Coffee With The Lord

This morning as I was having my time of “coffee with the Lord” I was reminded of the challenges of the persecuted church!  I don’t think we think about them enough – fellow brothers and sisters in Christ who are facing pressure and persecution for “the faith” – Pastors and church leaders who are maligned, intimidated, imprisoned, tortured… even giving their lives for the sake of the gospel.  And then the impact of it all on their families – their spouses and children!

I thought about  them today as I read Apostle Paul’s prayer requests for the church in Thessalonica (and himself).  Both Paul and the church in Thessalonica were sharing the gospel and living it out in hostile environments… There were risks (and opportunities) at every turn…  This is what Paul asked… This is the assurance he sought to provide them…

First his prayer requests…

“Pray for us that the message of the Lord may spread rapidly and be honored… Pray that we may be delivered from wicked and evil people, for not everyone has faith… May the Lord direct your hearts into God’s love and Christ’s perseverance.”

Then the assurance he sought to give them…

“The Lord is faithful!  He will strengthen you and protect you from the evil one.  We have confidence in the Lord that you are doing and will continue to do the things we command.”

(from 2 Thessalonians 3.1-5)

Today I’m aware there are fellow brothers and sisters of mine that are suffering for the sake of the gospel!  Wonderful Christians who are facing incredible pressure and persecution for the Name they hold in highest honor and esteem – the name of Jesus.  I WILL ANSWER PAUL’S APPEAL FOR PRAYER AS THOUGH IT WERE GIVEN TODAY!  I will lift the needs of “the persecuted church” to the Lord in prayer!  I will allow the Holy Spirit to make specific what to me seems a general need.  I will pray in the Spirit according to Romans 8.26-27 AND I will have confidence that God will fulfill the next verse on their behalf… “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!”

I don’t know what challenges and pressure you may be facing today, but let me give you this benediction/blessing that Apostle Paul gave the believers in Thessalonica when they were facing similar challenges…

“May our Lord Jesus Christ Himself, and God our Father, who loved us and gave us eternal comfort and good hope through His grace, comfort your heart and establish you in every good work and word!” (from 2 Thessalonians 2:16-17)

AMEN! (So be it Lord!)  Someone needed that today!!!

Young emerging leaders are often discovered and formed in the most unexpected places!  They often do not possess the “advantages” of power, prestige and privilege that others enjoy.  Their incubation often takes place in poverty, small towns, the “wrong side of the tracks” and the farm.  Many great leaders got their education in one room schoolhouses, little colleges or possessed no formal education at all!

Wise seasoned leaders recognize this and are continually on the lookout for young emerging leaders with promise.  Identifying young people with leadership potential and gifting, for these seasoned leaders is a life quest.

For those with Christian values, God’s calling and gifting, are key components in identifying and developing young emerging leaders.  They view this critical issue as non-negotiable.

This morning my Bible reading included a case study in the identification of young emerging leaders… David in 1 Samuel 16…

Saul, the first king in Israel, had disqualified himself through pride and disobedience.  The Bible says, “The Lord said to Samuel, ‘How long will you grieve over Saul, since I have rejected him from being king over Israel?  Fill your horn with oil and go.  I will send you to Jesse the Bethlehemite, for I have provided for myself a king among his sons.’”

So Samuel obeyed and went to Bethlehem.  He arranged for a sacrifice and invited Jesse and his sons to attend.  Eliab, the eldest – the natural choice, appeared.  Samuel thought this was probably the one.  God spoke however and said, “Do not look on his appearance or on the height of his stature because I have rejected him.  For the Lord sees not as man sees: man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart!” (verse 7)  …Abinadab appeared… then Shammah… then the seven other sons of Jesse passed by.  In each case God told Samuel, “The Lord has not chosen this one.”  Finally, Samuel asked, “Are all your sons here?” And Jesse admitted, “There remains yet the youngest, but behold, he is keeping the sheep.”  So young David (a human afterthought) was brought.  When Samuel saw him, the Lord spoke… “Arise, anoint him, for this is the one!”  The least likely in Jesse’s and Samuel’s view was chosen by God!  The Bible says, “Then Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed him in the midst of his brothers.  And the Spirit of the Lord rushed upon David from that day forward.” (verse 13)

Over the years it has been my privilege and responsibility to identify, encourage and help the development of young emerging leaders.  I CAN TELL YOU, SOME OF THE VERY BEST AND MOST EFFECTIVE HAVE COME FROM THE MOST UNEXPECTED BACKGROUNDS!  Several years ago I read Carl Sandburg’s ABRAHAM LINCOLN: The Prairie Years and the War Years.  From a purely natural perspective, who would have chosen Abraham Lincoln as one of the most effective presidents the United States has known?  LISTEN, I NEVER WANT TO FORGET THIS FACT; “THE LORD SEES NOT AS MAN SEES: MAN LOOKS ON THE OUTWARD APPEARANCE, BUT THE LORD LOOKS ON THE HEART!”