Pastor John,

I passed through the living room and a Ritz Crackers Christmas commercial came on the television showing three homosexual  black men at a table, and one was dressed in a wig, as a woman.

I was sickened beyond anything I’ve seen.  My first thought, for a moment, was to take names and never patronize those brands again.  But I then realized that it is everywhere, and in everything – the spirit of this age.  You would have to stop living in this world.

The Lord let me know that real peace, the peace the Lord gives, is being able to use all these things in this world as gifts from God while we travel through this world, without ever reacting against the mess that is attached to it.  My cause is to obey the Spirit and keep my mind on Him.

A prayer for those in that condition is so much better than outrage and a boycott.  And maybe could help.

Jerry

Dear brother John,

Regarding the Nicolaitans – “REVELATION Jesus’ Messages to Seven Pastors and John’s Vision concerning the Last Days” you write: Note 2, Chapter 6: Theories abound, but no one knows who the Nicolaitans were, or what their deeds were that Jesus hated.

One honestly cannot claim to know that “no one knows” because quite obviously one cannot know what everyone knows.

That said, I am not suggesting here that I do know “who the Nicolaitans were, or what their deeds were that Jesus hated”. Rather, I merely am submitting to you the attached file* on what they may be and what it is that is obnoxious about them. I may very well be wrong, but claiming “no one knows” is wrong too.

Thank you for your kind attention,

Warm regards,

Edouard D.

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

Hi, Edouard.

Thank you for writing.

I have read both your email and Mr. Mackay’s essay on the subject, which you attached.  You may be right, that it is incorrect to say that no one knows what the Nicolaitans taught and did, but I think I will hold off from making an abject apology until I hear someone speak on the subject who has heard from Jesus. 🙂

You were right when you condemned the “once-saved-always-saved” nonsense.  And Mr. Mackay is right to condemn the ritualism of the early Christian church.  However, he did not take that far enough.  He should have included Christian  baptism and the Christian ritual of communion with all the rest.  Christ has made all ceremonies useless works.  In that regard, I invite your attention to these two short articles:

 

https://goingtojesus.com/gtj_tracts.html?tname=tract-066-baptism

https://goingtojesus.com/gtj_tracts.html?tname=tract-064-communion

Thank you again for writing.  Just as a suggestion, I would encourage you to concentrate more on the things that can be known because those are the things that truly belong to us.  All the rest belongs to God  (Deut. 29:29)

Take care and God bless.

Pastor John

* The file mentioned is not attached to this blog due to the limitations of using this platform.  However, the link below will provide Mr. Mackay’s position on the subject.https://biblicalstudies.org.uk/pdf/eq/1973-2_111.pdf

Hi, Pastor John;

I have really been enjoying the Matthew readings, especially this last one.  Feeling the joy, hearing the songs, Sue’s testimony, and especially your teaching, is “us”.  I loved watching Jimmy Sr. and Rob feeling it, too, as well as all of us, seen and not seen on Livestream.  I’m still bubbling over from the love of God for us.  I love hearing Otis’ laugh and giggle; it is contagious.

The Bible is good for stories about God, and the scriptures are good for reproof, correction, and doctrinal issues, and it does help your faith to read such things, but I loved the part where you where teaching about Jesus coming and giving His life for us to have the Spirit flowing in us, so that we can feel what we felt during the reading – and afterward.  If we didn’t know the Bible as you taught us, we still have the Spirit in us to lead us and to teach us God’s judgments and teach us about God’s kind of love, the life of God and His Son in us and living in us.  It is wonderful thinking about these things.

To have an “us” at all, there had to be a call of God to each one of us that we heard, and obeyed, to start our journey so that we became an “us”, here-and-now.  We were an “us” before the world began, in the mind of God.

I love the authority of God and the government of God . . . it is a safe feeling, knowing there is an anointed man of God over you.  I felt that when I was a teenager, when I first saw you preaching at Brother Delbert’s.  I knew we needed what you had, but didn’t know what it was. Now I know.  It was the government and order of God.  The working and flow of that yesterday is a result of it flowing among us.

I(we) love you Pastor John and your labor of love for us all.

Thank you, thank you, thank you!

Billy M.

==========

I couldn’t even begin to say all the different wonderful ways your preaching made me feel today!  It was just altogether out of this world!  The Anointing on you puts it all together, and makes it COME ALIVE, and quickens our hearts and souls!

When I hear it like today, it makes me want to laugh, cry, jump, shout, and just sit still from the joy of what is being said!!! I LOVE IT.  I JUST PLAIN LOVE IT!!

Jimmy T.

Hi Jim. 

Thank you for writing back.  I will enclose my answers within the text of your welcome email.

jdc

Pastor John,

Thank you for your response.  It was much more than i anticipated.  Typically I expect pastors who are challenged to respond with “no response.”  

That brings me to something that is inherent from our God.  The ability to reason and make distinctions.  So i will begin my case with Dietrich Bonhoeffer’s statement, one of many, though i chose this,  “To be silent in the face of evil is evil itself.  To NOT act is to act and to NOT speak is to speak.”

I have used the previous scriptures in my first letter to you only to make the claim that neither of the three presented provide you or me with a justification towards silence in any arena in this world or in this country.

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

As I said in my first response, “I should correct one misrepresentation of my tract* that I noticed in your letter.  You criticized me for teaching inaction and silence in the face of evil.  That is not the case.  The tract plainly exhorts God’s children to pray for all who are in authority and to proclaim the gospel.”  Again, I do not teach God’s children to do and say nothing in the face of evil.  I teach only that we should be led by the Spirit in whatever it is that we do and say.

============ 

The use of the term “world” and “country” are deliberate here as I will point out. There is an important distinction to be made with these two terms because the scripture makes it for us.   I as a Christian like millions of other Christian am tasked with many roles, a father a neighbor an employee or an employer, a husband a friend and a citizen of a country where ever that may be.  For you and I it is the United States of America. This country has been founded with many freedoms in mind, unlike communist China for example.  Here is the scriptural distinction that is often and mistakenly used interchangeably. Citizen of a country is a role assigned in the same manner as a role as a Christian father or a Christian husband ect.   This position in the WORLD is clearly characterized by John in his first epistle. 1 John 2 15-17. And this distinction is clearly set apart from a citizens earthly responsibility and role.  So let me clearly unpack the passage in a nutshell:  three areas: the lust of the flesh(pleasure) the lust of the eyes(possessions) and the pride of life(position or power).  These are the characteristics of the WORLD that John refers to. and these are the very things we are to guard against and not be a part of. It is not the role of a citizen in the United States that we are to shun. It is the world characteristics as described here by John. 

===========

That is a logical position for you to take, Jim.  I understand the distinction you are making.  I see a flaw in it, as you might expect, but I congratulate you for your clarity of thought.

By the way, have you ever noticed that the three things in 1Jn. 2 that you mentioned are the same three things Satan used to tempt both Eve and Jesus?  Eve fell, but Jesus overcame it.  Check that out.  You will be blessed with what you find.

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

Second point:  The entire bible is saturated with a believers involvement in the government of their day or politics if you will.  Of course the form of government was much different and more restrictive than the one we live under.  Lets take a look at Joseph who ultimately held an upper tier position in the government of that day.  He rose to that position as second only to Pharaoh because of his loyalty and diligence to his assignments.  He is not looked upon as operating outside of his commitment to our God.  There is no condemnation assigned to him for his involvement in Pharaoh’s government, rather God looked with favor upon Joseph and immensely blessed him. Genesis 41: 37-41 depicts the position of honor assigned Joseph in Egypt’s government, a foreign land to his birth.

David who ultimately became king of Israel crafted public policy under the umbrella of God’s authority.  The Sanhedrian was primarily a spiritual decision making body but also made public policy for the Jews despite being under Roman Rule.  Even Moses established a rudimentary form of governing the people on earth.  The point being that believers have historically been assigned to roles in an earthly government-politics. In your tract there is a strong message delivered that your responsibility ONLY lies in prayer, peace, joy love truth as your weapons.  This is not entirely true those are the primary weaponry but ultimately the results often manifest itself in the here the now and the physical.  We have been given the resolve of Grace to execute our given roles as presented by God to us.   This includes and does not exclude our role as a citizen of our COUNTRY.    If someone slaps your wife across the face would you tell her to permit the offender to slap the other cheek.  I hope not.  This is an example of how the spiritual has affected the here and now. So  what is your responsibility to your wife in your role as a husband in the here and now.  I hope that you would intervene to protect her physically. Attaching the weapons you suggest do not apply immediately in such a situation. The results have already manifested itself in this situation. Even the words of Jesus telling us to turn the other cheek are not applicable here.  Unfortunately these types of versus are taken out of context and used inappropriately as in the case of some of your references.  We have a vast population of believers who do not know what time it is. They have not been instructed to properly distinguish what time is appropriate for this, for that, and for many other things to come.  Eccl. 3 outlines some of these distinctions in time.  

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

Your use of Old Testament figures as examples for us to follow, in the area of political action, tells me that you do not understand the essential difference between the Old and New Testaments.  Israel was an earthly nation; the body of Christ is not.  Remember what Jesus said.  “If my kingdom were of this world, my servants would fight” – fight in various ways for positions of earthly power, quarrel over earthly policies, campaign and vote, and even attack their enemies with deadly weapons instead of praying for them, as Peter did in the garden of Gethsemane, for which Jesus rebuked him.

The Old Testament was a covenant “in the flesh”, as Paul would say it.  Circumcision, sacrifices, etc., were all in the flesh.  But this is a covenant in the Spirit, and only that worship and service to God that is “in spirit and in truth” is acceptable now with God.

As for someone striking my wife, or any such situation, I believe that Jesus had situations like that in mind when he exhorted us to pray that God would not lead us into temptation.  I would certainly interpose my body between her and her attacker.  What else I would do, I do not know.  That would depend, I am sure, on the circumstances and the limits of my faith in God.  I have prayed many times, as Jesus told us to do, not to be led into that temptation. 

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

I would point out that God has placed us in a country that gives us the freedom to challenge the political leaders. We are not defying the government in the United States when we challenge them, we are abiding by the governmental system that is already in place by God’s hand. To abdicate this incredible authority/gift because of misapplication of scriptural versus is very sad. Rom 13 gives us government to act as a restraint to evil not to proliferate evil. 

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

Again, if the Spirit leads someone to rebuke a political leader anywhere in this world, from local mayors to the President himself, the Spirit is always right.  Do it.  But that is not political action; that is not taking up the weapons of this world.  That is obeying God and walking in the Spirit.  But a word of caution: we should be certain that God’s Spirit is the one leading us and not our frustrated flesh or a demon.

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

So sir i hope that my use of brief Scriptural history and the distinction made between the WORLD as defined in scripture and our responsible ROLE as a CITIZEN are clearly distinguished.  We are primarily citizens of heaven for sure, but we are to refrain from world citizenship that includes a focus on pleasure, possessions and power but we also have a God given ROLE called a citizen of this U.S.A.  Avoidance, inaction, silence & apathy are not very attractive traits when it comes to the roles given to us by our God.

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

That brings me back to your use of logic.  I will add here a quote from my latest book, “The Jerusalem Council”:

“Daniel: My friends, logic is a sharp and useful tool; I wish more people were skilled in its use.  However, logic is useful only in matters pertaining to this life.  In the kingdom of God, revelation is logic, and faith provides us the skill to use it.”

The revelation and power which Jesus suffered and died for us to have makes us wiser than human reasoning can make us.  Those who are in Christ are superior to even the holiest of men of God who ever lived (Mt. 11:11).  Much more, then, are they superior to the greatest thinkers, rulers, and generals of this world.  We just need the faith to see that, and to live by it.

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

Let me leave you with a final challenge that was not addressed in your earlier response to me, likely and innocently left out.  Abortions proliferation that lines up with Bonhoeffer’s statement, and two, the avoidance of politics from the pulpit because it may jeopardize tax exempt status.

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

(1) To kill unborn children is evil, except in special cases, such as to save the life of the mother.

(2) After a decade of consideration, we rejected the government’s offer of tax-exempt status in 2001.  That is no longer a consideration for us.

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

Thank You

Jim DiGeronimo 

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

Thank you, Jim.  It is a pleasure to discuss the things of God with reasonable people who are familiar with the Scriptures, and I hope that someday we will be made one in Christ by the only One who can.

Pastor John  

* Politics and Believers

 

 

 

 

Pastor John,

I received and read your tract on Politics & Believers.  I am sorry to say that it is this unbiblical approach that has contributed to the state of our country.  The country that has been entrusted to us by God. The country that we have a small corner of stewardship responsibility.  The very practice of avoidance, silence, inaction is the very disposition that has also contributed to the continued slaughter of 60 million innocent unborn children over a 47 year period.  They are unable to speak or defend themselves.  That is the churches roll and it has been abandoned.  So no a believer is not let off the hook because  the government may come and go.  There is nothing in scripture that supports your view that we should not join the military or be involved in political activity.  It is our God who gave us this political system  the political leaders and military defense . Your approach is tremendously irresponsible, but more importantly unbiblical.  We are entrusted with a responsibility in our system of government.  Romans chapter 13 does not relieve us of that  . There are many versus that have been used to justify silence inaction and apathy regarding this subject.  They include “we are citizens of heaven”  “we struggle not against flesh and blood ” we are ambassadors of heaven” and each of these are absolutely true but none of these gives us justification to ignore our role as good citizens to this country.  In fact that is one component, of many, responsibilities. I do not desire a political pastor.  The state of our government, the morality or lack thereof has to be shared from the pulpit.  Pulpit Silence has contributed to the immorality of our government corruption.  I just hope it has nothing to do with the preservation of tax exempt status that churches enjoy.   

James D.

South Carolina

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

Hi James.

I am thankful that you read and understood my gospel tract, “Politics and Believers”.  It is a blessing to hear from those who are interested in spiritual things so that I can be improved in my faith.

I started to get out my Bible to study the scriptures you sent to help me correct my “unbiblical” position, but when I read your email, I noticed that you sent me no scriptures that I might use to that end.  Instead, you quoted scriptures that confirm what I teach.  That was disappointing.

I would be happy to study your biblical position if you would send me the scriptures that enjoin God’s children to become entangled with the political affairs of this life.  I humbly ask that you do that if you have the time.

In closing, I should correct one misrepresentation of my tract that I noticed in your letter.  You criticized me for teaching inaction and silence in the face of evil.  That is not the case.  The tract plainly exhorts God’s children to pray for all who are in authority and to proclaim the gospel.  Those who have God’s Spirit have mighty weapons at their disposal if they would use them, instead of resorting to the useless weapons of flesh, such as earthly weapons of war and majority rule.

Thank you again for writing.  I look forward to considering the scriptures that I hope you will send.

Pastor John

 

 

 

Good morning,

Yesterday’s meeting was so good to me!!  I went to bed last night  with so many good thoughts about what I heard and felt yesterday morning.

I was thinking about how we have everything we need to live and be happy in the holy Ghost.  Everything! The joy, the peace, the strength, the righteous judgment, the discernment, etc.  It’s all in there!  If we have the holy Ghost dwelling inside of us, we have all of those things!  It’s just like you told us yesterday, “We have the power to live like Jesus!”

Then, I thought about something I’ve heard you say so many times when you laid hands on me to pray for me, “Let Him Live!”  I would always wonder what that really meant, but last night it was like a lightbulb turning on!  I understood exactly what you mean when you say “Let Him Live!”  You could just as easily say, “Let the holy Ghost Live!”

While it’s absolutely true that righteousness, peace, and joy is in the holy Ghost, it’s not a given that we feel those things just because we have the holy Ghost.  If we neglect our holy Ghost and don’t keep it stirred up and alive, it does us no good and the “light that is in you becomes darkness”.  If we let those little wrong things here and there build up without repenting, our holy Ghost and those wonderful feelings will get buried deeper and deeper.  Our well will eventually dry up.

We have to let him live in order to have the wonderful life that is intended for us!  I can feel it stirring in me as I write this!!  This is all what you were preaching yesterday!

Last night, as I kept feeling fuller and fuller thinking on these things, I began to pray for our young people.  I thought about what Uncle Joe said about people being too comforted by the things of this world to see their need for God.  This world offers a lot of distractions to our young people (and us old people), but if we do what you said yesterday and remember God, if we will get still and spend time with Jesus, that’s when we begin to feel the holy Ghost and every wonderful benefit that comes with it!  I laid there last night thinking, “This is what Pastor John was talking about this morning.  This is remembering God”.  I want our young people to have those sweet experiences on their bed or riding in their car.  It will then spill over to their conversations with each other.  They can build each other up in the holy Ghost!  Those experiences are strength builders! 

We have what we need to overcome this world; we just have to “let Him live” so we can serve God with our whole heart, just like Jesus did!  Just like you told us yesterday, “Our life will be easier, happier, sweeter, and with a better end if we will walk in the Spirit.” You said, “Jesus wants us to be happy!  But remember God.  Remember our brothers and sisters.”

So, so good!

Lee Ann

Such a good message today, pastor John.

I love Isaiah 58:13 and 14 and how you explained it:  “Stop praying for the blessings of God; pray to live the life that yields the blessings – the blessings are guaranteed!”

So good. And so important!

Jerry

Isaiah 58 

13 If you refrain your foot on the Sabbath and do not pursue your own will on my holy day, and call the Sabbath a delight, holy to Jehovah, to be honored, and if you honor Him by not pursuing your own ways, nor choosing your own will, nor say anything of yourself,

14 Then, you will take great delight in Jehovah, and I will cause you to ride upon the high places of land, and I will feed you the inheritance of Jacob your father, for the mouth of Jehovah has spoken.

Hey!

I had a full day of business yesterday and I was going about my day. On several occasions throughout the day, I just felt like speaking in tongues. Actually, I’ve been feeling that for quite a while but yesterday, I was thinking how good it is to have a prayer language that comes from Jesus. Jesus and I were communicating and talking and sharing feelings together. It felt good to speak in tongues. I love that personal relationship with the Lord.  He knows what’s going on….. everywhere! To share feelings with the One who created the universe is no small thing. When you have told us pray in the Holy Ghost, pray in the Holy Ghost – there is much benefit in that. We have a direct line to Jesus and he hears us. I really didn’t have anything particular on my mind, but just having that sweet language come out of my mouth during the day….week… whenever, brought about peaceful feelings. Jesus is so very good to us.  If we will exercise our precious gift that Jesus has given us, we will be a people of much more benefit.

Amy B.

Note – Download a free PDF version of Pastor John’s boo, Speaking in Tongues at Spirit Baptism:

  Going to Jesus.com – Speaking in Tongues at Spirit Baptism

Hi, Pastor John;

I have been meditating on “God’s order” again, what the Spirit taught me in my early thirties, especially after my visits with some saints recently whose homes are out of order.  It felt good to go over these things again,

Billy

God’s Order

(Concerning Families)

In the early 1980s, I was married and had two small boys. As I was driving to work at 5:30 AM to Louisville, KY from Crestwood KY on Highway 22 (about a 30-mile drive), the Spirit of God asked me a question, “Whose name did your wife take when you were married, yours or hers?” I replied to the question, “Mine, Lord, she became a Mellick and I did not become a Williams.”

Then, another question followed the first one, “Was Adam created from Eve, or was Eve created from Adam?” Again, I answered, “Eve was created from Adam’s rib.”

Genesis 2: 20-25

20. So, the man gave names to all the beasts and creatures that fly in the sky, and to all the animals of the field, but as for the man, He found no helper fit for him.
21. And Jehovah God caused a deep sleep to come over the man, and he slept. Then He took one of his ribs, and He closed up the flesh in its place.
22. And Jehovah God made the rib that He had taken from the man into a woman. And He brought her to the man.
23. And the man said, “This one, at last, is bone from my bones and flesh from my flesh. This one shall be called ‘woman’ because she was taken out of man.”
24. For this reason, a man shall leave his father and mother and cling to his wife, and they shall become one flesh.
25. And the man and his wife were both naked, but they were not ashamed.

After the two questions that the Spirit asked me, the Lord opened my understanding about His creation order concerning a man and a woman that He himself joined together to be a “husband and his wife”; to be “one flesh” unto God.   If there are troubles between the husband and God, the husband and Jesus, the husband and his pastor, the husband and his wife, or the husband and his children, there is an issue with one or more of this order of God. And, if there is trouble with one, there will be troubles with them all. God’s order is not “pick-and-choose” what you will or what you like. It is all or nothing. The husband is responsible to maintain this order in his family. Then, if families have order within themselves, they will have fellowship with God and each other, and from family-to-family. There were troubles in my house and the Lord was showing me through His Spirit how to get my house in order and have peace and contentment, if I would humbly believe and obey what the Spirit was telling me to be the head and spiritual leader in my home. Living in this order is as simple as breathing. God’s order works!

Here is the order and understanding that Jesus gave me while I was driving to work that day.

         God

6. But without faith, it is impossible to please God, for he who comes to God must believe that He (God) exists and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.  (Hebrews 11:6)

         Jesus (The only begotten of the Father)

      1. In the beginning, the Word was there, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

2. He was in the beginning with God.
3. All things were created through him, and without him was nothing created that was created.
4. In him was life, and the life was the light of men,

     5.and the light is shining in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it. (John 1:1-5)

         A (Godly) Pastor

15. And I will give you shepherds after my own heart, and they will feed you knowledge and understanding. (Jeremiah 3:15).

. . .

11. And he gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors   and teachers
12. for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for edification of the body of Christ
13. until we all attain to the unity of the faith and the true knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the full stature of Christ,
14. so that we no longer be children, tossed by waves and blown about by every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, by the cunning of deceitful contrivances. (Ephesians 4:11-14)

         Husband

19. Husbands, love your wives and do not be embittered against them. (Colossians 3:19)

. . .

25. Husbands, love your own wives, just as Christ loved the Assembly and gave himself up for it, (Ephesians 5:25)

     7. Furthermore, you husbands, dwell with them according to knowledge, giving honor to the woman            as to a weaker vessel, and as heirs together of the grace of life, so that your prayers may not be                     hindered. (I Peter 3:7)

. . .

28. Men ought thus to love their own wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself,
29. for no one has ever hated his own body, but nourishes and cherishes it, even as the Lord does the Assembly of God,
30. seeing we are members of his body, of his flesh and his bones.
31. “For this reason, a man shall leave his father and his mother and cleave to his wife, and they two shall be one body.”
32. This is a great mystery, but I am talking about Christ and the Assembly of God.
33. In any case, let each man among you love his wife as he loves himself. And let the wife reverence her husband. (Ephesians 5: 28-33)

         Wife

28. Men ought thus to love their own wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves  himself,

   29. for no one has ever hated his own body, but nourishes and cherishes it, even as the Lord does the              Assembly of God,

    30. seeing we are members of his body, of his flesh and his bones.

31. “For this reason, a man shall leave his father and his mother and cleave to his wife, and and they two shall be one body.
32. This is a great mystery, but I am talking about Christ and the Assembly of God.
33. In any case, let each man among you love his wife as he loves himself. And let the wife  reverence her husband. (Ephesians 5:22-24)

   18. Wives, be submissive to your own husbands, as is appropriate in the Lord. (Colossians 3:18)

11. Their wives, likewise, must be worthy of respect, not slanderers, temperate, faithful in all things.

          (I Timothy 3:11)

1. Also, you wives, be subject to your husbands so that, should any disobey the word, they might be won over, without a word, by the conduct of the wives
2. when they observe your pure conduct coupled with fear.
3. Let your adornment not be outward — the braiding of hair, and wearing of gold, or putting on of clothing-:
4. rather, let it be the hidden man of the heart, in the incorruptible adornment of a meek and quiet spirit, which is precious in the sight of God.
5. For this is how holy women who adorned themselves in times past also hoped in God, being in subjection to their husbands.
6. as Sarah obeyed Abraham, calling him “lord”, whose children you are, if you do good and do not Fear any terror. (I Peter 3:1-6)

         Children

     2. Honor your father and your mother so that your days may be long upon the land that Jehovah   

        Your God is giving you. (Exodus 20: 12)

3. Behold, children are a heritage from the Lord, the fruit of the womb, a reward. (Psalm 128- 3)

. . .

6. Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.  (Proverbs 22:6)

      1. Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right.

2. “Honor your father and mother [which is the first commandment with a promise]
3. so that it might go well with you, and you might live long in the land.”
4. And fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and Instruction of the Lord. (Ephesians 6:1-4)
5. He who spares his rod hates his son, but he loves him who diligently chastens him.  (Proverbs 13:24)
6. Children’s children [are] the crown of old men; and the glory of children [are] their fathers. (Proverbs 17:6)

         Even a child is known by his doings, whether his work [be] pure, and whether [it be] right            (Proverbs  20:11)

      But when Jesus saw [it], he was much displeased, and said unto them, Suffer the little children to                come unto me, and forbid them not: for of such is the kingdom of God. (Mark 10:14)

     The rod and reproof give wisdom: but a child left [to himself] bringeth his mother to shame. (Proverbs 29:15)

      It were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and he cast into the sea, than that        he should offend one of these little ones. (Luke 17:2)

      Furthermore:

      (Hebrews 12: 1-29)

1. Therefore, having so great a cloud of witnesses about us, and laying aside every weight, and the sin that so easily besets us, let us also run with patience the race that is laid out before us,

    2. fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him,                      endured a cross, despised the disgrace, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.

3. Consider him who endured such hostility of sinners against himself, lest you grow weary in your souls and lose heart.
4. For you have not yet resisted to the death, striving against sin,

     5. and you have forgotten the exhortation which instructs you as sons: “My son, do not lightly esteem             the Lord’s correction; neither be discouraged by His reproof,

     6. for whom the Lord loves, He chastens, and He scourges every son whom He receives.”

7. If you endure chastisement, God deals with you as with sons, for what son is there whom a father does not chasten?
8. But if you are without chastisement, of which all have been partakers, then you are bastards, and not sons.
9. Furthermore, we certainly have had fathers of our flesh who chastened us, and we reverenced them. Shall we not much rather submit ourselves to the Father of spirits, and live?
10. They, for just a short time, disciplined us as it pleased them; but He, for our benefit, that we might partake of His holiness.
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.
12. Wherefore, “Straighten up the listless hands and the feeble knees,”

   13. and make straight paths for your feet, lest that which is lame be turned aside, but let it rather be                 healed.

14. Pursue peace with everyone, and holiness, without which no man will see the Lord,

   15. taking care, that no one come short of the grace of God, that no root of bitterness springing up cause trouble (and by this many be defiled),

    16. that no one be licentious, or be profane like Esau, who sold his birthright for a single meal.

17. For you know that even afterwards, when he wanted to inherit the blessing, he was rejected, for he found no place of repentance, even though he earnestly sought it with tears.

   18. For you have not come to a mountain that can be touched, with blazing fire, and darkness, and                   gloom, and raging storm,

   19. and trumpet blast, and a voice speaking, which voice was such that those who heard it begged that             nothing more be said to them,

   20. for they could not endure that which was commanded: “If even an animal touch the mountain, it               shall be stoned”;

    21. indeed, so terrifying was the sight that Moses said, “I am full of fear and trembling.”

22. But you have come to Mount Zion, and the city of the living God, heavenly Jerusalem, and to myriads of angels,
23. to the festival and Assembly of the first-born whose names are recorded in heaven, and to God, Judge of all, and to spirits of righteous people made perfect,

   24. and to a mediator of a new covenant, Jesus, and to sprinkled blood, which speaks better things than           that of Abel.

25. Beware that you do not refuse Him who speaks. For if they did not escape when they refused the one on earth who instructed them, much less shall we escape who turn away from the One who speaks from heaven,

    26. whose voice then shook the earth, but now, He has promised, saying, “Yet once more, I will shake                not only the earth, but also heaven.”

27. Now this, “Yet once more,” indicates the removal of the things which are shaken, that is, things which are made, so that things which are not shaken may remain.
28. Wherefore, receiving an unshakable kingdom, let us show gratitude, by which, with reverence and fear of God, we serve God acceptably,

    29. for our God is a consuming fire.

May God help us all,

Brother, Billy Mellick