Pastor John,

I read the emails about the time frame of the plagues in Egypt. I was thinking about how both the Egyptians and the Hebrews seem to “get over” or move past the awesome miracles of God so quickly.  The Hebrews were so quick to grumble in the desert even after all they had witnessed, and when Moses went up to get the ten commandments, how quickly they wanted a golden calf to worship.  

I take the time to look back at all God has done for me through the years and yet I am still amazed when He draws near. I guess I am thinking it must be part of the flesh to put it in the back of our minds. I do fully realize that the goal is to put the flesh to death, which made me think of the saints in NC. I was thinking of all the testimonies from Brother Earl, Sister Betty, and  Sister Willie. How they remember each thing God has done for them. How thankful they are for each blessing. I can not imagine them grumbling about anything. It has been sweet sitting here thinking about them and asking Jesus to help me get there too. Sorry if the thoughts are a little scattered, just wanted to share them.

Beth

Whew!  That Sunday meeting is still resonating through my body and mind.  This morning I awoke feeling the feelings of the Lord for His people. . . The depth and breadth of His love and mercy and His appreciation for the children who are being led by His Spirit. 

The main thing that still stands out for me from the Sunday Meeting are the testimonies about relationships

John, it was so valuable to hear you speak such tender things about Barbara; such holy things, I almost felt unworthy to be listening to.  And Tim’s story of coming to know Bess; and Bob telling his story about Ellen, and sweet Donna and Rob’s anniversary, expressing their affection for all to behold.  All of it was so much to take in.  So beautiful.   I am still deeply, deeply affected today, as I begin my day, praising God for His hand upon my life; grateful to be a part of this family.

I hope you have a perfect day.  ~( :^)

Brad

Hi John,

This morning in the shower Jesus reminded me of  a small, but rather embarrassing problem with a recurring rash that I used to have up until just recently.

Several years ago, I picked up some kind of fungal infection, probably from swimming in a lake or public pool, since I used to do a lot of swimming.  The rash would show up around my waist area and on part of my legs, and it was really more of an irritation than anything else, so I never bothered to go to a doctor for it.  I would buy some over-the-counter cream and the rash would go away, for the most part.  But then a few weeks later, it would start to show up again, and I would treat it again.  I went through this process numerous times, for several years.

Some time last year, I remember asking Jesus if he would just take that infection away – not because it was a big problem, or life-threatening, or anything like that, but mostly because it was irritating and embarrassing (especially since having recently married!).  I then used the over-the-counter medicine as I had done many times before and forgot about it.  Well, this morning, out of the blue, I felt the Spirit ask me, What happened to that rash you used to have?  I had forgotten all about it.  So, I checked myself, and I could find no sign whatsoever of any rash!  And It’s been gone for many months now!

Vince

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Praise the Lord, Brother Vince!

Jesus has been doing an increasing amount of healing among the saints in this body of believers.  I can’t help but wonder if these wonderful healings that have been taking place among us are harbingers of a great outpouring of God’s healing power on His people everywhere.  I hope so.  The body of Christ needs healing!

Pastor John

John,

Your talk today of God encouraging Jesus reminded me of a dream I had a few years ago. I truly believe God gave me that dream to encourage me just like he did for Jesus. In the dream he let me feel “unspeakable joy that was full of glory”.

It lasted only about 30 seconds but I felt joy as I have never felt it before. The only way I can explain it is it felt like liquid gold. I think God wanted me to experience the joy I will feel when I finally meet him.

John, I so want to live so that I can experience that joy again.

Thank you for getting up so very early yesterday to drive me to the airport.  I love and appreciate you.

Margaret

http://www.goingtojesus.com/text/books/fatherandson.pdf

John,

Suzi and I just finished reading chapter 8 of the Father and Son book.  Each time I read this chapter (or any chapter) it’s as if I am reading it for the first time.  There are so many wonderful thoughts and feelings that it is hard to take them in all at once.

I guess the section that describes the humility of the Father is my favorite.  The fact that one can be saved without even acknowledging the Father as a person distinct from the Son is incredible.

The section titled Love also struck me as very tender.  The quote from Isaiah 49 and your explanation that follows really touched me:

Isaiah 49: “He made me a polished arrow; in His quiver, He has hidden me.”

 When the hidden arrow struck its target, it moved heaven and earth, and the deepest love of God’s heart was poured out on fallen man.  As I have said, the central message of the gospel is that God is a Father. And only an unspeakably profound love for us could have moved the father to send his beloved son into this dangerous world to rescue us who knew nothing about Him…

There is something about this section that is really special.  I love the feeling of it.

Thank you for taking the time to re-write this chapter.  It is very good.

Tom

http://goingtojesus.com/text/books/fatherandson.pdf

Wow, you can get a lot of truth just considering the sun itself. (It’s all about the “son” really.)

The sun is the center of all that our solar system is. The strength of its gravity holds us in place. Eventually, the sun will consume the earth. The sun generates a wind (the solar wind), which radiates power (magnetic), at its will (it blows, comes and goes without pattern). And I’m sure that’s just a few of the many things that teach truth about the greatness of God’s Son.

Read chapter 8 last night and fell asleep on it, and this morning – it’s so good, John.

Gary

http://www.goingtojesus.com/text/books/fatherandson.pdf

Pastor John,

Wow! The stage for the rest of the chapter was set when you wrote about the ​s​un as compared to the Son​, the “heat​ and light ​” and image of the Father.   To me, that was an invitation to read the rest of the chapter with an open heart.  I started to write down all the things that touched me, but there were so many ​! ​ You can only sum it up with one word​:​ Love (from the Father).

One thing I was thinking about is ​ this:  You can’t look upon the sun or you’ll go blind, the same way no one can look upon God and live. But you can look at images of the sun filtered through different types of lenses or gaze of pictures of the sun to see it’s form and know it’s there.  The same way with the Son.  He is the express image of the Father; we can look on Him and see Him as He is, and believe there is a Father (or God). But when you receive the Son into your heart, you “know” there is a Father.   ​It’s t​he same way as feeling the sun’s heat or experiencing its light, or watching things grow that are nourished by it.

Also, we don’t even have to look up in the sky to know there is a sun; all we have to do is look down around us and see shadows and know that something is making them.  We can look around at shadows of God’s love, (the Law for example) and know something created them.

This is so good.

​Billy M

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I would add that the shadows of God’s love now are the people who have His life within them.  Are they not “shadows of a great rock in this weary land”?  And is not the great Rock Christ?  I love thinking of these things along with you, Billy.

Pastor John

Pastor John,

Th​e message on “No Power Left” wa s was a new thought for me (​in particular, ​Satan ​being the one who will ​destroy Christianity) ​. While I can’t explain why, ​knowing that brings more peace. It also brings back to remembrance when I heard the words from the ​1972 ​Church Of God minutes which​,​ if my memory ​is correct, ​you ​​ paraphrased​ as “Come out of my people” ​– ​and the ​L​ord put it in my heart instantly.​ ​ I still can’t explain how I knew it was true​,​ but I knew it was true. This still amazes me how the Lord did that to me. ​ ​ When the message on ​coming out of ​Christianity came​,​ it lined up perfectly. ​ ​ Memory is fallible but I don’t remember anything but joy when the message on ​coming out of ​Christianity came.

I also ponder if God will not have places with Power for his children to go when the final exodus from Christianity happens ​. It will be needed to survive those perilous times.

​It is r​eally something how ​Satan will continue to be used by God to deceive when possible ​,​ all the way to the end. I am thinking he really has no choice.

Bro. Wendell

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No Power Left

“Come out of her, my people, so that you do not participate in her sins,
so that you do not receive of her plagues, for her sins are piled up to heaven,
and God has remembered her unrighteous deeds.”
Revelation 18:4-5

When Satan destroys Christianity, using the Beast and his ten kings, it will be because by that time, there will be no power of God left in it. By that time, obedient children of God who were in Christianity will have heard and obeyed the Father’s call to come out of it, and when they leave, God’s saving power will leave with them. But sadly, there will be some of God’s children who will refuse the Father’s final call and, so, with Christianity, will suffer the wrath of God and be destroyed.

The only thing that is saving God’s children now, and the only thing that will save them in the future, is God’s power. His power is the protective hedge that God has placed around His family, but in the end, that hedge will remain only around those who obey the voice of God. His children who refused to come out of Christianity will be as defenseless as that religion is against the powers of this age. “And the ten horns that you saw, and the Beast, these will hate the harlot, and they will make her desolate and naked, and they will eat her flesh and consume her with fire. For God put it into their hearts to carry out His plan, to have one mind and to give their kingdom to the Beast until the words of God be fulfilled” (Rev. 17:16-17).

The Bible warns us that the day is coming when Christianity will have no obedient children of God left within her, no souls who have the favor of God upon them and the protective power of the holy Spirit about them. That is the time when Satan, through his son, the Beast, will utterly plunder and destroy Christianity, along with all who belong to her. May we find grace with God to abide under His shadow and be preserved by the presence of His Spirit forever.