Hi John,

Doris and I have been reading the book of Hebrews, and at lunch at work I will read through the chapters again.  At work I had the best feelings of thankfulness for your teaching come over me while reading. I understood what I was reading about the tabernacle, the sanctuary, the candlesticks, the table, the shewbread, the veil, the Holiest of all, the ark of the covenant, the golden censor, the golden pot with manner, Aaron’s rod that budded, the tables, and so much more because of your teaching and what the Jesus has let me see.  I am very thankful to have you as my pastor.

Today while reading “by faith Noah…”, “by faith Abraham…”, “by faith Sarah…” etc., I start thinking about the faith we have had.  By faith, we believed God when he called, by faith we believed your teaching, by faith we came out of Christianity, and by faith, we repented and received the holy Ghost.  And the list goes on.

I just wanted to share with you the good thoughts and wonderful feelings I have been having.

Randell

Pastor John,

I’ve read that going to a holiness meeting is not serving God.​ ​ Preacher Clark said it​;​ you said it​;​ and many others, I imagine; the meeting of the saints is not serving God, it is a payday for serving Him all of the rest of the time.​  ​But then I thought, “How do you serve God?”  It is a simple question that the faithful and obedient in the Lord may never have to consider, but it felt good for me to ask it.​ ​ I ​k​new it wasn’t a meeting of the saints.​ ​ And it is not passing out trac​t​s, necessarily​ ​…. and I put them out for years.  Nor is it going out and telling folk about Jesus, necessarily.

I  went through a list of acceptable things​,​ and realized it was none of them, specifically​, but that serving God is the act of yielding. ​Yielding to God, yielding our members unto the Lord​, yielding to the Spirit, yielding to the Power.  We can’t know God’s thoughts or desires every moment​,​ like a list of chores to act them out and call it service to the Lord, but we can –​ ​and perhaps only can​ – yield to His power at this moment. ​ ​And we will have served Him for every moment that we were yielding.​ ​ It made me immediately think that no wonder it is true that  “He who hastens with his feet, sins​.​”​

In the light of these thoughts​,​ it seems impossible to me that we would be or could be yielding to God, while ​”hastening​”, or being in a hurry​.  And then I thought about slowing down. ​ ​We can’t serve God acceptably, which is to yield ourselves to Him, if we don’t slow down, slow  enough to feel the next living move, as it is happening. ​ ​And if we aren’t yielding​,​ I’m thinking that we aren’t serving the Living God.

​Jerry D

Pastor John,

I was lying here thinking that we have to stay lowly to survive God’s blessings, and I had this thought.  The difference between a blessing and a curse is your spiritual condition.  If God blesses you with a million dollars, and your spiritual condition is such that it carries you away from God, then you have been cursed.

It seems so simple but feels like it is right.

We pray always for good health for everyone and better understanding. Good night sir.

Jerry

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Hi Jerry,

I agree.  The book of Hebrews says that the same blessing of rainfall produces both sweet fruit and thorns, depending on the ground it falls upon.

May God give us grace to bear good fruit.

Pastor John

Good morning John,

It has been a “different” six days for me.  It has been over 20 years or more since my body has been in a state where I could not do anything.  I have been asking why, I think we must do that when these things happen.  I don’t have an answer from the Lord.  I know it is a sober time, and I know Jesus has answers.

Yesterday Sue T. sent me these old “Thoughts for the Morning” that I sent you years ago, when, I don’t know.  But they were a blessing to me to read them, and I thought I would pass them along.  If anyone is hurting, weak, or afflicted, I believe it is good to consider these things too.  It will give us peace knowing that God is working, and although we may be weak, He is still God.

Gary

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Thought for the Morning 1-15

Rejoicing in Weakness, Part 1

Good afternoon.

Boy, I am having a blessed day today!

This afternoon I went to the coffee shop with my Greek New Testament book and started to read 2 Corinthians. Donna said you all got blessed at verse 10, in chapter 12. But I never got there! I was overcome by reading verse 9!

I don’t know anything really about the Greek language, but I can match up the words a little bit here and there – and here are some possibilities of what I read in verse 9:

“The power is perfected in weakness”

“My power is perfected in weakness”

“The power in weakness is perfected”

“My power in weakness is perfected”

“The power in weakness is made perfect”

“My power in weakness is made perfect”

“In weakness my power is perfected”

“In weakness the power (of God) is perfected” …. and so on.

I just could not get off of those words… re-reading and rearranging them. And then, I started to get all flushed, and feeling it. The feeling was, “I’ve been going about it all wrong all this time!”

The goal, we oftentimes hear, is to “be strong in the Lord”. That’s not what I was feeling. I was feeling that the goal is really, to be “weak”. How weak can we be? How genuinely humble can we be? I was nearly afraid to think and say the next thought – but I did pray it anyway before fear could stop me: “Jesus, send me opportunities to be ‘weak’. In insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in distresses. For this truth, God, give me the strength I do not have without you.”

All of the people that God touched were made weak. Abraham (went out), Moses (fled), Joseph (imprisoned), David (sinned), your father (failures and disappointments, persecutions)…. who’s willing to go there?

God help us. I pray that God’s children will answer such a call.

Thought for the Morning 1-16

Rejoicing in Weakness, Part 2

Hi John.

I have NEVER before made the connection between weakness (infirmity), and power (strength). It was exciting to see how many times it is in there. That’s good.

2Cor. 12:9-10 “And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ’s sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong.”

2Cor. 13:4 “For though he was crucified through weakness, yet he liveth by the power of God. For we also are weak in him, but we shall live with him by the power of God toward you.“

Heb. 11:34 “[Those of faith] quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, waxed valiant in fight, turned to flight the armies of the aliens.”

1Cor. 2:3-5 “And I was with you in weakness, and in fear, and in much trembling. And my speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of man’s wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power: That your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God.”

1Cor. 15:42-43 “So also is the resurrection of the dead. It is sown in corruption; it is raised in incorruption: It is sown in dishonor; it is raised in glory: it is sown in weakness; it is raised in power.”

1Cor. 1:24-25 “But unto them which are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God. Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men; and the weakness of God is stronger than men.“

Gary

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Thanks, Gary. That is good! Paul speaks of taking pleasure in his weaknesses several times late in 2Corinthians, “so that the power of Christ may cover over me.” Amen!

Pastor John

PS- You are such a weakling that you make me feel weak!

Pastor John,

Jenny’s email about the cross and her thoughts about how men stop there and worship it instead of going past it and on to Jesus (see post June 1, 2015, The Cross), along with the​ other​ emails​,​ reminded me of when I was at your house recently with a few others. ​ ​There was a brief conversation about the cross and how that Jesus had to go beyond it to finish the sacrifice.​ ​ I know that we already know that, but it was refreshing to hear it again. ​ ​The truth really never does grow old to our ears or hearts.

I am still thinking about what you said to me as I hugged you and said goodbye. ​ ​You said “finish the sacrifice​.​”​ ​ I left there thinking, ​”Yes, I can do that.​” ​ I knew that my life is the sacrifice, but these emails have made what you said more clear to me.​ ​ In finishing the sacrifice, we are living our lives out to where we, with Jesus’ help, will one day be able to present our sacrifice (our life) to the Father​,​ as Jesus did. ​ ​This has been very good to think about.

Darren

Hi Pastor John,

I had a thought yesterday while watching a Jewish Rabbi on TV.  Sometimes they are refreshing to watch because they talk about the Law of Moses and Jewish history.

My thought was that the Tabernacle was not designed to be set up, taken down, and moved around in a desert for 40 years.  God’s people were supposed to move directly into Canaan from Kadesh-Barnea after the 40 days the spies, including Joshua and Caleb, searched out Canaan’s land and reported back to Moses.  We know how the story ends: Because of their fear and rebellion, God sent Israel back into the desert.

I look at Christianity and see God’s people wondering and searching for something (fellowship in the truth), and it’s been there in front of those precious souls the whole time.

God was giving Israel a land that He promised their fathers, but they didn’t want it; they were afraid to possess it.  It’s the same way in Christianity today; God has given the precious gift of the holy Ghost that he promised through prophets like Joel, but God’s people are too afraid to come out of Christianity and receive the rest that He has for his people, and they spend the whole lives searching and wondering.

I remember I was searching for the truth for years, even though I had the holy Ghost, and told myself, “There has got to be something more than the way I had been living (even with the holy Ghost).”  Then, when God put you in my life, or rather put me in your life, the first meeting at Bro. Gary’s unfinished house in Louisville, with the plastic and army blankets on the floor, that desire of searching and wondering what is right and true left.  From that moment on, I felt as though I found it, or rather God rescued me.  No more wondering, no more searching, no more asking God what is right.  I could experience joy, truth, and, finally, peace and rest in my life.  In essence, the Temple (which I am in Jesus) can be set up permanently in my heart to do its job of functioning in me and for others.  The Truth certainly makes you free form wondering.

I think about that day at Gary’s house often.

Hope all is well,

Billy

Hi Pastor John,

At work a few of our patients have had some altered heart rhythms, which is not something I see a lot of lately, so this evening I’ve been reviewing heart rhythms. Working through my review of the rhythms really got me to thinking and I started seeing it in a spiritual way…

You know how you see in hospital a heart rhythm on a monitor – it tells you about electrical impulses in the heart and what the heart is doing and gives you an idea of how well the heart is functioning and ultimately how well blood is flowing through the body. This is what it all comes down to: how well the heart is functioning, is how well blood is flowing through the body delivering oxygen and nutrients to all parts of the body, and removing wastes from the body.

It gets better when you get down to the nitty gritty. And it gets pretty detailed. When the heart is functioning properly you will see a very ordered and consistent heart rhythm (and it’s actually beautiful!). You will see what’s called a “P wave” followed by a QRS complex followed by a “T Wave”. And this corresponds to the hearts pumping action and how well it pumps. And this order repeats continually: you will see a “P wave” followed by a QRS complex followed by a “T Wave”; and a “P wave” followed by a QRS complex followed by a “T Wave” and so on, in that proper order. And this is done in the correct timing, too. This order shows that the heart is pumping and blood is flowing properly through the heart to the body. (This order just makes me rejoice!)

But when the heart is disordered and not working properly the “P waves” get mixed up, and sometimes you don’t see them at all. Sometimes there is no QRS complex and the T waves get messed up. And sometimes the timing of when these waves and complexes happen is all out of whack. The rhythm can get really bizarre and messed up, and so the heart and blood flow is messed up, too.

But what was really good to me tonight was what I was noticing most is that it is a lack of order in the heart that disrupts the flow of blood from the heart – and the body is affected – it doesn’t receive oxygen and nutrients it needs, and wastes are not being removed. The more the heart rhythm is disordered; the more dangerous it is for the body.

It makes me think of The Body: “Us”. How when order among the saints is not being kept then flow of the spirit is affected. And when the heart is not working properly, the flow of the spirit is affected. It makes me see something in it for the whole body, but also for me personally: it makes me want to keep my own heart in order. It makes me so thankful for the order you keep.

I just wanted to tell you.

Jenny

Hi Pastor John,

I’ve been looking for photos today for the Beyond The Cross music video I am doing. I want to put a few photos of crosses and then pan away from them. – I want to hopefully make the point for people to look past/beyond the cross. I don’t know if it will work out though.

While I’m looking at these photos I’ve noticed a few of them are photos with men at the foot of the cross on their knees looking up at it, or with hands raised before the cross. It really struck me how they are worshipping that cross, not the one who died on it for their sins. It just looks so odd – there is no one on that cross anymore – it’s just an empty object. It’s just so empty and void.

A lot of the other images of crosses are very religious. I don’t know what to say about it, but I do not like how it feels. It’s just so “dressed up” – they’re dressing up this wooden beam!

Still, when it’s all said and done, I’m glad Jesus looks at hearts. There are many who that cross means a lot to, and I’m glad he looks at the heart first, and most of all.

Jenny

Pastor John,

I felt like I understood something today. Better than I have before.  Something you have been describing for a long time.  What real liberty is for the children of God.

Many years ago, in Louisville, some of the saints were sitting around talking and the question came up, “Would you feel OK about printing off the Thoughts for the Day and associated emails, using the paper at your work place?”  In other words, using company paper to print out gospel or related material. Well, several Saints said they would feel fine about using a little paper for that, and some other Saints said they would not use any company paper because it was not theirs.   Well, I think that I understand that the answer to that question lies somewhere else.  Three weeks ago, you told us of a place that Christ is calling us to, a place of neither this or that.  A place of just living in the Spirit.  A place above choosing right or wrong or good and evil.  A place where God’s children are above choosing, above struggling with carnal decisions and the division that it inevitably causes.

Brother John, choosing to use or not use paper to print material is another carnal decision that causes more strife and division.  God’s children are above that.  We have to be.  Let’s live where what we do at that moment is the will of God, and it will always be right, even if our responses to the same situation change every day.  How can we be kept in perfect peace if we are divided about paper?  In the place that you described, we just are, we just do and it is God.  If we have to make a choice, we have already missed it.  God doesn’t choose, He just does, and we are to be like Him.   Where the Power is, where it can be felt, we are just holy, and we do what we do and it is God, and that is never less than perfect.

I want to know more about this place pastor John.  We can just love everybody from this place.  There is no strife, only pity, I would think, for those who were not enjoying God’s life.  That kind of freedom sounds scary to the flesh, or even like a free pass with no rules, but it isn’t.  God’s children have no written rules; the Spirit is the rule, and it is alive, and it will never be out of order or disorderly or mistreat anyone.  It will pass through the fire.   If you are walking, moving, living in the Power of Jesus, and you use all of your work’s paper, then it had to be right.  If you use none, it had to be right.  The answer is to live in the Power, which is that Spirit.

I know I talked your ear off, but I believe that was from Jesus.  I don’t want to keep any thought to myself that I believe came from the Spirit.  I’m going to go light a small bonfire with Beth’s boy, Anthony.

We are always thinking of you, sir.  Always praying for your full recovery.  I hope you can sleep well.

Jerry

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Hi Jerry.

Yes, you got the point, and that place, where our choices are already made for us by the Spirit, is the place of perfect peace and rest that the Scriptures speak of.  In that holy place, we just live.

I was around some folks, years ago, who were struggling with the right way to dress, whether it was sin to wear shorts, etc.  During that time, I was praying, and the sweetest feeling I have ever felt came over me, and I saw that when we walk in the Spirit, we don’t even think about such things.  Whatever we put on when we get up in the morning will be perfect because we are walking with Jesus.  We cannot sin or be a stumbling block to others when we walk with Jesus, above all the controversies of this vain life.

So, yes, you are seeing what I was trying to communicate.  This is the “liberty of the sons of God”, and it is so great and good that it frightens the very children of God that it belongs to.  And, of course, the world cannot even believe that it exists.  The difficulty in getting it across is that words get in the way. The truth is not in words; it is in the power of God.

Pastor John

Hi Pastor John,

I’ve been reading the tract on Works today. It’s SO GOOD to my soul. I just wanted to say thank you for all your work. I just LOVE how the truth just makes good, godly irrefutable sense (well, it’s irrefutable if you are being reasonable and sensible). I love how you say how Paul and James agree with each other. I remember the first time I read that – how I rejoiced in that after years of being confused about why 2 parts of the bible did not seem to agree. It just makes sense to me that 2 men of God would agree with each other, not disagree. And I love how God gave it to you to show how those men are in harmony. And I am very thankful it agrees with my soul. I’m thankful God loves me. I just wanted to say so.

Jenny

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Hi, Jenny.

Thank you for letting me know. It is a wonderful thing to be able to rejoice in the truth with others!  I feel like Paul did when he said he was “comforted together with you by the mutual faith both of you and me” (Rom. 1:12).

Pastor John