Hello Pastor John,
I’ve just read through the book of Colossians, and it was the first time I read it with the understanding that I was baptized when I was baptized in the Spirit; that Christ has taken residence within me when Jesus filled me with the Holy Spirit; that my “circumcision” took place when the Holy Ghost came upon me and I started praising God in a new language. And wow, suddenly the words of this epistle meant so much more to me than any time before. Actually they just started meaning SOMETHING to me!
Oh that Jesus would keep washing my heart and mind with His truth, and that He would give us grace to keep trusting Him and loving Him!
Also, when I read the following words of Paul, I was reminded of you guys telling me how through the years you’ve kept trying to get the message out to so many people:
As you pray, be sure to pray for us also. Pray that God will open the door for us to preach the Word. We want to tell the secret of Christ. And this is the reason I am in prison. Pray that I will be able to preach so everyone can understand. This is the way I should speak.” (Colossians 4:3-4, NLV)
I remember you also said how it’s almost like a mystery why people cannot see the truth. I was reading 2 Corinthians a couple of days ago and this is what I read, and I was reminded of that conversation:
Through God’s loving-kindness, He has given us this job to do. So we do not give up. We have put away all things that are done in secret and in shame. We do not play with the Word of God or use it in a false way. Because we are telling the truth, we want men’s hearts to listen to us. God knows our desires. If the Good News we preach is hidden, it is hidden to those who are lost in sin. The eyes of those who do not believe are made blind by Satan who is the god of this world. He does not want the light of the Good News to shine in their hearts.” (2 Corinthians 4:1-4, NLV)
God, have mercy on us and all your people in this world!
God bless you and have a nice day!
Zoli