Author Archives: drjlgodbolt

Thought of the Day – It made me grow up!

Posted on May 18, 2012 by drjlgodbolt

Genesis 30:25 And it came to pass when Rachel had born Joseph that Jacob said unto Laban, send me away, that I may go unto my own place, and to my country.

As difficult as it may seem, it is good for us to face challenges. It builds character and removes blinders so we can see to make better choices about our walk with God and the people we choose to allow in our lives.

Jacob wages were changed ten times. It was his uncle who lied and schemed to keep Jacob in his household. Yet, it was these situations that made Jacob run to his former teaching and mature in his relationship and character.

We would know immediately that something was wrong if we saw a child in middle school still sucking on a bottle and wearing diapers. Nonetheless, in a spiritual sense, Christians who do not mature under the trickery and oppression of an “Uncle Laban” are like the bottle sucking. middle schoolers.

Let your pain of separating from certain relatives and making it under God’s directions become your anthem of deliverance. Get over it and get moving or stay under it and stay stuck.

Reverend J. L. Godbolt Ph.D
Servant Leader
Christ Gospel Church

Posted in Gratitude | Leave a comment

Thought of the Day – Where is your love?

Posted on May 17, 2012 by drjlgodbolt

Colossians 3:2 – Set your affections on things above, not on things on the earth.

Because Christians are dual creatures; earthly and heavenly, we are confronted with two kingdoms. One kingdom is visible and very tempting with its immediate gratification. The other kingdom is invisible and eternal and offers the greatest reward.

We are admonished in the Word to set our affection on things above. Affection means to exercise the mind, entertainment, to be mentally deposed, concerned or obedient.

When we expand our mind with the Word and not worries, we become consumed with the things of God and not this world. When we make spiritual truths our entertainment, it is less likely that we will fall into the pit of depression or despair.

Keep looking up and watch your face value increase!

Reverend J.L. Godbolt Ph.D
Servant Leader
Christ Gospel Church
918 Person Street
Fayetteville, NC 28301

Posted in Gratitude | Leave a comment

Thought of the Day – Moving Forward

Posted on May 16, 2012 by drjlgodbolt

Philippians 3:13 – Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forth to those things which are before.

God has provided His children with everything they need to make His Name known. Just like He provided all of the needs of Adam male and female in the Garden, He has provided all we need to be successful in this Christian journey.

Our greatest challenge is keeping our eyes turned in the right direction. Paul used two words that speaks volumes about our direction and determination, they are forgetting and reaching. In order to forget, you must turn your back on the images of your past and face the Blood stained Cross of Calvary.

If you look on the images of your past, Satan will make them seem alive and right there with you. This is what He did with the Children of Israel in the wilderness. While they tired of waiting for Moses, they decided to make a golden calf. This image possessed such a hold on them that they began making sacrifices to it. They turned their backs on the Truth and the image of gold came to life.

When you face Calvary and reach for the Blood stained Cross, you cannot see any false image. Your provision is in the Cross. Your protection is in the Cross. Look to the Cross and you will not get crossed by the enemy.

Reverend J.L.Godbolt Ph.D
Servant Leader
Christ Gospel Church
918 Person Street
Fayetteville, NC 28301

Posted in Confident | Leave a comment

Thought of the Day – It’s not your fight!

Posted on May 15, 2012 by drjlgodbolt

I Samuel 17:47 – And this assembly shall know that the LORD saveth not with sword and spear: for the battle is the LORD’s, and he will give you into our hands.

Every morning, when I get up I repeat a very special scripture: “This is the day that the LORD hath made. I will rejoice and be glad in it.” For the rest of the day I try to remember what I said and make it my reality.

Like David, facing Goliath, I have my challenges with situations trying to strip me of this testimony. In those times, I have to rely on the victories of the past to gain strength for the present, then press onward into the future.

Goliath told David that he could not get the victory. King Saul doubted David’s ability to conquer such a formidable foe. Yet, it was David’s testimony of his past experiences with a lion and a bear that gave him courage to face his enemy. His testimony was awesome. He knew that this fight was not about Goliath and a shepherd boy. It was about The LORD’s Name and God knows how to protect His Name.

So, spend your time testifying about the Name and let God do the fighting.

Reverend J. L. Godbolt Ph.D
Servant Leader

Christ Gospel Church
918 Person Street
Fayetteville, NC 28301

Posted in Faith | Leave a comment

Thought of the Day – Don’t turn your back

Posted on May 14, 2012 by drjlgodbolt

Philippians 3:13 – Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before,

God has made every provision available for any believer to make it. Just like He provided Adam with all he needed in the garden, He has done the same for us. We have the Blood of Jesus, the Fire of the Holy Ghost, His Word and His Name. In order to continue in a defeated position, you have to turn your back on the provisions God has ordained to give you victory.

The Apostle Paul said to forget those things which are behind. If you are facing those things that are behind, you have turned your back on God’s provisions, namely the Blood Stained Cross of Calvary. Forgetting means to stop knowing it with your emotions.

In order to reach forth, you have to turn your back on the things that are now behind you. To reach forth, you have to desire the Calvary experience. This is not a one time experience or experiment. Each time you are faced with a challenge in your body, soul or spirit, look to Calvary as your only image.

Remember, you cannot have both. you must turn your back on one or the other. Which will it be?

John L. Godbolt, Ph.D.
Servant Leader

Reverend John L. Godbolt

Posted in Deliverance | Leave a comment

Thought of the Day – Sliding Values

Posted on May 11, 2012 by drjlgodbolt

II Timothy 3:1 – This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come.

Even though our citizenry was able to defeat a statewide attempt to approve same sex marriage, the tables are sliding in favor of this movement. When our current president came out and said that he believes that same sex marriage should be legal, it sent a shockwave throughout this country. One analyst, who crunches numbers, stated that it is due to attrition of new young voters coming on the scene and older conservative voters dying. Seemingly, the younger generation is not holding to the same beliefs as their parents and grandparents.

The definition for the word “perilous” is the reducing of strength. This is so appropriate and fitting for today’s free thinking society. The more we see entertainment and hear conversations that promote anti-biblical truths, the weaker the stand for the truth becomes. The voices of the Bible believing crowd are being marginalized and the shouts of the liberal are being magnified. The sound is so deafening, that many believers have reverted to the same closets that the effeminate once inhabited.

No matter how loud the cry of this world gets for having it their way, there is a day of reckoning and the righteous judge will mete out to every man according to the deeds done in their body.

Truly, these are the last days and we must take our stand for Jesus and eat more of His Spiritual Bread and Meat so that our strength is NOT reduced.

John L. Godbolt Ph.D
Servant Leader
Christ Gospel Church

Posted in Conviction | Leave a comment

Thought of the Day – Personal Cross

Posted on May 10, 2012 by drjlgodbolt

Mark 8:34 a And when he had called the people unto him with his disciples also, he said unto them, Whosoever will come after me, let him deny himself, and take his cross, and follow me.

One of the four crosses we bear in life is a personal cross. Jesus told the people that each person has a personal cross to bear throughout this life. Each person must choose to pick it up and follow Jesus. He is our perfect example and the only true friend in time of hardships.

This personal cross may take the form of an unsaved spouse, special needs child, financial hardships, or some other personal affliction. The cross speaks of humiliation, suffering, surrender, obedience and the crucifixion that each person must bear (Rev. B. R. Hicks)

No one can escape suffering. It comes to saints and sinners alike. Yet, our hope is in following Jesus. When we follow Him, we get a clear vision of His bruised back. This gives us strength to go on another day. So, pick it up daily, look for His bruised back and follow Jesus!

Reverend J L Godbolt, Ph.D
Servant Leader
Christ Gospel Church

Posted in Servant | Leave a comment

Thought of the Day – Good from afar but far from good

Posted on May 9, 2012 by drjlgodbolt

Mark 11:13 – And seeing a fig tree afar off having leaves, he came, if haply he might find anything therein: and when he came to it, he found nothing but leaves; for the figs was not yet.

Several times in this life, I have been disappointed because something looked good from a distance but just the opposite up close. When Jesus saw the fig tree full of leaves, it was suppose to mean a time of bearing fruit. However, as He drew near to it, it was barren. The Master cursed it and it withered up overnight!

As sad as it may sound, too many Christians are like that fig tree. They carry a name of life, they are located in the right place for life, and they are saying the right things to produce life. Yet, when you get a close up view, their work is unfruitful for the Kingdom of God. Even though their following and support is great, close inspection reveals that they are far from perfect.

Jesus spoke to the Laodicean Church to get a check up from the neck up. He compared what they said about themselves to what He knew about them. Take a few minutes and do an assessment on your life.
1. Am I a prayer warrior?
2. Does my life produce evidence that I have been with Jesus?
3. Is there anything or anybody I love more than Jesus?
4. Do I have a heart for the lost, orphans, and widows?
5. What holds my attention longer than the Word of God?
6. Do I forgive easily or do I hold a grudge?

How did you do?

John L. Godbolt Ph.D
Servant Leader
CGC Fayetteville

Posted in fruitfulness | Leave a comment

Thought of the Day – We need fire!

Posted on May 8, 2012 by drjlgodbolt

Malachi 3:2 – But who may abide the day of his coming? And who shall stand when he appeareth? For he is like a refiner’s fire, and like Fuller’s soap:

Fire is a gift to mankind, when it is used properly. The ministry of fire is to change the form of anything it touches. According to the law of physics, fire does not destroy or end the existence of the material or substance it touches, but merely changes the form of it.

As overcoming believers, we need the Holy Ghost and Fire. It is the only way to get our gratitude, praise and worship to the throne of God! The Fire changes the form of our words of thanksgiving into a glory that soars above the confines of nature.

Just like we have the substance with fire upon it, and the smoke is rising higher than them all, so it is with the Fire of God inside of us. When we allow the Holy Spirit to get on our tongues and in our hearts, He creates a fire that changes the form of our meager attempt to worship and causes the glory cloud of smoke to rise high into the heavens.

Praise and worship without fire is like looking at a beautiful painting of a fire place on a cold day. You may enjoy the view but you can’t get warm by a painted fire!

John L. Godbolt

Servant Leader
Christ Gospel Church

Posted in Deliverance, Discipline, Faith | Leave a comment

Thought of the Day – Trading with God

Posted on May 7, 2012 by drjlgodbolt

Isaiah 53:5 – But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.

It is a relief to know that Jesus paid for our sins. His sacrifice on Calvary will never lose its power. Yet, how does this process work? What are the attributes or qualifications that allows a person to feel an assurance that salvation is real?

The first and foremost remedy is the ability to trade our guilt and sin for His treasure of oneness of relationship. As a matter of fact, the only thing that we can use are the sins and guilt in our life. God will not allow His Son to touch our life until we are honest about the sins and repent.

So, instead of hiding your disobedience and pretending that all is well, use them and trade with Jesus for a clean life. Nobody else wants our junk but Jesus!

J.L. Godbolt
Servant Leader
Christ Gospel Church

Posted in Repentance | Leave a comment