Hi Pastor John, 

I wrote these two things down the other day.  I heard them from the Lord.  They were good to my soul.  I want to share them.

“Real repentance is not turning away from ungodly behavior, but turning away from the ungodly spirit that is causing you to act that way.”

“Repenting of ungodly behavior will clear your conscience for a day.  But repenting of the spirit causing you to fall into that behavior will clear it for a lifetime.”

Jerry

 

Pastor John,  

I heard this from the Lord this evening – it’s the truth, I enjoyed hearing it. I wanted to share it.

———–

If cussing and drinking could send you to hell then not cussing and drinking could get you into heaven, and neither one is true. It is the nature of the flesh that is going to send you to hell, if you go there, whether you ever yield yourself to its ungodly desires or not. Alternatively, it is being born again of God’s holy nature that is going to allow you to see heaven, if you get there. 

The nature that you allow to live in you while on this earth will determine your eternity, your behavior will simply be the result of that. 

Jerry

 

Hi Pastor John, 

Tonight’s meeting was so good.  And everything that was said about expectations, and disappointments, etc., was just perfect and tied in perfectly with my prayers lately. 

Last night I was driving home from work, and I was praying and trying to get my thoughts straight about things; in particular my life and not having been married and being alone, missing out on family, having a husband and so on.  I just laid it all on the table before Jesus again.  Usually, I end up protesting, and I will be frank about it – and I know this is bad, but I usually would pray, “I don’t agree; I don’t like this.  I just don’t agree (with what you’ve done with my life),” and I would complain a lot.  I didn’t do this with a bad attitude; I said it to be earnest before the Lord about how I felt – he is the only one that can deal with me about it.

Well, last night was different, and I don’t remember how I got there, but my prayer was different, and I was earnest about it.  I was praying “Jesus, I agree with what you’ve done in my life.  Everything you’ve done is right.  You’ve always acted perfectly in my life in response to my actions and what I’ve done.  I agree with you.”  Pastor John, it felt so sweet driving along, praying that prayer over and over again.  I felt the change in my heart about that, and I still feel it today.  And I am so thankful for that.  I’m glad I prayed earnestly before about how I felt – how “I disagreed”, but I’m gladder that I now agree with Him.  I don’t want to lose this, so I am going to keep telling Jesus I agree with him.

Jenny

Pastor John,

Sunday was wonderful, and I’m still feeling it.  Saturday night was part one, and Sunday morning continued the second half.  Your preaching of God’s mercy on His children and His love to cause their suffering was touching.  Then on Sunday, the spirit had fallen a couple of times during songs, and I wanted to go out there and dance, but I didn’t.  Afterwards, I sat there talking to Jesus, asking him to please give me another chance.  Going another two weeks before we would be back seemed too long.  

I loved it when Tracey interrupted your sermon!  When you said, “Do you want to glory in your failures or in what God’s done?”, that was it!  Jesus had given another chance.  Once out there, I just felt like spinning!  It felt so good, like things were spinning off! ‍ Yay!  What a relief it was!  I felt so thankful to be able to do that.  

Yesterday while getting ready to take the kids to music lessons, the Lord blessed me with the sweetest feelings of everything being just exactly right. Thoughts of how my whole life has been exactly what I’ve needed–good and bad, and feeling the goodness and love of God in it.  It was thankfulness and sweet peace.

That’s my testimony about Sunday.

Love you!  Goodnight!

Cris

Pastor John, 

Good morning!  I loved the meeting Wednesday night!  The songs, the testimonies absolutely wonderful! 

This morning I was listening to an old disc and you said: 

“Jesus will and has put up with us and others while we struggled along, stumbling, getting back up, struggling.  He sees deep down in our hearts.  He’s going to get us over everything if we want to get over it.  If we want the victory, we’re going to get it.  He knows when somebody’s heart is right.  He’s nobody’s fool.” 

It made me think about Wednesday night.  You’ve always taught us that it’s all a matter of the heart!  Jesus sees our hearts.  If we want the victory…it’s ours!  He will give it to us!  I’m so thankful when Jesus helps us and brings things to our attention in order to perfect our faith!  How wonderful is that! 

I’m so thankful to be here, to be a part of this family!  Looking forward to this weekend!  I miss everyone so much already! 

Michelle 

Good morning,

I woke up this morning and read the texts from M——. After everything that I just learned from Jesus about repenting, and his mercy to allow us to repent from our bad choices, her text to you hurt my heart. I truly understand something so much clearer now. I understand how much everything depends on his mercy, and it IS coupled with fear. How foolish for us to think we can hold a grudge or get a wrong attitude, and then come to (or not come to) praise God when we feel like it. What if we have already pressed God past the point He is willing to go beyond? That was what Jesus was telling me.

I have no power. It is only his mercy, and he is full of mercy, but Jesus is no fool. I have that in my foundation now. I understand it. I pray for M—-, that she has not pressed Jesus past the point of repenting. I pray for mercy for her. I pray for any of us who might think we can hold a grudge one more day or stay away one more day, that we might be showered with mercy and repentance before it’s too late.

I pray I never forget the fear I felt when I heard “The Damnation Song” on the CD and felt like the Lord may have already turned me away. That fear was a soul-saving fear.

Beth

Pastor John, 

This morning I was getting ready for work and was listening to Songs of Rest.  One of Darren’s songs, “Carry On” was playing and I had a sadness fill my heart.  I have heard this song many times but never have I heard it like I did this morning.  I started walking around my kitchen with tears in my eyes, repenting.  Repenting for anything I have ever done or may do that might hurt Jesus.  Then I began to pray for his children everywhere.  Left me with a sobering feeling of thankfulness of what Jesus has done for us and hurt for his children that are missing it.  I’ve attached the words below. 

                  Carry On                     

2006 

The world’s in confusion, even when they are using my name it’s in vain

They are all after a false ever after, their all insane

And there’s nothing at all I can say that will change their mind

And there’s nothing at all I can do but to leave them behind

Why do they not want this life that I offer for free, it’s beyond me

I sit in wonder, I daily ponder these things within me

Oh, it’s so hard to find anyone who will carry on

Tell me what is so wrong with me, that they don’t love my son

 

I seem to be lacking, for some still are packing their things to leave

Perhaps I can think of a new way that’s simpler for them to serve me

But in vain I have searched in my heart for a better way

And again I will have to believe that they don’t want my way

 

All I am after is the best ever after for you, it’s true

If you’ll take my hand, I’ll help you understand more of me, you’ll see

For I’m not quite as bad as it seems, won’t you carry on

And there’s nothing that’s so wrong with me that you can’t love my son 

Michelle 

Pastor John, 

The past few weeks I’ve been thinking and talking to Jesus about healing, a lot, not only physical healing but spiritual healing. 

The other day driving into work I was listening to a CD from 2008.  On it Gary was testifying about when he was healed of some sickness.  He said our healing is a benefit!  Wow!  That was so good to really take that in, our healing is a benefit!  You said that a key to that is fellowship and walking in the spirit together. 

Jesus was not finished!  The next day I was driving into work listening to another CD and you said, “What did God say when the people were trying to build a tower to heaven?  He said there is nothing that they won’t be able to do as long as they’re working together, so he divided them. In Zephaniah, God promised that he would return to them a pure language.  He did this for two reasons, one so that they would serve God with one consent together.  When God’s people get together there’s not gonna be much that they can’t accomplish!  The second thing was to be able to call on the name of the Lord for his help for the things they couldn’t do.”

That is so good Pastor John!  I have just been letting that soak in!  I’ve had such a peace and comfort that has rested in my soul I can’t even explain.  Then I got home from class last night, pretty tired.  I turned on the meeting to hear Gary sing, “Unstoppable”.  Whewee…that felt so good!  I was dancing all around my kitchen!  When I climbed in bed I had this thought, even tiredness doesn’t stand a chance against the Holy Ghost!  God is good! 

Michelle

 

Pastor John, 

I’ve been thinking a lot about things Jesus has been telling us lately.  When Tracey testified last night, it felt so good! 

This is what Jesus has been talking to me about for the past few months: 

I’ve had struggles with those spirits, having thoughts like, “I wish I was like so and so” or “Why can’t I do that like so and so” or “Why is so and so like that”.  I don’t like those feelings and I have sincerely been asking Jesus to help me.  His answers have been so sweet.  First it started with being thankful.  He told me that if I am thankful for what he had done for me and to me, there will be no room for those spirits, my heart would be too full!  When I would feel my thankfulness fade I would ask him to help me and he would!  He would put me in situations to show me just how much he has done for me!  I would feel my thankfulness get stirred again!  Wonderful!  So thankful he hears and answers our prayers!   

Then He told us, “It’s not about you”.  That was so big, in my little human brain it covered this small space but Jesus has been showing me that statement covers a multitude of things/situations. 

Last night when I went to bed, Jesus was showing me that when I entertain those spirits and let them in, it is me saying I’m not satisfied with or thankful for who Jesus is making me to be, that I’m telling Jesus that I’m not happy with him.  That made my heart hurt, but it opened my eyes and my heart to how Jesus sees some things.   

Everything we are, every talent, every testimony, every good moment and bad is Jesus.  And everything he does for us and to us is molding us to be the person he desires us to be; it is a little step closer to home. 

I am not the same person I was when Jesus brought me here. The old girl is dead…..good riddance!  Praise God!  I’m thankful for my life and my family, both are precious gifts from God.  As I sit here and think about this body that Jesus has put together my heart is filled with thankfulness, for each one!  Together we are a pretty sweet body!   

Michelle