Pastor Goforth

This Is My Dream

August 28th, 2013

Dr. King had a dream. That dream inspired me growing up. I wrote a song on MLK Weekend in 2002

I had a dream, I woke by the sea, people all around me, far as the eye could see

I focused on the faces from ev’ry tribe and tongue, lifting up praises as one to the throne

And I cried “Father, what’s happened to the dream? Why don’t we have this freedom that I see?” It was Jefferson’s Declaration, Mr. Lincoln’s Proclamation, and Dr. King’s Enunciation of the Heart of the Savior of all when he prayed

“Father, let them be one, I am in you, they are in me, may they come to us in complete unity” he prayed

“Father, let them be one, that the world may believe that they can be free, may they understand, love is the key” This is my dream

That we shall overcome, we shall overcome, by the word of our testimony and the power of the blood, greater is he within me great is his love

There is a dream, there is a hope, that you’ll not be judged by the color of your skin, but by The Lord who lives within

I know what will be, up there by the sea, but why not now, why not today, why not you, why not me?

This is my dream

This Is My Dream (c) 2002 – Jim Goforth
Peace I Leave with You

August 28th, 2013

The night before Jesus was crucified he was giving important final words to his disciples. Granted, they didn’t understand what was about to happen, even though he had warned them of his coming death. These words were important final instructions as things were about to change for them. In the midst of whatever turmoil, trouble, and trials you are facing, Jesus says “PEACE, I leave with you, MY Peace, I give to you.” John 14:27. PEACE, MY PEACE … He adds “I do not give as the world gives” so “let not your hearts be troubled”.

What is our master saying to us? Is peace a concept? Think for a minute, how do YOU define peace? How do YOU give peace? Jesus says, I don’t give THAT way, so don’t LET your heart be troubled. What is Jesus giving us, in giving us peace? Could it be that it isn’t a WHAT … but a WHO? If you go back up one verse he says in verse 25, “But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name will teach you all things and will remind you of everything i have said to you. 27 Peace I lave you …” Now do you see it?

Peace, the peace that Jesus leaves, isn’t a what, it is a who. Peace is a PERSON. It is the 3rd Person of the Trinity, God, The Holy Spirit. We have him, if we have Christ. He gave him to us as a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God’s possession. (Eph 1:14) The moment a person gives themselves to Jesus Christ, receives his forgiveness and Grace, they HAVE Peace, in the person of the Holy Spirit.

So, if peace is not active then our focus is OFF the Person and the Reign of the Holy Spirit. We have to allow the Holy Spirit to Reign in us. Colossians 3:15-17 “Let the peace of Christ RULE in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful 16 let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts 17 whatever you do … do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him …” Do you see how it is? Peace is GIVEN to us in the person of the Holy Spirit. But we must LET him RULE in our hearts. He rules in our hearts as we respond to the WORD of God. Remember his job is to remind us of everything Jesus said. So we must KNOW the Word, we must MEDITATE on the WORD, MEMORIZE the word, and then LET it RULE in our hearts. Giving Thanks, because the presence of the Holy Spirit in our lives means we HAVE a Future, we have an inheritance, so what can the world do to us REALLY?

When peace is absent, it is because something in our life is operating apart from Christ. “LET” means we have to surrender to the Holy Spirit who lives in us.

Peace Absent = The Spirit is being Quenched in our hearts

Peace Present = Spirit Filled, Spirit Led

Allow the Word of God to run free in our hearts. Memorize, Meditate, Speak Scripture over your circumstance, then Stand on the Word until it becomes a present reality.

Faith is what you hold on to until Promise becomes Reality. If there is not peace in your life, there IS Peace In your Heart, HE is There. Look into His Face, Feel His Hand, Hear His Song

Zephaniah 3:17 The Lord your God is WITH you, he is mighty to save. He will take great delight in your, he will quiet you with his love, he will rejoice over you with singing

Peace I Leave With You
“Saba” – Hebrew – To eat, drink one’s fill – Satisfied

August 27th, 2013

Yesterday I preached on “Contentment” – and someone came up and asked me about a word they had found in the Old Testament for Satisfaction that is transliterated “saba”. It means to be “satisfied”. In Psalm 17:15 David said he would be satisfied to simply have the Lord’s image every day. Pretty good place to start.

So as I looked today, for this member at some of the passages that use this word, I was reading Isaiah 58:1-11. You should read it. The word is found in Isaiah 58:11. God promises his people a satisfaction, a filling i.e. a “holy fullness” that cannot be filled by anything else.

So, while our salvation IS based on his Grace alone, though faith alone, there ARE many aspects of the Christian life that are naturally conditional. And in this passage, in verse 11 he does promise to satisfy our needs and to strengthen us. He promises we will flourish like a “well watered garden”, like a never-ending spring. It says we can rebuild upon our ruins, repair broken walls and have restoration.

But it is a conditional promise.

IF we stop oppression and pointing our finger at others, which is not talking about prophetic preaching, but about “malicious talk”. If we ONLY point at others to condemn them, instead of to incite them to repentance, then God can’t bless

IF we “spend ourselves” for the hungry and oppressed … that is certainly in resources but it is deeper than that. Spend yourself, not just a check but signing over our lives in giving and serving.

Conditional

THEN our LIGHT will Rise in the Darkness. Night will become LIKE Noonday.

When the Church of the Lord commits to “True Religion” as James 1:26-27 describes, a controlled tongue, a commitment to the helpless and hopeless, and a commitment to personal purity, … THEN … Light Shines in Darkness.

What is the point of religious expression? What is the point of worship? Do we worship for selfish reasons? Here in Isaiah 58 God says that his people are “fasting” but for what reason? Obviously it was for selfish reasons, because when God doesn’t respond to their prayers, they ask “why did we fast?” “haven’t you seen?” They complain that God doesn’t notice and their self-denial just results in them fussing and fighting. Worship isn’t about ME, or it isn’t worship!

The physical purpose of fasting is that the “resources saved” in the fast can be spent on the hungry and oppressed, and clothe the naked. When we deprive ourselves and lift up others THEN that Light SHINES.

The Spiritual Response then is that God sees, hears, and responds accordingly. The GLORY then of God, that is His Reputation, protects us, surrounds us on every side. And we find that We Call and He Will Answer. We Cry for help and He says “I am Here” …

Dear ones, every time God says “I Am Here” we will be Satisfied, if not as we want, always as we need. His Grace of Presence is always sufficient.

Worship Him and find Satisfaction

This Is My Dream

Peace I Leave with You

“Saba” – Hebrew – To eat, drink one’s fill – Satisfied