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  • So Rich

    Pastor John,

    I feel hesitant to speak because words detract from it, but my, my, that was so rich tonight!  It felt like you could swim in the spirit accompanying that good message.

    I couldn’t (and didn’t want to) speak for some time afterward.  I feel saturated with the spirit that came with (or delivered) that message.  I feel it now.  It is indescribably rich.  That spirit changes things – it changed me!

    When brother Earl obeyed the Lord Saturday and stopped and prayed for Beth’s headache, which immediately lifted, I heard the spirit of God say “Expect Jesus to change your day!” Glory to God, something is going to change when Jesus shows up – that is the gospel of Christ!  My, my, what feelings in the power of God.

    So rich. I can’t say that enough.

    Jerry

  • The Choice To Be Holy

    Pastor John,

    Beth and I were discussing today’s wonderful meeting, and we had to consider what an honor and a privilege from God it is to be given a CHOICE to be holy!

    Men whose hearts haven’t been touched by God cannot choose to be holy because holiness isn’t in a man; it isn’t of this world.  Without God’s help, men can only choose a path devised from their own sinful heart.  Some sins look better than others, and sins that are decorated with money or education often appear to be good, or not as bad, but it is all just sin if it comes from the heart of a man.  Jesus said so.

    Holiness is from God, not man, and it is not an option for us humans unless Jesus takes his abode in our hearts.  Then (and only then) do we have the choice to die out to the fleshly nature we are born into, so we can live according to the new nature of the holy One who now abides in our hearts.  And we will all be judged in the end according to our choice.

    There are about seven billion people on earth now, and only those who have been filled with the holy Ghost can make the choice to live a holy life in Christ so that they can one day meet God in peace. (Heb 12:14: Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord.)

    What an opportunity from Jesus!

    Jerry

  • If You Do What’s Right…

    Pastor John,

    What you said today about how the world treats God’s people is so right and simple — and as you said, “It sums it all up:” 

    “If you do what’s right, people are going to call you a ‘cult;’ because what’s right is not from this earth.”

    You also said, “Let them do it.  It’s just the world without God. We probably would have said the same thing, before Jesus had mercy on us.”

    That is so good. The goodness of God allows for everyone to hear from Jesus and repent  🙂

    Jerry

  • Matthew 24:9,14

    Good afternoon, Pastor John,

    I hope all are healthy and well. 

    With the recent escalations in Israel, I have been seeing an uptick of “talk”.  When things escalate, I sometimes like to read through and keep myself on track as to where we are timewise.  I have some questions below.  I pasted the scriptures from myPJV app, and I don’t know how to correct the font in my phone.  Sorry about that if it looks messy. 

    In Matthew 24:9, Jesus says “After that, they’ll turn you over to persecution, and they’ll kill you; you’ll be hated by all nations because of my name.” I know eventually all of God’s people will be persecuted.  In this scripture, is Jesus specifically talking about the Jews in Israel as a nation, since this was prior to the holy Ghost being poured out on Gentiles?  Or was Jesus talking about Israel in a spiritual sense, meaning us with the holy Ghost?

    ==========

    This is prophecy, Margo, of the time at the end, and it has to do only with people who belong to Jesus.

    ==========

    In Matthew 24:14, Jesus says “And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the earth for a witness to all nations, and then, the end will come.” Over the years, I never really gave it much thought.  We know that Christian doctrine has been spread throughout nations, and it is obviously not what Jesus was talking about when he says, “this gospel”.  When Jesus says, “This gospel of the kingdom shall be preached,” would he be referencing that the holy Ghost baptism is the new birth?  Or am I missing something Jesus is trying to say there?

    ========== 

    Jesus means that, and whatever other truth is in his gospel, which Christians are not preaching anywhere that I can find.  They have their religion, and Jesus has his.

    ==========

    I have been going back and listening to the final weeks of your teaching series on Matthew this morning (at TheSpiritIstheWitness YouTube channel), but still had these questions. smiley face2

    I appreciate any thoughts Jesus has given you on these scriptures.

    Thank you,

    Margo

  • Back to the Basics!

    Good morning!

    You wrote:

    Jesus did not invent the idea that those who hear and obey God belong to Jesus’ family; Jesus got that idea from his Father in heaven!

    We know how Jesus answered the question, “Who is my family?” Now, how do you answer it? 

    https://www.goingtojesus.com/gtj_thoughts.html?tname=rdt10-12

    I read this excerpt from the Random Thought, October 12.  I love this because when Jesus first brought me here to the body, this is exactly how I felt.  It wasn’t manufactured or drummed up; it was what Jesus put in my new heart!  Somewhere along the way, I began to feel like I was taking that too literal, but you know what … I wasn’t.  This is exactly what Jesus put in my heart then and it is still there now.  I text with Ashley for just a minute this morning, and just seeing her name on a message made this feel even sweeter.  Ashley is my sister.

    I think I am learning that going back to the basics with Jesus is a wonderful thing!

    Beth D.

    ========

    Amen, Beth!

    Never get far from the basics.  There is peace with Jesus in those simple truths of the gospel.

    Pastor John

  • The Word “Church”

    John,

    Thank you for all your research and work you have put into the Iron Kingdom series.  It is amazing how much proof and information is out there on Christianity and its rise. 

    The more we receive and understand from the Spirit about our Father and his Son, the more miraculous it seems that we are here, together, believing the truth. The whole world lies in darkness, and it covers everyone on it, but by the grace of God we can walk in his light by his Son Jesus!!  And I am so thankful and grateful that we are here!!

    Stuart 

  • To Forgive or Not to Forgive

    Good morning, Pastor John. 

    I am confused.  I know that when Jesus was on the cross, he asked God to “forgive them for they know not what they do.”  But in Psalm 69:28, concerning those in Israel who would reject and abuse him when he came, the Son of God prayed, “Let them be blotted out of the Book of Life and not be written among the righteous!” (Ps. 69:28).  How is he asking to forgive and not to forgive?  Is there a group to forgive and a different group to not?  None of them asked to be forgiven.  How does this apply to us?  Do we need to differentiate who to forgive even when they don’t ask forgiveness? 

    Thanks

    Mark W

    ========

    Hi Mark.

    When I was starting out in the Lord, I decided that as I read through the Bible, I would keep a list of any contradictions I found along the way.  In a short time, however, the list grew so long that I had to quit.

    The Son of God said both those things, one through David in Psalms and one from the cross.  There are those whom the Son has asked God to curse and others whom he has asked God to bless, and I am sure that God answered both those prayers.

    That is why Jesus told his disciples to rejoice that their names were written in heaven.  It didn’t have to be that way.

    Also, nobody knows whose name is in God’s Book.  Therefore, be kind to everyone; you may be talking to a lost sheep of God.

    Pastor John

  • Church-Based Religion

    Hi John.

    I’ve been reading your writings on “Church-based religion”.  It’s very good.  When I was reading it, the one word that came to my mind was a corporation. The backslidden body of Christ tried to incorporate.

    I looked up the definition of corporation: “A corporation is an organization—usually a group of people or a company—authorized by the state to act as a single entity and recognized as such in law for certain purposes.  Early incorporated entities were established by charter”.

    Christianity, spiritually, is just that, an organized group of people for a purpose.  And Christianity’s purpose was to offer sinners an alternative to being baptized by the Spirit into the true body of Christ.

    I’ve never really thought of the word “church-based” before.  I thought it was real good.

    Thanks for your Iron Kingdom samples!  Cheerio!

    Gary

  • Being Together Today

    Hey, red heart
    I utterly loved the fellowship, love and praising God together today.  When the Bro Band* starting playing the first song, a well of thankfulness just filled me up!  I am so thankful for you and who Jesus has made you.  I’m thankful you have a home where we can meet and learn and be corrected and grow together in Christ. We ARE family, and with all my heart I love each one God has brought here.  I’m so thankful for each one!  We are a precious people – just look at what He’s done!  We are a miracle.

    And the fellowship!  Fellowship is so precious — just as you were saying today, that it’s worth giving up anything just to keep or attain to fellowship.

    My heart is so full tonight, just from the wonderful feelings of peace, love, joy, and fellowship today.  Thank you, thank you.  And now, to walk worthy!  What a wonderful, exciting life Jesus has given us!

    With much love,

    Donna

    *

  • Feelings from the Job Lesson

    Dear John,

    I loved our time together Wednesday night: the songs, handpicked by Jesus, the way the holy Ghost fell to encouraged and filled us with joy, the message before your Job teaching about trusting God, and then Jesus opening up another lesson of Job to us.  These were like layers of gold Jesus perfectly placed in my heart. My ears and heart were blessed to hear and feel God’s goodness.

    One highlight for me from Job is when we read about man seeking for riches and treasure in the earth. He digs and searches tirelessly to find that hidden treasure. He may spend his whole life doing that until he finds what he thinks will satisfy him. God has His Wisdom and Understanding hidden as great treasure but most won’t search out the things of God, to find His hidden treasure, His Son.

    As we were reading, for just a moment my thoughts went back to when as a young woman in my early 20’s.  I was so tired of going the way of most young folks, digging here and there, thinking I had found something of value only to find out there was no real substance or peace.  I dug a lot of  holes that led to frustration, disappointment and heartache.  God did that.  He knew I was wanting something that would endure.

    I remembered the feelings of excitement when I first began to read the Bible in August 1985 and got glimpses of Jesus in the scriptures.  He created a real hunger in my heart to dig and keep on digging, and to love what He was letting me find.  I did not know I was digging for Wisdom and Understanding, but God knew who I would find if I continued on that pathway-Christ,  the Spirit of Wisdom and the Power of God!  I am so grateful God created that desire in my heart. ⁷ He let me find His durable riches.

    I loved the part in Job 30 about Job not being afraid to judge. Some men he called dogs. We have to overcome the spirit of this age that tells us it is wrong to judge.  We have to be led by the Spirit to know which poor God loves.

    And then I loved how you tied in Job and the things he suffered, to Jesus and his sufferings. They both were made to feel worthless at times, and longed for someone to show them pity, but trusted God through their lonesome times of suffering.  God was there, carefully watching over them even though at times they felt all alone.  That felt so tender.

    Thank you for all the hours of work you put in studying and digging in so we can learn Job the way Jesus wants us to learn about him.  We have so much to be thankful for.

    Love,
    Bess

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