Just a thought –

To the extent that is is our fault that ​someone ha​s ​little or ​no relationship with the body of Christ at large – to that extent – ​that person’s doctrine cannot be trusted. ​​If ​, however,​ ​the separation from the body is not ​that man’s doing or choice, but God’s​ work in his life​, then ​his message can be rejected only at the peril of losing one ‘s soul. ​His message must be received if ​his estrangement from the saints is because of God ​, as in the case of John the baptist​.​ To set oneself off from God’s children disqualifies a person from being a messenger of the Lord.​

jdc

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I really loved this.

Stirs up good thoughts.

If anyone loves Gods people, it’s those who are willing to be rejected by His own… for simply walking in obedience to the word of the Father and Son. It is perplexing and even painful to be rejected for what is right, and to be refused for bringing what is good. But it is still right, and it can only be refused at the peril of one’s life.

Those who ​​ ​have ​understood ​the truth, and have then ​turned ​from ​it, can never do good apart from it ​, in God’s sight​.

Gary

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Good morning. Just read your emails. With reading this last one, it makes me want to be a peacemaker more than ever.

Donna N

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My prayer :

God grant me the words, deeds, actions, attitude and even facial expressions when I meet one of your children – even those not yours. The words of Uncle Joe have kept me from pushing in a lot of situations “If you get to someone before God does you are wasting your time.”

Only thru his power and leading can any good be done.

Wendell

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Pastor John,

I think I understand the first part of your comment, but I’m not sure I understand the last part. Are you saying that we must receive a man like John the Baptist, who was separated from the body not by his own choosing but because God was preparing him to send and preach something? In that case, the doctrine must be received or we are in danger of losing our soul, right? But when someone sets themselves apart from the body because they prefer being alone and are just self-centered (or deluded), then you can’t trust their experiences or their doctrine.

Lee Ann

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Yes, Lee Ann, exactly.

Pastor John

Hi,

I just wanted to tell you about the very sweet time I had at Tim and Bess’ tonight. We were sitting on the front porch after dinner while it was raining, just talking, and I had the sweetest feelings of being blessed and loved by God. And also secure. English words are insufficient to describe it. It was rich and full!! So good. Very deeply thankful. Goodnight.

Jenny
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Praise the Lord, Jenny!
Isn’t fellowship wonderful?

Pastor John

Pastor John,

This morning when I woke up there was a worldly song playing in my head that I hadn’t heard in a long time.  It made me smile because the words are, “I’m Forever Yours, Faithfully.”  At breakfast, Hope randomly asked about worldly music because she has heard a little bit at school, and I told her that God can use anything to speak to us.  I didn’t want her to be afraid of hearing it.  All three kids were there, and I Googled the song that Jesus woke me with this morning.  It was so sweet that I cried when I heard it!!  The complete line was, “Oh girl, you stood by me. I’m forever yours, faithfully.”  The kids saw & felt that.  I loved how Jesus set that up :).  When you and Donna both mentioned worldly music in the meeting tonight, it felt even sweeter.  🙂

Cris

A loner’s spiritual experiences are rarely to be trusted, but when they are trustworthy, they are the most trustworthy of all.

When Israel had, in the main, become apostate, God sent them a man who had been separated from human company for years, John the Baptist, and anyone in Israel who refused John was damned by God.  John’s message and baptism was not optional for the Jews.

Usually, when someone has a spiritual experience apart from the community of faith, it is an experience of their own imagination, or even a demonic encounter. But at those very rare times when someone has a spiritual experience with Christ who is detached from the ordinary fellowship of the body of Christ, it is always a matter of life or death that we hear what that person has to say.

Stay humble, and be prepared always to hear from God when He speaks to the body of Christ by someone who is not a part of the daily fellowship that we know. When God sees a body growing too comfortable in a way that does not bear the best fruit, He may send a stranger in to re-arrange things and make us more perfect in His sight.

Pastor John

http://www.isaiah58.com/music/JohnClark/John%20Clark%20-%20Going%20Home.mp3

Pastor John,

Been listening to your old cd, “Going Home – Again”. These songs are timeless.   I remember the feelings when I first heard them.  The feelings are just as wonderful.

Billy M

Hi Pastor John!

I wanted to share the feelings Jesus filled me with. ​ ​All this week I have woken up so full of happiness.​ So full of love. ​ ​Almost giddy, a feeling of bubbling over. ​ I have battled depression since I can remember. ​ ​I used to sit and wonder as a little girl how happy people felt inside.​ ​ I bet they do not feel like this!!! ​ ​They can’t​;​ this is Jesus ​!​​ ​ It just keeps coming, day after day. ​ ​ I love this.

I drove a few hours for work yesterday, just looking at the trees, the hills, and the sky. ​ ​ I kept thinking​, “Wow, Jesus is coming back…and I have the holy ghost​!”​ I was on my way to hell ​,​ and Jesus reached down and gently loved me ​and ​guided my steps towards him. ​ ​I am so happy​!​ ​​I am just skipping along in my heart.​ ​ I am just happy ​,​ and that is Jesus.​ ​ I prayed before I came down ​ to NC​, asking Jesus to help graft me in​ to the body there​. ​ ​To remove any awkwardness. ​ ​It felt so good to be with everyone. ​ ​I did not feel awkward at all. ​ ​The fact Jesus hears those little prayers just touches me so much. ​​ I feel like Jesus is doing something.​ ​I don’t know what it is, but I feel excited and happy.

Beth

Ps…..I am so happy!

John,

Whew, tonight was good! Below are some notes that I took from the beginning of the meeting. It’s not word for word, but I was trying to type as fast as you were talking! All I could say is Amen! So good to hear Kay and Bekah’s dreams too. When they told them before, I think the meeting was just on Skype. It makes you want to stay close to Him!

Love,

Carrie

Notes from the meeting tonight:

There is nothing honorable talking about how bad you are. (Those that just talk about their problems instead of going to Jesus for deliverance from them) are just stubborn and rebellious. If you are honest, then you repent (of sins, not talk about them). It will be obvious when Jesus does something. Stop “trying” to be honest and just be honest and fall down at Jesus’ feet and repent. Jesus will make the change (we need him to make in us if we go to him). God wants you to honor the Son. The Son will fix you. Stop talking about your problems. You don’t have any problems, you just need faith in God. The flesh loves being puffed up by talking about its own weakness and talking about its doing/done wrong. Jesus is available! His power is available!

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To be spiritually minded is life and peace.
 

Pastor John,

Last night I started reading the Father & son book.  I asked Jesus to read the book with me and help me really understand what He has revealed.  As I was reading, the spirit said, “God SENT His only son.”  Then the thought came, “It doesn’t say ‘God created and gave His only son.’”  It was just a moment, but it let me know Jesus is gonna read the book with me.  The fact Jesus is allowing me to see the truth and that it is right there in the bible – yet hidden from this world – is so amazing to me.  I am excited to grow in Jesus.  I am excited to learn.  I feel like this is a whole new chapter in my life!

Beth

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I am not sure what you mean by that.  The Bible clearly teaches that God DID create a Son and that God DID “give” him (Jn. 3:16).  Could you explain more about what you heard from the Lord?

Looking forward to seeing you soon!

Pastor John

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I was excited…sorry.  It was that the spirit said, “God SENT his only son”, meaning that God’s Son already had to be there in order to be sent.  Otherwise, it would have said, “for God so loved the world He CREATED a son.”  That is the thought and understanding I got. To be sent/gave meant that the Son was already there, in heaven with the Father. 

Happy to be coming this weekend.

Beth

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Amen.  Yes.  Thank you for clearing that up for me.

Pastor John