Tag: christianity

Attitudes of Change

Iris Godfrey

I am so blessed by what I often see in the Body of Christ, and then also often saddened by those who fill the pews on Sunday morning. Our faith is displayed or not by the attitudes we display to our world. I see love (the agape kind) often shared and received, and also I hear a critical tongue regarding others. I guess we are all a bit of both, while still expecting the Holy Spirit to transform us into the image of Christ.

We will be transformed as we begin to choose the ways of speaking and thinking that I see in the Apostles of our Lord relating to the people they served. I have in mind the Apostle Paul specifically. In most of his correspondence, he began by relating to all who would hear what he wrote in grace and peace. “Grace be unto you, and peace, from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ.” Philippines 1:2. KJV This letter has no correction in it, but is instead a thank you note to the supporters at the church in Philippi. But we have a very similar greeting to the folk in Corinth. “Grace be unto you, and peace, from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ.” 1 Corinthians 1:3 KJV That letter is filled with correction, some really sinful actions that had to be set straight. Yet, his greeting was the same.

What did Paul understand that we somehow miss in these passages? I suspect he understood that in order to get the correct response, he first needed to embrace them in the love of our Lord through his complete acceptance of them. Their placement in his heart was solid and their placement in the Kingdom was a forgone conclusion. So based on their placement, he approached them for joy in Philippians, and for correction in 1 Corinthians. It was because of their placement in the Lord Jesus that he could praise them, or correct them because the greeting rang with acceptance and love.

What difference in our life would there be if we, like Paul, in our hearts had grace and peace to all in His body – the actually heartfelt acceptance of those like me and those I differ with. Then we might be known for our love and acceptance instead of our in-fighting and falling.

I am amazed at what genuine belonging actually does in a heart. It is absolutely a key in being able to speak into lives, either a blessing or a correction. When one is secure in the love of Jesus with you, then joy is received and so is correction.

Now let’s take a deeper look at what these words that Paul used actually mean. “Grace” is commonly thought of as “unmerited favor.” This is alright but limited in its scope. It is truly total acceptance in the Kingdom of God because of the work of our Lord Jesus! That means all that is wrong with me is in process with Him and as one of His sons, I am totally His. When we have insecurity here, we have trouble receiving all the benefits of belonging to our Father. If we are always dealing with our sin, we have yet to understand the completeness of His sacrifice and its work accomplished for us. Insecurity leads to comparing and competition which have no place in the Body of Christ. So my complete personal acceptance is the basis for my acceptance of others – not their behavior. Paul gives them His total acceptance and considers them worthy of His time, whether for sharing fellowship and joy, or for deep correction. When we understand we are to receive others as the Lord receives them, all the work in the Kingdom flows in His love.

The second word he uses is “peace” and while we might expect “shalom,” the Greek word that is used in our New Covenant is ‘peace.” If we are confident in our relationships with and in the Lord Jesus, then we can trust Him to give others the same peace He has given us and in that peace (which by the way, includes all that was included in the word shalom), we move in His love and acceptance.

So, I believe the Lord is wanting to remake our relationships within the Body into one that flows in love and acceptance in the grace and peace of our Lord, instead of the constant fault-finding, and criticalness we often have toward others. That means, that my relationship, fellowship, and intimacy with the Lord will determine how I am able to relate to others. This calls for going deeper in Him and allowing intimacy in Him to have a prominence in our hearts that is way beyond what is common among us. May all of us hear the Lord in this and allow Him to remake our “feelings” and “mindsets” regarding others into a life-giving flow of His acceptance.

A Matter of Emphasis

Iris Godfrey

I find I am constantly running into frustration when I listen to sermons given to God’s people. The well-meaning speakers are always (nearly always) trying to help their listeners to do things better or relate to God better. It seems the “self-help” or “application” theories have taken over the pulpit. 

A number of years ago, I was alerted to the problems with this through the writings of a fellow blogger (I do not remember his name). He was sharing how the Holy Spirit had arrested his spirit with the fact that “application” of the Word was the Holy Spirit’s job, not man’s to always interpret. (We all know that our Lord may apply His Word in differing ways to different people). So, this preacher increased the Word and cut way back on the application. 

This made an impact on me, and I began to seek the Lord in the matter. I stopped struggling to meet needs of the people, and began to genuinely feed the Word to those the Lord brought to us.

I am working now with another “arrest” in my spirit by the Lord. The Body of Christ, as a rule, are only relating to an exterior God. We do not easily relate to the inward Spirit God. “The Spirit is the Lord, and where the Spirit is Lord, there is freedom.” 2 Corinthians 3:17 (correct translation.)

The Spirit is everywhere. King David wrote, “Wither shall I go from thy spirit? Or whither shall I flee from thy presence?” (Psalm 139:1-13). But we all know that “freedom” is not everywhere. So, we are caught with the truth that with the Spirit of God in us and when we allow Him to be Lord, then there is freedom! 

As Spirit-filled believers, we must come face to face with the New Covenant fact that our God is directing us, speaking with us, living with us, daily walking in us (not just ‘with”), and we are called to become as He is. (1 John 4:17)

All this is true, and we must begin to relate to Him inwardly, not just outwardly. We must begin to discover what He has done in our “born from above” time and see that the Word is true and we are called to be in His likeness. Romans 8:29 

As we began to grapple with these truths, Lord, teach us how to relate to you inwardly, and allow you, Holy Spirit, to reveal our God to us through our Jesus more and more. May we know you, truly know you.  

The Burning Bush

Iris Godfrey

The Burning Bush – that is what the new photo above is called. It is Fall where I live and it is one of our most beautiful seasons. I say, “one of our most beautiful seasons” because I live in Central New York State and each of the four seasons has great beauty. It is my joy to enjoy them. If I drive south, I am in mountains, if I drive north, I am beside a lake, or two or three, etc… Beauty surrounds me. My home is in a deep valley where the snow covers deeply during the winter season. What beauty continually surrounds us!

I read how many decry my state, New York, because of the liberal political views held here by many. One author a few years ago even intimated that all of us who are not so liberally minded, move from such a place. I was disturbed by such thoughts. You see, my husband and I were sent here by the Lord Himself many, many years ago. Our instructions and anticipations were that we would make the Northeast our home and be His where he sent us. We have done that.

Actually, when I first moved to the Northeast, I found my people. I don’t quite know another way to say it. I was born in Oklahoma and raised mainly in Texas – yet I somehow never fit. I think the Lord, in His kindness and goodness, had me designed so I would feel at home here and not there. I have found Vermonters and New Yorkers to be friendly, courteous, kind, and genuine. I realize not everyone anywhere would fit in those descriptions, but I have lived in the Northeast for over 58 years and have found the ordinary folk like me, very real.

I am convinced that our normal perceptions of people are many times based on what we have heard or read regarding the experiences of others. These folk are as open to the true gospel of Jesus Christ as any I have know. Many of them have taught me much of His love and His ways. So let’s be careful how we perceive others. In the true gospel, people are allowed to be who they are as they seek to magnify our King. Oh His character and imprint is still the same, holiness, truthfulness, righteousness, peace, joy, etc…. but essentially people are people. We are called to love others as He as loved us. Let’s live so.

Thank you Lord, for the love you have given us, and for the beautiful earth you have allowed me to see and live upon. May we in joy bless you in all we do – especially the words of our mouths and our keyboards.

Catching The Breath of God

Iris Godfrey

The Holy Spirit wants to uncover something not commonly seen as we read Scriptures. We must allow the light of the Holy Spirit shine on and through them. Otherwise, our concept of them will be very small and short-sighted.  Sometimes He will simply show us an unusual understanding or insight seen through the Holy Spirit through reading and or pondering a passage or individual Scripture. At other times, He will lead us to a word used and urge us to look up the word in the original language (all can do this with the web. Simply go to BibleHub.com, select the interlinear and discover what you never dreamed was said). 

“For the word of God is quick and powerful and sharper than any two-edged sword, dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.” Hebrews 4:12 KJV 

Proverbs 2:1-7 KJV

“My son, if thou wilt receive my words, and hide my commandments with thee;

So that thou incline thine ear unto wisdom, and apply thine heart to understanding; 

Yea, if thou criest after knowledge and liftest up thy voice for understanding; 

If thou seakest her as silver, and searchest for her as for hid treasures; 

Then shalt thou understand the fear of the LORD and find the knowledge of God. 

For the LORD giveth wisdom: out of his mouth cometh knowledge and understanding. 

He layeth up sound wisdom for the righteous: he is a buckler to them that walk uprightly.”

As you read the passage above there are several obvious things we see and understand. One of those “things” is simply that the more attention a person gives to what is written, the more they understand what is being said. 

Notice the progression: 

  1. Receive the word. (read, study)
  2. Hide the words in our heart (think on them, mediate on them.)
  3. Incline our heart to wisdom (begin to obey from the inside out)
  4.  Apply our heart to understanding (begin to be molded inside by its truth)
  5. Cry out for knowledge (Literally cry out to the Lord for his knowledge)
  6. Lift up your voice for understanding (again, it’s not a seeking head knowledge at all – rather cry-out, you’re all in – and make a big deal of it with the Lord); deeply desiring to “see” what is hidden.
  7. Seek her as silver (dig deeply like in a silver mine – not an easy nor surface search)
  8. Search for her as for hidden treasure (you are deeply intent and serious about seeing the unseen and knowing the unknown. 

Then…… you begin to “see and know” what can only be seen and known by the Spirit. It has been there all along. Bible knowledge that is on the surface will leave you empty in your heart. But Bible Knowledge that has been opened to you through the Spirit as you searched one level, then the next, and the next, and the next (you get the picture) results in an understanding of God Himself – not just things said about Him. 

I refer you to Paul’s prayer in Ephesians 1:17, “I pray that the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, will give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him:”

The first 14 verses of Ephesians 1 share with us the “automatic” things that occur when we become born from above. But in the above verse reveals that these things: “the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him” are not automatic, but rather granted through prayer and seeking. The knowledge in this passage is “full experiential” knowledge of our Father.

In today’s church body, most are casual seekers at best – wanting only what He can do for us, or how we can be better, or (and that list and reality is vast). However, that level of seeking (and it is answered) will never bring what the heart is longing for. Only the breath of the Holy Spirit blowing across the words and igniting them with fire and breath of the Holy Spirit can satisfy the longing heart. 

Well, beloved, we have some work to do, don’t we. None of the above is talking about us getting somewhere or becoming someone. It is all based on getting to know Him, the fellowship of His sufferings, and the power of His resurrection. (Philippians 3:10 JKV) 

Learning to Lean All Over Again

Iris Godfrey

Isn’t life interesting? Oh I know people, specifically and in general, are very interesting creatures. But I think when we think of ourselves, interesting is probably not the word we would use. Yet, I do find my life interesting.

Not so interesting because of who I am. No so interesting because of what I do? Not so interesting because of where I live, or why I live there. No so interesting because I have traveled to places that are interesting, because I’ve not traveled broadly at all. But interesting because of what the Lord does in me and through me.

Who knew that at my age, (Presently 83) my Lord Jesus, would teach and require an entirely different approach to teaching and writing and almost everything I do? Let’s just take teaching His Word. I have taught the Bible to others since I was 15 when I first began to teach Sunday School in my Dad’s congregation. There was no one else to do it in our little congregation, so he put me there. Well, I began to do more than just read the Word every day, (a chapter a day in the New Testament every day as per Dad’s instructions since I was 9), but now learn a little more in order to teach the younger ones.

Later still, as a young mother I began doing some teaching beyond my Sunday School class – now teaching the young women in whatever congregation I was a part of as a married woman with a small child, there were changes to the way and the method and the expressions the Lord led me in. And on and on it has gone.

Yet, the biggest change required to the many and diverse methods, in-depth studies required in Institute teaching, on the radio, and TV – over and above all these changes and growths the Lord made as I grew in Him, He yet requires something so totally beyond me now that I am often overcome with wonder as He begins to open His Word over and over again in revelations I have never before seen or known.

Now the call changes once again. The Holy Spirit speaks, “Iris, no notes. I am their teacher as well as yours, so as you study (where I lead you to study – not where you might want to study) you listen and think with Me and study Me as well as with Me.” I know I am so totally and utterly unable to do as asked, so I simply lean into the Spirit and choose to do as He said and stand before people with only Him in my being and His Word in my hand and heart. “Open your mouth and I will fill it” echos in the caverns of my being as I begin to speak as He speaks and teach as He leads and open venues of “knowing” unknown before.

Such is the wonder of my life. Its so beyond anything I have ever known before, but I am finding more and more people who have been this way before me, except now they are way beyond somewhere while I learn and follow steps that will take me to where He is in them and beyond.

All New

Iris Godfrey

A New Creation – thoughts on 2 Corinthians 5:17.

“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.” NKJV

This verse is the theme of our “New Creation Covenant” course on Tuesday evening in the Institute. Also I preached this morning at my church (New Heart Ministries) using this as my main scripture. So it is presently very much in my thoughts.

I think every Christian would say they believe this verse, but I know I have lived much of my life, as a believer, never really grasping the consequences of this verse being true. The word translated “created” is translated well. It is a word used for construction projects when it is built new from the ground up. So we are an entirely new creation. The word also means that we are the original formation. So it takes us back in spiritual DNA form to the New Adam – Christ Jesus our Lord.

Many, including me, have often taught that all that is true of our inner man or “spirit” which was completely made new. However, we must then learn how to manage our old man of flesh because that was not made new. Colossians 2:11 clearly states “In Him you were also circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, by putting off the body of the sins of the flesh, by the circumcision of Christ.” That old man was a part of the “foreskin” of our heart that was circumcised at our new birth in Him. So that is no longer a part of us.

So truly all things are new! The word “all” is not technically in the Greek text that I am using, but it is inferred in the other words. So using “all” in English, translates the passage properly. All really does say it well.

This is a re-adjusting of our thinking in this passage. He really did make all things new. Now to embrace that new identity in our Lord and begin to embrace the fullness of His work that has brought us into His family.

Lord, thank you!

We Turn Our Hearts . . .

Iris Godfrey
sunrise-blue-clog
I have been pondering the fact of the indwelling of the Holy Spirit within us. Since the Lord Jesus has eliminated every definition of distance between us and because we have, by the fact of this indwelling, been drawn into the fellowship of the Trinity (John 17:20-23), what does the Scripture mean when it says to “Draw near” (James 4:8) since it is impossible to get any nearer?
I know we are all limited by our language, regardless of what language that might be. So the writers of our New Testament were also very limited by what they could conceptually place within a text. When it comes to pondering the things of God in the Spirit, truth is so marvelously grand, that our words fail in our attempts to share it. Remember in the book of Revelation how the Apostle John was always saying, “It was like…” simply because there were no words (regardless of his language) to adequately express what he was trying to convey. He was experiencing “picture” after “picture” in seemingly a rapid-fire movement (much like our short video’s today). So language failed him. So it is with us – we dwell in “It was like….” often.
I am thinking that the title of this post gets close to how we can effectively and progressively think and work. “We turn our hearts.” He is always with me and in me. However, I am not always tuned into His voice nor His presence. Oh yes, I know my Lord Jesus is here with me, but it takes an act of my will to turn my heart and my mind that direction. This is His plan. He does not force us to belong to Him, nor does He force us to fellowship in Him, once the birth into His family and heart occurs.
So to “draw near” would still mean, to “draw near” with the understanding that to do so simply means to turn my heart to Him and turn my ears and mind into a listening stance. We can always hear and always fellowship.
So Lord we turn our hearts to hear yours and to dwell sweetly within our home in your heart. Here we worship and share.
Next post: Sharing in His heart, or what we commonly call “prayer.”

My Weakness – His Strength

Iris Godfrey

Much, Much better today! Thanks so much for all the prayers as you read. This cold/flu stuff is not nice. I cannot remember ever hurting as much for such. Now that I am doing much better, it is time to get on with matters at hand. There is always more than I can do in a day, if I open my eyes. So I lean on our Lord within me to accomplish what is before me. He is good and strengthens my weakness.

In fact, Paul said his weakness was what he would brag about, not any supposed strength of his own. In 2 Corinthians 12, after Paul had talked about his visions etc, he said this, “Even if I should choose to boast, I would not be a fool, because I would be speaking the truth. But I refrain, so no one will think more of me than is warranted by what I do or say, or because of these surpassingly great revelations. Therefore, in order to keep me from becoming conceited I was given a thorn in my flesh, a mesasenger of Satan, to torment me. Three times I pleaded with The Lord to take it away from me. But he said to me, 'My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.' Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses so that Christ's power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ's sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.”

Now this is definitely not putting your best foot forward. (Side note: the teachings of the world are never useful in regard to the government of the Kingdom of God. His ways are very different than any form or self-exaltation). He stood head-and-shoulders above any other apostles in visions and revelations. Yet, this was not what he chose to brag about. He was instead willing to brag about his weaknesses.

I do not believe Paul's “thorn” was any form of illness, simply because the use of that term in the Scripture is always associated with irritation, temptations, testings, etc…. So I believe he was given a constant reminder of some sort of the fact that he was a very weak and easily tested human being. That being so, it becomes even more amazing that he was who he was.

Accepting our weakness is the first real step in understanding the strength of our Savior. He is strong and I can simply trust Him for the strength needed to accomplish for my day. I need not be undone because I find myself week. Neither do I need to give weakness its intended result – making my reslove weak in Him. Instead, leaning into His strength, I am strengthened in ways I never thought possible and led to accomplish matters too difficult for me.

I have my limitations; He has none. Glory. Now that is truly awesome. That means, me released in Him and He released in me is able – whatever. His goodness is amazing.

What about 1 Peter? Oh I will probably get back there soon. Just have a few items on my heart to share, so am taking the space to do just that.

I am typing this on my iPad Mini, and learning to use the program designed for blogging. I have done some with it before, but find I use my iPad much more than my computer, and it is usually with me. So there you are. Blessings on all who read.

 

Always More!

Iris Godfrey

“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His great mercy birthed us from above into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, into an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, being kept in the heavens into us who by the power of God are being guarded through faith, into a deliverance to be uncovered in the last time.”(personal translation)1 Peter 1:3-5

“…into a deliverance to be uncovered in the last time.” This last section of the greeting is relating all of the above benefits to what will happen at the very end of the age. The word I translated “deliverance” is what we normally translate “salvation.” The one word in the Greek has both meanings + several others. All the concepts rolled into one word. We often associate “salvation” as our initial experience in Christ and our on-going reality in Him. While that is so, the meaning here is looking toward the end of our time, as being a time when there is more revelation and still more revelation unfolding.

Salvation is complete and its results continue through out the ages, whatever they may be. Yet at the end, there is more to be “seen” about it all. Christ has completed the work, but not all of what He did is fully revealed at this point in time – there is more to be seen and understood. This statement is to encourage Peter’s readers, because the next few statements speak of their need for endurance at this point in time, but there is more to be revealed in Him.

“You rejoice in this, though now for a short time you have had to be distressed by various trials, so that the genuineness of your faith – more valuable than gold, which perishes though refined by fire – may result in praise, glory, and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ.” 1 Peter 1:6-8 HCSB

I just want us to see that there is always more. We will work with the passage above on another day. Today be encouraged – there’s more – there’s always more!