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  • Gentleness for All People

    Pastor John,

    My youngest sister wrote me yesterday to tell me they found her stepson dead in his room at his mama’s house, on Christmas. They are going to do an autopsy, but my daughter suspects it may have been an overdose.  He was in his 20s.  He grew up back and forth between my house and theirs because we were all so close.  It hurts my heart to think about the fact it is over for him.  There is no more time to change or fix things, there is no more time for him.

    As I read some of his parents’ and family comments being posted, I felt a new tenderness for this world.  I do not know if Jesus feels this way, I just know I feel it. They posted of “a new angel in heaven who is hearing every prayer,” and other similar comments.  I felt such a sad tenderness to let them have their comfort where they can find it.  If they are not going to have the true Comforter, then let them comfort themselves with the lies of the world.  It left me feeling like it was a mercy for them. Everyone will know the truth one day. If they refuse to know it here in this world, then let them have their comfort while they can.

    I don’t know if I have felt such a sad tenderness before. 

    I feel so humbled for what Jesus did for me. I don’t have a place to get low enough to show Jesus what my heart is feeling.  Not the floor, not the dirt.  I feel like I can feel why Old Testament characters covered themselves in ashes to reach God.  In my heart, I want to cover in ash and just tell Jesus that I can see what he did for me, the depth of what he did.

    If I could just take my heart out and lay it at his feet, just to lay at his feet, that is what I feel. 

    Beth D

    ==========

    Hi Beth.

    It is so sad when a young person dies.  God help the family.  I do think Jesus shares your tender feelings toward those who are hurting because of losing a loved one. God is good and gentle even with those who have rejected His precious Son…. But then, the Judgment.

    I hope the young man’s death turns somebody’s thoughts toward God and eternity. 

    Thank you for writing.

    Pastor John

  • Globalization and the End Times

    Hi pastor John, 

    I know that I am young to share about end-times, but I am curious about this.  During my practicum, I was required to demo, and my topic was globalization.  I’ve studied about it and what’s it all about.  I thought to share it with you.

    In the last few decades, globalization has been very fast, which has resulted in worldwide economical, social, political, and cultural integration through the advancement in technologies, telecommunications, transportation, etc.  It has affected human lives in both positive and negative manner.

    Globalization has contributed in various positive ways.  Unbelievable advancement in science and technologies has given amazing opportunities to business to easily spread across territorial boundaries.

    Globalization has had huge negative impacts on the environment and has given rise to various environmental issues like water pollution, deforestation, air pollution, soil pollution, climate change, weakening of ozone layer, etc.  It destroys the planet and because of that, we’ve been experiencing the burning heat of the sun.

    During this study, it is connected to what Apostle Peter said in 2Peter 3:10-14:

    “10. But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements SHALL MELT WITH FERVENT HEAT, the earth also and the works that are therein SHALL BE BURNED UP. 11. [Seeing] then [that] all these things shall be dissolved, what manner [of persons] ought ye to be in [all] holy conversation and godliness, 12. Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat? 13. Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness. 14. Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for such things, be diligent that ye may be found of him in peace, without spot, and blameless.”

    Thank you,

    Leika

    ==========

    Hi Leika,

    I love how your mind works.  To remember Peter’s description of the end of the world while studying globalization tells me where your heart is even when you are looking at earthly information.

    Men can and do pollute this earth, and they will ruin it, in greed and hatred for one another.  There is no question about that, and the book of Revelation tells us that God will destroy them who destroy the earth (Rev. 11:18).  The complete destruction of heaven and earth, however, will require much more power than humans can generate.  Only the fearsome power of God can completely remove this creation and provide us with a new one, as Peter said, and as John saw (Rev, 21:1): “I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea no longer existed.”

    Thank you for sending your thoughts.  They are precious to the Lord and to me.

    Pastor John

  • Question about the Blog “Works, Not Feelings” 

    The following response refers to blog:

    Works, Not Feelings by Pastor John

    December 18, 2021

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

    Good morning, 

    I have read the recent blog a few times now, and just wanted you to make it clearer. 

    I believe I am stumbling taking this in because I keep thinking, “God judges our hearts.”  The spirit of lust is a spirit, just as depression, fear, doubt are spirits, and Jesus said if a man even looks on a woman to lust after her he has committed adultery.

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

    Jesus did say that, but as JD and I were just discussing, to “look with lust” is an act; it’s not just a feeling.  There are lustful demons abroad in this world, and there are lustful people around us, and we can feel them, but that is not a sin.  Jesus also felt the spirits that were around him; that’s how he knew what they were.  The sin is when a person is moved by a lustful spirit to want to do evil and he makes a way to accomplish it.  As my father taught me, “If the only reason a person has not sinned is that he lacked the opportunity, he is guilty of what he wanted to do.”

    So, God does judge the heart, Beth.  But everything in Scripture requires balance, and only the Spirit enables us to “rightly divide the Word of truth”.  The great benefit to knowing that we will be judged by nothing, but our deeds is that it gives us the upper hand in dealing with the spirits we are around in this world, and we will not then condemn ourselves for feeling them.

    On the other hand, the great benefit to knowing that God will judge us as having done evil if we desire to do it, but haven’t had the opportunity, is that it keeps us from becoming like the Pharisees Jesus described in Matthew 23:25, 27: “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees!  Hypocrites!  You make the outside of the cup and dish clean, but inside, they are full of greed and injustice…. You’re like whitewashed tombs, which outwardly appear to be so very lovely, but inwardly are full of dead men’s bones and all uncleanness.”

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

    I know that when Jesus comes in and removes those spirits, they are gone.  The first thing Jesus did for me was to kick those things out so I could be clean.  I feel [that for them to make us do something,] we have to open the door and let them back in.  Jesus took so many things off me, including a dark depression and a paralyzing spirit of fear.  I can’t imagine being right with Jesus or walking in the spirit with them back in HIS house.

    Those spirits have often whispered to me, trying to get back in, and Jesus has told me how dangerous it is to spend a moment holding hands with one of them.  Jesus told me it’s only by his mercy we are ever restored back to right thoughts and feelings, and I understood he didn’t have to do it.

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

    Yes, but there is a big difference between sensing, or feeling, those old, evil spirits (they are all around us in this world) and embracing them and acting under them.  That is the sin.

    ============= 

    Wouldn’t this be the same as coming to the meetings or filling tract envelopes just as a deed but not spiritually fit to be doing it? 

    With a sincere heart, and only because I know those spirits personally, I think we should run to Jesus for help if we have even one of them.  Jesus removes them; he did it for me.  I feel it is dangerous not to.  The longer we carry them around with us, the more comfortable they become, and the more friends they invite over.  They can do a lot of damage in a short time.  It makes me think of —— and others no longer here, who let something get in and hang around until they lost everything Jesus wanted to give them.  That almost happened to Jerry, too.  

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

    Amen.

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

    You told me recently when I said I struggle with a spirit of not fitting in “Well, don’t struggle with it; just ignore it and it will go away.”  Is this just saying persevere until it goes away? 

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

    Yes.

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

    I am probably just missing the whole point of what is being said, and I don’t want to.  Can you help make it clearer for me? 

    Elizabeth D.

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

    I think you are looking at it rightly, Beth, but from only one side.  It is an angle of the issue with which I did not deal in my blog, so I am glad you wrote.  As I said, the truth of the matter requires a right balance, which the Spirit alone gives us, and I think now that we have it.

    Thank you for your response; it was good.  I hope this answer helps clarify things.

    Pastor John

  • More on “Works, not Feelings”

    The following responses refer to blog:

    Works, Not Feelings by Pastor John

    December 18, 2021

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

    Hey Pastor John,

    This latest Blog is very good, especially for the young people.

    It’s so wonderful how the Spirit is in tune with us today as it was 20 years ago.  I was just converting a meeting tape this morning from January 2000.  In it, you said that many times you’ve seen young people not being patient long enough with God to see the results of their good works, adding that if they don’t see it at first, then they must continue with good works.  For they will eventually reap what they have sown.

    It is true; faith has to go together with works.  So good! 

    Thank you for sending this out.

    Jim K.

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

    Pastor John,

    I have read this latest Blog several times today.  It has encouraged me so much.  I pray my actions will always follow Jesus’ will for my life even when everything in my flesh “feels” contrary.

    Love you,

    Michelle

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

    Thank you both for taking the time to send the latest blog out to us. It is very timely for me to read this. I needed to read this. Bess and I were just talking about what you wrote this morning and how important it is to know who you are, so that spirits can’t catch a ride on our thoughts trying to convince us to not be who we really are. We can ignore the thoughts of fear and doubt. We will be judged on our actions. His thoughts produce good works. I know I need to let this saturate my heart and mind.

    Tim

  • Works, Not Feelings by Pastor John

    Greetings everyone.

    My son John and I have recently been discussing a matter related to the Final Judgment that will interest you.  It is a thought that I had never thought before, and it has benefited me.  He pointed out last week that if a person keeps his eyes on the single, unalterable fact that he will be judged solely on the basis of what he does, not on the basis of how he feels, then that person can ignore the spirits of depression, doubt, fear, etc., because they cannot control his actions.

    Psychological diagnoses are irrelevant to the person who truly believes that what he does, not how he feels, is all that will matter in the Final Judgment, for he will keep his mind on doing good in God’s sight instead of being obsessed with how he is feeling.

    We all feel the spirits that are in this world, but we will not be judged on the basis of what we have felt!

    Here’s the latest communication from John.  I thought it was worth passing on:

    “I’ve been thinking about the uselessness of feeling encouraged, blessed, etc., without deeds.  Those feelings are as useless as depression, without deeds.  Tonight, while reading James, I’m realizing it’s not just feelings [that are worthless without deeds] but it’s also understanding and wisdom.  Everything that is intended to bring about worthy deeds is unperfected without those deeds.  ‘Do you see that faith was working together with Abraham’s works and that faith was perfected by his works?’ (Jas. 2:22).  We’re looking for something from Jesus, just as he is from us.  When we are being blessed and encouraged by Jesus, he is doing something.  In that moment, we can see more of who we really are, but those feelings must mature into deeds.  Any understanding or feeling that doesn’t mature into deeds is lost.  I think that goes for depression as well as blessings.  What we DO decides where we end up:

    James 1

    1. Wherefore, laying aside all filthiness, and every wicked excess, receive with meekness the implanted word that is able to save your souls.
    2. But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deluding yourselves.
    3. For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man contemplating his natural face in a mirror,
    4. who observed himself and went away, and immediately forgot what he was like.
    5. But he who looks into the perfect law of liberty, and perseveres, not being a forgetful hearer but a doer of the work, this man will be blessed in his doing.

    I think Jesus wants us to judge him by his deeds.  We are supposed to learn to judge everything he does as good.  But we have to judge what he did in order to judge it to be good – no doubt, judging it to be wrong many times as we learn.  This feels so good!  We think we are going to decide if something is good or bad when we judge it.  But when it is Jesus, the verdict comes with the action.  He is always good, but we will miss it if we judge it otherwise.”

    This is what Jesus was talking about in John 12:48: “The word that I have spoken, that will judge [you] on the last day.”  The only thing that will matter on that day is, did Jesus’ word produce good works in us who heard it, or not?

    Some of us are struggling with feelings of depression, fear, doubt, etc., but so what?  Those spirits are real, and they are around us, and we feel them.  As long as those feelings do not determine our actions, and our faith keeps us doing what is good in God’s sight, we will be OK because our actions, not how we feel, will determine our judgment from God.  And in time, if we keep doing the will of God, we will no doubt lose sight of those spirits, and have peace.

    John 5

    1. Don’t marvel at this, for an hour is coming in which all who are in the tombs will hear [Jesus’] voice,
    2. and they will come out, those who did good things unto the resurrection of life, but those who did bad things unto the resurrection of damnation.

    Pastor John

  • The Winners are the Losers

    https://goingtojesus.com/gtj_thoughts.html?tname=tfe12-15

    I love this Thought for the Day! 

    Thinking about you and praying you are resting and healing. red heart

    Beth D.

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

    Thanks for sending this, Beth.  It brought tears to my eyes, remembering the night when Uncle Joe was dying and Jesus gave me that dream.

    Pastor John

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

    I have always loved this Thought for Today on the Winners are the Losers.  For one, I was there when you, Pastor John told Uncle Joe about it, but also, when you wrote it, I proofread it with you.  It touched me so deeply. I went in my room and cried and cried. What you had written applied to my life as well -the places I had been in my early life weren’t the best. I asked Jesus after reading this, “Why was it so bad?”  His simple reply: “Because I wanted you.” shew.  I never had to ask again why I went through the things I did in my teenage years and shortly after.  Jesus wanted me.  So thankful.  Whatever it took to get me here to this precious life I have now with a sweet family and husband and with Jesus, my sweet friend.

    Amy B.

  • Preacher Clark: In His Name

    Pastor John,

    I was looking at the emails where preacher Clark explained that praying “in Jesus’ name” doesn’t mean saying a prayer and ending (or beginning) it with the words, “in Jesus’ name.”

    Preacher Clark was telling us that praying in Jesus’ name or doing anything “in Jesus’ name” simply means “by his authority.”

    We can’t pray in Jesus’ name on our own. We can’t pray by his authority unless it is given to us.

    When we pray “in the name of Jesus,” or “come in the name of Jesus,” or “go in the name of Jesus,” we are moving under his authority, and we represent him and his will. We don’t have to wonder the outcome in that case; he has sent us to do it.

    So good!

    Knowing that God can do such things for human beings makes it easier to understand such mysterious scriptures.

    Jerry

    Pearl 120721

  • Daily Thought

    Good morning, 

    This Daily Thought is good!  It is good for us:

    https://goingtojesus.com/gtj_thoughts.html?tname=rdt12-07

    As I read it, I remembered a few times I have taken things to Jesus that I needed him to answer and put in my heart, and Jesus did answer!

    I remembered hearing a man on the radio tell of God’s love and mercy.  He was teaching the “get saved” doctrine that many Christians believe, explaining how we are all sinners and will always be sinners.  The man was convincing, and I felt unsettled after hearing him.  I believe I had just received the holy Ghost. 

    I went to Jesus about this, and Jesus said to me, “If I was ok with sin, I would have left you in it!”

    That settled everything in my heart! 

    Another time, early on, I became fearful, wondering if the truth I was hearing from you was really the truth!  I had spent my whole life believing that there were many ways to God, and not just one.  That the truth was THE truth was pretty hard for me to take in.  When I did search that out in the Bible, and believed it, I was terrified.  I went to Jesus and told him how scared I was.  I was scared of being deceived.  Terrified of meeting Jesus and him saying he did not know me, that I hadn’t found the right way.  My soul depended on knowing the truth.

    Jesus said, “Look at the fruits.”

    The truth proves itself.  Jesus does not leave you guessing!  The truth lined up with everything I was reading and feeling in the Bible, as I sought for Jesus.  It lined up with everything Jesus was doing in me. 

    And one of the dearest things Jesus put in my heart, was you, my help, my pastor. And because Jesus did it, it has saved me from wrong thoughts over and over again. I have told you about it before, but it’s beautiful to me, so I will tell you again. 

    Many times, if I had wrong thoughts or got a little off in my spirit, a dividing spirit flooded in.  It took me a while to realize it, but it never failed.  That was the first thing that it went for, was to divide me from you, my pastor, and the body.  Just self-pity thoughts and “nobody loves you” thoughts, I hate that thing. 

    One day I wrote you an email.  Your response left me saying to myself, “He did not understand what I was saying; he got that wrong.”  Over the course of a few days, Jesus walked me through that email. I cannot now remember what that email was even about, but I can still feel the awe I felt as Jesus put you in my heart.  Not only were you right about that situation, but you were also miles ahead of where I was.  Miles from me even forming a thought that resembled where you were.  I remember telling Jerry, and telling Jesus, how amazing that was to me.  I really was in awe.  Then Jesus showed me you and him standing on a high-up plain.  You were on his right side.  I understood it all in that moment.  You were working for Jesus.  Jesus had you with him, over us.  The order, the authority, and the love were understood in that moment of Jesus, showing you standing there with him. 

    Nothing can ever take that out because Jesus etched it into me.  I rest in that.  It is an anchor.  I needed Jesus to do that for me.  My soul needed Jesus to do that.

    Beth

  • The Parable of the Wedding Supper

    Hey John,

    I’m just trying to wrap my head around a few things from the most recent Bible study, which, by the way, was wonderful, the best yet!  In Jesus’ parable of the king who was making a wedding banquet for his son, were the guests that were invited to the wedding supper, but refused to come, all Jews?

    ===========

    Yes, the Jews were the first group chosen by God to partake of the Son’s “marriage supper”.  Their invitation is what we call the Old Testament (the law), and they were the only people, at that time, chosen by God to receive it.

    ===========

    Were the good and bad that the servants went out to invite to the wedding supper Jews and Gentiles?

    ===========

    No, that invitation is what we call the New Testament, and it was for the Gentiles.  Of course, Jews may enter into it, not as Jews, but as sinners like the rest of mankind, and not by the means once given to Israel, the Old Testament, but by faith in Jesus Christ.

    ===========

    Were the bad considered the tares, mingled in with the wheat, of Jesus’ other famous parable?

    ===========

    Yes, they are comparable.

    ===========

    Was the man who came without wearing a wedding garment, the man who was cast into outer darkness, being judged prior to Judgment Day?

    ===========

    He was condemned, but his final judgment, that is, to be cast into the Lake of Fire, will come.

    ===========

    Thanks for your time.

    Jim K

    ===========

    You are very welcome, Jim.  Hope that answer helps.  Thank you for writing.

    Pastor John

  • The Good Life

    Pastor John,

    I love this!

    https://goingtojesus.com/gtj_thoughts.html?tname=rdt12-01

    “The good life is the life that is led by a good spirit. It is the life that is being guided through this world by the Spirit of God. Happiness is being controlled by Jesus; it is being under the authority of a man under his authority, being told what to do by someone who knows God and loves you as He loves you. It is pure joy and peace to have over us someone controlled by God. I was blessed to have such a man in my young life in God, and in such a life, there is great peace; that is, if we have the faith to rest in it.

    Men anointed by God can provide for God’s children a resting place in this spiritual desert called earth. God is “a strength to the poor, a strength to the needy in his distress, a refuge from the storm, a shadow from the heat” (Isa. 25:4), and so is the man who is like him. Have you given anyone some relief from the burdens of this world lately?”

    Amen!

    Beth D.

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