Pastor John,

Do you remember a few years back when Jerry told a testimony about me needing a finishing point with God, the feeling of being saved?  At one point Jerry said, “What are you trying to do?  Sneak in with something in your back pocket?  Are you an ax murderer and I don’t know it?”

I hope you remember because the sweetest thing has happened.

For days now I have been overwhelmed with peace, a peace about everything.  I have been listening to you singing “A Deep Settled Peace” over and over.  As I listened to it, I thought, Jesus, the truth in songs is so much better when you experience it. Sometimes you can sing it and know it’s true, but not experience that truth yet, and it’s so much sweeter to sing and feel it when you do!  I was telling Jesus that I would like to tell about this peace, but I know as soon as I do, I will probably fall apart or something.  I said out loud to Jesus, “But it’s in there Lord!  There isn’t any talking it away when it’s in there!”

Then Jesus brought to mind that testimony Jerry gave, and my feelings about needing to feel saved.  That has always been there since I found out the truth.  Something in me needed to feel the security of being saved.  I have had a fear that if I could mess it up with Jesus, I would! 

Well, when Jesus brought that testimony and fear to mind, it was instantly followed with what he just let me experience with Jerry’s mom.  I will try to explain.  I didn’t know Jesus was coming that day.  Jerry’s mom did not know Jesus was coming.  Jesus came in that back door so fast that we didn’t have time to pray, or think, or do.  His mom’s heart met all Jesus’s requirements in that moment, and our faithful Jesus came in like a mighty rushing wind and saved her.  Not in the way the world says “saved”, but really came and rescued a dying woman. 

I had Jesus in such a box, but I couldn’t even see that until he came in and worked outside of that box.  I saw it with my own eyes.  I would have told her to do all these things, but none of it was what Jesus required of her.  Jesus did not need me to help him save her, and Jesus does not need me to help him save me!

There is such a peace in that!  I feel like Jesus let me see him work so he could add that peace to me.  I am still in awe at what I experienced that day.  And deep inside, I know I still have him in a box BUT I know I do, and that brings me such faith! Knowing it gives me such faith!  I absolutely know Jesus works outside of my box; I saw him with my own eyes! 

I feel like I started out with Jesus blindly and wildly groping for him in the dark, terrified I wouldn’t be able to grab onto him, and over these years, with experience after experience, the wild groping has stopped and a calm listening for his voice has begun.  I would almost say I feel a sweet, finger-snapping stroll at the moment … but I’m not that brave yet! 

But isn’t that wonderful, PJ!  Jesus is always working for all of us!  What a faithful and true friend we have!  I sure hope you remember that other testimony so you can share this sweetness with me. 

Beth D.

Thanks John for your labor explaining Christianity’s mess. The simple truths we were taught has saved us over and over again. Thank God for His mercy on us! Christianity’s straw man will fall.

Love You,
Earl

Hey!

I just finished reading Psalms, and when I started reading I began to keep track of everything that David called God, or used to describe Him. I thought it was so good! Here is my list:  

• Our strength
• Our shield
• Our strong tower
• Our mighty rock
• Our salvation
• Our fortress
• Our help
• Our atonement for transgressions
• Father of the fatherless and protector of the widows
• The One of Sinai
• The Almighty
• Our King
• Israel’s fountain
• Our help
• Our deliverer
• Our rock of refuge
• Our trust
• Our Father
• Our Rock of Salvation
• Our glory
• The lifter of our head
• O most High
• Helper of the Fatherless
• Our King forever and ever
• Savior of those who seek refuge
• Our stronghold
• The Horn of our salvation
• Our support
• Our light in darkness
• Our redeemer
• Our shepherd
• The saving refuge of His anointed
• Our hiding place
• The Mighty One
• The Upholder of our Life
• Our dwelling place
• Our Song
• The strength of our salvation

I thought it was a good reminder of everything that God is to us, and can be to us if we take hold of the opportunity. 

Samantha

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Beautiful, Samantha.

It is good to have those thoughts in our hearts.  And God is more than even all that!

Pastor John

Hey Pastor John.

Sure missing you and being together.

For days now I have been thinking on how blessed we are to have been given this life in the spirit, life in the spirit together.

Some have not been given what we have.  Some never feel what we feel when we are all together praising God because we love the truth in a song!  Some never feel the spirit quicken when Jesus gives you food for us and we feel it run through you and us!  When all our “amens” ring in unison! Some never know how it feels when it feels like it’s Jesus talking straight through you to us.  The experience with Jerry’s mom, and being separated because of the recent sickness, has left me so thankful that we have been given life in the spirit together.  Jesus didn’t have to bless us with life together in him.  Some never have what we have. 

I listened and was blessed by some songs posted recently.  Your brother sings on some of them, and I thanked Jesus for the time he gave us your brother.  We have those songs and blessings because of that time.

I also saw a video with you preaching and brother J– sitting behind you.  In the video, you asked Jesus to let you love the ones who you have in front of you right now.  It sent a pang through my heart for him.  I don’t want a time frame in Jesus; I want an eternity, an eternity with Jesus and all of you. 

I was talking to Jesus this morning and just thanking him for the life he has given me, and then I heard that sister Doris had a rough night!  My whole heart cried out for her, and I sat in the kitchen speaking in tongues.  That is life.  I am thankful for every moment of life we have. 

Beth D.

I am really in awe of the Introduction to Book Three in the Iron Kingdom Series.  In awe of what Jesus has shown you, and you in turn have shown to us.  In awe that we have escaped the tight grip that Christianity has had on God’s own children for centuries.  

I can’t tell you how many times I have had to lay my computer aside and talk to Jesus about what I was reading and feeling.  It feels so big!  And makes me feel so small!  And I’ve found myself asking Jesus “Why us?”

And then tonight I read this simple sentence on page 61, and it answered, at least in part, my “why us” question: “Thankfully, we have in Paul an example of a faithful servant of God.  He was faithful to the revelation given to him and to the One who gave it.”

I believe Jesus has revealed these things to you, John, for the same reason He trusted Paul with the truth of the gospel.  You have been a faithful servant to the revelation given and to the One who gave it.  It really is that simple.  

I feel certain that others have been shown the truth about Christianity, but were either unwilling or afraid to pay the price for telling it.  I don’t know their reason.  But you, like Paul, believed the truth when you heard it.  And you have been faithfully exposing the truth that Christianity is the “hairy-legged Roman Empire in drag, passing himself off as the Bride of Christ” ever since Jesus revealed it to you.  

It’s so big!  And I don’t feel worthy to even know it, but I’m thankful I do!

All I know is that I am sitting here tonight feeling thankful to call you my pastor and my friend. 

Lee Ann

Hi, Pastor John,

Hope all is well.

Last week and before I started work, I went downstairs to pray.  My spirit was heavy for all of the illnesses and so many other things going on with us.  Before I started praying, I knew that I could not approach God this time in prayer by starting out in English and my own way to start (as often before); I knew I had to use the holy Ghost to start praying.  As I started praying in tongues, the tongues that I am accustomed to hearing changed to a tongue that was definitely some kind of language–if for no other reason but to talk directly in Spirit to our Lord.  I was speaking in a normal talking voice as if I were talking with someone on a phone.  As I was praying in this language, the Spirit took me to our gatherings where I was in the middle of the floor spinning slowly around in the room and speaking to each individual, but yet to all there in this language.  The Spirit (in my heart) knew every one of our needs, hurts, disappointments, illnesses, joys, happiness, etc., on and on.  It knew what one would need to pray for in the will of God, not just praying for things to happen for our ways.  It reminded me of Sister Betty and Sandy, when the Spirit moved on them in our meetings and spoke to each individual. 

This morning it happened again while I was praying.  While speaking this language, the Spirit instantly took me to different places in the world.  Ukraine, Uvalde, TX where the shooting just occurred, and Washington, DC, from what I can remember.  In an instant as well, the Spirit spoke to me in English, “I am responsible for causing all of this (shootings, wars, bickering among politicians) so that my called-out ones will call on my name.”  It’s like what the Lord spoke to you about your father’s sorrow and the hurt you were feeling for him: “I did it”. 

I can’t explain everything that I was feeling, nor do I want to try, but I do know that (as the message has been, lately) “our times are in His hands”.  Everything God is doing is for the good for those who are called and for those who love God.  I sat in awe after praying this morning before work, rehearsing the scenes in my mind.  All I can say is that, God’s mercy endures forever for those who call upon his name.  He is able to get us out of the grave no matter what may put us there.  God is not bound to anything of this world that affects humans because as you have taught us, “God is not human.” 

I have been really praying lately, “Lord, let me have a heart to call upon you while you can be found.”  I believe there is still much more that God wants to reveal to His people, us included.  I do not want the conveniences of this world to overtake me and make me passive and complacent about calling on His name; I’m not home yet.  But Jesus has led me to a place that can help take me home. 

Just wanted to share this while it was fresh on my mind.

Billy

Bro. John:

A few weeks ago there was a Pearl of the Day from May 12 that really touched me:

“You are something that God did.”

As I read that Pearl, the Lord reminded me of a scripture.  I could not remember where it was in the Bible but heard, “it is he that hath made us”.  I believe sometimes Jesus just wants us to search after him.  If we do, there is always a blessing waiting.  I searched for the verse and found it in Psalms 100.  But the blessing was how the Spirit broke down these verses for me so that I felt them!  I love when the Spirit walks through the verses with us!

As I got to verse 4, here is how the Spirit stopped me and posed the question and answered:

“Enter into his gates with thanksgiving”  Why?  Because it is he that hath made us, and not we ourselves.

” . . . and into his courts with praise”  Why?  Because it is he that hath made us, and not we ourselves.

” . . . be thankful unto him, and bless his name”  Why?  Because it is he that hath made us, and not we ourselves.

Psalms 100

[1] Make a joyful noise unto the LORD, all ye lands.

[2] Serve the LORD with gladness: come before his presence with singing.

[3] Know ye that the LORD he is God: it is he that hath made us, and not we ourselves; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture.

[4] Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name.

[5] For the LORD is good; his mercy is everlasting; and his truth endureth to all generations.

Whew!  It was so good to me!  How can we be anything but humble before Jesus when we think on that one thought: ” . . . it is he that hath made us, and not we ourselves”  It really blessed me today to read these verses with the Spirit asking me this question and answering.  And it is truly humbling to realize that we bring nothing to the table, not even ourselves. Jesus is the One who, through his Spirit, has made us acceptable to present ourselves a living sacrifice to him.

I thank him for all he has done and is doing for each of us.  We are something that God did!  Bless his name!

Sandy 🙂

l saw this on Gary’s YouTube channel: Wow! That’s 18,000+views a year (and counting), per the last 13 years.  It’s an honor to be a part of this work.  Makes me want to pray more than ever to be able to “walk worthy”.
Billy

Good Morning, John.

I thought these lines on page 53 of the proposed IK book were great:  “Roman religion was concerned with success, not sin…. Jupiter is the best and greatest (god), not because he makes us just or sober or wise, but healthy and rich, and prosperous.”

I believe in a nutshell, that is Christianity.  People generally use “God” for themselves. “Jesus, make me healthy, and prosperous.”  I pray that we don’t have our minds primarily on those things, John. The title of that section is very appropriately titled: “entirely worldly”.
Whew….very sobering thoughts.  I love this book so far!

Gary