Coffee With The Lord

Intimidation! Palpable intimidation – you could feel it! I mean, after all, they had just murdered Jesus! So here are his followers, huddled together on Sunday, in a little room with all the doors locked. If the threatening knock came at one door, they’d at least have time to flee and scatter from the other door! They loved the Lord… They were his followers… But they were intimidated and scared!

Ever feel intimidated in your discipleship or witness? Your sense of intimidation, like mine, probably doesn’t hold a candle to what these believers were facing, but it’s real none-the-less (and if the truth were told, you’re probably ashamed of it!). In some places in our world today though, it’s as palpably real as the intimidation the disciples experienced (and we need to support those followers of the Lord with our prayers)!

But then… the doors being locked… Poof! There He was in the room! And his encouraging… yes “empowering” message? “Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, even so I am sending you!” And then he breathed on them and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit! If you forgive the sins of any – they are forgiven! If you withhold forgiveness from any – it is withheld.” (from John 21:19-23)

From intimidation to empowerment in one incredible moment!

Now there’s a lot of theological discussion about this pre-Pentecost moment in the lives of the disciples… I’m not going to get into that today (and I do have my opinion about it). But I will say this… I believe those intimidated followers of Jesus experienced the power of the Holy Spirit in that little room that day! It may not have been “the full load” they got on the day of Pentecost, but it was real! And they were “empowered” in more than one way… Empowered by the Holy Spirit – and empowered to overcome their fear and act redemptively in an intimidating, threatening environment!

My prayer this morning… Oh Lord, step into my locked rooms of fear and intimidation that keep me from redemptive activity because of fear! Breathe on me! Empower me by the power of the Holy Spirit to do your will!

“Just trust me!” Ever hear someone say that? Whether we do or not depends of the character of the person, their proven record of dependability, and their ability to perform what we’re trusting them for. Believe me, I’ve had a few people who said that to me and I found myself saying an inner “No way!”

Following Jesus, however, and pleasing God requires trust – it demands faith! If we’re talking about character, God is the epitome of character! A proven record of dependability? He personifies faithfulness! His ability to perform? How’s “omnipotent” (all-powerful) and a name like “the Almighty” for that issue?

Yet we struggle with faith – we find it difficulty to trust Him! Figure that one out!  I read these introductory words this morning from Hebrews 11 during “coffee with the Lord” and they challenged me to trust Him more…

“Faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen… By faith we understand that the universe was created by the word of God, so that what is seen was not made out of things that are visible… Without faith it is IMPOSSIBLE to please God, for whoever would draw near to Him must believe the He exists and that He rewards those who seek Him.” (from Hebrews 11:1-6)

At times it may be difficult to have faith because the challenges I face seem so great! But I’m going to trust Him! I believe He exists! I believe He created and sustains everything – from the smallest sub-atomic particle to the entire universe! I’ve trusted Him with my past – my present – and my eternal future! He’s transformed my life and been true to His promises! And I believe He rewards those who seek Him with all their heart. Hebrews 11 tells the story of a lot of others that have put their trust in Him and found Him reliable. So here goes… I’m going to trust Him! How about you?””

When things are really tough, temptations to sin, give up, and even deny the Lord increase. Those kinds of challenges are what prompted the writer of Hebrews 10:19-39 to write suffering 1st century Christians as he did. Some of what he had to say was encouraging and affirming! Other things he said, had the ring of “reality therapy” and direct warning! Other aspects of it were simply reminders of what God had done and provided. Some of it soothes, other things probably scared them a bit, but all of it was inspired by the Holy Spirit to get believers to “hang in there”, trust God, and receive what was promised regardless of what they were facing. It’s a great passage! You should read it!
I know you’ve probably faced challenges like this! If you haven’t yet – you will!
Here’s just a encouraging taste of what the writer of Hebrews had to say to suffering believers in the 1st century…
“Recall the former days when, after you were enlightened, you endured a hard struggle with sufferings, sometimes being publicly exposed to reproach and affliction, and sometimes being partners with those so treated. You had compassion on those in prison, and you joyfully accepted the plundering of your property, since you knew that you yourselves had a better possession and an abiding one. Therefore do not throw away your confidence, which has a great reward! You have need of endurance, so that when you have done the will of God you may receive what is promised. For Scripture says, ‘Yet a little while, and the coming one will come and will not delay; but my righteous one shall live by faith, and if he shrinks back, my soul has no pleasure in him.’ [quotation from Habakkuk 2:3-4] But we are not of those who shrink back and are destroyed, but of those who have faith and preserve their souls!” (from Hebrews 10:32–39 ESV)
I don’t know what you’re going through today… It may be soul wrenching, the most difficult and challenging thing you’ve ever faced! You may feel tempted to “throw in the towel” and “give up on God!” Don’t do it! Hang in there! Trust Him! Persevere! Be faithful! You’ll be glad you did! … From a fellow pilgrim!T