Hi Pastor John, 

I am sitting here thinking about this weekend and it is so moving to me.  I feel such a tenderness from Jesus right now.  I feel like Jesus is teaching me about how to live.  How to be part of the body.  What faith is.  After the meeting today, I had brothers and sisters come up and just wrap their arms around me and pray.  I felt like Jesus was showing me how to function here in God’s family.  When we cannot pray for ourselves, the body will pray for us.

I could feel Jesus when they prayed for me, and I feel like this lesson (I keep calling a lesson on faith) may be so much more.  I feel like Jesus is teaching me who this body is, how it functions, and how to really live here.

I love feeling the power of God, but this sweet spot with Jesus is so tender.  It is still, and loving, and intimate.  I don’t want to leave this place.

Beth

Good Morning Pastor John, 

I woke up thinking about how much we need each other’s testimonies. When I was praying for Sheila, Jesus reminded me of who she was.  I kept hearing and saying, “good and faithful Sheila.”  That was Jesus reminding me who I was praying for. Because Shelia has told her testimony I know who Sheila is. I can see more of her heart. I knew who Jesus was talking about.

If we tell our weaknesses, our hopes, our joys, then when we need prayer, there is something to take to Jesus.  I needed John David’s testimony about his healing.  That testimony gave me hope and Jesus used it to teach me more about faith and more about how much we need each other’s testimony.  Iron sharpens iron.  That is so much clearer to me.  Ruth told me casually before the meeting last night that Jesus healed her of migraines.  I need that testimony from Ruth.

I love that we are not just a bunch of people thrown together.  We need each other.

Really loving our life, Pastor John. 

Beth 

Hi Pastor John, 

Judy and I were in a small turn of the century old-time town.  We were in a 2^nd story room and we looked out a window overlooking a courtyard that was set-up with music equipment and with chairs in front of it.  People started gathering around and one-by-one nd sat in the chairs.  A man stood in front of the microphone, but before he said or sang anything, the power of God fell on him and he fell down and started rolling which knocked down some of the music and mice stands.  He was rolling over top of them as he was speaking in tongues and praising God.

The people in the chairs were mocking this man and what they were seeing and you could see that some were afraid. The people started getting up out of their chairs and emptying the courtyard.  Judy and I looked over an empty courtyard as the man was still under the power of God and still rolling around.

Judy and I ran downstairs to see this man.  When we got there, Brother Earl, Sister Betty, and Amy met us and we all kneeled by the man as he was speaking in tongues with his whole heart. There was a feeling with us all that we wanted to hear anything (something) about God from this man.  As we were in reverence and praying around this man, Amy got in his lap and was crying, praying, and begging God for this man to speak to us.  As she was sobbing with her whole heart, the man opened his eyes and looked at us very calmly.  We felt the love of God from this person.  He then spoke, “Whatever is in your heart, is who you are.”

His words are so obvious, but they carried so much weight seeing and feeling the Spirit from this man confirming his words.  We hugged the man with tears, love, and with reverence and humility as each of us got up and we all went on our way.  

Billy M.

 

Hey Pastor John, 

I just watched your video posted on Facebook* on why most Jews don’t believe that Jesus is the Messiah.  I don’t think I’ve ever heard anyone say it out loud like that.  I know that you’ve taught us that that’s what Jewish people believe, but to hear it from a Rabbi hurt my heart.

But it gives me a clearer understanding of why the things we’re learning about in Revelation must happen to the Jews in order to get the Jews to believe.

Just to think of that verse from Zechariah, when the Jews will ask Jesus where he got the scars in his hands, and he says, “in the house of my friends”!   I just imagined that Rabbi in the video as one of them.  The things we are learning are really real.  It just sank in more, listening to him.

Michelle

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Oh Pastor John,

I read Michelle’s email and watched that video posted about why the Jews don’t believe Jesus is the Messiah. I felt a defensive feeling as I turned on the video. Almost geared up for the debate but as I watched that video everything changed.

I felt such compassion for that Jewish Rabbi. I thought ” what would he say about me. What would he say about one so broken whom Jesus has changed so much?

Would he say something has happened but it is not from the Messiah, like the Pharisees said of the blind man Jesus healed? Would he recognize the power of God that makes me hungry for holiness, hungry for the things of God ?
I found myself thinking, ” Oh man of law how can I convince you? “

That video left me so humbled for what we know and what we have been given. So thankful Jesus has changed our hearts and touched our eyes. I thought of Paul and how desperately he would have wanted them to believe and to see how Jesus changed him.

Mmmmm this is so good and I am so overwhelmed with his love. I want that man to have an experience and know our Jesus.

Beth

*

John, 

I enjoyed reading this list of the good things that are “in Christ”.  One can barely take them all in.  It is taking me a lifetime “in Christ” to fully understand what true life is. Every experience  I have in the spirit adds to that reality. 

Thank you for taking the time to put this list together. 

The scripture below is one of my favorite verses and it came to mind after I read what you have written. 

Acts 17:28:

“For in him we live, and move, and have our being….” 

Tom

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The phrase “in Christ” is used seventy-seven times in the New Testament.  Seventy-four of those times are found in Paul’s letters.  Luke, who traveled with Paul, used it once (Acts 24:24), and late in Peter’s life, he used it a couple of times (1Pet. 3:16;5:14).

I had the thought tonight, “What things does the Bible say are in Christ?”  And so, I looked up what the Bible says about that.  Here is what I found:

Redemption

Romans 3:24 KJV

[24] Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus:

Believers

Romans 3:24 KJV

[24] Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus:

Romans 12:5 KJV

[5] So we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another.

2 Corinthians 5:17 KJV

[17] Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.

The Law of the Spirit of Life:

Romans 8:2 KJV

[2] For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death.

The Love of God

Romans 8:39 KJV

[39] Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Resurrection Life

1 Corinthians 15:22 KJV

[22] For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive.

Understanding

2 Corinthians 3:14 KJV

[14] But their minds were blinded: for until this day remaineth the same vail untaken away in the reading of the old testament; which vail is done away in Christ.

God

2 Corinthians 5:19 KJV

[19] To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation.

Simplicity

2 Corinthians 11:3 KJV

[3] But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ.

Liberty

Galatians 2:4 KJV

[4] And that because of false brethren unawares brought in, who came in privily to spy out our liberty which we have in Christ Jesus, that they might bring us into bondage:

No Human Differences

Galatians 3:28 KJV

[28] There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus.

Galatians 6:15 KJV

[15] For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision, but a new creature.

All Spiritual Blessings

Ephesians 1:3 KJV

[3] Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ:

Access to God

Ephesians 2:13 KJV

[13] But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ.

The Promise of God (the Spirit)

Ephesians 3:6 KJV

[6] That the Gentiles should be fellowheirs, and of the same body, and partakers of his promise in Christ by the gospel:

Spiritual Comfort

Philippians 2:1 KJV

[1] If there be therefore any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any bowels and mercies,

The Attitude of a Servant

Philippians 2:4-5 KJV

[4] Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others. [5] Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:

The Calling of God

Philippians 3:14 KJV

[14] I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.

The Will of God

1 Thessalonians 5:18 KJV

[18] In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.

Faith and Love

1 Timothy 1:14 KJV

[14] And the grace of our Lord was exceeding abundant with faith and love which is in Christ Jesus.

2 Timothy 1:13 KJV

[13] Hold fast the form of sound words, which thou hast heard of me, in faith and love which is in Christ Jesus.

The Faith

1 Timothy 3:13 KJV

[13] For they that have used the office of a deacon well purchase to themselves a good degree, and great boldness in the faith which is in Christ Jesus.

God’s Promise of Eternal Life

2 Timothy 1:1 KJV

[1] Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, according to the promise of life which is in Christ Jesus,

The Grace of God

2 Timothy 1:9 KJV

[9] Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began,

2 Timothy 2:1 KJV

[1] Thou therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus.

Salvation

2 Timothy 2:10 KJV

[10] Therefore I endure all things for the elect’s sakes, that they may also obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory.

There are many good things in us who are in Christ.  May we find out what they all are!

Philemon 1:6 KJV

[6] That the communication of thy faith may become effectual by the acknowledging of every good thing which is in you in Christ Jesus.

Pastor John

 

Oh, Pastor John, 

I heard the best thing from a 2006 CD today.  You said “Every time we speak in tongues, God is getting us past something, past our minds, our wrong ideas, our misconceptions, our history.  God wants to give us a new history.”

That is so good to me! Lately, Jesus just keeps talking to me about his purpose for me, and for his body. I feel like I am where I was made to be, at the right time and the right way for his purpose. I feel like I fit. That is so big for me! It is one thing to hear it, but to really feel it is everything. Jesus has done something inside of me. I feel light. I feel pliable. Sometimes in the meetings, I have felt Jesus so strong!

Hearing this message today from 2006 is so good!

I am so overwhelmed with the love of God.  

Beth