Tag: Jesus

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
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.
Is There A Balm?

September 12th, 2022

Jeremiah 9 – actually, back up to the end of chapter 8. As Jeremiah laments the self-imposed trouble in Judah, because of their unfaithfulness, he asks:

Is there no balm in Gilead

v14 why are you just sitting there. Gather together… the Lord has destroyed us… because we have sinned against the Lord. It says horses are coming… snakes are going to be sent that cannot be charmed. Then he says in v18 my joy has flown away; grief has settled… my heart is sick v22 … is there no balm in Gilead… no physicians there? The understanding is that there IS medicine, there ARE doctors… So why has the healing of my dear people not come about?

And so then the weeping prophet, the tearful teacher starts ch9 “if my head were a flowing fountain of tears, I would weep day and night… v2 If only I had a traveler’s lodging place in the wilderness

Sometimes we are so full of empty things, we can’t experience true satisfaction. And then Jeremiah makes his accusations about their unfaithfulness, and the result of their selfish sin and in v12 he asks, who is wise enough to understand thing? V13 The Lord said, “It is because they abandoned my instruction, which i set before them, and did not obey my voice or walk according to it.

So then, in this understanding, I picture Jesus in John 7:37-38 On the last and most important day of the festival, Jesus stood and cried out…

No wait… realize this is a weeklong festival of food offerings. Truthfully it was supposed to be seven days of offerings, but I am guessing that the “worship” side of this had been lost on them. This was the Feast of the Tabernacles. They are camping in tents, worshipping with food, remembering what God did for them. James Freeman and Harold Chadwick in New Manners and Customs of the Bible say that eveery day a priest would lead a procession to the pool of Siloam and with a gold pitcher would draw water. There would be singers and musicians and upon returning to the temple there would be 3 Shofar blasts and they would pour the water into a bowl on the western side of the altar. It had holes and the water would run out on the altar. It was to remember 1) water provided in the desert 2) the promise of “latter rain” (blessing to come) 3) the coming of the Holy Spirit when the Messiah came.

In this feast, they did this every day, that was pretty, but it didn’t satisfy their thirst. And from Siloam to the Temple is a little walk and uphill. I can see this Seventh Day… the whole fanfare… then the Three Blasts of Trumpet… And then the voice of Jesus, at the perfect silent spot, “is anyone thirst?… Oh my, doesn’t Jesus know timing? If anyone is thirsty, let him come to me and drink –

pino = to drink = is in the present, active, imperative – that tells me this is saying “you must, right now, actively DRINK”.

The one… – that means this is a possibility but must acted upon.

the one who believes (pisteuo) – it’s not about knowing, but beleiving, entrusting, placing faith – so get in, get on, get under, get with – ME (Jesus) then, as the scripture has said, will have streams of living water flow from deep within him – Oh my yes. We ARE sick. We NEED medicine, need a physician, we need our thirst quenched. Yes, the horses of warring armies are coming, the snakes are biting, and it is our own fault

But there is a balm in Gilead – Do you know that Spiritual? I can hear it in my head…

there is a balm in Gilead, there is a balm in Gilead… Jesus is the balm in Gilead…

Jesus is the Messiah that would come and bring the gift of the Holy Spirit. And that water was poured that day on the altar and then it was gone. And no one had their thirst quenched and Siloam was a little walk away, but Jesus said “believe in me and I will put living water IN YOU

One other thing to notice vv40+ many said “this is the Messiah” and other said “The Messiah doesn’t come from Galilee” and v43 says the crowd was divided” Then v53 days each one went to his own house and 8:1 But Jesus went to the Mount of Olives – Oh my, Jesus says if anyone believes … but everyone went home … No one invited Jesus home

And my take my thoughts back to Jeremiah 9:13 the Lord said it is because they abandoned me

Jesus is the answer to life, to death, to hope over hopelessness, to thirst being quenched, to the gift of the Holy Spirit springing up within us.

Come, Believe, Right Now, You Must, unless you don’t want life, satisfaction, hope, and love.
God Articulated

April 13th, 2021

I had my mind go back today to John 1. I have preached from this passage 1:1-14 so many times. It is in my sermon book available at Written In Flesh: A Series of Expositional Sermons in John’s Gospel: Volume 1 – Chapters 1-3 (To Believe and Have Life) – Kindle edition by Goforth Jr, James L. Religion & Spirituality Kindle eBooks @ Amazon.com.

This isn’t intended to be a commercial post, but just wanted you to know where youc an get the rest of this idea. I was thinking about it today and reading again and I wanted to just include a little bit of it, sort of an outline of it. I wanted to just give you an encouragement today

John 1:1-4 in the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. All things were created through him, and apart from him not one thing was created that has been created. in him was life and that life was the light of men (CSB)

John wrote his gospel toward the end of the first century, long after all the other 11 who walked with Jesus had died. He wrote it from Ephesus where he had been pastor of what had become a large metropolitan church. John wrote 20:31 that you may believe … and have life.

Heraclitus had been a Greek Philosopher, also from Ephesus about 600 years before John 500BC. and he described the divine reason or plan which coordinates a changing universe. He called that divine reason – the logos = word. Heraclitus believed, 500 years before Jesus walked the earth, that there was something behind everything.

And John writes perhaps the most beautiful words in literature these words we just read. John was saying, “Heraclitus is right, and I know WHO he is, I walked with him, talked with him, saw him die, saw him alive, I KNOW HIM!” and he writes these words.

Go back and read them again – go ahead, I’ll wait.

John says the WORD isn’t a concept, he is a person. And he uses that same word LOGOS to show us Jesus.

He says

1.He is an Ancient Word

When the beginning had a beginning, Jesus was already there. Whatever you are facing, whatever the challenges, Jesus was before it. Your generational problem, your current circumstance, success, failure, Jesus was there BEFORE

And he WAS the Word. He has an infinite past. Matthew, Mark, Luke, all put Jesus rightfully in his place in History. But John starts by placing him outside history

in the beginning was the word

Whatever you face, take it back to the beginning when there was nothing but God, and know that before everything, before you even knew him, Jesus loved you.

And Jesus is

2.An Associated Word

was WITH God

They say you can be defined by whom you associate with. John Associated Jesus with GOD. That word means in the company of

John says anyone who has seen me has seen God – John 14:9

Hebrews 1 says he is the radiance of God’s glory … the exact representation of his being

And so that means he is also associated with the Holy Spirit. In the beginning was God … let US make man in OUR own image

Jesus was fully equal to and associated with the Trinity, the fullness of God.

But then the amazing becomes true John 1:14 the word became flesh and dwelt among us

Jesus became fully associated with US, with People.

When Solomon built his Temple he thought in 1 Kings 8:27 will God really dwell on earth? The heavens … cannot contain you. How much less this temple I have built.

And yet that word, ancient and associated with God, became associated with us!

Why? so that our FIRST word doesn’t have to be the LAST Word.

Words seem to define us – winner, loser, big, small, accepted, rejected, sinner, saint, but because Jesus is the First Word and He is the FINAL Word, Alpha and Omega, Beginning and End; it doesn’t matter what your current word is, it doesn’t have to define you if you surrender to Jesus.

He is an

3.An Almighty Word

So Fear Him. Psalm 34:8-9 taste and see that the Lord is good; blessed is the man who takes refuge in him. Fear the Lord, you his saints for those who fear him lack nothing.

Almighty Creator – Fear Him

Favor Him. that means to show him love, and to show him preference.

Who do you love and give preference to? Jesus is the one that deserves to be over all of that.

Follow Him – it’s not enough to think Jesus is nice, or a good teacher, he is either LORD, or Lunatic, or he was a Liar. That’s what C.S.Lewis famously said. If he is NOT Lord, then don’t follow him, but if he IS – he deserves ALL our lives fully given and devoted to him. Lewis said you can shut him up for a fool, you can spit at him for a demon, or you can fall at his feet and call him Lord and God.

Oh my how the WORD can change our Word

From Abuse to Adore, Bankrupt to Bless, Cancer to Cured, Divorce to Anniversary Date, Empty to Exuberant, Famine to Feast, Grief to Given Comfort, Hate to Heart of Love, Irreconcilable to intercession. He can change us from Justice to Justification, Kicked out to Kicking up your heals, Lay-off to Labor in a New beginning. Oh can you hear me? From Materialist to Minister of God’s Gifts, Naysayers to Number one Fan, Ostracized to Open door. Oh I like the Word of God, Jesus changes us from Picked last to Picked FIRST by the Lord of Creation. He changes our word from Unqualified to Qualified, Ridicule to Resounding praise, Suffering to Strength, Termination to Threshold of opportunity. Oh when Word is our Word we can go from Uneducated to Understanding, Victim to Victor. When X-rays are fearful, we can have EXpectation of God’s move. If Yielding to God is fearful, the word of Jesus is A Yield of Great harvest, and Zero hope becomes a Zephyr of God’s Blessing blowing …

Oh Somebody … are you with me today

Whatever the words are playing in your heart and life today, Jesus is the Word BEFORE and will be the WORD after, and He IS the Word here with us today, willing to change our world.

Will you turn to him today. Say “Jesus, you are my word, you are my hope, you are my life, my trust is in you all day long.”
Take Captive Every Thought

September 9th, 2013

2 Corinthians 10:5b says “take captive every thought and make it obedient to Christ”

“Captivity” seems like such a negative word and “Freedom” such a good word. Such a very “American” word is Freedom. We love that word.

But sometimes, when it comes to thoughts and actions, “freedom” at what cost and “captivity” for what purpose?

When we allow our thoughts to run in “freedom”, then danger is just down the road.

James taught us that Tempation is the conception place for sin. Temptation begins wtih a look, then a thought, then a possibility, then an action and eventually the result that James says is always death.

So it goes back to a thought by thought discipline. We need the discipline to take each thought and bring it under the discipleship of Jesus Christ. We need to take into captivity every thought, good or bad, and make it obedient to truth and to life. Do you have the vision to see the end potential for the thought that has entered your heart? This takes discipline, foresight, and a vision for the future.

When the idea springs into my thoughts, I have to ask “where does this lead?” “How will it affect me?” “How will this affect my personal, spiritual, and relational health?” I need to ask “How will this affect the advancement of the Kingdom? Does it have an impact on those with whom I serve in ministry?”

taking captive every thought gives me the opportunity to examine the thought, intent, motives, and be sure that it reflects Christ, his love, his character, and his eternal purposes.

When I take that thought captive and don’t let it simply run free, then 2 Corinthians 10:5a says that I demolish arguments, and pretension that sets up against the knowledge of God. Have you ever jumped into a defensive argument before your thought about it, only to realize that you are defending an undefensible position? Take Captive Every Thought

Have you ever deceived yourself into believing something that isn’t true and gone long down the path to destruction following a faulty assumption? Take Captive Every Thought

Relationships are too important to not take every thought captive

The Eternal work of the Kingom is too important to not take captive every thought.

The will of God is that all who are known by him be conformed to the image of Jesus Christ, so take captive every thought and be sure that it will advance you in the image of Jesus. So when the thought comes, ask, “who does that thought make you look like? Jesus? Or the Enemy everything Holy?

Remember Jesus said that “the thief” comes to steal, kill, and destroy. He is out to destroy us and everythought that is not obedient to Christ will have the purpose of destruction. So, take into captivity everything thought, put it under God’s discipline and see if it has a thieving, deadly, destructive nature, and if so, then do not let it out of captivity.

Jesus continued, in John 10:10 that HE came to give us abundant life. So, when I take my thoughts, ideas, desires into captivity, the only ones I allow to run free are the ones that bring life, abundant life.

Be disciplined and take captive every thought and make it obedient to Christ.

Tag: Jesus

God’s Zeal Intersecting with Mine

The Spirit Helps Us In Our Weakness – Romans 8:26

Is There A Balm?

God Articulated

Take Captive Every Thought