Coffee With The Lord

Oh, the power of an exemplary life! Today during my time of “coffee with the Lord” I read a perfect description of what one ought to look like. In the passage Apostle Paul describes what a born again, Spirit-filled Christian ought to be like in a pagan environment like Rome… What a born again, Spirit-filled Christian ought to be like among fellow Christians… What a born again, Spirit-filled Christian ought to be like all the time, everywhere! As I read the passage I was so challenged! I thought of authentic, born again, Spirit-filled Christians I knew who lived that kind of life… how deeply they challenged and inspired me… how they created in me a desire to be that kind of person – that kind of Christian!

Here’s what Apostle Paul said to believers living in ancient Rome (I urge you to read these words, pore over each phrase, and think about exemplary Christians you know who are like this)…

“Love must be without hypocrisy. Abhor what is evil, cling to what is good. Be devoted to one another with mutual love, showing eagerness in honoring one another. Do not lag in zeal, be enthusiastic in spirit, serve the Lord. Rejoice in hope, endure in suffering, persist in prayer. Contribute to the needs of the fellow Christians, pursue hospitality. Bless those who persecute you, bless and do not curse. Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep. Live in harmony with one another; do not be haughty but associate with the lowly. Do not be conceited. Do not repay anyone evil for evil; consider what is good before all people. If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all people. Do not avenge yourselves, dear friends, but give place to God’s wrath, for it is written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay,” says the Lord. Rather, if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him a drink; for in doing this you will be heaping burning coals on his head. Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.” (Romans 12:9–21 from the NET Bible)

Four like this that came to my mind were my dad and mom (Ewalt and Vera Bartel), my mother-in-law, Linda Barnett, and former General Superintendent of the Assemblies of God, G. Raymond Carlson… Issue is, they’re all in heaven now! Who will take their place? Oh Lord, let it be me!! Let it be you!! Let’s impact positively our “Romes” and the coming generation with exemplary, born again, Spirit-filled Christians!

Last night at the church I’m a part of – Trinity Church, Cedar Hill, Texas – I taught a class on Leviticus. The class is entitled “Route 66” (it gets its name from the 66 books of the Bible) and helps provide an overview and working knowledge of each of the books of the Bible.

The book of Leviticus contains an interesting phrase related to each of the sacrifices offered by fire to the Lord… It says their odor was “a sweet smelling savor” to the Lord.

Now that’s an Old Testament concept. However in my Bible reading today during “Coffee with the Lord” (enjoyed, I might say on a flight from DFW to Hong Kong), I think I read about it’s New Testament counterpart…

The New Testament teaches the sacrifice of Jesus on our behalf – for our sins – was a “once for all” sacrifice and completely adequate. It satisfied the righteous demands of a holy God! That sacrifice, however, calls forth our sacrifice – the offering of ourselves to God in gratitude and commitment. When we do that – when we respond in that way to what God did by offering up his only Son as our “atoning sacrifice” for our sin – when we respond to what Jesus did by willingly offering Himself on our behalf – it is very pleasing to God… “a sweet smelling savor” if you please! Here’s how Apostle Paul, inspired by the Holy Spirit, expressed it…

“Therefore I exhort (or urge) you, brothers and sisters, by the mercies of God, TO PRESENT YOUR BODIES AS A SACRIFICE – alive, holy, and PLEASING TO GOD – which is your reasonable service. Do not be conformed to this present world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may test and approve what is the will of God – what is good and well-pleasing and perfect.” (Romans 12:1-2 from the NET Bible)

I did it again… today… one more time! I offered God all I am and have… alive, holy (by His grace), and pleasing to God! Oh Lord, may it be “a sweet smelling savor” to You today! (Verse 2 of Romans 12 seems to say it also has life-transforming potential for me!)

The heat that life brings can be oppressive at times… like living in an oven – one difficult thing after another until it seems almost impossible to breathe. Will it never stop! Perhaps that’s where you are right now…

I read these words in the Bible during my time of “coffee with the Lord” … perhaps they were for you! (I know they encouraged me! … “Oppressive heat” is not the only imagery in the passage, but its one of them)

“O Lord, you are my God! I will exalt you in praise! I will extol your fame! For you have done extraordinary things and executed plans made long ago exactly as you decreed… You are a protector for the poor, a protector for the needy in their distress, a shelter from the rainstorm, a shade from the heat… just as the shadow of a cloud causes the heat to subside, so You cause the song of tyrants to cease… You will swallow up death permanently! The Sovereign Lord will wipe away the tears from every face… At that time we will say, ‘Look, here is our God! We waited for Him and He delivered us! Here is the Lord! We waited for Him. Let’s rejoice and celebrate His deliverance!” (from Isaiah 25 in the NET Bible)