Pastor John,

Beth and I were discussing a doctor’s testimony that she heard recently.  

The doctor had declared that he was an atheist all his life, though he had respect for a particular colleague who feared God—while also counting him as foolish for his beliefs. 

The unbelieving doctor was then struck with a sudden and incurable illness that he knew, unquestionably, he could not recover from. He knew he was about to die at any time. He said he felt an urgency that he must speak to his colleague who had always had faith in Jesus.

(The sickly doctor noted: “It is easy to be an atheist – until you are lying on your deathbed.”)

The doctor received the much-wanted visit from his colleague and, in earnest, submitted to the man’s efforts to help his soul. The sickly doctor said with all sincerity that he repeated the “Lord’s prayer” with his newfound friend and that he sincerely believed.

That once-ailing doctor said that he went on to recover 100% from that incurable disease and that his life completely changed after that.

When Beth finished telling me that story, I felt such love for that man and his experience. I understood, because of the goodness of God revealed to us through Jesus, that the doctor’s sincerity meant everything to Jesus, and the manufactured prayer he was offering up didn’t do a thing to hinder God’s love for him. I also realized that everything any of us have ever had to offer God is “manufactured” until the Son gives us something acceptable to offer 🙂

After hearing of the doctor’s experience, considering his testimony, and feeling such love for him, I felt myself (internally) countering that by considering what the apostle Paul had told the Galatians (Gal 1:8-9): “But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we preached unto you, let him be accursed.”

I then thought (out loud, and to Beth), “Doctrine matters. It matters what we believe—Paul said so. But then, it doesn’t matter, not in the light of sincerity towards the Lord.”  And for just a moment, I could feel how those things appear so conflicting; I understood how they both exist, and how both are true and are right, but I felt almost helpless at that moment to express it. I then (almost involuntarily) asked aloud, “So what is right?” And I heard myself respond, “Everything, and nothing. Because it isn’t ‘what’ is right; it is ‘Who’ is right.”

Oh, the sweetness of that answer—and I felt like all the years of hearing you say that the truth is a Who, not a what, sank just a little deeper into my heart.

Whew. Nothing is good or bad in itself. Or, as I heard the Spirit once say so sweetly, “There is no right or wrong, there is just Jesus.”

Glory to God that is good!

You can’t be wrong with Jesus, and you can’t be right without him. 

We can’t be saved without Him. It’s impossible.

So good.

Jerry

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Hey Pastor John,

I wanted to share something that happened this morning. I had a follow-up doctor appointment for some additional testing. Nothing major that we are aware of, just the doctor being proactive. When I was finished the tech told me I would get notified mid-week next week. I am thankful for the most part that Jesus has allowed me to have wonderful health in my youth. So, I could feel myself getting a little anxious and the what if’s coming and having to wait a week for results. I didn’t want to let my mind go there.

Standing there looking in the mirror I was thinking I am not going to get worked up about this. I wouldn’t be able to change it anyways so why get anxious? It was that “it is what it is” mentality. Before I could even finish my thoughts the next thought that came stopped me. I heard, “things can change”. I wasn’t confused when Jesus brought the thought.

The next thought that came was Jesus that is right!!! We can change things, YOU can change things. Then I started thinking about James 5:16 where it says, “The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.” Why settle when Jesus is standing there waiting for us to ask? It changed my entire thought process in that moment. Instead of saying eh I couldn’t change it either way, how much better is it to ask and tell Jesus about it?

As we all know his will is going to be done and he works it all for our good, regardless. But what a sweet and wonderful Jesus!! It took all of the anxiety away and gave me so much peace knowing that regardless of any of our circumstances Jesus is standing right there! 

I wanted to share because it was such a sweet feeling. 

M.S.

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Good morning, Pastor John,

I had the best drive with Jesus this morning!  I have been listening to our music and feeling wonderful, and an ad for mental health kept popping up between songs.  After about the third time it came on, the thought came, “How about getting spiritually healthy?  That is what you need.”  Then the best thoughts took over!

If we have the mind of Christ, our mental health is perfect.  There is nothing wrong with the Lord’s mind!  In fact, if we are full of the holy ghost, we are perfect just like our Father!  The answer is always the same: just stay full of the holy Ghost!  How absolutely wonderful God’s design is!

What a relief to know that staying full of Jesus and having the mind of Christ is a cure for depression, anxiety, doubt, anger etc. You name it.  Jesus fixes it!  Jesus is our healer!  That’s how God designed it.

And even if these bodies fight sickness and disease at times, the mind of Christ will carry you right through it!  Sometimes, he just carries us on home, and what a wonderful way to go!  The only way to go!

I think what I love most is how true it is, over and over again.  I keep hearing it, and it is absolute truth over and over again!  Year after year, it doesn’t change! 

Whew!  I could go on and on telling of how much I love God’s design and His Truth, but I better get back to work. 

1Corinthians 2:16 “Who has known the mind of the Lord, or who will instruct Him?” But we have the mind of Christ.

Romans 15:5 May the God of patience and comfort give you the same mind toward one another in Christ Jesus,

1Corinthians 1:10 I urge you, brothers, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you all speak the same thing and that there not be divisions among you, but that you be perfectly united in the same mind and in the same judgment.

2Thessalonians 2:2  Not to be quickly shaken in mind or alarmed by either a spirit, or a speech, or by a letter purporting to be from us, to the effect that the day of Christ has come.

1Peter 1:13 Wherefore, girding up the loins of your mind, being sober-minded, set your hope fully on the grace to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ,

Matthew. 5:48 So, be perfect, just as your Father who is in heaven is perfect.

Romans. 12:2 And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind so that you might discern what is the good, and acceptable, and perfect will of God.

Philippians 3:15. Let us, therefore, as many as are perfect, think this way, and if you think any other way, God will reveal even this to you.

Beth D.

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Wow. 

Being like Satan (or becoming like him after one is born again) seems akin to having the knowledge of God, without the love of God.

If that is correct, I don’t think the world could even qualify to be like Satan.  The knowledge of God comes through the Spirit of God.  So the error of being like Satan would belong to the body of Christ alone.

But for God’s children, if we gain the knowledge of God after we are born again, and then allow the life, the love, the Spirit of God in us to dry up, we are left with a dead shell…a memory of life. I guess we could call that a knowledge of God, but without love (or life – God’s life) to wield it.

As God’s (ex) prosecutor, it seems that Satan was/is just that way. He knows the rules, so to speak, but he doesn’t know God’s heart to apply them.  He would hurt everything he touches even when meaning to do well.

Whew.  Makes me want to abandon hard and fast rules for life in the Spirit, where both the knowledge AND THE LOVE exist!

Jerry

Pastor John,

I have been up this morning thinking and feeling how blessed we are to be fed from Jesus like we are.  It really does make me want to get lower.

I can see you and Jesus getting everything ready for us to feast on and then Jesus pulls out his special seasoning and adds wonderful testimonies from brothers and sisters that are right in front of us still happening today just like it happened in the Bible.  That just takes the food to a whole new level. 

I heard so many things that stirred my heart last night.  One thing was when brother Paul talked about getting free-er every time he told what Jesus did for him.

I have been feasting on how much I love God’s mercy for weeks now and remembering how much He has shown me.  In my heart it goes perfectly with what I am feeling from last night.

As I was listening to the song My Sins Are Gone, the line “in the sea of God’s forgetfulness” hit my heart.  So the other morning, I looked up verses on forgetfulness.  One of the things that stood out to me is that God has a forgetfulness that is wonderful and merciful and it is mentioned as early as Genesis. Gen. 41:51 And Joseph called the name of the firstborn, Manasseh (for he said, “God has made me forget all my trouble and all my father’s house.”)

However God warns us over and over not to forget him.  Starting in Deuteronomy . 

9.Only, take heed to yourself and keep your soul diligently, lest you forget the things which your eyes have seen, and lest they depart from your heart all the days of your life, and make them known to your children and to your children’s children,

I thought about brother Paul’s children sitting in that meeting hearing what a wonderful and holy thing God did for him and how that establishes how good and real God is in their hearts.  And maybe one day, if they tell their children of how real and amazing God is, they will tell how they heard their daddy tell about how real and amazing God is and the mercy He showed on him.  I love that.  Our testimonies of God’s mercy does so much more than save us.  It establishes (only word I can come up with) how real and wonderful our God is! 

And it’s all done through His son!  That’s a whole new level of WOW!  

I love it! I love it! I love it! 

Watching the meeting again and wow to Ronnie’s testimony too. What a holy honor from Jesus to be able to hear and witness God working in front of  us, creating new hearts and new depths. We are witnessing Creation!  Wow!

Thank you for loving Jesus and feeding us. 

Elizabeth D.

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