Coffee With The Lord

My Easter morning musings as a Christian – a Christ-follower…

• He existed before time began in eternity past with the Father…
• He manifested Himself in earthly existence by being born of a virgin in a manger in Bethlehem…
• He lived a sinless life among us proclaiming and manifesting the Kingdom of Heaven…
• He was crucified by evil men and gave Himself as “the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world” …
• He overcame the power of sin and death through His resurrection! …
• He ascended back to right hand of God the Father …
• He ever lives to “make intercession” for us (i.e. to appeal to the Father on our behalf)…
• One day He will return and He will reign “forever and ever” and “of His kingdom there will be no end”!!!

ETERNITY PAST to ETERNITY FUTURE … Oh, what a Savior!!!

I don’t know if you or a friend of yours has ever suffered from what psychologists and counselors call “clinical depression” … it’s a terrible thing! Believe it or not, some people believe Apostle Paul suffered from it while he was involved in ministry in ancient Asia (an area of the world we call Turkey today). Here is how the passage reads in your Bible…

“For we do not want you to be unaware, dear friends, of the affliction we experienced in Asia. For we were so utterly burdened beyond our strength that we despaired of life itself. Indeed, we felt that we had received the sentence of death.”

Those who have suffered from “clinical depression” will tell you what Paul described is precisely how they have felt! They thought they were going to die! Some admit to having contemplated death.

But Paul goes on – He says, “But that was to make us rely not ourselves BUT ON GOD WHO RAISES THE DEAD. He delivered us from such a deadly peril, and he will deliver us. On Him we have set our hope that he will deliver us!”

Now this passage is not usually thought of as an Easter passage … but it actually is! I think Paul, the great Apostle (who had this experience while serving the Lord faithfully in ministry) would tell us that the resurrection provided the hope he needed to dig out of destructive depression. You may have struggled with depression like Paul described – in fact, you may be struggling with it right now. My advice? Listen to your doctor… but also draw upon the hope generated by the resurrection! God can help you! He can create within you the emotional strength to overcome and dig your way out of the feelings you’re struggling with! Ask Him to help you! Throw yourself upon the one who conquered death on your behalf…

And don’t be afraid to ask a Christian friend to become your prayer partner… someone you can call upon at a moments notice, admit your challenges to, and ask them to pray with you and for you! Paul in the very next verse said, “You also must help us by prayer, so that many will give thanks on our behalf for the blessing granted us through the prayers of many.” (from 2 Corinthians 1.8-11)

So here’s the deal… The resurrection matters! The resurrection provides hope on so many fronts! The risen Christ can help you if you’re struggling with depression! I’m praying for some friends of mine who have had (and are having) this struggle today!

Scared to death? Don’t know what is going to happen – how things are going to turn out – what report you’ll get?

Here’s what David resolved to do when he had been captured by the Philistines and didn’t know what they’d do to him or whether he’d ever escape…

He made this confession… “When I am afraid, I put my trust in You… In God, whose word I praise, in God I trust! I will not be afraid! What can flesh do to me? … This I know, that God is for me! In God whose word I praise, In the Lord, whose word I praise, in God I trust! I shall not be afraid! What can man do to me? … For you have delivered my soul from death, my feet from falling, that I may walk before You in the light of life!” (from Psalm 56 ESV)

That’s quite a confession – a good one! Think I’m going to keep it around and use it … word for word! I have a feeling, if I don’t need it now, there will surely be a time I will need it! You may need to use it as your confession right now!