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  • Unnatural, Wonderful Things

    Good morning, 

    Wow, what an email on Job!  It really went in what you said about Job having a clear conscience before God.  I tried to imagine God putting even some of Job’s sufferings on me, and I would have to have a clear conscience before God or I would think I was hated by Him.  The accusations alone left me praying for a heart like Job.

    I read in Joshua this morning also.  In chapter 3, verse 7, God tells Joshua that He will magnify him in front of Israel so they will know He is with him: “And Jehovah said to Joshua, ‘This day I will begin to magnify you in the sight of all Israel so that they will know that just as I was with Moses, I am with you.’”

    Then, in verses 15-17, God stops the waters of the Jordan and they all crossed over on dry ground. It tells us that the Jordan overflows all of its banks at harvest time, so it would be unnatural for the waters to stop and back up leaving them on dry ground.  And I thought about how when Jesus first touches us, the unnatural often occurs to show us he is with us. 

    For me, I can’t remember a time I wasn’t a liar; I became a liar at a very early age, and one of the first things Jesus did was make me honest.  I remember realizing he was doing it and feeling overwhelmed because I could not do it.  I knew he was with me.  It was the same for many things in my life that I could not change, but Jesus did it!  I thought of how my family must have felt, seeing all of the changes taking place.  Of course, they thought I was crazy; it was unnatural for me to be honest, or sober, or HAPPY and gushing over God’s Son.  It touched me, reading those things about Job  this morning and feeling that swell up in me, realizing God IS the same.  He is still letting us and the world know He is with us! 

    I can see why the angels stand and watch the face of God for the good of God’s “little ones”.  What a precious and tender time it is, when God is showing a new heart He is with them! 

    Beth D.

  • Pharaoh’s Hardened Heart

    Hi Pastor John, 

    I’m reading through Exodus and wondering why God continued to hardened Pharaohs heart up until the very end? Michelle and I are really enjoying and learning a lot in your Old Testament course. Thank you! 

    Best, Kevin

    =========

    Good question, Kevin.  And the answer is even better!  God hardened Pharaoh’s heart for the same reason He softened ours: that’s what He wanted to do.

    Paul spoke of this at length in Romans 9:

    1. What shall we say, then?  Is there injustice with God?  Absolutely not!
    2. For He said to Moses, “I will show mercy to whomever I show mercy, and I will have compassion on whomever I have compassion.”
    3. So then, it is not of him who wills, nor of him who runs, but of God, who shows mercy.
    4. For the scripture says to Pharaoh, “This is the very reason I raised you up, so that in you, I might demonstrate my power, and that my name might be proclaimed in all the earth.”
    5. So then, to whom He will, He shows mercy, and whom He will, He hardens.

    Paul continues with that subject, and you would enjoy reading the rest of what he said in Romans 9, but the above is his point.  So, if God has given us a desire to know Him, we are very, very blessed, for if we love God, it is only because He first loved us (1Jn. 4:19).  It really is as Jesus told his disciples: “You have not chosen me, but I have chosen you” (Jn. 15:16).  We would have never chosen Jesus; he had to choose us and put it in our hearts to come to him.  Darren Prater’s song, “I Put It in Your Heart”, expresses this truth so beautifully.  Look it up some time.

    Thanks for the question.  It is an important one.  Let’s “rejoice always” in our hope and “walk worthy of the calling” we have received from God.

    Pastor John

  • Tongues in 1Corinthians 14

    Pastor John,

    I was having a conversation with someone today about speaking in tongues and how they thought that if you were going to speak in tongues that there needed to be an interpreter.  I realized that I didn’t know much about this, so after the conversation I decided to research it and ended up in 1 Corinthians 14.  I found these verses, and based on what Paul is saying to the best of my knowledge it does sound like he is saying that an interpreter is needed.  The phrase “unknown tongue” was used in almost every verse, so when Paul says this does he mean speaking in tongues, or is it an unknown tongue as in a different language?  I know that there is an explanation for all of it, I just had some questions on it, and as you always say, questions are good!  Could you clarify based on what Paul said or the biblical stance on interpreting speaking in tongues?  Here are the verses that I found. 

    “I would that ye all spake with tongues, but rather that ye prophesied: for greater is he that prophesieth than he that speaketh with tongues, except he interpret, that the church may receive edifying.”

    1Corinthians 14:5

    “So likewise ye, except ye utter by the tongue words easy to be understood, how shall it be known what is spoken? for ye shall speak into the air.”

    1Corinthians 14:9

    “Wherefore let him that speaketh in an unknown tongue pray that he may interpret. For if I pray in an unknown tongue, my spirit prayeth, but my understanding is unfruitful.”

    1Corinthians 14:13-14 

    “Else when thou shalt bless with the spirit, how shall he that occupieth the room of the unlearned say Amen at thy giving of thanks, seeing he understandeth not what thou sayest?  yet in the church I had rather speak five words with my understanding, that by my voice I might teach others also, than ten thousand words in an unknown tongue.”

    1Corinthians 14:16, 19 

    “If any man speak in an unknown tongue, let it be by two, or at the most by three, and that by course; and let one interpret. But if there be no interpreter, let him keep silence in the church; and let him speak to himself, and to God.”

    1 Corinthians14:27-28 

    Thank you! 

    Samantha

    ==========

    Hi Samantha.

    In Paul’s original letter to the Corinthians, the word “unknown” is not there; the King James Version and others add it for clarification, the point being that the language is unknown to the speaker, not necessarily to the ones listening, as on the day of Pentecost (cf. Acts 2:4–8).  In other words, the Spirit, not the person speaking, is the source of what is said.

    As for 1Corinthians 14, one reason for Christians’ confusion concerning Paul’s requirement of an interpreter before allowing speaking in tongues to occur is their mistranslation of the word ekklesia in the last two verses you quoted.  Because the devout Christian King James demanded that his translators use the word “church” (in order to assure the support of powerful churchmen), his translation and most others, being done by Christian scholars, follow that tradition.  Unfortunately, the translation of ekklesia as “church” makes it sound as though Paul was teaching exactly what many Christians now believe, which is that whenever believers gather in a church, there should be no speaking in tongues unless an interpreter is present.  By teaching that, they are trying to justify the absence of the Spirt’s testimony among them.

    What Paul was actually teaching is that when someone is speaking TO the congregation (“in the Assembly”, as when someone stands up in a meeting and preaches or testifies) it is useless to speak in a language that the people cannot understand.  So, if someone wants to exercise their gift of diverse tongues, someone with the gift of interpreting tongues should also be there.

    Here is the correct translation of those verses in 1Corinthians 14:

    1. I thank my God, I speak in tongues more than all of you; 
    2. however, in an Assembly, I prefer to speak five words with my understanding so that I might benefit others than ten thousand words in a tongue.

    . . . .

    1. If anyone speaks in a tongue, it should be by two, or at the most, three, each in turn, and let one interpret,
    2. but if there be no interpreter, let him be silent in an Assembly, but let him speak to himself and to God.

    Chapters 12–14 in 1Corinthians deal with issues that our generation of believers knows almost nothing about because we, the body of Christ as a whole, are so lacking in spiritual power.   We are living in a time when a true word from God is rare, and the mighty power of God is almost never seen.  The gifts of the Spirit, which is Paul’s subject matter in 1Corinthians 12–14, are part of a realm of life in the Spirit that we know very little about.  (I, myself, have never seen but three people who had either the gift of diverse tongues or the gift of interpretation of tongues.)  And Christians without the Spirit cannot possibly comprehend it.  That is why they read 1Corinthians 14 (and the rest of the Bible) in such a way as to justify where they are spiritually.  And that is how they read 1Corinthians 14 and come to the conclusion that all believers should be like them and not speak in tongues much, if at all.

    It is also important to understand that speaking in tongues at Spirit baptism is NOT the gift of diverse tongues that Paul is talking about in 1Corinthians 14.  All true believers speak in tongues when they receive the holy Ghost, but as I said, I have met just a few who have either the gift of diverse tongues or the gift of interpretation of tongues.

    Here are some points from 1Corinthians 14 which most Christians overlook in their effort to explain why their religion differs so much from what is found in the New Testament:

    1. There is such a thing as speaking in tongues, and it is of God.
    2. These people were speaking in tongues decades after the Spirit came (which means it was not a one-time event for just the first apostles).
    3. Paul spoke in tongues more than anybody in Corinth.
    4. Paul’s phrase “in the Spirit” means “speaking in tongues” in this chapter.
    5. Paul wants everybody to speak in tongues.
    6. It is wrong to forbid people to speak in tongues.
    7. The people (in this chapter) who don’t understand and who condemn it when God’s people speak in tongues are, as Paul said, “ignorant” and “unlearned” in the things of God.

    I could go on, but the point is made.

    I hope that helps clear things up for you.  You are to be commended for thinking about these things, discussing them with friends, and asking sincere questions about them.  That is the path that leads to a true knowledge of God.  Please feel free to let me know if I have failed to explain something well enough.

    Pastor John

    P.S. You may also want to read my little booklet, Speaking in Tongues at Spirit Baptism.

     

  • Unless You Are Created

    Pastor John,

    So many people are in an uproar in this country, screaming they should be able to do as they please when they please, and with whoever they please. They want to worship whatever they see fit, love who (or what) they want, lay with whoever they like, and mutilate their bodies if they choose – all this with no judgment.

    I believe God let me know a few weeks ago that these people are right, and I would now tell them so. People should be able to do whatever they want—unless they were created.

    That is the question that cuts through the debate: “Are you a created being?” If so, you are not your own. The only question then is, “What does your Creator want?”

    I believe God is willing for people to do as they please with their own creations.

    Jerry

    ========

    And the liberating truth which follows, Jerry, is that there is only one Creator. Humans can create nothing at all!

    So, what God wants is really all that matters, all the time.

    Pastor John

  • A Sin Revival?

    Pastor John,

    Is there such a thing as a sin revival?

    Thanks,

    Jammie C.

    =======

    Hi Jammie.

    I have never heard of such a thing; however, it is possible – but not for sinners.  Sinners live in sin and, therefore, cannot “revive” it, or bring it back to life. The only people who can have a sin revival are those who have been delivered from sin by the blood of Christ.  They can start sinning again and revive it. Every backslidden child of God, then, has a sin revival of their own when they return to their old, sinful ways.

    Thanks for the question.  I have never heard that one before.

    Pastor John

  • Jammie C’s Experience with Jesus Last Night

    Pastor John,

    Yesterday I was around the house by myself and turned the news on while I was folding clothes.  Of course all the stuff came on about Afghanistan, and I was watching it.  I had the thought to myself, “Somebody has got to stop this train wreck!”  And as soon as I said that, the Spirit said. “Trump is not going to save you.  I’m going to save you.”  I felt like in my spirit, “Yes, I know that.”  But the Spirit said it again, “Trump is not going to save you. I am.”  The feeling of it was like Jesus was going to show me that HE was going to do something to save me.  So, the day went on and everything was pretty much normal.  I spoke with Rob and Donna on the phone about Joel and got them in touch with Noah’s soccer coach who is a doctor, and he called some stuff in for Joel.  That’s just kind of what I do.  Jesus lets me meet people for circumstances.

    After that, I got the kids in bed and everything was fine.  When I sat down, I got so sick!  I couldn’t even hold my head up.  I got so sick and went to bathroom and threw up everywhere.  I felt so bad.  Then the Spirit said “Where is Trump now?”  And I said, “I know Jesus. I know Jesus.”

    I got up and took a shower and came out and lay on the couch.  I felt so bad.  I kept saying, “Jesus help me. Jesus help me.”  And I fell off to sleep.  And Jesus came and sat down on the couch and started rubbing my hair and he started talking to me.  I was asking him, “Why do I feel so bad?”  And he said, “Because I am the one who is going to save you.  It’s not because you did something bad; you’re just doing it wrong.”  I always thought that doing something wrong was bad.  But that’s not it.  Then, I said, “But I meet all these people and I can talk to them.”  And he said back to me, “But your soul was not created for this [meaning this world].”

    I continued talking to Jesus.  I told him, “I miss my friends. I miss Natalie. I miss her every day!”  But he said, “That was my good pleasure.  I was saving her and I’m saving you.”  It was his good pleasure to save her.  Wow Jesus.  I knew these things, but when you hear it directly from him it changes things.  And then he told me, “You only move and you only live at the pleasure of me.”

    Later, I woke up and I went to check on Eden.  I went in her room and she was not in her bed.  I couldn’t find her.   I went into panic mode.  I found her in my room on my couch.  I moved her and put her back in her bed.  As I was doing this, Jesus spoke and said, “That’s how I feel when I come to find you and you are not in your place.”

    I feel like Jesus showed me who I am and who I am not.  And it’s good!  He also told me, “Stay under the doorpost.  You don’t want to know what is outside of that.”

    The whole world looks difference today.  The whole world is moving at his pleasure.  We are not in a train wreck because Jesus is going to save us.  This is not a train wreck.

    And all through this experience, I could hear Amy B. in the background doing her part saying, “J. E. S. U. S!”  

    As I was lying in the bed this morning, I could hear Paul. I could hear him getting ready for work.  His belt buckle makes a sound, like a ringing sound, when he puts his belt on.  Jesus made that sound the sweetest sound to me and he said to me, “Isn’t that wonderful that he is stable?  That he will get up and go to work and take care of his family?  And that same belt is stable when your children need it.  Appreciate that sound.”  It was so good.

    After I got up and thought about these things, I remembered that’s what the military says to the president: “I serve at the pleasure of the President.”  Jesus was saying it’s all mine and all we have to do is serve at his pleasure.

    I needed this!  I didn’t know how bad I need it, but I did.

    ==========

    Thank you, Jammie, for this wonderful testimony.

    I have told you all before that the difference between a wise and foolish virgin is that the foolish virgin chooses God over the bad things of earth, while the wise virgin chooses God over both the good and the bad things of earth. 

    The spirits of this world lure God’s children into wrong things by luring them into doing good things, joining worthy causes, that are of the world and are not of the Spirit. As Jesus told you, you were not doing what was bad; what you were doing, you were doing wrong.”

    There were some very good things Jesus could have said and done, but he would not do them without the approval of his Father.   I remember that on one occasion, he said so: “I have many things to say and to judge concerning you, but He who sent me is true, and the things I’ve heard from Him, these I speak to the world.”

    Good things without God stink in the nostrils of those who prefer God over them.

    Pastor John

     

  • Walking the Dog

    Good morning Pastor John.

    I am looking forward to when we can get back to Mathew studies, but in the meantime God continues to teach. 

    While I was walking my dog this morning, God’s Spirit reminded me of a lesson He had taught me sometime back.  My dog can’t go anywhere but where I want her to go because of the yoke I put on her before we start.  She can pull it off with much struggle, but not easily.   God’s yoke is easily put down.  All you have to do is look to something and start lusting for it, and it will fall off.

    The message He had for me today was on my first thought, that when this happens, I get what I am lusting after.  “Not true!” was the message this morning.  On the contrary, IT GETS ME, and that yoke is burdensome and almost impossible to put off, like my dog’s.   In a sense, I become that thing’s dog on a leash.  When I look at it that way, it makes it much easier to turn my head back to God’s path and keep the light yoke He has upon me.  It really sets me free instead of binding me.

    Have a blessed day,

    Mark

  • Zechariah 3:9

    Hi Pastor John,

    I’ve been reading in Zechariah and I have a question about 3:9. I understand the context is about Jesus. But what are the “seven eyes” referring to?  I imagine it has to do with wisdom??

    Thank you for your help,

    Jenny

    =========

    Hi Jenny.

    Here is that verse from Zechariah 3:

    1. For, behold, the stone which I have set before Joshua!  On a single stone are seven eyes!  Behold, I will engrave its engraving, says the Lord of Hosts, and I will take away the iniquity of that land in one day.

    This is reminiscent of what John saw in heaven, in Revelation 5:

    1. And then I saw, standing in the midst of the throne and of the four living things, and in the midst of the elders, something like a slaughtered Lamb, with seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven spirits of God sent out into all the world.

    So, yes, what Zechariah saw had to do with Jesus.  By the way, the “engraving” that God said He would make on that Stone were the marks of Jesus’ torture and crucifixion, which will one day lead to God removing the iniquity of Israel in one day, the day Jesus returns.

    As for the seven eyes, those are the only two scriptures that mention them, and in neither of them does the Lord explain them.  Until the Lord reveals something to us about the seven eyes, the best we can do is wait.  I am sure you will find a lot of talk online about the seven eyes, but stay away from all that deep stuff.  Wait until the Lord really reveals the mystery to us.

    Pastor John

  • My Blessing Today, Raising My Hands in Praise

    Good morning Pastor John,

    I pray you are still on the mend.

    This morning while walking my dog and talking to God, I felt the tug to raise my hands.  This has happened in the past, but I didn’t and didn’t really think about it, just went on my way.  I didn’t at first this time, either.  So I started talking to the holy Ghost (amazes me still in the past since it was my belief of the fake trinity, I just talked to or more accurately at God) asking is that You wanting me to do this or me?  Silly question, since I never wanted to raise my hands in praise before I got the holy Ghost. 

    I got the question “Are you ashamed?”  I thought no, and responded, “I don’t want to be a spectacle or stand out to my neighbors.” But at this point, I started raising my hand to God as I walked.  Hesitantly at first, until I got my answer. 

    Then I received the question, “Isn’t that being ashamed of me?”  So I thought, “I just don’t want people to think I am showing off.”  After some more quibbling over the word ashamed I got “so you are bashful?”  This set well with me, so I said “yes”.  Immediately the response was “Isn’t that being ashamed, isn’t saying your bashful a nicer way to express shame?  Are you ashamed to have the holy Ghost?”

    I then thought about my new birth, and how once I gave in and allowed the holy Ghost to speak, I was in the floor awhile.  I had been suppressing Him for a long time, bashful if you will, about letting Him speak.  As I thought about it, I realized for the first time in my life that being bashful is a form of shame.  You don’t believe what you have is good enough.  Your thoughts and beliefs are not correct.  So you keep them inside or express them only when it’s safe.  I think the holy Ghost wants you to be bold when He says it’s appropriate!

    I pray that God keeps challenging me to grow and that I am up to the task.  Also that I grow the first time He wants; not just go on my merry way blowing by my opportunities.

    With much love,

    Mark

  • Excerpt from Solomon’s Wisdom Book, August 20, 2021*

    * https://goingtojesus.com/gtj_books_solomon.html?tname=solomon00

    This resonated in my heart.

    Many years ago, probably 1993, I worked at a restaurant when I was first starting to seek the Lord. I was partially in Xty and hadn’t yet connected with either Gary or Pastor John’s work.  But I was under conviction for my sins, and was trying to live right, as a “Christian”, and I gave some advice to a younger co-worker (in his 20’s) who drank too much alcohol.  As I vaguely recall, I merely told him that he ought to take a look at how much he drinks, because it could get out of hand.  It wasn’t a reproof, per se, nor a judgment; just some moral encouragement and a suggestion, which came from a heart that was being changed by Jesus, and I felt compelled to tell him that for his own good.  He took the suggestion humbly but little did I know that it would actually have a huge impact on his life.

    I never saw him again after I moved on to another job, until at least 15 years later. I ran into him at a copy store. He enthusiastically greeted me, after we recognized one another, and immediately told me that my admonishment had changed his life forever. He stopped drinking, went to AA meetings, found a girlfriend, got married and had a successful job in Real Estate.  He was indebted to me for calling him out for his fondness for drinking because it convicted him and he made a U-turn in his life.  We didn’t discuss God or faith at the time, so that wasn’t part of the equation.  But it was amazing that I made that impression on him, by simply pointing out his addiction!  He thanked me and went on his way.  I gained his lifelong respect for my sincere words, which were only a mild rebuke, if that.  

    Thankful to have been used by God, even before I had the Spirit inside.

    Brad

    Excerpt 8_20_21

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