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Pastor John,
Listening to the F&S recordings and feel a place I never want to leave. It’s like a blanket Jesus lay across my heart. To really take in that God revealed His son to us, and to some He never will. Just taking that in puts your heart in order on how to love – a humble love. I don’t ever want this to lift off my heart.
Beth
Ohhh John,
Rereading a section at home after this morning really touched me!
On page 108, at the bottom, paragraph, speaking about the Fellowship of God being a testimony to his Son, and the fact that believers are divided and not serving God together in unity is a testimony to the world against Jesus, not for him. That is just so sad to me. Millions are content in their divisions, their denominations, thinking they are all right. Not only does it divide God‘s people from one another, but it also invokes an insidious measure of pride in each person’s heart that they are the ones who are worshiping properly, as opposed to their neighbors across the street.
You continue to write in the final page that this is perhaps “the greatest tragedy in history, even surpassing the tragedy of the original fall in the garden of Eden.” We are all less than we could be in Christ because of these divisions.” Oh, it just tears at my heart. I’m so grateful that after I was finished church-hopping, trying to find one group that made sense to me, that God whispered to me and called me away from all of those sects. I thank the Lord that He chose to reveal a desire for the truth in my heart, and I sniffed it out like a dog when I found brother Gary’s radio broadcast and felt something brand new and refreshing and healthy; something that made sense. That was God; not my intellect!!
Not my wisdom!!
Like others said this morning, this truth about the Father and the Son is what God’s people are looking for – and what they really want.
We were all sinners, but God enabled us to want it too. So I still pray for those who are lost in the world, as well as our brothers and sisters, who are lost in Christianity.
Brad
Hi Pastor John.
RE: Isaiah 43:10–11
In Isaiah 43:10-11, why does God say there was no god formed after Him, nor is there a Savior other than Him? Wouldn’t this be Jesus who is the savior and who was formed after God? Or is it that because God and Jesus are one in spirit that God is including Jesus in his statements?
Isaiah 43
¶11. “I, even I, am Jehovah, and besides me, there is no Savior.
Thank you,
Anna
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Hi Anna.
Jesus would agree with what his Father said through Isaiah. You will remember that the apostles taught that the Son was God’s agent in creation. The author of Hebrews, for example, said of the Son that God, “has appointed him heir of all things, through whom also He made the worlds” (Heb. 1:2). However, when Jesus spoke of creation, he mentioned no one but the Father (Mk. 10:6; 13:19).
We know that the Father appoints others to positions of authority and calls them “gods” (e.g. Ex. 7:1; 22:28), and so, it is not surprise that the father would address the Son s “God”, as He did in Psalm 45:6:
And yet, when Jesus was here, he spoke of the Father as the only God, and the only One who is holy (Mt. 19:17).
It is the same with “Savior”. Jesus is the only Savior that God has appointed for mankind (cf. Acts 4:12), but it is only because God has made Jesus who he is that he is able to save. I am sure that Jesus would say that God is the only Savior and that he, himself, is only God’s obedient servant.
When God said no other god was formed, He was speaking only of a god who could replace Him. Israel was acting as if there were other gods equal to their God, and God was telling them there was no such thing. And again, Jesus acknowledged this when he said, “My Father is greater than I” (Jn. 14:28).
Hope that helps!
Pastor John
Hey, Pastor John!
As I was reading in John tonight, I came across this and wanted to ask you about it! In John 16 while Jesus is talking about the Comforter coming, he refers to the Comforter as a “he” instead of an “it.”
John 16
After reading that and trying to understand why Jesus may have said it that way, it reminded me of the set of videos you made several years back describing how the Greek text makes it very clear that the Spirit is a thing instead of a person. I know the Spirit isn’t a person, but do you know why Jesus may have said that? The only thing I could think of was maybe Jesus used “he” because he was using “comforter” as a more personal name? Or maybe because “comforter” is masculine in Greek? At the end of the day I know it’s a very small thing, but I enjoyed considering it and wanted to see if you know why Jesus said it that way!
Thank you!
Samuel
Here are the videos on the Spirit study!
Pt. 1: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BI2h1eQvjdc
Pt. 2: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FrwoWDE3t70&t=101s
Pt. 3: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=euXj90FYycU
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Hi Samuel.
I dealt with that issue on Page 25 of The Influence of Trinitarian Doctrine on Translations of the Bible. You can find the entire study at GoingtoJesus.com. Here is that section:
John 16:7–14
¶ 12. “I still have much to tell you, but you are not now able to bear it.
13. When he [“that (masculine) one”], the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all truth. For he will not speak of himself, but whatever he will hear, he will speak, and he will reveal to you things that are coming.
14. He will glorify me because he will take from what is mine and reveal it to you.
John 16:13 at first appears to contain a masculine pronoun referring to the Spirit, but pneuma is not the subject here. The subject throughout this section is paraclatos, beginning with verse 7.
The powerful influence of the Trinitarian faith upon even a great scholar’s mind is evident in Professor A. T. Robertson’s treatment of John 16:13. He dismisses the possibility of “that (masculine) one” in verse 13 referring to paraclatos because of the five verses that come between paraclatos and that pronoun. And he makes that assertion, despite the fact that verses 8–11 make up just one long sentence, and (2) “that (masculine) one” in verse 8 is the only subject of that long sentence. In other words, paraclatos is the only subject of verses 7–11. Why then, could it not be the subject of verse 13 as well? To say, as Dr. Robertson does (p. 709), “in this passage John is insisting on the personality of the Holy Spirit” is a completely unwarranted assessment of the grammar and imposes upon John a Trinitarian faith about which he in no other place says anything, though opportunities abounded for him to do so. No one except someone predisposed to a Trinitarian faith would possibly see in John’s grammar in these verses a voice “insisting” on the personhood of God’s spirit.
One should especially note that the use of the masculine noun, paraclatos, cannot be taken as evidence that the Spirit is a (masculine) personality, for other such descriptive titles for the Spirit are feminine words, such as dove, promise, and gift.
In fact, the word most closely related to paraclatos is paraclasis (consolation), and it is feminine. In Scripture, there are many more feminine words than masculine words used in reference to the Spirit. But who is willing to suggest that the Spirit should be referred to as she?
Outside of these verses in John, the only other usage of paraclatos is in reference to Jesus himself, found in 1John 2:1.
Thank you for the question, Samuel. I hope this helps.
Pastor John
Pastor John,
I just love what we read this morning!* Pastor John, you really bring out the loving and tender relationship between the Father and his precious Son that has existed before the foundation of the world. If you don’t believe the Father and the Son are two separate beings who love each other dearly, then it’s impossible to take in how much they love us and want us to be part of their loving relationship. That’s the whole point of us receiving their spirit so we can become part of their loving family; one of their fellows. If we love them and love each other the way they love each other and us, then we will enjoy the fellowship they so want us to have!
Lee Ann
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Hi John,
I was sorry I had to miss the reading of the Father and Son* this morning. Hopefully I will be well soon so I can be at future readings. I wanted to tell you about what happened to me this morning, as I read the Chapter One manuscript on my own.
Back years ago, my daughter Cara had married a man, and that relationship went bad. I flew to Seattle to try to help her get out of a bad situation, and with legal issues, and at the time, she was managing a cupcake company (kind of like a Starbucks, but sold coffee and cupcakes). I had just gotten the chapter one part of your Father and Son book which you had just started to write, and while I was waiting for her to get off her work shift, I took the pages I printed out and went to the back of the store where they had booths where you could have coffee and their product and started reading.
I started reading chapter one for the first time there in my booth.
When I got to the part where you were telling about the three truths that were the foundation for everything revealed about Jesus. I got to the third one where you said the Son was NOT revealed while he walked on earth, but only AFTER he ascended and sent back the holy Ghost to his follows and not before that…. the Spirit fell on me deeply at that restaurant there, so much so, that I could not stop weeping. I tried to calm myself, but I couldn’t stop (and didn’t really want to stop)…then, finally, I put on sunglasses so I wouldn’t be so obvious to people and just sat there soaking it in. It was a lifetime memory.
But after some time passed, I forgot exactly where in the book it actually was that I had the Spirit fall on me so deeply like that.
This morning, when I read Chapter 1 of the book, I had the same experience here at home when reading about the three truths…. And then I remembered where I was in the book in Seattle when that happened!
One of the feelings that I had again this morning that I had in Seattle was that it’s only through the holy Ghost that we have Jesus revealed to us, and how great a thing that actually was (and is). What a love God had for us in revealing himself through the Son! The feeling that came with it was, “If I did that for you, what can’t I do to save you? I will never leave nor forsake you!” What an overwhelming thought! The other was one reason for my love and appreciation for the holy Ghost all through the years… I have loved the Spirit, but for this reason: Jesus is revealed through it.
I was so glad to have that brought back to me because I have wondered many times since the Seattle experience, what it was exactly that touched me so deeply. I had forgotten the area in the book that it had happened to me. So I was thrilled to have it happen again, and be reminded of these thoughts and feelings. What can’t He do for us??!
God is good all the time. I look forward to a lot more feelings like these in the coming chapters!
Gary
Pastor John,
Last week, when Dee and I took our dog to the vet, the tech who greeted us had a tattoo on her arm that read, John 10:10. I wasn’t familiar with that scripture until later when I read it. Jesus is speaking to his disciples saying, “The thief comes to steal, to kill, and to destroy; I am come that they might have life, and have it abundantly.”
Then, in verse 3, Jesus says, “The gatekeeper opens the gate for him ( the shepherd) and the sheep hear his voice, and he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. 4. And once he has driven out his sheep, he goes before them, and the sheep follow him because they know his voice. 5. They will by no means follow a stranger, but will flee from him because they don’t know the voice of strangers.”
Thinking back over the years how Dee and I would venture from one church to another, staying for a while, then moving on. We would seek out different denominations, but neither heard nor felt anything that would satisfy our souls.
Then one day, a follower of another shepherd led us to a new and glorious pasture. We met the shepherd; he was kind and caring and his voice was gentle. He loved his sheep, and they loved him, and he nourished them with wonderful, satisfying food. The pasture was peaceful and full of love.
Then, for a time, we returned to our previous pasture. Upon returning, we realized that the grass wasn’t as moist and sweet as the pasture we just visited. There seemed to be unrest and strife among the sheep. There was no peace, and the hireling was speaking things that didn’t sound true.
We had heard the voice of the true shepherd that we had longed for, for so many years. We fled back to that delightful pasture and received a warm welcome from the other sheep.
We are so thankful for where we are now, sharing our lives with each other in sweet fellowship. We love our shepherd and his faithful caring for us. We know that in this pasture, we will not be robbed or killed or destroyed. We are now free, and can partake that promised abundant life.
Amen!
Jim K
Pastor John,
Wow! I’m reading John 6 this morning, and I am overwhelmed by the fact that Jesus has written what is on those pages onto our hearts. Look at what we understand! It’s not hard for us to hear. It is wonderful!
Reading John 6:38–40 made my spirit leap! God is on our side. It is His will that nothing He has given to Jesus be lost, but that Jesus will raise them up on the last day. That’s us! God gave us to Jesus, fully knowing His will – and I love that so much. Sometimes it just feels too wonderful not to share!
38.For I have come down from heaven not to do my will, but the will of Him who sent me.
39.And this is the will of the Father who sent me, that I should lose nothing of all that He has given to me, but that I should raise it up in the last day.
40.And this is the will of Him who sent me, that everyone who sees the Son and believes in him should have eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day.”
. . . .
53. Therefore, Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly, I tell you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of man and drink his blood, you have no life in you.
54.He who eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I’ll raise him up on the last day.
55.For my flesh is real food and my blood is real drink.
56.He who eats my flesh and drinks my blood abides in me, and I in him.
57.Just as the living Father sent me, and I live by the Father, so also, he who eats me shall live by me.
58.This is the bread who came down from heaven – not the way your fathers ate manna and died. He who eats this bread will live forever.”
59. These things he said while teaching in the synagogue in Capernaum.
60. Then, when many of his disciples heard this, they said, “This is a hard saying; who can hear it?”
61. But Jesus, knowing in himself that his disciples were grumbling about this, said to them, “Does this offend you?
62. Then, what if you see the Son of man ascending to where he was before?
63. It is the Spirit that gives life; the flesh profits nothing. The things that I am telling you, they are spirit, and they are life!
Beth
John,
I love Margo’s heartfelt testimony of how she chose to not go down the pathway of bitterness after losing their baby. (https://pastorjohnshouse.com/mailbag/15828/trusting-god-in-all-things/) That takes trusting that Jesus is right and he is true and withholds no good thing. And I love your response to her about bitterness being a form of self-will. That felt like such an arrow hitting the bullseye for me.
Some years back, I had times when I couldn’t understand how some prayers and situations I was praying about continually went unanswered, and it led me to the brink of bitterness. I thought I was trusting Jesus, but what he taught me was that I really just wanted what I wanted when I wanted it in the situation, not God’s timing. I got tired of hurting. I got so focused on how my prayers were unanswered that I almost missed the everyday sweet things Jesus was doing for me to encourage me to hold on. I got shortsighted and was tired of suffering through things instead of really understanding that if he had given me what I wanted when I wanted it, I would not have learned the lesson of waiting in patience for the best outcome – that there was a purpose from God for my unanswered prayer. I remember right where I was when He finally got that through to me, and what sweet relief it brought and it changed me. The waiting had served its purpose. Jesus was patient with me as I learned and overcame my carnal mind by choosing to trust and wait. He answered those prayers in a way that let his lessons stick with me. I wanted what He wanted more than what I thought I wanted.
After I learned my lesson, I could say from my whole heart when faced with fiery tests and trials, “I trust you, Jesus, and I know you have my answers and relief, and I will wait on you. You are working on my behalf.”
I’m so thankful Jesus has helped us learn to desire his way and timing that leads to peace, instead of pushing to have things our way, which leads to regrets. There is a way to press in for answers and do things God’s way so that wonderful testimonies come forth. We may not understand what He is doing at times, and I tell Him that I don’t understand sometimes, but I trust Him because I know His heart towards me.
Bitterness is a form of self-will. What a wonderful word of wisdom to hold tightly to as we live our lives.
With much love,
Bess
Hi Pastor John,
I was reading in 2Kings about Elijah and Elisha. In 2Kings 2:2, did Elijah know he was about to be taken up to heaven?
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Yes. I feel sure he did.
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Was there a reason he was sent to Bethel, Jericho and to the Jordan?
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I have always assumed those towns were on the way from where Elijah was to the Jordan, which he knew he had to cross to meet with God. No other reason is given to us for him doing that.
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The sons of the prophets knew, and apparently Elisha also. Is that why Elisha said he would not leave his sight because he knew he was about to be taken up?
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I think so, yes.
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Michelle
Good Morning Pastor John!
As a few are aware, we lost a pregnancy recently. Just shy of a week of what we thought would be officially announced.
For several weeks, things had been touch and go. Hurry up and wait and wait again. Over time it took a toll on me. I tried to stay optimistic by ignoring feelings, in what I know now were the Spirit letting me know this wasn’t working out. I started to feel beat down, not just physically but emotionally and spiritually. Alex’s take on how I was doing was that I was here, but I wasn’t here.
Alex and I were talking shortly after. I didn’t want this to take me to a dark place. I knew the Margo of years ago would have dug a trench Jesus would have had to rescue me from. I said, “You know, I’ve been through some things in this life that most people without the holy Ghost would never recover from.” But Jesus has done the impossible in every situation. Why would this be any different? We started giggling and realized most worldly people would think we are crazy. Why aren’t we angry or pounding the floor in grief? How could our God do this to us? And don’t get me wrong; this has been an emotional roller coaster and painful. I still have those crying moments. BUT Jesus is the lifter up of our heads. It’s okay to feel sad, but I can’t stay there. Jesus has been too good for him to have to come dig me out again. I would have been a mess without knowing through this that God designs all things for us.
Alex said to me recently, “Welcome back; I missed you.” Or something to that effect. Soon after that, I started hearing thoughts like, “What are you chasing after?” I had been so distracted with the “want” of a baby and other things, I was completely missing everything in front of me. Jesus gave me a wonderful job. We have two beautiful children that are growing quickly. And I have a wonderful husband. Life was just passing me by.
So, this weekend we planned a little day trip, something we knew would be easy for my physically and not too far from home. We had the best time. At the very end, we got caught in a heavy rain storm. Many people were running up the hill because they didn’t want to get wetter. About half way up, I had the thought, “Why are you in a hurry? Regardless if you rush or not, you are still going to be soaking wet? Those other people are still going to be soaking wet.” The destination was the same, and I had a choice as to whether I was going to enjoy where I was or be in a hurry. All I could do was look up, start laughing, and enjoy the moment.
When we got home, I told Alex that for the first time, I didn’t think. I didn’t worry about what needed to be done or what our next move was. It was simply enjoying the time Jesus gave us.
I have no clue what Jesus has in store next for us. Whether that’s an addition or something else. But I know it’s the perfect plan, and I don’t have to be in a hurry to get there.
I love you, and I’m so thankful for our family.
Margo
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Hi Margo,
This is a wonderful testimony. Trusting God to be in control of all things for our good, even when things are not going as we hoped or as we would like, is the only way to escape “the root of bitterness” (Heb. 12:15). Disappointment is a great test of the heart, and many fail it. It is a blessing for me to hear that you are overcoming the flesh’s addiction to self-will and are resting in faith in the peace of Jesus.
Not many recognize it as such, but the bitterness that creeps in when disappointments come is actually a form of self-will. It often happens that people refuse to be happy because they are not getting what they want. I love the apostle Paul’s faith, who said, “I have learned to be content in whatever state I am. I know how to be abased, and I know how to abound. Everywhere and in all circumstances, I have learned the secret, both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to be in need. I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me” (Phip. 4:11b-13).
Paul didn’t desire to be hated or beaten as he was on several occasions. No sane person would want that, as he testified, he had learned the secret of true happiness! And that secret was to rest in the promises of God. As Paul told the Romans, “I consider the sufferings of this present time to be unworthy of comparison with the glory that shall be revealed to us” (Rom. 8:18).
We can feel that way, too, and I am glad you are feeling that way and testifying to what God will do for our hearts if we put our trust in Him.
Thank you for this precious testimony!
Pastor John
