Coffee With The Lord

Here’s a group of people that I have committed myself to pray for daily on my “prayer runs” – persecuted/suffering Christians worldwide.

I pray for their protection… I pray for divine provision… I pray that they will be granted favor with their captors and persecutors,… I pray that God with strengthen and empower them by the Holy Spirit… I pray for their encouragement… I pray for their spouses and children (and everything I pray for them)… I pray for the congregations/churches they come from… I pray for courage and boldness… I pray that the Lord would open up incredible doors of opportunity for witness and ministry.

I invite you to join me in praying for these suffering Christians daily. It is highly unlikely I will ever know the names of many of these people, but we dare not forget them. In fact, the Lord knows every detail of their lives (check out Luke 12:4-7)!

During my time of “coffee with the Lord” this week a read the prayer of those who had been persecuted and threatened in the ancient church… And I can tell you it mirrors the attitude and prayer of persecuted believers I have met and know today… “Lord, look upon their threats and grant to your servants to CONTINUE to speak your word with all boldness, while you stretch out your hand to heal, and signs and wonders are performed through the name of your holy servant Jesus!”

And the Bible says, “When they had prayed, the place in which they were gathered together was shaken, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and CONTINUED to speak the word of God with boldness!” (From Acts 4:29-31)

That attitude – that Spirit – that desire reflects how persecuted believers pray and respond to the unbelievable challenges they face every day! I am determined that I will not fail them in prayer, concern and love! Will you join me?

Been spending some significant time reading and reflecting on what the Bible teaches about faith… Here are my thoughts and conclusions about “walking by faith”…

Definition of “Faith”

Faith is confidence in God… trusting His character, believing and obeying His word, embracing His promises, following His leadership, drawing upon his encouragement and strength.

Bartel’s Suggested 10 Lessons from Hebrews 11

1. Faith depends on the reliability of God’s character.
2. Faith is predicated on divine revelation.
3. Faith demands obedience.
4. Faith follows the Lord’s leadership and guidance.
5. Faith requires spiritual eyesight.
6. Faith expects God to fulfill His promises.
7. Faith expects and experiences miracles
8. Faith endures seeming contradiction and difficult circumstances
9. Faith requires sustained confidence and patience.
10. Faith does not require perfection in order for it to work

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A “sluggard” … What is one anyway? When you’re reading the Bible you’ll come across the term in Proverbs quite regularly. The context always presents whoever “a sluggard” is in a bad light. Here’s how Webster’s dictionary defines the term… “A habitually lazy person.” I’ve personally looked up the passages in the Bible that describe the “sluggard” and I can tell you I don’t want to be one!

In a church I attended we had one… claimed to be a “Christian” too (a “born again” Christian yet!) Junk all over the yard, lawn never mowed, fence (or what was left over of a fence) falling down, roof covered with moss and falling in… And that was outside the house! Inside a terrible smell, a single narrow path through all the junk, filthy kitchen and bathroom, beds never made… I could go on. Able bodied guy (and his family) lived there too! Smart – had an opinion (strong opinions) about almost everything. Even a bit critical of others who disagreed with him. Couldn’t keep a job, exhibited a complete lack of initiative, didn’t pay his bills, and worst of all gave the term “Christian” a bad name.

All of this came back to mind as I read the following words in my Bible this morning during “Coffee with the Lord”…

“I passed by the field of a sluggard, by the vineyard of a man lacking sense, and behold, it was all overgrown with thorns; the ground was covered with nettles, and its stone wall was broken down. Then I saw and considered it; I looked and received instruction. A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest, and poverty will come upon you like a robber, and want like an armed man.” (Proverbs 24:30–34 ESV)

How much better to live like 1 Corinthians 10:31 urges Christians to live:

“So, whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all to the glory of God!”

One more time… As a follower of Jesus – someone called a “Christian” – I never, never, never want to be called a “sluggard!” Just say’n!!!

(Oh the pic with the car in front… at one time we lived in that house and then a “sluggard” moved in!)

I wrote and posted this originally in “Coffee with the Lord” several years ago. My FB friend Charles Satterwhite reminded me of it this morning… Still good! Don’t want to be a “sluggard!” Want to be a faithful servant of the Lord!!