Hi Pastor John,

I loved tonight – reading the Acts 15 council conversation.  You could really see how Paul’s gospel would have been seen as such a deviation from the right gospel. I think it’s amazing how the scripture brings it out.  But what really struck me tonight was how by itself, Paul’s gospel (seemingly) could not be believed and supported alone.  It seems like an understanding of the Old Testament and Moses Law would have been crucial to Paul’s gospel. How could they understand the essence of the law and of what Paul was saying without that understanding?

We, at this time in history, have the benefit of having been exposed to Paul’s doctrine and just believed it without the same hindrances as they had. But sitting in the council tonight, I could see how unusual and what a deviation it was. Like others have said, it’s hard to be hard on those men, that didn’t believe it.

I love the Old Testament and I’m so glad you teach it.

Jenny

 

Hi Pastor John,

I had a sweet experience today, and I love it. I was driving to an appointment and I had put on a meeting CD – the Mrs. Robinson CD. As I was driving into the parking lot the CD was up to the Mrs. Robinson song and it felt good – I was singing along to it and just enjoying it – enjoying the laughter and happiness of it all, and I thinking how sweet Jesus is to have given that song to Gwen. Jesus is so tender and caring!

Very soon I began to just go with what I was feeling and began pouring out my heart, crying and speaking in tongues! I found a parking spot and just kept praising God in my car – and I was looking around to see if anyone was around – no one was there but it made me think of Beth and how she often says she feels when this happens and she is in her car!! 

Anyway, I loved having that sweet, sweet time praising Jesus. As I walked into my appointment I stopped and said to Jesus, “Thank you. And more please” (in time).

I just wanted to share. These are the best experiences on earth and it can’t go untold.

Jenny

 

Hi John,

I loved Darren’s song and Gary’s new old songs 🙂 And I loved the reading in Colossians tonight.  You can see and feel how much Paul was laboring to keep the Gentiles from falling into the trap of believing what Jesus did for us was not enough. My, my!  The pressure that they must have felt after Paul left them, and wolves came in and devoured them! It will happen today if we do not value what the Son has done and believe that he is all we need.

Stuart

Pastor John,

The Pearl for today (below) reminded me of something that the Spirit taught me.

I am certain what Jesus showed me then has saved me at some point(s) thereafter.
I want to share what God taught me:

Perfection in Christ is the end of “hurt feelings and being offended” because walking in the Spirit is to walk in a state of knowing that you, as the individual, are nothing…and Christ is everything. And If you are nothing, then there is nothing to hurt or offend.
You will go about doing the Father’s will, regardless of how people react or how anyone treats you, period.

But you will pray for those who intentionally or unintentionally cause you harm, for fear of your Father’s retribution against them, because we are something to Him. If we become hurt or offended at another’s words or deeds, we need to get into the Spirit of Christ.

The Spirit minds the things of God, not of men. And is happy in doing so.

Jerry

Pastor John,

I LOVE this!!  I definitely think it should be added to the conversation!  (It makes me start thinking about other conversations that could be acted out, like Jesus and Nicodemus, for example). Somehow, seeing and hearing these scenes being played out, really brings the story to life!  I can just imagine that Peter’s companions would have felt exactly the way you wrote them.

I don’t know what it is about this Acts reading that has been so special, but it has opened my eyes to truths that I thought I already knew.  I now have a clearer understanding of the two gospels, and I feel I know and appreciate Paul so much better.

One of the biggest take-aways from the Acts reading was listening to those brothers in the conversation who made very compelling arguments for their side.  They believed, without a shadow of a doubt, that what they were saying was right!  It became so clear, as I watched those men debating the truth, that unless God touched their hearts, they could never understand what Paul was saying.

Then, it makes you think about the miracle God has worked in our hearts to believe the truth!   To believe (and understand) what Paul was teaching all those years ago is so big!  As I sat there listening to the Acts reading last Sunday, I began to get a glimpse of what Jesus has done in my own heart!  He touched my heart and let me believe and understand the truth!  When I start to really take in how much love is in that, it feels overwhelming!  I just sat there with tears welling up thinking about it!

I love what Lou has always said because it’s so true, “I can’t believe I believe this, y’all!”  Any of those brothers sitting at the table who understood and believed Paul could have said the same thing!  (Hey! Maybe you should add Lou’s line to the conversation:).

Lee Ann

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

From Pastor John:

I am thinking about adding this to the Acts conversation, if I can find a good place for it.  How does it sound?

Peter’s Companion #1:
I met Peter in Joppa when He came and healed Dorcas, and I was one who went with him to Cornelius’ house.  To go there with him was not easy to decide to do, and we would not have gone at all, but for Peter’s vision.
Peter’s Companion #2:  None of us could understand why God would send anyone to Gentiles.  The last thing we expected was for Messiah to baptize them with the Spirit just because they believed Peter when he told them that through Jesus, God would wash away their sins!

Peter’s Companion #1:
Truthfully, we can’t even say that it was “the last thing we expected” because we did not expect it at all.
PC#2:  Yes!  God receiving Gentiles?  It was unthinkable, impossible.
PC#1: We were all dumbfounded.
PC#2: I don’t think I slept for two days.  I would lie in bed and ask, over and over, “What was that?  What had we just witnessed?”
PC#1: “What had God done?”
PC#2: Yes.  That was it.  We knew it was the work of God, but what did it mean?
PC#1: The only thing I was sure of was that Solomon was proved wrong.  For he said, “There is no new thing under the sun.”  But for God to grant Gentiles – Gentiles! – remission of sins was a new thing!
All: Amen!, etc.
Saul: Men and brothers, you know that God promised in Isaiah, “Behold, I do a new thing.”  Now, as you yourselves can see, He has done it.  However, this new thing is not fully explained by Peter’s Gospel, but by mine.

Good morning Pastor John,

I know several have had testimonies about feeling the spirit in the car, well I wanted to share my experience this morning.  I put in a meeting CD and Gary started singing “Our God is Great and Mighty” and all of a sudden the spirit fell!  It was so good!  I was driving down the highway with one hand on the wheel and one hand in the air praising God!!  My head was bobbing, my left foot was tapping and I was speaking in tongues!  Whew…I still feel it!  How sweet it is to have the holy Ghost and feel it down deep in your soul!! Very, very thankful for the holy Ghost and for the truth!!

Michelle H.

=========

Amen!  But please be careful!  On earth, there is not yet a law against driving under the influence of the holy Ghost, but I fell sure that it would be frowned upon.

Pastor John

Pastor John, 

After looking over the Bookbaby sales report that Token just shared this evening, and then considering that the report is reflecting some interest in these important issues, I was reminded of something that I was considering last week.

After our “Acts 15 debate” and the processing of some of the new understanding that came with it, I became convinced that there could be a lot of value in a tract focusing on, “The Two Gospels”.  I was given much clarity just by the indirect light that was shone on it by our “debate”. And I already knew it to be true!  Your current work with Acts 15 has demonstrated that without knowing that fact, to wit, there are two ACCEPTABLE gospels in the Bible, we really cannot know or understand anything.

The knowledge of two gospels almost acts as a foundation for learning anything that occurred after Peter went to the Gentile’s house and “had just begun to speak”. Knowing there are two gospels acts like a “Rosetta Stone” for the New Testament. Without it, nothing makes sense.  I am persuaded that for an honest heart, learning there is a second and symbol-less gospel for the Gentiles may provide a much-needed escape from a guilt-driven way of worship that they don’t understand…and that is poorly and incorrectly executed at that.

Without the knowledge that there are two ACCEPTABLE gospels being discussed in the New Covenant scriptures, all a person may see is that there is a commandment, or at the very least a compelling argument, to do things such as a water baptism and a ceremonial communion.

There can be a lot of guilt and fear  experienced by going against what the Bible seems to be saying. I think “The Two Gospels” is a door out of that confusion. It could clear a lot of air.

Just a thought 🙂

 Jerry

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

Pastor John,

I agree with Jerry!  To understand there were two acceptable gospels helps and does take away guilt of hearing those right thoughts from the Lord.

Michelle

Amazing Grace, How sweet the sound

That saved a wretch like me.

I once was lost, but now am found

T’was blind but now I see.

 

T’was Grace that taught my heart to fear

And Grace, my fears relieved.

How precious did that grace appear

The hour I first believed.

 

Pastor John,

After talking to sweet Donna C today I decided to look up the lyrics to Amazing Grace. I wrote a while back about Jesus pointing out the verse ” How sweet the sound” and how amazing it was to see that was tongues. Today when I was reading the verse “Twas Grace that taught my heart to fear and Grace my fears relieved,”  it jumped out at me. The person who wrote this song had a relationship with Jesus.  How wonderful to see the truth so plainly written and in a song the whole world knows. Even if they cannot understand it.

Jesus put The fear of The Lord in my heart. That was the grace of The Lord because I had no fear. I was not raised to fear God. The Grace, the Truth, has taught my heart to fear and truth my fears relieved. The more Jesus teaches me the more I love this song. 

Beth

 

Hi Pastor John!

This really touched me so I wanted to share it with you.  Sometimes I feel like there is so much good food from God being served up, that I don’t know how I can take it all in. I am still getting over the fact God is really really real.  I have days of just sitting in awe of that fact alone. 

Well last night, as our sweet brothers read page 22, I had the sweetest whisper from Jesus, just a soft little whisper to my heart.

The paragraph (I attached it below) about Job understanding that if he prayed and God answered his prayer, it was because God put that prayer on Job’s heart and had already determined it would be done,  this is where Jesus whispered to me. “Remember your chocolate!”

Jesus let me experience prayer being put on our heart by Him and answered by Him with that testimony about praying for chocolate.  That experience just made it so easy to see and believe Job knew that it came from God because I know it comes from God.  I need those experiences because it makes it so clear and so real. I also feel so light knowing Jesus is going to let me understand all of this.  There is no struggle or worry because sweet Jesus has me right where I am supposed to be, learning exactly what I am supposed to be learning.

Oh, it is so easy and so good and so REAL!  I can’t believe this is our life, Pastor John!  It also really opened up a song by Darren for me. The song “HOLY PEOPLE” felt like our theme song for Acts 15.  I have listened to that song all day. 

I could go on and on and on…but I will stop for now! It is just so GOOD!

Beth 🙂

 

 

John,

Just a thought.

The following is an example of the reasoning I thought about when we were reading the Acts 15 Council today:

34  Then stood there up one in the council, a Pharisee, named Gamaliel, a doctor of the law, had in reputation among all the people, and commanded to put the apostles forth a little space;

35  And said unto them, Ye men of Israel, take heed to yourselves what ye intend to do as touching these men.

36  For before these days rose up Theudas, boasting himself to be somebody; to whom a number of men, about four hundred, joined themselves: who was slain; and all, as many as obeyed him, were scattered, and brought to nought.

37  After this man rose up Judas of Galilee in the days of the taxing, and drew away much people after him: he also perished; and all, even as many as obeyed him, were dispersed.

38  And now I say unto you, Refrain from these men, and let them alone: for if this counsel or this work be of men, it will come to nought:

39  But if it be of God, ye cannot overthrow it; lest haply ye be found even to fight against God.

40  And to him they agreed: and when they had called the apostles, and beaten them, they commanded that they should not speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go.

41  And they departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for his name.”

Wendell

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

Yes, Wendell.

Gamaliel was Paul’s Rabbi when he was a youth.  He obviously was a prudent man.

Pastor John