Hi Pastor John,
I had such a wonderful and blessed time this past weekend. There was such an awesome feeling of praise, redemption, restoration, restitution, surrender, and lifting of burdens during the meeting and through my stay! Those same feelings were all throughout the music as well. I was so elated and was rejoicing in my heart when Hope received the Holy Ghost! It was so special to be able to witness that.
The message about the battle between the carnal mind and the mind of Christ was really good! We’re in such a spiritual warfare with the carnal mind, but once our hearts are fixed and established in the truth we won’t be moved by it. You said that our hearts are fixed when they are taken apart (out with the bad) and cleaned by Jesus (in with the good). And once you know people’s hearts, you won’t take up any gossip to use for slander. And as soon as you get past the carnal mind and into the mind of Christ, you said, you get over fool’s hill! My sincere prayer is that Jesus can give me a new, clean heart, uncluttered from every unclean influence! Always willing to receive new instructions and corrections. Anything that I’m currently not doing; but should and anything that I’m doing; but shouldn’t.
Rom 8:6 For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.
I want the mind of Christ, where I’m alive to the things of God and have a “peace that passeth all understanding!” My desire is for Him to put the desire of His heart into my heart. I often ask myself if it’s my desire or God’s? Hopefully, it’s both! I’m learning to just wait on the Lord for His answers.
I also loved how you said that our meeting place is in heavenly places and NOT in NC! That was a relief to hear and a burden lifted from me. I didn’t want to be a loner, but now I realize that it’s just a spiritual condition where we meet and not a physical place. The “meeting” (Holy Ghost) goes wherever you go. You also said that if a person doesn’t meet Jesus where you meet Him, he is going to hell. That’s a fearful and stern warning for us all! I believe that what you were saying is that even though someone is physically there at the meeting, it does not necessarily mean that he is in fellowship with the saints there. Only with an upright heart, clear conscience, and living right can we experience that fellowship/connection/bond with the saints and God. My desire is to have a perfect unity with all the saints. I want my thoughts, feelings, and heart to be aligned with God’s. I want Jesus to be my North Star, my anchor, rooted and grounded in Him. Never wavering! Amen! Without Jesus, I’m in complete and utter darkness. Thank God that he orders my steps!
Psalms 37:23 The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord: and he delighteth in his way.
I believe God spoke to my heart and said, “Wait”. Everything will absolutely fall into place exactly as He designed my life to be. That place will be where I’m the happiest. In due time, if God opens a door for me to move closer to the saints in NC, I would certainly do that. Only He knows what’s right.
Pastor John, there are many decisions to make here in the relatively near future, but I’m going to completely trust in Him! I just pray that I can believe what He says and have the strength to obey Him! Please continue to pray for me as I will certainly do for all the saints there.
Love in Christ,
David