Hello Pastor John,

I’ve just read through the book of Colossians, and it was the first time I read it with the understanding that I was baptized when I was baptized in the Spirit; that Christ has taken residence within me when Jesus filled me with the Holy Spirit; that my “circumcision” took place when the Holy Ghost came upon me and I started praising God in a new language. And wow, suddenly the words of this epistle meant so much more to me than any time before. Actually they just started meaning SOMETHING to me!

Oh that Jesus would keep washing my heart and mind with His truth, and that He would give us grace to keep trusting Him and loving Him!

Also, when I read the following words of Paul, I was reminded of you guys telling me how through the years you’ve kept trying to get the message out to so many people:

As you pray, be sure to pray for us also. Pray that God will open the door for us to preach the Word. We want to tell the secret of Christ. And this is the reason I am in prison. Pray that I will be able to preach so everyone can understand. This is the way I should speak.” (Colossians 4:3-4, NLV)

I remember you also said how it’s almost like a mystery why people cannot see the truth. I was reading 2 Corinthians a couple of days ago and this is what I read, and I was reminded of that conversation:

 Through God’s loving-kindness, He has given us this job to do. So we do not give up. We have put away all things that are done in secret and in shame. We do not play with the Word of God or use it in a false way. Because we are telling the truth, we want men’s hearts to listen to us. God knows our desires. If the Good News we preach is hidden, it is hidden to those who are lost in sin. The eyes of those who do not believe are made blind by Satan who is the god of this world. He does not want the light of the Good News to shine in their hearts.” (2 Corinthians 4:1-4, NLV)

God, have mercy on us and all your people in this world!

God bless you and have a nice day!

Zoli

John,

Here is the Uncle Joe writing [from the early 1960s], which I typed this afternoon. It had the tenderest feeling for God’s people in it, and after hearing Jesus’ message to us this evening, it felt like Uncle Joe was right there with us. Jesus’ messages to the body are timeless.

 I am grateful for the times Jesus and you have suffered and laid down your life for and with me.
 Bess

Poured Out His Soul to Death

There are not very many who would pour out their soul unto death for the saving of one in distress.

Those who have been swimming in the ocean know that there is a limit to how far the swimmers can go out to sea. This limitation is for the safety of everyone, even though some may be better swimmers than others. Though the limitation markers are out there some will venture to go farther.

The lifeguards are there to warn those who will heed the spoken word. Some, no matter how well they can swim, at times, need his assistance inside the safety range. There are always some who will dare to go beyond the safety point. There will be times when a second warning will turn the daring one back to safety. There are cases when a life line can be thrown to those who are in danger. Then again, there are those who are so desperately in need of help that the only way to save that person is for the lifeguard to jump in the water with the drowning person. Then not only is the drowning person in danger but the person rescuing the drowning one also is in peril. The greater the danger the greater the risk and the greater the concern and love for the one in danger.

When I think of this I’m reminded of the words to a verse in the song “Blessed Redeemer”         

                 Father forgive them, thus did He pray

                 Even while His life’s blood flowed fast away.

                 Praying for sinners while in such woe

                 No one but Jesus ever loved so.

My friend, that’s what he did for us. He went beyond the limits of safety to rescue us. Even through death itself.

God has had some daring leaders, through the ages, who cared enough to go beyond that that was required of them to rescue others from danger. Moses was one of them. “And the LORD said unto Moses, I have seen this people, and it is a stiffnecked people: now therefore let me alone, that my wrath may wax hot against them, and that I may consume them: and I will make of thee a great nation. And Moses besought the LORD his God, and said, LORD, why doth thy wrath wax hot against thy people, which thou hast brought forth out of the land of Egypt with great power, and with a mighty hand? Wherefore should the Egyptians speak, and say, For mischief did He bring them out, to slay them in the mountains, and to consume them from the face of the earth? Turn from thy fierce wrath and repent of this evil against thy people. Remember Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, thy servants, to whom thou swearest by thine own self and saidest unto them, I will multiply thy seed as the stars of heaven, and all this land that I have spoken of will I give unto your seed, and they shall inherit it for ever. And the LORD repented of the evil which he thought to do unto His people” (Exodus 32:9-14).

“And Moses returned unto the LORD, and said, Oh, this people have sinned a great sin, and made them gods of gold. Yet now, if thou wilt forgive their sin; and if not, blot me, I pray thee, out of thy book which thou hast written. And the LORD said unto Moses, Whosoever hath sinned against me, him will I blot out of my book” (Exodus 32:31-33). Thus did Moses dare to venture out beyond the safety zone for the deliverance of the Israelites.

My friend, how far would you be willing to go to help someone you loved? Would you dare to risk your own soul for the deliverance of a child of God who is entangled with and bothered by a spirit of infirmity that is sure to drown that soul in perdition unless he or she is delivered? I’m afraid we haven’t seen the depth of love that Christ expects us to partake of for the deliverance of his dearly beloved. How much do you care? How much do you love? Would you go beyond the limits of safety of your own salvation and pull that one with whom you could share his blood and bring him again to safety? It might be that you have the strength to save your loved one and be rescued in the end yourself.

We find another example of one willing to go beyond the safety limits to save those who were on their way to destruction. The apostle Paul had this to say concerning his concern and sorrow for the Jews. “I say the truth in Christ, I lie not, my conscience also bearing me witness in the holy Ghost, that I have great heaviness and continual sorrow in my heart. For I could wish that myself were accursed from Christ for my brethren, my kinsmen according to the flesh: who are Israelites; to whom pertaineth the adoption, and the glory, and the covenants, and the giving of the law, and the service of God, and the promises; whose are the fathers, and of whom as concerning the flesh Christ came, who is over all, God blessed for ever. Amen. (Rom. 9:1-5).

Hey Pastor John,

As the snow melts, I imagine a tiny glimpse of what it must have looked like for the Israelites w​a​ndering in the desert​,​ being given ​m​anna to eat. ​ ​They described ​m​anna like ​”​small​,​ white coriander seeds that fell from heaven​,​ and it lay on the ground.​ ​ And when the sun waxed hot, it melted.​”​

Kay

Hi everyone!

Brother Zoli has been reading my father’s biography.  He sent me an excerpt from the book (below), and added a brief comment afterward.

Pastor John

BROTHER HUNNINGS GETS UNSAVED

One of the first people with whom my father discussed his revelation from God concerning the new and quickly-spreading doctrine of “getting saved” was Brother Hunnings. He found Brother Hunnings standing alongside a street and began to explain what God had said to him and how the truth had been revealed, not knowing what kind of reaction the older man would have. Brother Hunnings kept looking down, listening in silence, his handlebar mustache curling up on his cheeks.

When my father finished talking, he stood still and waited for Brother Hunnings’ response. The elder pondered for a few moments what had been told him, his face turned down toward the ground. At length he said very calmly, “Now, let me see if I understand what you’re saying.” With that, he made an “X” in the dirt with the toe of his shoe and said, “This ‘X’ is the filling station.” Then with the toe of his shoe he drew a line in the dirt, saying, “After we’re filled, we live in this world until we die or Jesus comes.” And with that, he drew another “X” at the end of the line. “And that is the saving station. You’re saying that the saving station is at the end of the line, not at the beginning.”

My father said, “You’ve got it!” Brother Hunnings began to help him preach the new message everywhere they went.

I love it!! :)))

Zoli

Hey good afternoon.

 Just been reading in Galatians chapter 3 vs. 22-29. It’s good when things are plain.  Paul was talking about the “schoolmaster” (the law) and how we don’t need it anymore because Jesus took over. It was good feeling!  Thank God. 😄

Greg C.

http://www.goingtojesus.com/site/php/homosexualityandthebible.html

Good morning!

My family and I read your tract, “Homosexuality and the Bible”, this morning.  This tract is so good for this time in history.  I sure hope it gets into the hands of those who yearn for purity.  What a relief to their souls it will be.

Tim

Hey There, 

I just stumbled across this email I sent about a year and a half ago. Felt good reading it again. I read it and thought, wow, that’s exactly how I feel today, still! 😉 

I really, really appreciate you John, for doing your part. If we all do our part, we are all going to be fine now, and in times to come. 

Paul

Date: September 25, 2013

Pastor John,

I wanted to share something that happened to me while I was traveling this week.

I was in my hotel room with Jacob, after leaving the job site. I haven’t watched TV in a very long time, probably months.

I was watching the History channel and every commercial that came on I had to mute. They were terrible. Jacob was on his iPad, not paying much attention to me. I found myself having to turn the station while commercials came on because they were so filthy!  I began tell myself “humans are terrible! How far will they go?”

It seemed like the few months I have stopped watching TV it has doubled in perverseness, most all commercials, programs, and even to the news anchors!

I felt the spirit tell me “you are not human!” It felt so right! All I could say was “Thank you Jesus! I’m not human!”

Humans, and the nature that comes with “human beings” is all about them, all perverse in some way or another. I could rally feel in that, that I’m a new creature! 

It’s more than words can say, or that I can write down. All the problems I have had or that you see others struggling with is human nature. There has never has been true happiness and fellowship in human feelings.

It’s so, so much more than I can describe. Human feelings are always up and down, sad and happy. Never each for a long time, but always unsettled. The only true happiness and fellowship comes from Jesus, not any promotion and advancement from human positions, or friendships at work etc..

This human body was only created as a vehicle for my spirit to do God’s will. This body is at war with that daily.  As much as I love the feelings from God, the flesh hates them.

I’m only here to do my part for God, teach my young children His ways, and to be available to do all that He wants. And there is plenty of time to do it all. 

I came from a very busy, fast-paced life. I know most people have seen that in me over the past years. But this past year, being brought down to zero, and being re-built, has been a true miracle.  My thoughts and feelings are so different.  I used to have my mind so over-worked and smoking at times, where I couldn’t even think, being in that condition I was unable most of the time to hear Jesus speak.  I’m learning that there is a way to work hard and still hear and see what Jesus is wanting. The job Jesus has me doing now, (which is great!):-) never ends.  When I come home from working my job that I have, to provide for my family, I start taking care of them in a little different way.  My care for them never stops. They need me doing both.

I’m just saying, I love having my mind on the things of God, wherever this human body is.  That’s doable!  I love listening to the Old Testament study in my work truck. The people back then are us! We have the one thing they were missing, and we can do it!  Jesus said so!  Sure love you all!

Very satisfied,

Paul 🙂

Morning Pastor John!

I hope you’re feeling well. I am reading Kings and the paperwork from Your OT class. I hope to see your pictures from Israel sometime. I am amazed at how many people in the OT had such amazing experiences with God, and then turned away. Too many thoughts and feelings to put in a letter! I am really enjoying learning about God’s feelings and desires. I hope you have a sweet day today!

Beth
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Thank you, Beth. It is a wonderful thing to see you enjoying your study of the Old Testament so much.

Pastor John
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It has really helped me understand God’s feelings and wants for us. I used to feel like God was very hard (ha! kinda like I felt about you…never really put that together) now I can’t believe how much He loves us.

Beth
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Oh Beth! Well, my goal is to be able to say what Jesus once said: “If you have seen me, you have seen the Father.” I mean that the way Preacher Clark meant it when he asked a congregation, years ago, “Has anybody seen God in you lately?”

Pastor John

Pastor John,

I have really enjoyed our Old Testament study.  Thanks for all the time you put in it so that we can learn the bible.  Jimmy has done a nice job.  We read the story of Ahab, Jezebel and Naboth.  I remember when you told us that evil does win sometimes.  That’s what I thought about when I read that story.  Naboth was righteous and he died by the hands of the unrighteous.  Ahab and Jezebel may have thought they could get by, but no one ever does.  Jesus is our near kinsman. 😉

Natalie
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Amen, Natalie.  The old saying, “He who laughs last laughs best”, comes to mind when I think of this terrifying portion of scripture:

Proverbs 1:24-28 KJV
[24] Because I have called, and ye refused; I have stretched out my hand, and no man regarded; [25] But ye have set at nought all my counsel, and would none of my reproof: [26] I also will laugh at your calamity; I will mock when your fear cometh; [27] When your fear cometh as desolation, and your destruction cometh as a whirlwind; when distress and anguish cometh upon you. [28] Then shall they call upon me, but I will not answer; they shall seek me early, but they shall not find me:”

Let the world and even unwise children of God laugh and mock us; only, dear God, may we never hear the Almighty laugh at our calamity and mock at our fear!  May He always be our Redeemer, our avenging Near Kinsman!

Pastor John

MERCIFUL WITHOUT SIN

“Every high priest . . . is able to deal gently with the ignorant and misguided

because he, too, is encompassed with weakness.”

Hebrews 5:1–2

When we know ourselves, we are merciful to others. Until we come to know ourselves, however, we usually are not so merciful.  People who are proud of how good they have always been are the least merciful and the most impatient with those who fail. One of my earliest feelings about the Lord was wonder, when I thought about how merciful and patient he is, and yet, he never sinned. How did Jesus come to be so incredibly forgiving without first being humbled by failures of his own?

What Jesus told his disciples really is true: “If you have seen me, you have seen the Father.”

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I love this John.

To love mercy and to walk humbly with our God is a blessed and wonderful thing. To be able to have mercy without sinning is nothing short of miraculous. Oh, for us to have hearts of mercy, yet still walk in God’s holy standards, upright in His integrity! That takes God’s power – it’s impossible for man.

As you said here, if we don’t know ourselves (that is, how much we are being held up by Him every moment, every day), we can become proud. Proud of how good we are doing (compared to other people that we think are “blowing it”). 

When it gets that way, and we are puffed up, I believe it can benefit our proud heart if we have a BIG fall, and then, if we are wise, it can be a stepping stone to learning the mercy of God. When we have fallen, we learn how precious mercy is. But to learn it without falling,  like Jesus did… woo hoo, what a short-cut to life in the highest!

Thank you for sharing this – it really felt good.

Gary

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Pastor John,

Whew. This [Pastor John’s message, “Mercy without Sin”] is the truth, and I am still learning it. That pride messes up everything!  That is a new thought to me, what you said at the end about how Jesus is so merciful, yet he never sinned. My, what great compassion, and what great love.  It makes me think of that song, “To be like Jesus, to be like Jesus, that’s all I ask, to be like him.”  And Jesus loves people.

Donna