Coffee With The Lord

There are some entities so important and essential to the public trust that any compromise of their values or operational protocols risks the public welfare.  The Supreme Court of the United States (SCOTUS) is such an entity.  Grave concern exists presently within the government and the general population about the degree to which the Supreme Court has been “politicized!” It traditionally has been viewed as an agency that stands above the whims and trends of politics and is strictly charged with simply “interpreting the law.”

This morning I read of an even more important entity within the broader culture!  It has to do with the role of the Church of Jesus Christ!  Here’s Apostle Paul’s word of caution to Timothy regarding it…

Paul stated, “I am writing these things [these instructions and cautions] to you so that, if I delay [in coming to you] you may know how one ought to behave in the Household of God, which is the Church of the Living God, the pillar and buttress of the truth!” (1 Timothy 3:14-15)

Tragically, within our culture today that role for the Church has been severely compromised!  The godly behavior of Christians within “the Body of Christ” – the “Household of God” – has been relegated to “situational ethics!”  All is lost when “the Church” ceases to be, both in behavior and belief, the “pillar and buttress of truth!”

Church leadership – authentic, godly Church leadership – must recognize the importance of their role within the broader pagan culture!  This is a sobering responsibility!  If the Church does not sustain and fulfill this role, who will?

If you are a part of a congregation that insists on the inspiration of Scripture, the deity of Christ, His sacrifice for our sins on the cross, His bodily resurrection, the essential need for “new birth” (Spiritual rebirth), the need for evangelism, and the importance of a transformed lifestyle for Christians characterized by righteousness and loving Christian service; you are indeed blessed!

God help us!  May we truly be “the Household of God – the pillar and buttress of truth” within the broader culture!!!  

So many voices in our world today!  One of them out there is “Wisdom!”  Be discerning!!!

^“Wisdom cries aloud in the street, in the markets she raises her voice; at the head of the noisy streets she cries out; at the entrance of the city gates she speaks: ‘How long, O simple ones, will you love being simple? How long will scoffers delight in their scoffing and fools hate knowledge?  If you turn at my reproof, behold, I will pour out my Spirit to you; I will make my words known to you!’”  (From Proverbs 1:20–23 ESV)

I read a wonderful account of the power of “testimony” today in John’s gospel… John 1:29-51. A great passage – you should read it for yourself! I’ll just try to trace the highlights today here in “Coffee with the Lord”…

John testified… “He saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, ‘Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the in of the world! … And John bore witness: ‘I saw the Spirit descend from heaven like a dove, and it remained on Him. I myself did not know Him, but He who sent me to baptize with water said to me, ‘He on whom you see the Spirit descend and remain, this is He who baptizes with the Holy Spirit. And I have seen and have borne witness that this is the Son of God.’”

Then the next day… “John was standing with two of his disciples, and he looked at Jesus as He walked by and said, ‘Behold, the Lamb of God!’ And the two disciples heard him say this, and they followed Jesus.

And the power of “testimony” continues… “One of the two who heard John speak and followed Jesus was Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother. He first found his own brother Simon and said to him, ‘We have found the Messiah (which means Christ). He brought him to Jeus…

And again… “Phillip found Nathanael and said to him, ‘We have found Him of whom Moses in the Law and also the prophets wrote, Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.’ Nathanael said to him, ‘Can anything good come out of Nazareth?’ Philip said to him, ‘Come and see.”

And Nathanael’s life was forever changed… And the story continues… The power of a “testimony” followed by the power of a personal encounter with Jesus Christ!

So why not share your testimony today as the Holy Spirit leads you – “nudges” you – and the opportunity is there? It’s contagious! It’s powerful! And it’s how people around the world have been changed by a personal encounter with the Living Christ… One person shares what they have seen, heard, and experienced about Christ… then another… and another… and another!!!