Pastor Goforth

“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
A Bad Day – 9/11

December 31st, 2016

We are well past this year’s observance of 9/11 but somehow my thoughts for that day didn’t get posted, but got stuck in my “DRAFT” box. So I am sending them again.

A bad day? A tragic day? Certainly those things can be said and are true. Thousands of lives were lost that day. Lives were lost needlessly, but God never allows tragedy to pass without a victory plan for the other side.

I know a young man, like many young men and women the service of their country. He lost his legs in Afghanistan, in the war that has been a result of that fateful day in September. Yet on May 31, ever year since 2012, the anniversary of his “Alive Day”, he celebrates the “tragedy” in his own life. He thanks the perpetrator of such a great evil that forever changed his life. He gives thanks because it reshaped his life, gave him a new perspective, and opportunities he never would have had otherwise. So, he would have to trace back not just four years, but 15 years to fully express his gratitude.

Am I saying we should be thankful for that terrible day? Perhaps I am. It is a day that has reshaped our country of origin and the world forever. It has been an opportunity for the world to see what America is made of and what we are about. Yes, we are an imperfect country, Ungodly influence within our own ranks often saturates our thinking and action. However, America is still, thankfully, a country that believes in freedom, the rights that are inalienable, the equality of mankind, and that there is a divine mandate to protect those rights. We still protect the right to disagree, to verbalize that, and to believe differently. I also believe that this fateful day forced us to provide freedom, an opportunity for democracy, and freedom of thought and practice.

And wherever freedom is provided, the gospel follows. The people of God are ever ready to move into the smallest opening with the news that Jesus loves, Jesus saves, and Jesus transforms.
In the greatest tragedies in history, hope has been born. In the greatest suffering hearts are lifted, ears opened, and people are drawn to God’s provision in Christ. Oh the greatest injustice and tragedy was when a simple teacher was arrested one night with the help of a friend. He was put on trial for simply being who he was. He was beaten almost to the brink of death. He went through six trials, all breaking multiple national and spiritual laws. A sentence of death was pronounced not by the government court, but the court of public opinion in a bloodthirsty mob. He was paraded through the streets of his metropolis like a defeated tyrant, though he had never done wrong to any man or in the sight of God. He hung in the gallows on this day for six hours. He died and was buried

What a tragedy. What a travesty. But Tragedy brought Triumph. That travesty became an opportunity. Injustice provided grace. The merciless acts of some opened the door for the mercy of God. And he who knew no sin, became sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God. And so, because of the greatest act of evil, the greatest act of love came, so that if anyone be in Christ, he/she is a new creation. The old has passed, all things are made new.

Thank you God. Thank you Jesus, for the cross. Thank you that the cross isn’t the end of the story, because there is an empty tomb. Thank you that when this soul cried out, you heard my cry because of Christ. Oh, I am not comparing America to Jesus, but 9/11/01 was NOT the end of the story. I am grateful today that my country, will all of its faults, still hears the cries of the oppressed, and works to provide freedom. I am grateful for those who sacrifice themselves for others. It is not just a job, it is a calling for millions of military and first responders who do not run FROM the sound of tragedy, they run TO the battle. I am grateful for mission minded believers who leave the comforts of home to run to the lost with the gospel of peace. I am grateful for preachers who mount their pulpits today and proclaim the freedom of Christ for all who believe, all who receive.

Bad day? No Never
Short Thoughts On Preaching (for preachers/teachers)

December 29th, 2016

The privilege of Preaching or Teaching the Word of God is the greatest opportunity I have in ministry. Here are a few thoughts on making the most of that opportunity.

– Be in Touch with the Text – true to the text, context, interpretation, setting

– Be in Touch with your Audience – the same message in Romania, Germany, USA, El Salvador will be different for that audience

– Be in Touch with God – led by the Spirit – truly, don’t cop out and say “the Spirit led” if he did not
. And the Spirit will never lead you in contradiction to the rest of Scripture.

– Be a Reader – other sermons, books, secular media, other scripture both “related” and “unrelated” – English, Hebrew, Greek word definitions/tense – My Dad once said “when did you become a ‘Greek scholar’” to which I replied, “I’m not, but I can read”

– Be Imaginative – see this as a story, not a report, tell the story in a compelling way

– Be Creative – these two go together – there are many ways to say this. Involve the heart, mind, and imagination of the listener

– Be Challenging – every sermon should bring me to a crossroads – Revelation = Invitation

– Be Inspirational – I can’t motivate, but I can Inspire

– Be Focused – a series will have a “lens” by which you see the text. The lens generally comes from the purpose of the book or the thing you are trying to learn from it. Ex. – Philippians “I will rejoice” – Acts “Back to the Beginning, becoming a Twenty 1st Century Church” (i.e. what can the 21st Century church learn from the 1st Century Church?) – In a “one off” sermon, still find the lens of intent and don’t stray far from that. If the text doesn’t really say what you are trying to say, then go somewhere else.

– Be Relevant – but not tied to “relevancy”. Some preachers are so busy trying to be relevant that they don’t preach the text. The Word of God is ALWAYS Relevant. If it is NOT, then God has wasted his words and God never wastes his words. “my words will not come back void”

– Be Real – be yourself – you can get better, or emulate things you see in other communicators, but you need to be yourself. This is true in dress, words, and presentation

The Word of God is an authoritative gift from God into his heart, mind, purpose, and will. Let the Word speak. Let the Word divide. Let the Word offend. If you seek to speak, divide, offend, or teach out of your own wisdom, you might find you have wasted your time, or worse yet you are in opposition to the heart, mind, will, or purpose of God.

Thank you Lord for your Word and the privilege to proclaim it.
My Prayer For Them

December 19th, 2016
weekly staff devotion from December 12

John 17:20 My prayer is not for them alone. I pray for those who will believe in me … 21 that all may be one …”

There are so many things that could have been on Jesus’ prayer list the night before he was crucified. So many thoughts and concerns. But there he is in John 17 praying for US and praying specifically for unity.

Why?
- we were not meant to be alone
Remember Adam in Genesis 2:18 – it is not good for man to be alone. That is still true. If we are alone, we remain alone. If remain alone, the gospel isn’t spread. Paul and Barnabas had a famous falling out in Acts 15. Ultimately they disagreed on how they would progress in ministry and staffing and so they parted ways. They separated in ministry, but even then, Paul didn’t stay alone, nor did Barnabas. Barnabas took Mark, and I’m sure others. Paul took Silas, Timothy, and Luke joined them among others. They both moved forward in unity with others.
- We need unity
Jesus prayed Father, just as you are in me and I am in you, may THEY be in US …

If God, One yet Three, Three yet One, operates in that unified plurality of personhood, then how much more do we need to do the same thing. David sang “How good and pleasant it is when brothers dwell together in unity.” Psalm 133. But we can’t find unity with one another if we are out of sync with God. If we are in sync with God, then we will seek unity with each other. But what then about Paul and Barnabas? Well, a lot of commentators over the years have drawn up “sides” pro Paul or pro Barnabas. I am not a commentator, just a preacher, but I am of the opinion that in unity, they parted ways. They recognized that they had a different working style, different leadership style, and different expectations, and it was going to hinder the gospel if they remained together. You see, I believe it was THE GOSPEL that was their point of unity. Barnabas and Mark went to Cyprus. They didn’t go out on a crusade to win the argument or win the hearts of others to their style. They went on about the gospel. Paul and Silas went to Syria. They weren’t wasting time defending their separation, they were busy about the gospel. And yet Acts 15:40 says they were “commended by the brothers” . It was a unified body that sent them out though it sent them out separately. the Division of Separation doesn’t have to bring subtraction. If done correctly it can bring about addition. In the addition of members on the mission it brought about Multiplication in the Kingdom.
- Why Unity? For the Gospel
Because they themselves had believed the gospel, they desired to advance the gospel in unity, for the reason Jesus prayed so that the WORLD may believe.

Read it again so that the world may believe …

That should be our heartbeat. That should be our motivation. The question should always be, “will this cause a world to believe or disbelieve?” Lord I want to be one who encourages toward belief, not discourages belief.

John 17:23 I in them and you in me. May they be brought to complete unity to let the world know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me.

That the world may know

That the world may know