Mailbag

Send us comments on Twitter!
https://youtu.be/gVZOxqojW-g?si=jTPkeTDV8hDt_XxU
Watch What We Do!

Search

Looking for something specific? Try a search below!

  • Jn. 17:6 and Rom. 8:9

    Bro. John,

    Why do the two following verses seem to contradict each other?

    John 17:6 (before Pentecost): “Yours they were and you gave them to me.”

    Romans 8:9 (after Pentecost): “Now if any man have not the spirit of Christ, he is none of his.”

    We know they must not contradict each other, but what did Jesus mean in John 17?

    Jack and Beverly
    ===============

    Jesus meant that God was the One dealing with the Israelites, not the Son. It was the Father who made a covenant with Abraham; It was the Father whose back made Moses’s face to shine; it was the Father that Ezekiel saw in the vision by the Chebar River in Babylon. But not, in this New Covenant, as Jesus said, “No one comes to the Father but by me.”

    My father explained it to us like this: If a manufacturing plant changes owners, the workers in the plant (the OT Jews) do not have to submit to the new owner in order to be employees of the plant; they are already employees. But they have to submit to the new owner if they want to remain employees of the plant. The Jews were God’s covenant people, but when the Father revealed His Son and turned everything over to him, the Jews had to submit to the Son (= be baptized with the holy ghost) in order to remain the covenant people of God.

    Pastor John

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

    We think we understand what you’re saying, but one thing remains unclear. The main question we had was, why does it seem that Jesus said in John 17 that the Jews were already his if they didn’t have the spirit yet? Or was he just saying that they were *going* to be?

    Jack and Beverly

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

    The Old Testament Israelites were God’s people without having the Spirit. Nobody had to have the Spirit to belong to God in the OT. They only had to belong to the circumcised nation. Circumcision was the OT “sign of the covenant”, and it was given to the Israelite nation (beginning with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob). Speaking in tongues, or “stammering lips” is the NT sign of God’s covenant. So, Paul was simply referring to the NT way of belonging to God: the baptism of the holy ghost (with the evidence of speaking in tongues).

    Pastor John

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

    We understand that circumcision was the sign of belonging to God under the old covenant, and that having the spirit is the sign now. We also understand that it was the Father, not the Son, dealing with Israel in the old testament. Maybe we can rephrase the question.

    The Son, in John 17, said that the Father had given His people to him. Yet we thought that God didn’t give His people to Christ until after He accepted Christ’s sacrifice, after he was crucified and ascended. Paul’s definition of a person belonging to Christ (i.e., having the spirit of Christ) seems to contradict the idea that God had already given His people to Christ in John 17.

    Maybe our question is better rephrased as: At what point did God give His people to His Son? From what Jesus said, our assumption about it being at Pentecost is wrong, and it was at some point before John 17. Was it when he began teaching, or when John the baptist started baptizing perhaps?

    Jack and Beverly
    ================

    OK. Thanks for making the question clear. I apologize for being so slow to catch on.

    First of all, that the disciples were born again and became God’s first New Testament children on the day of Pentecost is not an “assumption”; it is a revelation. And that is what Paul was teaching in Romans 8:9.

    Secondly, God giving to His Son the ones who believed in him before Pentecost does not force the conclusion that the disciples were the New Testament people of God while Jesus was here, walking among them. That was impossible, “for Jesus was not yet glorified.” Do you not know that God could have given His Son anything at any time, or in this case, could give His Son anybody at any time, without that person being born again? That’s where Jesus was coming from in John 17:6.

    Thirdly, in case John 17:6 still gives you problems, let me point out that Jesus occasionally spoke of the future as if it was already present, as in John 16:11, 17:24, and 20:21-22.

    You’re thinking too hard and too much. Take a break. Logic cannot lead us into the knowledge and kingdom of God.

    Pastor John

  • Michelle – Good things

    Hi Pastor John

    I just wanted to tell you how much I have enjoyed reading GCC book, your fathers biography. It has really touched my heart and soul hearing the wonderful stories of God. I also listened to one of your father’s cd. It was so good. I remember I was sitting at a red light and your father said something and I thought, “I don’t understand that. And then he explained what he just said! It was perfect that I even said aloud, “Thank you. I understand now.” I thank God when He lets me understand something. He doesn’t have to, but He does! It is no small thing when He turns on His light bulb in your head and heart.

    Also, this morning I had to go to our storage (for work) to get some papers for tax purposes for our CPA. Our storage is really a mess. I started looking through stuff and was getting a little frustrated. I thought, “This is going to take all day.” So, I said Jesus, “Please help me find these papers.” It was amazing. I picked up a box and moved it. Then I started to go through a bunch of boxes to the right when something said, “Look in the box in the middle on the floor.” So I did, and there they were – all of them! Every piece of paper that I needed!!! I know that was Jesus helping me. What could have been an all-day thing only took me about 10 minutes. Jesus is so sweet. He has truly been my hope……my hope in everything.

    Michelle

  • Sweet moments from the Lord

    Hi John. Suzi here.

    These are some sweet and welcome, unexpected moments from the Lord that I want to share.

    Part 1.
    I have so often enjoyed the colors that God has created in nature and that He has created through man-made products. The opportunity to see color with my eyes and to be touched by the beauty of nature has given me comfort and awe through the years.
    Last week, I was noticing the colors of nature as I looked outside my windows. I was seeing pretty colors in the furnishings of my house, too. I said, “God, I could kiss you for these beautiful colors!” Right after that an inaudible voice said, “Did you hear what you just said? Kiss God?! You are not worthy to do that!” I gently responded right back, speaking as a small child would in all simplicity, “The Spirit said that through me, so it’s alright!” And I was happy, tenderly happy, with such a lovely, innocent thought that the Spirit had whispered to me, “Kiss God.” Later I remembered, “Kiss the Son, lest he be angry.”
    ============

    Wonderful, Suzi! And I predict that you will get to kiss your heavenly Father someday.
    ==========================

    Part 2.
    A couple of days ago, Tom and I were getting ready to go the hospital for his outpatient procedure. The texts and emails to Tom had been sweet and encouraging. As I was getting things together, I felt thankful feelings, and began to sing out loud:

    “I’ve got so much to thank him for,
    So much to praise him for,
    You see, he’s been so good to me.
    And when I think of what he’s done,
    And where he’s brought me from,
    I’ve got so much to thank him for.“

    I was walking through the house singing this, and said, “Tom, I felt a gentle nudge from the Spirit to sing this little song.” I wanted to explain to him how very gentle the feeling was, and I said, “It felt like this.” I blew gently on his cheek. “It was like a feather on my cheek, so gentle.” He said, “That’s Jesus kissing you back.” At that, I felt a lovely holy ghost ‘chill’ up and down my arms, continuing for a few moments. We were both rejoicing with tears in our eyes at this sweet moment from the Lord. It was comforting to share that touch together right before the medical procedure.

    (2nd verse: “When I look around and see the good things he’s done for me,
    I know I’m not worthy of them all.
    But his blessings he freely gives, I owe my life to him,
    I’ve got so much to thank him for.”)

    Suzi

  • Real wisdom

    Hey Pastor John,

    I have been reading in your Solomon’s Wisdom book. In the book, it says, “The secret to obtaining wisdom is in knowing how to seek it. Only those who understand how to seek wisdom will ever find it.” So, my question is how do you seek wisdom?

    Donna C
    ========

    Hi Sister Donna!

    We seek wisdom the right way by asking for it from those who really have it, beginning with Jesus, and then from those whom he has taught the knowledge of God. Solomon said, “Wisdom is hidden deep in the heart of man, but someone with understanding will draw it out.” It takes wisdom to gain wisdom.

    Pastor John

  • GCC stories

    Pastor John,

    I am reading the biography you wrote of your father. I just read the story about about your father and the young woman named Maude. My heart can barely contain the sorrow and the pure love of God that drove your father. Thank you for sharing these stories! I can’t seem to stop reading! Hearing the stories of these old saints makes me want to re-examine my life. I feel so puny right now.

    Michelle
    ========

    I understand, Michelle. It can be very humbling to read their stories, to see both their triumphs and their failures. May God help us to walk in the light and be faithful until the end, as they did.

    Pastor John

  • TFE 1/13/11 When You Are Ready, Part One

    http://goingtojesus.com/site/php/thoughts.php?tname=tfe01-13

     

    Good morning, Pastor John!

    I really enjoyed reading the TFE this morning, When You Are Ready, Part One. God has cursed this world with time, since the fall of Adam, but with that curse he made a way out: time. As Ecclesiastes stated, there is a time and purpose for everything under heaven. God has appointed His people time to get ready, before He calls us home. That is just mercy from God. The good news is, He is the one who gets us ready; we just have to submit to the power of God, as Brother Gary’s poem suggests.

    By the time we meet Jesus, all of the dross, spots, and wrinkles will be gone and Jesus will present us to the Father at the time appointed. That is encouraging news! When I looked around the room on Justin TV, and saw the names watching it, I had the feeling that we are in this pot together. We have so many riches, we can’t even count them all, but it’s fun trying. I love my life, and the people that God put around me; they are my safety! My prayer is, “God, give me faith to submit to your power”.

    Love always,
    Billy

  • Amy F – a wife’s place with T&O

    Hi Pastor John,

    If a wife wants to pay tithes and offerings but her husband does not share the same desire, what is the right thing to do in that situation? Can she pay her tithes and offerings? Also, if the wife does not have an income of her own, is she obligated to pay tithes and offerings?

    Thanks,

    Amy F.
    ==============

    Hi Amy.

    A wife can bring her tithes and offerings, even if her husband does not. However, she must not bring tithes and offerings from her husband’s salary. God made it very clear in the Old Testament that whatever anyone brought to Him had to be willingly offered.

    Leviticus 1
    3. If his offering be a burnt sacrifice from the herd … he shall offer it of his own free will at the door of the tabernacle…

    As to your second question, no one can be obligated to pay tithes and offerings if he has no income of his own. I cannot locate the specific verse that states this right now, but in God’s law, one of the basic rules concerning sacrifices was that the animal you sacrificed to the Lord had to belong to you; you could not sacrifice to God what belonged to someone else.

    Years ago, before I understood many of the truths in my book on Tithes and Offerings, a woman who attended our meetings was paying tithes on her husband’s salary in addition to her own. I did not know she was doing that. Her husband was a nice guy, but he was an unbeliever, and he didn’t know, any more than I did, that his wife was using his earnings to bring me tithes. She was, in reality, stealing her husband’s money and giving it to me.

    When I learned what this sister had done, I immediately researched my records for the couple of years she had been bringing me tithes, to determine how much she had given. Then I called her husband and apologized for the error. I told him that a check would be made out to him for all the money he had lost. I was surprised when he insisted that I not do that, but we did agree that from that point on, his wife would not use his income to bring me tithes and offerings.

    This woman is long gone from our midst. I hope that, wherever she is now, she has learned not to do things behind her husband’s back. That is not a godly thing for a wife to do, especially when her husband in working hard and trusting her to take care of his money.

    Pastor John

  • Wendell – Hospital Visit January 10, 2012

    Dear John:

    As I ponder the flood of thoughts and feelings which are still prevalent from the gathering it amazes me how God does things. For brevity, I am only going to write out about one incident which connected with a statement Damien made at the gathering tonight.

    While waiting at the hospital waiting room Tuesday night when Joseph had an apparent allergic reaction, I was sitting across from a very young couple. The mother, I believe, of the daughter who was waiting with them was courteous and caring for her daughter’s well being. The young boy’s attire was with the ear rings and, I call them, low-rider pants. Now, normally I pay little attention to clothing, but this particular ensemble has always been distasteful to me. The young girl was about a week away from having her baby. Due to their age, I assumed they had gotten to that point without planning for it. I did feel sorry for someone starting out in this life in that situation, so very very young. I pondered how will they take care of the child which would be here soon. Automatically, a prayer seemed to come under my breath God help them. Little did I know God was going to use them to teach me this night.

    Joseph name was called, and he was ushered back to a room in the Emergency room. By this time, I thought Joseph was some better. The waiting was made much more pleasant by the company from Betty and Earl. The times they have helped me are too numerous to mention. Just their presence was comforting. Caroline and I went back with him.

    As a matter of habit, any time I go into any business environment, I note the efficiency of the operation to see how much waste is there, realizing that those costs probably will be passed on to me if I do business with that company. Unfortunately for me, my opinion of a substantial part of hospital operations are they are very inefficient and often too redundant.

    As I was sitting there, the Doctor arrived, I immediately liked his attitude and demeanor. Thankfulness flooded me for a hospital, doctors, a clean facility and nurses to look after Joseph. Everyone of them seemed to be hand-picked to care for us as a family, and Joseph as a patient. This thankfulness just seemed to trump all my other thoughts, and my mind wondered to all the situations around the world where this type of care isn’t available. I could only sit there and under my breath utter thanksgiving to God, over and over. Decisions were made as to what was going to be for Joseph’s care, and then it became a wait and see issue.

    While waiting, I had to go back out into the waiting room, and I happened to meet the young man I spoke about earlier. I asked him how his wife was doing, and he took a moment to explain what was wrong and why they were there. His genuine care for his wife and new born touched my heart deeply. Immediately, repentance came for how I had judged him earlier based on appearance. My upbringing had imposed on me judgment without the spirit, which is never correct, even when it is correct. I knew how I felt about this particular ensemble and made no apologies for it in the past. Based on Preacher Clark’s experience about the long hair, I knew my fixed opinion needed to be corrected, but I couldn’t do it. This night God fixed it. From now on, I feel certain I can’t judge with my eyes based on this experience.

    To me, one of the things Damien said which connected with this experience was in regards to judging God’s creation in relation to people. I can’t find the words to communicate how this connected with my experience at the hospital, but I know it does.

    I am very thankful for this change God made in me, I needed a fix and he gave it.

    Brother Wendell
    ================

    Thanks, Wendell.

    I was just recently telling someone of the angel who visited my father and changed his feelings toward young men with long hair, back in the early 1970s. It is a precious gift to have Jesus condescend to help us get past our weaknesses.

    jdc

  • Taylor – short poem

    Thanks, Taylor! The gratitude comes through. It really does.
    jdc

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

    This little poem hit me out of the blue at work a few weeks ago. I forgot about it until I bumped into it today, so thought I would share it!

    Found in less than desirable array
    Cleaned, clothed and fed; shown the holy way
    Given shelter in the shadow of God’s men
    How can this be? I ask every now and again…

    For I’ve been loved, loved, loved
    God’s Son purchased this for me
    Love, Love, Love
    The love of God has rescued me

    Don’t know why I’ve been picked
    To receive such blessings as this
    If only to receive His grace along the way
    And shine a light so others can say…

    I’ve been loved, loved, loved
    God’s Son purchased this for me
    Love, Love, Love
    The love of God has rescued me

    Taylor C

  • Web site question – Which Bible?

    Name: Jim P

    comments: What bible do you use?

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

    My Bible of choice is The New Testament in the Original Greek: Byzantine Platform. I believe that it is superior to the UBS Greek text. We are in the process of producing a new translation of the New Testament, using that Byzantine Greek text as a base. You can keep up with our progress by visiting this site:

    http://www.goingtojesus.com/site/php/translations.php?tname=intro

    Beyond that, it is my opinion that the King James Version is the best overall translation, even with its occasional archaic language. I also refer to other versions when I want to compare what is written. We have here, for reference purposes, 30-40 other versions, both old and new.

    Pastor John

Recent Posts