Hey Pastor John, 

I wanted to share what I felt last night after watching the meeting at home. There was a part in the meeting when you mentioned a part of the beast’s army being left so that the Jews could play a part in the fight. I’ve never heard that before and I mentioned it to Steven because it stood out to me and he didn’t remember you saying that so we watched that part again! I wanted to make sure that’s what I heard. And if I understood that correctly, this is what I felt…

It was really sweet to me because I thought about all throughout the Bible when God tells his people, “You are this, you are that, you won’t listen…buuuuuut, if you would just turn back to me, I’d take you!” and “You can have a king, you won’t be happy, buuuut, I’ll give you judges and the best king I have for you.”  He loved them so much. Then to hear last night that when the door is open again for the Jews, that He is going to leave some of the beast’s army for them to fight, it was like, “You’ve come back to me! Here…don’t you want to fight for me?” 🙂 If I was a Jew at that time and I found out who Jesus was, I would want to then be able to fight for him and do something to show I loved him and how thankful to God I was. And He’s going to give them that chance! Something about that was just so wonderful to me! Such a love story! I love the way God loves!

Leah

Pastor John, 

Something else has sunk in!  (I love this life.)  I love that Jesus sews the truth into our hearts.  I really enjoyed bro Stuart’s testimony recently about his being “a good kid” growing up.  I have been thinking on it since he told it.  To think Stuart grew up doing the right thing, going to school, obeying his parents, but that “good kid” needed Jesus just as much as I did.  I have heard it over and over that we all needed Jesus and the holy ghost, and I thought I understood it, but when my sweet brother told that testimony, Jesus let it sink in.

I was talking to Jesus today and I said, “Lord, if I had lived right and had been a good person doing the right thing…” and the spirit stopped me and said, ”you would still have gone to Hell.”  Oh, that takes my breath away, Pastor John, because … well, it’s just in there now.  I just get it.  A plant can be the best plant it can possibly be, and yet it will still never be human.  And we can be the best person we can be, and never be holy without the Spirit.  It’s in there.

Beth

Hi John, 

While reading through the “Beatitudes” in Matthew this morning, I was reminded again of how blessed we are to have you as an anointed teacher and pastor. How many dozen times have I read those same scriptures and have not understood the depth of truth that you expressed this morning. 

As my daughter Amy said, it felt like Jesus was standing in our midst pointing towards a path or an open door saying, “this is the way. Follow me!” 

Oh, how I pray that all of God’s people could hear the truth of the gospel the way we experienced it this morning. 

Thank you. 

Tom

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I could not have said it better than Tom did, John.  The anointing on you really opened that up today… I have never fully understood the teachings of Jesus in that way, to that depth – maybe not at all!  We don’t know anything without Him.  I wish all of God’s children could hear what we get to hear.

My heart really cried out to God when you prayed at the end.  I really needed that, I know it was just for me (but I guess others can say that too!)  I need Him.

Thank you.

Gary

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Hi Pastor John.

It feels like it’s more special reading the New Testament this time.  There is an anticipation of what we may learn, and especially what we may feel.  I really loved the part when Jesus said, “Be perfect as your Father in Heaven is perfect.”  This quote from your translation says so much to me,   “So, you be perfect, just as your Father who is in heaven is perfect” (Mt. 5:48).

This quote explains where Jesus was at this time (on earth), that Jesus had a Father and where he Father is (in Heaven), and what his Father was (perfect).   But one thing that really gave me joy is when Jesus said, “You be perfect.”  We read the prior scriptures in chapter 5 that explained who the Father is.  And you explained that no one could be perfect until after the Spirit was given at Pentecost.  Something really went off in my heart and mind to think we can be like God in judgment, in love, in hating evil things, and in mercy, to name just a few.  I know this is ABC stuff, but whew, something really clicked in my mind.

I wonder if these were things that Satan wanted when the scriptures described him as wanting to be like the most high God.  Satan really thought he could be like God without the life of God (impossible).   No one can be perfected without the life of God that Jesus died for us to have.  It is only given to repented hearts, and then we have to humble ourselves to walk in the Spirit to be perfected.  I feel so much joy!

The readings already are very sobering and exciting.

Hope you have a wonderful week!!

Billy

 

 

Hi Pastor John. 

This went really well with our reading in Mathew, this past weekend. I read this from “A Book Of Pearls”, January 26, from where your Father was quoted, “Jesus wasn’t battling anymore with the flesh after he was tested by Satan. He had overcome the world.  Some of us are still on the mountain, battling, after all these years”.

You told us that your Father said that it took him 40 years to overcome the flesh (on that mountain), but it didn’t have to take you that long because you had a Pastor.  I am thankful and glad that we have a Pastor, too.  

Brother Delbert once told us, “Being on top of the mountain has a nice view, but the water and food are down below.”

Hope you have a great week!

Billy M.

John, 

Some of the things that were said tonight about being proud about what one knows, or being supremely confident in being right, were so good.  It brought to mind the scene with the Pharisee and the publican:

Luke 18 (KJV)

[10] Two men went up into the temple to pray; the one a Pharisee, and the other a publican.
[11] The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican.
[12] I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess.
[13] And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner.
[14] I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other: for every one that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.

God help us to see things how God sees them!  And be the kind of people that can hear and recognize God’s voice and respond without any coaxing (like a “soft touch” horse as with Judy’s testimony, or the small gentle motions of God’s gently guiding hand, as with Darren’s testimony tonight).​

Also, on the topic of Revelation, and God sifting out His Old Testament people gradually over the centuries until the final sifting​,​ when the Beast attacks Israel, I opened my Bible to a random spot this morning, and it opened to Psalm 102.  When I read this, I was amazed at how you can begin to see things differently​, in light of some of the things Jesus has been showing you lately.

Starting in verse 11,

[11] My days are like a shadow that declineth; and I am withered like grass.
[12] But thou, O LORD, shalt endure for ever; and thy remembrance unto all generations.
[13] Thou shalt arise, and have mercy upon Zion: for the time to favour her, yea, the set time, is come.

and then in verse 17,

[17] He will regard the prayer of the destitute, and not despise their prayer.
[18] This shall be written for the generation to come: and the people which shall be created shall praise the LORD.

And it ends with,

[28] The children of thy servants shall continue, and their seed shall be established before thee.

I loved this when I read it!  I don’t know if this is altogether talking about Jesus rescuing His people when He returns, but it sure seemed related, and it felt good reading it.

Praying for you all to have a safe and productive trip.

Vince

 

 

Hi John,

Watching Wednesday’s meeting and hearing Gary give his “shop-vac” testimony gave me courage to share my little testimony. But, it was big to me.  I had been struggling with the decision to buy a new car. My car was all of 21 years old and had its charming little issues, but lots of them.

I had been talking with a few car sales folks for about a month about buying a car. I was so ambivalent about the whole thing I asked for a lot and didn’t pursue it.

Anyway, one morning last week I asked Jesus to just make this decision for me.  Make it clear which way to go, one way or the other so I could let go.  A few minutes later one of the sales gals offered me an absurdly great price on the car. I thought, hum…interesting. 

Then, a few minutes later, on an errand, my lovely old gem of a car broke down. OK Jesus, I got it!

My friend happened to be across the street on an errand, took me to work, got a ride to the dealership the next day and bought the car.  Easy breezy.

Jesus did this for me. I love Him so, love that He cares about all our little challenges as well as the big stuff. I sure feel taken care off. :o)

Patty