Coffee With The Lord

It’s Pastor’s Appreciation Month … it’s interesting this verse was included in one of the passages in my Bible reading this morning during “Coffee with the Lord”…

“Remember your leaders, those who spoke to you the word of God. Consider the outcome of their way of life, and imitate their faith.” (Hebrews 13:7 ESV)

As I read the verse and reflected on its challenge I just felt “nudged” to honor some great pastors I’ve had and comment on their contribution to my life…

Pastor Leon Mitchell… The kindest, most caring, godly pastor a young boy growing up could ever have … model of “pastoral care” to our family.

Pastor Kenneth Peterson… I owe the depth of my commitment in marriage to his counsel to me as a young person contemplating marriage to Sharon, who is now my wife.

Pastor Phillip Wannamacher… Never forgot a name! Successfully pastored EVERYONE in a large congregation… solid as a rock!

Pastor Earl Teeter… Truly a “man without guile” – a dear friend.

Pastor Jim Hennesy… Visionary, authentic leader, passionate Pentecostal, ready to “step out of the boat and walk on water if he hears the Lord say ‘Come!’”

Each of these important pastoral leaders (and others) have made a significant contribution to my life as a Christian. I honor them and purpose to “consider the outcome of their way of life and imitate their faith!” I recognize they are human and have weakness and failings (as we all do). I recognize they can, at times, disappoint us… that is why I’m convinced the very next verse in Hebrews says this…

“Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever!”

He will never fail! His example is always a trustworthy model to follow! … He is the premiere, impeccable, perfect leader!

The walk of faith is filled with adventure, with excitement, with miracles and victories! But what happens when things don’t turn out like we desire or expect them to? What happens when we face setbacks and disappointments? What happens when someone even dies without the fulfillment of what they believe God promised?

There are those who claim with great fanfare and apparent confidence that with enough faith a person should never suffer a financial setback, always enjoy prosperity, never be sick and if sick always be healed, never suffer defeat and always experience victory, never be persecuted and always prevail! … Sorry! Life doesn’t work that way and according to the last part of Hebrews 11 – the great faith chapter – neither does faith. If fact, the chapter seems to declare that faith is what sustains believers through difficulties, disappointments, and disaster! Here’s what it says… right out of the Bible, God’s word!

“Some were tortured, refusing to accept release, so that they might rise again to a better life. Others suffered mocking and flogging, and even chains and imprisonment. They were stoned, they were sawn in two, they were killed with the sword. They went about in skins of sheep and goats, destitute, afflicted, mistreated — of whom the world was not worthy — wandering about in deserts and mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth. AND ALL THESE, THOUGH COMMENDED THROUGH THEIR FAITH, DID NOT RECEIVE WHAT WAS PROMISED, since God had provided something better for us, that apart from us they should not be made perfect.” (Hebrews 11:35–40 ESV)

So here is my encouragement to you… If your faith is being sorely tested right now… Don’t give up! Don’t abandon your faith! Your faith is what will sustain you in and through the testing time! Remember what the passage that precedes Hebrews 11 said?

“Recall the former days when, after you were enlightened, you endured a hard struggle with sufferings, sometimes being publicly exposed to reproach and affliction, and sometimes being partners with those so treated. For you had compassion on those in prison, and you joyfully accepted the plundering of your property, since you knew that you yourselves had a better possession and an abiding one. THEREFORE DO NOT THROW AWAY YOUR CONFIDENCE, WHICH HAS A GREAT REWARD! FOR YOU HAVE NEED OF ENDURANCE, SO THAT WHEN YOU HAVE DONE THE WILL OF GOD YOU MAY RECEIVE WHAT IS PROMISED! (Hebrews 10:32–36 ESV)

I love “anointed” preaching, don’t you? And by that I mean the proclamation of God’s word that bears the unmistakable imprint and impulse of the Holy Spirit.

This morning during my time of “coffee with the Lord” I read the account of Peter’s “anointed” sermon in Acts on the “Day of Pentecost.” (Acts 2:14-41) It was a spontaneous (i.e. extemporaneous), Holy Spirit prompted, prophetic message from God, delivered without manuscript or notes…

Here’s just a brief, brief outline of its contents taken from the Acts account…

“Peter, standing with the eleven (apostles) lifted up his voice and addressed the crowd: “Men of Judea and all who dwell in Jerusalem, let this be known to you, and give ear to my words. These people (those who had just been ‘baptized in the Holy Spirit and were speaking in tongues’) are not drunk, as you suppose… But this is what was uttered through the prophet Joel: ‘And in the last days it shall be, God declares, that I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh…” (and then Peter used Joel 2:28-32 as his primary text)…

Then Peter proclaimed Christ to his audience – His life, His ministry, His death, burial and resurrection! He finished by saying “This Jesus God raised up… Bing therefore exalted at the right hand of God, and having received from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, He has poured out this that you yourselves are seeing and hearing! … God has made Him both Lord and Christ, this Jesus whom you crucified!”

The result? The Bible says, “When they heard this they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, ‘What shall we do?’ And Peter said to them, ‘Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit! For the promise is for you, and for your children, and for all who are far off, everyone whom the Lord our God calls to Himself … Save yourselves from this crooked generation!’ … So, those who received his word were baptized, and there were added that day about three thousand souls!”

Yup, I love “anointed” – Holy Spirit empowered preaching! I want to hear more of it! I want to do more of it!