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  • Last Night’s Reading of Philemon

    Hi Pastor John,

    I am thankful to be a part of the family of God that meets at your house to hear you teach. I loved the way you gave the story of Philemon life. As you read and told about Paul writing this letter to Philemon, I felt as though I was a spectator watching from the side.

    Part of what made last night so good to me was that I had read the book of Philemon at least twice, and Doris and I had listened to a narrated CD of Philemon 4 or 5 times, but last night was like hearing a story that I had never heard before. The difference is the anointing you have from God to teach.

    Randell

  • Philemon

    Hi John,

    I enjoyed the reading of Philemon last night. The feeling of it really shows Paul’s love and tenderness towards the brethren.

    I wanted ask about verse 8. Your translation of that verse is more understandable than how it is written in the KJV. However, I was wondering about the meaning of “boldness” in that verse. I assume Paul was saying that he had total confidence in his authority to command Philemon to do the right thing, which makes perfect sense. Paul knew what Jesus had made him and he had the liberty to exercise his authority if he chose to do so.

    Sometimes in modern English, boldness is perceived as arrogant or brassy, fearless. I don’t see Paul with that attitude at all. I see Paul being bold with humility and love for his fellow brethren, even courageous.

    Another Scripture that has always made me curious where the word boldness is used is in Heb. 10:19.

    “ Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus, (vs 20) by a new and living way, which he hath consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say, his flesh…(22) Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscious, and our bodies washed with pure water (23) let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering…”

    Isn’t the point being made in these verses that we should have total confidence (boldness) in the new covenant, not relying on ceremonies and sacrifices but on Jesus our high priest and to exercise our liberty “by a new and living way”?

    If you have any thoughts about the meaning of boldness in these verses I would love to hear them.

    Thanks.

    Tom

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

    Hi Tom.

    Yes, Paul is talking about the confidence he has concerning who he is and the authority he has in Christ. That confidence is based on personal experience, and sure knowledge of what God did to him to make him an apostle, not on an ecclesiastical title bestowed on him by a religious institution. Such knowledge would enable Paul to be bold when he needed to be. He just didn’t need to be bold with Philemon, but for Onesimus’ sake, Paul mentions his authority. Paul had far too much confidence in Philemon’s relationship with God to use boldness.

    Paul’s deep concern for Onesimus is the only reason he made mention of his authority. His deep love for that young man brought out some things in this letter that I don’t believe we would have ordinarily seen in Paul.

    Pastor John

  • Hebrews 11 and Moses

    Hi Bro. John:

    After you answered my question today concerning Hebrews 11’s reference to Moses, I thought I would send it on to you just in case you might want to consider it for any portion of the Father and Son book. I found it very interesting when I read it, and your answer was so good to me!

    By faith Moses, when he was come to years, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter;
    Choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season;
    Esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt: for he had respect unto the recompence of the reward.”

    When I read “esteeming the reproach of Christ” in this verse, I remembered you telling us that the Son of God was hidden and a mystery to the OT people. They knew nothing about him. So, I wondered how Moses could have “esteemed the reproach of Christ greater” if he did not know about the Son of God at all. Your answer was so good to me: because Moses loved God, he loved the Son, even though he did not know about him. That is so sweet to me!

    Well, thank you for the answer today. It is wonderful to think on these things — rich feelings!

    Sandy 🙂

  • Sandy – Father and Son Book

    Bro. John:

    Since reading the Father and Son (God Had A Son Before Mary Did) the very first time at the beach, this book has felt special. And it feels like it is very special to God, too. It is so full of love – love between the Father and Son, and their love for us.

    Last night, I had a short dream:

    I dreamed we were getting ready to read The Father and Son material, just like last night. Before passing out the copies to read, you very soberly said to us:

    “This is not going to be for everybody.”
    “You are not going to save the world.”
    “This is going to require getting into your prayer closets.”

    Bro. John, we sure need God. For Him to send a dream with instructions, He knows this book and its message is very special for the hearts of His people.

    Sandy

  • Evolution

    My history professor said that by 1875, “every American scientist of note had converted to Darwin’s view of evolution.” That’s only 16 years after he published The Origin of Species. That’s incredible to me!

    Bekah

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

    Foolish men have been devising theories to explain how life came to exist without a Creator since ancient times (remember the “spontaneous generation” doctrine of a few centuries ago?) I think men of this world seized upon Darwin’s doctrine so quickly because, unlike previous theories, they saw that it cannot be disproved by science. It is a theory based on conjecture more than on provable fact. The doctrine of evolution hides its worthlessness in the dark closet of immense spans of time, billions of years, into which no one, not even them, is capable of looking. Of course, since there is no way to examine objectively or scientifically the doctrine of evolution, its proponents can pretend to know it is true, and the mere questioning of it can be ridiculed – which is the arrogant attitude we see in many teachers in the public schools and in the public arena in general.

    But evolutionists put on their act of confidence precisely because they lack proof of evolution, which is only the latest in the series of human efforts to explain how life sprang from non-life instead of coming from a Creator. Their phony appearance of certainty, and their putting on airs of wisdom, is actually all the “proof” that evolutionists have to offer for their doctrine. They are hiding in the dark closet of epochs which, in fact, never even existed, thinking that since it is so dark in there, no one can see how naked they really are.

    Dad

  • New Improved PJH Site

    http://www.pastorjohnshouse.com/

    Okay, who’s in charge here? ;^)

    Who is the fellow that changed the music and slide show on www.PastorJohnsHouse.com?

    IT IS MAGNIFICENT!!!!!!!

    Wow! Wow! WOW! So many wonderful, beautiful holy pictures!!

    And now, the new selection of songs is just. . just. . .SO GOOD!

    What an assortment of tremendous music we have!

    God has done wonders! Truly!

    For someone stumbling upon the website, it’s hard to imagine a more captivating and enchanting first impression.

    What child of God wouldn’t be attracted to this TRUTH, hearing those songs and watching all the faces of happiness and love on the home page?

    Great work, brothers.

    I am not ashamed of the GOSPEL!!

    /^D

    Brad

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

    Hi Brad.

    You can blame brother Gary and Sister Amy for all that hard work. (John David is managing the web letters, by the way.) Didn’t they do a great job!! And thank you for advertising the site on your Facebook page. I think the music and pictures, not to mention all the other good things we have on the site, will help people.

    jdc

  • I Love YOU

    http://www.pioneertract.com/

    Hey there, John.

    I am home this evening, as usual, on a Saturday night. just finishing up with my business paperwork, paying some bills, and attending to my spirit and soul, with my thoughts on Jesus and on His mercy, with thankfulness.

    I have been feeling remarkably different lately, since I was so sick two weeks ago, as if I’ve been taken to a new level. . or something like that. . . I feel more “conscious” , more inline with the Spirit, with respect to myself and my tasks; my eating habits are more deliberate, less careless, and therefore more rewarding; and I’m experiencing some new learning that I long to share.

    But I am wriitng to tell you that I while was eating my dinner, I decided to log on to The Pioneer Tract Society website, which I hadn’t visited in a long time.

    I watched that video of your interview with your daddy, and was utterly overwhelmed with love for you and for Preacher Clark. . and so pleased with how the site has changed. . with the old saints’ photos scrolling up in front of that lovely background of the autumn trees.

    It is just a work of art, and a work of the Spirit, tastefully designed, so inviting, with tender humility, and such a sense of history; legacies of the wonderful work of God in the lives of all those individuals (the only “elders” left are Coy, Earl and Betty!) PRAISE GOD!!!

    That website is just so touching and sweet, . . . and to see you as a poised young man, the host of the program, makes me respect your “place” even more than I ever have. Seeing you and your father together brings a deeper appreciation for the work of God that I have been fortunate enough to have been a part of for this past decade.

    When are you & Barbara coming out to see Bekah again? I will make it a point to come south to meet you there, for I feel fellowship welling up in my breast, a great need to be near you, study with you, laugh and talk and love you up a bit.

    Thanks for being YOU; who God has made you.

    This is all so invaluable; this work.

    Fondly,
    Brad

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

    Dear Brother Brad,

    I am humbled by your words. Thank you. I am also humbled by the opportunity Jesus has given me to carry on the work of making the (virtually) unknown truth of the gospel known again. My father passed his mantle to me, and by God’s grace, I have not laid it down to win the favor and gifts of men. The Spirit of truth that I was taught has remained with me — with us — and just that mercy from God is overwhelming when I consider it. Jesus is still with us! How I thank him!

    I have been pondering over the life God has given us as we have followed His Son. Where have any people been made so happy and so free? Who among God’s own people have known such a bond of peace and love? And with that, who among God’s people are so hated and slandered as we are? I dare say that we have known more joy and yet more scorn than most of God’s people anywhere will ever know in this life. And why? Because by walking in the light of Jesus, we have really lived with him — the one (1) whom God anointed with gladness beyond the gladness of his fellows and (2) whom all men despised and rejected. Pal said that all who lived godly in Christ Jesus would suffer for it, and we have. But we are also promised a “joy unspeakable, and full of glory”, and we have received that, too.

    There are two things that have filled my heart lately. First, a consuming love for you and the rest of my little “flock” that I watch over for Christ. This love is so great that it even feels “heavy” sometimes. Second, a deep desire to draw very close to God, to hide from the world under His wing and to please Him to the uttermost, in everything. It is a gift from God, a great mercy, for Him to create a desire within our hearts to love and obey Him, and then also to grant us the strength and wisdom to carry out that desire.

    That is my prayer for myself, and for all this “cell” within the world-wide body of Christ, and for the whole body of Christ. May God grant us the will to do His good pleasure, and then the knowledge of what His good pleasure really is.

    Your servant,
    john

  • Comment

    Thank you for giving a different view of the truth of Jesus. It is refreshing to know pastors like you are out there spreading the real gospel.

    Melvin

  • SIT Sentence

    http://www.goingtojesus.com/tongues-at-spirit-baptism.html

    Hi Pastor John,

    I loved this on page 7 of the Speaking in Tongues book:

    That precious testimony, purchased for us by the blood of Christ, added to the testimony of the person through whom the Spirit is speaking, make up the two witnesses required by God for great matters to be established in His kingdom.”

    Billy M

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

    Amen, Brother Billy!

    In God’s law, He specified that two witnesses are required in the most important matters. The holy ghost speaking through us, and our speaking as that Spirit moves us, is what confirms our new birth. And that is certainly a most important matter, isn’t it?

    Paul: “The Spirit bears witness with our spirit that we are the children of God.” That’s two! Jesus mentioned this also, in John 15:26-27: “When the Comforter comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth which comes from the Father, he will testify of me, and you also will bear witness because you’ve been with me from the beginning.”

    jdc

  • “Unclean”

    In Judges 13:4 (ESV), it says,

    Therefore be careful and drink no wine or strong drink, and eat nothing unclean.”

    I wonder if this means that it was getting somewhat common in Israel to eat unclean things by this point.

    Bekah

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

    Hi Bekah,

    Even though Israel had by the time of Judges wandered far from the commandments of God they received at Mount Sinai, in this case, “unclean” must be defined only as “forbidden to a Nazarite”. The angel was telling the young woman who would be Samson’s mother that her son would be a Nazarite, dedicated to the service of God, his entire life and that as long as she was carrying him in her womb, she had to follow the rules for eating, etc., that applied to Nazarites. Those rules can be found in Numbers 6.

    A similar sort of thing can be found with the word “stranger” in the book of Numbers. It has a special usage there, different from all other places in the Bible because even most Israelites are called “strangers” or “foreigners”. This is why: The tabernacle was considered such a holy place that anyone other than a descendant of Aaron was forbidden to touch it, and everyone, including all non-priests in Israel were called “foreigners” or “strangers” if they came near the tabernacle (Num. 16:40). God also gave the tribe of Levi to the priests as their servants so that no one else in Israel would come close to the high priest as well as to the other priests. The priests of Israel are treated as so holy to God that even ordinary Israelites, much less the Gentiles, were considered unworthy to touch him. And in that case, too, the ordinary Israelite was referred to as a “stranger” or “foreigner” if he approached the priests:

    Numbers 18

    2. And thy brethren also of the tribe of Levi, the tribe of thy father, bring thou with thee, that they may be joined unto thee, and minister unto thee: but thou and thy sons with thee shall minister before the tabernacle of witness.
    3. And they shall keep thy charge, and the charge of all the tabernacle: only they shall not come nigh the vessels of the sanctuary and the altar, that neither they, nor ye also, die.
    4. And they shall be joined unto thee, and keep the charge of the tabernacle of the congregation, for all the service of the tabernacle: and a stranger shall not come nigh unto you.
    5 And ye shall keep the charge of the sanctuary, and the charge of the altar: that there be no wrath any more upon the children of Israel.
    6 And I, behold, I have taken your brethren the Levites from among the children of Israel: to you they are given as a gift for the LORD, to do the service of the tabernacle of the congregation.
    7 Therefore thou and thy sons with thee shall keep your priest’s office for every thing of the altar, and within the vail; and ye shall serve: I have given your priest’s office unto you as a service of gift: and the stranger that cometh nigh shall be put to death.

    Thanks, Bekah, for a very good question.
    Dad

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