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  • Money Changers in the Temple

    John:

    In Matthew 21:13, Jesus used the phrase, “den of thieves” in reference to what men had turned the temple of God in Jerusalem into. Is there any way in the Greek to tell if he meant robbed from the blessings (not keeping ordinances) or were the exchangers being unjust in their transactions?

    Bro Wendell

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

    “Den of thieves” does not refer to a place for thieves more than a place for murderers, swindlers, prostitutes, and whatever other wicked spirit that wanted a place to hide. Jesus’ meaning was that the leaders of God’s people had transformed His holy place into “a dwelling-place of demons, and a prison of every unclean spirit, and a prison of every unclean bird, and a prison of every unclean and hated beast.” It was a precursor of spiritual Babylon (Rev. 18:2).

    jdc

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

    Hi Pastor John,

    When I read this I thought how those with His spirit are His temple, so we must keep it clean, and not let it become a dwelling place of all those things mentioned. I think I’ve read a similar thing before, but I guess it’s good to go over these things.

    I hope you are well. I’ve been enjoying my time off work. I’ve been listening to a lot of old CD’s actually, which has been good… I will get into more tomorrow.

    Jenny

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

    That’s a good thought, Jenny.  God help us do that.

    Pastor John

     

  • What Looks Good

    I loved the email you sent out about the beauty of holiness.  The boys and I looked up Scriptures about the bride.  They are wonderful!  Here are two that stood out to us:

    (Donna)

    I will greatly rejoice in the LORD, my soul shall be joyful in my God; for he hath clothed me with the garments of salvation, he hath covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decketh himself with ornaments, and as a bride adorneth herself with her jewels.” Isaiah 61:10

    “And the Spirit and the bride say, Come.  And let him that heareth say, Come.  And let him that is athirst come.  And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely.” Rev. 22:12-17

    Donna

    =========

    That last verse says much, but one thing it does not make clear is that those words are a matter of the heart.  If we are in a condition to be saved, our hearts are praying that prayer and saying those words.  But merely uttering the words, “Come, Lord Jesus” does not mean we are a part of the bride of Christ.  Just the opposite is the case.  Being in the spiritual condition that makes us his bride causes us to pray, from the heart, “Come, Lord Jesus!”

    As the author of Hebrews said, Jesus is coming back only for those sincerely looking for his appearing.  These are the persecuted folk, those who really are “strangers and pilgrims” here and want to go home.

    jdc

  • Free Indeed

    John,

    I wanted to share part of my testimony from last week that went with the “Free Indeed” blog.

    After work last Tuesday night, I was thinking of that blog message.  I was feeling like I really needed some time with the Lord, to be filled up and refreshed and renewed.  I was telling the Lord about it and remembered one time how you had asked James and me to do you a favor and please “stay prayed up” while you were gone out of town to deal with something.  I was in the car on my way to pick up James from work, and I asked the Lord if he would help me get prayed up that night (Tuesday night).  It went with the blog because I know that it is only the holy ghost and being filled with it that will keep us from preferring our former ways.

    After we got home, and I had my work done for the night, I went to our spare bedroom, intending to do some homework, but wanting at some point to practice some songs.  (Amy had sent that email out about bringing songs for Wednesday night.)

    Jesus answered my prayer and met me there.  Instead of doing my homework, I started practicing songs.  The spirit fell on me and just continued, I’m guessing a couple of hours.  (MMMMMMM:)!  Praise Jesus!)  The songs that I sang Wednesday were the result of that time that the Lord blessed me like that.  I could feel the spirit in them when I was singing them and thought they might be for Wednesday night.  (Got to the meeting Wednesday night and Donna’s testimony and song led right into the “all things”, so I knew.)And I am thankful.

    Anyway, I wanted to share this with folks because we all need each others’ testimonies…and to keep it stirred up in us too.

    Love,

    Lyn

    ===========

    Wonderful, Lyn.  And thanks for helping!

    jdc

    (For a complete list of Pastor John’s Blogs, please click link blow)

    http://pastorjohnshouse.blogspot.com/

     

  • Gal 4:6

    Pastor John

    I was reading something where the author was saying that being born of the Spirit is a distinct experience from receiving the Spirit and he cited Gal 4:6 as support.  “And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father.”

    His point being that this verse says that it was because they are sons that God sent the Spirit.  Now when you read the similar things in Romans 8 Paul lays it out in the order we believe, and I believe verses such as Galatian 3:26-7: “For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus.  For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ,” and 4:7: “Wherefore thou art no more a servant, but a son; and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ.”  [These verses] make it difficult to hold the author’s point but nevertheless v6 is a bit odd.

    I have been considering the context of Gal 4.  It seems Paul is speaking of the Jews in verses 1-7 and then makes a comparison to the Gentile situation from v8 onwards.  Verse 5 seems clear in this regard, “To redeem them that were under the law,” but then you might expect in verse 6 something like “and because they are( or were) sons” rather than “and because you are sons”.  The grammar seems awkward.  “You are sons” would appear to be directed to the Gentile Galatians.

    If Paul is speaking of the Jews that would help explain his wording in v6.  Faithful Jews were sons of Abraham and for that reason were fit to receive the spiritual adoption which is to receive the Spirit.

    Am I missing something here?

    Damien
    ==========

    Hi Damien:

    That verse is a reference to the foreknowledge of God.  Because God knew He had chosen them before the foundation of the world to be His sons, He sent the Spirit of His Son to them, to bring it to pass.  That view of Galatians 4:6 brings that verse into line with everything else Paul ever wrote.

    Pastor John

  • JOE:

    Please don’t use “pastor” as you do a proper name, as in “hello, John” or “hello, Bill.” That’s how Xns use it, and it doesn’t sound right to me.

    =========

    Can you please explain this further to me. I do not seem to grab what you are saying here perfectly. Will it be wrong to say “Hello Pastor John”?

    J O E

    Motto: No Jesus, No Peace
    Know Jesus, Know Peace

    =========

    JOE:

    No, JOE, there is nothing wrong with saying that if that is what you prefer. Let me fill you in on some background for our use of the term “pastor” around here. We require children to respect their elders and, so, not to refer to their elders by their first names, as if they were their elders’ equals. As a group, we decided some years ago that the best way for the children to address me was by “pastor John”, to help the little ones better understand who I am. But never have I either wanted, expected, or demanded that adults call me “pastor John”. It is OK if adults do call me “pastor John”, if they choose to do that, especially if they are parents of very small children so that their children can get used to hearing me called that and learn it. To go the extra mile with it, however, and just call me “pastor” is very distasteful to me. I have seen Xn ministers glory in such titles, and I have also seen Xns glory in using those exalted terms, and it makes me feel sick inside when somebody refers to me that way. I like what Peter told Cornelius when that humble Gentile fell down at Peter’s feet. “Stand up. I myself also am a man [as you are].” And I also remember Elihu’s wisdom in Job 32:21-22: “Let me not, I pray you, accept any man’s person. Neither let me give flattering titles to any man. For I know not to give flattering titles; in so doing my Maker would soon take me away.”

    Thanks for asking, JOE. I hope this answers your question.

    Your servant for Jesus Christ the Lord,

    jdc
    alias, Pastor John

    ==========

    JOE wrote:

    “To go the extra mile with it, however, and just call me “pastor” is very distasteful to me. I have seen Xn ministers glory in such titles, and I have also seen Xns glory in using those exalted terms, and it makes me feel sick inside when somebody refers to me that way.”

    I have seen that too when I was of the Foursquare Gospel Church. My real names were forgotten. Everyone calls me “Deacon”. I tried stopping them as I do not like that at all. I explained to them that to be a deacon is not a position or title to be proud and get head blown but a responsibility. When I could not stop them, I lived with the sickness.

    “I hope this answers your question.”

    It more than answered my question. I will try and keep it in mind.

  • Hello:

    My name is A. C. X, and I live in Yukon, Oklahoma. Is there anyone in Yukon, Oklahoma, or elsewhere in Oklahoma, with whom you are affiliated or acquainted and with whom you would recommend I visit? Thank you.

    acx

    =========

    Hi AC:

    Unfortunately, there is no one there that I know of, even though I feel sure that God has His “seven thousand that have not kneeled before Baal” somewhere. When I attended Oral Robert Grad School of Theology, I met some good folks north of Tulsa from the old pentecostal school who had love and faith, even though they did not understand much of the true doctrine, and those old folks are surely gone on to be with the Lord by now. That’s as close as I could possibly come to knowing who out that way has heard from Jesus concerning the things he has taught us here. Why do you ask, if you don’t mind telling me?

    Pastor John

    =========

    A.C.X wrote:

    Hello again,

    I don’t really know how to express it all in only a few words, but, the long and the short of it is, I want “the baptism of the holy Ghost.” The below expresses what I’m aiming for fairly concisely.

    “The baptism of the holy Ghost is for you, and so are we. It is essential that you know that nothing but the baptism of the holy Ghost will cleanse your soul. It is the baptism of the holy Ghost that makes a man a member of the body of Christ (1Cor. 12:13), and it is the baptism of the holy Ghost that washes from our hearts the stain of sin (Acts 22:16), removing even the desire for sin from the heart of man. The baptism of the Spirit is the experience which makes a man a new creature in Christ Jesus, fit to live in eternity among the saints.” — excerpt from http://www.isaiah58.com/tracts/speakingintongues.html

    Unfortunately, I do not know anyone here in Oklahoma who meets the “and so are we” criteria of the above quoted material. And given much of the content of your website, I thought, perhaps, you knew of someone here in Oklahoma with whom I could visit.

    Thank you.

    acx

    =========

    Pastor John wrote:

    AC:

    You don’t need to belong to a group anywhere in order to receive the holy Ghost. A number of godly people I know received the holy Ghost alone, in bed at night or praying in their homes.

    In his first letter, John tells us three things that will always lead to receiving the Spirit. (1) Believe that Jesus is the Christ, (2) Do righteousness, and (3) love the brotherhood, or the family of God. In each case, John says that whoever does this is born of God. Do these things and then expect Jesus to fill you with his Spirit! And let me know when that happens!

    Pastor John
    PastorJohnsHouse.com

  • Brother Rob:

    The fear of the Lord entered into my heart when I read that article on Islam and the public schools!

    Brought this scripture to my mind:

    Jer.12:

    [5] If thou hast run with the footmen, and they have wearied thee, then how canst thou contend with horses? and if in the land of peace, wherein thou trustedst, they wearied thee, then how wilt thou do in the swelling of Jordan?

    Now is an easy time to serve the Lord, as Brother John has said. But the “swelling of Jordan” is coming and we are going to have to be mature in the Spirit and “the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth.” We are going to have to grow up in Christ, Brother Rob, so “that we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive. . . .” It is time to put away childish things!

    I have never been so blessed by the above verses in Ephesians 4 as I have been this week. It is time to put behind us the little things that keep robbing us of the joy and peace of the Lord! Well, my, my, if we cannot even overcome the small, petty things of this flesh, how in the world are we going to endure the persecution that is surely to come? We are going to need every experience in Jesus, every feeling from the Spirit, and every bit of the Power of God to endure what is coming on this earth! And it is time for our children to know the importance of the Power of God.

    There is a time when the joy of the Lord is our Strength, and there is a time when God said, “Their strength is to sit still.” Our strength and our trust can only be in the Lord. Listening to and following the Spirit is our only help, Brother Rob, and I am so thankful that we have that counsel and guidance to lead us every day. We have no problems if we have the Spirit. We just need to listen!

    My prayer is that we all mature spiritually in the Body so that we can be “fitly joined together” in Love. I am thankful for every brother and sister that the Lord has given me, and for my part in the Body. To “keep on keeping on” as Preacher Clark told me many years ago seemed such a small thing. But, oh my, how much wisdom that man of God had! He had those “real” experiences with Jesus and knew the Power of God! Going forward in God as He draws us closer and closer to the Goal, to our Home, and to our Eternity with Him!! Now what of this earth is worth trading for that Reward!! Praise God, Brother Rob!

    Sorry I got longwinded, but the Spirit in me today just feels like traveling on!!

    Sure do love you,
    See you tonight!

    Sister Sandy 🙂

    ===========

    Rob’s response:

    Amen on every word, Sister Sandy! I keep feeling such a strong desire to get well established in the Truth. “Deep rooted” is the phrase that keeps coming to my mind the past few weeks. Jesus wants people who love Him and his Father so much, that nothing else really matters when a choice has to be made concerning all the little decisions we make every day of our life. At the end of the day all of our decisions should be based on Jesus. Making Jesus and his Father happy, that is our number one job on this planet. There is coming a day when we are going to have to know “what we believe” and “why we believe, what we believe”. The roots of the Truth are going to need to be deeeeeeep in our hearts. Now is the time to prepare and now is the time to seek more understanding and knowledge of what Jesus has for us. The storm is coming, prepare now! Things will not always be as they are now.

    That is one of the many wonderful things of the truth; you can never get enough and you should never stop wanting more and more. Whew, your e-mail really stirred me up. I am glad you are on the team. Two more phrases that are running through my mind after reading your wonderful e-mail:

    -Do not be picky eaters! Eat what is put on the table.

    -Do not think you have enough of Jesus for now, so tonight/today you’ll just hold back and let someone else have some! HA 🙂

    AMEN!

    Rob

  • Dear Pastor John,

    I have been reading your email replies to several persons who either through the website found you and dropped a line or two with questions. At first thought, I saw your replies as being rude and show of pride in you. This I believe should not be a thing to be seen in the life of a man of God like you. When I saw that, I kept quiet and kept reading subsequent ones without making comments on them.

    Today I am happy to inform you that Jesus has shown me the reasons why you do what you do. I now know that it is not as a sign of being rude, arrogant or showing of pride. It is a display or replay of what Jesus did to those who asked questions in the bible that they themselves do not really need the answers to. And even when they get an answer is not willing to follow it. I see your replies as that that comes from a heart that does not want to displease its owner (God) and please the world. It shows that you know that the whole world is not meant for you to pastor and you do not want to waste your time (and that of those that you pastor) with those that are not to be pastored by you. I also see your replies as a test key to know those who have heard from God and Jesus (the Sheep of God) and those who have not (the goats). Further, it displays that you are not after quantity (numbers or figures) but quality.

    I am beginning to understand the more why you are not a Christian pastor. Christian pastors do not display such qualities in God (at least not many that I met during my 10 years plus with them). John what you have in the application of God’s wisdom, is what I for one desire to have and apply. Someone like me should not be foolish up to the extent that he should not realize that there is time for everything (time to correspond and time not to correspond). God help us all. Amen!

    J O E

  • Bess S wrote:

    Pastor John:

    There’s a verse in Psalms that says, “My heart is fixed, trusting in the LORD.” I always read it that my heart was set on the LORD, but after Tues & last night’s blessings from God, I can see there’s another way to see that verse! Our hearts are fixed . . . healed & made whole . . . by trusting in the LORD! I like it when Jesus adds depth to the way we’ve always understood a verse of scripture! He adds understanding. Now this verse is fuller for me.

    Bess S

    ========

    Bess:

    The way you originally read that verse is the original way it was intended. But I guess we could say that when Jesus fixes our hearts, then our hearts are fixed on him, right?

    jdc

  • Note from editor: The following is an email sent from John Clark to the saints who meet at his house (followed by several responses to that email) concerning whether or not they should be claiming an income tax deduction for tithes and offerings given to Pastor John.

    An Answer At Last!

    It has taken some time and several discussions with different ones over some years now, but some things seem to be a little clearer to me concerning filing your tithes and offerings as tax-deductible contributions on your income tax returns. I feel that this will give us, at last, a definitive answer from the Lord about this.

    Jesus said, “Take heed that ye do not your alms before men, to be seen of them; otherwise ye have no reward of your Father who is in heaven. . . . But when thou doest alms, let not thy left hand know what thy right hand doeth, that thine alms may be in secret. And thy heavenly Father which seeth in secret himself shall reward thee openly” (Mt. 6:1, 3-4).

    On the other hand, earlier in the same sermon, Jesus had said, “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven” (Mt. 5:16).

    How are we to do this? How can we be so secretive about our giving that our left hand does not even know what our right hand is doing, and yet at the same time keep the commandments of God so that men may “see our good works” and glorify God?

    The answer is simple. First of all, tithes and offerings do not qualify as “alms”. Tithes and offerings are the “tax” of the kingdom of God, used to support the government of the body of Christ that God has ordained. “Alms”, however, is a word that refers specifically to helping the poor, and can only be done acceptably after you have brought your tithes and offerings to the Lord. This is aiding a needy person out of a spirit of compassion for him, especially a brother or a sister in the Lord; and, in order to receive a reward from God for doing this, it must be done both in faith and in secret.

    Bringing your tithes and offerings to the Lord is simply a part of obeying God’s commandments, and men need to know there still are people who have the faith to obey God’s commandments, especially in money matters because this is a money-loving world. It is a good testimony to all men for you to record in your tax statements that you obey God’s commandments to bring your tithes and offerings to His servant. That is a shining light to lost men. When they see one of God’s children doing that, they will feel something toward God that they cannot feel without seeing someone obey God, even if they won’t admit they feel those things. Jesus said they would feel it, and they do.

    Aunt Leatha’s brother-in-law mocked her in the late 1940s for obeying God in tithes and offerings. He was a Christian and a gambler. She was very poor, but happy.

    The huge man, arrogant to the bone, told her, “You’re going to go broke, giving all your money to that preacher (it was my father).”

    Feisty little Leatha May snapped back at him, “When your toes turn up, I’ll still be paying my tithes to Jesus.”

    In the 1980s, when his toes “turned up” and his body lay in his coffin, she was still happy and obeying God in bringing her tithes to Jesus. He died a poor man; he had bet on too many slow horses. She died in 1996, rich in faith, and all along her journey here on earth God had supplied her every need and more. She lived an abundant life, enjoying it to the full. That man was Aunt Mary Murray’s husband, for whom as a young woman Mary forsook the God of her youth to marry. He is in hell today. And were I a betting man as he was, I would bet he cannot stop hearing Aunt Leatha’s words from long ago ringing loudly in his burning ears.

    As for your “alms”, I will no longer play the old Christian trick of having you give to the Pioneer Tract Society or to me what you should be in secret giving to the poor so that you can also claim that gift on your tax forms. Bring me nothing but tithes and offerings that belong to God. I am not ordained to receive your alms, just what belongs to God as his servant. And, from this time on, do in secret the good deeds you do for others. If we do it right, I am confident that God will richly bless all of us with great spiritual blessings. I feel that this truth is perfect, that this is the right way to handle these issues concerning money.

    Probably, I will sometimes still let you know there is someone who is in need, at least until God shows me not to do so. If anyone takes advantage of such an opportunity to do good and supplies that poor person’s need, I want it to be discreetly done and recorded nowhere but in heaven. And if an occasion arises in which I feel that the Lord wants us to all participate in the purchase of a particular piece of equipment, I will also let that be known. But that may never happen. I will learn as we go along what is right. Pray for me in all these things, that I will always escape the hidden snare of covetousness.

    This is the right way to handle tithes and offerings and the other alms we give. We really are pioneers. We have no precedent for learning to walk in the Spirit outside Christianity. But we are providing some precedents for those many who will certainly follow. We really are “working the road”, and if we do our task well, we will indeed “make it easy for those behind.” Pastor John
    December 27, 2001

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

    Response #1:

    John, that is a VERY good answer. Very good. I looked up every instance of alms or it’s derivatives, and you are absolutely correct. If anyone wants to read them they can be found at:

    Mat. 6:1-4
    Luk 11:41
    Luk 12:33
    Acts 3:2-3
    Acts 3:10
    Acts 9:36
    Acts 10:2-4
    Acts 10:31
    Acts 24:17

    Alms are for the poor, and God openly rewarded those who did it graciously, generously, and it appears, most of all, secretly.

    Tithes and offerings were public, and Jesus actually watched people depositing them.

    I love it. Thanks for digging that out for us.

    Gary

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

    Response #2

    “Pioneer” John,

    What a wonderful email! It’s not because I can claim tithes and offerings on my tax return, because that’s not important to me anymore. It’s wonderful because God has given you a new truth to pass on to us!

    I loved it all, but I really enjoyed the last paragraph….

    “We have no precedent for learning to walk in the Spirit outside Christianity. But we are providing some precedents for those many who will certainly follow. We really are “working the road”, and if we do our task well, we will indeed “make it easy for those behind.””

    It’s just exciting to me. We don’t know how to do this on our own. We need God’s Spirit to guide us. We need Jesus. It’s good when I don’t know what to do without God. It causes me to look to Him for guidance and support in this life.

    I’ve heard worldly people say that “Jesus is just a crutch for weak people”. AAAAAMEN! That’s exactly what I need, someone to lean on! I am weak without God, and I don’t care who knows.

    It might not seem like a very big deal to some, but I’m very excited as I’m typing this. It’s more truth from God, and it’s a wonderful way to start my day, and a wonderful way to start anyone’s day who truly loves God.

    I love who I am in God, and I love who you are in God too, John. I’m very glad that God has found me and brought me to you. I’m thankful that God has put you over me as my Pastor. I’m looking forward more and more each day to when I can be there permanently and be closer to my family. This life is very good. God is good!

    Your Brother (and fellow pioneer),

    Darren

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

    Response #3

    Brother John:

    Thank you for all you do in the Lord to continually bless my life. As I read this email, I just felt so blessed, not so much by the “business” of this letter to us, but by the Love of God that I always feel when your path is directed by an Answer from God. When I read the part about Aunt Leatha, my heart wept with love for her for having the privilege to have known her and for God blessing me so by her tenderness and hospitality towards me. She was a true “mother” to me! I feel so blessed to have known every old saint that God put around me.

    I love how God teaches us – with the Anointing that is on you – and through our own real touches from Him. I am learning everyday of His Goodness and Mercy. I am learning of His Tenderness and Love. And I am learning that even when we “slip”, He surrounds us with the “answers” we need to correct our path. I am learning when it is time to speak and when it is time to be quiet and still. I am learning to heed the Voice that will save me. I am still learning.

    He showed me this week that HE is our ONLY Hero. Giving that recognition to anyone else will leave you a victim and helplessly weak and dependent on that person. Jesus is the ONLY One worthy of that title. He is the ONLY one that can make you strong when you are weak for He is that Strength. It reminded me of an old saying:

    “Give a man a fish and he can eat for a day.””Teach him to fish and he can eat for a lifetime.”

    Jesus gives to us His Blessings everyday. And He also teaches us how to live abundantly with His Spirit of Life!

    your sister, Sandy 🙂

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

    Response #4

    Yes, yes, yes! This feels exactly right! Makes my heart jump for joy!

    Sheila

    =======

    Response #5

    John:

    Praise God what a relief. I can now clearly present this information to my accountant with full confidence it is acceptable and pleasing to God.

    I will remain willing not to file this deduction should our earthly government or circumstances change, making a different route more prudent and pleasing to the Lord in the future. This could be for a future generation. I do believe this time will come.

    Pastor John, praise be to our hero, Jesus!!!!!!

    Thanks:

    W S

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

    Response #6

    Amen pastor John, I love it ,I love it, thank you for being there. it feels so right. Jesus has a very simple way of doing things. It gives all the glory to God,” it all is his.”

    Thanks Stuart

     

     

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