Coffee With The Lord

It’s Monday morning… beginning of another work week… This is what I read in my Bible this morning during “coffee with the Lord” … seems like an appropriate thing for a Christian to do!

“You who are godly, shout for joy because of the LORD! It is appropriate for the morally upright to offer him praise! Give thanks to the LORD with the harp! Sing to him to the accompaniment of a ten-stringed instrument! Sing to him a new song! Play skillfully as you shout out your praises to him!” (Psalm 33:1-3 the NET Bible)

I can do the first part… can’t do the second. I’ll have to depend on some of the rest of you for that. Sound system in my car will have to provide that part of these verses for me this morning. You don’t want to hear it (but God does!)… Watch for me… I’ll be the one worshipping in my Honda on the way to work at the top of my lungs! (But not like this guy… I’ll keep my eyes open! Relieved?) 🙂

Anyone who knows me knows that I am a strong advocate for women in ministry. In fact I’ve been quoted as saying, “I know of no sound biblical or theological reason that a woman could not serve as General Superintendent of the denomination I am a part of.” I am confident that part of the reason I feel that way is the fact that my mother, Vera Constance Shirley Bartel, was one of the early ordained women in the Assemblies of God and was mightily used of the Lord in church planting in the North Central region of our country during the war years (WWII). (I’ve posted her picture.) But I’ve also seen the effectiveness of the ministry of anointed “handmaidens of the Lord” over the years… (and I’ve also read my Bible!)

As a Pentecostal, I embrace fully Joel’s prophecy… “After all of this I will pour out my Spirit on all kinds of people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy. Your elderly will have revelatory dreams; your young men will see prophetic visions. Even on male and female servants I will pour out my Spirit in those days.” (Joel 2:28–29 the NET Bible) And on the Day of Pentecost Peter declared… “This is what was spoken about through the prophet Joel…”

I know not everyone will agree with me… and that’s OK… But it seems to me when it comes to Kingdom ministry in “the last days” it is neither age limited or gender exclusive!

So what prompted all of this… My Bible reading today during “coffee with the Lord!” …

“Now after the Sabbath, at dawn on the first day of the week, MARY MAGDALENE AND THE OTHER MARY WENT TO LOOK AT THE TOMB. Suddenly there was a severe earthquake, for an angel of the Lord descending from heaven came and rolled away the stone and sat on it. His appearance was like lightning, and his clothes were white as snow. The guards were shaken and became like dead men because they were so afraid of him. But the angel SAID TO THE WOMEN, “Do not be afraid; I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. He is not here, for he has been raised, just as he said. Come and see the place where he was lying. THEN GO QUICKLY AND TELL HIS DISCIPLES, ‘HE HAS BEEN RAISED FROM THE DEAD! He is going ahead of you into Galilee. You will see him there.’ Listen, I have told YOU!” So they left the tomb quickly, with fear and great joy, and ran to tell his disciples. BUT JESUS MET THEM, SAYING, “GREETINGS!” THEY CAME TO HIM, HELD ON TO HIS FEET AND WORSHIPED HIM. Then Jesus said to them, “Do not be afraid. GO AND TELL MY BROTHERS TO GO TO GALILEE. THEY WILL SEE ME THERE.” (Matthew 28:1–10 NET)

It impresses me that the first eyewitnesses of the resurrection were WOMEN! It is also interesting to me that they were the first ones “post-resurrection” who were given a commission to tell others “He is risen!” They were also the first ones to personally encounter the reality of the risen Lord as they were on the way to tell others. Powerful eh?

So let me say this with some conviction… Ladies, you have experienced the life-changing reality of the risen Lord, and have heard his call and commission to Christian service, you don’t have to take a back seat to ANYONE! The Living Lord chose to reveal Himself to you and commission you to share the witness of His resurrection! And gentlemen, if you have a problem with that, my advice to you is “deal with it!”

I am not sure we can fully understand the significance of the word “fortress” in our culture – a place where you could go when under deadly attack and danger from an enemy.  In ancient culture if you were living out in the countryside – away from a walled city – you were completely vulnerable to attacks from robbers and marauding bands of vicious, violent mobs or invading armies.  You needed and desired to live near a fortress that you could escape to in order to find safety for yourself and your family.  The bigger the better!  You wanted an impenetrable, imposing structure manned by strong, capable warriors.

Christians are daily under attack – they are the target of a vicious, cunning enemy who mobilizes every evil force at his disposal to defeat and destroy them!  David experienced it – some of those adversaries were physical – others were spiritual.  He saw the Lord as his ultimate fortress! … And so should we!!

This morning in my Bible reading I read what David had to say about the Lord as his “fortress”…

“In you, O Lord, I have taken shelter! Never let me be humiliated! Vindicate me by rescuing me!  Listen to me! Quickly deliver me! Be my protector and refuge, a stronghold where I can be safe!  For you are my high ridge and my stronghold; for the sake of your own reputation you lead me and guide me… You are my place of refuge!  Into your hand I entrust my life; you will rescue me, O Lord, the faithful God… For I hear what so many are saying, the terrifying news that comes from every direction. When they plot together against me, they figure out how they can take my life.  But I trust in you, O Lord! I declare, “You are my God!”  You determine my destiny! Rescue me from the power of my enemies and those who pursue me.  Smile on your servant! Deliver me because of your faithfulness! … How great is your favor, which you store up for your loyal followers! In plain sight of everyone you bestow it on those who take shelter in you.  You hide them with you, where they are safe from the attacks of men; you conceal them in a shelter, where they are safe from slanderous attacks.  The Lord deserves praise for he demonstrated his amazing faithfulness to me when I was besieged by enemies.  I jumped to conclusions and said, “I am cut off from your presence!” But you heard my plea for mercy when I cried out to you for help.  Love the Lord, all you faithful followers of his! … Be strong and confident, all you who wait on the Lord!” (from Psalm 31 the NET Bible)

Hey it’s true… “The name of the Lord is a strong tower!  The righteous run into it and are safe!” (Proverbs 18:10)