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Revelation

Iris Godfrey

This is another picture taken in my neighbor’s back yard. I have done enough gardening to know this is a lot of very hard work. I know you will enjoy the photo as much as I do. The reality is even richer. 

The Second session in our recent conference was taught by my daughter, Lauren. Lauren is a very fine Bible teacher and continues to amaze me as she grows in our Lord Jesus. She is in full-time ministry and working on credentials through her denomination. Our theme (as state below) was “I Have Come to Bring Life…”and we spent our time discovering what kind of life the Lord Jesus has brought to us. She worked the theme: He has brought us a life of Zeal. It was wonderfully done, and I have asked her to write a summary for us. When I get that, I will share it with you. In the meantime, below is another summary of my 2nd session.
REVELATION

There are (were) two primary scriptures worked. The first is Matthew 6:17 where Jesus tells Peter, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by flesh and blood, but by my Father in heaven.” As I have studied this passage the ramifications of its truth have been astounding to me. Even though Peter had walked with the Lord for almost 3 years, yet he had not understood that Jesus was the Messiah of God until the Father supernaturally revealed that fact to him. This is awesome. It means we believe because of a supernatural insight that Jesus is who He says He is. All the preaching and teaching in the world by me or anyone else will not reveal what needs to be revealed in the heart unless the Holy Spirit uses that preaching/teaching to illuminate another heart. We walk in a supernatural way. To teach the Word is to enter the realm of the supernatural and to interrelate with the Holy Spirit in such a way that the truths of God can be perceived through the Holy Spirit in the heart and mind of another person. 
We have argued in the church over what is the “rock” that Jesus builds His church upon. Most of us in a Protestant expression believe that “rock” is the confession that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of the Living God! I believe this is true. However, I believe we have missed a part of that confession. If the confession is not the result of a Holy Spirit revelation in the heart of an individual, then we do not have a Christian. Oh we may well have someone who doesn’t want hell to be eternity, or some other reason, but if the conversion is a matter of reason and logic, we probably have someone who will quickly fall away from the central issues. To truly have a believer, we must have the revelation of the Holy Spirit.
Along with this, in Ephesians 1:17, Paul begins a pray for the people asking “… that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know Him better.” After enumerating many spiritual blessings that we have automatically in the Lord Jesus, he then prays for them to have a special relationship with the Holy Spirit so they can receive wisdom and revelation (beyond what he has written), so they can know the Father better. I am stunned. It is the Holy Spirit through the Word who will instruct our hearts in the nature and focus of the Father. It is really a supernatural occurrence to know Him and then to know Him better. 
We have been birthed (again) supernaturally, and the only way we grow in Him is supernaturally — all through the agency and work of the Holy Spirit. Lord help us allow you to illuminate your own Word so we may truly see and know you more and more!

Eternal

Iris Godfrey

I thought I would begin this discussion with one of my spring pictures that I took yesterday. One of my neighbors has absolutely lovely flower gardens. I was taking some pictures from edge of his yard when he invited me into the yard, and then into the back yard where the myriad of color continued. I thought this most unusual daffodil was strikingly beautiful. So as we begin to work with some of the topics the Lord led last week-end at Conference, I thought I would share with you this lovely creation. 

Conference Lessons Summary: Friday Evening Session
Most conference sessions (that I taught) began with a reading of John 17 either by the congregation or by my daughter (who also taught a session). I had given them a copy of the text, so all of us could read together. Normally I teach “word by word” through a given text. This time the Holy Spirit led me to topics within the text. One of those words was “Eternal”. I listed all the words that “popped” in my study in a post below. I found that even though I touched on all of them a bit, I took three main ones and let the others mold themselves around that one. 
The first word was “Eternal.” We observed that our God is eternal in His very nature. He does not think in beginnings and ends, because He has neither. So His thoughts about us are eternal also. (Ephesians 1:4; Rev. 13:8) When we “create” something, it comes out of our person and will reveal our person in its structure. Years ago I did creative needlework, and if you look at my work closely, it will tell you quite a bit about me. Now when God created the visible, He was revealed in that creation. (Psalm 19 and Romans 1) So the created world and mankind was eternal in its origin — for that is what He is. 
We know sin entered the scene and due to the willing exchange of that which was eternal for that which was passing, the entire creation fell into corruption (Romans 1). But of course we know our God was working all for His eternal plan. Jump forward many, many years and we have a “new Adam.” (Romans 5) The New Covenant is full of this understanding. 
John 1:3-4 reads, “Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. In him was life, and that life was the light of men.” We know that our Lord Jesus was the creative agent of all that is seen. (John 1:1-3) Here also we are told of two creations: 1-in the beginning when God created the heavens and the earth through Jesus Christ — the one that was corrupted and finds its end in death; 2-the new life in Jesus Christ.
We brainstormed together in describing (with me writing it all down on the white-board) our Lord Jesus Christ. Then we work with the fact of the New Covenant and that we are in Him and therefore these items are about us in Him. (1 John 4:17b)
Our conclusions for this lesson was really the runway for the sessions to come. The grasping of the eternal fact of life in Jesus Christ and all its ramifications. I find we spend a lot of time in Christian circles, (writing, talking, teaching, preaching) trying to get our flesh to obey. In reality, I believe if we begin to absorb the truth of in Him, our flesh is no match for our Spirit. I believe that is what the Bible says. (Galatians 5:6)
There was much, much more to this lesson, including the understanding of the “new birth” makes us “bone of His bone and flesh of His flesh,” and the true meaning of the “adopted” passage in Ephesians. But this is just a summary for now. The total teaching was app. 1 hr. and 15 minutes. 

Trying Something —

Iris Godfrey
I am experimenting with a video program for my MacBook. I would love to be able to video a short teaching for the blog. That would take the place of the podcast — would be a webcast instead and nicer and easier to do. Let’s see what we have. 

Vacation Days

Iris Godfrey

After our time  at Conference (summary posts to come soon) my daughter (Lauren) and I took several days away in the mountains (Adirondack) and thoroughly enjoyed our time of rest, relaxation and discovery. I have put a small video in of one of the creeks, just so you can enjoy a bit with us. The waterways were overflowing most places as the snow was melting in gallons with the warm weather. 

We napped, ate, enjoyed the Lord’s beauty in our state, and just rested and rested. It was good for both of us. Tomorrow I hope to blog on some of our work at conference. I enjoyed the time thoroughly but it is good to be home and even good to be back in the office. 

Truly Focused

Iris Godfrey

I am preparing for teaching three sessions at Psalm 19 Ministries’ Spring Conference this coming week-end, so my mind is totally focused that direction. Our theme is from John 10:10 where our Lord makes this statement, “I have come that they may have life and life abundantly.” The Lord has led me to John 17 for the time of our discoveries. As I pondered this section of Scripture I wrote down the concepts that came “at me” as I read. These are the words I wrote in answer to this question: “Just what are the characteristics of the life Jesus has given us?”

Eternal
Word/Name
Protection
Revelation
Presence
Inter-connectivity – Unity
Full of Glory
Sacred
Sent
Witness

In only three sessions???? Well, the Lord is able, so we will work with them and allow Him. I am having a wonderful time with Him as these are developed. What an unfolding of this section of Scripture. I have never looked at it just this way before.

He truly leads us in wonderful pastures. I pray you have a blessed week-end. I know I am going to enjoy myself in our Lord. Wonderful Spirit-filled worship, allowing the unfolding of His Word, sweet remembrance communion time, and deep, precious fellowship (People from at least 8 different denominations will be present — wonderful)–don’t know of anything better. I will try to post some of the discoveries after the conference is completed. I will be on vacation with my daughter the first three days of the week, but after that I will try to post some of His leadings.

What is my focus?

Iris Godfrey

I am changing the title to “What is My Focus” simply because I think the other phrase does too much pointing of the finger at others and therefore basically dishonest. Whatever the Lord’s item of conviction in me probably is also in others, but one should not apply the thoughts to others, but to one’s own self. 

My focus in my life makes all the difference. As I live and work and listen I am easily distracted from the single focus of the Lord Jesus Christ. I know the events in my life lately have tended to distract me. Even the joy (absolute joy) of my ministry going into our own meeting place has the potential to distract me from my primary call. Every good matter, and ever matter of circumstance that has little to do with anyone but me, still is potentially distracting from my call and purpose in Jesus. 
Even my call and purpose can distract me. That seems like an odd thing, but it is true. I can get caught up in what “I” am to be doing and saying etc… so that my time with our Lord is consumed in talking about “me,” and ends up with no time for Him.  
Health concerns, family concerns, ministry concerns, church concerns and on and on it goes. Now in my time with my Lord Jesus, He, of course, is very interested in all of this that is going on in my heart, but where is my focus. Is it in me, or are my prayers directed at finding out about Him and His heart? That is why the Word must always play a vital part in our prayer time. How can I spend time with Him and never concern myself with Him. Somehow I seem to manage — I bet you do to.
I know this is a lot of rambling, but I just wanted to write it out for myself and whoever might be reading. The Lord is to be our focus and gives us every power to allow that. I once again choose Him to be that focus of my moments and days. Everything else will fall into place when that is done.

Every Need. . .

Iris Godfrey

I noticed something this morning in my reading that fits with some insights the Lord has been giving me in regard to our need. Go along with me and see if this does not ring true in your spirit.

“Then Jesus, being filled with the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan and was led by the Spirit into the wilderness, being tempted for forty days by the devil. And in those days He ate nothing and afterward when they had ended, He was hungry. And the devil said to Him….”(Luke 4:1-3a NKJV) You know the rest. What I want to look at is the role of “need” in opportunity for temptation. Now it is not exclusively linked to need, but I see here that when Jesus was hungry the enemy used the “need” to give an easy out. It was first of all the temptation to prove who He was (if you are…), and the secondary point of it was to satisfy Himself — since He could. Isn’t that the way the enemy still works? Think about it. He waits until I begin to think I have a need and then he presents to me a way to take care of it.

Now the answer to the opportunity is not what it would seem to be. Needs just are and we all have a record before the Lord of them. However, there is a way in Scripture to work here and to eliminate opportunity for temptation through a need.

In Philippians 4:11 in the process of thanking the church at Philippi for their assistance in sending Paul help, he makes the bold statement, “Not that I speak in regard to need, for I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content:…” and then he goes on to site several circumstances which are extremes from one another. We spend endless time and energy on trying to likewise “learn to be content,” forever missing the point that contentment is a by-product of having no need. Now just how is this possible?

I believe the text reveals the secret. Because Paul trusts the Lord with his life, and abides continually in the awesome care of the Almighty, he could not possible have a need. Each and every circumstance is just an opportunity to magnify Christ in his life, so it really does not matter what that circumstance turns out to be. This is the secret he had “learned.” The Lord really is Lord and really does love us and really does care for us. So there can not possibly be a “need,” just an opportunity for Christ to be glorified.

What an awesome lesson to allow the emotions to learn! Just think about it. That means all the “needs” that present themselves are really not needs at all for me — but just opportunities to live out the reality of His care. Now this causes me to begin to re-evaluate the way I perceive my circumstances and I have long way to go. If I persist in holding on to my need and His need to answer, then the enemy has the opportunity to cause me to doubt the care of my Lord and to offer various opportunities to take care of matters myself . I have learned enough to know that doesn’t work.

So here goes. I will try to let you know as I learn. How about joining me.

Iris Godfrey

Tonight is pure fun!!! Our Institute of Biblical Studies meets and I am teaching on Philippians 1. Can you imagine my joy on getting to teach for 2 1/2 hours on this absolutely marvelous chapter. I love this book and will enjoy this delightful class of 15 or so students loving to inter-relate with our Lord through His Word. What more could a Bible teacher want?!

RESURRECTION

Iris Godfrey

On Sunday we will celebrate Resurrection Day! It is my favorite day of the year and I enjoy it totally. Leading up to that wonderful celebration, we mark Good Friday in Psalm 19 with a Good Friday Service tonight. We will spend time in Worship, both singing and listening to our Choir (The Singers). Then we will experience the Word as it is read and received. We will soak in our Lord’s presence and remember.

Then we will turn to what this means in our lives and explore the dynamic truth of living in the Spirit according to the Word. 
I pray you enjoy Him during this special season.

A Grand St. Pat’s Day!

Iris Godfrey

My husband and I were gifted with tickets to hear The Three Irish Tenors yesterday and how very much we enjoyed the entire concert. My husband is a musician and an Irish Tenor, so we enjoyed in many ways. 

The evening breeze was brisk but not too cold, so even the walk to the beautiful Landmark Theatre was refreshing. I always forget what a grand and ornate place that theatre is. I am so glad it has been saved and restored. Anyway — just thought I would share a really good, good time.