Coffee With The Lord

I have the wonderful privilege of sharing teaching responsibilities at Trinity Church in Cedar Hill, Texas with Dr. James Hennesy, father of the lead pastor, Jim Hennesy. The class we are privileged to teach is called “Truth Seekers.” The series I’ve been teaching the past several months I’ve entitled “Walking with God: A Life-Transforming Journey.” Today’s study addressed a very important aspect of “Walking with God” – “Walking in the Spirit!”

When I got up this morning and took my Bible to have “Coffee with the Lord” what a wonderful surprise to discover that one of the passages in the Bible reading plan I use was Galatians 5:16-26, a key passage addressing the subject of “walking in the Spirit!”

I’ve discovered that the Holy Spirit is a wonderful inner dynamic – no more than that, He is a wonderful indwelling Person – the Third Person of the Trintiy, who is very active within my life as a follower of Jesus! He does not have to be awakened, excited, or aroused! God sends Him to dwell within our lives as our Helper – God’s agent to work God’s will within us! We need to be sensitive and responsive to His presence. He prompts and “nudges” us to act, speak, behave, and serve in keeping with the redemptive purposes and will of God. (In fact, one of my favorite ways of thinking about His activity within my life is that I’m learning to live by “The Nudge.”) I must learn not to ignore Him, but instead be very sensitive and responsive to His presence in my life!

Here’s what Apostle Paul had to say about it in the passage I read this morning…

“So I say, let the Holy Spirit guide your lives. Then you won’t be doing what your sinful nature craves. The sinful nature wants to do evil, which is just the opposite of what the Spirit wants. And the Spirit gives us desires that are the opposite of what the sinful nature desires. These two forces are constantly fighting each other… When you follow the desires of your sinful nature, the results are very clear: sexual immorality, impurity, lustful pleasures, idolatry, sorcery, hostility, quarreling, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish ambition, dissension, division, envy, drunkenness, wild parties, and other sins like these. Let me tell you, as I have before, that anyone living that sort of life will not inherit the Kingdom of God! But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these things! Those who belong to Christ Jesus have nailed the passions and desires of their sinful nature to his cross and crucified them there! BUT SINCE WE ARE LIVING BY THE SPIRIT, LET US FOLLOW THE SPIRIT’S LEADING IN EVERY PART OF OUR LIVES!” (From Galatians 5:16-25 New Living Translation)

Oh, I want to live that way, don’t you? … All of life, sensitive and responsive to His presence within – His “nudge” in every dimension of my life! Not turning the adventure of the Christian life into a list of rules (legalism) or using my “freedom in Christ as an excuse for sinning” (following “the flesh”) but living all of life “according to the Spirit” (and for all of you Greek buffs out there that’s “kata Pneuma” – Romans 8:5-6)

The Lord sets a high standard for authentic righteousness – not simply external adherence to His law, but inside-out obedience!  I admit, when I read passages that describe the standard of righteousness He requires I feel so helpless, so inadequate, so deeply aware of how far short I fall of His standard!  I felt that way this morning as I read the following passage demanding an incredible expression of love as evidence of the righteousness He requires…

“But I say to you who hear, love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you.  To one who strikes you on the cheek, offer the other also, and from one who takes away your cloak do not withhold your tunic either. Give to everyone who begs from you, and from one who takes away your goods do not demand them back.  And as you wish that others would do to you, do so to them.  If you love those who love you, what benefit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them.  And if you do good to those who do good to you, what benefit is that to you? For even sinners do the same.  And if you lend to those from whom you expect to receive, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners, to get back the same amount.  But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return, and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, for he is kind to the ungrateful and the evil.  Be merciful then, even as your Father is merciful!”  (From Luke 6:27–36 ESV)

There is only one way for what this passage demands to be fulfilled in my life!  It takes a deep and profound work of God’s grace in my life!  I must first experience His love and grace for my failures and sinfulness.  Then, for it to become a reality in my life, I desperately need the profound, deep, working of that love and grace within me through the power of the Holy Spirit transforming me inside – out!  I cannot do it on my own!  It requires an inner motivation – a supernatural transformation – a deep work of the Holy Spirit.  Oh I cry out today… Lord help me to be – help me to become – the kind of person you desire!

When everything around you seems to be unraveling… Nations are in turmoil!  There is a severe leadership crisis… Institutions you’ve depending upon are failing… The economy is in crisis…  Values you’ve depended upon are dismantled and abandoned… even friends fail… And you are about to panic… You need to read Psalm 97!!!  (I read it during “Coffee with the Lord” this morning… Glad I did!!!)

Here is a taste of what it says…

“The Lord reigns, let the earth rejoice; let the many coastlands be glad! … Righteousness and justice are the foundation of His throne… before the Lord of all the earth.  The heavens proclaim his righteousness, and all the peoples see his glory…  For you, O Lord, are most high over all the earth; you are exalted far above all gods.  O you who love the Lord, hate evil!  He preserves the lives of his saints; he delivers them from the hand of the wicked.  Light is sown for the righteous, and joy for the upright in heart.  Rejoice in the Lord, O you righteous, and give thanks to his holy name!” (From Psalm 97 ESV)

Given what is happening to human institutions today and the condition of our world… I really needed that!!  How about you?