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  • Thoughts About Last Saturday’s Meeting

    Hi John,

    I read over the Scriptures you handed out at Saturday’s meeting regarding the authority given to a body of believers to make judgments that are bound in heaven. I had a thought about something that I am having difficulty putting into words. I was thinking about how important it is for any congregation of saints which is making judgment on a matter to make righteous judgment as a body. In other words, Satan is aware of the authority given by God to the saints to make judgments on earth and that those judgments are “bound in heaven”. I can see how Satan can use that to his advantage if he can persuade a group of believers or religious non-believers to pass judgment on a matter that may appear righteous but out of the will of God. And, as you have taught us, the closer something is to the truth, without being the truth, the more dangerous it can be.

    As an example, in ICor. 11, Paul is rebuking the congregation for bringing their meals to the gatherings, telling them to eat at home. Paul continues in verses 24-26 by quoting Jesus, “Take, eat: this is my body…this do in remembrance of me” and “This cup is the new testament in my blood; this do … in remembrance of me. For as often as ye eat this bread and drink this cup, ye do show the Lord’s death till he come.”

    These Scriptures somehow became the heartbeat of Catholic doctrine. They are repeated pretty much word for word during the pseudo-act of changing bread and wine into “the actual body and blood of Christ” for their communion ceremony. I have to assume that Satan convinced a group of religious leaders to proclaim this act as holy and bound in heaven, according to their understanding of the authority they believed God gave them.

    This thought helped me tie together your message on liberty and authority among the saints. In order for the congregation of saints to exercise their authority and make righteous judgments they must be at liberty to do good, as individuals and as a body. And that liberty can be used rightly only if they know the truth and love it.

    I am sure there are thousands of examples of how false doctrine originated in this manner.

    Thanks,

    Tom

    ===========

    Yes, Tom, I can see where you are coming from. Isn’t it a wonderful to know that, even though such false teachers do claim that their errors are binding on us, they are not? The Pope has no authority from God whatsoever over the lives of God’s people, and neither does any other false teacher. Nothing evil or false has any jurisdiction over God’s children! THAT is good news!

    Only those men and women who truly have an anointing from God to minister to His people can decide anything and have their judgment bear any weight in heaven and, so, it be binding on the saints around them.

    Thank God for the truth! It has set us free.

    jdc

  • Dream

    DEAR PASTOR JOHN,

    I HAVE NOT BEEN IN CHURCH FOR 8 WEEKS NOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!

    I HAVE BEEN LISTENING TO YOU ON LIVE STREAM AND THE CD’s YOU SEND TO ME. GOD BLESSED ME SO WONDERFULLY 2 SUNDAYS AGO. HE SPOKE ME IN TONGUES FOR A LONG LONG TIME. I FELT TO GO PRAY FOR DEAN’s BROTHER. THE TONGUES WERE ACTUALLY WORDS IN ANOTHER LANGUAGE. IT SOUNDED LIKE INDIAN DIALECT.

    I HAD A DREAM THE OTHER NIGHT. I THOUGHT IN THE DREAM I HAD BEEN KILLED IN A CAR ACCIDENT. THE FUNERAL DIRECTOR TOLD THE PEOPLE IT WAS A LOCAL PROSTITUTE. MY MOTHER SAID DID YOU HEAR WHAT THE FUNERAL DIRECTOR SAID ABOUT YOU. FROM THAT I THOUGHT ONE OF THE SISTERS FROM CHURCH TOOK ME TO THE CHURCH BUT WOULD NOT TAKE ME INSIDE; HOWEVER, I COULD SEE EVERYONE THAT WAS INSIDE BECAUSE I WAS STANDING OUTSIDE THE DOORWAY. ALL OF A SUDDEN, I FELT A SURGE OF WARMNESS SWEEP THROUGH MY BODY AND I WAS IMMEDIATELY HEALED. PRAISE GOD!!!!!!!!!!!!! WHAT DOES THIS MEAN.

    I DON’T UNDERSTAND ABOUT THE PROSTITUTE. I AM NOT AND NEVER WILL BE A PROSTITUTE WITH THE GRACE OF GOD. SOME OF THE PEOPLE I HAVE SPOKEN TO ABOUT THE DREAM SAYS IT SOUNDS LIKE SPIRITUAL FORNICATION. WHAT DOES SPIRITUAL FORNICATION MEAN? HOW WOULD THIS DREAM APPLY TO ME? WHAT IN THE WORLD AM I DOING THAT IS WRONG? IT MAKES ME FEARFUL. I KNOW THE LORD KNOWS I LOVE HIM WITH ALL MY HEART, SOUL, AND MIND. PLEASE HELP ME UNDERSTAND.

    FAYE F

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

    Hi Sister Faye:

    In brief, “spiritual fornication” means going to church. I am glad that you have kept yourself from that lifestyle for the past few weeks. A person can catch a lot of spiritual diseases by going to church, and some of those diseases are deadly. Stay close to Jesus, and you will be thoroughly delivered from the divisions, demonic doctrines, and vain traditions of Christianity.

    Pastor John

  • Thanks

    Hello Bro. Gary
    I want to tell you how much we enjoyed the song “Someone’s Praying”. That song really touched my heart. What a song! What a message! It brought tears to our eyes. We enjoyed the whole CD, “Foreboding”. It was so good.

     (Name withheld)

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

    Hello,

    It’s so very good to hear from you! I’m thankful the “Someone’s Praying” song has touched you and blessed you with good feelings in the Lord. Evidently it had something that many people have felt a desire for … several have told me the same thing you did about that song.

    We have been having such good “manna” in the last week’s gatherings. Pastor John has really been pouring his heart out to us with food that God’s children everywhere need. Being “taught” truth is one of the things in the Lord that is so good to me. I love it. We are so blessed! I often wonder “why us Lord?” I wish that God’s children everywhere could be as refreshed as we have been. Our unity and our love is growing stronger. We want our family to feel it!

    If God’s people would listen to the Spirit, and come out to where he is, I am confident they would be able to feel what we are feeling. It’s something we want to share. Hopefully God will open the doors for us to get this message of truth heard.

    Tonight, we again feel thankful, encouraged, and overflowing. One thing we do hope for though, is that you will be planning another trip here in the not too distant future! 🙂 Until then, may Jesus supply every good thing you need through the Spirit. Thanks for your email, it blessed me.

    We miss you.

    Bro. Gary

  • Psalm 27:10

    Hi Pastor John,

    Does the word, “forsake”, in Psalm 27:10, mean to die?

    Thanks,
    Billy M

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

    No, Billy — at least from a purely grammatical viewpoint. That verb “forsake” is translated from a very common Hebrew word in the OT, aztav, which is used well over a hundred times. It’s dictionary meaning is simply to forsake, to leave, or even to loose. It’s poetic meaning, however, can certainly be “to die”, especially in a context such as Psalm 27:10: “When my father and my mother forsake me, then the Lord will take me up.”

    In that verse, I think that atzav is, in fact, a reference to the death of the parents of the Psalmist. But then again, the one who wrote the Psalms (or the Son of God who inspired the Psalmist to write them) was such a despised man that he could have been speaking of his parents’ joining with those who despised him and, so, rejecting him as their son.

    Pastor John

  • Recent Messages

    It was interesting that the subject of speeding came up this weekend. A little analogy came to mind. Liberty is the gas pedal, but the brakes and steering are government.

    Damien

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

    Yes, and both are required for a safe journey.

    jdc

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

    Good points here.

    If the speed limit was taken away, what would we use such liberty FOR? The foolish would most likely use it for themselves, and their own excitement and benefit. The wise would use it at the right time, to get somewhere they have to go, most efficiently; meanwhile maintaining caution till that moment it is needed.

    If a person has liberty, the question becomes, “What are they going to do with it?”

    People without patience, self-control, and wisdom will more than likely hurt someone or even themselves with liberty. I think the wise will wait for the perfect time, when that liberty is needed for the good of someone, or everyone, and the kingdom of God.

    Anyway, I though the titles of the last three messages we’ve had were really connected as one, and could read something like this:

    1) Liberty (Wed.)
    2) Authority (Sat.)
    3) Peace (Sun.)

    and/or

    1) Liberty (under godly)
    2) Authority (brings)
    3) Peace.

    Gary

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

    Oftentimes, I feel the Spirit reminding me of my “speeding”; such as being too hasty in situations, misjudging, when I ought apply more discernment, and more patience.

    Slooooow down Bradley, be led by the Spirit, not your impulses.

    Good to be corrected, and reminded, … and perfected (eventually). :^)

    Thanks for your loving care. (or is it caring love?)

    Brad

  • Past Works

    http://www.goingtojesus.com/site/php/works.html

    Hey John,

    A question came to mind over the weekend regarding our past works. When we’re born again and our sins are washed away, what happens to the good? works we performed as a sinner? Are they washed away as well? We do have a new past, all things being made new :), but I think we all listened to that little voice that guided and convicted us to do good things for people even as sinners. Thanks.

    Jim K

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

    Good works that we may do before being born again are wiped away at our new birth. “All things become new.”

    Those good works are rewarded by God in this life (remember Cornelius’ alms?), but our records start out empty when we become “new creatures in Christ”.

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

    Hey again,

    I just read 2 Cor, 5:10 and Rev 20: 11-13. (from the tract on “WORKS”). Whatever we have done in this body will be accounted for, good or bad.

    Jim

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

    But those two verses do not apply to dead men. It is whatever “we” have done, not “they” (those people we once were, before being “baptized into his death”).

    Great question.

    —
    jdc

  • Tongues

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

    Name: a kashimawo

    comments: how can you impact another believers with the gift of tongues? Why is the gift of interpretation of tongue not common in the penticostals churches today? 1corith 14 and 15 explain how the early believer spoke in known tongues, why are we not having such experiences today? i thank God i speak in tongue but i dont understand these heavenly languages. Please teach me how to understand. adedoyin

    ===========

    Dear Brother,

    You need not be concerned about how to have an impact with any gift; just seek the Giver. If He gives you a gift, it WILL have an impact.

    The real question is, Why are almost none of the gifts of the Spirit in operation among believers today? I believe that, in large measure, it is because we are entangled in anti-christ religion (Christianity) that quenches the Spirit by imposing ceremonies and form on God’s children. I believe that if God’s people would come out of Christianity, the way the Spirit is calling us to do, we would be healed and the Spirit would manifest itself much more than it does now.

    No matter what the issues are among the children of God, however, the answer is the same: obey Jesus. Whatever he tells you to do, do it. Keep your conscience clear, and you will recognize the Voice. But pray for a heart to do what it hears the Voice saying.
    Pastor John

  • Nowhere to Lay His Head

    Concerning the scripture, “And Jesus said to him,The foxes have dens, and the birds of heaven have nests, but the Son of man has nowhere to lay his head.”

    Do you think this means that since no one had received his spirit yet, Jesus had no body, as in born again believers? He is the head of all the born again believers, and so without us, he would have no place to lay his head.

    Eve

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

    No, Eve, that is not what Jesus meant. He was just making a simple statement about having no certain dwelling place at that time.

    By the way, at one time, Jesus did own a home. It was in Capernaum, and it was the house that the four men climbed on top of and tore a huge hole in the roof so that they could lower down their paralytic friend to be healed. Jesus, you will recall, was very pleased that they had the faith to tear a big hole in his roof.

    Pastor John

  • Cremation

    Pastor John:

    Is it a sin to get cremated?

    Ricky M

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

    Hi Ricky.

    Anything can be sin if God is displeased with it. On the other hand, anything can be righteous if God is pleased with it. Ask God what He thinks about cremation for you. But remember what Paul said: “To the pure, all things are pure, but to the defiled and unbelieving, nothing is pure.”

    Pastor John

  • Been Thinking About This One…

    Hey John,

    I hope this is a significant question: I’ve been thinking on this lately. . . “God is no respecter of persons.” Does this also imply—by default—that Jesus has the same feelings; therefore Jesus is no respecter of persons either?

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

    Of course, B—! Would Jesus, the perfect reflection of the Father, think other than what his Father thinks?

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

    And. . . . if we are to be “Christ-like,” are we also to not be respecters of persons?

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

    Of course, B—! I am surprised that you ask. Are we, his ambassadors on earth, to think and act different from what he thinks?

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

    Now, that begs the question: What does it mean in our daily social lives?. . . In walking as servants of Christ, are we to respect what people believe, or be NO respecter of persons at all?

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

    Ah! I see. You just do not understand what “respecter of person” means.

    “Respect of persons” does NOT mean that we have no respect for people. Peter told the saints to “honor all men”. Also, if we are wise, we will certainly have more respect for the judgment and counsel of the wise than for the foolish. Discerning who is an elder, and whose example to follow, is not being a “respecter of persons”; it is wisdom.

    “Respect of persons” means simply that we are not to quench the Spirit in order to show respect to a person because of their social status, their political clout, their title, their wealth, instead of simply and even-handedly loving righteousness and hating wickedness. Usually, when we are guilty of being a “respecter of persons” (most often, to gain some personal advantage, social or otherwise), we have sinned and displease God.

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

    I have often wondered. . . If I am zealous for the TRUTH, how can I adopt a “polite” attitude toward people of all faiths, when I actually HATE those ways? Am I supposed to respect their ways? Would Jesus show “respect” for other religions? (I think not.)

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

    You obviously have not yet learned how to hate as God hates, which also mean that you cannot yet love as God loves. There is one kind of love which God has for all people (“For God so loved the world…”). In this regard, the Father is good to both the wicked and the righteous, Jesus said. There is another kind of love that God reserves only for His children, compared to which love, the feeling God has for the rest of the people on earth is sheer hatred (“God is angry with the wicked every day” – Ps. 7:11; and “…the covetous, whom the Lord abhors” – Ps. 10:3). A godly man is like God. He has a love for mankind, to be sure; at the same time, he abhors whom God abhors, and he hates them with God’s kind of hatred.

    God is courteous and good to billions who despise Him, every day. But He hates them for their wickedness, and excludes them from His family and the fellowship of light that they enjoy. When you try to include the wicked in the fellowship of light that He gives to no one but His children, you have “cast your pearls before swine”, and you will feel the displeasure of your heavenly Father for your foolishness.

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

    How are we to treat people who believe a thousand different things?

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

    I hope you have some idea now.

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

    Yes, I can respect PEOPLE, but I find I have a hard time saying I respect their RELIGION, because I just do not and cannot respect their religious doctrines, although I can respect the person for the sincerity of their faith.

    Is that wrong?

    BC

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

    What do you think? 🙂

    Pastor John

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

    I understood ALL that you explained. I knew that I was not to compromise the truth or quench the Spirit for the sake of someone in a higher social status. I know better than to cast my pearls before swine, or attempt to share holy fellowship with a sinner. However, that’s not what I was talking about. Let me be more specific. . . .

    When I am in a conversation with a sinner and/or someone who believes different from me, is it appropriate for me to say to them that I respect them (the person) and their right to believe what they want, but be clear that I have no respect for their religion. . . or is that simply rude?

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

    Yes, it is rude, and yes, it’s OK….unless the Spirit stops you and shows you another way.

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

    You see, I love them too much (as a person) to show them “respect” or “honor,” by pretending as if I agree with their doctrine, as if it were equally as valid as the truth of Jesus is to me. That is one of the things that people do nowadays. . . they try to make you sound like a close-minded bigot if your confess the truth, which exposes their darkness, and then they expect you to compromise and accept that their belief is equally valid. I cannot respect that attitude or that mindset, because I HATE it… as God “hates” it. It is wicked (e.g., Wicca) and it is killing their soul, so I cannot stand by and NOT testify of Christ, out of “respect” for their beliefs. I have, in the past, been less bold, and too courteous, and people have gotten the idea that I agree with or accept their religion, while they pretend to “tolerate” my beliefs as equal to theirs.

    That’s why I am asking, “At what point do we let someone know that their religion is false and testify of Jesus and the holy Ghost?” Is is uncourteous to do that? I feel that when I avoid doing that, I am acting with respect of persons, and withholding the truth of Jesus from them, and that displeases God.

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

    In that case, I don’t know that it is “respect of persons” that is the issue. It sounds as if you are dealing with plain ol’ everyday fear of man. Fear of being socially inappropriate is also a form of the “fear of man”. Jesus, if you remember, was sometimes (not always) very rude, but that is how the Father wanted him to respond in those particular cases. He was, in every case, listening to his Father to see what was appropriate; he was not looking around to see what was acceptable to men.

    My advice? Stop trying to figure it it, and go by your feelings from the Spirit. There are no rules to follow.

    Let me know if I have misunderstood again, and we’ll start over.

    Pastor John

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

    Now, that settles it. Thank-you. I think you are probably right….it was a little “fear of man” in me that proposed the question in the first place; fear of appearing a certain way to men and women who don’t know God, and being misunderstood. It is always best to stay full of the Spirit and be led by the Spirit in those types of situations—even if it means “appearing” rude or “intolerant.”

    I truly want to be more like the Master, and do the right thing in God’s sight.

    Thanks for your discernment, John.

    Much love,
    Brad

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