Coffee With The Lord

Here’s a reality that every sincere pastor and other godly spiritual leader has experienced… “A wide door for effective work has opened…and there are many adversaries!” (1 Corinthians 16:9)

Hey, you’re in good company… Apostle Paul is the one who originally said it! We experience adversaries human and spiritual (…little “s” – Ephesians 6:12) and behind them all, the great “Adversary” – Satan himself!

But there is a better word from the Lord in spite of the adversaries!!! – “I know your works… Behold [look and see!], I have set before you an open door, WHICH NO ONE IS ABLE TO SHUT!” (Revelation 3:8)

So take heart weary pastor and discouraged spiritual leader as we approach Easter Sunday!!! The great resurrection chapter of the Bible, 1 Corinthians 15:57-58 declares, “Thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ! Therefore be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is NOT IN VAIN!”

Today marks “Palm Sunday” – the beginning of “Holy Week” leading up to “Good Friday” and ultimately “Easter” or Resurrection Day. On Palm Sunday the crowds welcomed Jesus with the cry “Hosanna” (both an appeal [“Save us!”] and proclamation [“Savior!”]) (Mark 11:1-10; also Matthew 21:1-11 and John 12:12-15)

A little later this morning I’m going to gather with fellow Christians for worship… And I’ve got to tell you, I want my voice to be lifted up along with the throng gathered there in authentic worship – “Hosanna in the highest! Blessed is He who comes in the Name of the Lord!!”

I’m going to do it!!!

A passage to help prepare your heart for Easter morning…

I know… Easter weekend is a week away! But THIS was my Bible reading this morning… Read it and reflect upon it… It’s true!!! And it will be excellent “hope preparation” for a wonderful “Holy Week” and the days ahead as we continue to do “the Lord’s work” and await “the trumpet call” and our “catching away” (the “rapture”) or resurrection…

“I tell you this, [fellow Christians]: flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God, nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable. Behold! I tell you a mystery [or ‘Let me reveal to you a wonderful secret! NLT’]. We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we shall be changed… When the perishable puts on the imperishable, and the mortal puts on immortality, then shall come to pass the saying that is written: ‘Death is swallowed up in victory! ‘O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting? The sting of death is sin… But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ! Therefore, my beloved [fellow Christians], be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain.” (From 1 Corinthians 15:50-58 ESV)

Spend some time soaking up the truth of this passage! It will enrich your Easter AND your entire, hope-filled Christian life!  His resurrection insures your resurrection!