Tag: gospel

Promised Bride Protected by the Friend of the Groom – 2 Corinthians 11:2-3

September 15th, 2026
Let me just ramble for a minute as I did yesterday morning looking at this passage.

The Word “boast” or “boasting” is kauchaomai – Paul kind of likes this word. He uses it 10x in his letter to the Romans, as well as 10x in his First Letter to the Corinthians. but in the Second Letter to the Corinthians he uses it 16x just in chapters 10-12.

Paul is going somewhere. In 10:17 he says, let the one who BOASTS, boast in the Lord. Paul is not boasting for approval, but for attention because he has a JOB to do. and he knows 10:18 that the Lord will be on the one who commends him, whose approval he seeks.

Then in chapter 11 Paul describes his “job” in a similar fashion to John the Baptist in John 3. Remember when John’s disciples came up to him about this new “upstart” that’s getting all the attention, and he’s doing “our thing” and baptizing people.

John then says in John 3:29, that he is just a friend of the groom. It was the role of the best man, as we would know him, to make everything ready and bring the bride to the groom.

All the friend of the groom wanted was to make arrangements, bring the bride, for the groom to be pleased, and the bride find fulfillment in the arrangements. Other than that, the friend took a backseat. Certainly, he wanted / needed to present himself well, as a representative of the groom, but then he would decrease and he (the groom) must increase, John explained (3:30)

Paul has his role in a similar way. Paul’s great concern was for the people of the church, as he desires to bring them TO the Groom and protect them from distraction from that destination.

Reading these chapters, there were obviously deceivers in their midst, and to build their case, they had been boasting about their knowledge and qualifications. So, Paul decides to play that game.

They obviously were boasting in themselves, but Paul says, boast in the Lord.

But I love the game he plays starting in 10:15 – “Alright… I’ll play the fool and boast a little. 11:20… I’ll take the dare, talking foolishly… and boast.

Then Paul gives his “resume” for suffering in 11:23-29 – read that… woah.

Then 11:30 – “I’d rather boast in my weaknesses”. But 12:1 It’s not really profitable to boast, but if necessary, I could talk about visions I’ve seen. 12:6 just telling the truth here… Then he boasts of the great struggles, 12:7-10 – physical afflictions / weaknesses, that God has allowed and will not take away because God’s grace is sufficient and God’s strength is made perfect in his weakness.

I know I’m rambling… but why all of this? Paul wants a faithful, blessed, purely presented Bride

11:2-3 (CSB) I am jealous for you with a godly jealousy… because I have promised you in marriage to one husband – to present you a pure virgin to Christ. But I fear that, as the serpent deceived Eve by his cunning, your minds may be seduced from a sincere and pure devotion to Christ.

What is his job?
- Bring people to Jesus
- Offer them to Christ as an act of “Evangelistic Worship”
- Protect them from false teachings and false acting
- Guard against deception
Adam and Eve took their eyes off of truth, love, and promises. The evil one has always called into question the Goodness of God and the Word of God, and those who knowingly or unwittingly do his work, still do the same.

These followers were in danger of the same, and so it happens in the church the danger of being seduced – phtheiro = corrupt, destroy, ruin.

What we teach, in the church, what we allow is very important. Adam and Eve had a perfect relationship with God like none other have ever experienced, and yet still they were seduced, corrupted, destroyed, ruined.

Well, we have an opportunity to now be another voice in the struggle against deceivers and deception

So,
1. Let’s be IN Love with Jesus
2. Let’s be On Mission
3. Let’s be Careful and Faithful to step in between truth and deception
4. Let’s Preach a Clear Jesus, that is based on the Word of God, and offer a Pure gospel, Clearly and Faithfully, doing everything in our power to present the Bride to Christ.
Shaping Your Plans

July 16th, 2024
I think back on my nearly 60 years of life, and more than 40 years of active ministry, and so much I have wanted to do, and so much I still want to do. My natural competitive nature often sees the things I didn’t get to do as failure of some form or another. And yet, the things I have done have been driven by the “obligation” I feel to the call I have.

Paul, writing to the church in Rome says in 1:14-15 “I am obligated... so I preach the gospel to you also who are in Rome.“

He writes with such passion for people whom he had not met. v8 “I thank God … for all of you because of the news of your faith is being reported all over the world… I constantly mention you always asking in prayers that if it is… God’s will, I may now at last succeed in coming to you.”

There is that word I relate to, “succeed”, this was something he had wanted for a long time, but still as of yet had not been able to succeed, which means in his mind, “I’ve failed to do this”.

And yet Paul was amazed at the power and scope of the gospel, without us. Paul didn’t start that church, he was just in awe of what God had done in the seat of world power, driven by some many things apart from God, and yet God was there and active.
- Paul knew that the Gospel was the answer and the power needed in the world
v9 “I’m telling the good news”

v11 “I want to see you… that I may impart to you some spiritual gift to strengthen you… 12… to be mutually encouraged by one another’s faith”

The Gospel was the answer to error in society, to error in politics and Paul wanted to share the gospel and shape his plans around that desire and belief, the power of the gospel.
- God’s Plans are more important than ours
v13 I’ve often planned to come to you (but I was prevented)” – Sometimes God’s gospel plans are different than ours…
- There Is An Obligation
Paul expressed his global, cross cultural, obligation to the Greeks and Barbarian… wise and foolish… and to these Romans in his heart.

Paul’s obligation was always to the Gospel Call and the will of God.

He had plans, things he thought would best serve his obligation, but God often has different plans. I thought immediately of Acts 16. Paul went to Phrygia and Galatia in v6 but was Forbidden by The Spirit.

He’s trying to move East, but God is pushing him West. In Mysia, v7, “tried to go to Bithynia, but The Spirit of Jesus did not allow” . Sometimes God says “no” to our best laid plans.

Then he came to Troas, on the coast of the Aegean Sea. God gave him a clear call in a dream to go to Macedonia (Greece) and so they set out to sea and came to Neapolis, near the modern day city of Kavala, and climbed the mountain, along the Via Egnatia – the ancient Roman Road, and went to Philippi. And begins a great part of Paul’s life and ministry.
- God Shapes our Plans
Our obligation is not to the plans, but to our Lord and God, and to the Gospel we share along the way. Plans are important, they keep us moving, but we must be open to the redirection.

Paul was committed to the Gospel, more than the destination. He took it to the peaceful and the fierce, the civilized and the wild, to the wise and the foolish.

Why? Romans 1:16 – I am not ashamed of the Gospel – it is the power of God for Salvation to everyone who believes

If you look at the society Paul lived in, I don’t think it much different than ours, besides clothing and technology, much of the “problems” were the same. I believe Paul hoped to allow the Gospel to change the world, but was also in awe of the fact that God was already doing it without him. He just wanted to get in on it, if allowed.

It was an awful, sin-driven world as described in 1:18-32. That list of cultural sin in verses 26-32 is all because v19 what CAN be know is evident… God has shown it… 23 (they) exchanged truth for a lie

It’s the same things we face today. We often want to focus on “pet sins” in the list, but if you look closely you will find yourself in that list, as have I.

Ok, I HAVE rambled a bit, but Paul knew that the Power and the Plans belong to God

Paul knew that his job was to go where instructed. Paul knew then that “success” was defined by obedience, not desired destination.

Oh, and Paul DID get to go to Rome – but he went there in Shackles, on a Prison Ship, through a Shipwreck, under house arrest for 2 years, and then a second time, to the executioners blade.

But the longest reaching work Paul did in the “Roman Realm” was writing this letter from afar and teach the world, for all of history, about sin, salvation, and grace available through the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

May our plans e shaped by our Obligation to the Gospel and the Author and Finisher of our Faith.
Faithful To The Vision Acts 26:19

March 12th, 2024
Oswald Chambers says, “It is essential to practise the walk of the feet in the light of the Vision” (MyUtmostForHisHighest 3/11)

Often we clearly hear God, but find the actuality of the action hard, so we adjust.

Paul is giving his personal testimony to King Agrippa and Governor Festus in Acts 26. Paul talks about meeting Jesus on the road to Damascus. God doesn’t always give a “life call” at the Salvation Call, but he does here. I say, “Salvation Call” because this was the day Paul recognized and received it, but certainly God was speaking to Paul all of his life. He had been studying the Scripture and anticipating the Messiah, then when Jesus came and Paul heard of Him, at first he rejected.

But this day, he heard and part of the Salvation Call was the Mission declared and the Vision to be strived toward.
- The Vision was a People of God, not just Israel, but from every nation.
There was here a Vision, a Mission, and Promised Provision.

God’s Kingdom was for everyone who would believe. That wasn’t new. Israel was to be a light. Zechariah prophesied that other nations would come and say, “Let us go with you…” That’s always been what God was doing, his vision, to be fully experienced in Heaven “every nation, tribe, people, and language, which no one could number, standing before the throne” (Rev7:9)

The Mission for Paul then was to be a “servant and a witness of what you have and will see” v17 He was called to the Gentiles v18 I’m sending you to them to open their eyes so that they may turn from darkness to light from the power of satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a share among those who are sanctified by faith in me.“

That was his mission in the Vision of God. His mission was not just to go to the ends of the earth and rescue the people of Israel and point them to their Messiah, but to go and bring IN the rest of the world.

The Mission was hard – “Ok Lord, I think I misheard you… I got beat up and left for dead, let’s adjust this.” NO – If we heard God, then God knew the challenges and always makes Provision for His Vision and our Mission in it.

v16 So get up and Stand on your feet I have appeared for this purpose to appoint you

In our service to the Lord there are always “God parts” and “Our Parts”. Get Up and Stand… with the understood, “GO” – I’m sending you to them

Henry Blackaby said, “you can’t STAY where you are and GO with God”

My “go” and your “go” may be different, but when God says “go” – he is always saying “come WITH me” and we can’t stay where we are, as we are.

Then the Provision – Then his Provision – “I will rescue you from your people and from the Gentiles”. Your people and the Gentiles – often the battle is internal and external in the Mission for the Vision.

v19 So then, I was not disobedient to the Heavenly Vision.

Disobedience can be passive or Aggressive, omission or commission; if we fail to go when he sent or fail to do what he says, both are disobedience.

Paul says, instead of disobedience, I preached in Damascus first… then Jerusalem… all Judea, and to the Gentiles.

What did he preach? v20 Repent and Turn to God – do works worthy of repentance. Too often we make repentance easy, less than actual repentance. Repentance is an “About Face” – and it is TOWARD GOD – not toward me. We aren’t asking people to become like us, but to come to Jesus and allow him to be Lord and transform us into his image.

Matthew 3:8 Produce fruit consistent with Repentance

That Message got Paul in trouble – v21 for this reason the Jews tried to kill me

And yet… Provision – v21 to this day I have had help from God, and I stand and testify.

And as he was saying all of this, Festus (Roman Governor / Gentile) Shouted: You’re out of your mind Paul! Ha! Even a non-Christian says, “you’re nuts”. But Paul quickly responds with a NO – “I’m speaking words of truth and good judgment
- The Message of Repentance toward God is always Truth
- If you are following the Plan of God for the Purpose of God in the Power of God to the Praise of God, the only crazy thing is not to position ourselves on our feet Doing That
“The Only way to be obedient to the heavenly Vision is to give “Our Utmost for His Highest” – that’s what Oswald Chambers says in this namesake devotion. He continues, “by continually and resolutely recalling the vision… though it tarry, wait for it… live in the inspiration of it until it accomplishes itself. We get so practical that we forget the vision”

We are often so focused on “have we checked the box?” “Is it here yet?” “I don’t see it.”

No, what is the Vision? What is our Mission? Do THAT and seeing will come in due time! The seeing is in the doing and will come into being long before we notice it.
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

Tag: gospel

Promised Bride Protected by the Friend of the Groom – 2 Corinthians 11:2-3

Shaping Your Plans

Faithful To The Vision Acts 26:19

God’s Zeal Intersecting with Mine