Coffee With The Lord

There’s a popular saying in leadership circles… “People are drawn to an attractive, worthwhile vision!” That’s true! But from a perspective of Spiritual leadership (and I mean Holy Spirit empowered, gifted and guided leadership) I’ve seen another phenomena and reality… People are attracted to evident “anointing!” (and by that I mean the evident calling, empowering, gifting, and character formation that the Holy Spirit works within a leader’s life)! I’ve seen this powerful reality at work over the years over and over again! Church history is filled with countless examples (very ordinary people from humble background that God gifted and used powerfully)! But the Bible is also filled with examples… There is no substitute for “the anointing!” I encountered a powerful case study in my Bible reading this morning (not the only one in the Bible by any means, but the one I read about today…
“Now these are the men who came to David at Ziklag, while he could not move about freely because of Saul the son of Kish. And they were among the mighty men who helped him in war. They were bowmen and could shoot arrows and sling stones with either the right or the left hand; they were Benjaminites, Saul’s kinsmen… From the Gadites there went over to David at the stronghold in the wilderness mighty and experienced warriors, expert with shield and spear… These Gadites were officers of the army; the least was a match for a hundred men and the greatest for a a thousand… And some of the men of Benjamin and Judah came to the stronghold to David… Then the Spirit clothed Amasai, chief of the thirty, and he said, ‘We are yours, O David, and with you, O son of Jesse! Peace, peace to you, and peace to your helpers! For your God helps you!’ … Some of the men of Manasseh deserted to David… For from day to day men came to David to help him, until there was a great army, like the army of God!
“These are the number of the divisions of the armed troops who came to David to turn the kingdom of Saul over to him, according to the word of the Lord! … Of the Benjaminites, the kinsmen of Saul, 3000, of whom the majority had to that point kept their allegiance to the house of Saul… Of Issachar, men who had understanding of the times, to know what Israel ought to do… Of Zebulun, seasoned troops, equipped for battle, to help David with singleness of purpose… All these, men of war, arrayed in battle order, came to Hebron with full intent to make David king over all Israel. Likewise, all the rest of Israel were of a single mind to make David king.” (from 1 Chronicles 12 ESV)
Gotta tell you… I “covet” (in a good way, I hope) the “anointing!” I want to be empowered and used in a powerful and attractive way to cause people to want to follow Christ! After all, isn’t that what Spiritual leadership is all about? … “follow me as I follow Christ!” (1 Corinthians 11:1)

To succeed at some things you have to do what is counterintuitive – you have to act in a way that does not seem natural. If you are a farmer you hide seed in the ground in order to produce more… If you want to make money you invest it in order to make a profit (the temptation is to hoard it – not invest it)… If you want to win at boxing you move in close to your opponent or in the martial arts you’ve got to take advantage of your adversaries momentum toward you in order to overcome him.

As difficult as it seems, in spiritual things, we are also called upon to do what is counterintuitive… Here’s an example from my Bible reading this morning…

“Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.” (James 1:2–4 ESV)

The temptation when we face a trail? To gripe and complain – to resist and resent it – to become impatient and impudent. God’s word says, “Consider it all joy!” Believe me, that’s counterintuitive! It takes faith! It takes commitment! But the results are positive… steadfastness (inner strength that comes to sustain you in your trial!) And ultimately? … Believe it or not, you become “perfect (have a developing maturity), complete, and lacking NOTHING!”

Hard to believe isn’t it? But I’ve seen it work! People I know who have faced incredible trials and tried it; instead of getting bitter – get better. They evidenced in the midst of difficulties – trials that would make most people wilt and unravel – an increasing strength of character, beauty of spirit, and radiant joy that attracts others to them and glorified God!

All I’ve got to say to all of that is this… Oh Lord, when I face a soul-shaking trial, help me do what is counterintuitive!!

Just want to express my appreciation to the ancient writer of the book of Hebrews (we are not sure who that was), for this wonderful word of blessing…

“Now may the God of peace… equip you with everything good so that you may do His will, working in you that which is pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever, Amen!” (Hebrews 13:20-21)

In the words of a dear Christian friend… I receive it!!

And to all my friends who follow “Coffee with the Lord” I send it out to you today with all my heart and sincerest prayer! May God fulfill it in every way… and in abundance!