Pastor Goforth

The Kingdom of God is Like This

February 25th, 2025
Mark 4:26-34 – We’ve heard Jesus talk about four kinds of soil – Hard, Rocky, Thorny, and Good. Three of the four produce, but one produced nothing and one produced much fruit.

satan is at work and desires to steal seed before it ever has opportunity to germinate. Distress and persecution thwart growth of willing plants with no roots, they receive with joy, but too many things hinder deeper roots. Worries of this age and the deceitfulness of material things and misplaced desires choke out the seed sown among the thorny, weedy ground. Then there is good ground that produces good fruit. In all cases, there is work to be done that can give life and increase.

Do we see the revelation? Are we willing to do the work? We have to Pay Attention. To the level that we “take heed”, it will be measured out to us 4:24.

As we read this last part, casual reading can give false understanding. This is not teaching lazy husbandry… i.e. toss out the seed and go to bed… don’t do anything until the harvest. No, I don’t think so. But it is teaching us to DO what we know and Trust God for his part.

Certainly over the centuries we have gotten educated on how to prepare and produce more effectively, but we still have to trust the Lord. Yet still, the soil needs to be prepared. Seeds need to be gathered. Seed needs to be scattered on the prepared ground – but it is Still God who makes it sprout, “though (we) don’t know how”. The soil produces a crop by itself, yes, but we can prepare it so there is greater opportunity.
- Sprouts need to be nurtured and understood – “Blade… Head… Full Grain”. We need to know the health, know the development of the sprouts.
- Then “as soon as” (euthus = straightway, early, immediately, just then) Are we paying attention? Are we ready when time is ripe? Are we on time with where the sprout is in the process? “as soon as” means we are in time with the development. When the crop is ready, we don’t have time to wait… it is ripe now.
- Send for the sickle –
All of this long passage is talking about the business of God. We must be IN TUNE, ON TIME, With TOOLS, and TEND to the Master’s Business.

Some scripture referencing use of a sickle are “wrath” passages, refering to how God will one day make final judgment on the wicked who refuse his grace. Yet even those passages speak about the process and the urgency of timing.

Joel 3:13 says swing the sickle because harvest is Ripe… Come trample the Grapes because the winepress is full

The vats overflow because the wickedness is extreme. Yes it’s talking about judgment, but notice the process and timing.

Plant, nurture, trust the Lord, but In Tune, you don’t harvest the “blade”, or the “head”, or even the “full grain” that is not yet mature… but WHEN it’s ripe… swing the sickle

He says, “come”… you can’t stay at the house when the field is full of ripe fruit. When the ripe fruit is gathered, you can’t leave it, it has to be transformed into product. In every stage, if we don’t work at the business of the Master, the product is left unfinished.

Whether we are talking about grapes or wheat… or even sheep… they all have an expected outcome. Are we doing the work?

In TUNE

On Time

With Tools

Tend to the Master’s Business until he comes and says, “well done”.

Might not seem like much up front. He shifts in vv30-32 to talking about a little Mustard seed. It doesn’t seem like much, but it turns into a large plant in the garden. Leave the final size in his hands, do what we are commissioned to do.

Then John reminds us in v34 that Jesus would go into much more detail in private with his disciples. If we will Draw Close to the Lord, Ask the questions, we will hear answers, and prove we are disciples.

Oh the Kingdom Business – Thank you Lord for “foolishly” including us.
What do you do with a Lamp?

February 5th, 2025

Read Mark 4:21-25 – we have been in this chapter for a couple of weeks now. Light, Lamps, and Lampstands are scripture images of importance.

If you haven’t read my last two posts here in Mark 4 – please go back and read them so this all fits together.

In Revelation 1:13 and 20 Jesus is seen walking among the lampstands and those lampstands are identified as the Church.

In Mark 4 Jesus has begun speaking in parables to large crowds to spark interest and to encourage those who wanted to know more to seek him out privately for fuller revelation.

Already in this passage, he has talked about casting seed, and for different kinds of soil encountered by the Sower. We have looked at that and made the observation that 3 of the 4 types of soil produced growth, but only one produced a good crop.

Jesus then explained it in more depth to those who came to him in private conversation seeking deeper truth.

Then he “abruptly” seems to change the metaphor from seeds to a lamp, in v21. is a lamp brought in to be put under a basket or under a bed? – NO he isn’t changing the subject, he is making an observation about the revelation. He is saying, “I’ve taught you something, what will you do with it?” Because in v26 he goes back to talking about the seed and harvest.

The question then is what do we do with light?

In Revelation 1:20 the church is seen as a Lampstand – lychnia. A GOLDEN lampstand, but still just a vessel for display of light. As a church, we have light, but we are not the source of light. In Matthew 5:14-16 Jesus talks about light, lamp, and lampstand, but let’s not get too far chasing a rabbit.

Jesus is saying, “I’m giving you revelation here about light from the lamp, what will you do with the revelation, will you shine it or ignore it?”

What do we do with light? It’s like when James talks about the Word of God being like a mirror and we need to do something with what we see, or will we walk away and forget? When you wake up in the morning, and look in the mirror, will we comb our hair, or just imagine we look like our best photo on the wall, and go away with bedhead?

The Holy Spirit gives us Light, he Reveals Jesus to us, and his work in the world. We can be lit by the revelation and become light – (Phos) as in Matthew 5, but we are not the source. We are not the Lamp, we are light from the Lamp (lychnos), and we are Lampstands (Lychnia) who just hold up and shine forth the light.

So, with this light about the work of Sower with Seed and the Soils, Jesus asks: “do you bring in a lamp and put it under a basket or under the bed?”

I had to laugh at that image and think, there are some churches where the only fire in then is when they hide the lamp under the bed, catch “on fire” but they are burned up. Their only “fire” is on their tails as they run out. That made me laugh and then made me tear up a bit.

Will we hide the light of revelation here? NO! Let’s take the truth that Christ is revealing… put it on our stand, read, learn, adjust to what we see, and let it SHINE, change us, transform us.

Then v23 – if anyone has ears to hear… let him Listen

v24 – and he said to them PAY ATTENTION to what you hear

Pay Attention is the word blepo = beware, careful, consider – and is in the present active imperative – So Jesus is saying this is IMPORTANT, and needs to be done RIGHT NOW. Young Literal says take heed. NIV – carefully consider

This is important – what is the light being given? Be Careful, Pay Attention and Adjust to it!

If you are outside on a stormy night, in complete darkness, trying to get home, and lightning flashes and in that split second you see you are dangerously close to a Cliff… you need to Take Heed, and Give Care, Pay Attention to your Steps.

If we receive instruction, what will we do with the light?

Then here Jesus speaks of Conditional Results to How we respond to the Light… v24 by the measure you use it will be measured to you. What do we do with the instruction we have will determine the proportion of results. Then v25 whoever has, more will be given, whoever does not have, what he has will be taken.

Well, that doesn’t seem fair. Oh yes, it is. When you put this with the revelation regarding sowing, seeds, and soil, I cannot help but process this in a couple of way. If I have lots of seed, and lots of land, then just cast away and let the 4 soils do whatever they will… BUT… if we have limited land and limited resources, then develop the land you have to it’s fullest and use the resources in the best way possible for harvest.

“Pay Attention”, Jesus says. If we do the most with the light, with the resource, and see the result… God will enlarge our measure of responsibility. But if we hide the light, fail to use the resources, fail to develop the land, then he will invest his resources elsewhere…

And then notice the beginning of v26 and I’ll pick up there next week…

The Kingdom of God is Like This…

Oh my…
The Secret of the Kingdom

January 29th, 2025
Mark 4:11 – Jesus has just told the parable of the Sower, the Seeds, and the Soil… and The Twelve and other serious disciples come to him alone for instruction. They asked and he answered – the secret of the Kingdom of God has been given to you. To whom? It’s given to those who seek it, who come close, who ask for answers.

Why are there “secrets”? The word mysterion – isn’t like a “who done it” mystery, but something that has been hidden and now is revealed. Why hide it? Well, partly because we are “children” and our understanding is limited. Then parents don’t always tell children everything, you stay with what matters and in proper timing can be understood.

The scriptures tell us parts of the story of God and Man, but there is a decidedly Israeli perspective because they were the “chosen” people of God. God was doing something through them, though, for ALL of mankind. In heaven will be an innumerable multitude from EVERY people, but God was using the descendants of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob to produce the line through which Jesus would come for all, for any who would believe.

Secrets are also mysteries because God so chooses, and he is Sovereign and thus not required to tell, to reveal, everything.

Yet – if we will come, if we will listen, then mysteries can be revealed

The Sower sows a Seed, and we who have come, have understood, want to join in the revelation of the mystery.

Even the awful reality of the cross was advanced because the mystery was hidden. 1 Corinthians 2:7–9 (CSB) — 7 On the contrary, we speak God’s hidden wisdom in a mystery, a wisdom God predestined before the ages for our glory. 8 None of the rulers of this age knew this wisdom, because if they had known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory. 9 But as it is written, What no eye has seen, no ear has heard, and no human heart has conceived— God has prepared these things for those who love him.

If God didn’t keep parts of the plan a mystery, the cross doesn’t happen, our sins are not redeemed. He didn’t force the unjust killing of Christ, but used the unjust action to bring justification for all who receive. v9 God has prepared these things…

Mark 4:12 then Jesus quotes from Isaiah 6:9-10 – the first instruction to Isaiah. The idea there is not that men’s hearts were hardened without reason, but as a result of their OWN act of hardening, So God further moved them down their self-chosen path.

But if we will come to him, come as these in Mark, alone, with ears to listen, and ask, he answers.

And Jesus begins to explain the parable, but says in v13 don’t you understand this? Who then will you understand all the parables?

This is the basic stuff, Jesus is saying, let’s start at the basic, the secret is the sower sows the word… and there are different kinds of soil and response.

Different Types of Soil – Hard, Shallow, Unfruitful, and Good

Let’s go there for a minute
- Hard Ground – the Path. Nothing gets in, predators steal the seed, it is open to the predatory purloinment by the personification of evil.
- Shallow Soil – Rocky Ground – it is receptive, receives with joy – but have no depth to grow, no roots to sustain survival, open game for distress and persecution
- Thorny soil – there is plenty of soil there because the thorny weeds are growing. But those weeds have taken over the soil, consume the nutrients and nothing is left for the seed. It grows, but it doesn’t produce fruit. The deceitfulness of the age steals the opportunity for production. Sounds like it’s alive, but distracted from its purpose because the weeds run rampant
- Seeds Sown on Good Ground – they hear, welcome, produce fruit
If we are going to sow with The Sower – we have good seed, but what are we doing about the soil? What do we do with this conundrum?
- Only sow seed ON Good Ground? maybe
- Be ground Inspectors? maybe
- Be ground Preparers? maybe
- Perhaps we need to be doing ALL of those things
Interestingly – the Isaiah 6:9-10 quote, I don’t believe is saying “don’t tell”, but it is both a bit of “reverse psychology” and a statement of the reality. Not All WILL come, but in Isaiah’s life, God has just revealed himself to Isaiah. Isaiah sought God in the tragedy of Uzziah’s death, and he saw God’s Holiness. That revelation revealed his own unholiness, and he cried out for cleansing and the Lord forgave and cleansed him.

From that cleansed position… Isaiah hears God say, who will I send, who will go for us? And Isaiah throws up his hand and says, “Send ME! Pick Me Lord, Use me Lord!”

The Secret is the Sower has Seed to Sow, and He invites us into the work if we will hear and desire to join him, prepare the field, cast the seed, and move toward the harvest.

Now that you know, are you in? are you joining The Sower, and sowing the word?
When he was alone… the disciples asked

January 22nd, 2025
In Mark 4 Jesus got into a boat on the Sea of Galilee with a large crowd around him and taught many things in parables…

The parable listed there is the “Sower who went out to Sow”

What was Jesus doing that day, and every time he taught the large crowds? v4 he sowed, some seed…

He is then telling them what he was doing. In that parable he talks about different kinds of soil, differing circumstances regarding the reception of the seed.
- some fell along the path – that is hard ground, no reception, birds stole it
- other on rocky ground – not much soil – it grew quickly, but had no roots and died easily – it was scorched and… withered away
- other fell among the thorns… but didn’t produce fruit because it got choked out
- still other fell on good ground – it grew up, produced fruit of increase
Then Jesus says, Let anyone who has ears to hear, listen

The story has four different receptions of the same seed sowed. Only one of them does not become a plant. Only one is stolen and never germinates and roots, the one on hard ground. The other three all sprout, but have different results

I won’t spend a long time here now, but let’s think as sowers of seed, let’s observe:
- some would say… “the path is the path… it’s hard… not our fault.” Others would say, “Or, I could break up the ground and make it useful. The question is do we want to work at that effort
- Regarding the “Rocky Ground”, some would say, “Wow, look at that plant that came up so quickly – Let’s Celebrate.” but then “Wait, where di that plant go?” – I’ve got to tend to the rocks and bring in more soil, if I want that little plant to survive
- Regarding the “Thorny Ground” – again this is about tending the ground. There is work to be done. Though rocks can be easily recognized and removed, the thorns are plants with roots. If I remove them too aggressively, I might remove young spouts as well. I might not even notice the thorns… but there is my plant, yet without fruit? Hmm, I need to do some work here. I need to understand the situation
- Then the Good Soil – and all of its fruitfulness, that’s the result of the work having been already done before, and continued to be done during the process.
I’m going to be doing a lot of looking at this passage this year… but what first had my attention that drew me to the passage in the first place was in v10, when he was alone, those around him with the Twelve asked him about the parable… He answered them…

Our desire to know and to learn, to grow and develop must take us ALONE with the Lord – Ask, Listen, Learn, Do. v9 let anyone who has ears to hear LISTEN

If we have ears… are they ears that want to Listen? That word is in the Present, Active, Imperative – that means, right now, actively, I MUST take heed. And in this case, those with ears and a desire to take heed, ASKED – “Explain this Lord”.

As you start a new year, do we get alone with God? I will break this down some more later… but let me start right here with the simple… WHEN we Get Alone with God, Daily –

P. R. A. Y.

This is simple but doesn’t get old
- P – Pray – “Lord, you are God, I am Not. Thank You, Speak to Me, Teach Me, and I will LISTEN
- R – Read – open the passage you have to read – Read looking for God to Reveal Jesus, Give direction, Show you want you need to know…
- A – Apply – You asked God, he has shown you something – what is he saying to me? Write it down, make sure that what you heard is true in regards to all of the full revelation of God in scripture. Then…
- Y – YES – Say “Yes, Lord” – Now, make an Action Plan to align yourself to the truth. Tell someone you trust and be accountable. Ask them “I believe God is saying this, is this true, will you pray for me and ask me tomorrow, next week, next month if I am doing what God said.
How must time should I spend Pastor? Depending on the time of day, your time with the Lord, the depth of your knowledge, that measure will change. But set some “alone time goals” that are achievable and grow from there. It might be a short time in the morning and then more time later. Let it grow naturally, but more toward consistent, growing time, and the increase will come

More on this later…
How to Find Out Who You Really Are

December 31st, 2024

Thought for the Week Who am I, really? It’s a worthy question to ask yourself on the cusp of a new year. May I suggest you begin by asking two more …
How to Find Out Who You Really Are
My Goal Is To Know Him

December 3rd, 2024
Philippians 3:10 is my focus today. As Paul says, My Goal is to know him (Christ)

But he begins this meaningful passage in v4 saying, “Although I have reason for confidence in the flesh”… If it’s about “what I can do”, Paul says, “been there done that.” pepoithesis = trust confidence, boldness – “I’ve got full confidence in the physical I’ve done… And he lists his “accomplishments”… Circumcised, Benjamite, Hebrew, Pharisee, Zealous (to the point of persecuting the church), and Blameless (according to the Law).

You only became a Pharisee by strict adherence of The Law, not just in belief, but in application and practice. It was about perceived purity and separation. That’s what the word pharisee meant, “separated ones”. They studied the Torah, the Oral Tradition, and they lived in purity. Jesus points out that they even tithed on their spices. They taught in and engaged with their community.

And YET – v7 “but everything that was a gain to me, I have considered to be a loss because of Christ.”

To know Christ, we have to lay down our “competency” – our personal goodness and competencies often keep us from God’s goodness and greatness.

Paul says, “I consider all of my accomplishments (v8) as skybalon = refuse, garbage, dung heap“ WOW

Why? So I may be found, understood, as having zero righteousness of my own, but one of Faith in Christ. (v9)

And then we get to v10 as he develops this thought I want to know Christ… My Goal is to Know Him

Oh Yeah? We have all said that, “I want to know Jesus.” But it’s not a simple course we take, a book we read, a prayer we say… and then NOW I KNOW Jesus.

Paul says he wants to know him, and then identifies the keys to that end
- In The Power of the Resurrection – Ok, yes, we all want the Power Right? And by the way, Resurrection Power is a WHO, not a what. 1 Peter 3:18 says Jesus was put to death in the flesh but made alive BY the Spirit. And Ephesians 1:18-20 talks about the Immeasurable Greatness of His Power that was Exercised in raising Christ from the dead… and the Good News is that this power is For Us / Toward Us WHO Believe. I want the power of the resurrection. And that power, in the Person of the Holy Spirit comes to LIVE IN me. Ephesians 1:13-14 when you heard the truth, the gospel of your salvation… when you believed… you received the Holy Spirit. The Power is IN us, Available TO Us… But we really don’t experience Resurrection Power without…
- Fellowship of His Sufferings – Lots of folks want healing without sickness, power without pain, strength without suffering – But Resurrection Power comes IN Suffering… and
- Being Conformed to His Death – I’m mindful of the Albert King Blues song, “Everybody wants to go to heaven, but nobody wants to die” … To Know the Power of the Resurrection we need to die, be conformed to his death… What is significant about that? Paul says in Philippians 2 that Jesus laid aside his personal glory, he took the nature of a servant. We know he surrendered to God’s will not his own. Jesus said, if anyone would come after me, deny self, take up their cross and follow me. –
Well – I could preach now, but this is just a devotion – Look at vv 12-14 to finish…

I haven’t already reached the goal… been perfect – BUT… see we can’t just say, “Oh well I’m not perfect…” Paul says… But I make every effort to take hold of it…

I need to do everything in my power to move toward the Goal of Knowing Christ by Experience through suffering, through dying to self… Why? Because That’s why Jesus “took Hold of Me.”

Then he says in v13 again, I do not consider myself to have taken hold of it… but ONE thing I Do…

Now, I’m a golfer. And at times I am and have been a pretty good one. Yet golf is funny because you can shoot your best round, even under par… and still know you missed a lot. But I keep pressing.

On my golf balls I write “3:13-14”. You see, I’m not there yet, and I make mistakes, and sometimes my failures hold me down for a little while So I remind myself what Paul says here…
- Forgetting what is behind – good or bad, forget it, learn from it, be encouraged by it, but forget about it…
- Reaching Forward to what is ahead – Press ON – I can’t move on if I’m holding on to the past.
- I Pursue the Prize Promised – even though we seek to live right, do right, that’s still not the prize promised. Nothing on this earth is my goal – JESUS is my Goal, and His Presence is my goal, so until I see his Face… I keep moving
To See His Face – that is to Fully Know Jesus – Jesus was moving forward to Please the Father and hear him say, “well done”.

I want to Know Christ – and hear him say “well done”
What’s God Asking for From Me?

November 20th, 2024
When we read scriptural accounts, it is important to know to whom God is speaking, what he is saying, but always ask, “what is this saying to me?”

We have to recognize that not every promise is automatically for me, nor is every judgment or “curse”. Yet, the God speaking is the same and there are principles to learn that can apply everyone.

In Genesis 22 has an amazing account of a “one-of-a-kind” event. You know it – Abraham was old when God promised a son, a family, offspring and descendants what would bless the world. That promise wasn’t fulfilled for decades, until Abraham was WAY TOO OLD, and yet God did it.

WOW

What joy to receive Isaac… and then Genesis 22 says God tested Abraham?

God called, “Abraham” – and he replied, “Here I am” – that word henneh = behold – He is saying, “look here Lord”.

God says, “take your son… your only son… whom you love… go to Moriah and offer him there as a burnt offering”

We don’t have any interaction / conversation recorded. If they had it, it wasn’t recorded… and that’s something that usually is found in scripture, like Moses, Like Gideon…

But here – it just says, “SO Abraham got up early in the morning… saddled his donkey… split wood for a burnt offering and set out to go…”

This was a Three-Day Journey to the place God directed.

v5 he tells his servants with him … the boy and I will go over there to worship: then we’ll come back to you.”

Let me stop and point out some principles here. Remember now, Abraham has been on this “journey to promise” with God for probably 38 years. He was 75 when God called him in Genesis 12. He was 100 when Isaac was born. Now Isaac is probably 13+ years old.

Abraham had been down the road and learned to trust God, to have faith in God. It has been good and bad, failure and success, but he has learned.

Some principles when God calls, and asks from us:
1. When God called, Abraham said, “Here I Am”. We don’t need to know the fullness of the plan, nor question our ability, but simply express availability.
2. He Split wood for the Offering – that means he expected to carry out this difficult task. He may have believed God would provide an alternative way, but he did NOT take a “back up plan”.
3. God said, “do this… give me back your son as an act of worship, a sacrificial offering.” What did Abraham do? “He got up early and set out”. The very next day he got to it.
4. He made the journey – 3 days
5. He was set on worshipping God. And I would add to it, that the moment he set out, he was already worshiping God in action of faith and obedience. I define worship as “an expression of adoration to the object of our affection.” Anything we do, say, believe that is an expression of adoration, is worship. When his heart was set, his mind made up, he started the journey and worship began
6. He told his servants – “WE Will Come Back”. Abraham believed in the provision of God.
7. He Took Supplies for Obedient worship. v6 he loaded wood on Isaac’s back for the offering. In his own hands he carried a fire in one hand and the sacrificial knife in the other. I have many knives. I’m sure Isaac had seen this knife many times as his father used it to slaughter the sacrificial lamb.
8. vv7-8 Isaac asked “Abi (Daddy) where is the lamb for the offering?” Isaac had seen worship with his father before. He knew the tools. Perhaps this teenager was wondering for a couple of days, and maybe even putting 2 and 2 together. Abraham answered, “God himself will provide, my son.” What a beautiful intimate statement. Reassuring words of faith. Then the two walked together… I wonder if Isaac suspected, but I believe he trusted his father, and he trusted God.
9. Abraham carried out the pre-worship routine – Built the altar – Arranged the wood – Bound His SON (now It’s real) – Placed Isaac ON the Altar – Took his knife to slaughter…
v11 – “BUT… But the Angel of the Lord (that’s Jesus) ‘Abraham, Abraham”…

What does Abraham say? “Here I Am” (hinneh – behold)

Jesus says, do not lay a hand on the boy… For I know that you FEAR GOD, since you have not withheld your only son from me”

Did God not know what Abraham would do? No – I believe God knows all, and he knew… But Abraham needed to know – 1) God is in Charge 2)Everything is His 3)God will provide 4)Obedience is better than sacrifice and often IS the sacrifice 5)and to know that he would go anywhere with God.

Listen to His Voice. Get Up and Go, Make Preparation, and Release Control.

God provided a ram caught in the thicket

Abraham named the place – “The Lord will Provide” – Yahweh Yireh

Then notice v15 – the Angel of the Lord called a Second Time

… “Because you have done this… have not withheld… I will indeed bless you…”

Now there is a lot of blessing mentioned here… it bookends from Genesis 12 – the blessing of obedience for Abraham, the descendants, the blessing of the world through him… Those are specific blessings for Abraham… BUT the PRINCIPLE for Us is this
- Do Not Hold Anything Back from the Lord – God blesses Worshipful Release of Rights and Ownership
HE IS OUR BLESSING – There is blessing in Obedience that will extend for generations.

I don’t know what God is asking from you today… but…

Lay it All Down!

Truly knowing God comes in the JOURNEY not in the classroom
God’s Co-Worker

November 12th, 2024
Colossians 1:21-25; 1 Thessalonians 3:2

As I spend the month of November preaching and thinking about Stewardship, I’m focused on what I have, that it is from God, belongs to God, and is for his purpose and Kingdom advancement. In that, I saw two passages this morning – one to the church in Colossae, written while in prison, and one to the Thessalonica, possibly the first of Paul’s letters.

In 1 Thessalonians 2, Paul tells the Thessalonians that he is proud of the way they “became imitators of the first churches in Judea”. What was the similarity? They were suffering for the name of Jesus, persecution among sinful people.

Paul goes on to say that what keeps him going is what they are doing for God – “indeed you are our glory and joy”.

Then Paul says of Timothy, whom he sent to Thessalonica to encourage and strengthen them, that he is “our brother and God’s co-worker”. What an identity for us to be mindful of, that we are God’s co-workers.

While being God’s servant, and we are, is a worthy and wonderful task – yet this is not the word “doulos” (bondservant) often used – but this is the word synergon = fellow worker, working together, joining, furthering, co-laborer, accomplice.

Paul is saying something here about both Timothy and about God.
1. God is not giving orders and sending us, while he stays aloof and on the throne, detached from the work. That’s Never God’s Way.
2. We could rightly say that God does it all, “it is all grace”. We understand that we are NOT attaining or advancing anything that God cannot do. And yet, God chooses in the mystery of the Gospel, to USE us, to INVOLVE us in the work.
3. Timothy is laboring together WITH God.
4. God WILL accomplish all that he purposes to do, with our without us, but he invites us to join him. If we will not, then he will use someone else, but praise God he brings us into the labor.
It’s like a Father that hands a tool to a child and says, “do it like this.” Yet God is always a co-laborer, he is always working with us, for us, in us, through us. And so we join and work with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength.

And then is this companion passage in my study. Paul, writing from prison, to the church at Colossae:

1:21 – Once you were alienated… but now he has reconciled you by his… death, to present you holy, faultless, and blameless.

Paul then says that he is working that they might understand and fulfill the gospel / good news.

1:24 – Now I rejoice in my sufferings for you, and am completing in my flesh what is lacking in Christ’s affliction for his body, the Church”

Paul is NOT saying that the death of Christ lacked anything – Oh certainly, Jesus paid it all, all to him I owe.

But regarding the church, there is still work to be done. Paul is doing all in his power to co-labor with Christ in making the church a global, multi-faceted, Revelation 7:9 “every tribe” reflection of God’s inclusive love.

Yes, there is only one mediator, but we still join in the ministry of reconciliation. We have, Paul says here, a commission to serve.

As I wrote this, it is 11/11 – a day to celebrate and thank those who serve in our military and the lives they give for the cause of freedom. In our commission, we play a part in the work of God, for somebody else.

Colossians 1:25 – Paul says, I have become a servant (diakonos) according to God’s commission… to make the word of God fully known

Back in 1:23 – this gospel has been proclaimed in all creation under heaven, and I have become a servant of it.

I think of the Moravian Missionary – Leonard Dober – who left Germany in the early 1700s to go to the Virgin Islands to share the gospel with the slave population there.

His story is quite amazing, but he ended up building a little hut and making pottery, to self-support and share Jesus 1-on-1. For Three Years, he did this, and they say he led 12-13,000 to place their faith in Jesus Christ.

Why would he do this? His answer became the heart cry of the Moravian Missionary Movement

“May the Lamb that was slain, Receive the Reward of his Suffering”

We become co-laborers with God that Jesus Christ receive Just Reward for his Suffering, in us, as his Kingdom crows and fulfills his mission on earth.
SPECIAL Election Message

November 4th, 2024
Psalm 20:7

Who To Vote For

If the pundits are to be believed, the future of the world depends on the choice that we make in this election. But what happens if the WRONG candidate is elected?

We better get it right.

Perhaps you have already voted, did you vote for the RIGHT one?

One of the difficult things about determining for whom you will vote is there is no party that has a monopoly on right. There is no party that has got it all together. You may have your favorite, but if you were honest there are positives and negatives.

So, Maybe I just won’t vote …

Samuel Adams said: “Let each citizen remember at the moment he is offering his vote… that he is executing one of the most solemn trusts in human society for which he is accountable to God and his country.”

Well Citizens … it may be hard to do … but we have some decisions to make

“The church must take right ground in regards to politics. . . . The time has come for Christians to vote for honest men. . . . God cannot sustain this free and blessed country, which we love and pray for, unless the Church will take right ground.”- Charles Finney

“Elections belong to the people. It is their decision. If they decide to turn their back on the fire and burn their behinds, then they will just have to sit on their blisters.”
Abraham Lincoln

So, who are you going to vote for?

Psalm 20:7(NIV84) says Some trust in chariots and some trust in horses, but we trust in the name of the Lord our God

Read … Psalm 20:1-9 but I will just focus here on v7

1. Some Trust in Chariots

You’ve seen enough movies to picture a chariot

It was a vehicle pulled behind horses. It was framed in wood in a semi-circle. Leather and metal were used to bind it together. The floor of the chariot was made of rope woven together which would create a springy cushioned ride. The Wheels were low to the ground for a low center of gravity and stability. There were no seats generally in a chariot, because the chariot wasn’t a pleasure vehicle. Strapped to the side of the chariot in crossed fashion were quivers and a case for bows, because this was a *war vehicle*. This vehicle wasn’t generally used for peace.

And David says … “Some trust in Chariots”

“SOME”

Usually there were two men in a chariot, the “charioteer” or driver and the “warrior” and occasionally a third man or captain who had charge over the other two.

However, when the KING rode a chariot into battle … he rode alone into battle. He would tie the reins to his waist and keep his hands free to fire his bow or use other weapons.

David said “some trust in chariots”

Who Will YOU Trust?

Some Trust in War Machines

Some Trust in a Vehicle

Some Trust in the larger Vehicle that will move them forward and place their hope …

How will you Vote?

Some … Trust in Chariots – But … then David says …

2. Some Trust In Horses

The Chariot isn’t moving anywhere without the horse.

A car isn’t moving anywhere without the engine

While chariots were pretty singularly used, horses served a lot of purposes.

Chariot drivers might see an individual horse as dispensable, lose one, get another …

… but the horse IS indispensable

The Horse was a commodity

The Horse was mostly a nameless, entity.

It served a purpose, but it was foundational.

As I said it was the engine.

Without the Chariot, the king and his warriors are outmaneuvered in battle

Without the horse the Chariot was a piece of furniture.

I’m sure many in David’s day had argued the value of the horse or the chariot

David said, “Some Trust in Chariots and Some Trust in Horses …”

We could imagine, if you will, that one of our political parties was the Vehicle that can move our country. Perhaps One Candidate represented the war machine to save us in a day of need.

And perhaps we could imagine that one party was the engine to move that Vehicle. Perhaps one party represented the nameless faces that are indispensable to the success of the forward motion or defense of our country.

And thus, we would argue for one over the Other

The “Chariot People” would say “we have to have bigger better chariots, we need to place our emphasis on the development of the best Vehicle to move our country, the best Vehicle to defend our country” …

because – “some still trust in Chariots”

The “Horse people” would weigh in on the debate to say “that’s all fine and dandy but without the horses, the best chariots will be nothing. Take care of the details, take care of the engine or you won’t go anywhere. If you don’t feed it and water it, if it’s not healthy and happy, then the Chariot is not going anywhere.”

because – “some trust in horses”

We could really have a great debate between those Chariot and Horse People.

There is a funny thing though about Chariots and Horses; you can and should choose a chariot and horses. I pray before I buy a car. I try and buy the car that the Lord would have me to buy.

But – the chariot may turn out to be eaten up with termites. The Wheels might fall of. Thieves might steal my chariot. A bigger or better chariot might defeat my chariot. I may have been lied to by the chariot salesman. The chariot factory workers might have been daydreaming when he put it together, and I get stuck with a bad chariot where I’ve placed all my trust.

My horse may turn out to be headstrong and unbreakable. My horse may get a disease. My horse may break a leg. My horse might get shot out from under me. My horse might just get old and die. My horse might be older or sicker than it looks, or the horse salesman said it was. And I end up with troubles where I have placed my trust.

But David says,

“ some trust in chariots and some trust in horses …”

Interesting Some trust in ONE party the Chariot Party, and Some Trust in Another Party the Horse Party …

Now I’m not saying that the Chariot Represents one of our Parties and the Horse Represents another, but folks if you are placing your HOPE in one of our Political Parties to solve your problems, put gas in your car, a roof over your head, money in your retirement program, or heal your disease, you MAY be Disappointed …

Oh, but there’s a lot of hopeful people out there.

There are also a lot of fearful people out there

There are a lot of people who have placed all of their hope with one political party or candidate

There are a lot of people who are frightened by one party or candidate

And they will make their choices based on the hope they have placed, or the fear that grips them …

… but David offers us an alternative way of thinking…

David said “some trust in Chariots, others in Horses but WE WILL TRUST …”

3. In the Name of the Lord Our God

Folks, if claim to be a child of God, then we aren’t just, “SOME” folks.

We don’t go with the crowd …

People we shouldn’t approach that voting booth like everyone else.

We don’t put our hopes in that basket … NO

We Will Trust in a NAME …

A. Name …

Chariots don’t have names …

Well I know there are some of you crazy guys out there that name your car, but we are talking about a Chariot here just used for a battle, I know there are names for tanks and airplanes too … But it doesn’t really have a name, it’s an inanimate object … it is NOT a person.

The kinds of horses we are talking about here were also nameless, they were just property for the purpose of driving the chariot

But “a Name” carries with it authority and power, position

Neither one of our Candidates has a name that will still matter 500 years from now. Neither of our parties will matter at the end of all things …

But WE … Trust in A Name …

JESUS …

Oh, Gabriel came to Mary and Joseph and said that Mary was going to conceive, and bear and child and his name would be “JESUS”, because he will save his people from their sins

Peter preached in Acts 4:12 that, Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved.”

THERE is a Name

I know a name

No other name

We Trust in the Name Of the Lord … the Authority, and the Power

B. The Lord Our God

Philippians 2:10–11 (CSB)

¹⁰ so that at the name of Jesus every knee will bow— in heaven and on earth and under the earth— ¹¹ and every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

We don’t just believe in ANY name, we don’t just hope in ANY name, we have placed our hope our trust, our lives in the hands of the Name, Jesus.

Jesus who is LORD, and not just Lord, meaning he has authority, but He is GOD …

He created Heaven and Earth, so he can RUN this Earth perfectly fine without us.

Jesus said in Matthew 28:18 that “All Authority had been given to me in Heaven and Earth”

The sun came up just as scheduled this morning … I think he can handle our Social and Economic Crises.

He handled the Rebellion of Satan and 1/3 of the Angels and kicked them out with a word … I think he can handle our military challenges

As a matter of fact, he can handle it if the WRONG One gets it. If the WRONG PARTY has control, he can Handle it

Romans 13:1b says “there is no authority except from God, and the authorities that exist are instituted by God.”

So that begs an interesting question.

C. How Would Jesus Vote?

Stay with me for a minute on this one … I am NOT speaking for Jesus!

I am telling you what I believe are some things that scripture teaches us about God that we can see in the issues we face.

A While Back, I was at a conference, and one speaker suggested four things that he believes would shape Jesus’ voting
- For-Life — Jesus Created all life, he sustains life, he is the giver of life, and is the only one who can take it away. Job 1:21 said, the Lord gives and the lord takes away blessed be the name of the Lord. Oh my but that means ALL life.
- For Morality — we live in a world where the distinguishing marks between right and wrong has been removed in most cases. Perversion and Greed seem to run unchecked in the name of freedom and capitalism. Right is RIGHT … and Wrong on Top of Wrong doesn’t equal a right
The glory of God not only includes love and grace, but also judgment and wrath. He is a holy God and calls us to Holiness as well.
- For Family – the oldest ceremony in the history of humans is the ceremony of marriage. Marriage is a sacred thing. Marriage is also a picture of Christ and the Church. When we distort the family we distort a picture of Christ and the Church, God and his Children. Distortion like that confuses and distorts the very Gospel of Jesus Christ. We can vote that value, but remember we live in an ungodly world, and we are a church. Vote your values but don’t expect everyone to agree. But we are the Church and We can Live our Belief
Finally, this preacher also pointed out that he believed that Jesus would vote
- For God – We do not know what the future holds. It seems that we are closer every day to the end of all things. However, we don’t know that, and the only thing that we know to do is call our nation to repentance and turning toward God. Jesus came with a message “Repent for the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand.” Jesus would call us to the Father
But you know folks those four things are not the only things that are important to Jesus. He would also be:
- For Poor
- For Prisoner
- Pro Hungry
- Pro Thirsty
Matthew 25:35-36 Jesus said “I was hungry and you gave me something to eat … thirsty and you gave me … drink … stranger … invited me in … needed clothes … you clothed me … sick and you looked after me … in prison … came to visit me … whatever you did for one of the least of these … you did for me”
- For Education
Proverbs 22:6 train a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not turn from it

And those issues are also important issues in every election

But you know what people, we may not be able to control the life, morality, and marriage laws ourselves which is why those issues are so very important in every election.

And while we DO need politicians who are concerned about the other issues and can move our government toward solving those issues.

But you and I, in the church, shouldn’t have to VOTE on the poor, prisoner, hungry, thirsty, and uneducated. We have been told to do those things as individual Christians and the as Church of the Lord Jesus Christ. As a matter of fact, He says that many who have called him “Lord”, don’t really know him, and haven’t shown their knowledge of him in their actions toward those in need.

But then …

D. How Should I Vote?

We MUST be involved in the political process

“Right is right, even if everyone is against it, and wrong is wrong, even if everyone is for it.” William Penn

“The only thing needed for evil to triumph is for good men to do nothing.”
Edmund Burke,

Never be afraid to stand with the minority which is right, for the minority which is right will one day be the majority; always be afraid to stand with the majority which is wrong, for the majority which is wrong will one day be the minority.

William Jennings Bryan

“Always vote for principle, though you may vote alone, and you may cherish the sweetest reflection that your vote is never lost.”
John Quincy Adams

THERE ARE important Issues and they SHOULD shape the way we vote …

How should I Vote?
- Prayerfully – before you are shaped by political pundits or religious leaders, I need to Seek God’s Face. Our answers must come from the throne room before we make a decision …
- Carefully – don’t just go in and vote carelessly or without purpose. I personally never vote straight ticket … I vote what I know to be true and important to me. It takes longer, but if your vote matters, you should vote carefully
- Conscientiously – that is to vote with a consciousness of the moral goodness or blameworthiness of one’s own conduct, intentions or character with a feeling of obligation
- Faithfully – VOTE, it is your right and your DUTY
Vote

Be concerned with the results … but

E. Who Will I Trust?

“Give me a hundred men who fear nothing but sin, and desire nothing but God, and I will shake the world. I care not a straw whether they be clergymen or laymen; and such alone will overthrow the kingdom of Satan and build up the Kingdom of God on earth.” John Wesley

Our Hope is in God Alone. If you know him personally as your own Lord and God, then you need not Fear anything. If you have never given your heart to him, I offer you Jesus, he is our ONLY Hope. He is our ONLY Answer. He is our ONLY Reason to Life

Folks we do not have to fear the growing shadow of evil because I know who the Sun is. I know where the Light is coming from So I will not fear the shadows …

Do the dark Shadows a seem bit scary?

Helen Keller said “Keep your face toward the Sun and you cannot see the shadows”

Where is our Hope?

If you counted all the verses and found the Center Verse of Scripture in the Bible, it would be Psalm 118:9 – the CENTER VERSE in the Bible …

It is Better to trust in the Lord than to put confidence in man

Are you afraid?

Psalm 56:3 when I am afraid, I will trust in you

Now what I have tried to do today is give you principles to challenge you on HOW to vote … BUT … I DID promise you that I would tell you WHO to vote for. …

Well let me see if I can break it down to the important things, the things that we talk about and introduce you to the right candidate
- Executive Experience?
Well … as an Entrepreneur, Creator, and Inventor, he left a lucrative position to begin a new venture. He handpicked a dozen leaders whom he developed and set them loose. They have transformed a regional venture into a multi-national organization servicing and including millions of employees and ambassadors, and this endeavor has continued for nearly 2000 years.

Today he continues in the tri-unified Board of Directors of every facet of the Universe
- Economics?
Well it is said he owns the cattle on a thousand years, but more than that he developed, understands and implements the principles of planting, nurturing, and harvest.

He can turn a lunch into a meal for thousands, so I think he can make sure you have enough to eat.

He went fishing one day and came up with the tax money needed for he and his disciples.
- Social Programs?
He has taught his followers to Feed the Hungry, Visit the Prisoner, Give water to the Thirsty, Clothes to the Naked. His followers have been known to sell their goods and give to those in need. They have been known to meet the needs of strangers and friends alike
- Retirement Plan?
In his Father’s House are many Mansions, and He has gone to prepare a place for me so that where He is I can be as well.
- Suffering and Sacrifice?
The word is Expiation, it means atonement. He went into the teeth of the storm of accusation. He went through an illegal trial. He withstood a horrific beating. Then he was sentenced to die on a cross and suffered in dignity, grace, forgiveness, love, never uttering a word in his own defense. He sacrificed himself that those who would come after him would not have to die, and even if they do would be resurrected to live forever.
- Provision?
His Divine Power has Given us EVERYTHING we Need for Life and Godliness (2Peter 1:3)

So then,

Ladies and Gentlemen, let me introduce to you the ONLY Candidate you ever Need … Please Join me and

Vote for the Lord Jesus Christ!

Wonderful Counselor

Mighty God

Everlasting Father

Prince of Peace!

Place your Trust in Him

Use Your Chariot, but if it’s broken, fix it or ditch it, but TRUST God

Use Your Horse, if it’s sick, nurse it back to health, if it’s lame shoot it,

But place your TRUST in Jesus Christ

Vote Jesus

Vote with your Heart, give it to him

Vote with your Head, Surrender to him

Vote with your Feet, and Hands, live in Obedience to Him

Love Him with Heart, Soul, Mind, and Strength

Jesus Is our only lasting Hope

You will never have to vote for HIM to Change because … Jesus is the same Yesterday, Today, and Forever.

YOU and I must Change and Surrender to him, Become Like Him

He IS Lord

He Is God

You might as well follow all the rest of Creation;

And Vote Jesus Christ this Year and for Life.
Even More – 1 Thessalonians 4:1

October 30th, 2024

We ask and encourage you in the Lord Jesus, that as you have received instruction from us on how you should live and please God – as you are doing – DO THIS EVEN MORE

I’ve been a competitor all my life – it was part of the nature of the house I was raised in – get better, do better, be better.

It can be a weight, if abused, but it is still important. I’ve played sports, music, games, and I’ve coached, taught, and learned. But now, I’m getting old, well I AM old, but still learning. In golf, flyfishing, now running, I’m always trying to get better.

Paul writes the Thessalonians, perhaps his first letter, if not Galatians. They had made great progress, but had faced great opposition and persecution. He talks in 1 Thessalonians 4 about past, present, and future.

v1 – you received instruction… you are doing (it)

Then in vv13 and following, he says that we will die, or Jesus will come and v17 we will always be with the Lord… so v18 encourage one another with these words

Which Words? Is the encouragement just that Jesus is coming, and Heaven is our future? What about right now?

v1 do this even more

v3 God’s will… your sanctification… that you keep away from immorality

v4 control your own body holiness and honor

v6 – don’t take advantage of a brother or sister

v7 WHY? for God has not called us to impurity (Colossians 3:5 tells us to put do death the sinful nature)

Paul is saying- we can’t say, “well that’s just the way I am” – NO. While we are all sinners short of God’s glory that isn’t an excuse.

Live in Holiness / Sanctification. The same word, hagiasmos – is used in v3 and v7 translated sanctification and holiness – But the word is used in different yet related forms.

v3 – hagiasmos is nominative meaning the subject and in v7 hagiasmos is dative the purpose of the action

God is shaping us, changing us, so that our “outside” be transformed to match our justified “inside”. Sanctification is the subject and holiness is the purpose.

I know that’s a deep water, but I just want us to think it through and let is ferment. In this process of the Holy Wine maturing, then Paul says…

v9 – brotherly love… and he stops and says I don’t have to teach you, you know that, God taught you that, to love one another… v10 you are doing it everywhere – Praise God…

BUT… we encourage you to do this EVEN MORE

So go back to v1 we ask and encourage you… how you should live… as you are doing… have done… DO THIS EVEN MORE

Coach Paul here says, “nice shot, good game, but let’s step it up.”

Make a mental list of good things you are doing in Christ right now. It’s ok, make a list, you believed, you learned, obeyed, served, worship, witness… what else are you doing? You aren’t bragging, just remembering…

That is GREAT – Praise God – That’s It…

NOW – do that EVEN MORE

Loved your neighbor – EVEN MORE

Forgave a brother – EVEN MORE

Fed the Hungry, Clothed the Naked, Visited the Sick / imprisoned – EVEN MORE

We need to be EVEN MORE people, because we come from an EVEN MORE God. We are part of an Even More Faily

Romans 5:15 says, the gift is not like the trespass… how much more… the grace of God and the gift… OVERFLOWED

Even More… not just life, but Abundant Life, Victorious Life, Eternal Life

Oh I don’t have time to preach this, but I love it this passage.

We need some Even MORE, Yes MORE Folks.

v12 Why? SO THAT you might behave properly in the presence of outsiders

Why? The World is watching and are on the outside of Grace. We want to invite them IN and want them to believe that IN is a Place for them to be.

Brag on God verbally – YES… but Brag on him in the Lifestyle Way we Live… that they might believe and Receive it for themselves.