Pastor Goforth

Rivers of Waters

September 6th, 2017

Rivers of waters … we have seen it this week, whether in person or on the media outlets

John 7:38 Whoever believes in me, as the scripture has said, streams of living water will flow from within him (NIV84)

How do we survive the waters? How do we survive the toxic floods, the rivers and storms of life? It is not from being prepared, physically or even emotionally. It is not by building a wall around yourself. The way we survive is about what is within. In this life, how do we survive? Oh, we talk a lot about eating right, exercise, to elongate life and improve the quality of life. But ultimately, even the perfect specimens of health too will one day die. It has been appointed man once to die, and then the judgment. And that judgment will not rate the quality of our physical body. Their will be no after death assessment of body fat mass index or whatever. So, if we all are going to die, can I survive death? How do I survive death, because we ARE going to live on in eternity. So, how do we survive in life and in death?

Standing at the graveside of his friend, Lazarus, Jesus said, (John 11:25) “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies 26 whoever lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believes this?”

Did you see the lynch pin? Did you see the key to unlock the door of life? If we are all appointed to die, and then the judgment, upon what is the judgment based? Jesus said, “He (she) who believes in me will live” Believes = pisteuo – to believe in, to have confidence in, to have faith in, to trust. Notice that it isn’t simply “be a person of faith”. No, my faith must be IN something that can do what I desire. I can believe that I can fly … but that won’t go very well. Or I can get IN a plane and actually fly. Jesus says “he who believes IN me will LIVE” = zao – to come back to life, to live again, to be resurrected. Praise the Lord … though we are dead, we can be resurrected. WHEN we die, we WILL be still living, if have have faith IN the only one who can guarantee us life … Jesus the Christ.

“But Pastor” Oh, I hear you out there, “But Pastor, sometimes I don’t get the pleasure, the relief of death to give me a passageway to real life. So, what do I do in the nasty now and now, while waiting for the sweet bye and bye?” Isaiah 43 (ESV) “But now, this is what the Lord says, he who created you … who formed you … FEAR NOT, for I have redeemed you …” (qal – to buy back) “… I have called you by name, you are mine…” Wow oh wow, have you ever felt like a forgotten dog at the pound? He HAS chosen US … called our name … and said “you are mine”. So, v2 “when (not if) you pass through the waters, I will be with you …” Oh, the waters will come in this life, but because we are chosen and have believed, we are NOT ALONE. “… and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you …” Sometimes we go through the rivers and sometimes they go through us, but we need not be overwhelmed = shataph – drown, overflow, gush out, flow out abundantly, to inundate. “… when you walk through the fire, you shall not be burned, and the flames shall not consume you.” v3 “FOR, I am the Lord your God … your Savior” = mosia – to be spacious, ample, broad, to set free, to give victory. Oh Dear Fellow Traveler … when the flood waters rise, and the rivers crest and change direction, and ends up in our front yard, when it seems that it is all closing in, how, where, can we find freedom, a spacious place, an ample space to be free? The freedom comes from within.

So, John 7:38, and Isaiah 43:2 teach us something. IF the waters come around us, rise over us, they don’t have to gush out from us. As a matter of fact they CANNOT, if we place our faith IN Christ. Why? It is because something else occupies that space. The ESV says “whoever believes IN me, as the scriptures have said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.”

The toxic waters flooding around can’t overflow or gush out because I have a river of life flowing out of me. And by the way, the river flowing from within isn’t just a metaphor, no the river is Somebody. V39 says he was referring to The Holy Spirit, given to all who believe. Hallelujah, when I believe, Jesus, gives me access (Isaiah 12:3) to drink from the well of salvation, and places his Spirit within me and streams of living water flow within me.

Spring Up Oh Well!
What an Opportunity

August 14th, 2017

So, in the growing face of division on the ethnic front, my frustration is often that the church is either silent, or so loud that you can’t hear, and generally loud about the wrong things.

However, in the reality that the church, especially the church of a lighter hue of skin, is often silent on these issues, there is an opportunity.

Do you ever have a friend who never says anything, and then they finally speak, and everyone just stops and listens? Well, silent church, it’s time to speak. It’s time for the church to be the church. It is time for the church to model Our Lord, humble ourselves and get into the equation, in order to draw men to God.

The idea of one group or another thinking that they have supremacy over another is ludicrous. The idea of differing “races” is first designed to divide us. The truth genetically is that there really is only one race, the human race. There is so little difference between differing ethnicities that you cannot divide us into “races” genetically. A difference in hue of skin is not enough to call for supremacy. We are different ethnicities, we are different nationalities, we are differing cultures, but even those are not limited to hue of skin or language spoken. Some of the greatest atrocities in history have been carried out in the name of supremacy. Even if supremacy were a reality, what should be the attitude of the one who thinks themselves supreme?

Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: Who being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in the appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death – even death on the cross! (Philippians 1:5-8)

The most Supreme Being in the universe, who has lived in and out of time for eternity, who created all things, who is himself completely pure and holy, did not consider his Supremacy something to be flaunted, but emptied himself, made himself nothing, took up the clothing of a servant, and served!

What should the church, the people of God be doing in the world? No less. We may be ourselves “innocent” of any wrongdoing, though that is probably not true, but still even if we are, there is action to be taken. We are given the ministry of reconciliation by God in 2 Corinthians 5. That, I believe, includes reconciliation between God and man, and people to people. Why, because Paul also says in Ephesians that the great mystery of the work of God is that people who were separate are brought together by God. People who were God’s Special people, and people who were not, are brought together by the work of Christ at the cross. How can WE do any less?

The expectation of God has always been that his people would be loving toward outsiders in an effort to bring them inside. Oh I am not talking about our right and expectation to defend ourselves against those bent on destruction and desolation. But the issue is that God always has a place for the outsider who desires to be in.

Homeless/Displaced, Fatherless, Faithless, Spouseless, Voiceless –

God has always reached out and always calls his people to do the same. Why? Because we have ALL been on the outside. We all needed to be brought in, and Christ has made that possible for all of us.

I don’t want to take time for an exhaustive exposition of the scriptures on this topic, but let me bring up a few

Exodus 22:22–24 (NIV84)

²² “Do not take advantage of a widow or an orphan. ²³ If you do and they cry out to me, I will certainly hear their cry. ²⁴ My anger will be aroused, and I will kill you with the sword; your wives will become widows and your children fatherless.

Expectation? Responsibility? Accountability? Yes, yes, yes.

Deuteronomy 10:18–21 (NIV84)

¹⁸ He defends the cause of the fatherless and the widow, and loves the alien, giving him food and clothing. ¹⁹ And you are to love those who are aliens, for you yourselves were aliens in Egypt. ²⁰ Fear the Lord your God and serve him. Hold fast to him and take your oaths in his name. ²¹ He is your praise; he is your God, who performed for you those great and awesome wonders you saw with your own eyes.

Did you see verse 19 “and you …” there is an expectation and a reason … “for you yourselves were … (so) fear the Lord … serve … hold fast … he is your God”

In Deuteronomy 16:11 – every category or division of persons are called to Praise and Worship God together

Deuteronomy 24:17–22 (NIV84)

¹⁷ Do not deprive the alien or the fatherless of justice, or take the cloak of the widow as a pledge. ¹⁸ Remember that you were slaves in Egypt and the Lord your God redeemed you from there. That is why I command you to do this. ¹⁹ When you are harvesting in your field and you overlook a sheaf, do not go back to get it. Leave it for the alien, the fatherless and the widow, so that the Lord your God may bless you in all the work of your hands. ²⁰ When you beat the olives from your trees, do not go over the branches a second time. Leave what remains for the alien, the fatherless and the widow. ²¹ When you harvest the grapes in your vineyard, do not go over the vines again. Leave what remains for the alien, the fatherless and the widow. ²² Remember that you were slaves in Egypt. That is why I command you to do this.

What does God think about our failure to join him in these things? Notice here what God says, AND that the response of God’s people is “Amen” (so be it)

Deuteronomy 27:19 (NIV84)

¹⁹ “Cursed is the man who withholds justice from the alien, the fatherless or the widow.” Then all the people shall say, “Amen!”

Psalm 10:14, 18 (NIV84)

¹⁴ But you, O God, do see trouble and grief; you consider it to take it in hand. The victim commits himself to you; you are the helper of the fatherless.

¹⁸ defending the fatherless and the oppressed, in order that man, who is of the earth, may terrify no more.

How do we understand love?

In 1 John 3:16-18, we see love, and see the expected response from those who know the love of God.

“This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us.”

Love requires action and is directed toward those who need it, not just toward those to whom we want to give it, or to those who give it to us. But if the scripture stopped there, Jesus did that, we would be left to decide if we should just say “thank you” or if something else was expected of us in response. But then the Holy Spirit inspired John to continue in v17 …

and WE ought to LAY down OUR lives for our BROTHERS …
Then speaking materially John says if we see our brother in need (having ability to meet the need) and do not meet the need, how can the love of God be in us?

Brothers and sisters in Christ, this takes the Spiritual response of Christ that entered the Physical Realm of laying down his life, then ties it to material needs … But the principle is there. If there is a need, and we CAN meet the need, but will not, how is that a reflection of one who is indwelt by the Spirit of God? So then John tells the Church what to do in v18 …

let us not love with words or tongue, but with action and in truth …

What should the church be doing and saying?

It is time for the church which is often silent, to speak up. Here is our opportunity. It is time for the church, which is often seen in the posture of kneeling in prayer, or standing in worship, to get busy walking in truth and acting in love. I tweeted out today, “if the church Lives Love, we earn the right to speak. When we do NOT love, we cannot speak, we lose our right to lead when we do not Live Love.”

So then, let me come back to two scriptures and close,

Psalm 146:5–10 (NIV84)

⁵ Blessed is he whose help is the God of Jacob, whose hope is in the Lord his God, ⁶ the Maker of heaven and earth, the sea, and everything in them— the Lord, who remains faithful forever. ⁷ He upholds the cause of the oppressed and gives food to the hungry. The Lord sets prisoners free, ⁸ the Lord gives sight to the blind, the Lord lifts up those who are bowed down, the Lord loves the righteous. ⁹ The Lord watches over the alien and sustains the fatherless and the widow, but he frustrates the ways of the wicked. ¹⁰ The Lord reigns forever, your God, O Zion, for all generations. Praise the Lord.

This is what God does. He is our hope, he is the hope of the one who is hopeless and will but turn to him. Remember Isaiah quotes God as saying “Turn to Me and Be Saved all the ends of the earth.” Oh that the Church of the Lord would live like he lives IN us. That we would be a place that upholds the cause of the oppressed, hungry, the prisoner, the blind, the broken, the displaced, the fatherless, the spouseless. If God stands with them and for them, we better get on God’s side.

Then … here is a vision for the church in the world today …

Psalm 68:1–6 (NIV84)

¹ May God arise, may his enemies be scattered; may his foes flee before him. ² As smoke is blown away by the wind, may you blow them away; as wax melts before the fire, may the wicked perish before God. ³ But may the righteous be glad and rejoice before God; may they be happy and joyful. ⁴ Sing to God, sing praise to his name, extol him who rides on the clouds— his name is the Lord— and rejoice before him. ⁵ A father to the fatherless, a defender of widows, is God in his holy dwelling. ⁶ God sets the lonely in families, he leads forth the prisoners with singing; but the rebellious live in a sun-scorched land.

Oh could we tread on thin ice here and put ourselves, as imitators of God, in this equation? Let me say it this way …

Let The Church Arise, may the enemies be scattered; may their foes flee before them. As smoke blown away by the wind, as wax melts before the fire, may the wicked perish before God. May the righteous be glad and rejoice, be happy and joyful. Sing to God, sing praise to his name, and rejoice before him. But may we be more than worshipers in a church building. May the church, modeling God, be a father to the fatherless, a defender of widows, believing we must, because God is on his throne in the Holy Place. May the church be God’s instrument for settling the lonely in our families, leading forth prisoners with singing instead of stealing their song. May their ever be room, for all, in our walls, who are needy and seeking. May there be NO ROOM, for those who will abuse and divide.

Let us, dear children, love, not just with words or with tongue, in silence and separation, but let us love with action and in truth, out of the church and into the streets.
Do Not Be Afraid of Them

June 27th, 2017
“Do not be afraid of them, for I am with you and will rescue you,” declares the Lord – Jeremiah 1:8

Do not be afraid of them … There is always a “them” or an “it”. What are you afraid of? Hear the words of the Lord, “do not BE afraid“. The good news is that it doesn’t say “do not fear.” Things will make us feel fear. Fright happens. Something or someone jumps out at us and we feel fear. A circumstance arises and we feel fear. But the encouragement is “do not BE Afraid.” There is a difference between a feeling of fear, and a state of being that is afraid. Fear that is a fleeting is natural. Fear that stays is a controlling force that will shape us, hold us back, and transform us into people who are only a shadow of what we are or can be.

The instruction, admonition, to Jeremiah comes in the midst of an argument between God and the soon to be prophet.

The First Word of the Lord – v5 “I appointed you as a prophet before you were born”

The First Word of Jeremiah – v6 “I do not know how to speak”

The Second Word of Jeremiah – “I am only a child”

So, God has a revelation and an invitation and Jeremiah’s response is “yeah, no. My age and my education are lacking.”

Then comes the …

Second Word of the Lord. “I didn’t ask you that”. v7 – “Do Not Say, ‘I am only a child’, you must GO … I Send … Say whatever I command.” God is saying, “I hear your arguments and you are right, you ARE young (inexperienced), and do NOT know what to say (uneducated), but I just said “Go, no experience necessary, and say, tell them whatever I tell you to say.” Jeremiah didn’t need to know anything, he just needed to repeat what God said, where God said “go”.

What is the instruction? “Go and Say.” And there lies the FEAR POINT … Go …

God was sending. That means leaving where I am and go. That means taking God’s word, in this case, to people that do not want to hear it, and so the unspoken word of Jeremiah is …

“I Am Afraid.”

I believe fear, in most forms, is based on one or a combination of lies we believe, “I can’t”, “I don’t know how”, “No one cares”, “no one knows.” Or “I am unable”, “I am uninformed”, “I am unloved”, or “I am alone.” Those are the lies that make us afraid. So it is with Jeremiah, “I am too young, I don’t know how,” Jeremiah is afraid and so comes the …

Third Word of the Lord – v8 “Do not be afraid of them”

This is no basis for fear. The way we counter the lies that breed fear is countering with truth. Scared of the dark? Turn on the light. Afraid of being alone? Find out who is with you. Do not be afraid, because …

“I” – Who is speaking? God Almighty. “I am with you. You are not alone. Speak what I say. You will know. I will rescue. I am Able.”

Do not be afraid of them, do not focus on them.

I am … well … “I Am”
- the Creator
- the God of Abraham, Isaac, Jacob
- the God of Moses and the Children of Israel
- the God of Joshua and the Promised Land
- the God of David, not Goliath
- I Am with you, instructing, sending, rescuing
I am Declaring this, not suggesting this. I, the Lord of Heaven and Earth, am Declaring. This is the word neum – a decision, a marker of authority. I, the Lord, have put a line in the sand, this is MY Declaration … and so comes

The Fourth Word of the Lord – v9 “Now”

“Since we have settled your weak concerns, your obvious unfounded fear, now …” “I am taking your words out of your mouth”. Fear, “I can’t”, “I am too young”, “I want to go”, all those words have to go … “Now, I have put MY words in your mouth.” So, God’s words, “go on mission, saying what i say”, fear replaced with confidence, lies exchanged for truth.

“I Appoint”. The same God who lays a marker says, “I have inventoried my army, and you are in my number. I have determined that you are mine and you have a value, purpose, and this is it.”

“I appoint you … for my ends.”

So the Lord asks, v11 – “What do you see?”

The first time God spoke all Jeremiah sees is himself in the mirror of his understanding. Now Jeremiah can look out … “I see the branch of an almond tree.”

And the Lord says “you have seen correctly”

Only when we banish fear and embrace the Word of the Lord can we see what he sees and say what he says.

And then it is as if we can hear the Lord saying, “Alright, now we can go somewhere … and v13 says, “The word of the Lord came … again.”
“He is Just Lost”

May 30th, 2017

Ian O’Conner reporting for ESPN today a aid “he is just lost in every possible way, literally and figuratively.”

The story hit yesterday of Tiger Woods’ latest scandal and as the details came out this morning it just got worse and worse. Everyone will be piling on, but I want you to know what I am hoping.

I am hoping that Tiger Woods wins 19 majors. Now if you know me you will know how strange that is. I am 52 and a lifelong golf fan. I grew up in Ohio. I am a Huge Jack Nicklaus fan. I am a single digit handicap golfer, was even employed as a teaching professional for a minute. I have a great appreciation for the golfer that Tiger Woods was. But I was never a fan. I didn’t like the hype, and I didn’t want him to beat Jack’s records. I didn’t want him to become the GOAT in golf, that was Jack’s domain. And it still is. Oh there are many great golfers, and many great for a time but whether Norman or Miller or Whomever, something always brought them down.

For Tiger to be the GOAT he would have to beat the record. It is the greatest of ALL time not just A time.

So there was a time when Tiger could be that arrogant guy that we saw on TV, and do the things we didn’t know were happening out of the spotlight, and still win. However, time, physical limitations, and these indiscretions have caught up with him, like an unseen foe in the night, and that greatness cannot just happen now.

Nevertheless, I hope Tiger wins 19 majors. Why? Because for him to win 5 more majors at this stage in his life, he will have to find his life. He will have to get his life together. He will have to get help and get healthy on every level. I, for one, pray that happens.

Jesus said “he who would find his life must lose it”. Jesus said “what does it profit a man to gain the world and lose his soul.”

Yes, Tiger is lost. He told police that he had been playing golf in Los Angeles, but he was in Jupiter, Florida. He has his coasts backwards, and his life too is upside down. If you are flying an airplane, and think you are right side up, but are upside down, when you pull “up” you will crash.

Yes, I am praying for Tiger. Praying that he will find the Author of Life. I am praying that he will turn to Jesus, and find that he has been there all the time.

Jesus said “I have come to seek and to save that which was lost.” Jesus said “I have come that you might have life, abundant life”

Tiger and countless millions who are lost and lifeless need the Seeking One who gives life.

Will we pray for them?

Will we tell them?

“Lord open Tigers eyes, open his ears, open his heart. Bring someone across his path today, and tomorrow, and the next, and the next, until he says ‘Lord, I believe’.”
Making the Right Decision

May 25th, 2017

Genesis 13:9 “Is not the whole land before you?”

Decisions and Opportunity

You most likely know the story. Abram had been told to leave his family and family home and go to a new place, a place of promise. Abram made a mistake in choosing to take his nephew, Lot, with him instead of leaving his whole family behind.

But now, in the land of promise, Lot’s people and produce were at odds with Abram’s people and produce. The land could not support them both, so they needed to part ways.

So, Abram says v8, “let’s not have any quarreling between you and me … for we are brothers. v9 … Let’s part company. If you go to the left, i will go to the right; if you go to the right, I will go to the left.”

So … it is often true for us … a decision is before us, but what we do will have far reaching consequences for us, as well as those close to us. What did Lot do?

v10 “Lot looked up and saw … the plain of the Jordan was well watered …(like Eden)”

v11 Lot chose for himself … and set out …”

v12 “Lot lived among the cities of the plain and pitched his tent near Sodom”

Have you ever been there?

Lot looked … but he didn’t examine, because v13 says “the men of Sodom were wicked and were sinning greatly against the Lord.”

You know the old saying “you can’t judge a book …” Well, when we simply go by what we see, we often get in trouble. Sometimes we miss the good, but sometimes we miss the bad and make poor choices.

Lot saw the land, but didn’t pay attention to the environment. He didn’t take into account the spiritual climate. He had a young family, and the choice affected them all.

When Abram left his family to go to a pagan land, he did so FOLLOWING God. He went LISTENING to God’s voice. God said “Go … to a place I will show you.” We don’t always know where God is going when he says “Go”, but if he is leading, then go, eyes on God. But that is not what Lot did … no …

v11 Lot chose for himself … and set out toward the east

again v9 Abram said “is not the whole land before you?”

Oh, we have the world in front of us. We have a world of opportunity, a world of decisions. But, Lot didn’t ask God! Lot CHOSE for himself. He made the decisions that HE wanted. He made the decision that he thought would best serve himself. Oh, but if he had just asked God.

Why did Abram and Lot have to part ways? v6 the land couldn’t support them … for their possessions were so great …” THEIR possessions were so great. Why? It is because God was blessing Abram for his obedience, and Lot was getting the overflow. God blesses obedience.

God doesn’t do as man does. he has wisdom that is beyond ours.

What if Lot had asked God? Do you think God would have told him about the spiritual environment in Sodom? Do you think maybe Lot would have been living in a different place instead of having to flee a place that was going to be wiped off the face of the earth, and erased from the sands of time?

Sodom was wicked, and worse yet, Sodom was on God’s timetable for judgment. I believe that was already set, but Lot, with the whole land before him, didn’t ask, didn’t investigate, didn’t listen, didn’t follow. Instead he looked, saw, and chose for himself.

The only choice for ourselves should be, “God, YOU are my God and earnestly I seek you.”

What might God have done for Lot if he would just ask and obey?

What did God do for Abram? v14 The Lord said to Abram, after Lot departed, “… Lift up your eyes from where you are and look, north, south, east, and west … all the land you see I will give you …”

v17 “Go, walk … for I am giving it to you …”

Would God have given all to Lot as he did to Abram? Probably Not. But the best place to be is where God says “Go”. Look up from where you are, and be committed to being where God is. Trust him. Abram didn’t decide to pick first. He was trusting in God, and not in what he could see or decide.

One square meter in the desert, in God’s plan, is better than a vast lush plain outside his plan.

Where you go, I will go
Where you stay, I will stay

For YOU are God.
Since We Have Confidence

May 5th, 2017

Confidence it is a challenging concept. We can have misplaced confidence. We can have our confidence destroyed in a bad public performance. We can have a lack of confidence in someone because of past performance. Or sometimes we don’t trust because of our own baggage, usually not even connected to this issue, but we fail to have confidence in one that may deserve our full confidence.

That’s the word here in Hebrews 10:19, “therefore since we have confidence to enter the most holy place by the blood of Jesus. By a new and living way opened up through the curtain that is his body

Sacrifices had been offered since the giving of the law. They followed set rules. If the sacrifice was unaccepted, the priest would die and the people would remain in their sin. But in Christ he was our High priest AND our Sacrifice. His offering was perfect and acceptable, and so he offered it. And no longer was it a curtain that divided us, but the blood of Jesus that opened the curtain to allow us access to our holy God.

V11 says that day after day they stood and offered the same sacrifices which did nothing to address the true problem of sin. But this priest, Jesus Christ, offered one sacrifice and offered it once for all. For all who would receive, and for all sin they had or would commit. Once for all people, once for all sin. And when he had offered that sacrifice he was able to sit down. Why because, as he said on the cross, “It Is Finished” “Paid in Full”. “Transaction complete’. “Battle won” “Purchase complete.” And so he has sat down until it is time to pick us up.

Notice the beautiful work. V14 says by one sacrifice, he has made perfect those who are being made holy. Such a beautiful picture of justification and sanctification. Without justification, a declaration of forgeivness and guiltlessness, there can be no sanctification, a state of perfection. So it is not a magic trick, or an immediate action order of GOD, it is a declaration of a project begun. The moment I trusted him, he began a work. And he who began a good work in me will be faithful to complete it in me. So v17 says he will not remember our sins anymore. Then he says that because of the completeness of the forgiveness there is never a need for an act of sacrifice again.

So we have confidence in the completeness of the work, and the acceptance of the one to whom it is offered.

V22 let us draw near with a sincere heart, in full assurance of faith. Guilty conscience is gone, bodies washed. What is this confidence we have? It is is the comprehensive powerful work of salvation in the cross.

So …. let us hold on hard to the faith because it is all we hoped it would be and so much more than we can dream, because it is based on him and not us

And … encourage, spur, one another to do the right thing

And … not give up meeting together

If I realize what he has done for me. If i realize the completeness, the comprehensiveness, I will hold on and live out the truth. I will not try and make it something it is not. I will not let my brother flounder, but pick him up and encourage him. I will not miss an opportunity for worshp and service, not because of me but because of what was done FOR me and has been placed in me.

Oh the glory of confidence, real authentic, rightly placed confidence

I have confidence in my savior, sacrifice, priest and the work he has wrought in me.

Where is your confidence? Can I introduce you to the only confidence worth having?
Unveiled Faces

April 22nd, 2017

2 Corinthians 3:18 (NIV84) And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his likeness with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.

Is my face veiled or unveiled?

Why would we have veiled faces? This verse is referencing when Moses came down from God’s glory on the mountain and the people couldn’t handle the brightness of God’s glory on his face so they veiled him in their presence and then he unveiled himself when he came into God’s presence.

As this image runs over in my mind this morning, let me just “rif” for a minute on where my thoughts are.

Why do we have veiled faces?

First thought is that of a bride whose face is unveiled when she is pronounced married and prepares to kiss her groom. We, those in the number of the redeemed, those who have believed in Christ, left our own way, embraced him as Lord, have unveiled faces. That moment when we received him, John 1:12, were given the right to become his children, but we also became part of the Bride of Christ. And so, Ephesians 1:13, when we heard and believed, we were included in Christ and given the Holy Spirit. So, as we received him as Lord, believing in our hearts, confessing with our mouths, Romans 10:9-10, we became the Bride. Oh yes, he knows who will truly receive him and they are the promised Bride, but every Bride has to move from promise to possession, with the confession of “I Do.” Then we are proclaimed HIS, and the veil is lifted and as we kiss toward him, he kisses toward us, and we are his Bride with unveiled face. Oh what a beautiful picture.

Another image is that of veiling because of shame. We don’t want to be counted among the openly wedded bride of Christ, we are ashamed of his name and so we cover our faces. We all, perhaps, at sometime have been guilty of doing what Peter did in the Garden when they asked “aren’t you one of his disciples?” And we, veil our faces, and say, “no you are mistaken, I am not his, I am just a guy like you.” What a shameful thing, at the coffee pot at work, or in the marketplace, or on the ballfield, or in the neighborhood, to veil his glory within us and say, “no I am not one of his.” The truth is, if we belong to Christ, we can’t really hide it, the world can see the glory peeking around the veil, we can change our talk, call down curses, but we protest too much, they know it, we know it, but there we stand with pretend veiled faces.

Another similar reason for veiled faces is when we are out of fellowship with Christ, and we veil our actions, hide ourselves and hope he won’t notice. Like Adam and Eve, in clear disobedience to the instruction of God, they ate the forbidden fruit, and then tried to cover their nakedness, and they hid in the garden amongst the trees, when it was time to walk with God. Oh we are often so guilty of the same aren’t we? When we sin, though a child of God, we need not try and clothe ourselves, for no clothes will do, save clothing ourselves in the Lord Jesus Christ. But we try, and we hide, and we hope Jesus won’t come by today, we hope the Holy Spirit was looking the other way, we hope the Father’s love will cause him to overlook it. But we know, like Adam, God will say, “Where are you?” It is not that God did not know, he was saying, “where are you supposed to be, come here, you are naked, let me clothe you.” And the wonderful truth for the forgiven child of God, sadly trying to cover their sin, with a homemade bandage, is that, 1 John 1:9, If we but simply confess our sin, he is faithful and just to forgiven us and cleanse us, to allow us to walk with unveiled faces again. Why? Because it is already provided in the cross, we just need to walk in it. Oh don’t let anyone lie to you and tell you that 1 John isn’t written to the church, the bride, because John calls himself “The Elder” or “Pastor” he is not writing to a lost world, he is writing to the redeemed, the Bride, and this promise is for every repentant one, but it is particularly written to the church.

Aother simple reason why our face is veiled, is already insinuated, and that is because one has never confessed Christ as Lord, believing in their heart that God raised him from the dead, Romans 10:9-10, they have never called on the name of the Lord for salvation, Romans 10:13. But you need not have a veiled face, the offer to be his bride is for you too. For every movie, or story ever written that found an attendant in the wedding, or a face in the crowd, that wished, hoped that they could take the place of the one being married, there is GOOD NEWS, the offer is for you too! As you hear the promises of love and provision, as you hear the officiant say “do you promise to love and obey, will you receive this ring?” All we must say is “yes, I Do!” And we become part of the Bride, faces unveiled, God’s great glory of redemption, and forgiveness, cleansing and restoration, is ours. Only Believe, only receive.

And so as I look back at the text, I thought of one more reason we veil our own faces, it is because, we don’t like what we see under the veil. We think, “I am not pretty enough, not handsome enough, and I have imperfections, so I must veil my face.” Oh and there the verse rings out the blessed truth …

And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his likeness with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.

There it is, we … all of the Bride, faces unveiled, are perfect within, but the outside still needs work. But the work is being done. when my face is unveiled, it is not me they see, but the glory of my Savior who loved me, chose me, called me, he loves me exactly as I am, but loves me TOO MUCH to LEAVE me this way. As I allow my face to be unveiled, he is, moment by moment, day by day, TRANSFORMING ME into HIS Likeness, with Ever-increasing glory. Oh I might not notice it from this moment to the next, but I can see a glimmer of it from this day to the next. I can seen an inkling of his glory, this year to the next. Oh Christ in me IS the hope of the glorification. It IS what I have been predestined to. What is God causing all things to work together for in Romans 8:28? It is revealed in Romans 8:29, those he forknew he predestined to be conformed to the image of Christ! Hallelujah there is it! Everything in my life is being used by Christ, because he loves me, because he knew I would be his, he is shaping and forming me so that my unveiled face will look like Jesus. So Romans 8:30 says those he predestined he called … justified … glorified. When I said “I Do” and he unveiled my face, and in worship I kiss toward him and he toward me, I am being transformed moment by moment, day by day, with ever-increasing glory. Ever single day, my unveiled face looking to him, shines his glory a little more, until that moment when I step into Gloryland and look and find that I look like JESUS !
“Oh how pastor, how can this be true for me … I can’t do that”?

You are right child you can’t, but remember this comes from the Lord, who is Spirit. The Lord Jesus is at work in you, and that is the hope, he has placed his Spirit in you to teach you, and remind you of all he has said. He is the one who has promised to make you look like Jesus. He is always a promise keeper, so take his hand, say “I do”, throw back the veil and see his glory revealed with ever-increasing glory.

Oh, there has been many a night camping, or early morning on the water fishing, when I began to see a slight glow in the eastern sky. It still looked like night, it certainly didn’t look like noon day, but the glow let me know something was happening. My experience told me that it would not always be night, and so the light came, with ever-increasing glory, the dawn came, with ever-increasing light, and eventually the glory of the noon-day sun filled the sky. So it is fellow-traveler, so it is that …

… we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his likeness with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit. 2 Corinthians 3:18
When You Offer …

March 14th, 2017

Romans 6:16 Don’t you know that when you offer yourselves to someone to obey him as slaves, you are slaves to the one whom you obey – whether you are slaves to sin, which leds to death, or to obedience, which leads to righteousness.

“I am not anyone’s slave!” Really? That’s what we say, what we think. But we are all slave to something / someone.

Slaves – doulos = servant, slave – (Lexham Theological Wordbook) a doulos is someone who is a slave and obeys the commands of his or her master. Like Matthew 8:9 “I myself am a man under authority, with soldiers under me. I tell this one, ‘Go’, and he goes, and that one, ‘Come’, and he comes. I say to my servant, ‘Do this’ and he does it.”

The one to whom we respond when they say ‘go’, ‘do’, ‘come’ that is the one to whom we are a slave.

Lexham says the idea of a slave carries the sense of belonging. For Paul “Christ has bought him and owns him”.

so, this doesn’t happen by accident v16 says “when we offer”. – Then we find ourselves slaves to a master we don’t want, perhaps we even loathe, and we ask, “how did this happen?” It happened at a moment in time, a moment when …. “when we offer”. Paristemi = to make available, to provide, to present to (Greek English Lexicon) without necessarily involving actual change of ownership. Oh sometimes we have offered ourselves to one to whom we don’t even belong. Oh somebody …

And there it is. It is when we make ourselves available, when we come near, we offer, yield, say “here I am”, when we offer ourselves to someone to obey – hypakoe = to obey, listen to, to heed, to obey

Then you are a slave / servant

Regardless of the master, good or bad. Regardless of the outcome, holy or sinful. Regardless of the timetable, eternal or temporal. In that instant we are slaves to a master.

Whether slaves to sin or slaves to obedience. It is an interesting choice of words that the Holy Spirit inspires in Paul, the one we obey is either sin or obedience.

Wait, I thought who I obey is what determines. Yes … but if we obey sin, then we are in actuality slaves to DISobedience. We are obeying disobedience. “Sin” is the word hamartia which means to “miss the mark” like an arrow missing a target. So, when we become slaves to sin, we are committed to disobedience, we are committed to missing the target. And Romans 6:23 says that the wage of missing the target is death. So here it says sin “leads” – eis = markers of a change of state.

“Don’t you know” v 16 begins … this is not inconsequential. When we offer ourselves to someone it is a marker leading to a change of state from … to … to … for .

Sin will seek to lead us from freedom to bondage, and from bondage to death. James says that temptation leads to sin, and sin when fully grown gives birth to death.

Oh but Jesus says “But I came (Hallelujah) that you might have LIFE”!

WOW, let me stop and shout for a moment! YES LORD!

But if we reject the master that leads us to miss the mark. If we commit to obedience, to hitting the mark, which is only found in surrender to the justification of Jesus (Rom 3:24) Then Obedience, hearing, listening, taking captive every thought and making it obedient to Christ (2Cor 10:5-6), then we CAN demolish ever pretense, every argument that comes against the knowledge of truth. Oh satan is a conman. He will lie to you, offer you 1000s of arguments, and alternate realities, counterfeits, but they are all ways that are committed to missing the target, and they lead to death!

But in Him, Christ, is life and that life is the light of the world. Walk not in darkness and death. Walk in the light as he is in the light and we have fellowship with one another and the blood of Jesus his son, purifies us from all sin … if we confess our sins he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness (1 Jn 1:7,9)

So vv17-18 “But thanks be to God that, though we used to be slaves to sin, you wholeheartedly obeyed the form of teaching to which you were entrusted. You have been set free from sin and have become slaves to righteousness.

When we offer … this moment … “Here I am Lord, reveal the righteousness that you have placed within me.”
Grace and The Righteousness of God

January 11th, 2017

Romans 3:22 This righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe

v9 says all of us are under sin. It means we have an obligation to, we answer to the authority of, sin.

v10 quotes from Psalm 14, no one righteous …

v11 – no one understands

v12 – all have turned away

v20 – says that the law cannot make us righteous, but on the contrary, reveals ours sin.

v21 – But now … praise the Lord for the but now … in scripture. now a righteousness from God has been revealed, made known.

So, how can we get in on this? I don’t just want to be a better man, I want God and I want to LIVE. So, a revolutionary idea, a righteousness was made known apart from the law, but prophesied to by the law and the prophets.

How do I get in on it?

v22 – the righteousness FROM God, comes THROUGH FAITH, TO all who BELIEVE. Salvation from sin, the imparting of His righteousness is completely an act of grace BY God, THROUGH the power of the Holy Spirit, IN the sacrificial work of Christ. It is ALL provided by our triune gracious God, but it still has to be received, appropriated, by me. But how? It is through faith to all who believe. Both words there are from the same root. One is a noun, the other a verb. The righteousness of God comes by God’s gift. But God’s gift only comes by pistis (faith) and that is convinced determination, that I have a deficit, a debt, a sentence, and that the provision of the cross can wipe out my debt. Then I must have willingness to make it my own by pisteuo, the verb action of believing, placing my faith in someone or something.

v22 – to all … there is no difference . I am not better or worse as a sinner. Nor better or worse at the decision of faith. We are all sinners, that is we are those who miss the mark of his glory v 23, but when I exercise faith through the action of believing, then i am freely justified v24 BY GRACE.

v25 – Because God presented him (Jesus) as a sacrifice of atonement … to demonstrates his justice. It is like Abraham who offered Isaac, on the same mountain by the way, where David bought the threshing floor and also offered a sacrifice. On that same hill then, God offered HIS son. Remember David said, there, “I will not offer anything that costs me nothing“. So God, so Christ also would not offer anything that cost them nothing. Like a priest offering a sacrifice, God offered Christ. All of those sacrifices before, in the law, were NOT salvation by works though. They were still Grace too because God accepted them, v25, according to his forbearance. The word is anoche – patience … he left those previous sins unpunished. The law didn’t pay the penalty, it only delayed the penalty. But God is JUST, as much as he is LOVE. So, justice must be satisfied. So, if we receive it, then God applies it to, v26, those who have faith in Jesus.

v27 – and that excludes boasting in MY actions, but ONLY in my faith. because

v30 it is GOD who justifies us all BY FAITH.

Yes Grace

Yes Faith

so we respond … “hooray, I don’t have to live a life of obedience to nor accountability to that Old Law. I don’t have to live obedience in action, forget the Old Testament Instructions and law, they are outdated and not necessary.”

WAIT!!

v31 – do we, then, nullify the law by this faith? “nullify” – katargeo – abolish; set aside, wipe out. Is that what Grace does? … Not at ALL! Rather, we uphold the law. – “uphold” is the word histemi – maintain, accept the validity of …

We do not ignore or abolish it, we are still people of faithfulness to the commands and expectations of God, not FOR our salvation, but BECAUSE of our Salvation.

And that is the word about Grace and the Righteousness of God. Don’t believe the messenger who says that Grace mean’s freedom to do whatever you want. It is not what Paul teaches in Romans.

What a wonder his grace, a wonder that he would love us, a wonder that he would receive us, a wonder that faith, enables us to enter into the wonder of Grace.
Whatever Happens – A Good Word for the New Year

January 1st, 2017

I preached this sermon a few years ago. My mind went there today so I am sharing it. Feel free to pass it alongPhilippians 1:27-30

Whatever Happens

Not a Blast of Hurry

Missionary J. O. Fraser who worked among the Lisu peoples of China, once commented about the necessity of waiting on the Lord to do His work without the frantic, panicked rushing about that characterizes much of our labor. He said:

In the biography of our Lord nothing is more noticeable than the quiet, even poise of His life. Never flustered whatever happened, never taken off His guard, however assailed by men or demons in the midst of fickle people, hostile rulers, faithless disciples—always calm, always collected. Christ the hard worker indeed—but doing no more, and no less, than God had appointed Him, and with no restlessness, no hurry, no worry. Was ever such a peaceful life lived, under conditions so perturbing?*

So, there are certain verses in scripture that are “the bar” for us to look as a standard.

Elsewhere in scripture, we are told to “love as I have loved you.” We are told to “forgive as God in Christ forgave us.”

Those are bars by which we decide if we are tall enough to ride this ride.

So, Paul remember is speaking “To All The Saints” … so he is speaking to Christians … This is not a “bar” in order to receive salvation … but because we have heard God’s voice, because we have responded in faith, because we have received his grace …. Because of all of that, there is a BAR for us … a standard

Look at it, read with me the end of the chapter, 1:27-30 – READ it

Who is he talking to? You Together … “Conduct yourselves” … Again, I said last week that WE are a WE … so for FBC, a group of saints working together, we have something that we are striving for as we go forward rejoicing together.

So … Look at somebody right now and say “Pay attention, this is FOR US” …

So Paul says “Whatever Happens” here in the NIV84

NASB and ESV says “only” – HCSB has “Just one thing”, and the NLT “Above all”

It is the word – monos = only, alone, throughout

It is an adverb describing the verb “conduct” .

As you conduct yourselves, church … Conduct yourselves singularly throughout, every time, regardless of the circumstance

Every season, every circumstance, every challenge, every triumph, tragedy, trip, in Everything, Every Time, in every way …

These are certainly conditional instructions, “if … then …” but there are certain things … And Paul seems to be laser focused in this letter on the things that do not change regardless … i.e. Rejoice always

So, here are some things then … Whatever Happens …

1. Conduct Yourselves

Remember Paul said “for to me …” life is Christ

So, he says that means that I must conduct myself in a certain manner. This is a certain manner …

This word is interesting …

Politeuomai = system of government, behave, live, lead one’s life

So, what will be the governing force for us? What will legislate our actions toward one another, toward the world, toward the image of Christ in the dark, in the light?

He says …

A. A Manner Worthy

This “conduct yourselves in a manner”, pertains to a member of a body, a person with a title has a responsibility. We hear criticism of a President saying “that is just not presidential” … I’m sure you have been told to live like the uniform you wear … “You are a Soldier”, “You are an Airman”, you “represent the United States of America.”

Paul uses this word in Acts 23:1 “I have fulfilled my duty to God in all good conscience to this day.”

Paul was a man with a sense of duty … Paul was saying that every day, at the end of the day, I can lay my head down and know I have done my full duty. Kenneth Wurst quotes John’s pupil, Polycarp, “if we perform our duties (same word) as simple citizens, he will promote us to a share in his Sovereignty”

So … Citizens of Heaven … members of the Family of God … Often when the boys would leave the house, just as they got to the door, I would say “hey wait, come here … don’t forget you are a Goforth …”

Paul says, “you are a member of the body of Christ, you are a citizen of heaven … Live like it”

There is a pattern we should follow, there is an obligation for us to fulfill, a manner worthy …

B. Of the Gospel of Christ

Where does the ability to rejoice come from? The Gospel.

You know, I don’t understand some Christians …

– I don’t understand ANGRY Christians. You know they walk around like someone took the last lollipop. They act like they are angry that they have to be good or something.

Angry Christians … is that worthy of the Gospel?

– I also don’t understand SAD Christians either, the slightest thing doesn’t go their way, and they are sad. It’s like they were just told that they weren’t God’s favorite. It’s like they opened a box of cracker jacks and no ring. It’s like you just came down to breakfast and found their little sister got the toy from the box of Cereal. Their bottom lip is out over a 4 cent toy, while they live in the greatest house and are members of the greatest family.

Sad Christians are not living in a manner worthy of the gospel.

– I also don’t understand Frightened Christians. They live like they aren’t sure if God will work it out. They aren’t sure he is Sovereign.

Scared Christians aren’t living in a manner worthy of the Gospel.

What is the Gospel? What is the Good News of Christ?

The Gospel

While we were Still Sinners, separated from God, hopelessly lost and headed to hell, Jesus Christ was appalled and wrought salvation with his own hand. He left Heaven, born of a virgin, lived a perfect life, demonstrated his divinity with miracles, counted the cost of our sins, and paid the debt fully with his death on the cross. He forgave our sin, removed the guilt. He imputed righteousness to our account, he was resurrected on the 3rd day proving his power over death, and promising me resurrection as well. He has made us rightly related to God, his Children now by right given, receiving full inheritance, and an eternal place in his home, and right now he is at the right hand of the Father, and one day will return to take his own to where he has prepared a place for them.

That is the Gospel … Live in a manner, conduct yourselves, like that is a REALITY to You …? And so Conducting in a manner worthy, we are living

2. Confirmed In The Faith

Paul says if you live this way … if you act like you belong, He will know that you …

Stand Firm

I have to say that Angry Christians, Sad Christians, Frightened Christians, sometimes make me wonder about their Faith …

Oh yes, we all get angry, we all get sad, we all get frightened, that is our humanity showing. But the angry one, you know all the time angry, may not know the Joy of the Lord which is our strength.

The Always Sad one, may not understand that Christ leads us in Triumph, that I can taste and see that he is Good. They may not know the Satisfaction of God as my portion.

The always scared one may not know The One who says “be not afraid, I will never leave you or forsake you.”

If you know him, Stand Firm in the Faith

If following him brings suffering your way,

Stand Firm

Philippians 1:29 (NIV84) says

29 For it has been granted to you on behalf of Christ not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for him,

Did you hear that “it has been granted to you … on behalf of Christ, not only to BELIEVE on him but also to SUFFER FOR him.

*Hey honey, we just got an invitation in the mail. The return address says “The Lord Almighty, Heaven” …

“Well, Open it”

“it says, Greetings Jim Goforth, it has been granted to you, on behalf of Christ, to Believe on him, and to SUFFER FOR him”

“Amazing … wait what?

Yes Two Gifts of Grace

– Salvation in Christ

AND

– Suffering for Christ

SO …

Stand Firm

Not stand firm UNTIL things don’t go my way … No … Whatever Happens I will Stand Firm

When things aren’t how I like, when I’m mad, I’m sad, I’m scared … stand firm …

Exodus 14:13 (NIV84)

13 Moses answered the people, “Do not be afraid. Stand firm and you will see the deliverance the LORD will bring you today…”

2 Chronicles 20:17 (NIV84)

17 You will not have to fight this battle. Take up your positions; stand firm and see the deliverance the LORD will give you, O Judah and Jerusalem. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged. Go out to face them tomorrow, and the LORD will be with you.’ ”

Psalm 20:7–8 (NIV84)

7 Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the LORD our God. 8 They are brought to their knees and fall, but we rise up and stand firm.

Psalm 40:2 (NIV84)

2 He lifted me out of the slimy pit, out of the mud and mire; he set my feet on a rock and gave me a firm place to stand.

Proverbs 10:25 (NIV84)

25 When the storm has swept by, the wicked are gone, but the righteous stand firm forever.

That’s the manner of living, whatever happens for the saints

That’s the vision for the saints at FBC

It is the “bar of gratitude” for the Grace, for the Gospel, willing to stand in any circumstance

Whatever Happens – Stand Firm

You can’t stand firm and proclaim if you aren’t convinced,

but I stand because I know …

You can’t stand firm unless you are Convinced

I Know …

Psalm 20:6 (NIV84)

6 Now I know that the LORD saves his anointed …

Psalm 139:14 (NIV84)

14 … your works are wonderful, I know that full well.

Psalm 140:12 (NIV84)

12 I know that the LORD secures justice for the poor and upholds the cause of the needy.

Ecclesiastes 3:14 (NIV84)

14 I know that everything God does will endure forever…

Romans 7:18 (NIV84)

18 I know that nothing good lives in me…

2 Timothy 1:12 (NIV84)

12 … Yet I am not ashamed, because I know whom I have believed, and am convinced that he is able to guard what I have entrusted to him for that day.

So, FBC Saints, Whatever happens …

Every time, throughout, Conduct yourselves like citizens of Heaven, Convinced of your faith and Every Time … We the Church in Ktown, fellowshipping in a Diverse Family of Christ Followers, Faithful to the Great Commission and the Great Commandment, we MUST …

3. Contend for the Faith

When, “whatever” happens to us … we need a rally point …

Israel was battling against Amalek in Exodus 17. God told Moses to keep his hands raised up and God would give them Victory as long as Moses hands were raised.

After Victory, Moses built an altar and named it “Jehovah Nissi”, the “Lord My Banner” the place around which we rally when we are under attack

Whatever Happens, we will rally together to contend for the Faith …

A. United Battling Together

– Around the Gospel

Oh too often the Saints have a pet project, and sometimes it is honorable, sometimes it is not, but it must be Gospel Centric. If what we fight for doesn’t have the Gospel as its message and salvation as its ultimate end is just wasted time, spiritually speaking. So when whatever happens, we rally around the Gospel … we may not agree on style, we may not agree on methods, but we can agree on the Gospel, can’t we?

“contending as one man” NIV84

“striving side by side”

This word is

– Synathleo = struggle along with.

Robertson says this is “ striving as in an athletic contest”

“struggle along with” – Rallying togetheraround the advancement of the Gospel, together … when we are not unified we stand like a one or two legged chair.

Psalm 133 says How good and pleasant it is when brothers dwell together in unity.

Nehemiah 8:1 says the people gathered unified in purpose and called for the Word of the Lord.

We gather here every week to hear God’s word and leave here unified around the gospel so that we can Strive Together, contending as one man, struggleing alongside

Whatever happens, if we are the graced of God, we are going to suffer the attacks of the evil one, because we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but rulers, authorities, powers, and forces of this dark world. If there is no struggle, then we aren’t going against the flow of evil. If we aren’t experiencing the struggle then maybe we aren’t on the narrow way.

V30 “You are going through the same struggle you saw I had and now hear I still have”

So, we strap on the Armor of God: Rally to the Banner of the Gospel and we can do so …

B. Unafraid of Opponents

v28 ”without being frightened”

pytro = to be intimidated, scared, frightened, afraid ..

Come on … this is most dangerous church in the World … I know there is no one afraid here

Hebrews 10:38–39 (NIV84)

38 But my righteous one will live by faith. And if he shrinks back, I will not be pleased with him.” 39 But we are not of those who shrink back and are destroyed, but of those who believe and are saved.

1 Corinthians 15:57–58 (NIV84)

57 But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. 58 Therefore, my dear brothers, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.

Whatever Happens

1 Corinthians 9:12 – “… we put up with anything rather than hinder the gospel”

Whatever Happens … we are ready for whatever

We will serve through whatever

1 Corinthians 9:12 says we can put up with anything

How could Paul say he could put up with anything?

Because we have our eyes, hearts, mind, hands, knees focused on the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

When we become Mad, Scared, Angry, it’s because we have shifted our gaze.

If I am supremely focused on the Cross of Christ, the promulgation of the Gospel, I can survive whatever happens, I can put up with anything …

1 Corinthians 9:19–24 (NIV84)

19 Though I am free and belong to no man, I make myself a slave to everyone, to win as many as possible. 20 To the Jews I became like a Jew, to win the Jews. To those under the law I became like one under the law (though I myself am not under the law), so as to win those under the law. 21 To those not having the law I became like one not having the law (though I am not free from God’s law but am under Christ’s law), so as to win those not having the law. 22 To the weak I became weak, to win the weak. I have become all things to all men so that by all possible means I might save some. 23 I do all this for the sake of the gospel, that I may share in its blessings. 24 Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize.

I have a part in the presentation of the gospel, so do you in example, in word, in deed, we are part of portraying the Gospel and I don’t care how High Profile it is. I don’t care how clean it is, I care not about difficulty or Ease of service … I am focused on the end …

An unknown farmer plants his wheat seed. He nurtures it, waters it, and prays a lot. It sprouts, stalk grows, it flowers, it matures, it is harvested, sold, processed, purchased again. Then the flour from the seed is sifted, mixed with ingredients, made lovingly into bread, sold at the market, someone buys it and takes it home, they smile, take a bite and say “wow that is delicious”.

Somewhere, the unknown Farmer Smiles

Waiting for the Smile, Heart Set on the Smile, is how the Farmer makes it through Whatever … and that governs his life for the glory of God