John,

The online article on “The Irvingites and the Gift of Tongues” was very interesting.  Makes you want to know more about this guy!  I thought it was interesting how, at the very beginning of the article, the author describes Irving as “setting the foundation for the modern tongues movement”, as if speaking in tongues now was some new thing that Irving started. It’s the “Christian movement” that is the odd thing that quenched the Spirit which spoke in tongues in the first place!

It’s also pretty neat how this came up today.  Just last night, I was wanting to read what was said about Jesus ascending to heaven in Acts 1.  I decided to continue on into Acts 2, and I feel like Jesus let me see something about that scene more clearly.

The holy Ghost was first poured out on the disciples in the upper room in verses 2-4.  What I had never noticed before was that they began to speak in tongues in that upper room, AND THEN the sound was heard and people from different nations and languages began to hear them speaking in their own languages.  The disciples would likely not have been speaking in different foreign languages amongst themselves in the upper room, because they already spoke the same language.  It wasn’t until they spilled out into the street and multitudes of people could then see and hear them that the speaking in tongues “morphed” into (or included) speaking in the different languages of the people that were there.

Am I seeing that correctly?  This was pretty exciting to me, but I want to make sure I’m thinking of it rightly.  There are so many today who excuse speaking in tongues as “not for today”, because it was only for the day of Pentecost, so the gospel could be heard and understood by everyone there. But it looks like the disciples began speaking in tongues BEFORE they began speaking in foreign (human) languages.

Vince

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Thanks, Vince.  I had never noticed that, either.  There would have been no point in the disciples speaking in languages men could understand until they were outside, where men were.  It may be that the followers of Jesus on Pentecost morning were speaking in languages unknown on earth until they went outside, overpowered by the gift of God.

Pastor John

For those who read this email, here is the URL concerning the Spirit-filled saints in Scotland and England whom Christians slandered as “Irvingites”:

https://charlesasullivan.com/1826/the-irvingites-and-the-gift-of-tongues

 

 

The reading last night was absolutely wonderful.  You were answering questions in my heart that I didn’t even know I had.  I’ll be watching it again today.  It is pure and good and wonderful food to my soul.

I’m glad we are taking it slowly.  Thank you for being who Jesus made you.

Donna N.

Good morning!

I was reading the Lessons from chapter 2 of the Father and Son book* that you sent out and I had to stop and write how much I love this.  Do you know what I love most, Pastor John?  I love that I know how true it is.

Lesson #25:  The souls of those who possess God’s kind of life have already been delivered from death (Jn. 5:24; 1Jn. 3:14), and the fear of it (Heb. 2:14–15).

In 2011, when Jesus really started changing my heart and my feelings, before I got the holy ghost, he did something really big for me.  I had a terror-like fear of dying.  I used to say it was an unnatural fear, but I feel like it was the most natural thing about me now.  I should have been terrified of death.

One day in 2011, Jesus took me flying with him and he took away that fear of death. In that experience that day, I felt the oneness with him, and he put it in me that I wouldn’t even think of this world or any loved ones when I was with him.  It is hard to describe, but it is just in there now.  And that terrible fear has never been back.

I don’t know what my flesh will feel in that moment, but my spirit still feels what Jesus put in me that day.

At the end of that experience that day, Jesus let go of my hand and dropped me back to earth.  And, oh, how I longed for him.  I did not want to be here.  I wanted to be back with Jesus.  I hurt for weeks after that, and I still think about what it felt like to be with him all the time.

I have told of that experience before, and didn’t write it all out again now because I didn’t want to make this too long for you.  But wow, when I read Lesson #25 and really think about that experience, coupled with the understanding of what it really means to be His and be delivered from death AND the fear of it, the truth of that Lesson takes my breath away.

And number 35, look what Jesus did!  I couldn’t stop sinning.  I wanted to, but I couldn’t be different.  Look what Jesus did!

Lesson #35: In Christ, we are freed from a sinful nature and the curse of death which attends it (Rom. 7:24–25).

I know this may be a bit of a ramble, but it is too good for me not to write you.  You are always the first person I want to share my “isn’t God amazing” moments with. Jesus did that too!

I watched and felt my mama leave this world, and it felt awful.  I also watched and felt Natalie and Lou Lou leave this world, and I feel comfort knowing they are home with Jesus.  It makes me smile to think of them laughing with Jesus and each other.

It makes number 36, even sweeter!

This is good stuff! 

Lesson #36. When our liberty from death is proved in the resurrection, how greatly we will rejoice!

Beth D.

*(The Father and Son book, also known as God Had a Son before Mary Did is currently under revision. The original may be found at the link below.)

https://goingtojesus.com/gtj_books.html?tname=fands

Pastor John,

I loved the reading last night!  Afterwards I reread through chapter one.  There is so much just in the first 12 pages!  In that one chapter we get to see the relationship and the love the Father and Son have for each other, and that they want God’s children to have.  The truth in those pages completely eliminates the Trinity and Oneness doctrines.  It is simple and loving, and all I keep thinking is, “Thank you, Jesus, that you let me know this, and to love this.”

I am so excited and looking forward to reading the rest of The Father and Son book!

Michelle

(Pastor John’s book, The Father and the Son, is currently under revision. The original version may be found at the link below.) 

https://goingtojesus.com/gtj_books.html?tname=fands 

 

Pastor John,

Beth and I were talking yesterday about what it means to save our children from the spirits of this world – especially since two of her children are now raising young ones of their own!

We noted that kids are just vessels (as we are) and they are either serving as home for the holy Ghost, or some other spirit(s) out there that is NOT Jesus.

I was reminded yesterday that we cannot force a wrong spirit out of our children, they have to do it.  Even the youngest of children can hold on to a wrong spirit if they want to. Lying, stealing, immorality, whatever it is – they have to make it leave.  The best we can do without Jesus intervening with his power, is to make our children so uncomfortable for holding on to that wrong spirit, that they won’t let it work through them anymore.  They have to want it gone because it costs them too much to let it continue. 

And that consistency on our part is loving our children.  Letting them get by is turning them over to death.

I hope I said that right. I believe the feeling is right.

Thank you.

Jerry

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Yes, Jerry, that is how it is.  May God help parents realize that their children need help to overcome the spirits of this age because those spirits hook up with children if the parents settle for it.  It’s human nature, and children need to be shown the way to the nature of Christ, which is in the Spirit of God.

Solomon highly recommended that parents make it uncomfortable for their children to allow wrong spirits to work through them and use them.  Here are some of the things he said:

Proverbs 13:24. He who spares his rod hates his son, but he who loves him chastens him early.

Proverbs 19:18. Chasten your son while there is hope!  Do not spare yourself and cause him to die.

It takes strength and wisdom from God to be a good parent.  But if we deny ourselves and our own preferences and do things His way, it will help our children tremendously.

Pastor John

Hey!

Something else I’ve been thinking about in regards to the Montanus reading, and really nailing it down that Jesus was never a part of Christianity, is that I can no longer nod in agreement when Christians complain that the church is corrupt.  I cannot even agree with that.  This, to me, suggests that it was once pure, and has been adulterated, which is just not true.

Anna

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Hi there.

When the Bible says that Satan has “deceived the whole world”, that is what it is talking about.  The lie of all lies is the Christianity started with Jesus and the apostles.  It did not.  It started with Constantine, and was filthy in God’s sight from the day it started in AD 325.  If God’s children could see that, and realize that Christianity is not the body of Christ and that God is calling for them to come out, there would be an exodus out of that religion which would make Moses jealous.

I am glad you see it, Anna.  It is wonderful that God has given you ears to hear.

Pastor John

Good morning, Pastor John.

I keep thinking back to the reading of the last chapter of Montanus. Something you said summed it all up for me, felt so good, and is as simple as it gets. I am not phrasing it just as you did, but it was something like, the only true religion is what existed before the world began between the Father and His Son. They were daily laughing in each others’ presence, sharing the holy Spirit. We now have that spirit, too. What they had (have) together is the only religion that is true, the only one you need. It takes out the fluff, the disagreements. It’s just pure and simple. I love that.

Anna

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Amen, Anna!

Those who are living in the Spirit are in the oldest religion that exists, and the only eternally true one.  I am very happy and thankful to know that and to be satisfied with it, adding none of the religious trappings that men have invented.  “If the Son of man makes you free, you are free indeed!”

Pastor John