THE WAY, THE TRUTH AND THE LIFE

ANDRAE CROUCH

Andrae Crouch (1 July 1942-8 January 2015) was an American gospel singer, songwriter, music arranger, record producer and church pastor.

In the 1970's, he toured the world with a backing group of singers and musicians under the name of Andrae Crouch and the Disciples. Together, they produced a number of Christian music albums, pioneering contemporary Christian music.

I had the privilege of seeing them in concert in Brisbane in the early 70's, and I would have to say it was probably the best Christian concert I ever attended. The professionalism of the artists was breathtaking, together with a strong sense of the anointing of the Holy Spirit on the music.

 I remember buying a copy of Andrae Crouch's testimony book "Through It All," and having it personally autographed by him at the front of the auditorium at the conclusion of the concert. His music, along with that of Keith Green, another pioneering music minister in the late 70's and early 80's before his tragic death in a light plane crash on 28th July 1982, at the age of just 28 - impacted me greatly for the kingdom of God.

One of the Andrae Crouch and the Disciples record albums (vinyl) I had in my collection was an album recorded live at Carnegie Hall in New York, and released for sale in 1973. One of the songs on that album which really impacted me was the song "Jesus Is The Answer," preceded by some faith declarations:

There's power in the name of.....JESUS!

There's healing in the name of...JESUS!

There's salvation in the name of JESUS!

The Bible says that demons tremble at the sound of that name!

JESUS.....My sweet Rose of Sharon

                 My Lily of the Valley

Oh that's the reason I say that:

Jesus is the answer for the world today

Above Him there's no other, 

Jesus is the Way.

Jesus is the answer for the world today

Above Him there's no other

Jesus is the Way.

If you have some questions in the corners of your mind, 

Traces of discouragement,

peace you cannot find, 

Reflections of your old past,

Seem to face you every day,

This one thing I do know,

Jesus is the Way.

Jesus is the answer for the world today.........

I know you've got mountains, 

that you think you cannot climb,

I know your skies are dark,

You think the sun won't shine,

But in case you don't know, 

That the word of God is true,

Everything He's promised, 

He will do it for you.

Jesus is the answer for the world today

Above Him there's no other,

Jesus is the Way,

Jesus is the answer for the world today,

Above Him there's no other, 

Jesus is the way.

Here in Australia where my wife and I live, a Federal election has been called for May 21 this year - an election which will decide who will govern this nation for the next three years. The campaigning from all political parties has begun in earnest, with many people disillusioned with the present Liberal-National parties Coalition under the leadership of Scott Morrison, but many also wary of giving this top job to Anthony Albanese, often accused of vacillating on important issues, and being not up to speed with basic facts concerning the Australian economy. Christians have also been somewhat disappointed in Scott Morrison's failure to stand strong for conservative Christian values, especially as he was not silent in his claim to be a committed Bible-believing Christian believer when his party promoted him to the office of Prime Minister three years ago.

Although we need and should be praying for good government, and politicians who will uphold Godly values, no earthly government is our saviour. Only the Lord Jesus Christ can lay claim to that title, as He said of Himself in John 14:6, in reply to a question from Thomas, one of the twelve apostles He chose: "I am the way, the truth and the life. No one can come to the Father except through Me." 

satan is called by Jesus the father of lies. There is absolutely no truth in him. He is the arch-deceiver and his purpose and mission on earth is clearly stated by Jesus in John 10:10, that, as a thief, he comes to "steal, kill and destroy" mankind.

The Bible tells us that the whole world is under satan's sway. Because of his influence and the fact that in all mankind, from Adam onwards, we have had a bias towards the sin nature, it is very true that, in politics as well as in many other fields of endeavour, much corruption exists - a reality that is in stark contrast to the Truth, the absolute truth proclaimed in the Bible, the written Word of the Living God, which gives full expression to the nature and credentials of the Truth Himself, the Lord Jesus Christ, who with God the Father and the Holy Spirit make up the triune (three-in-one) Godhead.

As of writing this blog, this is Easter week for 2022, this period being the most important and significant of times on the Christian calendar. Christmas certainly is also a very significant time of celebration for Christians, as we remember the birth of our Saviour, the sinless Son of God, leaving the heavenly realm to come to earth to live as a human being, while retaining His divinity. Jesus divested Himself of His Godly attributes of being everywhere present, all knowing and all powerful - what is known as the divine kenosis (a Greek word meaning "self-emptying"). Of course, if He had not been born, He would not have lived on earth as one of us, identifying with humanity - and after his three and a half years of ministry from the age of thirty - dying a cruel death on a Roman cross, as our substitute for sin, that we might be made free from the penalty and power of sin. History attests to the veracity of His crucifixion as well as His bodily resurrection three days later. Jesus, by the power of the Holy Spirit conquered death and the grave and rose victorious over all the power of the enemy.

The apostle Paul tells us in Romans 8:11 ...if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you.

Because Jesus shed His blood to cleanse us from sin, and its consequences, we cannot only claim salvation in Jesus' name, but we can also stand firmly on the Word of God for healing and deliverance from all demonic oppression. Fear and torment are favourite tools employed by satan to keep people, including Christians in bondage, and to keep them from enjoying their full Godly inheritance in Christ. But, as Aussie Revivalist Jodie Hughes so rightly says in her book "The King's Decree," 'Fear is not the prophet of your life!'

As we have a fresh revelation of who our God is, and Who He is in us, we can claim the truth that the apostle John proclaims in his first epistle: There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves torment. But he who fears has not been made perfect in love. 1 John 4:18

God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power, and of love and of a sound mind. 2Tim 1:7

You were created for a purpose in life. You were not an accident. The Bible tells us in Psalm 139:13-16  For you formed my inward parts;

                  You covered me in my mother's womb.

                  I will praise you, for I am fearfully and

                  wonderfully made;

                  Marvellous are your works,

                  And that my soul knows very well.

                  My frame was not hidden from You,

                  when I was made in secret,

                  And skilfully wrought in the lowest

                  parts of the earth.

                  Your eyes saw my substance, being yet

                  unformed.

                  And in Your book they were all written,

                  The days fashioned for me,

                  When as yet there were none of them!

Are you looking for clear direction in your life? JESUS IS THE WAY,  

and He is the WAYMAKER

A contemporary Christian song that has been very popular over the last couple of years has been a song called "Waymaker."

Part of the chorus says: You are

                                        Way maker, miracle worker, promise keeper

                                `       Light in the darkness.

For those who have lost their way in this world which is so much turmoil, Jesus, the Light of the World is the Way, the Truth and the Life.

If you would like to know more about how to become a Christian, go online to www.vision.org.au This is the online home of Australia's Vision Christian Media. Click on the Grow you faith tab, then from the dropdown menu, click on the heading "Looking for God." God Bless!