Dear Pastor John,

There are many examples in the NT that a person received Holy Spirit baptism when the apostle laid hand on that person. I also saw it in some occasions on your online video. What is the necessity that somebody laid hand for somebody to receive Holy Spirit baptisms? Is not repentance the sole requirement for Spirit baptism?

nice greetings…

Surya
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Dear Surya,

Yes, that are correct. The only requirement to receive the baptism of Christ is repentance. However, God has his own reasons for doing things the way He does. For example, why did Jesus spit in one man’s eyes in order to heal him (Mk. 8)?

22. And he came to Bethsaida. Then they brought him a blind man, and they begged him to touch him.
23. And taking the blind man’s hand, he led him out of the village. And he spat into his eyes, and when he had laid his hands on him, he asked him if he could see anything.”

Jesus could have just spoken to the man’s eyes, but God wanted him to do this miracle in that particular way, for some unknown reason. It is good to want to understand the ways of God, and it is good to ask for answers. Be know that it is also the nature of our to want to “nail God down”, to figure Him out, and to turn His “new and living way” into a formula. Man had always tried to do that with God, and man has always failed. God is just God, and He does whatever He pleases to do, however He pleases to do it.

I do not presume to know why God does anything the way He chooses to do it, but I can see how, in some cases, God will send one of His ministers to lay hands on a person in order to show that person who His servant is. But, as I said, God has His own reasons in each case, and unless He reveals what His reasons are, we cannot know them.

What we can know, however, is that whoever desires God’s eternal Spirit of life is required to obey Him and that nobody ever receives the holy ghost baptism without obeying God (Acts 5:32). For sinners, to obey God means to repent of their sins. God requires repentance of everybody, everywhere (Acts 17:30) because “all have sinned and come short of the glory of God”.

Thank you for sending in your question. May God richly bless you and yours.

Pastor John

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Dear Pastor John,

thank you very much for the response. It is correct that human mind tend to
put His “new and living way” into a formula. I realize that as a scientist, I tend to formulate everything into a systematic theorem, which of course does not work for God cases.
Thank you for reminding…..

nice greetings from Indonesia

surya

Pastor John,

In John 10:10 Jesus speaks of “the thief” coming to steal, kill, and destroy. Is He referring (inferring?) to Satan, the devil, specifically, or the false teachers and religious leaders (hirelings) of the day?

I was cross-referencing Matt 23:13,14, when Jesus also accused the Pharisees of standing in the way of the door, and it seemed to be the same implication. They were “thieves” of people’s souls, by not permitting them entry into the kingdom, neither going in themselves.

But I heard a brief segment of a radio program where Joyce Meyer was saying that the “thief” that Jesus was talking about in that verse was the devil.

I know that that the serpent (Satan) is, in fact, a liar and a thief, a slanderer and a destroyer, but in those verses in John 10:10 and Matthew, I don’t think it is referring specifically to Satan.

Can you clarify?

Brad
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Hi Brad.

You are on the right path in thinking that Jesus was referring to ministers who have not been sent by God. But Ms. Meyer is correct in associating the thief with Satan. Without Satan, false teachers could not be as effective in their deceit as they are, and as you heard me teach a week or so ago, we are held accountable not only for our deeds but also for the deeds that we influence others to perform. Satan, being “the father of lies”, gets credit for all the lies that are taught to God’s people, and all the lies told to everyone else on earth. And being “a murderer from the beginning”, he also gets credit for all the murder that takes place everywhere, especially the murders of innocent children of God that has been carried out over the centuries by the men you see as “thieves and robbers”.

Since Jesus said, “the thief” instead of “thieves”, it’s probably best that we start by saying that John 10:10 refers specifically to Satan. However, if we forget that Satan does virtually nothing to the body of Christ without his visible representatives (ministers whom Jesus would call “sons of the devil”), we set ourselves up to become victims of them.

Stay on guard!
Pastor John

Good morning! What words of God through Joshua are being talked about in 1 Kings 16:34 (ESV):

In his days Hiel of Bethel built Jericho. He laid its foundation at the cost of Abiram his firstborn, and set up its gates at the cost of his youngest son Segub, according to the word of the Lord, which he spoke by Joshua the son of Nun.”

See it at YouVersion.com:

http://bible.us/1Kgs16.34.ESV

Rebekah C.
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That is a reference to Joshua 6:26, which contains the curse which Joshua uttered upon anyone who would dare to rebuild Jericho, after he and the Israelites (with God’s help) sacked it.

Pastor John

question from website.
Gary
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Hi Brother John David Clark, Sr.

Good morning. I could Not find answer of this question BELOW on your website. Could you please answer the question.

In Romans 2, Paul describes God’s principles of judgment. How are these related to: A) Gentiles B) Jews C) Christian believers?

Thank you for being so kind.

__________________
Sincerely Yours
Rev. Nasir M. G.
Methodist Church of Pakistan
Islamabad, Pakistan
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Dear Sir:

The two basic principles concerning judgment that I see in Romans 2 are these:
(1) Condemning others for deeds that you yourself are doing is hypocrisy, and the hypocrite will be punished by God.
(2) God will impartially render to every man according to his deeds, whether a person sinned under the law or not.

Paul does give a specific warning in that chapter to teachers of the law of Moses, but even at that, the instructions he gives are intended to educate the body of Christ as a whole. I hope that answers your questions.

Pastor John

Another web site comment.
Gary
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Having read the article on tithe ,whilst I fully agree with it,my wife and I are unable to pay a full 10%, because all my pensions come from the UK, and my wife is disabled and not able to work. Recently the pound has gone down so much we are unable to pay the tithe, otherwise we would not be able to pay the Bills, in fact we cannot do it now, but the creditors are so good, and prepared to wait.
It does concern us that we cannot pay tithe and would only be happy if we were able to. Can we pay a smaller amount than 10%, for the time being.? Perhaps you have some ideas on what we can do to satisfy God and not be accused of covetness. Looking forward to hearing from you.

God be with you
John G
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Dear John,

Thank you for your question. It is one that many people have.
First, your letter seemed to suggest that you have thoughts of sending me a donation, but please understand that I do not accept any money from anyone outside the congregation that the Lord has given me here. I emphasize that fact so that my answer can in no way be taken as self-serving.

As for me, personally, I would render my tithes and offering to God before I bought food to eat, if it ever came to that (and in years past, it has not been too far from it). That is how important a matter this is. The publication of the saving gospel of Jesus Christ is more important than my comfort, my security, and my life. However, part of the true fast which God has ordained is to “let the oppressed go free” (Isa. 58:6), which is a phrase which means that the ministers of Christ have the authority to release certain people from the obligation to render to God His tithes and offerings if they are “oppressed”. The word “oppressed” in the Bible is very frequently associated with finances, and when certain people here have found themselves oppressed by evil persons, often in conjunction with the courts, because of their love for the truth, I have released them from bringing tithes and offerings to me until Jesus got them back up on their feet, financially. Some have refused to be “free” and have brought God His tithes and offerings in spite of their difficult circumstances, and I respected their choice to do that. On the other hand, others have taken advantage of the opportunity Jesus gave them to pay off things such as debts dumped on them by unfaithful or vindictive spouses.

Since I am not your pastor, and I do not know what your situation is, I cannot comment specifically on it. The above explanation, however, will give you a clear picture, both of how important tithing is, and of how merciful and good God’s ways are. he is not an oppressor.

Hope that helps.

Pastor John
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Dear Pastor John,

Thank you very much for your letter, it was helpful, but has also got me confused, because if we pay tithe at the moment, we will not be able to pay for our wood for the winter. The situation should change in November, when we get more OAS, and with a struggle we should be able to pay it. I take it that you are not in favour of paying a proportion of the tithe until we can pay the full amount.

God be with you
John
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Greetings again.

Life is filled with all sorts of situations, and nuances of them all. No one answer will fit them all. That is why we so much needed the Spirit of God within us instead of a law written in a scroll. The Spirit will guide you into all truth. As you seek the will of God for your particular situation, let me encourage you not to be anxious about it. Trust God. He loves you and is standing ready to help, not to destroy. Also, pray not to fear to do what he says. As Mary told the servants at the wedding in Cana, “Whatsoever he saith unto you, do it.” You will be glad you did.

Your servant,
Pastor John
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This email correspondence reminds me of my financial situation when my brother Richard moved out. I looked at my finances & knew my savings were the only way I could afford the newly purchased car with all the other expenses. I remember feeling nervous & unsure of how it would work out.

But the Lord worked it out so that not only could I afford everything, but I could also afford an extra car payment every month. I had some trying months (I had over $5,000 of unexpected expenses–IRS debt & work on the house), but “God’s economy” is amazing, & I never missed paying my tithes & offerings or paying extra on the car.

I pray to continue to be reminded of how blessed I really am (& have been).
Amanda
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This email reminded me of a time soon after meeting John. I was explaining my financial situation to him about how I could not afford to pay full tithes as I was barely able to make ends meet after separating from my first wife. I was then having to live on one income when I was just getting by having two incomes when I was married. He told me that he would never place hinself into a situation where he could not pay his tithes. Although by doing the math there was no way I could tithe and pay my bills, I decided to start paying my tithes. That was over 20 years ago and I have always been able to pay not only my tithes but my offerings as well. And the Lord has blessed me far beyond just being able to pay my tithes. I know that all of my wealth is given to me by God. He just wants me to place my trust in him. Thank you Jesus.

Bob