Hey John,

I just wanted to thank you again for the reading this morning of your new book:
“After Jesus Died”. While we were reading, I had one of those déjà vu experiences…. like I had done it and had the same feelings before.

The best way I can describe it is “Oh, this is so good! Where has this been all my life?!” I remember reading your tracts early on, and the Truth in them was so clear, and I just could not understand why I had never heard it put so clearly before, and why nobody had ever written that plain and straight. I loved that then, and I still love it. God put me here.

Thank you for bringing these wonderful things out for us. I do pray that this book gets into the hands of people who have reasonable hearts. The truth is so clear, you have to become “unreasonable” to reject it. That part is up to God…. But I’m thankful it’s there if somebody is hungry. I remembered today that I was! Yum Yum

Gary

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

Hi, Pastor John;

I was really looking forward to reading this book by a soft light and fire, but reading it with everyone really felt wonderful this morning. It was good to see Vince and Amy this morning, too.

When you were explaining that in our reading, it hinted that Jesus had an intimate conversation with Peter to help straighten him out, that really touched me. I was sitting in my chair with tears rolling down my face for the love of the Father that Jesus had towards Peter. Knowing human nature, it would have been very difficult and a hard life for Peter to endure because of the last vision he saw of Jesus looking silently at him when the rooster crowed and Jesus was taken away to be crucified. I can only imagine what Peter thought at that moment, and I can only imagine the conversation that they had together, alone, that day after Jesus’ resurrection. One thing for sure, Jesus had prayed for Peter because Satan wanted to sift Peter as wheat, but Jesus had prayed to the Father for him that his faith wouldn’t fail. and that enabled Peter to carry on. As I sat in my chair crying, I thought of the many times Jesus has had an intimate talk with me, which gave me the strength and faith to carry on in this life.

He is a good God!

Thank you, Brother John!

Billy M.

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

John,

I really enjoyed the reading this morning. When you spoke of the two Marys going back to the tomb, I couldn’t help but think of Lee Ann and myself! I could see us doing that together! I love how God set up the timing that they had to go back on the third day because they couldn’t go on the Sabbath. I thought, “Yes, God, that is something like you would do for Lee Ann and me. Such love!” It was also tender when Jesus called Mary’s name, and she recognized him. Like Billy, I was also thinking of the talk that Jesus and Peter had together and how that must have lifted burdens. So many things wanted to make me cry while reading it today. I also liked how you divided it by the gospels. I needed to hear the information over again. It really made it clear.

At the end, when the spirit came on Pentecost, you could just feel the relief when you read it. Thank you so much for this. I pray that it will touch many hearts!

Carrie

 

Pastor John,

I’ve been listening to the meeting again from last night. I was praying this morning. It’s only my response to the anointing of God that got me here, and it’s only going to be my response to that anointing that will keep me here.

Billy M.

Hey, Pastor John,

I was wondering if maybe people would like to help me with something I’m working on!  I guess it was last month that I had a testimony about Jesus teaching me what it means to “be as a little child” and it has continued since then and I’ve been loving it.  I asked for it.  I prayed about it last month for him to show me what it means.  There have been a few more things since then that I’ve learned.

1. The kids had done a few things that just required a “reevaluate what you’re doing” mommy moment and I told them, “All you have to do is love me and obey me.”  Thinking about it, obeying me is loving me, so really all the have to do is love me…but that was another moment coming from above through me to them. As soon as I said it, I took it in and knew it was for me too. To know and understand.
2. A situation came up where Timothy felt he could do something without asking. I told him that he is a child and has to ask for everything.  That’s just part of what has to happen.  If he can go somewhere, if he can talk to someone, if he can eat something, if he can watch something, what time he can go to bed, etc. I heard Jesus in that too, because as adults, we also have to ask. What should we do today?  Should I talk to that person?  Can I go here?  What should I do in this situation?
3. Matthew asked me something and I told him no.  He complained about it and
I asked him why he asked me in the first place.  If you ask a question, don’t come expecting to hear what will make you happy, instead, be happy with what you hear.

So, all this led to a time last week when I sat down with them in the morning and we brainstormed things children are supposed to do.  They each gave really good ideas and of course I added some.  Timothy asked what your “flesh” is.  I told him that your flesh is yourself without Jesus.  We read through them to see if they were things adults should also do, having God as the parent.  They agreed that all of them were!  I am trying to teach them that if they can learn to do these things now, they will be better able to do them for Jesus later.  You said something similar today 🙂

Anyway, I am attaching pictures of the list we made, and continue to add to, in case anyone has any other ideas! I plan to type it up and put it in my house somewhere as a reminder to all of us on just how to be…how to live a good life.  I’ve liked looking at the list.  I appreciate chances to learn things that can make me happier 🙂  I added the last one today after Coy said it…I love that!

– mind your own business

– obey your parents

– play nicely

– clean you own mess

– ask before you do

– listen for parents’ voices

– stay with an adult

– love your family

– be calm and kind

– use good manners

– ask for help/guidance

– tell the truth

– choose good friends

– be happy

– trust your parents

– be helpful

– apologize and make things right

– be patient

– be thankful

– come when you are called

– keep your attitude right

– listen the first time

– look at who’s talking to you

– take care of people’s hearts

– put other before yourself

– don’t question answers from adults

– stay ready for a “ye” or “no”

– don’t expect things to be given to you, but rather, give

– be happy for other people

– encourage others

– take care of your things, and others’ things

– be slow to anger

– think before you speak

– think, “is it eternal?”

Leah

 

Pastor John,

Wednesday night, you commented on the verse from Romans 11:22:

“Behold therefore the goodness and severity of God: on them which fell, severity; but toward thee, goodness, if thou continue in his goodness: otherwise thou also shalt be cut off.“

You said, “It’s (referring to ‘continuing in His goodness‘) an opportunity! It’s not a grievous commandment; there’s some goodness we can keep in!”

That’s so good!!

Jerry

Pastor John,

This morning as I was driving into work, I was listening to a CD and you were preaching on Revelation and how the Beast is going to destroy the Harlot and bring her to desolation. You said the only reason that it has not happened yet is because God still has children out there, but once all of his obedient children come out of her, she will be destroyed. You said the only thing that is keeping them is the power of God, for some of His children still have a connection with Him. You said that the only reason we are protected is because of the power of God. The power of God is keeping us hidden and is keeping His children that are still out there, in that religious system God hates.

The Spirit fell on me, and with tears I began praying for His children everywhere and for us. I felt like the spirit redefined the power of God in my heart. What a powerful and humbling feeling it is, to be protected by God’s power. To be given the truth, to understand and love the truth, is a precious, humbling thing, something not to be taken lightly. I had the thought, “Jesus, the truth you have given to us is worth everything.”

I feel the Spirit just covering me like a blanket. How humbling to be kept by God.

I pray that all of God’s children will take heed to His call and come out of her. There is so much love outside those gates, and He’s just waiting to pour it out on all of His children.

Michelle

Pastor John,

Whew! Enjoyed this article: “Self-will: The Door to Insanity” .

This excerpt – wow!

“Self-will is the way that humans conjure up demons from their place of damnation to come inhabit a new home, a human one.”

To understand that “self-will”, which is rebelliousness, is to practice the “sin of divination”, is a profound thought, Pastor John.

The will of God for us is a safe place.  It is a place (the only place) that He created for us that is free from such things.

But I love most of all the simple answer that you gave us for this, and whatever else we stumble at: “Stay happy and free, and just do the simple, sweet will of God in Christ Jesus.”

Only the Truth is simple.  And I’m noticing as I go along, all other conversation that is edifying, is simply had to get us back there.

Thank you for this.

Jerry

Hi, Pastor John:

Your most recent blog, Self-will: The Door to Insanity, touches on the same story that I have been reading the last couple of weeks.  I have spoken a little about this with Aaron & Vince last week, and asked them about the translation of the word “enquired”, as in I Samuel 28:6.  And Saul enquired of Jehovah, but Jehovah did not answer him, neither by dreams, nor by Urim, nor by prophets.  Also, in the scripture I Chronicles 10:14, it says, “And (Saul) enquired not of the Lord: therefore he slew him, and turned the kingdom unto David the son of Jesse” (1Chron. 10:14). 

I thought, “Wait a minute.”  It says Saul enquired of the Lord in I Samuel, but in I Chronicles 10:14, the scripture states that Saul did not enquire of the Lord.  Insomuch that in 1Chronicles 10:13, God killed Saul, or rather, Saul died for his transgression by the hands of the Philistines because, 1) The transgression he committed against the Lord, even the word of the Lord, which he kept not, (or the words spoken from Jehovah to Samuel for Saul)., and 2) asking counsel of the one that had the familiar spirit to “enquire of it”. 

I asked Aaron Nelson if the two words “enquire” are the same words in Hebrew.  Aaron said that the word “enquire” in I Samuel is more of a formal way of enquiring about something, as Saul did in this case, as with the Urim, the prophets, or even dreams.  The same English word “enquire” in I Chronicles is not the same Hebrew word or meaning. The word there means “seeking, or to seek”.  

I thought, “That explains it.”  Both are right in their own context.  In Saul’s court, to others that were there, it appeared on the outward appearance that Saul was seeking God, but he was not seeking God in I Chronicles (with his heart) as David did when he sinned against the LORD.  God did not answer Saul when Saul was enquiring of the LORD in Saul’s court because Saul was not seeking for an answer, but did as he thought to do.  And when God did not answer Saul as Saul thought Jehovah should do, Saul enquired of the one with the familiar spirit. I Chronicles is correct, Saul did not seek God; Saul wanted an answer to his way, the way he thought God should answer him. 

I pondered about seeking God.  I asked myself, “Jesus, do we seek after you when we gather in the meetings just for an appearance (as in a formal nature as Saul did), or are we seeking you from our hearts?  This latter way, you don’t have to speak a word, but pour out your spirit unto the Lord.  The best we can do if God is not speaking or answering us is to do nothing.  Not like Saul did when he continued to enquire to get an answer he wanted to hear.  If we are doing anything in formality unto God, is it our own self-will?  The word “formality” has a base word, “form”; it is not from the heart, and God will not hear it. 

Bill M. 

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

Pastor John, 

I really like the point and the lesson contained in brother Billy’s email – I have read it several times; it has a good message.

There is a difference in praying simply because it is appropriate for religious folk to submit to prayer, versus “seeking the Lord” because we really want to know what the Lord wants.

The first “seeking” being nothing but etiquette, a polite form to say that we did it; we can submit to prayer without ever submitting to God.  But the second “seeking” is a sincere plea for God to intervene and change our life – to change us!

It gave me a new perspective on what it is that is really being said, when someone suggests to another that they should “pray on a thing.”  Asking the Lord is only a part, and by itself a useless – if not damning part- were the Lord to answer on deaf ears.  But submitting to be changed is what praying means.  It means being willing to step in as one person, and then step back out another – every time!  That is the only prayer that has ever reached Jesus! 

Wonderful!  

Jerry

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

These emails about praying have been so good to me. It makes me wonder about when one says, “I am praying for you.”  Is that just a phrase that we learned to say in Christianity?  OR are we EARNESTLY going to our quiet spot and praying for that person or situation.  And getting very real with Jesus!  It is a very HEARTFELT thing.  And we can feel those heartfelt prayers when ones are praying for us.  And I am so thankful for these prayers. 

All of these emails have made me stop and think.

Diane