Coffee With The Lord

I just felt I should share this story at the beginning of “Church Camping Season”…

THE STORY OF “MY CALL TO MINISTRY” … Dedicated to the Lord shortly after birth and raised in a devoted Christian home, I was taught and embraced the conviction that “the will of God” was the highest goal and objective in a person’s life!

As a young boy, I had the privilege of attending a “KID’S KAMP” at Glacier Bible Camp in Hungry Horse, Montana (just outside the entrance of Glacier National Park). Each evening and morning an “evangelist” (in this case a lady speaker) challenged the children to “commit their lives to Jesus Christ” and follow Him wholeheartedly, wherever He would lead them!

On a particular evening of the camp the message impacted my heart powerfully! I went to the prayer room (located behind the stage) bowed my knees and with deep sincerity and tears said “YES!” to the Lord! In those moments “HE CALLED ME TO MINISTRY!”  And the only way I have to describe that encounter with the Lord was, I heard His voice – His call – and saw a mental picture of myself, later in life, TEACHING GOD’S WORD TO GROUPS OF PEOPLE!

The next morning at the chapel service an opportunity was given for “testimonies” about what had happened in childhood lives the night before.  I knew what I had to do… This “farm lad” stood reluctantly and fearfully to his feet (mouth dry and knees trembling) and blurted out: “Last night I think the Lord called me into the ministry!” … I immediately sat back down, embarrassed that I couldn’t say anything else!  The director of the camp – a Montana cowboy preacher – stepped to the edge of the stage, pointed his finger out at me, and said, “Son, last night God told me he was calling you into the ministry!”

I’ll never forget it as long as I live!  As I write this it is as vivid in my mind as though it happened yesterday!!

I am now 78 years of age… I have pastored several churches with God’s blessing and fruitfulness… I’ve been honored to serve my denomination, the Assemblies of God, in both district and national offices… BUT THE CALLING THAT I’VE NEVER LOST SIGHT OF AND IS MOST FULFILLING TO ME IS TEACHING THE BIBLE!  I’ve never lost sight of that “vision” and call!  In fact, I’m convinced when I finally stand before the Lord, the call to “TEACH GOD’S WORD” will be what I am most held accountable for (and for which I am rewarded)!  It is my love and passion!

So… Many years of being a “teaching  pastor” and over 35 years of fruitful teaching ministry at Southwestern Assemblies of God University (SAGU, now Nelson University) as well as many conferences, seminars and teaching missions abroad.

… AND IT ALL BEGAN IN A PRAYER ROOM AT A KID’S CAMP!

According to the Bible, we’re like an ancient farmer with a big bag of seed… Sowing, sowing, sowing – constantly sowing actions and attitudes…

For a Christian there’s a choice… Sowing what the Holy Spirit prompts us to think, say or do. Or sowing what self (polluted by sin) desires to think, say or do.

SOWING, SOWING, SOWING!!!

And here is Apostle Paul’s inspired warning: “Do not be deceived: God is not mocked, for whatever one sows, that will they also reap! The one who sows to his own ‘flesh’ will from the ‘flesh’ reap corruption! But the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life!” (Galatians 6:7-8)

I can tell you how and what I want to “sow” today! Lord help me heed the “nudge” of the Spirit and “sow” what He prompts! (And may I ignore, reject, even “crucify” the desires of the “flesh” – what the sinful self wants!)

Interestingly, the very next verses in Galatians urges us… “And let us not grow weary of DOING GOOD, for in due season WE WILL REAP, if we DO NOT GIVE UP [“sowing” is the context!] So then, as we have opportunity [and there are a lot of them], let us do good to everyone, and especially to those who are of the household of faith [fellow Christians].

Hey, it pays to “sow to the Spirit!” The reaping is worth it – “Eternal life!”

12 Basic Presuppositions and Convictions About Scripture That I Embrace

• The Bible is inspired… Its message is sourced in God – it comes from God. (2 Timothy 3:16-17; 2 Peter 1:20-21).

• The Bible is both a divine book (inspired by God) and a human book (written in human language by human writers).  Both aspects are essential and must be affirmed and held in tension.

• The text of Scripture is completely trustworthy and true (“infallible” – true – “inerrant”).

• The text of Scripture originally came to us in the languages of Hebrew, Aramaic and Koine Greek.

• The language of the biblical text should be taken seriously, examined carefully – Therefore a largely literal version of Scripture (a “standard version”) is best for serious study.

• Close examination / analysis of a passage of Scripture in foundational to quality Bible study and interpretation of Scripture (i.e. what does the passage say and how does it say it).

• Quality Bible study requires consideration of the “then and there” of a text (i.e. the “situation” to, from or about which, a passage was written).  That should always precede consideration of the message to us “here and now”.

• Biblical writers had a purpose in what they were led to write – therefore consideration of the writer’s purpose in a biblical passage is critical.

• An understanding of a complete literary unit of Scripture (i.e. a “book” of the Bible) provides the background for understanding the individual units within it (i.e. passages). 

• Both the broader context and immediate context of Scripture must be taken into account in interpreting Scripture… context rules in interpretation!

• The message of Scripture, although ancient and spoken to particular situations and for particular purposes in the past, is a timeless message and the truths) expressed therein apply to all humankind and cultures.

• In Bible study and the task of interpretation, we come to the biblical text to examine what it says and by the time we have finished God has examined us!  The Holy Spirit makes the truth of Scripture real to us.  We encounter the Living God as we study and apply the message of Scripture.  Scripture points beyond itself to the Living God!!!

Expressed by LeRoy R. Bartel, DMin