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  • Romans 8 & the Weekend

    John,

    The Bible verse on my app was from Romans 8, and I just felt the nudge to read the whole chapter. It’s never felt sweeter. I was thankful to understand it! When I was reading the verses about the flesh, I could see Donna in the meeting yesterday pulling at her skin. We are covered in it, but we have the Spirit too! There was even a verse about sheep going off to the slaughter just like Amy’s parable from their trip to Ohio. We all know 8:28 which was Gary’s song about all things working for our good! So many wonderful verses in chapter 8…it’s just us living our lives in God!

    Also, I had a thought after reading our paper yesterday about how Jesus didn’t have a form, and he put people at ease around him to ask questions or interrupt him, for example. I thought if we are to be like him, I want to put people at ease around me. I want to be approachable. It’s just another way to be like Jesus.

    I’m so thankful for Bess’ blessing. It’s all still soaking in today.

    Carrie

  • Exodus 6:12

    Evening Pastor John,

    Can you shed some light on The verse below.

    “And Moses spake before the Lord , saying, Behold, the children of Israel have not hearkened unto me; how then shall Pharaoh hear me, who am of uncircumcised lips?”

    Exodus 6:12 KJV

    What does that mean? Uncircumcised lips??

    Steve

    ========

    Yes, that is an odd phrase, but all Moses was saying is that he was not able to speak well.

    Good question.

    Pastor John

  • Baptism

    Hi Pastor John,

    What’s your take on water baptism?

    I may be mistaken and correct me if I have misunderstood, but from watching your sermons, and reading your tracts, I get the impression that it’s not necessary and that spirit baptism is the main thing.

    A. B.

    =========

    Hi A.

    Thanks for the question. You are understanding it rightly.

    Peter said that the baptism that saves is not the baptism that washes dirt from the body but the baptism which came through the resurrection of Jesus and creates a clear conscience toward God:
         1Peter 3:21. . . “baptism now also saves us (not a removal of dirt from the flesh, but an appeal to God from a good conscience), by the resurrection of Jesus Christ.”

    God has only ordained two baptisms: the one John the Baptist administered and the one Jesus still administers from heaven. The purpose for John’s baptism was to introduce the Messiah to Israel:
         John 1:31. “. . . the reason I came baptizing with water is so that he might be made    known to Israel.”

    When Jesus first sent the Spirit, Jewish believers preached and practiced both baptisms, as well as two circumcisions (physical and spiritual) and all the other traditional ceremonies because their gospel was for the Jewish nation, and they were at that time still under the law.

    However, Paul was sent to the Gentiles with a different gospel, one that would remain after the time of the Jews ended. In that gospel, there were no ceremonies of any kind, including the ceremonial baptism of water that John the Baptist gave. In Paul’s gospel, only the baptism of Christ (Eph. 4:4–6), the circumcision of the heart (Rom. 2:28–29), and the perfect law of the Spirit (Jas. 1:25) count for anything.

    Fleshly baptism is worthless to your soul, but Christ’ baptism of the Spirit is worth everything.

    Thanks again for the question. You can read more on what I teach concerning baptism at GoingtoJesus.com, gospel tract #66.

    Pastor John

    ============

    Pastor John,

    Thanks for clarifying your position Pastor John, but I would respectfully disagree.

    In Peter 3 verses 18 to 22, Peter is talking how the flood in Noah’s time was similar to a water baptism. When people got water baptized in John the Baptist’s day, people knew it wasn’t to clean the body, but it was a spiritual act of repentance. This is the point that Peter is making when he says “not the removal of dirt from the flesh, but an appeal to God for a good conscience.”

    When Peter says in verse 21, “corresponding to that (the ark saving through the flood), baptism now saves you” he is referring to water baptism, not spirit baptism.

    I just don’t see how Jesus and the apostles would instruct everybody to get water baptized for the remission of sins, but then Paul would later start preaching otherwise. Paul preached water baptism, which would be followed by spirit baptism.

    In Ephesus, he baptized disciples who only had done Johns baptism of repentance in the past. So he water baptized them into the name of Jesus for the remission of sins, and then laid his hands on them so they could receive the baptism of the Holy Spirit.

    Also, when Peter first came to Cornelius’s house the Spirit came down on his whole household and other gentiles. Why would Peter say, in Acts 10:47, “Surely no one can refuse the water for these to be baptized who have received the Holy Spirit just as we did, can he?”

    You are the spiritual leader of many people, so I humbly and respectfully ask, that you take time to reconsider your view that it is worthless for the soul, as this was a command from Jesus.

    Also, if the scriptures say that the Spirit will guide people into all truth, why do different people who are supposedly “Spirit filled” differ on this subject matter? I haven’t received the Spirit baptism yet, but I’ve heard other Spirit filled, tongue speaking people who disagree with your view.

    Why does this type of thing happen?

    Thank you,

    A. B.

    1 Peter 3
       18 For Christ also died for sins once for all, the just for the unjust, so that He might bring us to God, having been put to death in the flesh, but made alive in the spirit; 19 in which also He went and made proclamation to the spirits now in prison, 20 who once were disobedient, when the patience of God kept waiting in the days of Noah, during the construction of the ark, in which a few, that is, eight persons, were brought safely through the water. 21 Corresponding to that, baptism now saves you—not the removal of dirt from the flesh, but an appeal to God for a good conscience—through the resurrection of Jesus Christ, 22 who is at the right hand of God, having gone into heaven, after angels and authorities and powers had been subjected to Him.

    ============

    Hi A. B.

    It’s nothing new. Even in the days of the apostles, teachers arose who had not heard from God, just as Jesus, Paul, and others predicted would happen. For believers to be one as Jesus and his Father are one is possible only by the Spirit (per Jn. 17), but the Spirit will not force unity upon those who have it.

    We must be humble and willing to hear from God and be changed by what we hear. Our souls depend on that. Jesus alone can make us all one in the Faith. But we all must be willing.

    Thank you for your comments on baptism; it is a simple issue to resolve, but understanding the answer hinges upon a grasp of Paul’s gospel. Perhaps it would help if you considered why Paul would regret baptizing in water the few souls (all Jews) that he did baptize, and then say, “Christ did not send me to baptize [in water].”

    1Corinthians 1
       14. I thank God that I baptized none of you, except Crispus and Gaius,
       15. lest anyone should say that I baptized in my own name.
       16. And I also baptized the household of Stephanas. Beyond that, I do not know if I baptized anyone else.
       17. For Christ did not send me to baptize but to preach the gospel, not with cleverness of speech, lest the cross of Christ be made of no effect.

    Take care, and God bless.

    Pastor John

  • Melchizedek

    Hello Pastor John.

    I don’t recall ever hearing it discussed but did Melchizedek only have man’s kind of righteousness? Considering he was the “king of righteousness” and the fact that Abraham paid tithes to him and not much else is known about him. I assume he didn’t have God’s righteousness but I’ve never heard it said, or at least I don’t remember hearing about him specifically.

    Robert A. Payne, L. G.

    =========

    Hi, Bob.

    Thanks for the question.

    It was impossible for anyone to possess God’s kind of righteousness before God’s extraordinary Son came and paid the price for it. “King of Righteousness” is the meaning of the name “Melchizedek”; the true King of Righteousness is the Son of God, of whom righteous Melchizedek was only a figure, like Abraham, David, and many others.

    Pastor John

  • Doing the Will of God is Doing Good Works

    Hi John,

    I feel like I had one of those “aha” moments when you were preaching tonight about works. It wasn’t that I didn’t already know it was true, but something about what you said tonight made it sink in deeper. I love it when Jesus gives us a better understanding of something.

    You were talking about how, when Paul said, “…not of works, lest any man should boast” (Eph. 2:9), he was speaking of ceremonial works. And then you said that the works we have to do are good works, the will of God. That was so good to me! Good works are not any one particular thing, or kind of things, like helping your neighbor, or doing a good deed for someone, or whatever. Any time you listen to the Spirit and obey, you are doing a good work! Any place in the Bible that refers to doing good works (i.e. James 2:24), you could replace with “doing the will of God”. Good works = doing the will of God. I love that!

    Vince

  • Fellowship Waters the Seed of God

    Hey!

    I love how things come together! At the beginning of the meeting, you told us that when someone is seeking the holy Ghost, a seed has been planted. And when that seed is planted, if men will leave it alone, it will grow. You said next, “it just needs to be watered – and that comes from God.” The meeting continued, and we moved on to other subjects. But later on in another testimony. you said when God sends His Spirit and it falls on us, and we all feel it; “the fellowship waters the seed!” My ears perked up! That was the answer from what you told us at the beginning when you said the seed just needs to be watered – and that comes from God. Fellowship comes from God through His Spirit, and when we feel it together, we are watering the seed of God in whoever is hungering and thirsting for Him. I love things like that. 🙂

    Thanks for the good food tonight! It’s all in the Spirit.

    Amy B.

  • The Beauty of Holiness

    John,

    I loved today’s meeting. There were so many good feelings, one would have to be dead not to have felt the life in them.

    When Darren was singing his song about things that men consider holy, such as crosses, clothing for worship, ceremonies, holy looks, etc., I had this thought: Psalm 96:9 says, “O worship the LORD in the beauty of holiness: fear before Him, all the earth.”

    The thought I had was that beauty is the effect of what’s truly holy. When I saw the ladies dancing in the Spirit today, I thought how beautiful they were because what is inside of them is holy. The beauty of their dance was the effect. Amy French’s testimony was beautiful because of the effect of what is holy living in her. All the songs today were beautiful because of the effect of what is holy. Brother Coy’s faith and excitement for the truth is the effect of that holy thing living in him. I could go on and on.

    The difference between what men call holy and what is truly holy is that what is truly holy is not only beautiful, but alive. (Crosses are neither beautiful nor alive, not even gold ones.)

    I know these thoughts are not new. You have taught them to us many times. I just felt like I wanted to express what I was thinking and feeling during the meeting today.

    Tom

    ==========

    Good morning Pastor John,

    I LOVED the meetings this weekend! The music, the testimonies, your message, the feelings…it was all wonderful!

    Last night I went to bed and began to pray for different ones. My prayer started, Jesus please help… then a praise just burst out. My prayer became, Oh Jesus thank you! Thank you for helping us. Thank you for hearing our prayers, thank you for loving us! I woke up this morning just saturated feeling the goodness of God. I’m so thankful we serve a living God! A God who hears us, loves us, helps us and who is always near! Whatever we’re going through he is our answer, he is our help! He is our burden lifter… and I’m feeling light as a feather! I praise God from the bottom of my heart for us and our life together!

    Michelle

  • Tracey’s Healing

    Pastor John,clapping hands
    Love, love, love today’s meeting. It was so good! I loved all the testimonies & songs. Oh my & having faith! I could hardly take it!

    It reminded me of my testimony Monday when I woke up feeling so bad with a head/neck/ear ache and thought about calling in sick, but ended up taking meds before leaving for work. Then, after hearing Caleb’s symptoms (and later his diagnosis), I knew it was the flu settling in, but then Gary’s song came on about “don’t analyze the situation”, and about faith, “it’s not dna…” – it went away!

    I didn’t realize it when it left right away, though, until I pulled into work. I couldn’t wait to share it. But I got to thinking about it later that evening, still feeling those sweet feelings from Jesus, and Jesus reminded me that as I was listening to Gary’s song, I was praying for others, not about my own pain. And it took me to where I was asking him to please let me live for my brothers & sisters!

    It was so good, and that’s where I want to live all the time… having faith and living so others can be healed, or whatever is needed and getting past my own thoughts and feelings…

    It reminded me of the night I got the Holy Ghost, and I was expecting something, to feel something, or not feel anything… Feels so good typing this out! I hope it comes across the same way. So much more, but too much to write. ️heart

    Tracey 

  • Teeth Dream

    Hi, Pastor John;

    I had this dream years ago, but I have been thinking about it a lot this week.

    In my dream, a sister in the Lord that is no longer with us, looked at me smiling and said, “You have pretty teeth”. I thought this was odd. Maybe, saying a nice smile would be more appropriate. The next scene, I was looking at my smile and teeth in a mirror, touched the front tooth and it fell out in my hand. I was embarrassed with how my, “smile” looked now; I would compensate my smile by not smiling as wide to show my teeth . . .kind of like a kid that first gets braces.

    I looked into the mirror again. Each tooth had a word written on it. The words written on each tooth were words of the flesh ; strife, anger, etc.; there are more than just listed in the bible. It could even be, looking good on the outside or pretending to be good. I heard the Spirit’s voice, “If you remove this tooth, the rest will come out easier”. When I looked at the mirror to see the tooth that the Spirit pointed out to me, the word, “Pride” was written on it. I didn’t like the feeling that pride was associated with anything on me. I touched the tooth and it was loose, but it moved. I began to work and work on it, pushing and pulling form side-to-side and up-and-down, that I finally had the bloody tooth with pride written on it in my hand. When I look into the mirror and saw my bloody shin and mouth, the other teeth were falling out all by themselves.

    When I saw in the mirror that I had no teeth left in my mouth, I knew that all of the works in my flesh were gone. When I smiled, there wasn’t a tooth in my head. At that time, the embarrassment of not having one of my teeth tuned to joy of having no teeth.

    I know, if we let God help us remove the pride in our hearts, He will take the bite out of us. It may not look as pretty to others that we don’t have teeth, but God loves this kind of smile.

    Billy M.

    ==========

    Well, brother Billy, one thing is for sure. Without teeth, we can’t “bite and devour one another.” And that is a good thing!

    Seriously, Jesus said to be harmless as a dove, and once pride is removed, all the weapons of the flesh which strife uses will crumble. Thank God for that! “Strife comes through pride,” Solomon said.

    And Ezekiel said that pride was Satan’s first sin:

    Ezekiel 28:15,17 KJV
    [15] Thou wast perfect in thy ways from the day that thou wast created, till iniquity was found in thee. [17a] Thine heart was lifted up because of thy beauty….

    Humility is the way into eternal life.

    Pastor John

  • Liberty to Do Good

    Pastor John,

    I was thinking about a man you once spoke of. He had the holy Ghost and came up under your father, Preacher Clark. This man had taken the liberty of wearing very short shorts to a retirement home where he worked, knowing that an old saint there, full of the holy Ghost, who came up in a time when it was inappropriate to be exposed that way in public.

    If I recall, you said he was resolute in the liberty he felt he had to wear shorts, even going as far as ridiculing the woman’s thoughts and feelings to the contrary.

    Well, what about our liberty in Christ NOT to dress that way? That is what the Lord impressed on me recently. What about the liberty not to hurt someone’s fragile heart or feelings?

    When the Apostle Paul spoke of his liberty in Christ, he said: “If eating meat causes an offense, I will never eat meat again.” That was Paul’s liberty in Christ – liberty to do good. He was free to never eat meat again if he thought it could help someone’s soul – free to use that tool in his arsenal.

    It reminds me of that scripture that your father once thought was in the Bible (and might ought to be): “If the truth offends, let it offend.” It does not say, “If my self-will offends, let it offend.”

    I believe Paul would have enjoyed that home-made scripture, adding to it, “not because I glory in your offense, but because I glory in the truth.”

    The truth is that good, that if it offends a soul, so be it. But even then, not because there is pleasure in another’s pain, but because the truth is just that good. If there were a way around hurting others with the truth, a righteous man would choose it.

    Liberty in Christ is liberty from the rules of men so that we may persuade others of Christ; it is not liberty to have our own way.

    It is our liberty to be holy, any way that God wants us to do it.

    Jerry

    ==========

    Amen, Jerry. And James said that we will be judged by the “perfect law of liberty”. God has given us perfect liberty to do anything He wants us to do. And everything He wants us to do is filled with love for Him, His Son, and His people.

    Pastor John

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