Coffee With The Lord

Some people in emotional moments make all kinds of rash promises… at the moment they’re sincere – they intend to keep their promises, but frankly later on they find out they’re unable to keep them. Others, tragically, never intend to keep their promises… their promises are all cosmetics and hype (i.e. some car salesmen and politicians I’ve met . If you believe them, you find yourself disillusioned, dismayed and just a little disgusted!Jesus is not like that! He keeps his promises (even when they seem incredible to us)! (Check out 2 Corinthians 1:20 – “All the promises of God find their ‘Yes!’ in Christ. That is why it is through Him that we utter our ‘Amen!’ to God for His glory.”)This morning I read the following “God-promise” during my time of “Coffee with the Lord”…Jesus said to his disciples, “I tell you the truth, my Father will give you whatever you ask in my name! Until now you have not asked for anything in my name. Ask and you will receive, and your joy will be complete.” (from John 16;16-24 NIV)Gotta tell you, I believe Him! Jesus is not like others who make all kinds of promises in emotional moments and never keep them. Jesus keeps His promises… even when they seem incredible to us! Don’t know about you… I’m going to trust Him!Now, I’m not going to act like a spoiled child who demands all kinds of stuff for selfish reasons! But I’m not going to be intimidated either! He said it after all! … “Ask and you will receive, and your joy will be complete!”

This morning my Bible reading during my time of “coffee with the Lord” included II Kings 4… One incredible miraculous event after another in quick succession through the ministry of Elisha (you should read it)!  And it starts in the chapters preceding chapter 4 and continues in the chapters following!  Bam!  Bam! Bam!  Bam! Bam! Bam! Bam!  One awesome miracle after another!  Wow!!!

But what really caught my eye this morning – beyond simply the miracles – was how the Bible refers to Elisha…  He’s called “the man of God.”  In chapter 4 alone he’s referred to in that way eleven times (and then there are the chapters before and after where he is referred to that way)!  Now, my Roman Catholic friends would refer to a guy like that as a “saint!”  We Pentecostals would talk of him in terms of “signs and wonders”… The Bible’s terminology is better, I think: “a man of God!”

Listen, I want to be “a man of God!”  So I jotted down a few characteristics of the “man of God” – Elisha, in my journal.  Here they are (probably not an exhaustive list)…

• He knew God personally
• He heard from God
• He was God’s agent with a unique, special anointing
• He acted along with – in cooperation with – God
• He spoke God’s will
• One more… He was a person of integrity

I’ve gotta tell you, I don’t believe it’s gender specific either!  If it’s possible to be “a man of God” it just as possible to be “a woman of God” (and I can name a few)!” Here’s what the Bible says…

“And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh; your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, and your young men shall see visions.  Even on the male and female servants in those days I will pour out my Spirit!”  (Joel 2:28-29)

Shall I say it one more time?  OH, I WANT TO BE KNOWN AS “A MAN OF GOD!”

For those who have asked, those at the Bible Engagement Project have indicated that the recorded copies of “Digging Deeper” will be posted and assessable very soon! Watch for announcements! Also the note-taking device for the studies will be available at https://bibleengagementproject.com/diggingdeeper (or if I saying it out loud to you “bibleengagementproject dot com, forward slash diggingdeeper” ;-)Those that desire to be a part of these studies (even if you are unable to join us at 3 p.m. CDT each Tuesday) should register/enroll for the studies at https://ag-org.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_vTs7ug8aQKiUGGczezdpFg?fbclid=IwAR3jrp0XOnZxdNARH9GAN1Vmogy6weBTxe6421W1NZJRnYQu4uSFjzPT2DQHey, last Tuesday we had a wonderful time together!!! Why not join us, share this, and invite a friend! Bring your Bible!!