Tag: Jesus

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.

O The Wonder of It All!

Iris Godfrey

Oh what wonder is before us as we openly receive the truth of our Lord’s Word. It is a step into flowing freely in the Holy Spirit. It is different than the common understanding of “receiving” the Word. Many of us have lived a life receiving the Word. But now the Spirit calls for the mystery of the Word to be uncovered and released within us. “Even the mystery which hath been hid from ages and from generations, but now is made manifest to his saints: To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory:…” Colossians 1:26-27

We all know John 17:20-23, “And the glory which thou gavest me I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one: I in them and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one; and that the world may know that thou hast sent me, and has loved them as thou has loved me:. . .” The oneness the Lord describes is a complete Spirit oneness with the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. It was accomplished on that beautiful day of Pentecost when the Holy Spirit was poured into those believers and as He has been poured into each of us in His Body since that time. 1 Corinthians 6:17 “But he that is joined to the Lord is one spirit.” In other words, as believers we are not separate from God in any way. His work was a complete one and it continually is ours.

To receive the word that we are one with Him and there is no distance between, calls for us to move into a spiritual placement of giving and receiving in Him in an eye-to-eye relationship. Learning to trust in Him through His work and His faith (Romans 12:3). It stretches us in the Spirit realm to be as He is in this world. (1 John 3:17)

Our life then can receive this word and begin the adjustment of being completely satisfied (the meaning of the word “completed” in many places in the New Testament) in Him and living loved, and empowered.

So the journey from being in need into full sufficiency is the action of working in the reality of the word.

The journey of knowing He hears our prayers, is stepping into the reality of our oneness in Him. He always hears and always answers. In that we can confidently move forward and begin to put our minds and hearts where He needs them to be instead of always needing Him to do a miracle. Our prayers become simply a dialogue with Him (Father, Son, Holy Spirit) as my concerns are already known by Him and now He can begin to show us how He sees not only our world, but share His world as well. That begins the transfer of the Word into reality in us. For we are one in Him and no separation exists.

More coming – stay tuned.

Holy Spirit open our eyes to see and know. Move us from “knowing the word,” into receiving and living the wonder of it All.

All Scripture quoted from KJV.

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.

 

And The Government . . .

Iris Godfrey

6 For a child will be born to us, a son will be given to us;
And the government will rest on His shoulders;
And His name will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
Eternal Father, Prince of Peace.
7 There will be no end to the increase of His government or of peace,
On the throne of David and over his kingdom,
To establish it and to uphold it with justice and righteousness
From then on and forevermore.
The zeal of the Lord of hosts will accomplish this. Isaiah 9:6-7 NASB

“And the government will rest on His shoulders…” That phrase simply means everything about the government will be supported by Him, led by Him, kept by Him and determined by Him. Nothing outside of Him will be responsible for anything. 

The government of the Kingdom of God rests on our Lord Jesus Christ. In truth, according to Romans 13:1 “every” authority is from Him. “Every person is to be in subjection to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those which exist are established by God.” This Scripture is true wherever one lives on this globe. Whether in the US where a democracy is the form of government, or in Cuba where a dictator is seemingly responsible for all. 

If the government is really on His shoulders, then much of what we concern ourselves with is irrelevant. Whether it is the government of the land where we live, or whether it is our own personal lives, His is the government. 

This is amazing when we begin to consider what He allows and expects from us in using our free-will. He seems to incorporate our choices into His governing as we move forward in time, call, vision and purpose. He does not over ride us, nor does He leave it all up to us. Yet in this boundless inclusion, we are asked to move in harmony with His governing choices. 

We are given hints as the needs we have to come into this awareness  in 1 Corinthians 6:2-3 where the Holy Spirit lets us know we will judge the world and angels. So He has an expectation of us that we have not often understood. We need to know the Book, Beloved, and not just to right our behavior, but to be able to inter-act with His heart in this government, now in this life. It is a call to a supernatural awareness of His love and HIs purposes, so we can relate to Him in ways of honor and friendship in co-operation. Such is the Vision in HIs heart. 

Guess we better move our thought patterns to the Spirit world. Let’s see Colossians 3:1-2 says this, “Therefore if you have been raised up with Christ, keep seeking the things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your mind on the things above, not on the things that are on earth.” 

Thank you Lord, for lifting us out of our mire and grime into the glorious realms where worlds are governed. We are yours. 

 

 

That Child of Hope!

Iris Godfrey

6 For a child will be born to us, a son will be given to us;
And the government will rest on His shoulders;
And His name will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
Eternal Father, Prince of Peace.
7 There will be no end to the increase of His government or of peace,
On the throne of David and over his kingdom,
To establish it and to uphold it with justice and righteousness
From then on and forevermore.
The zeal of the Lord of hosts will accomplish this. Isaiah 9:6-7 NASB

“For a child will be born to us,…” oh yes, the hope of all hopes. In any family when a child is born there is an automatic rejoicing deep within the hearts of family members, regardless of the circumstances of that birth. Why? Simply because now the family line will proceed. Now there is the hope of life. Now there is the hope of moving forward in time with the family name, characteristics and many more very obvious things.

Now when we understanding this passage, it was not just any child, but the Child who had been promised with the first words spoken by Almighty God, “Light be!” (Literal rendering from Genesis 1:3) I am aware that we are taught in Bible School that the first prophecy about this Child was in Genesis 3:15, but when we take a look at the entire revelation of God in the Scriptures, we find that Jesus is the light of the world (John 8:12) and He says we are the light of the world also (Matthew 5:14). Then we add to that the description in Revelation 21:22-23, “I saw no temple in it, for the Lord God the Almighty and the Lamb are its temple. And the city has no need of the sun or the moon to shine on it for the gory of God has illumined it, and it lamp is the Lamb,” we are aware that the first recorded words from our Father were deeply prophetic regarding this Child as well as all who would call on His name. (Isn’t it wonderful to know that we have been included in the first recorded words from our Father!)

So this Child of all children has brought the hope of eternal light and understanding of our Father and all he is about. The light that enlightens all who will allow has come and is illuminating any and all who will. This is hope beyond hope. This is hope that lifts us and thrusts us into a realm of believing and existing that we have not know previously. It is the hope of the ages. 

Here we are in this season, once again, wrapped in His joy, hope, promise and glory celebrating Him and the light He has brought to us. Rejoice this day and season that we know Him – that Child of hope!

Birthed into Hope

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

“… according to His great mercy He has birthed us into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.” All of this greeting is linked organically together with each expression being dependent upon the next expression upon the next… you get the idea. They are all concepts of truth linked by their shared nature in Jesus Christ. To understand one is to open for the understanding of the other. Sometimes in teaching, in an effort to help reach for a fuller understanding of one, it can become an isolated thought instead of a piece of the whole. As we read and study, let’s reach for each without loosing sight of the whole. This we often call, “keeping things in their context.” It is one very important to understand. We can often misunderstand a portion of Scripture if that portion is not held in oneness with its surrounding portion. 

 

 In His great mercy – that which is out of Him, through Him, in Him, – He birthed us into a living hope. Our birth in Him (often called “born again” – best understood as “born from above) is into a living hope. First notice it is “into” not just “in.” There is a huge difference in the words. We are being born into something. Like being born into a family. In this family we are born into a living hope. Something living, eternal, never fading and the substance of this living thing is hope. Biblical hope is “confident expectation.” It is not a wish, as we might think in today’s usage. 

We are always expecting Him and all His promises to unfold goodness and righteousness before our eyes and in our hearts. Hope is a vital element in continuing to live for without it the human spirit will quickly grow discouraged and begin to die. Hope is living in Jesus and it is in mercy, precious mercy and love that this is given and given in abundance. 

We have been birthed into this marvelous expectation through the resurrection of our Lord Jesus from the dead. Once again, we are included in all He did. He did all not only for us but as us. This is a huge understanding that immediately enfolds us within.

Lord, thank you. We are so thankful to be included in You. As we enjoy today in You, may the emotional healing of belonging and inclusion in You begin to be our embraced placement in your heart with such living expectation of life.