crews

For this is the will of God, your sanctification: that you should abstain from sexual immorality; that each of you should know how to possess his own vessel in sanctification and honor, not in passion of lust, like the Gentiles who do not know God (1 Thess 4:3-5).

Each of us should possess our vessel (body) in sanctification an honor.  Our clothing, speech, and behavior should reflect Christ (Gal 2:20).  We are not animals.  We are called to be holy (1 Pet 1:15).  We are expected to discipline our body and bring it into subjection (1 Cor 9:27).  We are to make no provision for the flesh to fulfill its lusts (Rom 13:14).  We are to control our passions and desires (Gal 5:24).  We are to control our tongue (Eph 4:29).  We are to bring every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ (2 Cor 10:5).  We can do this if we are spiritually minded (Rom 8:5-6).

Keith

Words From Keith and Debbie Crews

For from you the word of the Lord has sounded forth, not only in Macedonia and Achaia, but also in every place.  Your faith toward God has gone out, so that we do not need to say anything (1 Thess 1:8).

Paul established the church in Thessalonica on his second missionary journey (Acts 17:1-4).  The church in Philippi supported Paul when he preached in Thessalonica (Phil 4:16).  Now Thessalonica is sounding forth the word of the Lord.  Paul wrote two letters to the Thessalonians.  They had turned from idols to serve the true and living God (1 Thess 1:9).  Some thought the coming of the Lord was imminent and had stopped working.  Paul explains the coming of the Lord (1 Thess 4:13-18).  He says the coming of the Lord will not come unless the falling away comes first (2 Thess 2:3).  He commands those not working to go back to work (2 Thess 3:10-12).

The Lord’s church is to sound forth the word of the Lord.  It is to be the pillar and ground of the truth (1 Tim 3:15).  Preach the word for the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine but will turn their ears away from the truth  (2 Tim 4:2-4).

Keith

Words From Keith and Debbie Crews

Can two walk together, unless they are agreed?  (Amos 3:3)

Unity is very important in a relationship.  In the marriage relationship a husband and wife are to be one flesh (Gen 2:24; Matt 19:4-6).  Can you imagine your body working without unity among its parts?  It is described as an “intricate unity” in Job 10:8.  Can you imagine deity without unity?  We are told to “keep the unity of the Spirit” (Eph 4:3).  There is one God, one Lord, one Spirit, one body, one hope, one faith, and one baptism (Eph 4:4-6).  The religious world is divided.  We are not agreed.  There are many bodies, many faiths, and many baptisms in the divided religious world.  Paul pleaded that we all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you (1 Cor 1:10).  Is Christ divided (1 Cor 1:13)?  If God dwells in us, and Christ dwells in us, and the Spirit dwells in us, are they telling us different things (Rom 8:9-11)?  Let the word of Christ dwell in you (Col 3:16).  Speak as the oracles of God (1 Pet 4:11).  That is how unity is achieved.  In my prayers for the church I ask God for peace, unity, and growth.  “Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity!” (Ps 133:1).

 

For I testify to everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: If anyone adds to these things, God will add to him the plagues that are written in this book; and if anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part from the Book of Life, from the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book (Rev 22:18-19).

Man cannot add to or take away from God’s words and please Him.  Moses said it this way, “You shall not add to the word which I command you, not take from it, that you may keep the commandments of the LORD your God which I command you (Deut 4:2).  Jeroboam changed God’s words regarding where to worship, who were to be priests, and the month of the feast.  He sinned and led Israel away from God.  We must carefully follow God’s word (1 Tim 4:6; 2 Tim 3:10).  We must speak as the oracles of God (1 Pet 4:11).