https://youtu.be/gBSMMSIQDm8

I love this!  As I listened to it, I thought about you being on trial and a court of law playing this. There is not one thing wrong in this. It is not against anyone, it is just for God! The spirits that find something wrong in this are not for God. They are against God.

I can hear your words ringing in my heart “I can’t find one thing wrong with the truth.”

Me either! 

A heart for God will love this!

Beth

Hi John.

Last night, when Darren and the folks were singing his song, “What do you want from Jesus?”*…. At some point in the song I heard Anna singing a harmony.  It was very low in her voice, it sounded like a male voice, and it had some sort of “angelic” quality to it, at least that’s what my ear was hearing.

I hadn’t been looking at them while they were singing, but when I heard Anna’s voice I had to look over to see if it was her or not.  The feeling that came was, “this is anointed”… it touched me.  

Every time I heard Anna singing her harmony in “what do you want from Jesus”, something would come to mind like: “to never (carelessly) hurt another person”, or, “to have a perfect and honest heart”, etc.  I hadn’t thought about it beforehand, each of the thoughts and desires just came spontaneously, like I was ad-libbing, and I felt like Jesus was really listening and would work to accomplish those desires.  It was a special experience, just wanted to tell about that while I’m thinking on it this morning.

And thank you for your message on the father and son. It’s good to be reminded that the Son is “it”, and how blessed we are to live in a time when we can understand Him.

Gary

* Seven Pillars Music.com – Gospel Music CD Gallery

Hi.

I’m really enjoying these new thoughts on the Spirit.  I was sitting here thinking about this morning’s meeting, and Jesus brought to mind how I received the spirit as a small child. I was about 6.5 years old, and a group of us kids were “playing meeting”.  One of us would be the preacher, one a singer, shouter, testifier, etc.  Well, this particular time, it became real to me and the grown-ups got involved.

I didn’t speak in tongues, but kinda stammered and made a “wooing” sound.  I remember feeling like I had received the holy Ghost, and I have always considered that my spiritual birthday, but I also remembered feeling unsure because I didn’t speak in tongues. 

A year later, almost to the day, Rebekah E. went to be prayed for, and that’s the day she received the Spirit, and that day was the first time my utterances began sounding like tongues.  I never really felt like I had a big holy Ghost testimony; I was just a small kid and didn’t have a big deliverance from sin, but thinking about it today, I thought, “Well hey! That was big!”  As a small child I had a testimony that makes what we are learning about the Spirit ring even more true!  That has touched me this morning!

Ashley

Hi Pastor John,

Jenny’s testimony about tithes and offerings reminded me about my experience in Christianity.  The church that I was going to always begged for tithes and offerings.  Every service had a tithe and offering opportunity for them to practically beg for more money.  I remember when I was single, on many occasions, giving my whole paychecks to the church.  I’m pretty sure the reason for me doing that was because I was not living right.  And I was just figuring my offering and tithes would cover my ungodly living somehow.  How ignorant I was at that time! Now that I know the truth, it was so wrong for the pastor to even accept that much money!  In the military, whenever you re-enlist, there’s usually a monetary bonus of several thousands of dollars.  I remember actually signing over my entire bonus check and they never blinked an eye!

Christianity definitely made merchandise of me and constantly took something from me. Whether it was my time, labor, or my finances. I was all used up and pretty much for their benefit.  This reminds me of Allison’s testimony, of how she describes Christianity as takers.  Take, take, take is all they do and nothing is given in return. No substance of any value that benefits the soul.

I agree wholeheartedly with Jenny’s sentiment towards you as my pastor!  It is so comforting to know that when I render my tithes and offerings, it is given with full confidence, because of the fellowship; connection and communion with you.  It’s a relationship where it’s a mutual understanding of rendering and receiving.  I’m being fed the pure bread, as a partaker, by you as my pastor, and that’s priceless! I love the perfect government of God! It comes with authority and submission. 

You’re quite the opposite of those Christian ministers, in that you don’t receive just anything.  In fact, you graciously released a portion of my tithe and offering, so I can be free from my debt to my mother.  I’m so grateful that you are NOT an oppressor and you have set me free!  That burden has been lifted and hopefully my mother will accept money from me this time.  Thank you for feeding me the truth and taking care of me spiritually as my pastor!

Love, In Christ,

David

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Hi Pastor John,

I know I texted you about this, but I wanted to write more about tithes. I am so thankful to have a godly pastor to whom I may render my tithes and offerings* without hesitation; no worry about whether my pastor is living up to his anointing. 

When I think back to my years in Christianity early on somehow, I felt like there should be a standard of rendering tithes and offerings, but it was not customary to give the full 10% tithes, or offerings.  Instead, I would give a little bit when they passed around the plate. I’m not sure how I ought to feel, but I’m actually glad I didn’t render my full tithe over all those years.

Nearing the end of being in Christianity, just before I learned the truth I began to go to a Pentecostal church, and I was feeling more serious about Jesus.  I was always serious, but somehow, I felt MORE serious.  I began to increase my tithes.  By this time, I knew the standard was 10% of your increase.  I still wasn’t giving that because I still had doubts about it.  But I was giving a lot more.  And of course, they were asking for more and more.

Not long after going to this church, I learned the truth, and thus knowing Christianity was a lie, I felt indignant about the tithes I had given; I almost asked for my tithes back, but I decided it was water under the bridge and I didn’t ask for it back.

About a year after I left Christianity, I found out that the pastor had an affair and messed up the whole church there.  That made me so angry.  And I was so glad I was no longer in that church, and not rendering my tithes to a man living in disgrace.

Remembering these things makes me so glad for an anointed man of God living a godly life.  I am thankful for the privilege of rendering my tithes and offerings with peace of mind.

Thank you.

Love, Jenny

* Going to Jesus.com – Tithes and Offerings: The Right Relationship Between a Pastor and His Congregation

Pastor John,

Sitting here thinking on the terrible things Paul went through in obedience to God; stoned, beaten, imprisoned, and he would not renounce Jesus and continued to preach him everywhere God carried him.

I realized that as things in this world worsen, and they surely are getting worse, that the prayer of God’s saints isn’t that God would spare us from the things that may befall the faithful, but that we have enough experience with Jesus, as Saul (Paul) of Tarsus did on the road to Damascus, so that no matter what we do go through, we will not deny the Savior who bought us.

I think that must start here, now, while there is peace to still be found on the earth. Not trading Jesus and our conscience with him now, for things that seem to present an easier path.

Today’s meeting was wonderful!
Jerry

Hi John,

I love all the scriptures that were read today about what happens at the new birth!  I wish every person on this planet with the holy ghost could watch and take in what we saw today.  What a wonderful time we could have with all our family if we all only knew what Jesus did for us the day we received the blessing of the holy ghost.

It really is all we need to worship him in spirit and truth, because if we follow the Spirit, it leads us to all truth.  Thank you, John, for teaching us what God gives to you.  It was beautiful today to watch and feel the love God has for us in His Spirit!

Stuart

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Thank you, Pastor John, for sharing the truth that the Lord has shown you.  The message today was about truth, love and hope for all who want to serve God the right way and the required steps to begin. The verses from the bible strongly supported your message.  No wonder the Catholic leaders do not want anyone to read the bible.  “Trust us” they say.  “We will show you the way.”  Just not the way of God, is what they don’t tell you.

I was reading in Psalms 115 tonight.  The dead idols mentioned fit exactly what I was taught.  A rosary in your pocket, scapular around your neck, idol of Mary in the yard, Jesus on the cross on the wall, none of which ever had an answer.  I remember as a young child praying, crying out to these idols and never getting relief.   The despair it put in my heart knowing there was something wrong with me.  Never any hope.  Later, when I was 15, I went on a band trip.  I was to room at a host band member’s home.  My dad had a gift, as he could sometimes just know things.  Before this trip he made a comment to me, be sure and make them take you to a Catholic place as there are a lot of holy rollers in that part of the country. 

Randy, a Baptist friend, and I were going to stay at the same home.  We discussed this and decided not to burden the host family and just go where they did.  Boy, was that an eye opening experience.  People were shouting, dancing, rolling in the isles.  I heard them talking but couldn’t understand a word.  But I did feel something was different while there.  I asked Randy later and he told me they were speaking in tongues.  I didn’t know what that meant and couldn’t ask when I got home, or else.  I am glad I didn’t make fun. 

This was about the same time I was learning about the crusades and the cruelties used to convert people to Catholicism.  These two things caused me to start to secretly question the Catholic belief, which caused me to work harder at being a good Catholic. It took many more years and me going to a place, Jimmy’s, to rescue a lost Catholic soul before I finally heard and felt the truth.  I just didn’t realize it was my lost soul that was to be rescued. 

I thank Jesus that He loved me before I even knew who He really was!  And then a few more years.  Because in 2001, when I asked you what was happening, I failed to listen to your advice when you said you were not sure yet but to stand still and see what the Lord was doing.  My carnal mind took over and I left, only to wander in the wilderness for 20 more years.  I am so grateful that the Lord has blessed me by allowing me to come home!

Sorry I didn’t mean to get so long but reading Psalms for the first time ever has been slow for me, but at the same time a blessing.  I have to read many of them over and over.  It feels like every Psalm has something that relates to my experiences even when I don’t understand the whole Psalm, maybe only a single verse will I get. But it’s in my heart!

Thank you.

Love,
Mark W.