Coffee With The Lord

I hear a lot of talk today in Christian circles about the impact of post-modern thought and worldview on the way people hear and respond to the gospel message. Some have argued for accommodation – others for confrontation. There have been some, who in an attempt to be relevant have adopted a “big umbrella” that embraces just about anything and rejects anything that smacks of conviction and absolutes. And certainly belief in the supernatural is then ruled out.

I’ve got a problem with that… frankly I don’t see a culture that is running from the supernatural… In fact, I see cultural trends that reveal a willingness to embrace some pretty paranormal stuff. In fact, I know a lot of former postmoderns who were attracted to Christianity (and Christ) precisely because they saw and experienced something that was authentically supernatural.

So here’s the deal with me… I believe in the supernatural! I believe God still operates in that context. It began the very first day of creation when God’s voice spoke light into existence and it continues right down to miraculous stuff God has done today by his power on December 9^th, 2014.

The authentic miraculous activity of God has been a powerful tool to reach people with the gospel down through the ages and across cultures… I just read about it this morning in my Bible… “And God was doing extraordinary miracles by the hands of Paul, so that even handkerchiefs or aprons that had touch his skin were carried away to the sick, and their diseases left them and the evil spirits came out of them… and the name of the Lord Jesus was extolled. Many of those where were now believers came, confessing and divulging their practices. And a number of those who had practiced magic arts brought their books together and burned them in the sight of all… So the word of the Lord continued to increase and prevail mightily.” (Acts 19:11-20)

I believe the miraculous is still a tool God uses to open a door of receptivity to the gospel message… even in a postmodern world. So I’m going to continue to pray for the sick, expect people to be delivered from demonic control, and trust the Lord to work in miraculous ways as I serve Him… and every opportunity that these events provide, I’m going to share the gospel!I

I was there at the beginning when he experienced “new birth” … My friend had a powerful, life-transforming experience with the Lord! At the outset, his walk with the Lord was characterized by passionate love, devoted service and faith that simply trusted the Lord with fearless abandon. The Christian life for my friend was one grand, exciting adventure.

Then it seemed spiritual weariness began to set it. The adventure of serving the Lord turned into duty. Love was less ardent. Discipleship became simply routine disciplines minus passion. If the truth were told, it appeared following Jesus had become just a little boring…

I thought of my friend this morning as I read this analysis of some believers in a first century church in Ephesus (from Revelation 2:1-5) …

“I know your works, your toil and your patient endurance, and how you cannot bear with those who are evil… I know you are enduring patiently and bearing up for my name’s sake, and you have not grown weary. But I have this against you – you have abandoned the love you had at first (one version simply calls it “first love”!)

I have to admit it – a time or two I have felt I had the telltale symptoms of that spiritual disease! It scares me to death! What can you do if passionless Christianity and mere dutiful discipleship sets in? What’s the remedy for lackluster love for the Lord?

The Great Physician – the Lord Jesus Christ – prescribed three things for believer’s in Ephesus…

REMEMBER … how far you have fallen. Remember what it was like when serving the Lord was more than going through the motions and instead was driven by Spiritual passion and ardent love.

REPENT … turn around, acknowledge your Spiritual malaise to your Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ, your Savior. Change your mind and heart about serving the Lord. Refuse to settle for loveless Christianity!

RETRACE YOUR STEPS … find out where you got off track, where you “lost it”, when-where-and-why you began to operate on Spiritual autopilot. Do a course correction! In the words of Scripture… “do the works you did at first!”

Don’t be like the guy that knows he’s on the wrong road but keeps on driving, refusing to ask directions, unwilling to acknowledge that things just aren’t right. Serving Jesus is too wonderful – to fulfilling – too filled with miraculous, life-transforming living to simply morph into day-in-day-out, mundane, boring ritual. He said, “I have come that they might have life and have it abundantly!” (John 10:10) Don’t settle for anything less!

“The Day of the Lord” … Just read about it in my Bible this morning!
“But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, and then the heavens will pass away with a roar and the heavenly bodies will be burned up and dissolved, and the earth and the works that are done on it will be exposed!” (2 Peter 3:10)
The question that comes to mind, in light of that, is what should be the response of God’s people? Well, Apostle Peter was pretty clear about that…
Evangelism! “The Lord is not slow to fulfill His promise as some count slowness, but is patient… not wishing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance… Count the patience of our Lord as salvation!” (vss. 9 and 15)
Holy living! “Since all these things are thus to be dissolved, what sort of people ought you to be in lives of holiness and godliness, waiting for and hastening the coming of the day of God.” (vss. 11-12)
Hopefulness! “But according to His promise we are waiting for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells!” (vs. 13)
Diligent discipleship! “Therefore, beloved, since you are waiting for these things, be diligent to be found by Him without spot or blemish, and at peace.”
Care not to be deceived! “Take care that you are not carried away with the error of lawless people and lose your own stability.” (vs. 17)
Grow in God’s grace and your knowledge of Him! “But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ!”
Just a few personal priorities in light of the end of all things and the coming of the Lord to establish His eternal kingdom! “To Him be the lorry both now and to the day of eternity! Amen!!” (From 2 Peter 3:8-18 ESV)