Pastor Goforth

The Light of the World – Lord of the Darkness

February 13th, 2024
In Exodus 20 the Lord had summoned Moses to Mt. Sinai and vv1-17 are the “Ten Commandments”. The people couldn’t go on the mountain, but they, “witnessed the thunder and lightning, the sound of the trumpet, and the mountain surrounded with smoke. When they saw it, they trembled and stood at a distance.” And their response in v19 was “you speak to us and we will listen, but don’t let God speak to us or we will die.”

Certainly, when God speaks it can be frightening. but Moses says, “don’t be afraid… the Lord has come to test you so that you will fear him and will not sin” v20.

Now, what follows that got my attention today v21, “the people remained at a distance as Moses approached the TOTAL DARKNESS where God was.”

TOTAL Darkness – Total DARKNESS – that is the absence of photons that create light. The absence of radiant qualities – that made me on a short run down a rabbit hole on the internet and to a physics forum – no that’s not my normal surfing place, but I ended up there. Many would say that ultimately it’s impossible for there to be “total darkness” because the waves, like radio waves, could come and go, and space between, not show much of anything but still would be light, and wouldn’t ever be fully absent. They even said that if you “went into space and put your head in a box, there would be some radiation in the air, some light, and even when not your brain may fill in the gap and you ‘see things’.

So – Darkness – even total darkness – I would add that God is there. That’s what Moses experienced.

In Genesis 1:2, “the earth was formless and empty, darkness covered the surface of watery depth, and the Spirit of God was hovering over… and God said, ‘Let There Be Light.’”

Sometimes in “darkness” we are praying for God to “show up” but he is THERE we just aren’t experiencing it or seeing him, hearing him.

Moses went into the darkness, because God was there. Darkness is only bad if God doesn’t want us there.

Isaiah 45 is a powerful passage. God is speaking.
- 45:3 –“I give you the treasures of darkness and riches from the secret places, so that you may know that I am the LORD (YHWH)
- 6-7 From the rising of the sun to it’s setting… there is no one but me. I am the LORD and there is no other. I FORM the Light and Create Darkness… success and disaster”
WAIT – is God doing bad things? Dark Things? No – God does not evil, but he is in all and however we define it, he is on the throne in all things. He is the Maker, the Potter, we are just the clay.

Many would take some of those statements and say that God is the “CAUSEATION” of all things good and bad, and I think we are overreading. God is talking to us using our words and saying, YOU may define it as light or dark, you may define it as success or disaster, but I am busy doing something and it can be GOOD. The whole intent of these passage is to talk about Salvation and the Way that people come to God.

Isaiah 45 continues in
- vv14-15 saying that from non-believing people groups will come many who draw near the people of God and believe and find salvation, in the light and dark, success and failure as God moves.
- v19 I have not spoken in secret somehow in the land of darkness… a wasteland… I speak righteously declares what is right”
It’s as if God is saying, “Darkness” is not dark – Silence is not silent, wasteland is not wasted, I am speaking, I am revealing, I am moving.
- v21 … There is no other God but me a righteous God and Savior there is no one but me.
Then comes the blessed Isaiah 45:22
- Turn to Me and be saved ALL THE EARTH for I am God and there is no other.
Darkness is still an opportunity for God to shine Light and us to See and Believe and Be Saved.

It seems that those would be and in reality physicists are right in saying there is no true darkness. There is not absence of light, as they say that even when there is no light, our brains make up the difference and start “seeing things.”

Back to the Mountain – Moses walks into the Total Darkness (araphel = deep darkness, thick cloud, thick gloom)
- Exodus 20:22 Then the Lord told Moses, ‘this is what you are to say’”
He gives some keys to hold on to in the darkness
1. You have seen that I have spoken to you from heaven – We have seen, we have heard, so do the last thing that we know God said to do. Believe what you have seen and heard, and know the source it is from God, from Heaven
2. Do not make false gods – my my, whatever we worship, invest our time in, is the determiner of our calendar, defines our treasures, rules our decision making is in danger or in reality of being our god – false god, even expensive god, but in reality, is just a man-made god without power.
3. make an altar for me – that is worship me – confess your sin to me and confess me as Lord, true God, Savior, King.
4. Know that I will COME to you, Bless you in every place where I cause my name to be remembered – Oh my, the presence of God is always the place where God Comes and Blesses – whether Dark or Light, Loud or Silent – Remember there Who God is, remember What, How, and Why he is and in the Darkness is Light
The Sacrificial Altar of Service

February 6th, 2024
Philippians is a favorite letter of Paul for me. Paul is there in confinement in a rented apartment as a result of his service to the Lord. He writes letters of encouragement not really knowing what the future holds.

Philippians 2 is laying out the example of Christ and almost daring us to follow. The underlying word is Submission which by very definition means that someone or something else matters more than me

Philippians 2:5 says Adopt the same attitude as that of Christ Jesus. He existed for eternity but didn’t hold on to his position if it meant losing his passionate loving relationship with mankind. So, He emptied himself… became a servant. He was obediently humble and did so to the point of death… death on the cross.

Why? Because v3 says we are to do nothing out of conceit or selfish ambition, but humility considering others as more important than self… the interest of others is the driving force of service.

v12 – therefore… work out your salvation with fear and trembling. This is not talking about gaining our salvation, but about living IN our salvation. We are saved for a purpose.

v14 do everything without grumbling or arguing, 15 so that you may be blameless and pure… faultless in a crooked and perverted generation. The crooked thing, the perverted thing is when we become selfish, self-centered, it is never what was intended for us.

So v15 continues YOU Shine like Stars in the world.

Hey – here is the encouragement – you and I don’t have to be the greatest fanciest diamonds, but any diamond shines in a pile of dirt.

How do we shine? v16 holding firm to the word – Hebrews 4:12 says that the Word of God is Living and Active… able to judge the thoughts and intentions. Obedience and Submission to the Word is our definer and the light that makes us shine. Compare this… while we shine like stars in a perverted generation, they still are not my truth, not my comparison, It’s the Word of God that is our standard.

And So, as I serve selflessly focused on the eternal and the needs of others, I can v16b boast in the day of Christ that I didn’t waste my time. I didn’t serve for nothing. I didn’t run or labor in vain.

Then if it just stopped right there – eyes on eternity, serving today, shining like stars / diamonds in the midst of dirt – well that would be enough… I can make it, just keep on serving…

But Paul doesn’t stop there and that’s not what caught my attention today – because the reality already shown by example of Christ is that SERVICE might not just lead to inconvenience –

v17 Even If – Even If I am Poured out as a drink offering on the sacrificial service of your faith

Sacrifice is the potential of Submission and Service

KJV renders it If I be offered upon the sacrifice and service of your faith

Paul had a purpose and that was to see faith take flight in the lives of others. Why did Jesus empty himself, submit, become obedient, become like us as a servant? To Die on the cross for our Faith, for our Sins.

Oswald Chambers says “I want to CHOOSE the SCENERY of my own Sacrifice. I want to have the right people watching me and saying ‘well done’”

Oh my isn’t that honest? We want to serve where we want, how we want, who we want to serve… But Paul says EVEN IF I am emptied, poured out as a drink offering

There is some unique things about drink offerings
1. It was emptied, useless for anything else – nothing to show, nothing in it for the offerer. When that drink offering was poured over the sacrificial offering it disappeared as steam and was gone. Many other food offerings were enjoyed by the people or by the priests but this offering was only offered and gone
2. It was always a celebration – not a sacrifice of suffering or sadness. Paul wasn’t sad about this, it was a celebration of God and for the faith of others whom he served
3. The Vessels (Exodus 25:29) used for drink offering were pure gold. The idea then is that I seek to be a pure vessel, and then in celebration am poured out. No one else may ever know or credit me for the work. So when you go back to vv14-15 and see him cautioning against grumbling and arguing and the like – he is saying those things sully our pure gold vessel.
So it is a service given for your faith and Even IF I am Poured Out – what does Paul say? I AM GLAD AND REJOICE with all of you

This isn’t a “woe is me” – it is the Joy of the Lord. I’ve often said, “Happiness is about what happens to us, but Joy is about what is INSIDE of You.”

So, Paul says, I’ve brought my golden vessel full of Heavenly Wine meant to be nothing more me, all for you, all for the Lord; in celebration I will pour it out and get nothing for myself.

v18 In the same way you should also be glad and rejoice with me

As servants in Submission to the Lord for the Faith of others, we are just Lead Worshipers celebrating the Submission and Service of Christ for us and calling others to join us in the Celebration. Others may not know we were here, but faith of others will remain.

When Ignatius was arrested in 110AD for following the Way of Christ. He was condemned to die by Lions in the Colosseum. They say that when the Lion Cage was opened, he reached out his hand toward the first lion and said, “Today I Begin to be a Christian”

Even If…
“I Heard A Voice Speaking to Me in Aramaic” Acts 25:14

January 29th, 2024

Jesus had spoken to Saul in many ways his whole life. He spoke to him in creation – Romans 1:19-20. He spoke to him while he was raised under the Jewish Law. In Galatians 3:24 he says the Law was a tutor, a guardian until Christ came. It was designed to bring us to and recognize the Messiah. God spoke to Paul through the Prophets. Paul had seen it, and heard it in the lives and testimony of the followers of Jesus he had persecuted. He was there when Stephen, the deacon, preached in Acts 7. That deacon schooled them that day to understand all God was doing. The Leaders stoned Stephen. Paul saw the way he died, in dignity for Christ, and with a message of Forgiveness when he died.

And yet Acts 8 begins saying Saul agreed with putting him to death and Saul was ravaging the church… house to house… drag off men and women and put them in prison.

Every one of these things was part of God leading Saul to Repentance.

Then on the road to Damascus – Paul tells Agrippa an Felix – I was terribly enraged at them… tried to make them Blaspheme (reject Jesus as Son) v12 under those circumstances… with authority and a commission

This is His Testimony… I saw a light from heaven brighter than the sun… we all fell on the ground v14 And I Heard a Voice Speaking to me in Aramaic

This spoke to me differently today.

Paul was educated, wise, metropolitan if you will. He spoke at least three languages – Greek, Hebrew, and his heart language, Aramaic.

Jesus too would have used all of these languages. And when he strikes Saul down, he could have spoke to the World Man and Roman Citizen, Paul. He could have spoken to the Religious Scholar and Leader, Saul. But he doesn’t.

Hebrew was now the most common of the spoken languages of the Jewish people. But when Jesus speaks to him here, he speaks in Aramaic. I believe it grabbed Saul’s heartstrings. He was already dazed and amazed by the light – but now this great power is not speaking the Civil Power Language. Nor is he speaking the Religious Authority Language. He wasn’t speaking in the Commission of the Temple or Rome but was actually calling in a simple, familiar voice, a common voice.

Jesus asks why are you persecuting me? It is hard to kick against the goads.

I often imagined Jesus speaking forcefully and authoritatively here, but no, I think it was gentle. I compare this to Paul sharing his testimony in Acts 21 and 22, as he was accused of bringing Greeks into the Temple. He wanted to defend himself. They thought in Acts 21:38 that he was an Egyptian who led a revolt with 4,000 assassins. And notice in 21:40 he motioned with his hands… there was a great hush, he addressed them in Aramaic… and v22:2 says, when they heard he was addressing in Aramaic, they become even quieter.

Hmm, where did Paul learn this tactic? It’s how Jesus spoke to him. Jesus was getting Saul’s heart to pay attention and his ears to hear.

So in Acts 21&22 Paul gives a testimony they can understand – Just as Jesus spoke in a gentle way he could understand.

I was once sharing Jesus in El Salvador with some fishermen along the Lempa River. These guys were spear fishermen. They used hand made spear guns. I asked them if I could hold their spear gun. It was loaded, but they allowed me. And I explained to them about our pescados, our sins. I told them that pescado /sin was a word that was an archery term – describing missing the target. I was speaking to them in a way they could understand, and they were paying attention, kept telling me cuidado – “be careful” – my point exactly, but they just didn’t want me to fire it. But they listened to this gringo speaking in a way they could understand in their hearts.

Jesus spoke to Saul in Aramaic. Paul’s testimony was shared who knows how many times. But we have the story recorded 3 times. We have Luke’s Historical Account in Acts 9. Then we have two records of him sharing his testimony in Acts 21/22 and then before Agrippa and Felix.

Only here in Acts 26 does it use another phrase that Jesus used with Saul – why do you kick against the goads. I believe Paul sed it here for an important reason. Jesus was saying “Saul, I’ve been trying to get you to go in the right direction all of your life, but you are fighting me, and it’s only hurting you. Creation spoke, The Law spoke, Prophets spoke, The Witnesses spoke, and so I have blinded you – so now I’m speaking gently to you in your heart language – stop fighting me – let’s clean up the wounds and come follow me. I have a purpose for you, I have a new commission I am appointing you to.”

Paul, in his testimony, I believe was saying to Agrippa, “stop fighting the revelation, the pressing of God. God has given you a position but he has better things for you.

Almost is the KJV way of rendering Agrippa’s response. The CSB says are you going to persuade me to become a Christians so easily? To which Paul says “I don’t care if it’s easy or hard, I just want you and all who hear to become like me, a follower of Jesus.”

My point in this discussion is that Paul does something simple and repeatable here as he shares his testimony. He shares 1) Life Before Christ 2) How he came to know Christ 3) his Life after Christ and 4) Invites them to Believe and Come as well.

If you are a follower of Jesus, I encourage you to write down on one or two pages your testimony Life Before, How you Came, and What has Happened since you met Jesus. Be Passionate, Be Perceptive of the audience, Be Patient – then leave it to the Lord.

Finally, if you do not have anything to write down perhaps God has brought you to this moment – confess your sin, believe in Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord, and follow him right now.
God’s Zeal Intersecting with Mine

January 17th, 2024
Oh My how God Moves… Galatians 1 Paul is writing a letter to an “overzealous” church and he tells his testimony upfront.

v11 I want you to know… the Gospel… is not of human origin… it came by a Revelation of Jesus Christ

I was raised in a Pastor’s home. I was born while my Dad was in seminary in New Orleans. I started preaching when I was 13 years old. I didn’t take the normal route to be a Pastor that most do. I have often told people that I spent 18 years in the “James Goforth Sr. Seminary”.

What I love and appreciate most about my Dad the preacher – besides his passion for the ministry and love for people – was that he never taught me a theological construct, he taught me read, love, and preach with full assurance of faith in the Word of God.

God says what he means and means what he says. So, when I started preaching as a teenager, I was never trying to prove a theological opinion or point, but was reading, believing, explaining, and teaching the Word of God.

I didn’t go the normal school route either – my Bachelor’s degree is in music, because I needed to learn more as that was going to play an important part in my ministry. I had been singing my whole life, but not studying it like I had the Preaching side. All along the way, I was studying and preaching God’s word.

Paul was in “church” all his life from the Jewish Side of things. All his life he had the best teaching v13 he said you have heard my former way of life… I intensely persecuted God’s Church… v14 I was advanced in Judaism beyond my contemporaries… I was extremely zealous for the traditions of my ancestors

v15 but when God, who from my mother’s womb set me apart and called me by his grace, was pleased 16 to reveal his Son IN me, so that I could preach him…

I then heard Paul in Romans 2:4 saying God’s kindness leads us to repentance

Paul understood that God had always known who would – Paul included – who would respond and believe and so God always had a plan for Paul. Did God cause Paul to do Bad things? No – Was God making provision in all things? YES.

So, WHEN – God always knows When – when God was pleased… to reveal the Son IN me… I love that choice of words here IN – the TO came earlier – then came the IN.

God revealed Himself TO Paul from without in many ways. I think every Christian Paul persecuted was a testimony outside. I think when he held the coats as men stoned Stephen and Paul watched him die Gracefully – it messed Paul up. He got even MORE Zealous…

But then ONE DAY – on the road to Damascus the Lord Blinded Him and opened his eyes, ears, and heart.

God had a plan… v16 so that I could preach him among the Gentiles. I did not consult with anyone 17 I did not go to Jerusalem to… the Apostles instead I came to Arabia … v18 After three years…

I often say that Paul spent 3 years in “Seminary” in Arabia with Jesus Christ, the Holy Spirit, in the Will of the Father. He went a different way.

I can relate – I started preaching young, went to College, got a degree in music, then turned down a Seminary Scholarship to “Jerusalem” (Southwestern Seminary) I had a family, had a desire for ministry and God said “Go” so I went. I was preaching, leading worship, youth camps, speaking in schools, performing concerts – after 8 years doing that I became a church plant pastor and 28 years later, I’m still doing that.

I didn’t go the regular route because God had other plans

Paul didn’t go the regular route, but God had plans and a call for him and God prepared him through it all for what he was going to do. Would Paul tell others to do it that way? Probably not. Is there anything wrong with Seminary or a “traditional route”? No, I love those endeavors and have encouraged and led others to do that. But it still comes down to following God and doing the work.

I preached at a Baptist College years ago, was introduced simply as Pastor Jim Goforth – afterwards a Vice President took me to lunch and asked, “Did you get your Doctorate from Southwestern?” I said, “what makes you think I have a Doctorate from Southwestern?” He said, “I just heard you preach and I know you have a Doctorate and that it’s from Southwestern.” I thanked him for the compliment but told him… No I don’t have one, but I work and study hard.

Galatians is all about Paul saying, “there are many good things to do, but it still all comes down to Jesus.

v18 After the Lord had prepared him in Arabia, he says I did go to Jerusalem to get to know Peter and stayed with him for 15 days… (and) James, the Lord’s brother… 21 afterward I went to Syria and Cilicia I remained personally unknown to the Judean Churches that are in Christ… 23 They simply kept hearing he who formerly persecuted us now preaches the faith he once tried to destroy 24 and they Glorified God because of me.

The Thread here is not Paul bragging on his route, or prescribing it for anyone else. That’s not my thread either. The Thread here is:
- God is the Source of the Gospel
- Jesus is the Savior seeking and saving
- He is the Sender to the places in his plan
- God is the subject of the Glory we give and that we desire others to give, even if we are never known or remembered.
Would I have mapped it out differently? Yep – I often had zealous plans that were interrupted by the Zeal of God

Was God at work in all of it? Yes

I once sang the National Anthem at a Professional Baseball Game – 40,000 people there. It was fun. The next day someone said to me, “yesterday a guy sang the national anthem at the game and he looked a lot like you.” I said, “well actually that WAS me.” ”No, he was a really big guy.” I said, “well the screen was large, but that was me”. ”No, that wasn’t you – that was some other guy, but he was really good.” ”Well, Ok They announced my name, that was me”, puzzled look… then, “no that wasn’t you, that guy was a pro”.

Ok

Does anyone know my name? A few, but I’m more concerned if they know the Lord. That’s what I’ve been trying to do all my life.

Every now and then I get a contact from someone, and they ask, “are you the same Jim Goforth who…” and they list some concert, or some speaking engagement or some thing… and I say, “yeah that was me”. And they say “we were there, and we followed Jesus, and we still are…” or “we are in the ministry”… or “Glory to God!”

And that’s the thing that makes me smile and it’s all worthwhile
Do You Know Me?

January 10th, 2024
John 14:9 Jesus says, “How long have I been with you and yet you have not known me?”

I read that Monday morning, and immediately mindful then of the end of the Great Commission in Matthew 28:20 I am with you always to the end of the age”

I am guilty too often of just wanting information and directions and Jesus says, “I am with you… come with me… watch me… follow me.“ This verse in John 14 is part of a larger discussion. Jesus is about to die, and then after rising from the dead, he will ascend to the Father and send The Holy Spirit. And so here he says, “I go to prepare a place for you… you know the way…” and Thomas says, “we don’t know where… how can we know the way?” And Philip says, “Show us the Father… that’s enough” and Jesus’ response to both of these confused followers is, “Look at ME” – “I AM the Way, I AM the Truth, I AM the Life… If you have seen ME, you have SEEN the Father… Believe in ME.“

Certainly Jesus gives us instruction and direction but generally and truly he is always with us. So he says, “Follow ME… Go with me… take my hand… Look… and Believe… Do what I am doing.”

v12 the one who believes will do the works that I do… even greater things than these

v15 if you love me you will keep my commands

v16 I will ask the Father and he will give you another Counselor to be with you forever

v21 The one who has my commands and keeps them is the one who loves me… loved by the Father… I will reveal myself to him.

Do you see the correlation? JESUS is the answer we seek. He is the power, he is the direction, he is reality. We follow him, we know him, we receive him, and we find, way, truth, life, revelation.

And so, the Lynchpin is Love and Faith. Henry Blackaby said we don’t have obedience issues, we have LOVE issues. I would then add that we have also faith issues then.
- What are you hearing God say as you enter this new year?
- Are you just looking for Direction or God’s Presence? Go WITH Him
- Knowledge comes as we see HE is what we seek
- Take some time to stop, look, listen, take his hand, and go with Jesus
As we enter a new year, I hear Jesus – who I have known as Savior for 54 years – say, “how long have I been with you… do you know me?” And I would honestly answer, “yes Lord, I know you “; and He would respond, “I know you do – but do you love me, do you believe in me – in ACTION not just in Knowledge?”
The Spirit Helps Us In Our Weakness – Romans 8:26

December 19th, 2023

Romans 8 is much an amazing chapter. It follows Paul’s discourse on the struggle with our “two natures” in Romans 7. He talks about then the Law of the Spirit of Life, vs the Law of sin and death. he says then in v18 that the suffering of this life is nothing compared to the glory that will be revealed to us. All of creation was affected by The Fall and so all of creation is longing for what is coming.

Then the idea of “firstfruits” is mentioned. We have the Spirit of God living in us v23 as a firstfruit, a foretaste of the glory that is coming while we wait for the redemption of the whole body.

We have HOPE but of course the nature of hope is that we don’t have the fullness yet, we can’t see it yet, but it IS coming.

v25 then says we eagerly wait with patience – hypomone = a remaining behind, patient endurance. And then v26 – In the same way the Spirit also helps us with our weakness because we do not know what to pray for as we should, but the Spirit intercedes for us with inexpressible groanings. And he who searches (Ps139) our hearts – knows the mind of the Spirit because he intercedes for the saints according to the will of God

Then we get to the verse that we all love, but often take out of context – All things work together for the good of those who love God, who are called according to his purpose

We want this to mean, “everything is good – but well – yes and no.

See vv29-30 then conect with vv 26-27 and v28 is just a definer.

v29 begins, “FOR” – hoti=that, because

All things work out FOR Good of those called according to his purpose – what’s the purpose? v29 For those he foreknew – those known by God for all of history as those who would BE HIS i.e. those who would respond to his drawing, would receive his gift of Grace, those indwelt by the Spirit as Ephesians 1:13-14 describe when you heard the word of truth… when you believed… you were sealed with the Holy Spirit… the down payment (firstfruit) of our inheritance UNTIL the redemption of the possession (emphasis mine)

Do you see the connection. The HOPE we have – it is a “ticket” but the delivery is yet to come. It’s waiting at the “will call window” it’s there and has your name on it with certainty of the promise – we have a firstfruit living in us but the best is yet to come.

What is coming? As the Spirit is interceding for us, according to the will of God. What IS then the will of God… v27 and what is the purpose in v28… what is the Good that all things are working together for?

I’m glad you asked

v29 For – because – those he forknew he predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son

Why?

So That – He (Jesus) would be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters

Two different firstfruits being spoken of here – and firstfruits are the first harvest of a greater harvest to come. The Spirit is the foretaste of Eternity in God’s Presence. And Jesus is the foretaste of How WE will be for eternity.

Jesus died – but he rose and lives and so shall we. And we will be alive, not just like we used to be, not struggling with flesh and spirit – but conformed to the image of the Son – Jesus – in every way.

1 John 3 says how great is the love that God has given us that we should be called children of God and that is what we are. 2 We are God’s children NOW and what we WILL BE has not yet been revealed (seen clearly) but we know that WHEN he appears we will be LIKE Him… 3everyone who has this hope in him purifies himself just as he is pure

Oh my, the struggle now is great, but I have a firstfruit of glory living in me. I have the firstfruit of the resurrection life displayed in Jesus. And so I understand that I am going to be LIKE Jesus. It is why God called me, justified me, and he has glorified me. All of these are past tense actions. For me the first two have already taken place and the third is yet to be but they are certain completed events.

And I know and experience the Spirit then helping in my weakness along the way. I have to surrender to him, and I know he is praying for me. He is ordering events and circumstances in my life toward the end of strength and transformation into the image of Christ.

Know this – the Spirit’s intercession is sometimes then different from the way I pray, and the way I act, but it is always in accordance with the Will of God which is to conform me to the Image of the Resurrected Christ. Oh I’m a child of God but the family resemblance isn’t always as it should be, but the Spirit is praying and working toward that end.

And then 8:31 – again in this context we understand – what then are we to say… if God is for us, who can be against us?

Again this doesn’t mean I can always get what I want and win the battles I want to win, but it means that God is and will shape me into the image of Jesus regardless of the struggles, the battles.

Hmmm – go read Psalm 139:1-5 now and see how the Spirit works, what he is doing – He is always with me, always aware – and then v5 says, you have encircled me; you have placed your hand on me.

Praise God the Spirit aides me in my weakness and I will look like Jesus when it’s all said and done.
Necessity, Nature, Nurture, Nihilation

December 12th, 2023

In Matthew 16 Peter famously confesses Jesus as the Messiah, the Son of the Living God. Jesus says that this confession and understanding is the basis for the church. When we confess Jesus as Lord, Messiah, Promise fulfilled, that is the Life-Changing Life-Giving answer. Jesus is not just another prophet, preacher, or leader, and not just an inanimate Idol, but the Son of the Living God.

Jesus says that he is the Rock on which the church will be built, and that the gates of hell cannot prevail against it. The gates of Hell cannot hold up when we release his powerful confession. He then talks about “keys to the Kingdom” – power to bind and loosen.

Now remember, we are on a freedom mission. Just as Jesus in John 3:17 says he didn’t come to condemn but to save, the world is already bound, and we have the keys. We base freedom or bondage on what is done with Jesus. Was God making Peter the “First Pope”, no I don’t think so. But it is agreed that he was talking here and in Matthew 18 about Christ empowering and the Church Recognizing Leaders as well, Leaders, with power to lead. Yet still I would bring us back to Jesus as the Key and what we do with him binds or releases.

Come back then to the Necessity of Nature, Nurture, and Nihilation. Yes, by nature, we are sinners and bound in that city of sin. But followers of Christ, we are on a mission of freedom and our leaders, as long as faithful to the call and the mission, do have power and authority from Christ. Remember also in Revelation 1 that Jesus walks among the “lampstands” that is the local churches, and he holds the “stars”, pastors, in his hand. He is leading, protecting, and correcting the church and their leaders – but I digress.

If our nature is sin, in Christ a New Nature arises. That new nature, then needs to be Nurtured as the Spirit calls us for the Father. John 6:44 tells us that no one comes unless the Father Draws and so the Spirit moves and draws and then within us something Christlike happens…

I am using the word, Nihilation – “to reduce to nothing”, to die to self. My point is that it is all about timing and purpose – Jesus, hero of heaven, laid aside his glory, and he tells his disciples there in v20, “tell no one that he was the Messiah”

Why? Service is about purpose and timing. Service is about becoming nothing for something. Jesus said, “don’t tell anyone”, because he had another purpose, do die for our sins, not to be popular in that day.

v21 says From then on Jesus began to point out to his disciples that it was necessary for him to go to Jerusalem… suffer many things… be killed… and be raised on the third day.” Wait, what? That wasn’t on the advertising poster we saw. Peter tried to stop that… to which Jesus responded, “get behind me satan! You are not thinking about God’s concerns but human concerns.”

Oh the battle between our 2 natures – Old and New, Flesh and Spirit. It’s a struggle of Nature, Nihilation, and Nurture.

We read Romans 8:5 Sunday – “those who live according to the flesh have their minds set on things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit have their minds set on the things of the Spirit” – Nature, Nihilation, and Nurture.

The Spirit, Romans 8:6 says is Life and Peace, but the flesh is death.

Then in Matthew 16 Jesus goes to the most famous part, vv24-27 If anyone wants to follow after me let him deny himself (nihilation) whoever wants to save his life must lose it… what benefit to gain the whole world but lose his life? Then he must have blown their minds when he said, the Son of Man IS COMING with the angels in the glory of the Father, AND THEN he will reward according to what is done.

We get our Advents confused sometimes don’t we? How interesting there IS Jesus, Son of Man, The Messiah, already recognized as such by the disciples, but he had come as NOTHING… and said, “don’t tell anyone how big I am because I have some ‘nothing work’ to do. I’m going to be a suffering servant and die, but rise again… but don’t worry I am coming again later – with all the glory and the reward – and You Will be nothing with me for now, on a Freedom Mission – but GLORY is coming later – Just wait”

The Necessity of Nature, Nurture, and Nihilation – Now and Exaltation is Yet to Come
Streams of Living Water

November 29th, 2023
BONUS POST – I wrote this a year ago and just noticed it still sitting in my “draft” folder – so here it it…

John 7:38 says The one who believes in me, as the scripture says, will have streams of living water flow from deep within him.

It’s a great conditional message here. They were in the “feast of shelters” where they remembered the wilderness wandering. They came together for a camping party basically. They had daily fires, times of remembrance for what God had done leading them out of bondage into the Land of Promise.

So if you go back to v37, “on the last and most important day of the festival… Leviticus 23:34-35 instructs that they didn’t work for a week. They had a sacred assembly to start, presented daily food offerings – which was food presented to the Lord but eaten “in his presence”. Then on the 8th day they had another sacred assembly and greatest food offering. Deuteronomy 16:13-14 says,Rejoice during your festival – son and daughter – male and female – slave and Levite, resident alien, fatherless, and the widow – i.e. EVERYONE

So they ate and celebrated for 8 days, then on the 8th day, Jesus says, if anyone is thisty let him Come and Drink…

James Freeman / Harold Chadwick’s book New Manners and Customs of the Bible says that traditionally every day a priest would go to the pool of Siloam and draw water in a Gold Pitcher – Singers and Musicians, the People, would be with him. They would come to the Temple and with 3 Horn Blasts, he would pour water into a bowl that was on the western side of the Altar.

That bowl had 3 holes and so the singular water source would run out in 3 Streams on the Altar. What was the symbolism?
1. the water provided in the desert
2. the promised “latter rain” – blessing to come
3. the Holy Spirit would come with the Messiah
Well, that was nice – but did it quench their thirst? – NO – Of course, though they had been feasting, drink included for 7 days.

Jesus then offers a conditional promise here on Day 7.
1. if anyone… COME to me
2. Believes in me
3. Then Streams of living water flow from deep within
And in vv40-52 people have different thoughts about Jesus here – Some said, this is a prophet. Others said, this is the Messiah. Others said, the Messiah doesn’t come from Galilee. It then says the crowd was divided and some wanted to seize him.

But very interestingly v53 says, then each one went to his own home. and 8:1 Jesus went to the Mount of Olives

Wow – Thirsty, Festive, Worshipers, but no one came to Jesus.
- we must Leave to Come
- we must Believe in Him – Who He is, What He has
- Then we can LIVE – Streams of living water deep within
I just was in El Salvador, my 12th trip over 17 years. I’ve been preaching for 46 years… why? Because Living water deep within comes to those who BELIEVE.

It’s a stream so it’s alive, it’s flowing. Sometimes stagnant water can get contaminated, but this has life within. it is life-giving, life-changing.

I know a friend who was oppressed by the enemy, by alcohol’s attempt to quench his thirst, his life was falling apart. He came to me many years ago and said, “I want to be free”. We Came to Jesus. He confessed his belief in the Lord, received God’s forgiveness in Christ. We rejected the evil that was attacking him, and Life Came.

Oh yes, there were struggles, just like Paul in Romans 7, and there will always be those on this earth. But Streams of Living Water Flow.

Today he is sober, he is full of Jesus, he has a wife, children, and serves the Kingdom – Why? Because Streams of Living Water Follow, and they are deep within him.

Praise God from Whom All Blessings Flow!
The Life I NOW Live – Galatians 2:20

November 14th, 2023

What’s the NOW in your living? Is it what you want? Is it heading to the destination you desire?

I laugh when I remember my parents coming to visit us from Texas to St. Louis many years ago. My Dad was fantastic with directions and he passed that down to me. But THIS time, he was late, and due to construction he had missed our exit off the highway. He was coming from southwest of us, moving north east. He had transitioned from 45 to 270 to 70 east. And he called and said he didn’t know where he was. A series of questions followed and I asked, “did you cross the river? (Mississippi) – he said “Yes”. To which I responded, “You are in Illinois.” And my Dad asked, “Do I have to turn around?” HAhahaha. “Well,” I told him, “If you don’t, you will end up in New York City.”

Paul says, “I’ve been crucified with Christ, and I no longer live, but Christ lives IN me – The Life I NOW Live…” My Dad WAS on the right path, but the drive he was NOW ON no longer was taking him where he wanted to go. So he had to make a decision – turn around or keep going. The Road seemed good, the weather was nice, but where did he want to go?

So, I gave him directions, he turned around and he got to where he intended to go. Sometimes we realize “the Life I now live” isn’t taking me where I want to go. Paul had made a change in life from a religiously legal life to a Christ centered faith-driven life. “the life I now live… I live by…” that little word, “by” is en=in, on, at, by, with. “The life I now live… I live by FAITH” You probably know or have heard of that word, pistei = trust, faith, confidence, assurance, persuaded. Lot’s of people “live by faith” – My Dad was driving with confidence, on a good road, but his confidence, and trust faded as the trip went on, went long, and he got to the skyline, and the arch, and then left the city behind as he crossed the river – So, WHERE your faith is placed is a big key isn’t it?

The life I now live… Paul was a man of faith, but he had begun to see and hear things that challenged his faith path. He had seen that deacon Stephen stoned to death for preaching Jesus. It seems that Paul had not seen Jesus personally, but he had come to Jerusalem, and he was working against these followers of Jesus. That all changed on the road to Damascus in Acts 9. He had a direct encounter with Jesus and he changed his position of faith. Paul heard Jesus, believed Jesus, obeyed his instruction, and God saved him and changed him.

Now – The life I now live, I live by faith in the Son of God – The Object of his faith changed. He came to understand what Hebrews 1:2 says, “in these last days he (God) has appointed him (Jesus) heir of all things” Paul says here in Galatians that his faith now rests in Jesus, the Son of God, so now my faith is in something else, and my path has changed. Why did Paul shift his faith point? Because now it was in the one who “loved me and gave himself for me.”

The whole context about which Paul is talking in Galatians is Law vs Grace, Law vs Faith, Law fulfilled in Jesus. His conversation is that the law was a tutor to bring us to and grow us up to show us Jesus. The Law wasn’t the end but a means to an end.

The road my Dad was on was a good road, and brought him nine hours from Texas to St. Louis, but the road wasn’t the purpose, it was a means to the end. Dad needed to take the exit and shift roads to finish the journey. That day he was coming to see his grandson play soccer.

Romans 2:4 says, “his kindness leads us to repentance”. Down your path, God has brought you to Jesus, will you take the exit or miss it? Will you keep driving or come to Jesus?

Then WITH Jesus, we live by faith, rightly placed in the one who loved us first, loves us best, and paid the price for our sin to fulfill our purpose and desire to know God – Turn to Jesus.

Let me add one other thought for those of you who follow Jesus, Serve Jesus – KEEP Living by Faith – sometimes, we just keep doing what we’ve been doing, but Jesus has taken and exit, has made a turn, is doing a new thing, and we don’t just need to turn TO Jesus, but we need to turn WITH Jesus

The life I now live, I live by (in, on, with) faith (confidence, trust, assurance, persuaded) in Christ who loved me and gave himself for me.

Are you walking with Jesus? Are you moving toward what he is doing? Are you trusting him with the direction? If you have never trusted Jesus – do so now, confess him as Lord, receive his offer of forgiveness of sin because of the cross of Jesus. If you HAVE trusted Jesus, take a check, ask the question, “am I still following what Jesus is doing?” If not, you may be IN faith but you aren’t living BY faith in the Son of God who loves you and gave himself for you.
Lord… If… Then -John 11:21

November 7th, 2023

Lazarus’ death was no doubt hard on Jesus. Not because he couldn’t do anything, but because he knows what we are going through, and he knows what God is doing.

We don’t know what sickness Lazarus had, but Jesus knows all, knew all, and knew these days were coming. He got word of Lazarus’ sickness and the report that he was close to death. His response was “this will not END in death, but is for the glory of God, so that the Son of God may be glorified through it.”

There are many things to learn here – Jesus could have prevented the illness. he could have stopped the death from happening – But God was at work and cared in the midst of difficult circumstances.

Well, Lazarus died and most likely by the time Jesus “got word” he actually was already dead, because he stayed where he was 2 days and then made a 2-day trip and Lazarus had been dead for 4 days. But on the way, Jesus said, “I’m on my way to wake him up.” Whatever you go through, believe that Jesus is ON the Way.

I just want to focus on one thing here. In v21, Martha comes to Jesus and entreats him honestly, gently, “Lord, IF you had been here (THEN) my brother wouldn’t have died.” She says “if” and the “then” is implied. This was HER understanding, but If death was God’s plan and for his glory, THEN it would have still happened IF Jesus had been there. But then she continues, “Yet, even now I know that whatever (if) you ask from God (then) God will give you.” And Jesus answers, “your brother will rise again.”

There was disagreement in their day among faithful Jewish people about “The Resurrection of the Dead”. Some believed in it, others did not. So Martha states her theologically correct position, “I know that he WILL rise again in The Resurrection at the Last Day.” But she is saying, “I have an IF and a THEN for the future but I want and IF THEN for NOW.”

And then Jesus responds with his own IF / THEN… “I am the Resurrection and the Life. (IF) The one who believes in me, even if he dies, (then) will live. Everyone who lives and (if) believes in me (then) will never die. Do you believe this? And Martha says, “Yes Lord… I believe you are the Messiah, the Son of God, who comes into the world.”

Well… interesting response, but ultimately GREAT. Martha isn’t quite sure what this answer means pertaining to her brother here and now, BUT she’s got her faith set on Jesus, her eyes fixed on Jesus, bringing her troubles to him, and that’s Great. We don’t always understand what God is saying, what he is doing, but if we can focus on HIM.

Then it continues, “having said this, she went back and called her sister…” It’s also interesting that Mary comes to Jesus and says the same thing. Only Mary had fallen to her knees, was weeping, and it’s all she could get out. The crowd, not from the same faith position, also speaks among themselves a similar “If/Then” but from a position of incredulity rather than faith. And the mixture of feelings, knowing all, knowing the positions they were all in, he is deeply moved. I’m sure a huge stew of emotions the Savior felt.

See this, for now, our “if/then” is not always accurate, nor always in God’s plan. However, IF he is the Son of God, THEN we can still come to him with our understanding, our requests, our hurt; we can trust him, we can believe in him, and we can live by the Greatest “if/then” – that is, IF I believe in Jesus – This will not end in death. Death will likely come, but it will not be the end of the story. If we believe in Jesus, Then LIFE is the End of our Story, Eternal Life – that is where we are heading, through every door, every trial, every struggle, come to Jesus, TRUST Jesus, Believe in Jesus – HE is the Resurrection and the Life –

Do you Believe This?