Tag: god

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)