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  • He Did Not Glorify Himself

    “No one takes this honor upon himself, but one who is called of God, as in the case of Aaron.  Likewise, even Christ did not glorify not himself to be made high priest; but He who said unto him, ‘You are my Son; today I have begotten you.’” Hebrews 5:4-5

    Dear friends, “Come, let us reason together.”  If either of the doctrines of “the Holy Trinity” or “Oneness” was true, if the Father and the Son were actually, somehow, the same Being, then the man of God who wrote the book of Hebrews would never have thought to write the above verses.

    jdc

  • The Meeting this Morning (February 15, 2015)

    Hi John,

    What a wonderful song by the children today, and sweet hugs for everyone 🙂 What  wonderful feelings in his sweet holy Ghost!  I love sweet fellowship in his holy way that he has given us.  It makes life worth living.  He cares how his people feel and live together with one another.  I thank Jesus for the spring of living water and the “joy unspeakable” that he has shed abroad in our hearts by the power of the word that his Father gave him!!!  What refreshing from above!  I love the beauty of holiness; it looks so beautiful on his people!  Oh, God, let us be a light to your people, a light that shines brighter and brighter every day with your love and peace and joy!!

    How much more he is beyond the cross, all that he was raised up to obtain from his Father for us when he presented himself to his Father for our sins and was accepted of him.  How glorious that day was for every soul that is his, old testament and new!  I heard a saying the other day and it was, “You can’t teach someone what you know until they know how much you care.”  I know that when God called us, we fell in love with what we felt more than what we were hearing at the time. We did not know how much he cared for us until we felt how much his people cared for us, and then it became more than just a feeling.

    Stuart

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

    Wow!  The meeting today was just overwhelming.  I loved watching everyone loving one another after all of what Jesus had brought us through.  I had tears and shouts of thankfulness.  Then how you helped the young ones.  It is what they really want.  The Praters singing together was beautiful.  I don’t have enough time or words to tell all that I seen and felt today.  Thanks Bro John for giving us and our children the best place on this earth to serve God and his Son! 😉

    Natalie

     

  • John 12:14-16

    Pastor John

    I had my attention drawn to these verses this evening.  It says just what is said in your book God had a Son before Mary Did about there being no understanding until the day of Pentecost was fully come.  John says it plainly here, (and wants the reader to understand that they only understood that prophecy later on) and so does the book (without quoting this scripture by the way :)) but, of course, you must understand when Jesus was glorified.  

    How blessed we are to know these things!

    Damien

    John 12:14-16:

    Jesus found a young donkey and sat on it, just as it is written, ‘Do not be afraid, O daughter of Zion! Look! Your king is coming, seated on the colt of a donkey.’  The disciples did not understand these things at first, but when Jesus was glorified, then they realized that these things were written about him and that they had done these things to him.”

  • Speaking in Tongues in the Assembly

    Dear Pastor John,

    Thank you for your answer to my question concerning the kingdom of God and OT saints. 

    To your final greeting “May God bless you and all the saints there with you!”, I am at this point have no believers that I come together with on a regular basis. I’m not attending any church and the brothers and sisters that I am in contact with do not agree with this decision of mine and that created some distance between them and me. I keep praying that the Lord would strengthen me and build me up in His truth and give me wisdom and guidance in how to share what I received from Him with those that I know. I live with my Mother, by the way, who has faith in Jesus but has not received the Spirit so far, and she always loves to listen when I share with her what the Lord has been speaking to me.

    Recently I wrote an e-mail to many of my friends and acquaintances in which I explained that I believe the experience of baptism in the Holy Spirit is the new birth and that those who have not received this experience should seek it. I received some encouragements from some of my friends, but some of the leaders of my former church told me that what I’m saying is heresy. It’s a very interesting experience though that the Lord seems to give me an ability to discern the spirits that are working in those that respond. When someone sends me a word of encouragement I really feel that it is the Lord who speaks through them. But in some of the negative responses I sensed spirits of pride, anger and even religiousness. Actually in none of the negative responses did I sense that the Lord would lovingly try to correct me, even though I am opened to it. The strongest attacks of the enemy came through people who passionately told me that they are really concerned for me and that they will be praying for me.

    The question that came up in me is concerning speaking in tongues in the assembly. When I watch the meetings in your house online I see that at times everyone is praying out loud and everyone is praying in tongues. It is always uplifting for me and I really feel the Spirit moving in those meetings, but I am always reminded of what Paul said about this to the Corinthians:

    “If therefore the whole church be come together into one place, and all speak with tongues, and there come in those that are unlearned, or unbelievers, will they not say that ye are mad?” 

    “How is it then, brethren? when ye come together, every one of you hath a psalm, hath a doctrine, hath a tongue, hath a revelation, hath an interpretation. Let all things be done unto edifying. If any man speak in an unknown tongue, let it be by two, or at the most by three, and that by course; and let one interpret. But if there be no interpreter, let him keep silence in the church; and let him speak to himself, and to God.”

    What do you think about the whole matter of speaking in tongues “in the church”?

    Lastly, I would like to let you know that last night I was watching the February 11 meeting of yours online and I was really touched and my spirit was lifted up, and I needed it so much! It was so good to hear the testimonies of different people and feel that gentle, loving spirit that spoke through ALL of them, and how you guys were discussing the terrible spiritual condition of God’s people and just feel the compassion and the love in you guys. I prayed to the Lord while I was watching it: Lord, this is what I want in my life! That the love for the people of God would be so much greater than any fear (fear of rejection, fear of failure), that I would be absolutely free to love my brothers and sisters and speak the truth to them.

    So, this is my prayer and I know the Lord is working in me, but I’m also aware that I need so much more of His love, His Spirit and His truth. Thank you for taking the time to read all this. Many blessings to you and all the saints there in Burlington!

    Your brother,

    Zoli

    ​============

    Hi again, Zoli!

    If you are open and honest about the light Jesus is giving you, then you will certainly suffer rejection (and even pity) from the very ones the truth is for: God’s children.  It has always been that way; it is unavoidable once you hear and believe the truth.  I marvel at it, every time Jesus shows someone the truth and that person loves it (which is not often).  You are a rare person!  As you no doubt are beginning to realize, the truth creates within us a deeper measure of love for God’s children, even though most of them do not understand this love, and many are suspicious of it.  When Paul felt these things, he told some saints, “The more I love you, the less I be loved,” and asked, “Am I become your enemy because I tell you the truth?”  To be willing to suffer for the good of God’s people is part of the process of being crucified with Christ, but it is the small price we are asked to pay for the greater honor of having our eyes opened to the truth of the gospel of Christ.

     Now, as for the issue about speaking in tongues “in the Assembly”, I believe that exhortation from Paul concerns speaking to the assembly and not simply speaking in tongues during a gathering of the saints.  I don’t consider myself or the others here to be “speaking in the Assembly” just because we are speaking in tongues while we are praying or praising God together.  In my view, we are doing as Paul said we should be allowed to do at the end of his instruction:  “but if there be no interpreter, let him be silent in an assembly, but let him speak to himself and to God.”  I jokingly tell people who complain about us speaking in tongues in the meeting not to interrupt us; we are only doing what Paul said to do; we are speaking to ourselves and God.  Besides, sinners need to hear people speaking in tongues because it is God’s appointed sign of where to find eternal life (1Cor. 14:22).

    Once, many years ago, a Baptist man told our Uncle Joe that we were out of order in our meetings if we spoke in tongues without an interpreter because Paul said not to speak in tongues without an interpreter, to which Uncle Joe replied, “Is that how you all do it in your services?”  The man then angrily said, “Absolutely not!”  His Baptist church did not believe in speaking in tongues at all, and yet he was instructing Uncle Joe in how his congregation ought to do it!  I think it is important also to note that Paul himself does not say the saints are insane when they all are speaking in tongues; he says that unbelievers and those who are ignorant of the things of God might think so.

    Many times, I have heard Christians criticize the saints in ancient Corinth because, they say, the Corinthians were out of order in the exercise of their gifts.  Would to God that His people now had enough gifts of the Spirit to have some problems with them!  From what I see, the body of Christ is suffering from a lack of spiritual gifts and power, not the misuse of them.

    Pray for us and all the saints,

    Pastor John

     

  • Old Testament Saints and the kingdom of God

    Dear Pastor John,

    I was reading Luke 13 the other day and in verse 28 I’ve found this written: “You will see Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and all the prophets in the Kingdom of God, but you will be thrown out.” On the other hand Jesus said: “Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God,” and “Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.”

    I believe that the born again experience was not available before the day of Pentecost after Jesus’ ascension, but I got confused by this verse.  How will Abraham, Isaac and Jacob enter the Kingdom of God if they didn’t have the opportunity to be born again?

    Also, in Luke 7:28 Jesus says: “For I say unto you, Among those that are born of women there is not a greater prophet than John the Baptist: but he that is least in the kingdom of God is greater than he.”

    So, it seems as if Jesus in certain cases spoke of the “Kingdom of God” as something specifically for New Testament saints, but in Luke 13:28 the mention of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob seems to ruin that theory.

    What do you think?

    Zoli

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

    Greetings, Brother Zoli!

    First of all, let me affirm that the salvation of every soul who has ever lived rests in Jesus and his sacrifice for our sin.  Nobody will be saved in the end without believing in him and receiving the holy life that he died for us to have from God.  Abraham (and probably many others in paradise) rejoiced to see Jesus’ day (Jn. 8:56) because he associated Jesus with his hope of eternal life and peace.

    Jesus did teach that entrance into the kingdom of God was possible only for saints in this covenant, but in the coming resurrection, all the righteous from the beginning of the world will be raised into the kingdom of God and enter into this covenant.  In other words, those who died before Jesus came will be born again when they are raised from the dead.

    This might be easier to understand if we focus on the word “life”.

    To be born again means to receive God’s kind of life (see the second chapter of my book, God Had a Son before Mary Did).  The new birth is so great an experience that many terms are needed to described it, but it is actually just a matter of receiving God’s eternal, holy kind of life.  Those who have received God’s kind of life are born again, and those who have not received it are not.

    That the righteous of all ages will be raised in what John called “the first resurrection” (Rev. 20:5–6), and since Jesus described the first resurrection as “the resurrection of life” (Jn. 5:29), it seems clear that the righteous will receive (God’s) life when they are raised from the dead.  Then will be fulfilled what Jesus said: “The first shall be last, and the last shall be first” (Mt. 20:16).  Then, having received eternal life, those Old Testament saints will be in the kingdom of God together with New Testament saints – and everything Jesus said about the kingdom will fit and make perfect sense.

    As for Luke 7:28, Jesus was saying that anybody with God’s kind of life is greater than John the Baptist because John died without it.  John the Baptist was so great that he was prophesied about, just as Jesus was, but when believers in this covenant receive God’s kind of life, they are transformed into new creatures in Christ Jesus, the very least of whom is greater than John, Abraham, David, Noah, Elijah, Job, and Samuel – combined!   That is how great a change is wrought in our souls by the baptism of the holy ghost.  Understanding this, the apostle John could even dare to say, “As He is, so are we in this world.”  Praise God for His unspeakable gift!

    Thank you, Zoli, for writing us again.  May God bless you and all the saints there with you!  And if my answer is not clear, please let me know and I will try to make it clearer.

    Your servant in Christ,

    Pastor John

     

  • Very Thankful!

    Pastor John,

    Good morning! Just had to write and tell about an experience Jammie and I had last night after leaving your house.

    We had left our house to head your way and we jumped into Jammie’s car, she drove, which I usually do most of all the driving. After leaving your basement, walking to the car, Jammie still had her keys, she went to open the car door, (here’s the great part.) I just said without thinking “don’t you want me to drive?”  she replied, “yes.” So, we had to run and pick up Noah at basketball practice, Jacob, was across town at his practice, which I pick up at 9:30. Well, while driving to Noah’s practice we were just talking about how good God has been to us.:)  Jammie, again, sitting in the passenger seat… We were heading down Rogers Rd., pretty dark, driving around 40 mph-ish.  I looked up and there was a vehicle coming into my lane, I didn’t bother Jammie with it, I just got over a bit and all would be good. So, I thought!!  The vehicle kept coming into my lane and I could see at this time it was a large work van, loaded with ladders on top and was driving very fast. At this point the ENTIRE vehicle was in my lane, and headed straight towards us, going a lot faster than I was. With out much thinking I glanced to my right to see if it was ok to leave the road and go into a field, yard, or whatever was not in front of this vehicle coming towards us. I knew not to hit the brakes and just brace for impact, which I believe that’s exactly what Jammie would have done if she was driving. I pulled the car over as hard as I could without flipping it, slid into a field while keeping full control of this car (with Jesus help!) sliding in the dark kicking up mud and grass, was able to slow down a bit, then made it back on the road safely, all without Jammie seeing what just happened, and why.

    So, I’m very thankful for so many things! I usually don’t make it to Noah practice to pick him up on Thursday’s. So, Jammie would have been driving that road which she does every Thursday night with the kids in the car. Things could have been a lot different for this body today!

    After back on the road I was explaining to Jammie what had happen, then I noticed that about 500ft away from where I left the road way to escape,  there was a bridge, there’s no way I could have missed that on coming vehicle at that point in the road. – GOD IS GOOD!

    AMEN!  Paul

  • My Dad

    Hi Pastor John! 

    I wanted to send out another update on my dad.  We just got him moved from hospital to nursing home.  The ammonia levels in his brain are very high so he is very confused and has been hallucinating these last few days.  Original report from doctors seemed hopeful but newest report from them seems bleak.  The liver continues to die daily.  Doctors asked him (in a moment of clarity) about hospice but he did not want to do that.  We were given a six month window at best. 

    As I sit with him and try to make him comfortable, all I can think is how devastating sin is.  On top of keeping him from a sweet life with Jesus, it is eating away at his body daily.  Even being able to take a drink of water requires assistance.

    Dad once told a testimony about Jesus delivering him from drinking.  Years ago he asked Jesus, “If you want me to stop drinking Lord, you gotta take it.  I can’t do it if you don’t take it.”  Then he felt Jesus settle into the car, and the next day he had no desire to drink and no withdrawal symptoms. This lasted a year.  Not one drink for a year. It is so sad to see him like this, knowing it did not have to be this way.

    Pastor John, I am so thankful that God delivered me from this world and the life I had chosen.  I know I have said that before, but I just have this overwhelming feeling of thankfulness.  When Jesus came for me I didn’t want to let go of sin.  I didn’t want to change.  Jesus chased me until I gave up.

    Praise God!

    Love B. D.

     

     

  • “With Men it is Impossible, but…with God All Things are Possible.”

    (Comments from recent prayer meetings at Pastor John’s House)

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

    John,

    The feelings from this morning, and the message you preached, and the fellowship you could feel between us, and the wonderful songs, are still coursing through me.  They were out of this world!  They were “impossible” without God.  I loved what you said about the things of God being impossible.  It was impossible (from man’s point of view) for God to create a Son, and then to have that Son create the universe and then everything and everyone in it – but He did.  It was impossible for men to receive God’s kind of life and be cleansed from sin – but it happened, and it is still happening.  It will be impossible for man to destroy this universe and all of the wickedness that is in it, with a fervent heat – but it’s going to come to pass.

    I thought about how this applied to what God has done in my life.  Everything that God has done in my life has been impossible for me, or anyone else, to do.  It was impossible for me to have the feelings of conviction for sin sitting in that little church pew on April 15, 2007 – I didn’t even believe in or want God, and I wasn’t even looking for Him (or so I thought) – but I did feel those feelings, and they were more real to me than anything else that was in my life at that time.  It was impossible for me to find, or learn, or understand the truth – but God led me to Gary’s website and opened my heart to receive the truth that was there, and believe it, understand it, and love it.  That is amazing!  It was impossible for me to receive the baptism of the holy ghost and begin speaking in tongues (though I sure did try) – God did it, when He was satisfied with my repentance and I surrendered myself to Him.  He filled me with the holy ghost in HIS time, and not a moment sooner!  It was impossible for me to be happy, and satisfied, when the ones around me began hating the things God was doing for me, and then threw me out of their lives – but God DID satisfy me and make me happy through those difficult times!  It was impossible for me to put myself together with a pastor who hears from God and teaches the truth, just as it was impossible for me to put myself together with a family who loves the truth, and each other, and me, the way God does – but He did just that, and the miles that were between us were irrelevant to God.  It was impossible for me to find a wife who loves Jesus, and loves the truth, and loves the family of God, and then find a way to put her, in North Carolina, with me, way out here in Nebraska – but He made all of those things happen.  It was impossible for me to support myself and a wife (when I was barely able to even support myself for a time) and to have the things we needed (and then some), and live contented, happy lives – but God did it, and continues to do it, every day.

    I love the impossible, miraculous things of God.  I am looking forward to seeing, hearing, feeling, and living more of the impossible!  I loved what you said last night, that things could be much, much worse than they are, but if we will simply walk in the Spirit and do God’s will for us, we will be as happy as we can possibly be!

    One other thing I forgot to tell…

    When I first started at LI-COR, there was a sales guy there named James.  He was kind of a happy-go-lucky, friendly, talkative guy – but the thing that I remember most about him is that whenever anyone asked him how he was doing, he would reply, “Never better!”  At the time, I found this response kind of annoying.  After all, how could anyone be getting better and better, happier and happier every time you saw them?  That’s impossible.  Yep, it sure is.  For us, anyway.  Unless we are doing the will of God  🙂

    Vince

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

    Hi, Pastor John;

    Last night was so wonderful. It really felt good to have some fresh air that Venus brought. I felt she had a thankful testimony. It’s a testimony that all of us had at one time or another of being grateful that God brought us to a place where His Truth and Spirit are; a place of rest and hope. I didn’t know it until yesterday that Barbara was the one that suggested to you that Judy and me needed to be there on the Aug. 20th weekend in 2001. I have thankful tears (like Stuart had) this morning and I thank God for the thought that God gave Barbara for Judy and me. I’m glad Barbara did what she felt to do, like you were talking about last night. 

    It felt good to hear Jr. and Natalie testify. In the parking lot after the meeting, we embraced each other and the Spirit briefly fell under the stars and moon. I felt its a continuation of the sweet feelings we had at the Embry house the last time we stayed with them.

    There were so many wonderful things said; Bro. Earl, Tom, Stuart, Jammie (whew), your scriptures, all of the songs by everyone; these things bring Life. We been around each for a while, and I pray for a while yet longer with each other on this Earth. We have a godly history with one another with His life, and if we stay prayed up, we get to make godly history with one another every day unto life and not unto death. Wow!

    I am so glad and happy that Jesus has brought us to you. I love this way and truth; this is the best life on the planet. 

    Thank you, Jesus.

    Billy

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

    I’m just sitting here tonight on my couch,  and cannot stop thinking about today.  Such beautiful, beautiful sights, beautiful feelings from Jesus, and beautiful words of life. What a wonderful God! And what a precious family.

    Donna N.

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

    Pastor John,

    The meetings this weekend were so sweet!  I loved watching Sister Venus taking it all in. She had a wonderful testimony.

    Like Doris, I was watching the kids when Gary and all the singers were singing.  It was so touching to see their little faces and to see them really enjoy it from the beginning to the end.  I kept thinking how blessed we are, to hear such wonderful music that touches your soul, to hear the truth with nothing mixed in, and to be able to see my brothers and sisters under the power of God!!  Whew…what a wonderful life.  We are truly a blessed family!  I’m so thankful Jesus put me here!!

    Michelle H.

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

    Hey Pastor John!

    I loved the feelings that I felt last night, so sweet to my soul!  Whew!  When Aunt Betty started testifying last night the feelings were so strong!  I looked at Greg and said, “Can you feel that?”  He said, “Yes!”  When Betty would take her hands and rub her stomach, neck, or arms, wow!  I didn’t even realize that my neck felt so much better.  My neck had been hurting pretty bad for about 2 weeks, so much that sometimes the pain medication didn’t even help. I woke up one morning and told Greg I must have lifted something or slept wrong that night.  I am so thankful for that.  I can not put into words what I am feeling.

    I loved the part about husbands and wives too. I have been reading the scriptures on husbands and wives, it’s been really sweet.
    Feeling so thankful!

     Donna C.

     

     

     

     

  • New Web Site

    Hi Everyone,

    John David set us up a new site for watching the meetings at Pastor John’s house. On this site, you can see past meetings, and there is a chat room attached also. Hopefully, this one will be the one we will use for a long time.  Check it out and if you need any help just let me know and I will do what I can. John David has done a wonderful job setting up this site.  See everyone tonight!

    The link is: http://www.songsofrest.com/pjhlive/

    Thank you

    Stuart

    P.S. If you want to be in our internet audience, you must email your request for the user name and password at:
    contact@pastorjohnshouse.com.
    ==========

    Hey, I just checked out the new PJH live site.  This is great! I  like the comment feature that lets folks leave a message about the meeting.  Great job JD!  I hope this works for us for a while.

    Vince

    Nebraska

  • The Head of Household

    Pastor John,

    I have a question that I was left with from the meeting last night. How is the order of a household go if the head of the household does not have The Holy Spirit? Does it change anything?

    Thanking you in advance for your time.

    Letitia

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

    Hi Letitia.

    Good to hear from you again!  Your question is asked by many, and the general answer is given by Peter:

    1 Peter 3:1-6 KJV

    [1] Likewise, ye wives, be in subjection to your own husbands; that, if any obey not the word, they also may without the word be won by the conduct of the wives; [2] While they behold your chaste conduct coupled with fear. [3] Whose adorning let it not be that outward adorning of plaiting the hair, and of wearing of gold, or of putting on of apparel; [4] But let it be the hidden man of the heart, in that which is not corruptible, even the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price. [5] For after this manner in the old time the holy women also, who trusted in God, adorned themselves, being in subjection unto their own husbands: [6] Even as Sara obeyed Abraham, calling him lord: whose daughters ye are, as long as ye do well, and are not afraid with any amazement.

    There are times when sinner husbands grow so evil that this general rule of quiet submission will not apply and the godly wife has to make some difficult decisions.  In such cases, the Spirit will be there to guide the wife as to what course to take.

    Pastor John

     

    Letitia

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