Coffee With The Lord

I read a wonderful, encouraging Old Testament story today during my time of “Coffee with the Lord!”

The king of Aram had been at war with Israel. Time and again he had attempted to attack God’s people. Elisha, the prophet, had supernaturally informed Israel’s king ahead of time about these planned attacks in specific terms and consequently they had been able to avoid them. The report of this had come to the king of Aram. As a result he decided to lay siege to the city where Elisha lived and capture him! Elisha’s servant got up one morning and there they were … a whole army with horses and chariots surrounding the city!

He panicked with fear and cried out, “Oh no, my lord! What shall we do?!”

“Don’t be afraid,” Elisha answered, “Those who are with us are more than those who are with them!” And then Elisha prayed for his servant, “Open his eyes Lord, so that he may see.” Then the Lord opened the servants eyes, and he looked and saw the hills full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha.” (2 Kings 6.8-17 NIV)

Some of you – my “Coffee with the Lord” friends – are facing frightening challenges today! It seems like “the enemy” has surrounded you and is laying siege to you! You don’t know what to do or where to turn for help. The temptation is to panic!

My prayer today? “Oh Lord, open their eyes! Help them to see what is unseen to their physical eyes! Help them to see that ‘Greater is He that is in them, than he that is in the world!’ (1 John 4.4) and ‘If God is for us, who can be against us?! … No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us!’” (From Romans 8:31-39)

Yes, that’s my prayer… “LORD, OPEN THEIR EYES!” And when I’m about to panic about a situation in my life, may I hear the sweet whisper of my “Divine Intercessor”… “OPEN HIS EYES!”

A little longer “coffee with the Lord” post today but worth the read, believe me!!!

GOOD THINGS HAPPEN TO KIND AND GENEROUS PEOPLE! Here’s practical spiritual advice… Go ahead and do what is right and good and let the Lord surprise you with His unexpected, incredible blessing!!

Those were the thoughts that entered my mind this morning as I read the full story of the Shunammite woman and Elisha the prophet… (You’ve got to read the story in your Bible… it’s amazing! (2 Kings 4.8-37 and 8.1-6)

This wonderful lady opened her home to the prophet. She periodically prepared and provided a wonderful meal for him whenever He and his servant would stop by her home. She even, in a wonderful expression of generosity and kindness, appealed to her husband to prepare a “prophet’s chamber” for them (a hotel-like room to stay and refresh themselves in for a few days whenever they were in the area).

Her generosity and kindness did not go unnoticed! One day Elisha had his servant approach her and ask this question, “You have gone to all this trouble for us. Now what can be done for you?” He offered to do several things on her behalf but she deferred from asking for anything in return (which is just the way this kind of person usually acts).

The prophet’s servant reminded the prophet that she had not been able to have a child. The prophet prophesied she would have a son in about a year. And to her and her husband’s delight it came to pass!

But one day, out in the fields, the son suddenly fell sick and died. She was devastated and sent and called for the prophet. In bitter grief she told the prophet what had happened. Elisha hurried to their home, went up into the room where the dead child was and miraculously, the child was raised from the dead!

Story not over… Elisha warned the family of a coming famine and urged them to go away for a while so they would be able to survive. They went away to the land of the Philistines for seven years. Afterward they returned to Israel and made an appointment to appeal to the king to get their land back. Just as they arrived, Gehazi, the servant of the prophet happened to be meeting with the king and at his request just happened to be reporting some of the wonderful things God had done through the ministry of the prophet. Just as he was telling the king about the very occurrence of raising the Shunammite’s son back to life, who should appear for her appointment with the king but the Shunammite!! Gehazi exclaimed, “This is the woman, my king, and this is her son Elisha brought back to life!” The king’s response? He said, “Give back everything that belonged to her, including all the income from her land from the day she left the country until now!”

Wow!! God causes good things to happen to kind and generous people! Reminds me of a well-known and quoted Biblical principle: “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose.” (Romans 8:28) One more verse of Scripture I read just this morning as a part of my Bible reading from Hebrews 6:10: “God is not unjust to overlook your work and the love that you have shown for His name in serving the saints, as you still do!”

LESSON ONE MORE TIME… Good things – wonderful things – happen to kind and generous people! GO AHEAD AND DO WHAT IS RIGHT AND GOOD AND LET THE LORD SURPRISE YOU WITH HIS BLESSING!!

Ever just been tempted to give up and “throw in the towel” – things got so tough you just lost heart and felt you couldn’t go on in further. The temptation to go back to “BC living” (before Christ) was just pretty great?

Well, this morning I read a passage during “Coffee with the Lord” that reminded me of some reasons I have chosen to “hang in there” regardless of what life brings and faithfully follow Jesus! Here’s the passage…

“Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has ascended into heaven, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet he did not sin. Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.“ (Hebrews 4:14–16)

HERE’S THE REASONS FOR “HANGING IN THERE” THAT I FOUND IN THE PASSAGE…

1) He’s got what it takes to help me! Jesus has “status and standing” with the Father! He’s ascended back into heaven, having suffered and died for our sin and conquered death! He’s at the Father’s right hand right now, interceding on our behalf (check out Hebrews 7.23-28, especially vs. 25)!

2) He understands what I’m going through and identifies with me in the challenges I’m facing. He is able to “empathize with my weakness” – “He has been tempted in every way” I have been. That’s comforting to me! I don’t have this “cosmic Christ” way up in heaven that is aloof from life’s challenges and difficulties! He went through it all – pain, suffering, accusation, discouragement, and incredible temptation. And He went through much more than I’ve ever faced. He understands!

3) Yet He overcame – He conquered it all! The passage says he experienced it all… “yet He did not sin!” Wow!! He can help me! He shows me how I can be an overcomer!

4) He’s got all the “grace” I need to overcome– to “hang in there” – to be “more than a conqueror” in what I’m facing! (Romans 8.37-39). “Grace” is God providing everything I need to do God’s will and fulfill His purposes in my life even though I don’t deserve it … that’s right, everything I need! This passage says that because of what Jesus, my “Great High Priest” did, I can “approach God’s throne with confidence to receive mercy and find all that I need to help me in my time of need!”

Pretty hard to beat all of that!! I’m determined to “hang in there” and trust Him!! Got a “Great High Priest”!! Gonna make it, I tell you!! Gonna make it!!