Coffee With The Lord

Some of the most treasured moments in my life have been times spent with God’s people in God’s house… in what we sometimes call a “church building” (a building dedicated to the gathering of people for worship, service, and the Word of God).  I’ve met God there among His people and enjoyed precious times of inspiration, illumination, prayer, worship, fellowship and life transformation!

But times like that are not limited to a “church building!”  In fact, The “Church” should NOT be equated with a building – it is God dwelling with and manifesting Himself among His people!  Here’s some Scripture that makes that very point:

“For where two or three are gathered in my name, THERE AM I AMONG THEM!” (Matthew 18:20)

“DO YOU NOT KNOW THAT YOU [in Texas – “ya’all” – It’s plural, check the context] ARE GOD’S TEMPLE AND THAT GOD’S SPIRIT DWELLS IN [or among] YOU? … God’s temple is holy and you are that temple!” (1 Corinthians 3:16-17)

“So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and MEMBERS OF THE HOUSEHOLD OF GOD,  built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone, ²¹ IN WHOM THE WHOLE STRUCTURE, BEING JOINED TOGETHER, GROWS INTO A HOLY TEMPLE IN THE LORD.  IN HIM YOU ALSO ARE BEING BUILT TOGETHER INTO A DWELLING PLACE FOR GOD BY THE SPIRIT.  (Ephesians 2:19–22 ESV)

As a result if this New Testament truth, I used to tell my students that it was a misnomer (no, almost a “theological felony”) to call a building “the church!”

I can tell you, as a result of that truth, I’ve experienced God’s profound, powerful presence in our home in a time of devotion, worship and prayer, in a small group gathering of believers, sharing fellowship with fellow believers from other churches and “denominations,” in a service project with fellow Christians, and other corporate settings!

So this morning when I read these words during my time of “coffee with the Lord” I relished each wonderful word and phrase… It described my experience, my heart, and my sentiments perfectly!  I think it will yours as well!!!

“How lovely is your dwelling place, O Lord of hosts!  My soul longs, yes, faints for the courts of the Lord; my heart and flesh sing for joy to the living God… Blessed are those who dwell in your house, ever singing your praise! … For a day in your courts is better than a thousand elsewhere. I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God than dwell in the tents of wickedness.  For the Lord God is a sun and shield; the Lord bestows favor and honor. No good thing does he withhold from those who walk uprightly.  O Lord of hosts, blessed is the one who trusts in you!  (From Psalm 84:1–4, 10-12 ESV)

A delightful “sip” this morning from “coffee with the Lord!”

“A day in your courts is better than a thousand elsewhere! I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God than dwell in the tents of wickedness. For the Lord God is a sun and shield! The Lord bestows favor and honor! No good thing does he withhold from those who walk uprightly. O Lord of hosts, blessed is the one who trusts in you! (Psalm 84:10–12 ESV)

“Just too good to be true!”

Have you ever uttered that phrase (or simply thought it)? Perhaps you were in one of those “story swapping” conversations where one person tells a story, then another tries to top it, and then someone tells a “real doozey” and you find yourself thinking… “That’s just too good to be true!” You found yourself thinking the word “incredulous” about their account (look that one up in the dictionary !)

You almost feel like a story like that defies belief… Hey it just couldn’t happen!… It couldn’t be true!… Someone is exaggerating here!!!

But what if what is “just too good to be true” … IS TRUE?

Well I read an account in Scripture this morning that was just like that…

“He [Jesus] appeared first to Mary Magdalene, from whom He had cast seven demons. She went and told those who had been with Him as they mourned and wept. But when they heard that he was alive and had been seen by her THEY WOULD NOT BELIEVE IT!

“After these things He appeared in another form to two of them, as they were walking into the country. And they went back and told the rest, BUT THEY DID NOT BELIEVE THEM!

“Afterward He appeared to the eleven themselves as they were reclining at table, and HE REBUKED THEM FOR THEIR UNBELIEF AND HARDNESS OF HEART, BECAUSE THEY HAD NOT BELIEVED THOSE WHO SAW HIM AFTER HE HAD RISEN.” (From Mark 16:9-14 ESV)

Hey this is a big deal! It’s not just about swapping stories around the water cooler at work or the campfire!

Romans 10:9 in the Bible puts it this way… “If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved!”

In another place this declaration… “If Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is in vain and your faith is in vain! We are even found to be misrepresenting God, because we testified about God that He raised Christ… And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile, and you are still in your sins! (1 Corinthians 15:14-18 ESV)

It may seem “just too good to be true” but your eternal welfare and mine depends on being true! Apostle Paul had to believe it for his salvation… so do I!

This is what he said, “I delivered to you AS OF FIRST IMPORTANCE what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, that He was buried, that He was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures, and that He appeared to Cephas [Peter], then to the twelve. Then He appeared to more than 500 at one time, most of whom are still alive… then He appeared to James, then to all the apostles. Last of all, he appeared to me!” (1 Corinthians 15:3-8 ESV)

Hey, I BELIEVE IT! More than that, I STAKE MY ETERNAL FUTURE AND SALVATION ON IT BEING TRUE! Hope you do as well!