Good morning, Pastor John.

Want to hear something sweet? 

Recently on an Old Testament class* cd, you talked about God “cutting a covenant” with Abraham.  That really stood out to me.  I have always wondered why they did that by cutting the animals in two.  I don’t remember ever hearing the answer for that before.  As I listened to you explain what it meant for God to cut a covenant with Abraham, I was struck by God’s love for Abraham.

It’s been 9 years since Jesus gave me the holy Ghost, and I am still overwhelmed every time I see God’s love.  I remember the first time I took the Old Testament class, and how amazed I was to see God as loving.  I had grown to believe He was hard and far away, punishing not loving.  In my mind, He was more like the Accuser than my Father.  But it wasn’t always like that because I have memories as a child, of God being my very best friend.  I don’t remember a lot of my childhood, but I remember getting alone with God and pouring my heart out to Him.  I remember taking my hurts to Him.  I remember finding a quiet spot in all the mess of my family and singing Amazing Grace to Him because I thought He liked that song.  God was my safe place.  Somewhere over time, Christianity, sin, and wrong ideas robbed me of knowing that.

I have been talking to Jesus about knowing God loves me.  Then I heard about God cutting the covenant with Abraham, and I could feel my heart soften hearing about God’s love. 

I got up this morning and read today’s Random Thought.  I feel like Jesus is talking and reminding me and all of us how much our Father loves us.  There was the songs by brother Gary, “You’re gonna make it”, “God’s promises to the assemblies” and John David’s testimony about fellowship and what is eternal.  God has made our fellowship eternal!   There are so many benefits for us in fellowship and not being alone in this world. God didn’t leave us without family, just like He didn’t leave Abraham without family.

You know, feeling God’s love changes Him in my heart from God to Father.  I find myself now, eight years old again and pouring my heart out to Him, my safe place.

https://www.goingtojesus.com/gtj_thoughts.html?tname=rdt09-03

“Our heavenly Father wants us to rest in His promises, to trust Him so much that we are at peace.  He offered Abraham His life, using the death of animals, to get the point across to Abraham.  How much more, then, should we rest in His love for us when He has given us His life, using the death of His Son?  Paul pointed this out in Romans 8:32: “He who did not spare His own Son, but gave him up for us all, how shall He not also, with him, freely give us all things?”

Beth D.

* https://goingtojesus.com/gtj_otcourse-1010.html

I have been praying about fellowship for a while now.  John David’s recent testimonies have stirred that prayer up.

I have been asking Jesus to teach me more about fellowship and to let me value it like he does.  If it is what is eternal, then I want it etched in my soul.  I want to hear and live what Jesus is telling us.

I was just listening to an Old Testament* cd again about slander and in it, you asked, “What did it do to Eve, to take in slander from the serpent?”  I felt like Jesus made things a little clearer about fellowship.  I thought about us; what could ever come between us to ever doubt our hearts with each other?  If Eve could have rested in God’s love for her, if she could have trusted that love, her whole life would have been different. Not eating of the tree of life, which was a sweet gift from God protecting them from death and pain. 

If Satan ever wanted to hurt us as a body, that old trick he used on Eve would do it. It’s still the same, that whisper that says we can’t trust one another’s heart or intentions or love.  To really know each other’s heart and to trust Jesus, and to know we are loved, is protection from division.  That protects our fellowship.  Then we can see division coming a mile away.

For years now, I have asked Jesus to help me know I am loved – not in words but to really know.  It seems insane to even say that to Jesus, but I know how much I need to know it.

Beth D.

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

If Jesus lets us feel loved, we will know that we are loved.  That is the only way to know.  I pray that he will do that for all of us, all the time.  We can help, too, by loving one another with the love of God.  What a sweet life that is!

jdc

* https://goingtojesus.com/gtj_otcourse-1010.html

Bro. John:

Every now and then, you will run into someone who reminds you of just how blessed you (we) are to be in the Truth with ALL the blessings of God.

I had to stop by the grocery store tonight to pick up a few things.  I was walking down the aisle and I heard someone call my name.  When I turned around, it was one of my old neighbors from the townhouses in Graham.  We talked for a few minutes, and she asked about some of the ones we both know that used to live there.  I told her they were all doing fine and happy.  Then, she asked me if we all still went to home meetings at the same place, I told her yes, we did.  Then, very unexpectedly, she asked, “Do you still have the same pastor?”  I replied, “Yes, absolutely!”  I could tell she didn’t know what to say next, so we parted ways and continued shopping.  For me, I went shopping for groceries, and left filled with food from Jesus!

When I got home, I sat and pondered her question.  It was a strange question for me, but not for her, Bro. John.  She is a “good” Christian and that is all they know – pastors who stay for a while and then leave or are fired by some Board of Directors. 

I am so thankful that God reminds us of how blessed we are to have an anointed man of God who will not leave his flock.  I never want to take that for granted.  It’s almost hard for me to put into words how I felt when I got home and her question was still ringing in my ears, “Do you still have the same pastor?”  She does not have the holy Ghost and goes to a denomination.  But my thoughts went to God’s people in these denominations who expect the same thing – a revolving door pastor!  What a sad thing for them not to know they will be cared for beyond a few years or maybe even a few months if the Board decides the pastor must go.  I love when you tell us, “No one hired me, and no one can fire me!”  What comfort to our hearts to know we are in the hands of a man sent to us by God! 

Well, I just needed to share my thankfulness for God reminding me today how blessed we are for our Gift of an anointed pastor who can’t be hired or fired.  I love what Jesus has done for each one of us and for giving us a pastor and teacher that we may not perish for lack of knowledge of God. 

One of ewe thankful sheep,

Sandy  🙂

Hey Pastor John,

I just finished one of my Old Testament CDs, we are just finishing Judges*. It’s so frustrating and heartbreaking to read this.  God would set up a judge, the people did well and served God, the judge dies, and then the people would do evil again.  God would punish his people, they would repent and he would send them another judge. Repeat. Over and over.

The story of Jephthah’s daughter really broke my heart.  How he made an oath to God to offer to God whatever came to greet him when he returned home (he thought it would be an animal), but instead his daughter ran out.  He killed and offered his daughter to God.  He did not know that God would never want him to do that.  He was trying to please God and honor his oath, but suffered greatly.  All because God’s men were not doing their job of teaching the people the truth.

There are so many stories like that during this time.  There were so many people who really wanted to serve God and live a righteous life, but just didn’t know how.  God’s men were not doing their job and a lot of people suffered because of it.

It’s just left me thanking God for what He has taught you and for what you have passed to us.  To be given the truth and to be fed the knowledge of how to please God and how to worship Him acceptably.  To know God’s precious Son and the love they have for each other and for us.  What is that worth?  Everything!  It made me think of how much pain, frustration and confusion Jesus has really saved us from.

Really puts a prayer in my heart: please, Jesus, keep us open and humble enough to receive whatever you teach us next.  I know it will be for our good.

Love you!
Michelle

* Old Testament Course (Pt. 1) – Going to Jesus.com

Hey Pastor John,

This morning I came across your sermon on a “Pampered Generation”, and I decided to listen to it again.  The message was wonderful and had so many good things in it.  Even though it was about trials and disappointments, it was an encouraging message!  As I listened to it, I took notes on the things which stood out to me, and I thought you, and others may want to see them!

Samuel 

==========

Notes:

– A pampered generation defines “good” by what they want.  Jesus wants us to become a wise generation that defines “good” as what God wants. 

– The wise attack trouble or disappointment with faith in God. 

– Hard trials can cause you to lose sight of the love and care God has for you.  Someone going through a trial often begins to believe that God isn’t taking care of them, but they only feel that way because the flesh’s lusts or desires are not being fulfilled. 

– While in the middle of a trial, you are often going to feel like God has forsaken you.  God has not forsaken you, and when you feel that way, He will help you because He is close by!

– Jesus had times of loneliness on earth that made him want to just go away and rest.  But he understood that God had designed his trials, and He knew that the only way to get away from his troubles was to run straight to God. 

– Be like Jesus: when your trial comes, run straight to God!

– If a boxer doesn’t want to be hit hard, he gets close to his opponent.  Jesus wants you to do the same thing! He wants you to attack your trials with faith, and push in close to God!

– “If you can’t get out of it, get into it!“

– Joseph begged his brothers not to sell him slavery, but he was sold anyway.  Because he couldn’t get out of it, he got into it!  He became the best prisoner he could be!  Later, he found himself begging his brothers again, but this time, begging his brothers to not be ashamed or afraid because, even though they had meant to sell him away for evil, God used it for good!

– God used something Joseph didn’t want as a necessary part in giving Joseph the wonderful life God had planned for him!

– When something comes from God’s hand, even if you hate it, and your flesh doesn’t want it, it is good!  One day you’ll be thanking God for it!

– Guard your tongue when you are hurt, angry, or disappointed.  God has interrupted your life of ease and pleasure and is listening for your response.  If you become angry, God may just take you up on what you say. 

– God always does His part. 

– An encouraging verse: Hebrews 12:11- “Now, no discipline, for just that moment, seems joyous, but grievous; however, it afterwards yields the peaceable fruit of righteousness in those who have been trained by it.”

– When God starts cutting on you, it’s because he is pleased with you!  God doesn’t think the way we do; we have everything backwards!

– What we go through is never too much for our faith.  It may feel like too much, but God designs our trials specifically for us.

– If there is something in your path that seems like too much, James says to rejoice!!  God knows you can overcome it!

– So, reach down inside of yourself and attack that problem with what faith you have!  Because what faith you have is enough!

– Know this:

– If God loves you, he is going to scourge you.  You will be doing right, and he will pull the rug out from under you to give you something better!

– The best way to demonstrate your love and faith in God is to treatwith love and gentlenesd those who God uses to scourge you. 

– God has never and will never deal with us according to our sins on this earth.  None of us have suffered as we deserve.  He disciplines us so that we can get what we need, and that’s a good thing!

– To the young people: You need to understand that you are a pampered generation, and those things which make life easy will never teach you the knowledge of God.  God has decided that having anything you want at any time will not teach you His knowledge. 

– Why strike back at someone who has hurt you after all the goodness that God has shown you?  Why not treat them with gentleness? 

– Make up your mind before any big trouble comes to be like Joshua and Caleb and o see your trials and disappointments as opportunities to show God that you are still trusting him!

– If you do that, you’ll be safe from what David called the great transgression, and your mouth and temper will be subdued. 

– Where you are going to spend eternity depends on how you respond to disappointment.  Things aren’t always going to go your way; prepare your heart.

– Get mean with righteousness!  Whatever happens, God means it for good, and so, attack your trial with faith!

– “What are you going to do when God doesn’t do something you like?  What are you going to do when I (Pastor John) say something you don’t like? Those things are going to come your way.  Are you ready?  Is your mind made up?  God is going to try you, but that’s a good thing!”

– Every trial you face can bring you closer to God if you have faith!  Don’t forget that God loves you, and Jesus cares.  God doesn’t go by your feelings; He goes by His own feelings for you. 

Greetings Pastor John.

I thought I had sent this a couple of weeks ago, but I just found it in my drafts box.  I still want to thank God, so I am sending it now.

I want to thank God for all He’s done for me recently.   The signal messages were only a part of my experiences. 

I have been wanting to work less hours for a while, but every time I got close someone would quit, huge loads of freight would show up, or we had to rearrange the store and on and on. Because of my hernia, I had to stop working.  During my absence, the home office has insisted (they thought it was their idea) that I go part time.  My initial instinct was to get mad.  “How dare they take advantage of me when I was injured?”  But I kept my peace and prayed.  Jesus showed me I was getting what I needed without having to upset my boss.  She wants me to work more and go back to being a manager.  So now I will be able to work a more reasonable amount of hours.  

The morning of my surgery I was not nearly as anxious as normal.  While they prepared me for surgery, they checked my blood pressure.   The nurse made a funny face and asked if I had taken my bp meds, which per instructions I had not.   So, I asked her how high it was.  My blood pressure normally goes thru the roof whenever a Dr. is around.   That morning it was 95/55.  I was amazed, but I was at peace.  I was focused on helping the nurses prepare me and praising God.  When I woke up my BP was again low.  I did not have any bleeding issues, no infections, and limited pain.  My healing has gone well.  The hardest part has been restraining myself from doing too much.  

During recovery, I don’t know how to explain it; there was no spiritual conversation.  It was just an imparting of knowledge.   I knew Jesus had given me the answers to some questions, not by telling, but by giving me knowledge.  I would just know the truth about an issue or people.  My mind was just changed, and I felt and knew it was right.  There was no voice, it was just knowledge that was suddenly there!

There were more but I was interrupted while writing and now I don’t remember them, but I do know it was Jesus.

Love,

Mark