http://goingtojesus.com/site/php/books.php?tname=light:1

Dad,

As I was asking last night, if it is strictly the case that Jesus won’t return until his enemies are made his footstool, then what do the3se verses mean? Here’s the secton of your book, Spiritual Light, to which I was referring. I’ve bolded a part.

ONE ASCENSION, NO RETURN

The book of Hebrews adds this instructive note to our study:

“But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God, from henceforth [waiting] till his enemies be made his footstool.” (Heb. 10:12-13)

The fact that Jesus sat down at God’s right hand after offering himself as our atoning sacrifice is important, for it means (1) that he did not (as many teach) return to earth after he offered himself to God, and (2) that he will not return to earth “until his enemies be made his footstool.” Of course, in Spirit, both Jesus and the Father returned at Pentecost (Jn. 14:16, 20, 23). But as for Jesus’ personal presence, let it suffice to remind the reader that we are looking for his second coming, not his third or fourth. After his first visit, he sat down.

John D.

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Thanks for the question. It’s a good one.

If you pay close attention, in the Bible, especially in the prophets, you will notice places where God speaks as if something is done before it happens. He might say, “I have ended your kingdom!”, in spite of the fact that, up to that moment, the kingdom is doing fine. I think that is what is going on here. Jesus will remain at the Father’s right hand until the Father says, “OK. I have made your enemies your foot stool.” And then He will send the Son to earth to conquer and to reign.

jdc

John,

I was sitting here, after the meeting, thinking about how good God has been good to me. I thought about what I said tonight – how I was in Christianity, and came to the place of sitting at home and I said, “God there has to be more than this, someone has to have truth.” God had an answer to my heart’s cry.

And I thought about what you said tonight – how that all of us have said at one time, “God there has to be more to life than this” and God rescued us – calling us unto Himself and giving us His Spirit.

I thought about how I had that same cry twice. The first time, I considered that there had to be more to life than what I had – that life of sin. And God gave me the holy Ghost. And I thought about how I was converted, but stuck in Christianity, and said again, “God, there has to be more than THIS.” (the religion I was in).

After I had that thought, the Spirit said to me, “if you didn’t, you’d be like the man with seven spirits”. I remembered that story, and looked it up in Matthew and Luke:

Mat 12:43: When the unclean spirit is gone out of a man, he walketh through dry places, seeking rest, and findeth none.
Mat 12:44: Then he saith, I will return into my house from whence I came out; and when he is come, he findeth it empty, swept, and garnished.
Mat 12:45: Then goeth he, and taketh with himself seven other spirits more wicked than himself, and they enter in and dwell there: and the last state of that man is worse than the first. Even so shall it be also unto this wicked generation.

Luk 11:24: When the unclean spirit is gone out of a man, he walketh through dry places, seeking rest; and finding none, he saith, I will return unto my house whence I came out.
Luk 11:25: And when he cometh, he findeth it swept and garnished.
Luk 11:26: Then goeth he, and taketh to him seven other spirits more wicked than himself; and they enter in, and dwell there: and the last state of that man is worse than the first.”

When the unclean spirit goes out of us (when we get the holy Ghost), later there are other spirits that come back with it, and find us all fixed up – but the ones that return are more wicked. The come in and dwell in the clean temple of God. And if we are stuck in Christianity, really, that state IS worse than the first. It’s a blessing to get that “second cry” for something more.

I’m not sure that is the exact context of Jesus’ story in total, but if you look at it that way, it is the case.

Gary

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From what I have seen, Gary, that children of God who receive the holy ghost and then turn from the path of true holiness to devote themselves to the religious system called Christianity are, it seems, taken over by “seven spirits” worse than the spirits that work among unconverted sinners. Their devotion to that religious system certainly makes it far more difficult for Jesus to reach them than it was when they were just living as sinners in the world.

jdc

Pastor John,

I just had to write to tell on God!! I am going to try to keep this short. A few months ago some folks here decided to do the OT class. Well, Paul and I thought it would be good for Jacob. And boy it has!! Sunday, Paul wasn’t feeling well, so I took Jacob. It was so sweet to see him. I know there are some things in the OT class that he doesn’t understand, but it was very sweet to watch him. It was never a thought in his mind to stay home. He just wanted to know who was going to take him.

Well, today after school I sent him in the grocery to grab a few things. A little while later this little old man on oxygen came out of the store. He was walking very slow across the street. A young lady was waiting for him to cross but you could tell by her body language she wanted him to move faster. I thought to myself, “God, I hope Jacob would be more compassionate.” About that time, Jacob came out of the store. The first thing he did was walk over to car window. He said, Mama, I hope you don’t mind, but there was an old man in there on oxygen. And he didn’t have enough money, so I gave him my three dollars. He gave me my change back.”

I just sat there thinking about what I just said to God! Jacob said the woman checking them out told him that was a very kind thing to do! As I was driving home I had this thought: “They are who they really are, when you’re not around.” And we are who we really are when you [Pastor John] are not around!! I just had to tell on God and Jacob.

Jammie.

P.S. The money Jacob gave that man was his own!!

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Beautiful stories, Jammie. Thanks for sending that to me!

jdc

Hi Pastor John,

I really enjoyed doing the exercise with Psalm 119, for the Old Testament class. The one where you filled out the paper and you count how many times the words are use as synonyms for the law, such as “testimony”, “statutes”, “word”, “way”, etc. It was really good to slow down and put myself in David’s spot as I read the verses, and ask myself a question, “Do I feel about God’s law as David did — with joy, happiness, and peace?”

There were only 2 or 3 verses that didn’t use one of those words as a word of the law in them. Every time David spoke in a different verse, he used one of those variations.

I remember about 12 years ago, I was at a seminar for work in Richmond, VA, and preparing for a presentation the next day. I heard all of my coworkers at the lounge from my room, drinking and getting louder by the hour as I practised my presentation the next morning. I went to bed and either had a dream or a vision. I saw “Psalm 119” written on the ceiling. I had never read that Psalm before, since I had received the holy Ghost.

The next morning, I opened up my bible and briefly read through it. I told myself that when I returned home, I would take the time to read it slowly (I did), but I still fully didn’t understand it until you taught us the OT in 2001. I remember crying for joy (at home) after that particular class, at last with the understanding of Psalm 119, after I filled that exercise out for the first time.

Those commandments, laws, statutes, ways, words, etc., are now written by the finger of God in our hearts. Wow — I wonder what David would have felt like if those laws had been written in his heart by the holy ghost?

By the way, I was the only one that received a perfect score on my presentation in Richmond.

Billy M.

http://www.pastorjohnshouse.com/store/

http://www.pioneertract.com/

John,

We have watched all but a few of The Pentecost Experience DVDs and hope to see all of them in the next few days. What has impressed me so far about all of them is how the simplicity of the gospel is portrayed through you and those being interviewed. The feelings I felt from everyone are genuine sincerity and love for others. Everyone comes across happy about what God has done for their lives.

Anyone with an honest hunger for God and wanting a change of life would be drawn towards the feelings of these videos. In each interview there is a gentle invitation to seek God and the baptism of the Spirit. It’s obvious everyone is committed to Jesus and each other. There is nothing pushy or aggressive about them.
I love that.

Thank you and everyone who worked to put these together. Suzi and I consider these DVDs a real treasure.

Tom

http://www.pioneertract.com/

John,

I left your house today with my spirit stilled and sober. Listening to your father again (this is the 3rd time I heard that sermon from 1974) just did something to me, again. It is so good. That anointing just gets you tuned in to God, and who He is, and how He thinks, and real feelings. Wonderful.

I was thinking today about some things we talked about after the CD, and I felt Jesus talking to me, saying:

IF we are blessed (and that’s an IF)……

IF we are blessed, God will send some trial, some failure, some experience our way, where we will fear losing our soul and our family in God. It will get so strong on us, He alone will have to hold us up so we survive. That fear will keep us thirsting and hungering for Him in humility and submission, with patience and with the love of God for others. And if we are really blessed, we will hold on to it. He is a good God.

I am grateful to be in this family, John. I learned something from Randall and Doris last night. I learned what truly thankful hearts sound like.

Gary

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Don’t you think everyone on earth should hear that sermon??!! It was recorded when my father was preaching at Brother Delbert Maupin’s meeting in Louisville, KY. We will make copies for anyone who would like to hear it.

jdc

Pastor John,

Wanted to say hello, and tell you we had a very good time there last weekend. Some really sweet feelings, it was one of the most peaceful rides home to Ky.

Its been a busy week here for us, Im sure there too, for you guys. I came home from work today and felt like I just needed to get alone. I went into the bath room and began to tell God how much I needed Him! As I began to repeat those words, the sweetest, most tender spirit began to pray through me. I could not stop it. I tried to speak in english, but nothing would come out but the spirit praying. It was as if He was telling me, He is right here, He’s not gone anywhere. You love Him because of His spirit, not because you have seen him or something like that.

Its hard to put into words. We are known and loved by the spirit we have, and keep. I felt like it was letting me feel how great it is for people to fall in love with him because of only what they feel from him. Everybody says they love Him, but why are they saying that? What made them fall in love with Him? Do they really love Him or love the idea of loving him? I know I have heard for years about serving Him in spirit and truth, and I believe I understand that, but to experience in prayer that the spirit He died for and sent to us is living and dwelling in us — wow! Its incredible.

I guess we could say, if we are living in the spirit, and letting it live in us, then, We are the light of the world. Like you said, “Come be like us.” What spirit are people seeing in us – or I should say, feeling from us?

Praise God!
Paul

Pastor John,

I was driving home with Jacob tonight and he was telling what a good time he had in NC this weekend. He also started telling me how he loved his feelings from God. And how he knew Jesus wanted him to make it to heaven and that’s why he gave him the holy ghost.

He told me a story about how at school him and another little boy had been rough housing on the playground. He was sitting at his desk after the teacher had talked to them. He said “I felt really bad, mama.” Then he heard a voice say, “Now what?” He said he looked around to see who it was, and everyone was busy working, and his teacher was on the phone. He said he knew it was Jesus! I asked him, “What do you think he was saying to you?” His response was, “He was asking me, ‘Are you going to behave now?’ ”

That was so sweet to hear him say that and know it was Jesus talking to him. I love it when he and I have these talks because boys don’t always talk to mamas about their feelings. I am so thankful he does and that he has feelings!!

Jammie

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That is precious, Jammie. It appears that he really got something from the Lord this past weekend. It was so sweet to see him feeling the Spirit as he lay on the floor. (And it was sweet when his little brother came and lay down beside him!) It was obvious that Jacob loved what he was receiving from Jesus. Praise God!! In this wicked generation, we have in Jacob a young person with his feelings still intact!

jdc