Coffee With The Lord

We were in Jerusalem… they took us to what has been referred to as “the Upper Room” – a rather non-descript room there – where the special “God-event” we refer to as “the Day of Pentecost” is reputed to have taken place… An event that is a “watershed” in Church History… An event that fulfilled Bible prophecy… An event that signified what God desired to do for all believers from that time forward… empower them to be His effective witnesses in the broader culture to all nations!!

As I stood in “the Upper Room” with fellow Christians, I thought… Something special – something earth shattering – happened here in this ordinary room! Something incredible happened to ordinary people! Something with the power to transform ordinary lives, give courage to the timid, gift those who ordinarily feel inadequate, work the miraculous, and fulfill God’s redemptive mission in the world! … And the fire ignited there has spread worldwide!! Wow!!

Here’s how the world-wide, people-group including, movement we call “Pentecost” began…

Jesus told his followers… “Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about. John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit! … You will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea, and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth…

“When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them…

“The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off – for all who whom the Lord our God will call!”

(From Acts 1.4-5, 8; 2.1-4, 39 NIV)

And to think it all began in a non-descript room in Jerusalem, with a few ordinary people who were followers of Jesus!!

How will it all end? In heaven… “And I looked, and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before God’s throne and before the Lamb (Jesus). They were wearing white robes and we holding palm branches in their hands. And they cried out in a loud voice: ‘Salvation belongs to God, who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb (Jesus).’” (Revelation 7:9-11)

This brief post at the close of “Pastor Appreciation Month” may help bring perspective to someone who is disappointed and disillusioned with a leader today… “Remember your leaders who taught you the word of God. Think of all the good that has come from their lives, and follow the example of their faith!”

And then, with fear and trembling, I add these words of commentary that I personally believe are implied by the very next verse…) [And even if they fail you, remember…] “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever!” (Hebrews 13.7-8 ESV)

I read a verse during “coffee with the Lord” this morning that was pretty intimidating (and on a few occasions I can recall it was an accurate assessment of my own failures). Proverbs 24.10… “If you fail under pressure, your strength is small.”

As I read it though, I thought “What is the answer to this problem?” I’d like to suggest a few answers that came to mind… (the list may not be a complete, but it’s a Thursday morning start… 

1. Always give your very best effort! Reach deep within and draw on the resources that you have – never allow a half-hearted effort lead you to defeat!
2. Cry out to the Lord for help and strength! Depend on Him to help you… He will!!
3. How did Jude say it… “Build yourselves up in your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit.” (Jude 20) Here is where “spiritual conditioning” comes in – the practice of spiritual disciplines that build your strength and endurance in the Lord for tough times.
4. Recruit the help and prayers of godly friends you can trust when you need to!
5. “Wait for the Lord” (Isaiah 40.31)! I know it seem counter-intuitive to do that (we want to take situations into our own hands) but if we’ll “wait” for Him and trust, giving time for God to act we’ll actually experience His renewed (or exchanged) strength.

Not a complete list by any means, but they’re the things that came to my mind as I thought and prayed about it this morning…