Coffee With The Lord

Having served as the pastor of a number of churches for a lot of years, I can tell you CHURCH PROBLEMS CAN GET UGLY! I don’t really want to tell you how ugly … just let me tell you they can get UGLY! And usually the problems all boil down to selfishness and self-centered living.

As I read Philippians 2.1-11 this morning I was reminded that the great apostle, Paul, addressed this very issue with GREAT pastoral advice…

“Is there any encouragement from belonging to Christ? Any comfort from his love? Any fellowship together in the Spirit? Are your hearts tender and compassionate? Then make me truly happy by agreeing wholeheartedly with each other, loving one another, and working together with one mind and purpose. Don’t be selfish; don’t try to impress others. Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourselves. Don’t look out only for your own interests, but take an interest in others, too.

“You must have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had. Though he was God, he did not think of equality with God as something to cling to. Instead, he gave up his divine privileges; he took the humble position of a slave and was born as a human being. When he appeared in human form, he humbled himself in obedience to God and died a criminal’s death on a cross. Therefore, God elevated him to the place of highest honor and gave him the name above all other names, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”

I don’t know if anyone out there this morning is involved in church conflict, but if you are, let me urge you to take Paul’s words seriously and follow His advice. BE A COMMITTEE OF ONE THAT DETERMINES THAT YOU’RE GOING TO RESPOND TO WHAT IS HAPPENING IN YOUR CHURCH IN A CHRIST-LIKE WAY! JUST SAY’N…

There it was, right on the front of his t-shirt … “I’M A FOLLOWER OF JESUS CHRIST!” He had just moved into our neighborhood (and even visited the church we attended)… I mean with that message emblazoned on the front of his t-shirt, what would you expect? How would you expect him to live? What would you expect his conversation to be like? How would you expect him to conduct himself under pressure? What values would you expect him to live by? … I mean after all, there it was… “I’m a follower of Jesus Christ!”

CHRISTLIKE BEHAVIOR IS EXPECTED FROM THOSE WHO CLAIM BE “CHRISTIANS” DON’T YOU THINK?

Apostle Paul thought so… Paul was in prison for “the Gospel!” – He wanted to hear that his fellow believers were “living the Christ-life” in Philippi – living like citizens of the “Kingdom of heaven” in a pagan culture! So here’s how he urged those who lived in the Roman colony of Phillipi to live (Philippians 1:27-30):

“ONLY LET YOUR MANNER OF LIFE BE WORTHY OF THE GOSPEL OF CHRIST!”

Now he borrowed language used of Roman citizens – Roman citizens were expected to live by the laws, the responsibilities and privileges, and the values of Rome. In like manner Paul believed he (and others) had a right to expect “Christians” (followers of Christ) to behave like Christians should!

HEY… IF YOU’RE GOING TO WEAR THE T-SHIRT YOU’VE GOT TO BE WILLING TO LIVE THE LIFE! I never want my lifestyle to contradict my claim to be a “follower of of Christ” and a citizen of the “Kingdom of heaven!”

LITTLE THINGS MATTER! Small things can be VERY significant! As I read Psalm 117 in the Bible this morning during “coffee with the Lord” I was reminded of that. This little Psalm, the shortest in the Psalter as well as the shortest chapter in the entire Bible packs a “wallop”!!

As many of you know, I have often had the privilege of teaching overseas. I’ve often gone to Asia Pacific Theological Seminary (APTS) in Baguio, Philippines and taught graduate students from all over Asia (and elsewhere) how to preach God’s word (Homiletics/Sermoncraft). During those occasions I’ve had students from the Philippines, China, South Korea, North Korea, Myanmar, Taiwan, Hong Kong, and elsewhere (one particular group from 13 different countries!). I have also taught student from all over the Arab world at a training event in Amman, Jordan. On other occasions I have taught in Honduras, Republic of Georgia, Mongolia, etc. All of these have been WONDERFUL opportunities to impact the world for Christ by developing and training the key leaders who will do it!!

What does all that have to do with Psalm 117 you ask?

Ponder these words… “PRAISE THE LORD, ALL YOU NATIONS! PRAISE HIM, ALL YOU PEOPLE OF THE EARTH! For He loves us with unfailing love; the Lord’s faithfulness endures forever.” This is precisely the Psalm that Paul the apostle selected (directed by the Holy Spirit) to make the following point…

“Therefore, accept one another just as Christ has accepted you so that God will be given glory! Remember that Christ came…so that the Gentiles (all the nations of the world) might give glory to God for His mercies to them! That is what the psalmist meant when he wrote… ‘Praise the Lord, all you Gentiles! Praise Him, all you people of the earth’” (quote from Psalm 117!)

So, In the margin of my Bible this morning I wrote these words… FULFILL IT LORD! MAY YOUR GREAT REDEMPTIVE PURPOSES BE FULFILLED IN ALL THE EARTH!! Hey, l want do my part!! Yes!! Amen!! (John 3.16!)