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  • Do you really love, or just think it?

    Most people judge themselves by what they think they are, within.  In the Final Judgment, God will judge us all by what we have done.  Whose judgment do you think will stand?

    You can flatter yourself by saying that you love people, but if you do not express love to those people in a way that makes them feel it, your “love” imaginary; it is worthless.  In fact, it isn’t even real.  Remember the words of this song; they are true:

    “A bell’s not a bell ’til you ring it.
    A song’s not a song ’til you sing it.
    Love in your heart wasn’t put there to stay;
    Love isn’t love ’til you give it away.”

    Now, go give your love away!

    Pastor John

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

    Aw, this is so good. After reading the section you sent yesterday on “Love” from the Father and Son book, the Father had the greatest love of all because His expression of love for us was that He gave His Son. Wonder how we would feel about Him if He did nothing?

    You can say that you love people in your head, think out a whole conversation, even play out a whole scene and think you’ve accomplished your goal, but until you actually do something, nobody ever knows! The other person or people know nothing. They are just waiting or wondering how you feel, and can eventually conclude that you just don’t care. It really means a lot to feel loved. The least we can do is express to one another the love that has been given to us – in action.

    This is good.
    Amy B

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

    I love this, and Amy’s response too.  It’s almost like the whole generation is playing video games in their heads and “doing” things that they never actually do.   I was thinking the other day, if some young people would be held accountable to present a list at night before they go to bed of everything that was physically DONE for them versus everything they DID to help someone else, it would be an eye-opener for them.

    God help us be and to train our children to give GIVERS and not TAKERS in the real world.  It will make us very thankful and able to “see” those who are really contributing to our lives as well.

     te.

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

    Yes, this is so true John.
     
    It may be very interesting to compare the personal time young (and now old) people spend on “virtual” things  (facebook, computer whizbang stuff, video games, etc.)  vs. how much personal time is spent on REAL things – on real people…. work that actually accomplishes something real, that blesses, that betters other people’s lives in some real way.
     
    Not saying we can’t do any of these things, but where do we really stand in this growing “virtual” world, where we have been warned that “love will grow cold”?  What a challenge to us in this generation of ours.
     
    Gary

  • 2Thess. 2:7

    Dear Pastor John,

    Who is the one in 2 Thessalonians 2:7 that needs to be taken out of the way, who holds back the revealing of the man of sin?

    Thank you for your answer!

    Zoli

    =======

    Hi, Brother Zoli.

    I have always understood that verse, as well as the one before it, as referring to the Spirit.  The Spirit is at present holding back the full force of mystery of iniquity, but when God withdraws His Spirit, that “man of sin” will be revealed and unleashed on the world.

    The spirit of antichrist will be given perfect expression through the Beast and the false prophet found in Revelation.  But that same spirit is at work now in the confused religious institution that men call “Christianity”, and those who are in it are being prepared by its false ways to receive the Beast and false prophet when they come.

    Thank you for the question.

    Pastor John

  • 1 Peter 3:20

    Pastor John,

    I’ve have been reviewing Greek prepositions by looking at various verses.  This one from 1 Peter 3:20 is interesting to me, particularly the last part where the preposition dia is used. I never quite understood that part of the verse as the King James Version translates it, “eight souls were saved by water”. It seems that it should read that “eight souls were saved from water.”

     “ἀπειθήσασίν ποτε, ὅτε ἀπεξεδέχετο ἡ τοῦ θεοῦ μακροθυμία ἐν ἡμέραις Νῶε, κατασκευαζομένης κιβωτοῦ, εἰς ἣν ὀλίγαι, τοῦτ’ ἔστιν ὀκτὼ ψυχαί, διεσώθησαν δι’ ὕδατος·”

    “Which sometime were disobedient, when once the longsuffering of God waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was a preparing, wherein few, that is, eight souls were saved by water. “(KJV)

    Some translations say “saved through water” or “brought safely through water”. 

    It looks like water is in the genitive case, so I guess that means dia could be translated either through or by. 

    How would you translate that part of the verse?  

    Thanks,

    Tom 

    ===========

    Hi Tom.

    “By” is the correct translation of dia in this verse.  The righteous were saved from having to live among the wicked by the massive amount of water God sent.  The Flood destroyed the wicked, along with the world.  The next time God saves the righteous, it will be by fire:

    2Peter 3:10-12 (KJV): “But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up.  Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness,  looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat?”

    This fire will destroy the wicked along with this world, and the righteous will thus be saved by fire from having to live in a wicked world.  Instead of this wicked world, God has prepared for His people a far better place:

    2Peter 3:13 (KJV): “Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness.”

    So, yes, Noah and his family were saved by water, just as God’s NT people will someday be saved by fire.

    Hope that helps.

    Pastor John

     

  • Church History and testimonies

    Pastor John,

    I always have questions that need to be asked. The biggest & most difficult question that has bugged me over the years concerning this message (that I believe is the Truth) is, what to do with all the so-called “great men of God” that we esteem so much within Christianity, such as John Wesley etc… We are literally standing on the shoulders of these guys, saying they are in Hell, basically??  I can’t see the New Birth any other way, but Church History plus everything, including testimonies of changed lives, bug me!! But Church History is pointing it’s finger at us saying “cult” & a lot of other choice words!!

    I just wanna always be REASONABLE as Pastor John taught in the New Birth series!! I just have a lot of questions.  Can u please help me with this?  

    John

    ==========

    Hi John,

    Those are thoughtful questions.  I am glad you asked them.

    We honor all who served Jesus before our time, regardless of how well they understood the doctrine – as long as they had the Spirit and really did belong to Christ.  From what I have read, John Wesley (whom you mentioned) is in that number of truly born again men, but only God, of course, is the final Judge of that.

    Peter exhorted the saints to honor all men (1Pet. 2:17).  At the same time, we are warned throughout the Bible not to be “respecters of persons”.  That is, we are not to honor anyone so highly that they can influence us to deny the truth of Christ.

    So, whatever good anyone in history has done, he has done nothing comparable to the good that Christ accomplished for us when he offered himself without blemish to God for our sins.  We are to honor the sweet Lamb of God above all men, whoever they are and however great may be their earthly reputation.  All men altogether are less than nothing compared to Jesus Christ.

    After the young man Saul of Tarsus met Christ on the road to Damascus and the truth was revealed to him, he lost his previous high regard for the reputations of men. He reverenced Jesus and the truth that Jesus revealed to him so completely that, to Saul (Paul), even Jesus’ own disciples were nothing in comparison.

     Galatians 2:1-2,6 KJV

    [1] Then fourteen years after I went up again to Jerusalem . . . . [2] And I went up by revelation, and communicated unto them that gospel which I preach among the Gentiles, but privately to them which were of reputation, lest by any means I should run, or had run, in vain. [6] But of these who seemed to be somewhat, (whatsoever they were, it maketh no matter to me; God accepteth no man’s person:) for they who seemed to be somewhat in conference added nothing to me.”

    Paul was respectful of others, and he loved people, but his devotion to Christ and the true gospel was supreme, and Paul never compromised the truth to appease people, even the best of them.

    As for the testimonies of changed lives from people who have not yet received the holy Ghost baptism (= have not yet been born again), we can rejoice at the grace of God given to them.  At the same time, we know that one’s life must change in order to receive the new birth.  Christian ministers pervert the gospel of Christ when they tell those whose lives have been touched and changed by Jesus that they are born again.  Jesus touched and changed Paul’s life on the road to Damascus, but he was not born again and his sins were not washed away until later, when a servant of Jesus laid hands on him and he was baptized with the holy Ghost!

    Acts 22:12-16 KJV

    [12] And one Ananias, a devout man according to the law, having a good report of all the Jews which dwelt there, [13] Came unto me, and stood, and said unto me, Brother Saul, receive thy sight. And the same hour I looked up upon him. [14] And he said, The God of our fathers hath chosen thee, that thou shouldest know his will, and see that Just One, and shouldest hear the voice of his mouth. [15] For thou shalt be his witness unto all men of what thou hast seen and heard. [16] And now why tarriest thou? arise, and be baptized, and wash away thy sins, calling on the name of the Lord.”

    I hope that helps you with your dilemma, John.  We can respect others for whatever good they may have done, without becoming “respecter of persons” and denying the truth of Christ.

    Your servant in Christ,

    Pastor John

  • A Waterfall

    Hi John.

    I had a quick dream last night.

    I saw a waterfall, pure as any water that I have even seen.  I followed it up to its beginning and it was so high it vanished out of my sight.  I then followed it down to where it was flowing and I looked and it was your recliner and you were sitting in it and preaching and teaching us the way you did this past Wednesday night.  The water was just saturating you and overflowing and spraying the entire room.  It was amazing.

    I do pray and hope for your recovery.  We love you Pastor John

    Billy M

  • Meeting tonight

    Hi John,

    I heard a tape with Preacher Clark preaching on it and he was saying what you were saying tonight: “Don’t sit there and say, ‘I am this way’ or ‘I am that way’, and ask God to help, but don’t do anything about it.”  He said, “Change it!  Don’t do it anymore!  If you don’t like the way it is, change it!  Do what you can.  You don’t want to steal any more?  Quit steeling!!!”

    I know some things take the Spirit to deliver us from, but if we are real, we will stop what we can and keep ourselves ready for him to help us. He will do his part, as you were saying.  We want to make sure we are doing our part.  You just be happy that your name is written in the book of life 🙂 I love that!!!

    Thanks

    Stuart

  • Sweet Thoughts

    Pastor John,

    I woke up this morning thinking about how as we get older we remember things from our childhood that really stand out. When I was in the 4th grade at Aycock School, I had a best friend named Teresa. She took piano lessons from our principal’s wife, Mrs. Newell. They lived in the teacherage right next to the school. So one day I walked over to Mrs. Newell’s little music room with Teresa to watch her during her music lesson. I sat down on the piano bench beside her and listened to her play “My Hope Is Built” and watching her little hands was so pretty. When she got to the chorus, “On Christ, the solid Rock, I stand; All other ground is sinking sand, All other ground is sinking sand”, the way she played those few little notes, making that sound was so pretty. Something about that touched me in some little way. 

    I remember going home and telling Mama and Daddy that I wanted to take piano lessons and I wanted a piano. Mama said, “Sheila, nobody in our family plays piano” and I said, “I don’t care I want to play and I want a piano.” So they bought me an old piano from an old man named Mr. Collins. It sounded like a honky tonk piano and that is what we called it many times. It was a high back piano that he had cut down and added a pretty mirror across the top. Mrs. Newell was my piano teacher for about 6 years and oh, my, those piano recitals were the beginnings of my nervous stomach. Mama made my fancy dress and Mrs. Newell wanted those piano pieces (as she called them) perfect. We had to play solos and duets, sometimes 2 pianos, with 4  people, 2 on each stool. But the music was outstanding. 

    All through the years when I would have any kind of problem, that piano was a companion and comfort to me, kinda like a friend, during my good times and bad times, happy times and sad times. Mostly, I played hymns and felt tears come into my eyes so often, even before I received the holy Ghost. Some times I would whisper to the Lord, you were so sweet to let me have little feelings at 10 years old when I first heard Teresa play “My Hope Is Built”. That is such a dear memory to me. 

    I just found my old Cokesbury Worship Hymnal and looked up that song. But also, I looked in the front of the book and saw a couple of sayings that I had written down. So I took a picture of it for you to see. The one about sorrow reminded me of my times spent with Preacher Clark in the nursing home right before he died. I would read to him from the Bible and we didn’t talk much but when I left, walking down the hallway, I was thinking, Preacher Clark you are still teaching me without saying any words. 

    Sheila

    (Click or tap on photo to enlarge)

     

    unnamed 3

  • 1Jn. 4:2-3

    New Birth Series

     

    Dear Pastor John,

    I’ve just finished reading the part called “The Spirit of Antichrist” from your New Birth Series and I am in shock. Pretty much from the beginning of my Christian life I felt that something is not right about the doctrine I received about Holy Spirit baptism. Reading the Bible I saw that if it’s a real thing it must be much more important than what it is taught to be. 3 years ago I received the Holy Spirit myself and it changed my life and my view about God and walking with Him. Then the teachings of David Pawson’s helped me realize that the Holy Spirit baptism is the seal of the Lord, it is being born of the Spirit, though I never dared to openly tell it to anyone because I knew that even my charismatic friends wouldn’t accept it. But I start to see now that it must be said openly, it must be preached. I feel that this truth is setting me free. And I start to understand so many things that have happened in my last 13 yeas since I first put my faith in Jesus. I can see now why I never had peace about the thought that we receive the Spirit twice. 

    I have a question though about your interpretation of 1 John 4:2-3. I was taught that John was saying these things because a Gnostic doctrine started to come into the church saying that Jesus didn’t have a human body, he was only a ghost or a phantom. So, they say, John here is referring to these teachings and saying that the Spirit of God does confess that Jesus was here on earth in a human body, and the spirit of antichrist is  not willing to confess it. What do you think about this interpretation? Does the original Greek text support your interpretation of these verses?

    Thank you for your answer! God bless you! Zoli,

    Hungary
    =============== 

    Hi, Brother Zoli,

    Yes, the Greek text supports what I am saying about the Spirit of antichrist.  The idea that John was talking about Gnostics is guesswork by scholars who do not know what else to think.  The few who taught such a thing would have presented no challenge to the faith of the saints and certainly would not have earned them the title “antichrist”, as though they were especially dangerous to the body.

    Please stay in touch.  I hope you always feel as welcome as you are to ask us anything that comes to mind about what we are teaching or doing.

    Pastor John

     

  • Hebrews 2:14

    Pastor John,

    I have a question about Hebrews 2:14.

    “Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil;…”

    Why does it state the devil has power over death?

    Beth

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

    Hi Beth.

    First of all, Satan having the power of death does not mean that he had the power to decide life or death for people.  God alone had that power, as He told Moses and Israel (Dt. 32:39 KJV), “See now that I, even I, am he, and there is no god with me: I kill, and I make alive; I wound, and I heal: neither is there any that can deliver out of my hand.”

    God turned all power over to the Son when the Son was revealed.  That is why Jesus said in Revelation1:18, “I am he that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death.”

    Satan, being god of this world, had power over spiritually dead people in this world, to influence them to do his will, and he had power over dead things in this world, things used by spiritually dead people in their worship.  In the Old Testament, Satan was still in the kingdom of God, and he often exercised authority over those who were in covenant with God.  Those people were using dead earthly things to worship God, such as slaughtered animals, physical religious clothing, water, fire, earthly buildings, etc.  Satan’s power over dead earthly things meant that he had a right to be involved with those who used dead things to worship God.

    When Jesus came, he made a “new and living way” to worship God which included nothing dead.  This new covenant is a covenant of life, and Satan’s power over death is meaningless.  He cannot partake of life with us; he has no authority over God’s people who walk in the Spirit; he is cast out of the kingdom of God now, for “the kingdom of God is righteousness, peace, and joy in the holy Ghost.”

    Do not return to the use of dead things to worship God.  Satan is still the god of this dead world, but he has no power over us who walk after the Spirit and not after the flesh.

    I feel that there is more to this than I yet understand, but this answer will put you on the right path.

    Your servant,

    Pastor John

     

  • Mark 16:17-18

    Pastor John,

    I came to my room to read with the thought of reading in Luke but when I opened my bible I stopped at Mark 16:17-18.  I read the scriptures and then got my print out of your translation and read again.  

    I kept having a question come to mind.  If the bible says “these signs shall follow them that believe,” and we don’t see these happening among us, what does that mean?  Does this mean “all” of these signs, or occasionally 1 or 2 of them?  Or should these signs should be an occurrence that happens daily among believers?

    Michelle

    ===========

    Hi Michelle.

    Good question.

    Jesus is describing how it will be among those who truly believe in him.  Obviously, these things do not happen all the time among us or God’s people as a whole.  Jesus is just saying, “If you want to find those who truly belong to me, look for these signs.”

    Having said that, I hasten to add that when the body of Christ is healthy, these signs will be seen much more than they are seen today in the body of Christ.  God’s people at this time in history, as a whole, are plundered, divided, confused, and spiritually weak. We need a visitation from the Lord to restore order in his earthly family, and that order comes through the working of His mighty power in His people.

    Pray for God’s people everywhere.  We are sick.

    Pastor John

     

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