This may seem random, but maybe it is for you
Does Christ seem to be asking you the same persistent question, even though you have already answered? Maybe there is more to the question than you think.
John 21 is an amazing interaction between Jesus and the disciples, especially Peter. It seems that John, an old man as he write his gospel, is finished at the end of chapter 20. But then he comes back with another story.
Mega-failure had happened for Peter. The night before Jesus died, Peter declared his confidence, “I won’t fail Lord, even if everyone else does” Then Luke records Jesus as saying that satan is going to sift Peter like wheat but that God was going to use this failure then to develop Peter. He tells Peter, I’m praying for you, that you won’t fail me, but after you do, strengthen the brothers.(Luke 22:32) He tells him that he will deny him 3 times before morning.
So then, Jesus died, he has been resurrected, he has appeared to his disciples multiple times but I think there is this lingering question in the back of their minds about the future. “Can God still use me?” So here in John 21, Peter says “I’m going fishing” and the guys follow (Thomas, Nathaniel, James, John, and two others, probably Andrew and Philip). Peter was heading back to where he was when Jesus found him. Hmmm, who will you take with you when you think about backtracking?
So they fish, get nothing, then early in the morning, someone is on the shore and calls out to them. They were only 100 yards out. I’ve stood in the place where they say this took place. He suggests they try the other side of the boat and when they do, sure enough they have more fish than they can manage. That’s when they realize that this is Jesus. Why? Because this same thing happened the day Jesus called them to follow him and that day they left all, dropped their nets, pulled the boats up on shore, and followed him. But now, they had taken it up again, in their failure they were contemplating turning back.
There are a lot of reasons we doubt but it is usually about our failures … “Maybe he doesn’t want me …”
So, after breakfast, the question comes from Jesus to Peter. Perhaps Peter had been wondering when this question would come up. Bold Peter, had been embarrassed in the courtyard. Now Jesus asks “Peter do you truly love me more than these?” .
THESE? What these? More than these nets, more than these boats, more this these fish, more than this lake, more than these men do? That latter one is what he had proclaimed, “if all else fails Lord, not me”. And Peter answers “Yes Lord, I love you, you know that”
Tough Question, you knew it would come, now we have it out there and we can move on. Have you been there? I failed, Jesus questions, now let’s move on and pretend it hasn’t happened.
Jesus says “Feed my lambs” – or graze my little sheep
Ok Sure Lord, I’ll do that
but then immediately, the persistent Savior says “Simon, do you love me truly?”
“Why is he asking me this again? Is he trying to embarrass me?”
“Yes Lord, you now I love you”
“Take care of my sheep” or Be a Shepherd to my sheep, rule, govern, protect, tend, guide, care for … my sheep
But it doesn’t stop
Then a 3rd Time
“Simon, then do you love me?”
WOW … Three Times Lord?
Now you may know and have heard of the language dynamics that are going on here in the Greek. The first two times when Jesus says “truly love” it is the word AGAPEO or the perfect God Kind of Love. But both times when Peter answers and the word “love” is translated it is the word PHILEO which is conditional, brotherly love more like our word “like”. The last time however Jesus comes back to the word PHILEO and says Peter do you PHILEO me then?
See for me the real important dynamic in the repetition is getting Peter to the point of honesty with himself and with Christ. “Peter … do you really PHILEO me? Do you know in honesty where your heart is? You left me in the courtyard, you picked up your fishing boat and nets here again, are you with me?”
Peter was hurt it says because Jesus asked him a 3rd Time.
Has Jesus lovingly wounded you? If Jesus has wounded you, he is trying to heal you, trying to get you to the real deal.
Persistent Questions from our Savior are about understanding what is real and what is just been boasting. Persistent questioning from our Savior is about getting us to surrender and submit to walk with him in truth and to go with him to ANY destination. Persistent questions reveal the deeper truth, the deeper reality of service.
With each question Jesus says “SERVE”
“Feed my lambs”
“Take care of my sheep”
“Feed my sheep”
Because …
Here we go …
We are all ready to sign up when we think it is easy, it is notable, but now Jesus says “Peter this isn’t going to be easy” … he says “I tell you the truth … if you say yes, if you love me, it is going to cost you your comfort, your ease, your very life.” v19 Jesus indicated the kind of death by which Peter would Glorify God
When our Savior presses us with persistent questions, he is trying to lead us into lives that Glorify God … no matter the path, his glory is always the destination and so he says to Peter
“Follow Me”
Peter looks around and sees John and says “what about him Lord?”
As we point to someone else, Jesus says, as in v22, “What is it to you? YOU MUST FOLLOW ME”
So, if the Savior has persistent questions for you right now …
… take your eyes off the ground where your head is down
… take your eyes off your friend where your head is looking around
… and look up to him, look to the road ahead and follow him
Surrender, Understand, Serve, that’s what persistent questions are about
“Yes Lord, You know what I am, Yes Lord, I will Follow”
Tag: Jim Goforth
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Mother’s don’t change much, haven’t changed much in 2000 years. We don’t change much either. In Matthew 20 Jesus is teaching on servanthood and talking about his impending death unjustly administered albeit for the sins of the world. He begins by telling a story of out of work laborers hired throughout a day and some thinking that it wasn’t fair that they were all paid the same as those hired first. The first comers thought it unfair that the latecomers got the same reward.
v13 says “I am not being unfair … didn’t you agree … 15 don’t I have the right …”
The issue underlying is that none of us were anything till Jesus called us and any reward is more than we had or deserve.
So then, Jesus says in vv18-19 “we are going to Jerusalem … I will be betrayed … they will condemn me to death 19 turn me over … mocked, flogged, and crucified. On the 3rd day he will be raised to life.”
Are they LISTENING? Crucifixion, was a brutal public humiliation of an execution. This SHOULD have gotten their attention.
Then did they hear him say that he would be raised to life? Resurrection talk should have gotten their attention. This conversation could have gone in many directions. If they were listening … But James and John’s Mother, Zebedee’s wife comes and says “Jesus I have a favor to ask.” v20 says she had the boys, who weren’t little boys, but young men, kneel down at Jesus’ feet.
Then if i can paraphrase, she says “Jesus can my boys have the big chair in your kingdom?”
REALLY
Jesus replies “you don’t know what you are asking” he says “Can you drink the same cup as me?”
WE CAN
They weren’t listening earlier … this cup involved condemnation to death, mocking, flogging, and crucifixion
But they said “we can”. and Jesus says “You will, but the chair is not yours and it is at the Father’s discretion.”
v24 says that the other 10 were not very happy … I think probably because THEY wanted the big chair too. This wasn’t the first time this discussion had come up but it was the first time they had played the “mom card”Jesus replies, and here is where we need to pay attention, “we don’t serve to be rulers or just an authority for it’s own sake …”
He says “whoever wants the big chair (to be great) must be our servant, whoever wants to be first must be your slave, just as the son of Man didn’t come to BE served but to give his life”
That is to say to appoint your life for disposal. The word didomai means give, appoint, grant, allow
as a ransom for many … ransom is the word lytron atonement … give one for another
Oh can we live as if we were in someone’s stead?
Can we fix our eyes to the cross of Christ and look away from the Big Chair?
When we become servants, servants appointing ourselves for service, we find we HAVE the Big Chair, but that is for God to give not for us to seek.
Lord give me the towel and not the chair -
This past Sunday I preached a message in Philippians 4:1-9 as we continue through the book of Philippians. You can find the video online at the church link and media page if you are interested.
I received several emails and questions for going deeper regarding how we guard against worry/anxiety when we PRESENT our requests to God …
So, as I answered that with someone via email, I decided to copy you all on these thoughts today and as a BONUS, I’ve attached the entire sermon manuscript below about learning to Practice Joy
I believe this passage in Philippians 4 is very useful and practical in the battle for our mind and hearts and keeping us in peace.
So to the questions asked via email was … “you said I know I have some things that I have “presented” to God but then have taken back, and I’m ready to let them go. But, I don’t know how. I can pray about things and ask God to take them from me and what not. But does giving them to God mean not ever thinking about the problem anymore? In that case, is giving something over to God praying about it and making a conscious effort to not think about it anymore, just as we have to make a conscious effort to be joyful?”
It really is a constant struggle … Let me enlarge on the idea of “Presenting” these things to God
1) Presenting it does have to start with actually praying about it and seeking God’s answers regarding the issues.
Often we talk about, even complain about, our problems or struggles with everyone except God. We don’t actually get alone with God and lay them before him. One way to do this is to take a notepad with you and pray about your concern. Start by Praising him and recounting his deeds for others and for you. This will build your faith and understanding that God can and has in the past. Then present your request to God. Write down what you are asking from God … sometimes as you write it down you will realize that the request isn’t right and you will need to reword it or refocus it. After you are satisfied with what you have written then be quiet, sit in silence saying “Lord speak to me and I will listen” … If God impresses something on your heart write it down. Sometimes God says “what you are asking is something I am not going to do” perhaps it doesn’t fit his nature, other times it doesn’t fit his plans. If you clearly hear God say “no”. Write that down, thank him for answering you and give that desire to him and ask him to replace that desire with something that is in his will. If God says “I will do this, but not yet.” Then thank him again, and pray for patience to trust him in the intervening time. If God says “yes, I’m going to do this and will do this alone” then sit back and believe his word and watch for his answer. If he says “yes I’m going to do this, but I have action for you” write down your action, ask someone to hold you accountable and do what he said, then trust him for his part Remember God always answers … but He may say “no”, “yes” or “wait”. All of those are still answers from a loving God
2) Giving it to God does NOT mean it may not still be on our heart or mind. But it DOES mean I will continue to verbalize that it belongs to God and not to me and that I will trust him.
Giving it to God also means that unless he gives me a clear action that is my responsibility, then I will not CHASE AFTER these things. In Matthew 6:31-32 Jesus talks about some of our basic needs for necessities, concern for tomorrow etc and says that “pagans run after such things”. You know pagans had “gods” too, so why did they run after their concerns? It was because their gods weren’t real. God knows and God loves … so present your request to him and then unless he gives you a clear instruction, then commit to trust him with the outcome instead of chasing after it. Example: If I’m asking God to send me my mate … then I’m going to trust him to bring that person to me and not try and orchestrate this but trust God to bring them to me. However, when he brings that person to me and says “there she is …” now it is time for me to move and respond to what God is doing.
3) Is giving it to God consciously not thinking about any longer?
Not necessarily but it is certainly not being WORRIED / ANXIOUS about it anymore. It is natural to think about something that I want, or something I know God is doing, but not be worried about it. In 2009, the Lord made it clear to Mrs Lisa and I that we would be leaving our church at some point and going to another church. I didn’t start working hard trying to find a church to go to, I just trusted the Lord to bring about those circumstances. In the meantime, I had a job from the Lord to do, to be the Pastor to the church where I currently was called. I continued to work hard to preach, serve and care for the people, cast vision for the future to lead them where the Lord wanted them. Two years passed. Some churches would contact me or friends would recommend me to places, I would answer their requests, but had to trust the Lord, even when doors closed for inexplicable reasons. It was CONSTANTLY on my mind, but we committed to not be anxious. In August of 2011, I came in contact with the search committee of my current church. I knew they would be our church. But I couldn’t work their process I had to wait. In the meantime I was still preaching, caring, serving. I led our annual Leadership Conference at the other church. I helped think through important decisions for the future, knowing that at some point I wouldn’t be there. Finally in November the committee here said “we think you are our next pastor”. I shared this with my church where I was and then came here for review and a vote. I finished my ministry in St. Louis at the end of January 2012 and started ministry here in March of 2012 … that’s 2 ½ years of constant THOUGHT, but constantly GIVING it to the Lord and not letting anxiety take control.I hope this helps … It is important and valuable to have someone to help hold you accountable to what the Lord is saying. It helps keep you true to what the Lord says and what he expects from you
Present your requests, with Thanks Giving and the peace of God will guard your hearts and mind in Christ Jesus …
BONUS … here is my sermon manuscript from this message
Philippians 4:1-9
Practicing JoyPaul finishes chapter three with an admonition to follow his example as he seeks to follow Christ, to know him in the Power of the Resurrection, Fellowshipping in his suffering,, conformed to his death.
Knowing that we may be residents of this world but not citizens of this world, and that Christ will return and set everything out of order, in order, Paul says “Therefore”So, let’s read his next instruction. Notice in particular, the disciplines and instructions that allow Joy to reign in our lives …
READ 4:1-9
Yes, we have that glorious hope … that hope enables us to stand firm in the Lord …
The place you stand will determine your joy source. If you stand on your career accomplishments, then your joy will rise as you rise and fall when you fall. If you stand in your human relationships these too will eventually let you down … But Paul says, if our hope … our place to stand … is in the Lord, then we stand firm.
Christ in You … you in Christ that is our hope. Jesus prayed in John 17 to the Father saying “you are in me, I am in you, may they also be in us so that the world may believe …”
So as yokefellow with Paul … that is people committed with him to the advancement of the Gospel … how do we live out Joy?
Here it is in what I believe may be the most practical, yet under practiced passages in scripture.Whether distracted by depression or stalked by sorrows or simply living life … How do you battle these messengers of satan?
It begins with
1. Perpetual RejoicingRejoice in the Lord Always, I will say it again: Rejoice!”
This is not a suggestion, or even a proverb but this is
A. A Command
The word, chairo = rejoice, be glad, welcome – is in present active imperative 2nd person tense
So this sentence is “You Understood” … “You, right now, must, Rejoice, be glad, Welcome Joy”
The reason we are often not joyful is because we often don’t seek joy, we don’t foster joy, we don’t welcome joy.
Paul says, in every circumstance, on every day, welcome joy, Today, YES, but …B. Always
Rejoice in the Lord … when convenient? … no Always …
Rejoice in the LORD … the word used here is Kyrios = Master, LordI can welcome Joy, as I welcome the Sovereignty and Lordship of Christ over the Universe, but also over my life and circumstance
Joy is not welcome in my life as I argue with God over the direction and outcome of the road he lays out for me. I don’t like where I am, who I am, and so joy is not welcome
There is nothing wrong with bringing questions before the Lord, but if I do not welcome his lordship, I will not welcome joy when his will is different than mine.
Rejoice in the Lordship of Christ, Always – pantote = at all times … in good times and bad times, the first time and the last time. In successful times and in times of failure. In happy and sad times, Rejoice … welcome joy
Job, in facing the greatest challenge of his life, when it seemed God was not giving him a fair hand, said in chapter 27 “as long as I have life … my lips will not speak wickedness … I will maintain my righteousness … (of the wicked he says) will he find delight in the Almighty? Will he call upon you at all times?”
At all times …
David said
Psalm 34:1 (NIV84)
1 I will extol the LORD at all times; his praise will always be on my lips.
Psalm 62:8 (NIV84)
8 Trust in him at all times, O people; pour out your hearts to him, for God is our refuge. Selah
Psalm 119:20 (NIV84)
20 My soul is consumed with longing for your laws at all times.
If I Praise the Lord at all times
Trust the Lord at all times
And Love the Word of the Lord at all times …
Then I will Welcome Joy at All TimesAnd then Paul encourages
C. Repetition
Again I say – palin = again, on the other hand
Some of us want to rejoice when it feels right, but on the other hand … we will not rejoice …
But Paul says “rejoice and on the other hand, also continue to Welcome Joy in the Lord”If we are going to welcome joy, we have to look in the mirror sometimes when our face has fallen, when your heart is discouraged, when complaints arise, and
Welcome, make a place for, open the door for Joy
Rejoice …
Again, today, now, Rejoice!That’s the command and it often takes decisive though not desired action … but what are the disciplines that help me welcome joy?
2. Patient Petitioning
V5 says let your gentleness, or forbearance, or tolerance in the face of all things, at all times, your joy, show the nearness of God
Too many Christians face challenges like either a frightened child who doesn’t believe God will come through or like a spoiled child who believes what they want is more important that what the father decides best.
But the child of God who welcomes joy makes their request of their Sovereign and Master but does so in a patient manner …
A. Do Not Be Anxious
The word is merimnao –Jesus uses the word when he says in Matthew 6:31-32 Do not worry saying what shall we eat … drink … or what shall we wear for the pagans run after all these things … your Father knows that you need them
So then v33 says Seek First the KingdomWorry is evidence that we are not standing in, trusting in, the Lord and welcoming Joy.
Patience doesn’t “run after” things that God will provide for me …What is on your prayer list? Do you pray in fear or in faith?
A patient petition doesn’t ask for them and then chase after them … Jesus says not to chase after clothes, food, drink, tomorrow, but chase after, seek first, place in primary order, the Kingdom of Heaven and His Righteousness …
Does that mean that a joyful heart doesn’t ask for anything temporal? No, of course not, but I don’t set my heart on those things. So, then, our prayers that Welcome Joy are …B. Grateful Petitions
Prayer and petitions, with thanksgiving
Prayer – proseuche = approach God
Petition – deesis = entreaty, supplication, want, personal desire
Requests – speaks of the specific thingsWhen we approach God …
and we MUST approach God … we often, and by we, I mean me, often talk about things we want or need, but don’t actually come before God with those desires …
Come before God with our desires with the actual thing that we want but there is an overriding emotion that welcomes joy … it is Gratitude … Paul says Come Before with Thanksgiving
We used to sing “I will enter his gates with thanksgiving in my heart, I will enter his court with praise, I will say this is the day that the Lord has made, I will rejoice for he has made me glad.He has made me glad … If I need the thing I seek to “make me glad” I can’t rejoice at all times. Oh don’t get me wrong, I want what I am requesting, I might even be convinced I need it, but HE has made me GLAD … Apart from anything else … He is enough to make me and keep me glad
Practicing Joy comes with that perspective.
It is not worried for tomorrow, but grateful for today.
It is not worried about what I will eat or drink but grateful for what already fills my stomach.
I am not worried for what I will wear but grateful for the clothes that fill my closetSo I come before God with my desires in
C. Worshipful Prayer
Paul says do not be anxious … but in everything … Present to God
I am mindful of a couple of things with that word “Present” or “Present”
Prayer is an act of Worship … I give it to God and I leave it in his hands. Talking about it isn’t presenting it. Complaining isn’t presenting it. Pretending it doesn’t exist is also not presenting it. But, Joy comes as I present my request to God …
Giving it to Him is
Believing He Cares … that he wants to know what he wants what is for my good and
Believing in his ability to meet my needs,
While trusting his Sovereignty to transform me into his image and to work all things for that good thing.Then I can sing the 100th Psalm of David
Psalm 100 (NIV84)
A psalm. For giving thanks.
1 Shout for joy to the LORD, all the earth. 2 Worship the LORD with gladness; come before him with joyful songs. 3 Know that the LORD is God. It is he who made us, and we are his; we are his people, the sheep of his pasture. 4 Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise his name. 5 For the LORD is good and his love endures forever; his faithfulness continues through all generations.
Shout for Joy
Worship the Lord
Come before Him
Enter with Thanksgiving and praise
For the Lord is Good … love endures … faithfulness continues …When I pray like that I find I am
D. Protected By Peace
V7 the peace of God … will guard your hearts and minds
Peace – Eirene = freedom from worry, peace, welfare
Peace OF GOD … knowing that I am free from being tied to this world, tied to a need for anything material or earthly guards me from my most dangerous and deceptive things, my heart and my mind.
Jeremiah 17:9 says the heart is deceitful above all things
2 Corinthians 11:3 says our minds can be lead astray …Without the guard of the Mind of Christ, without the Breastplate of Righteousness and the Belt of Truth, my passions, desires, and understandings can deceive me
But when I am free from the need for anything but God … that Peace with God guards my heart from wanting anything but the will and rule of God and guards my mind from bringing requests beyond his will and I am able to welcome joy
To Practice joy … and with a guarded heart and mind … I am free for3. Joyful Thinking
What IS joyful thinking? It is a decision … it isA. Disciplined Thinking v8
Finally – loipos = lastly; from now on
Living the practices of joy requires taking captive every thought and making it obedient to truth
2 Corinthians 10:3–5 (NIV84)
3 For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. 4 The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. 5 We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.You and I are attacked every day … when we recognize that our battle is not a flesh and blood Ephesians 6:12 … and we do not fight like the world fights … then we have to join in the battle for our mind, our will, our emotions
satan would discourage and defeat you, he would have you keep your heart and mind set on things below
Colossians 3:1–3 (NIV84)
1 Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. 2 Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. 3 For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God.Paul tells us how we do that … how we take captive everything thought … He tells us what to think on …
As the battle rages … fight to dwell ONLY on
Whatever is …
True – alethis = sincere; real
Noble – semnos = worthy of respect, dignified
Right – dikaios = righteous, just
Pure – hagos = innocent
Lovely – prosphiles = pleasing
Admirable – euphemos = commendable
Excellent – arête = excellence of character
Praiseworthy – epainos = praiseOnly These things …
Logizomai = think about, credit, consider, dwell on
THESE Things …
For Joy to be Welcome, these things must rule … other thoughts must be taken captive and surrendered to the rule of ChristMake a list of These Things .. and put it on the margin of your computer screen, on your fridge, on your mirror, on your TV set … and Think on THESE things … put aside anything that doesn’t pass this test … and then Joy Can Reign …
Disciplined Thinking leads to
B. Disciplined Action v9
Whatever you have learned … received … heard … seen … PUT INTO PRACTICE
Not just today, but for 12 messages now we have lit the path for Joy … but you must commit to walk the path … to put it into practice …
The word prasso = do, accomplish, make your business; a practice of habitAnd when you make these things your practice …
When you pray in grateful worship
When you take captive thoughts and make them obedient to truth
You look and find you are not walking this path alone … but areC. Accompanied by Peace
And the God of all peace will be with youWhat was prophesied of Jesus, he will be Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace
If you walk in his way, thinking his thoughts, if peace doesn’t accompany, comfort, and guide you then you are not walking his way, or he is not able … and Oh he IS able …
This is Jesus … I’m not telling you that this is the way to get Jesus INTO you … That is by Grace Through Faith …
But Paul is teaching us how to let the Christ IN You Get OUT of you …When I welcome Joy and Patiently petition him, and live according to the disciplines of Joyful thinking and living, then Christ in me, is reflected OUT of me and …
He walks with me and he talks with me
And he tells me I am his own
And the joy we share as we tarry there
None other has ever knownWhen we dwell on Jesus, the Truth … Then we Know Peace
When we Know God … we Know Peace …
But if we have NO God, then we have NO Peace -
Well I will warn you up front that this could be rambling, but I’m allowed, cause:I’m turning 50.
50. When my Grandfathers were 50 I thought that was OLD. When my Dad was 50 I thought, it wasn’t all that old. Now that I am 50, I think, this isn’t really very old.
How did I get to be 50? I still see myself in my mid 20s. People look at me and usually think I’m in my late 30s or 40 tops. I’ve always looked young, yet my parents used to tell me that they thought I was born old. I was always trying to be a grown up. I got married at 20. If I could talk to my 20 year old self, I think I might tell him to slow down a little, not try too hard, be patient, take your time, don’t try to be old too soon. Yet the truth is that all the things I did along the way, all the things that have happened to me have brought me to where I am now. So, maybe I would tell my 20 year old self, “go for it, follow the Lord’s voice and trust him with the Future.” That’s really what I’ve tried to do all of my life.
I think of a lot of famous people who accomplished more and changed the world before they were 50. JFK had served in WW II, and been elected President, changing the world before his mid 40s. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. had moved the world and set us all to dreaming before his life was taken at 39. Mozart had changed the world of music before his mid 30s. Mark Zuckerberg had changed the world before his mid 20s. Oh the list is long. Athletes, Musicians, Politicians, Preachers changing the world before they were 50.
But what about world changers after 50? Ray Kroc didn’t buy McDonalds and change the world until he was in his 50s. Colonel Sanders didn’t start KFC until in his 60s. Roget was in his 70s when he created the Thesaurus. Moses was in his 80s when he heard God’s call. Joshua and Caleb were in their 80s when their opportunity came.
So, here I am 50.
Famous? Not hardly. I’ve been a few places and done a few things, rubbed a few shoulders, yet I’m not changing the world, not in a noteworthy wikipedia sort of way. I’ve preached a lot of sermons, sung a lot of songs, loved a lot of people, and raised a family. I have loved one woman for 30 years. I’ve tried to bring some light to lives, and brighten a few days. I trusted Christ as my Savior 45 years ago. I surrendered to God’s call to preach 39 years ago. I preached my first sermon 37 years ago. I preached my first Revival and wrote my first song 33 years ago. I have no idea how many sermons I’ve preached or songs I’ve sung. There is no way I can know how many people I’ve sung and shared the gospel with. I’ve been the Senior Pastor of 3 congregations. I’ve visited beautiful places. Preached in many countries. Visited many more. I’ve been able to step foot on four continents and now find myself serving as Pastor to a church in Germany, a church full of heroes, mostly young, serving in the cause of freedom. As an average person I’m above average in a few things. But in the things I’m above the average person, I’m just average. Does that even make sense? 🙂
Bottom Line I guess for me, if anyone is still reading this; I’m Jim Goforth. I am Lisa’s husband. I have kept my commitment to be her husband and care for her the best I can for almost 30 years now. She is my best friend and greatest supporter. I will love her my whole life, until I have no breath in my lungs. I don’t know what Eternity will be like. Jesus leads us to believe that this relationship may be different in Heaven, but if I can I’ll love her for Eternity. I am Dad, to Andrew James and Bryan Jameson. They have my name in theirs. They have my imprint on their countenance but also on their conscience, on their minds, even on their sports affections. I have done my best to raise them to be fine men. They are that. They are fine men. They are impacting the world. They love people and they love Jesus. I am James L Goforth Jr. I am Jim and Virginia Goforth’s Son and Tom’s brother. I am Grandson to Carl and Frances Goforth as well as Lester and Helen Patterson. I have tried to follow the legacy of what they left behind. My parents and grandparents taught me to love people, to love Jesus and that’s what I’ve tried to do. I’m an uncle a few times over. Perhaps one day I’ll be a Granddad, and I’ll be a good one. I’m Pastor Jim or Pastor Goforth to an ever changing congregation. I have been a friend to the friendly and often to the unfriendly.
All BEFORE I was 50.
I don’t have to have a Jimmy Stewart moment from my favorite Christmas movie to know I have had a wonderful life. And the reality is that I guess the world would be different in some way if I hadn’t been here.
So, I have tomorrow, maybe, and if I do, I’ll try to keep doing all of these things. If I get 10,000 more tomorrows, what is that about 25 years? (I just checked 27.4) If I get 10,000 tomorrows, I’ll be trying to do what I’ve done up until now. I guess it will just slow down a little and it will ache a little more but I’ll keep doing it. And if I get 10,000 tomorrows, I hope to have nearly 10,000 more because I’ll just be hitting my stride and maybe I’ll finally look old enough that people will think I know what I’m talking about. I plan to live to be 100 if the Lord delays his coming. I plan to play golf in the morning and preach and sing in the evening. But I’ll have to be somewhere south if I’m going to do that on December the 23rd 2064. 2064? WOW that’s 50 years from now. I hope to close that day out like I’ll close this day out, giving Lisa a kiss and hopefully we will still be able to recognize each other. If we don’t then I’ll happily reintroduce myself to her and take it slow.
I just want to be a man
who Worships his Lord,
who Loves his Wife,
who Leads his Sons,
who Shepherds his church,
and along the way
Enjoys this Life that God
has given him in every wayI’m Turning 50
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Suffering?
I know child,
I know you’re suffering the frailty of humanity. I know you were born in the suffering of sin. I know you are suffering in loneliness, longing for me; I know child,
I know.Healing will come, health will renew.
But for now you are suffering ,
I know.Your suffering may be self-inflicted. Your suffering may be the human condition. Your suffering may be human injustice. Your suffering may be so that one may believe.
No matter,
I know child,
I know.Whether you suffer in silence,
Whether you suffer alone,
When you suffer in the light of persecution and a martyr’s blade;I know child,
I know.Look to the manger and see the glory of the universe’s king suffering alone the indignity of poverty and humanity.
Look to the hills of Galilee and see him suffering rejection and disbelief of a message too hard for some and misdirected for others.
Look to Pilate’s courtyard and see him suffering the lashes of an angry establishment.
Look to a hill called Calvary, and see him suffer the greatest pain as mercy is provided and grace paved the way;“Where are you Father?”; “Why am I alone?”; “Why have you forsaken me?”;
I know child,
I knowIn the darkness and silence of the tomb,
Hear him say “I know child, I know”.
In the fear of the upper room, disciples hiding frightened and ashamedI know, child,
I knowOh but a light dawns
The earth shakes
The stone rolls
And the Father saysI know, child
I knowWhatever you face,
Looking back at the sun setting on a Resurrection yesterday
I see the glowing light of a dawn in the east …
I hear the faint rustling of a trumpeter preparing his mouthpiece, taking his stand, as God saysI know child, I know!
Today you suffer no more!Hallelujah, I know!
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Ruth was married to an Israelite man, but she was from Moab. Elimelech and Naomi had two sons, Mahlon and Kilion. They had moved to Moab because of famine in Bethlehem. Elimelech died and Naomi was left with her two sons. They married women from Moab. Mahlon married Ruth and Kilion married Orpah.
Things got worse as both of Naomi’s sons died as well. 10 years they had lived in Moab before the young men died. Things got better in Judah and they prepared to return. But Naomi urged the young women to stay in Moab and find husbands. After urging, Orpah decided to go back home, but not Ruth. She said “don’t urge me to leave you, or turn back from you. Where you go I will go, and where you stay, I will stay. Your people will be my people and your God my God. Where you die, I will die, and there I will be buried. May the Lord deal with me, be it ever so severely, if anything but death separates you and me” (Ruth 1:16-17 NIV84)
WOW. And so Ruth goes to Bethlehem and it says “the whole city was stirred.” And eventually Ruth married a relative of theirs named Boaz. Together they had a son named Obed, and he had a son named Jesse, who bore a son named David, who tended sheep, wrote songs, killed lions, bears, and a Giant named Goliath. He became the King to whom all others were compared.
Why would Boaz take a chance on a convert from a pagan country? Perhaps it had something to do with the fact that his Grandmother was a pagan named Rahab, from Jericho who acted in faith and joined God’s people. So he knew this kind of commitment.
So, what is commitment as we see it here?
1. A Commitment to Follow requires a Commitment to Lead
when it comes to a relationship, there should be a lead. Ruth committed to follow Naomi, but ultimately to follow God. Your God will be My God. That led her to Boaz.
Certainly God is committed to lead us, he has given us his Word and has set the way for us. So, we must fix our eyes on Jesus the Author and Finisher and we commit to follow. When you bring this idea into a marriage there must be commitment to lead and a commitment to follow. God created us to work together to serve him. He created Adam first told him to care for his things and he brought him Eve as a helpomate to fulfill his purposes.
So then, Jesus said in John 6:38 I have come down from Heaven not to do my will but to do the will of him who sent me. There is a SENDER and a FOLLOWER.
2. A Willingness to Act When Prompted and To Wait When Needed
Where you go I will go, where you stay, I will stay
People by nature tend to be Go-ers or Stay-ers. Trailblazers or Homesteaders. But we must be willing to be either. The military Community to which I minister has to be really good at both. Time to Go … Let’s go. Here we are … let’s make it home for as long as we are here. We learn to hold loosely to things that do not really matter. I can relate. I grew up that way. Go may be a word you love or one you loath. But commitment says “I will go”. Or perhaps “wait” is a word you dread. I get the image of an obedient dog told to “sit and wait”, while the treat is laying on the ground and he salivates, or the prey is across the yard and obediently she waits until the Master says “Ok!”
But whatever the command, stay or God, the Joy is in the Obedience not in the Command
3. The Commitment is A commitment To a Relationship Together
Your people will be my people
Following God, following a spouse, following a job, always leads us to new people. “but i don’t like these people” … but “these are my people”. “Lord, your people will be my people”
Your God will be my God
Embracing God, embracing Lordship, embracing his sovereignty, embracing his purposes“God, you are my God, and I will seek you earnestly” (Ps 63:1)
“We are your people the sheep of your pastor” (Ps 79:13)
It is a WE not just a ME in this pasture.
Finally, it is a Commitment to
4. A Shared Passion
Where you die, I will die
Jesus died on a hill surrounded by mockers, who were the ones he died to save
Where you die I will die
I will serve the undeserving
I will pray for the unloving
I will finish what I started
Where you go, I will go
Where you stay, I will stayYour God My God
Your People My People
Where you die
I will Die
That Is Commitment
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Galatians 1:15-16 (NIV84) When God … was pleased to reveal his Son so that I might preach
Oh how mysterious, marvelous, merciful, manifest, and majestic is the Gospel of Jesus Christ. If we were going to create a religious, it would have been altogether different that the Gospel of Jesus. Look at all of the man made religous. They are either weird, lenient, or legalistic. But the gospel of Jesus is rigid, as is all truth, and yet it is free. If you can understand it, then you don’t understand it. So many theologians want to make the gospel cut and dry, but then it loses its marvelous nature. Two of the great mysteries of the gospel are seemingly contradictory. They Bible declares that God has known and called his own since before time began. God has predestined his people to be formed in the image of Christ. And yet we cannot get around the needed faith action of mankind individually called to respond to the wooing of God and say “yes Lord, I believe, I receive.” Jesus died for all mankind, and yet this is not experienced unless it is received. The gospel is a mystery. So, Paul is preaching to the Church in Galatia who is being assaulted by some who would take the gospel of Jesus and pervert it into something that man made up. This non-gospel they were preaching was not good news, it was full of legalism.
So here in Galatians 1:12 he says the gospel I preached is not something man made up” v13 says I received it by revelation from Jesus Christ
Wherever the gospel is preached faithfully, the revelation that comes is from Jesus Christ himself
v15 but when God, who set me apart from birth, and called me by his grace, was pleased
eudokeo = well pleased, consented, enjoy
Every time I preach, I do my best to be faithful to preach what God would have me, but I cannot move their soul. I cannot change their heart. So, I preach faithfully and I pray that God move on a heart, woo them, and they combine it with faith. It is not only that he decides to do it, but he knows the right time, the right place. But not only is it the time he is pleased with, but also it pleases him, it makes him smile. So Paul says when God smiled and revealed himself, v16 to reveal his son in me, so that I might preach him …
Paul understood that he was part of something bigger, something outside of himself. God revealed Christ TO him … SO THAT He could reveal Christ IN him.
Oh folks listen, we are here SO THAT Christ IN us may be revealed THROUGH us to a world in need. In every circumstance, in the simplest things … SO THAT
Planning an event, wiping a nose, sharing your faith SO THAT
Listening to a child quote a verse, struggling with an unruly 3rd grader, SO THAT
Extra work, patient with personalities, balancing an account, SO THAT
Misunderstood, smiling through it all, SO THAT
This was the life of the apostles, insulted, and persecuted, lied about, but still rejoicing, SO THAT
That was Paul, in prison, hungry, thirsty, shipwrecked, SO THAT
The martyrs of history, burned at the stake, drowned, in prison, boiled alive in oil, killed by villagers, rejected by governments, SO THAT
That was Jesus, despised and rejected, a man of sorrows, familiar with our sufferings, not esteemed, taking our infirmities, carrying our sorrows, smitten and afflicted, pierced, crushed, punished, SO THAT
So That we might be forgiven, at peace, righteous, pure, holy, blameless, without spot or wrinkle
Oswald Chambers (My Utmost for His Highest) of these verses says “If Jesus is to regenerate me, what is he up against? I have a heredity I had no say in; I am NOT holy nor likely to be; and if all Jesus Christ can do is tell me I must be holy, his teaching plants despair. But if Jesus is a regenerator, one who can put into me his own heredity of holiness, then I begin to see what he is driving at when he says that I have to be holy”
He puts it IN Me
Again Chambers says “The moral transaction on my part is agreement with God’s verdict on sin in the cross of Jesus Christ”
Oh The Mystery and Majesty of the Gospel
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1 Corinthians 4:16 says Therefore we do not lose heart
Psalm 116 is a great song of the confidence that comes in the Lord. Verse 10 says I believed … therefore (or even when) I was greatly afflicted
Believed what? IN Psalm 116
v4 – O Lord Save me (I called on the name of the Lord)
v5 – The Lord is Gracious
v8 – you have delivered my soul from death
v9 – I will walk before the Lord in the Land of the Living
So then back to 1 Corinthians 4:14 Because we know that the one (The Holy Spirit) who raised the Lord Jesus … will also raise us. So v16 Therefore, we don’t lose heart
I lose heart when my heart is set on withering things. The grass withers, the flowers fade. The Carpet tatters, light fixtures burn out, paint peels, pianos go out of tune, and we lose heart if our heart is set on those things. Things like worship styles, service orders shouldn’t make us lose heart. When it comes to serving in the church, workers come and go, servants aren’t always there, but where is your heart? It is on the ONE who raise Jesus?
Oh but the God who said “Let there be …” he can recreate my circumstance.
I have a treasure in jars of clay … will I fret about the jar or joy in the treasure?
If my heart is set on things above … then if I am hard pressed (v9) … I’m fine … my jar may get cracked, but my treasure isn’t destroyed. I may be perplexed about today, but tomorrow is certain, so I am not in despair. I may be persecuted but I don’t care about their opinion if I am listening for Heaven’s “well done.” I am not abandoned though I walk through the Valley of the shadow of death, he is WITH me. I may be struck down, i might be killed for that matter, but I am not destroyed in this land of the dying, I am going to the Land of the Living.
Therefore, we do not lose heart though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day
v17 for light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all
v18 fix our eyes not on seen but unseen
I am not ignoring my problems, but I am also not focused on them either
I used to sing a song
Don’t lose heart, Don’t lose heart, God will take you to the other side, don’t lose heart
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2 Corinthians 10:5 says “We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought and make it obedient to Christ” (NIV84)
(KJV) “Casting down imaginations and every high thing that exalteth against the knowledge of God …”“Lord, help me see the high places in my life, things that seek to exalt themselves in my life as worthy of my worship and obedience, save you alone.”
Every time I say “but Lord …” I have exalted myself above the Sovereign Lord of all Creation. No other part of God’s creation says “But Lord”, none say “no, Lord.” Every part of creation just obeys, except man.
The BLUF (bottom line up front) is take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ … but how does that play out in actuality?
We live in a world that is at war with the holiness of God, a world led by a prince who would usurp Christ if given a chance and he seeks to lead us to do the same. We have a false perception that we have “rights” to do as we please, to make our own way. We say things like “it’s MY body”, or “I deserve this”, or “God wants me to be happy”, really? Who defines these things? Who is Lord? Since the carnal part of my nature remains, I must take active part in not allowing it to rule in my life.I am no longer bound to carnality, but it will rule when I allow it. Paul says in verse 4 that “strongholds” rise up. The carnality gains footing in my life, a place to attack. So, we have to “cast down” or “demolish” those strongholds.
“demolish” = kathaireo = to take down, tear down, destroy, do away with.
That is action. I must not ignore these things. I must not say “well, that’s just the way I am.” or “We all have our faults.” No, I must see the strongholds being fortified, know that they are there and take action to tear them down.Then Paul tells us the root of these stronghold
#1 – KJV calls “Imaginations” NIV “Arguments”
the word is loismos = false reasoning, conclusions, plans, life not reckoned as life
One of the roots of the strongholds of carnality in our life is logismos, false conclusions, reasoning that causes us to believe things that are not trueHow do we come to “arguments” or “imaginations”?
1) not Knowing the Word of God
2) Not Believing the Word of God
3) Not believing it Applies to me#2 “Pretensions” KJV “High Things”
the word is hypsoma = world above, arrogance –
We pretend that we are above the Word, we are above the command, we are above the revealed will and plan of God. I can play, I can pretend, that I am superman, but I cannot fly. I am not faster than a speeding bullet, more powerful than a locomotive, nor am I able to leap tall buildings in a single bound, because I Am NOT Superman. It is arrogant for me to assume that position. In like manner, I cannot take the place of Christ to Rule and Be Worshiped.
“High places” were placed throughout Canaan in ancient days where people worshiped false gods. It goes back to Babel, when they tried to “reach” God. Why did they try to reach God? It was to try and “bring him down” but you can’t
High Places in our lives are
1) anything that pretends to be equal with God
2) anything that we worship (objects of affection)
3) things that cause us to take our gaze away from ChristHe is the only one given a name above every name, to whom every knee bows and tongue confesses.
When we say “I would do this for God, but my kids need …” That is Pretense, it is a High Place
When we say “I would worship him with my resources, but I want … I need …” that is Pretense, a High Place
Instead I should take those things to the Lord and say “God, what do you want me to do, and how do I need to prioritize my resources, my family, my schedule?”
How can we easily tell if something is a “High Place”?
1) Does it set itself against the Word of God?
2) Does it cause a conflict of obedience to the revelation of God in Christ Jesus, in his living word or written word?
Those things have then “set themselves up against the knowledge of God”. They are pretend sovereigns in our lives, they are falsely exalted idols in our lives. I cannot ignore them, I cannot pretend they do not exist. They will not go away. They will not leave me alone if I pretend they are not there … No … I must DEMOLISH or CAST them DOWN
Whey they found high places of idol worship in the Old Testament, they destroyed them …So, How?
“Take Captive” … Lay your hands on offender. Speak to it, speak about it, admit it, that is what it means for a Christian to Confess our sins. YES, all of our sins are covered in the Cross of Christ, but in the daily living of our salvation, they are set up as strongholds. When we don’t admit the struggle and that it is sin we are missing the teaching of 1 John 1:9. 1 John 1:9 is John speaking to the CHURCH, to Christians. Count how many times he says “we”. Read 1 John 1:9 in context, “if WE confess our sins”. In other scripture he tells us to confess our sins to each other”? Why? It is so we don’t let them run loose, exalted in our lives.
We are not to let them be strongholds, no, we are to take hold of them. Them them to the word of God. Speak it. Does it sound contrary to the Word? Then make it obedient say “no” to pretenders. Say, “no” to false reasoning, and say “yes” to Christ.
Worship Him with Obedience
Worship the only wise God, our Sovereign Lord Jesus ChristTake Captive Every Thought and Make it Obedient to Christ
Pastor Goforth 