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  • More of God

    Random Thought

    1-6

    Making Room For More of God

    From a sermon by Pastor John in 1981.

    In a sermon many years ago now, I said, “If you want more of God, you have to make room for more of God.”  That just means, clear away the clutter of your life and make room for more of God! The world will consume all your strength and attention with “necessary” things.  The world will eat up every spare second you have if you let it. It will entertain you to death.

    When the world demands all your time, rebel against it.  There were times when Jesus and his disciples were so busy healing and helping people that they had no time for earthly matters, not even time to eat (Mk. 3:20).  They felt the same way Job did about the comparative value of the things of God and the things of this world.  Job said to his friends, “I have esteemed the words of God’s mouth more than my necessary food!” (Job. 23:12).

    If you want more of God, you have to make room for more of God, even if making room for God means neglecting things this world insists are important.  Being filled with righteousness takes time, and to be filled with it will require spending time seeking to know and to please God, often at the expense of time that could be spent on important worldly matters.

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

    Pastor John,

    I read “Random Thought” last night before bed, it was so good and encouraging. This morning I felt that pull to just get on my knees and spend time with Jesus before I started my day.  I began to pray in tongues and tears flowed.  I began praying for different ones, I was praying asking Jesus to help us, to heal us.  To encourage the downhearted and to guide us when we feel lost and don’t know what to do. Afterwards, I put some music on to listen to while I started working.  Darren’s song “Come unto me” started playing.  In it he sings, Come unto me and I will be your healer, come unto me you will never be alone.  He is our friend, our Saviour and our healer.  If you come unto me I will lead you home.  It was a very sweet, tender morning with Jesus.

    Michelle

    Going to Jesus.com – Making Room for More of God

  • Obedience First

    Pastor John,

    Hearing these last two days about a young person’s situation has brought this to mind.

    Twenty years ago the Lord put it on my heart to tell a person in my family who had the holy Ghost that they were living contrary to the will of God and that they needed to change what they were doing. Jesus let me know I would be offering whatever I had in the form of earthly goods to help that person as they needed it—if they would just obey Jesus. I was happy to do that because whatever I had was the Lord’s. Jesus also let me know that I could not offer that help until the person had yielded to the will of God.

    This person in my family was in a tough spot to be sure, and what God was requiring of them was scary. But relief was there; it was hidden behind the door of obedience.

    That was not my choice but by God’s design.

    I arrived that day and I delivered the message from Jesus to my family member just as I was supposed to, and I was eager to help them as God had instructed me.  The person heard me out and even confessed that all I had said was true.  But ultimately chose to stay their course, asking me in the end, “What am I supposed to do if I make the change?”  I don’t know the exact words I told them, but I do recall telling them that the outcome didn’t matter.  We don’t obey God because of the outcome—that is His business.

    They chose their path – and I left for home.  Little did they know that day that God their creator had their answer waiting just as soon as they stepped out in faith.  But they had to step out first!  I guess it is kind of like stepping out into thin air when there is no visible stepping stone.  Obeying God sometimes can feel like stepping on nothing and trusting Him.

    All the way home that day and for many days after, like a trumpet sounding in my heart, I heard: “First the obedience, then the relief.”  Over and over that played in my heart until I believe it was permanently etched inside.

    We don’t obey God because of the results it brings.  Sometimes it might hurt.  We don’t serve Him to be saved or to have a better life; that is His business.  We serve Him because of Who he is, and because of who we are.  And the Spirit in us says, “YES.”

    Jerry

  • Holiness Versus Ceremonies

    Hey John,

    I loved your teaching from Wednesday night.  It really touched my heart.

    This week I’ve been reading Foxe’s Book of Martyrs of godly men who laid their lives down for the Truth.  Whew!  What they suffered for Jesus!

    Christianity has not changed through the centuries. it’s full of ceremonies and pomp, but they deny the power of God. Like you’ve said many times, right now it’s just not in style to persecute and torture believers physically.  They just use words to slander the truth and anyone who dares to speak it.

    We are blessed to have been taught by God! red heart

    Bess

    witcliff

  • Averism

    Hi, Pastor John,

    I was lying on the couch this morning and meditating on the Lord. In my spirit, I heard this phrase, “These are the days of Averism.”  I have, that I can remember, never heard the word, Averism nor any form of the word.  I looked it up and here is what I found in the Urban Dictionary. There may be more uses of the word somewhere else, I don’t know.  I feel, in a small part, this phrase goes along with your message about, “Confessing” from our hearts, from Wednesday’s meeting, and “cutting the cord”. I also feel that God is now giving us time to do exactly that, “Confessing from our hearts” and “Sanctifying God in our hearts” to be a light in our area of control.

    image

    image (1)

    Averism

    Love always,

    Billy

  • Sanctification in 1Cor. 7:14 

    Pastor John: 

    What you wrote about sanctification is incorrect. 

    An unbelieving man can be sanctified by his believing wife and also an unbelieving woman can be sanctified by her believing husband…along with their children too.

    NIV Corinthians 7:14 New International Version

    “For the unbelieving husband has been sanctified through his wife, and the unbelieving wife has been sanctified through her believing husband. Otherwise, your children would be unclean, but as it is, they are holy.”

    https://biblehub.com/1_corinthians/7-14.htm

    What you wrote was, and I quote …. 

    “But there is not one example in the New Testament of anyone sanctifying anything by the use of earthly matter.  This is because sanctification in Christ is a matter of spiritual holiness, and no man can touch another person’s spirit.  Man is flesh, and he cannot reach another person’s spirit.  Only God can do that. Sanctification is now accomplished only by the touch of God’s holy Spirit, access to which Spirit Jesus purchased by his sacrificial death.  Jesus is the last person who is said in the Bible to have sanctified himself (Jn.17:19).  Everyone else now is sanctified by the Spirit of God.  And how much holier it must be in this New Covenant to be sanctified by the touch of God’s own Spirit than to have been sanctified by the sprinkling of animal blood, ashes of a red heifer, or olive oil! Carnal men could not appreciate what God was doing with those Old Covenant ceremonies; how much less are carnal men now able to understand this wonderful, sanctifying holy Ghost!”

    I just want you to teach the correct word as it is written, Brother.

    Pastor HG 

    ============ 

    Hi, Pastor HG.

    It is difficult to understand how you are looking at this subject.  Are you saying that there is a way in this covenant for people to be sanctified other than by God’s holy Spirit?  I hope not.

    The NIV’s translation of the past perfect form of the verb (ἡγίασται) in 1Corinthians 7:14 misses Paul’s point completely.  That translation suggests that because one spouse is sanctified, the other one automatically is.  If that were true, there would be no such thing as a sanctified person married to an unsanctified person because an unbeliever would be automatically sanctified by marriage to a believer.  And in that case, Paul was wasting his time talking about a sanctified person married to an unsanctified person – because there is no such thing.

    No, my friend, God, through the Spirit that His Son Jesus purchased with his blood, is the only source of sanctification in this covenant and forever.  He hates it when believers marry unbelievers, and He does not sanctify what He hates.

    If you are among those Christian teachers who compel believing women to stay perpetually with wicked unbelievers, even in horrid conditions, I beg you to reconsider your position.

    Your servant in Christ,

    Pastor John 

  • 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

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