Tag: Peace

Because you… I Will… I Am Coming Soon

May 24th, 2022

Revelation 7:10-11 BECAUSE YOU have kept my command to endure, I Will also keep you from the hour of testing… I AM COMING SOON. Hold on to what you have so that no one takes your crown

In the letters to the churches in the Revelation of Jesus Christ, he always begins with a name that states his right to speak, then an assessment, a conclusion of challenge, and an expectation, “let anyone who has ears listen”. To the church of brotherly love, Philadelphia, beginning in v7 he identifies himself as The Holy One, the True one, the One who has the Key of David (Authority) to open and close doors definitively, decisively, then, I place before you an open door that no one can close…

He says in v8, you have little power… YET… Oh I love the conjunctions of God. Yet. Listen, don’t pray for tasks that equal your power, but for power equal to the tasks, because, you have little power. YET, remember Paul said that God chooses the weak to confound the strong… So, when he says you have little power, it isn’t a “diss” but it’s not a call to get stronger, but it’s just a statement of reality, that God has opened a door of opportunity that we cannot open.

Why? v8, You have kept my word, you have not denied my name… We often close our doors of opportunity because we won’t stay the course, and stay with The True One. When we do not stay with him, we become liars and make him appear to be a liar. He is calling, Keep my word… keep to my name… Our Relationship is important. V9 those who claim a relationship, but don’t have it are in fact satan worshippers.

Yet, in the midst of a lying generation – lying about the authority of God, lying about the nature of God, lying about the coming of God… We have held to his word. That is, our actions as obedient followers are true to his name and his word. In our expectation, believing that he is coming, in our surrender, knowing he is God, Good, and Gracious, we have NOT denied him, but instead freely confessed him. So…

Because… there ARE Conditional Promises – Except a man be born again… no one comes to the Father BUT BY ME… So because, in spite of little strength, we have kept to his word, name, commands, it is not saying we are perfect, or even “good”. But notice the command was to endure – hypomone = a remaining behind, a patient enduring, steadfast, perseverance. Oh, I like that picture, remaining behind, enduring. He doesn’t say “keep up with me”, he says “keep coming AFTER / BEHIND me.” Keep coming child of God. I can’t always “keep up”, but I can get up and Keep Coming.

Because you have kept (guarded, watched – tereo) …I will ALSO KEEP… Oh we could talk about what we THINK this means, and there is a time and a place for that eschatological discussion, but for NOW… know this, God always KEEPS MORE for us, gives more TO us, than he asks from us. And so here he says I will ALSO KEEP you from the hour of testing. Oh, I certainly have what I believe this means in the short term of a 7-year period… but ultimately those who endure, who keep going, will find that what we have endured is nothing in comparison to what he has kept us FROM because we obeyed him. What we have endured is nothing compared to the joy set before us, what he has prepared for us… and then just know this…

I Am Coming Soon

The world is hard, just like he said it would be in John 16:33 I have told you these things so that in me you may have peace. You will have suffering in this world, but Be Courageous! I have conquered the world. Jesus is not GOING TO Win, he has ALREADY WON, he just hasn’t come to complete the transaction yet.

So, Hold On to what you have, so that no one takes your crown. Oh they can’t steal your salvation, they can’t steal what’s in my heart, but they may try to steal my hat. They might take my opportunity to be a pillar in the Temple of God, my place of honor and recognition. What do you have? Faith, Courage, Strength in Suffering, and a stephanos – Crown of victory, medal of valor if you will. But I am mindful of Hebrews 10:37-39 – we are not of those who shrink back…

Jesus is Coming Soon – “coming “- erchomai = to arrive, to be center stage, – “Soon” = quick, swift, faster. Certainly, he is coming sooner than yesterday, but when he comes, it will be swift, quick, fast so

Be Ready

Be Faithful

Be Obedient

Be Persistent

Be Expectant

Be Encouraged

He is Coming, and he has more for you, than you have given him, so much more than we could ever imagine.
Do you NOW believe?

May 24th, 2022

John 16:31 – Do you NOW believe?

An hour is coming, and has come when each of you will be scattered. I have told you these things so that IN ME you will have peace. You WILL have suffering in this world. BE COURAGEOUS. I have conquered the world

Jesus said, “Oh NOW you believe.” How often we make little steps out of “belief” and into faith. God shows us the same thing he’s BEEN showing us for months, or years, and we finally GET IT, or at least part of it; our eyes are opened and God says, “now you see.”

“Now You Believe” – so just go on with your revelation? No… this revelation is for the hard stuff still to come. “an hour is coming, and HAS come” You GOT THIS. It is IN the struggle that we are forced into the Master’s presence. At the Master’s feet, or on our backs, knocked down by life, we focus on his voice and his message and v30 says “by THIS we believe”. How many hard things have happened that were the vehicle that moved you OUT of “self-competency” and INTO faith in God? And this new knowledge / revelation, is FOR THIS HOUR

An hour is coming and has come

There is something coming and we are now at the threshold and the increased knowledge and faith you have received is what will get you through the next chapter to come.

You will be scattered i.e. “you ain’t seen nothing yet”.

The enemy is riled up too… you will FEEL alone. But if we are on the obedient, God-honoring, Spirit empowered mission, you are NOT ALONE, never alone, “because the Father is with me”. Jesus understood what we must, that we will never be alone in the plan and purposes of God. So he says, “now that you believe… let me tell you why I revealed this… What’s God saying today? Believe and Go

So that – those are some of my favorite words in scripture – God is always a SO THAT God, not a SO WHAT, God.

So that you may have PEACE – Eirene = welfare, peace, be undisturbed

God’s revelation comes not for your permission, not even for your embrace… but that you might not be disturbed by the struggle, but have PEACE, not in the information, because peace comes not from the information but is a gift of the Holy Spirit
Peace, Perfect Peace

April 3rd, 2019

I don’t usually do this, but I’m posting Hymn/Spiritual Song Text today.

I was doing some reading this week and ran across a hymn text by Rev. Edward Bickersteth Jr.

He was vacationing and heard a sermon from Isaiah 26:3-4 – thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee. Trust ye in the Lord forever: For the Lord JEHOVAH is everlasting strength

As I read the hymn lyrics, and read the text, my mind also went to Paul’s words in Philippians 4:4-9 that we should not let anxiety enter, but instead Rejoice as we give God an Act of Worship by presenting our issues to him, knowing He cares and is able to handle them according to his will, by his power. And then this peace that is beyond our understanding guards our hearts and minds. And as we think only on good, excellent, praise worthy things, and as we put into practice the things we have heard and learn, then peace REIGNS, because the God of Peace is with us.

The battle certainly is in the mind. We do, according to 2 Corinthians 10, need to take captive every thought and make it obedient to truth, and when we do, PEACE REIGNS.

So, if you are in want of peace, turn your mind to Christ. Surrender to his will. Fall on him in prayer. Know that the blood of Jesus has supplied all you need, and he is still on the throne today.

So, this week, I adapted the text of Edward Bickersteth, added new music, and a new refrain, and I hope these words encourage you. In the original verses, he asked them as questions, but I offer them as settled quiet realities. Watch my http://www.soundcloud.com/jimgoforth page and maybe I’ll post the song soon.

Peace I Leave with You …

Peace, Perfect Peace – Jim Goforth 2019

(verses adapted from Edward Bickersteth Jr 1875)

Peace, perfect peace;

In this dark world of sin, the blood of Jesus whispers within;

Peace, perfect peace.

Peace, perfect peace;

So many earthly issues press, but in his will is rest;

Peace, perfect Peace

Like a river it flows, how I may not know;

The Breath of God today, blows my fears away;

I lay them at his feet, an act of worship to complete;

(bringing) Peace, perfect peace.

Peace, perfect peace;

With sorrows surging all around; fall on Christ and calm is found;

Peace, perfect peace.

Refrain

Peace, perfect peace;

Although the future is unknown; God’s still on the throne;

(giving) Peace, perfect Peace.

We can trust in the Lord forever

For the Lord Himself is Ever-lasting

Peace, perfect peace
As the Father Has Sent Me, I am Sending You

October 26th, 2015

John 20:21 NIV84 Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me. I am sending you

Jesus appears to his disciples while their world is still in a turmoil. Jesus died on Friday. Here it is Sunday evening. He is reported alive, seen by Mary and he appears to his disciples behind locked doors in the upper room. “Peace be with you” Oh he had never really left them, he is always with us. He told them on Thursday “I will never leave you nor forsake you” But now darkness has given way to life. Jesus is standing in front of them and says “Peace be with you” v19 and then v20 he shows them his hands and side, probably as they are just standing there with their mouths wide open. So in v21 again Jesus said “Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I am sending you.”

I’m sure they had been thinking, since Friday, that the story was over for them. Maybe they were next to die. Thinking “if we survive this, what now, back to fishing, back to tax collecting, back to find something else about which to be zealous.”

But Jesus says “this is not the end of the story, this is the beginning … I am sending you”

But HOW is he sending us?

1. At Peace

Regardless of the struggle around us … At Peace

Peace where it matters. Peace from God. Peace within us

Jesus had said to them Thursday night, “In this world you will have trouble, but take heart, I have overcome the world.”

Now they see this statement in the flesh. Oh listen “trouble” was just starting for them. The moment we make peace with God, the struggles really begin. The attacks of the evil one, the struggle of the flesh and our new nature, it is only starting. Persecution is coming, but peace be with you. So then we are sent, at peace, as ministers OF peace.

And we are sent

2. AS the Father Sent

How was Jesus sent?

He was sent with a clearly defined purpose. He came humble. He came emptied of glory. He came an intentional servant. He came committted to the plan of the Father. His purpose was to live in perfection, declare God’s glory, die a sacrificial death, redeeming and reconciling all who would believe. Then he came to rise victorious over sin and death.

We then are sent to live in his righteousness. We are to live in humility. Check James 4:7-10. We are submissive to his will, victorious over satan, drawing near him, daily dying, dealing with external sin struggles, humble before him, and he will lift us up in due time. We are sent intentionally to serve. Jesus had said if I your master have come not to be served but to serve, how much more should you serve.

We have a clear mission. As you go, (Matthew 28:19-20)make disciples, that is imitating followers, baptizing them in the name of Father, Son, and Spirit. We go to all (Acts 1:8) nations as witnesses telling them what we have seen and heard.

And so we are

3. Sent

I don’t men to be redundant, but he is sending us, SENT.

Again it is about living with purpose. He doesn’t say “get out of here.” he doesn’t say “just go, have fun, do as you please.”

No, we are SENT. We belong to him, so we must go as HIS children, his Ambassadors. We are SENT. We are commanded so we can’t just live and minister aimlessly, when we feel like it. No we are SENT.

Pray: Lord you are always at work. You have sent me. So, what are you doing and how can I join you?”

The Greatest Peace we can know is NOT in the ABSENCE of Trouble or Conflict, but in the Presence of Christ, and Our presence in the world, sent by Him.

Tag: Peace

Because you… I Will… I Am Coming Soon

Do you NOW believe?

Peace, Perfect Peace

As the Father Has Sent Me, I am Sending You