Questions and Answers from Pastor John - Free pentecostal literature, baptism of the holy Ghost (with the evidence of speaking in other tongues), the new birth experience, ....

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JOE wrote:

Dear brother & pastor John,

A few days ago a friend of mine and myself got talking about the Acts 2 experience. And unlike the normal way we used to read the bible, we decided to take the whole of chapters one and two and read them line by line. We took the time to note the words and references to other places in the bible mentioned in those two chapters. We discovered that there were three set of people mentioned in those verses. The first set were the apostles and the next were the disciples. The third set were others. We looked up the meaning of the words apostles and disciples in the bible concordance. For apostles it says "the sent forth" and for disciples it says "follower". We also discovered that Jesus to the 11 apostles and asked them to wait for the promise of the father in Jerusalem. We also saw a record of 120. As we continued, we also discovered that the word inner chamber appeared there also.

We had a bit of trouble concluding whether it was the 11 or the 120 persons that received the Acts 2 experience. This arose because we do not really know maybe 120 persons were in a house which contained the upper room where the 11 sat that day. What actually is an upper room? Is there a difference between and apostle and a disciple? And could you please educate us accordingly as to what really happened on the day of the Pentecost? How many people received the Holy Ghost? How many people speaks in tongues? Is it the eleven or the 120?

J O E

J.O.E.:

Congratulations on doing the will of God. It is good to carefully read the Bible seeking the Truth, whichever way the Truth leads. Would to God that all His children would do that all the time!

Now, as for the answers to your questions.

A "upper room" is simply a room that is on the upper level of a house or building. While attending the seminary, I met a good man from Nigeria named Jonas Ijiomah. His tribe sent him a young woman from Nigeria for him to marry while he was a student here, and Jonas and his wife had a son the next year, before he graduated. There were many new sights and experiences waiting for Jonas's new wife, of course. For instance, she had never seen snow covering the ground before, and when a large snowfall came one winter, she was afraid to go out of her apartment because the snow appeared to her to be moving, and she didn't want to be carried away in the current! In the spring, when she visited my home for the first time, and seeing that it was a two-story house, she asked me how many families lived in it! It seemed gigantic to her, even though it was an average sized house by standards here. Her reaction to the house I lived in at that time, and your question about an upper room make wonder if there are many two-story house in your country. How is it there, as far as two-story buildings go?

As for the difference between a disciple and an apostle, my father said it this way: "A disciple is someone who is following Jesus; an apostle is somebody who has caught up with him."

How many received the holy Ghost on the day of Pentecost and spoke in tongues? I believe the evidence suggests that there were more than eleven or twelve who received the holy Ghost on the day of Pentecost, although this really isn't the important issue that some Christians try to make it out to be. One fact that leads me to think that there were more than a dozen men who received the holy Ghost at the beginning is that the people who were speaking in tongues were speaking in at least 16 different languages, according to the list of languages given in Acts 2:9-11. Now, unless some of the disciples were speaking out of both sides of their mouths as they spoke in tongues, there had to be more than twelve doing the speaking.

Thanks for your questions, J.O.E., and stay in touch!

Pastor John

Brother John:

I saw something in these verses while reading them. It felt good.

[28] And it came to pass, when Jesus had ended these sayings, the people were astonished at his doctrine:
[29] For he taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes.

Were scribes and scholars in the same category? One would think that the scribes would have taught with some kind of authority with all that education. Doesn't the anointing bring on the kind of authority that is spoken of here? I really love the "authority" that comes from God. It makes me feel safe. It gives me a clear path to follow. When It speaks, there is nothing else to say!

Sandy :)

Sandy:

Yes, the scribes WERE the scholars of Israel. In my experience with professors, however, and especially with professors of theology, the higher one climbs up the ladder, the less authority in spirit the man feels or has. What I saw in the seminary which I attended was that if a student, in writing a paper for example, failed to quote a scholar when making a point, then his point was rejected as untenable. The authority of the scribes was based on their knowledge of the writings of their dead Rabbis and their ability to quote from one of those scholars when discussing a particular situation. The "authority" with which Jesus spoke was the authority to speak without reference to Rabbi So-and-So. He spoke as one who possessed in himself the authority to say what he was saying. And he possessed that authority because he had received directly from God the truths that he dared to proclaim.

This is why some of the scribes and elders were puzzled by Jesus. They marveled at the wisdom he undeniably possessed, even though ne had never attended one of their seminaries; in their words, as they said it, "having never learned".

Jesus's "ignorant and unlearned" followers later puzzled the scholars of their time as well, after they received the holy Ghost and spoke the things of God as Jesus did, direct from the heart of God.

Quoting what other men have said about God in order to legitimize what you are saying is a vain, carnal method of appearing to have authority, especially if you are able to quote ancient writers and thinkers. That is why some ministers make a display of their knowledge of Greek and/or Hebrew or Latin from their pulpits; they know how effective that is in raising their status among men. Men are impressed by such erudition, and they will pay an eloquent, learned man handsomely to be their own private spiritual guide (in other words, their minister). This is the Christian way of selecting and paying ministers, but it is not of God.

Peter said, "If any man minister, let him do it as of the ability that God giveth." If God enables a man to minister, he can. If a man has no experience with the anointing of God, he is not a minister of God. It is that simple. I love Paul's phrase in 2 Corinthians, when he referred to God "who hath made us able ministers of the New Testament." Now, THAT is how it is done in Christ. God "makes" His ministers, just as the Psalmist said, "O Lord my God, thou art very great! Thou art clothed with honor and majesty. Who covereth thyself with light as a garment, who stretchest out the heavens like a curtain, who layeth the beams of His chambers in the waters, who maketh the clouds His chariot, who walketh on the wings of the wind, who maketh His angels spirits, AND [MAKETH] HIS MINISTERS A FLAME OF FIRE." Amen!

Paul also wrote to the Galatians, "The gospel that was preached by me was not after man, for I neither received it from man, neither was I taught it, but by the revelation of Jesus Christ." Any gospel that is "after man" or that is "taught by man" could be a lie, as far as the listener knows, unless the listener is listening to the Spirit. The Spirit is truth, and it alone can make a man to know whether it is the truth that he is hearing from another man.

If God has not made a man able, he cannot minister the gospel of Christ, regardlessof his education or title. Only by the Spirit does truth come to the soul, and only what the Spirit is saying at this moment is what is true. Stay tuned to Jesus, Sandy, so you won't miss the news.

Pastor John

Thanks, Brother John. I really enjoyed reading your answer. I am loving learning about God. Old things, new things, "new past" things, ANY thing! And the more I learn about Him, the more I love Him.

Sandy :)

Afterlife Webmaster wrote:

Dear John,

Thank you for your comments! When I looked up your scriptural reference, Zeph 3:9, it looked like it was referring to something that happens on the Great day of Judgment because it is that day that all nations will be gathered and God destroys the earth with fire..

Therefore wait ye upon me, saith the LORD, until the day that I rise up to the prey: for my determination is to gather the nations, that I may assemble the kingdoms, to pour upon them mine indignation, even all my fierce anger: for all the earth shall be devoured with the fire of my jealousy. For then will I turn to the people a pure language, that they may all call upon the name of the LORD, to serve him with one consent.

Hi Mystery Person:

You are correct in recognizing that the time when God will pour out this blessing upon "the people", that is the Jewish people, is near the end of this age. "The people", by the way, is a phrase used many times in the Bible to refer to the Jews as distinct from the Gentiles (e. g. Ps 2:1).

My point, however, is still valid. Regardless of when God blesses the Jews with that blessing, the blessing remains the same. At that time, when Jesus returns and rescues the Jewish people from the armies of the earth led by the Beast, the Jews will acknowledge him as their Messiah, repent of their rebellion against him, and then there will be opened to the Jews that "fountain for sin and uncleanness" that is prophesied. That is the baptism of the holy Ghost, the only thing that can wash away sin and uncleanness. And when the holy Ghost is poured out on the Jews, they will begin to speak in tongues as the Spirit gives them the utterance, just as God did in the beginning of this New Covenant (Acts 2:4), and then that "pure language" will be theirs.

From Zephaniah 3:9, we learn that there were two fundamental reasons for the outpouring of the holy Ghost (with the evidence of speaking in tongues): (1) to restore a pure language to mankind so that men could "call upon the Lord" as God intended for them to do and (2) to enable men to work together in Christ. Without the holy Ghost baptism, neither of these two promises can ever be realized. In our own strength (we have none), we can neither speak in a pure language nor work together in Christ as one.

Zephaniah 3:9 does, as you pointed out, refer to a future experience awaiting the Jews; however, those who have truly believed in Christ already have that experience. That was my point.

Thanks for your response, whoever you are.

Pastor John

J.O.E. wrote:

Pastor John:

I have few questions below for you.

2 Corinthians 3:15 "But even unto this day, when Moses is READ, the veil is upon their hearts" What does it mean to "read" Moses? Does it mean read the books written by Moses in the bible?

Yes. And notice, J.O.E., that Jesus (Jn. 5:46-47) said if we do not read and believe Moses, then we cannot possibly believe him!

2 Corinthians 2:17 "For we are not as MANY which corrupt the word of God, but as of sincerity, but as of God, in the sight of God speak we in Christ". Who are the "many" referred to here? And does "speak we in Christ" mean speak through the Holy Spirit in us?

The "many" in that verse refers to the " many antichrists" who "went out" from the apostles (1Jn. 2:18-19) but were not sent out by them. It refers to the many "false teachers" in the household of faith who bring in "damnable heresies" and "make merchandise" of God's children (2Pet. 2:1-3). It refers to "false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ", being ministers of Satan (2Cor. 11:13-14). It refers to the "many" whom Jesus said would "come in my name" and would "deceive many" (Mt. 24:5). It refers to "false prophets, who come to God's children in sheep's clothing, but inwardly are ravening wolves" (Mt. 7:15).

To "speak in Christ" means simply to be led by the Spirit in what you say.

Reading 2 Corinthians chapters 2, 3, 4 there appears to be so many use of the word "we" chapters 1:6, 8, 9, 13; 2:16, 17; 3:1; 4:1, 5, 7 etc). Does the writer use that word to speak of ministers of the gospel and to show what qualities and things that makes a man or men of God different from other believers? Or is it speaking of Paul & Timothy only?

Paul is referring to himself and his fellow workers, but the "we" in those chapters may also refer to any man who is walking in the footsteps of Paul and his fellow workers, just as the "you" in many of Paul's letters, although referring to the saints living at that time, but can also be applied to the saints living now.

These questions I am asking came up because there seems to be a distinction between them that are speaking and them being spoken to. The ones speaking there, as we can see, has so much experienced Christ.

Among all the verses in 2 Corinthians 1-5, this chapter 5:16 speaks volumes to my spirit. It pays to know no man even Christ after the flesh for He is no longer in the flesh but in the Spirit. Amen. I am blessed to have read that verse.

Yes, and we are all blessed to have the Bible available to read. It is God's book on earth.

John:

I was reading in the book of John today and came across this verse: "Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that receiveth whomsoever I send receiveth me; and he that receiveth me receiveth him that sent me."

Does the part "whomsoever I send" mean pastors anointed by God? In other words, if one does not recognize an anointed man of God and receive what he has to say, he does not recognize God?

Thanks.

Sandy

Sandy:

Yes. It means anyone sent by God to do anything. If Peter's conscience had not been convicted by the crowing of the rooster, he would have failed to recognize the will of God for him at that moment.

John

Pastor John:

I have a question regarding the following verses from 1st Corinthians 5:

[2] And ye are puffed up, and have not rather mourned, that he that hath done this deed might be taken away from among you.
[3] For I verily, as absent in body, but present in spirit, have judged already, as though I were present, concerning him that hath so done this deed,
[4] In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, when ye are gathered together, and my spirit, with the power of our Lord Jesus Christ,
[5] To deliver such an one unto Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that the spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus.

What exactly does the above verse mean? Is delivering "one unto Satan for the destruction of the flesh" equal to judgment coming to someone so that they may have opportunity to repent and be saved in the end ("that the spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus")?

Sandy

Sandy:

Paul was referring to the body of Christ's authority to "cut off" from the fellowship of the saints a brother who is persistent in gross immorality. This is after "the first and second admonition" (Titus 3:10-11). I understand the phrase "that the spirit may be saved" as a reference to the spirit of the man who is turned over to Satan for the destruction of his body. In other words, he would suffer premature death as the punishment for his sin so that he himself might be saved in the Final Judgment (as in 1Cor. 11:32).

Some years ago, however, when I mentioned this to my father, he said that Paul's reference to the spirit that would be saved was that of the body of Christ.

Clearly, it could be both. The body would be in a better spiritual condition after the expulsion of the immoral brother, and the immoral brother would suffer the punishment for his sin here in this life at the hands of Satan rather than be condemned with the world in the Final Judgment.

jdc

below are the thoughts of one of our viewers concerning the question above...

GS wrote:

Concerning this part of your response to Sandy S:

"Some years ago, however, when I mentioned this to my father, he said that Paul's reference to the spirit that would be saved was that of the body of Christ. Clearly, it could be both. The body would be in a better spiritual condition after the expulsion of the immoral brother, and the immoral brother would suffer the punishment for his sin here in this life at the hands of Satan rather than be condemned with the world in the Final Judgment.

jdc"

I had always taken that verse to mean that the Spirit of the body would be saved from such sin, by cutting that unrepentant member off.... It kind of seems unlikely that a man in adultery with his father's wife would be saved in the end, especially after the congregation cut him off for lack of repentence? what do you think?

GS:

Of course you are right to think that a man (especially a born-again man) will not be saved if he lives an immoral, ungodly life (as Rom. 11:22, Eph. 5:5-6, 2Pet. 2:20-21, and many other Scriptures warn). But I have always assumed that Paul is hoping that by being handed over to Satan for physical death, the guilty brother would repent and be washed from his sin before he died, so that premature death in this life would be his punishment instead of the Lake of Fire (as 1Cor. 11:30-32 allows).

jdc

That would be wonderful. I think that it rarely happens that way though - do you?

GS:

Actually, I think it is much more common than we might at first think. God has promised His people seventy years on earth, or eighty if they are physically strong (Ps. 90). So, premature death of the children of God happens all the time. This is no accident.

I have had loved ones who suffered this discipline at the hands of the Lord, including my mother and my Aunt Dixie (Brother Earl Pittman's mother). So, I probably will feel less surprised by hearing of this type of chastisement from the lord than you.

jdc

Yeah, He's always a lot more merciful than we would be. I remember one verse, I think it was in Ezra or Nehemiah, where the writer said, "God, please remember the good I did for your people." He was trusting that God would see the real heart.... I'm glad God judges right, and I'm glad that He figures it perfect every time.

Thanks for the thoughts on that. That's the kind of love and mercy I want to have... God's kind.

Gary

Good Morning John:

Can you please tell me where the scriptures are that describe Lucifer's (Satan) "features" and where it describes Jesus's? The Lord gave me some "forward" thoughts this morning that were very good and I would like to read these.

Also, when did Lucifer become Satan or is that interchangeable? Thanks.

Sandy Sasser

Sandy:

Satan (the same as Lucifer, or the devil) is described in Ezekiel 28:11-19. Jesus's physical appearance is described in Isaiah 53.

jdc

John,

I have been reading Roman 11 while thinking about our new past. In verse 16, I don't quite understand what the "lump" refers to. I have always thought that the firstfruit was refering to the Jews and that the root is Jesus. Those in Christ, (branches) connected to the root are holy, bur I'm not sure what the lump means here.

Tom: The "lump" refers to all the fruit that comes from that particular tree, including the firstfruits of it. Our bringing to God His part ("firstfruits") makes all the remaining amount clean in His sight. If we bring to God the firstfruits of our cornfield, for example, He blesses the rest of our crop (the "lump") with His favor.

Anyway, I really felt blessed reading this chapter, particular verses 20-25. When I was thinking about verse 24, I could visualize two olive trees. The first, "which is wild by nature", includes every branch (person) that is not in Christ. I could imagine being cut out of that tree and grafted into the second tree and becoming "partaker of the root". It is hard to put into words what I was feeling, but it was a deeper understanding of how I was connected to the people of God.

Somehow, I have always felt connected to the forefathers in the Bible. I may not have been able to express it in words, but I could feel a part of their lives. I remember the first time that I went through the Old Testament class that you taught in Louisville, knowing it was a major event in my life.

I will never forget the feeling I had when we read the story of the last remaining people of Israel being carried off to captivity. I visualized Jeremiah just sitting there, alone. I felt an emotional groan or sigh as if I was standing there watching this whole thing. It was a good experience for me.

Thanks,

Tom

Br. Clark,

I have been filled with the Baptism of the Holy Ghost with evidence of speaking in other tongues-PTL! I have enjoyed your teaching on this subject. I also believe that the Holy Ghost is for every one, and speaking in tongues is the initial sign of the reception/baptism of the Holy Ghost.

My question for you is this. I often am blessed with teaching bible studies to those that do not believe in tongues. The number one question that I get is this "Show me one scripture that specifically says that when one received the Holy Ghost they will speak in tongues."

I have used John 3:8, Acts 2:4, 10:46, 19:4-7, and even 1 Corinth. 12:7. But there are times when certain people refuse to accept these biblical examples of the reception of the Holy Ghost and hold on to that one question as I stated above. It's like if I can't give them one, then they will refuse biblical example, and other references to this experience on the basis that it is not "specific enough". They only want the one scripture that says specifically what they want to hear.

What do you suggest is the best way to approach this attitude? What is the best argument for this type of hard headed spirit.

Thank you for your time.

Br. Scott Foster

Hi Scott:

Thank you for your question. I have had the same request made of me in the past. It is the kind of question that arises from hearts that are not sincere or truly hungry for the knowledge of God. Consider this: Do the same people demand that their Christian ministers give them one Scripture that states in plain English that there is a Trinity, "specifically"? Or do they demand that their ministers give them one Scripture that states that Christianity is the family of God, "specifically"?

Don't be fooled, Scott, by such demands. The breaking up of the Scriptures into Chapters and Verses is an artificial device added to the text long after they were written. The Scriptures were intended by God to be read and understood as a whole, not as individual, tiny pieces to be digested individually. Those who are hungry for the truth are eager to hear the whole counsel of God. But people whose hearts God has not yet convicted of the need for His Spirit cannot receive the truth, whether you use one or a hundred Scriptures, and their demand for one Scripture to prove any doctrinal point is often just a ruse of a stubborn soul to avoid the real issue.

I taught the Bible in the NC community college system over the span of nearly twenty years. I understand how it is to teach people with the Spirit of God and without it. And those classes I conducted are some of the happiest memories I have, actually. But during that time, I have seen the kind of spirits you are dealing with now, as well as sincere souls who were willing to listen to reason. I would caution you not to feel like a failure if some will not reason with you. It is easy to feel responsible for someone else's failure to believe the truth we tell them. Just make sure you are "speaking the truth in love", and your hands will stay clean.

As for the best Scriptures to show people the truth about the new birth, wow. What can I say? Isa. 28:11-12 with Mt. 11:28 is great (these together came by revelation). 1John 4:1-2 is wonderful to show that every speechless spirit that Christians receive as the Spirit of Christ is the spirit of antichrist. Romans 8:15-16 is good. John 3:7-8 is perfect as well.

Have you seen my tract on "speaking in tongues"? That puts much of this together for anyone willing to read it.

Your Servant in Christ:

jdc

Pastor John:

There is this thing that I am not sure of. Each time I pray and at the end of each prayer item say "in Jesus name", it normally sound funny to me though I can't find what else to say. Is saying "in Jesus name" in prayers one of the Xn things?

JOE in Nigeria

Dear JOE:

Yes, your feeling of a need to say "in Jesus's name" at the end of every prayer is a vain Christian tradition and means nothing to either God or man. Jesus said that whatever was asked in his name would be done. So, just look for the results. If the prayer is answered by God, then that prayer was in the name of Jesus. Otherwise, it was not.

The Father knows whether or not your prayer is in the name of His Son when you first open your mouth. You do not need to tell Him whose name you're praying in.

jdc

JM wrote:

Simply this: What is the Holy Ghost? The chatechism I read at school said " There are three persons in the Godhead, The Father, The Son and the Holy Ghost.

Father and Son I can visualise, but what exactly is the Holy Ghost?

Regards

Jim

Dear Jim:

Thank you for your question. It is very welcome.

You have not been told the truth concerning the holy Ghost. The holy Ghost is the holy Spirit or (we could say) the Spirit of God. And Spirit of God is just that: the Spirit of God. Paul said that "the Spirit is life" (Rom. 8). So, the holy Spirit is God's life, just as your spirit is your life. Our natural life is not eternal, but God's life is. That is why the holy Ghost is sometimes called "the eternal Spirit", or "the Spirit of life". This eternal Spirit is the life that the Father gave to the Son (Jn. 5), and gives to us now if we believe in His Son.

You can safely trash the weird trinity dcotrine that many Christians teach. It is a fairy tale that makes no sense whatsoever.

For more info, read my tracts, "The Father and The Son", or "The Seven Pillars", or if you prefer, you can read my more scholarly (but simple) work on "The Influence of Trinitarian Doctrine on Translations of the Bible." These are on line on the www.Isaiah58.com web site.

Jim, you must receive this holy Ghost in order to belong to the only true body of Christ there is. Please pray about it. The baptism of the holy Ghost was opurchased for you by the sacrifice of God's own Son.

Your Servant in Christ,

jdc

John,

Are you going to come out with a tract or a message on the "New Past"? It would be helpful in understanding what God is doing and saying about this message. Sometimes, a good synopsis of the various messages, and what God is showing the saints can help, I know it would for me. It feels good, but I sure can't hardly explain it to anyone!!

Thanks.

Gary

Gary:

The "new past" that Jesus offers everyone who trusts in him is what Paul referred to in 2Cor. 5: "Therefore if any man be in Christ he is a new creature. Old things are passed away; behold ALL THINGS are become new." If we have the faith to believe it, one of the "all things" that become new in Christ is our "old past", that is, our history before Jesus took us in.

The "new past" is also what Paul referred to in Romans 11, where he told the Gentile believers that they had been "grafted" into the olive tree of Israel by the power of God. Now, when we are grafted into the olive tree of faith, the history of that olive tree becomes ours. That olive tree's sap is our sap; its root is our root, and its future is our future. This "new past" which becomes ours includes the testimony of Abel, Job, and Noah, of Abraham and David, of Daniel, Jeremiah, and the prophets, and the righteous, wise men and women of all time. Our past includes the testimonies of Paul and of John and of Peter. It includes (praise God!) the testimony of the Lord Jesus "who witnessed as good profession before Pilate". The men and women of faith are our ancestors now, if we are in Christ, and he is our elder brother.

The phrase "new past" confuses the unbelieving because the "new past" is in faith, and faith is foreign to them. It confuses the rebellious because the "new past" is in obedience, and they do not obey the will of God. The message of a "new past" troubles the trouble-makers in the body because the new past is in peace, and peace irritates those who irritate God. What does it mean that "old things are passed away", if our old habits, our old complaints, and our old sins still cling to us, confusing and discouraging us? Are they passed away or are they not?

Some years ago, as Sister Sandy was in the midst of a sad visit with her elderly, unbelieving mother, the Lord spoke to her and said, "You are not a product of that union any more". We who are in Christ "are not debtors to the flesh". That is, we do not owe our existence to the human beings who produced our physical bodies. God had our names written in His Book of Life before the world was created; He had claims on us before our natural parents were even born. In Christ, we are no longer a product of that physical union of two human bodies; we are the product of the will and Word of God. It was His choice alone, not theirs, that we are here. If our natural parents had tried to prevent our birth, the stones themselves would have brought us forth! We are the offspring of a race of men created by the power and love of God, beginning with "the new man Adam" who was nailed to a tree in ancient Judea.

There is no unbelief in our "new past" because the new past includes only men and women of faith. There is no confusion in our new past because the new past includes only men and women with the knowledge of God. There is no grumbling and ill will in our "new past" because that past includes men and women who trusted God and loved people. The testimonies of the upright become our history when our history itself becomes new. When our father becomes Abraham, then our history includes leaving Babylonia behind! When our high priest becomes Christ, then our new history includes the Levitical priesthood that foreshadowed his work. In Christ, OUR FOREFATHERS built the ark out of gopher wood and waited for the rain, OUR FOREFATHERS crossed the Red sea in faith, looking toward the Land of Promise, our forefathers trembled before God at the base of Mount Sinai, our forefathers willingly brought gold and silver to David for the building of God's temple, our forefathers waited for the Promise of God in an upper room in Jerusalem, and our forefathers proclaimed the truth of Jesus to the ancient Roman world.

In Christ, they were also our forefathers who were despised by men, who wandered about with no shelter, who were stoned, who were imprisoned and persecuted. And for those in Christ, it was our "everlasting father" who was crucified for the sins of the world.

This is what the "new past" means, Gary. In Christ, there is nothing that we fear because our forefathers were fearless, and holy courage is all that runs in our veins. There is nothing that can discourage us because in the blood of our new family runs nothing but faith that we "can do all things through Christ who strengthens us." There is no sin of the old past that can drag us back into darkness because in our veins runs a holiness that terrifies Satan himself. We cannot be overcome with confusion because the knowledge of God infuses our spirits. No weapon formed against us can prosper. All things are ours, and we are Christ's, and Christ is God's. There is nothing that can separate us from the Love of God because the love of God created and fills both our history and us. God created our new past for us, had that new past written down, and encourages us to read it every now and then.

Do you doubt God? You're living in the old past. Do you hold a grudge against a brother or a sister? You're trying to resurrect the old man. Do you fear the future? You are believing a lie, as if the old past still has any power over you. Are you not free to praise the God of the whole earth? You are digging into God's garbage can to eat the rotten food of your old carnal nature.

Our forefathers "danced with all their might" before the Lord. Our forefathers drove away the armies of the enemies of the Lord who exalted themselves against the saints of God. It is beneath the dignity of our new past to remain in the quiet, smelly death chamber of Christianity. That abomination is NOT a part of our new past in Christ. And for that reason, the holy Ghost is pleading with the children of God to "come out of her my people!" Our old past is in bondage. Our new past is "free indeed" because the Son has made us that way!

John

other responses to John's response to Gary's question above...

Brother John,

This message is top of the line! It takes away every thing BUT the love of God. It leaves us with absolutely no excuses! That is, if we really want to be happy and free in Jesus.

Love, Sister Sheila

...

Dear Pastor John,

I don't know how to describe fully what your e-mail is doing to me. I love it! It is giving me increased faith to delight in the place that God put me when He filled me with His holy spirit. He put me in such a great big new world! It's not small , or weak. This new past is huge, and strong, and upright and loving, and fearless, and faithful, and endless! I am so glad that you are helping me to understand who I am in Christ, and I feel specially loved by God to receive this message. Thank you, thank you, thank you!

Brother Adam

...

John,

I just read your reply to Gary on "The New Past" and I am feeling an overwhelming love from God and for God that is hard to express! I used to think it would be interesting to take a geneology class and learn about my ancestors. They have offered a class at our public library for several years, and I've always tried to fit it into my schedule, but it just didn't work out. I know it would have been fine for me to take the geneology class just as it would be for me to take any kind of history class, but what I realized as I was reading your reply to Gary was that library class would not be a study of my geneology! The Old Testament class we are about to begin will be my geneology. I have taken the Old Testament class before, but this time it will have a whole new meaning! I will be learning about my family history! WOW! I can hardly take that in! I've been grafted into a family of the greatest men and women who ever lived! Talk about a Royal Family! We're in it! Praise God!

I've always had a special love for David and the stories about him. Now, to think he is one of my elder brothers! All of a sudden, those wonderful Bible stories are no longer just "stories", they're my family history. I love that the same holiness that ran through their veins is running through my veins! This just feels wonderful to me, John! Forget the class at the library, I can't wait to start the Old Testament class, and learn about my real ancestors.

Love,

Lee Ann

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John,

God put it on Gary's heart to ask you about a message on "The New Past" but your reply was especially good for me. I felt so much better after reading it, that I read it again. And I know when I read it another time I'll get even more out of the message. Praise God!!!

There are a lot of things going through my mind that I started to say in this email but I believe I'll just go read the message again and praise God for his love and mercy.

Doris

Doris:

The thief who comes to Christ is given a new past of honesty and integrity. The harlot who comes to Christ is given a history of purity and virtue. A murderer who comes to Christ is given a new past of kindness and mercy. Sinners and fools of every stripe who come to Christ are grafted into a history of righteousness and wisdom.

When you think about it, what is a man, that he dares to doubt, when the Almighty Himself has declared that men can be His children? Who do men think they are, to refuse to believe the gospel of Christ?

Enjoy your new past, Doris. Jesus gave it to you!

John

Pastor John,

When I was a member of the Foursquare Gospel Church, I made a pledge (monetary wise) towards their building project. Now that I am resigning and have not finished paying the pledge, what do I do about the remaining? To me, I feel I should forget it.

J O E

JOE:

Dear JOE:

There are times when the Lord will require some of his children to follow through to the end on such obligations, even if they leave a sect. But you are not merely switching from one Christian (Xn) sect to another; you are obeying the Voice of God to come out of Christianity (Xty) altogether. And part of coming out of Xty is loosing oneself from the unwise commitments made "as unto the Lord" while being a Xn, especially when one discovers that the Thief has taken advantage of our love for Jesus, to his own aggrandizement.

In your case, I agree with your feelings about the "pledge" you made. Just repent for making that financial commitment to Xty instead of to Christ, and then forget it. Xty is of the flesh and "we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live after the flesh"; instead, we are debtors to God, to live after the Spirit.

Therefore, if the Spirit says pay, then pay. If not, then go happily on your way.

jdc

John, permit me to ask you this. I remember that in the time of the Israelites, the Passover was celebrated with Unleaven Bread and Bitter Herb. I also remember that at the time of Jesus, it was Bread and Wine. When did the bread and wine come into being?

JOE

JOE:

God never changed the Unleavened Bread and Bitter Herbs of the law to Bread and Wine. If Jesus and his disciples were celebrating the Passover meal the night before his death, the bread they ate would have been unleavened, even if it was not mentioned as being so. And if they were eating the passover meal, there were bitter herbs used and a lamb roasted and eaten as well, but not mentioned in the gospels. The requirements for the eating of the Passover meal were never changed by God as long as the Jews were required to observe that holy Feast.

jdc

Hi Pastor John

I told you about talking to my brother about some of the truth God has shown us and even though he struggled enormously (it's tough when your financial state is tied up with being a preacher!) the experience was so uplifting for Kay and I. It just emphasises how special it is to be touched by God in this way! Amen!

With our love

Brother Damien and Sister Kay

Hi folks:

God's truth is FOR people, Damien, not against them, though most people never realize that. I wish that people would not feel "attacked" by the liberating truth of Jesus when they hear it. It only comes to heal them. But you are correct in saying that when a man's finances are entangled in XTY, it is exceedingly difficult not to feel "attacked" or threatened by the love of God. My father used to say that if he had an organization in which there were big, nice buildings and prestigious positions to offer, he would have more men out there teaching the truth than he'd know what to do with. But it doesn't happen that way, Damien. The truth is purchased at a price. And God reserves His hidden wisdom for those who are willing to pay it.

Pastor John

Hi John:

I've been wondering about this for a while. Should we give to people who beg on street corners, etc.? I've heard that we should instead give to charities that could help them. But didn't Jesus say, give to all who ask?

Thanks, John.

Hi Jackie:

No man has enough money to "give to all who ask". During WWII, when his fellow soldiers in the barracks discovered that Uncle Joe believed he HAD to give money to all who asked him for it, guess who became the most popular guy on pay day. And guess who never had any money when he needed it.

Then, we must make choices. That is why we need to be led by the Spirit. If, as Paul said, we "do not know how to pray as we ought" without the Spirit's leading, then we do not how to give as we ought without the Spirit leading.

John

Pastor John:

I was listening to you speak about the fifty days from Passover to Pentecost - 3 in the grave, 40 appearing to the disciples, 7 of consecration in heaven - and then the Spirit was given.

In my time in the Worldwide Church of God we kept the OT holy days after a fashion. One that always made me wonder as to its significance was what we called the Last Great Day, that great day of the feast. From that day John recorded the following:

John 7:37-39 On the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried, saying, If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink. He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water. (But this spake he of the Spirit, which they that believe on him should receive: for the Holy Ghost was not yet given; because that Jesus was not yet glorified.)

Do you think there is a connection between the 7 days Jesus waited in heaven and the 7 days of tabernacles which preceded him uttering this prophetic statement about the receiving of the Spirit? When you were speaking this came into mind very strongly. It seems to fit very closely.

With our love in Christ

Damien & Kay

No, Damien, I see no connection at all. The numbers are just the same.

Those who have the faith, as you do, to understand that there was a divine purpose (fulfilled in Christ) for every element of the Law of Moses, are sometimes tempted to try to make some things fit just because they are similar. Don't do it. Resist the temptation and wait for God to reveal His purpose for that day.

May I tell you something that may sound a little boastful but is only intended to make my point clear? Once Jesus has actually taught a man as he has taught me, that man can rest from his own imaginations because he at last begins to know the difference between his own thoughts and the Spirit's instructions. In fact, I rejoice at the questions to which I can only answer "I don't know", because (Praise God!) I now know the difference between what I know and what I do not know. Damien, that is no small thing! Just listen to the false teachers of Xty teaching things they do not know, and not knowing they do not know! I thank my God for His mercy to me!

The struggle to know God's voice from one's own thoughts is ended only as God reveals Himself to a man and teaches him His voice. I know better than to imagine something and then think it is God because I have experienced the real voice of God teaching me. There is an infinite difference between my thinking and His speaking. I would be more guilty of inventing a doctrine out of my own heart than you would be, because by what HE has chosen to do to me, I know more perfectly the difference between the Spirit's voice and my own imagination.

Those who are being taught the truth are being "tuned in" the voice of God's Spirit. And you will be held accountable to a higher standard concerning what you think is God and what really is God. So be patient and wait for the clear word of God. Again, my counsel is to drop the idea of a connection between the great, last day of the Feast of Tabernacles and the 7-day consecration period for Jesus after he ascended into heaven, (the day of Pentecost when the holy Ghost came).

Thanks for the question.

Pastor John

Hi there

My name is Dianne and I think you have missed when it comes to baptism, I think that if the real and the first congregation started on the day of Pentecost and that they baptized in the Name Of Jesus Christ then that we should still do it today and where in the bible does it say the Paul was sorry for water baptism, I'm not saying you are wrong or question what you believe but I'm not sure its bible we have to spread all the word not just alittle , I think that Acts2:38 is as for today as is was then or Jesus would not have told them to do so,

Have a Great Day

Sister Dianne

Hi Dianne

Thanks for your comments. The earliest believers, being Jewish, continued in all the ceremonies of the Law (read Acts 21), including John's baptism in Jesus's name. Peter was speaking to Jews in Acts 2:38, not to Gentiles. John's baptism with water was for the Jews (John 1), to introduce the Messiah to Israel. It never was intended for us Gentiles.

No, Dianne, I have not missed it. Paul's gospel for the "uncircumcision" included only one baptism (Gal. 4), and that baptism is the one that Jesus is still giving, not the one that John gave to the Jews or that the very earliest believers practiced.

God bless you and the saints you know.

Pastor John

Bro. John,

. . . . . .

Now, what I really had on my mind to ask was what you said last night about Jimmy having a pure heart. Did you say that having a pure heart doesn't keep you from getting into trouble, but its what will bring you out of trouble?

YES, that is what I said. I said that all of God's children become confused sometimes, but that a pure heart is the ONLY kind of heart that ever comes out of confusion.

I woke up this morning thinking about a pure heart. Then, does that mean that God has children in Xty. who are serving Him with a pure heart? I dont know how to ask this, but can a child of God partake of christian ceremonies and still have a pure heart?

YES, they can. That is why we who know the truth must not condemn any of God's children as if they are filthy in his sight JUST because they are still in Xty. I learned this a long time ago now, when I saw in the Old Testament that there were kings of ancient Judah who served God with a "perfect heart", yet still allowed the people to worship God in the "high places" contrary to His expressed commandment.

And will God be pleased with their sacrifices even tho they may be doing these things in error? I know that the ceremonies are not the sacrifices, but if they are doing them or serving God through them, can God be pleased with them (His ignorant children) if they are giving it as unto the Lord? I know that there have been times that I thought God was in a thing and I did or acted the way that I thought pleased God, but when I found out that way of thinking was wrong, I changed it. What if they never find out that way of thinking or worshiping is wrong? or Not God?

YES, God can be pleased with the "sacrifices" of some of His dear children in Xty, even though they may be in the physical act of a dead ceremony while their hearts are worshiping Him.

Is that what you mean when you say that you pray, "God deliver me from my own opinions"? Can they be saved, but yet by not knowing the council of the Lord, have leanness on their souls?

YES, that is what I mean. And YES, they most certainly can be saved in the end from the damnation of God, if they have kept themselves morally pure, even though they have worshiped God in ignorance.

And how do you know if you have a pure heart?

You can't know until God shows you. And He shows you often by bringing you out of confusion. Nobody with a pure heart can participate in the worst elements of Xty, but they can be confused and join one of its sects.

I don't think I realized it until you mentioned Jimmy that a person could be in so much trouble and yet that person could have a pure heart. I guess I looked at it as backsliding because the fellowhip was gone and when the fellowship is gone, someone is usually in the wrong.

That is right.

, but someone can be in the wrong and yet, not have a bad spirit in that wrong, but thinking they are doing the right thing? Its the attitude of the Heart, right?

YES!! It is the attitude of the heart alone that counts even after we have learned the truth. Baptizing in water is nothing, and we all understand that. But we must also learned that NOT baptizing in water is also nothing. Everything is nothing in God's sight, except faith that springs out of a pure heart.

I'm sorry this is so long,

It was long?

but I feel so good after last night just thinking about the mercy of God and what I felt for Bro. Jimmy. I don't know if I have ever experienced anything quite like that as last night and your song just ringing in my ears and going into my heart. Boy, John that was goooood and I knew that's what Bro. Jimmy was needing, that love of God to embrace him like never before. There are no words to express the feeling you have when you know you have misjudged or made a foolish decision and then after you see it, God just comes in and loves you through it or inspite of it. It is such an humbling thing to feel that love when you feel so unworthy to be loved, but thats the key, I think, Bro. John. God can love us through anything if we get willing to be loved because we will want to follow it wherever it goes, and will follow it.

Thanks for everything you do for me

Sis Betty

one viewer's response to the comments above...

Hello Pastor John,

Your email reply to that of Betty broke me down and i am blessed to have read it. I saw in it my lack of the wisdom, love and mind of God. I saw in it the need to continue with Him and continue to be taught by Him though His Spirit. The same application of wisdom or the mind of God on certain issues that you showed in that your reply was the same that I saw in Paul's letters to the Corinthians. Most times I wondered why Paul has to move from answering the direct questions that the Corinthians might have written him about to something else. I was meant to understand that those something else are his knowing the mind of God for the people he is writing. He adds such things to get them to understand him and also correct them on some issues that he know apply to them.

I am delighted to have read that email and might read it again! But explain these further for me.

YOU WROTE TO SISTER BETTY:

"God can be pleased with the "sacrifices" of some of His dear children in Xty, even though they may be in the physical act of a dead ceremony while their hearts are worshiping Him."

JOE, God "searches the heart". Some of God's children are still participating in the ungodly ceremonies of Xty although their hearts may be entirely set on loving and obeying God. What they are doing by participating in those rituals, they are doing in ignorance. And Jesus said that not much is required if not much has been given. Not much has been given to God's children in Xty, JOE, and not much is required.

If you or I were to now participate in the same blasphemous rituals that many Xns participate in, we would be held guilty before God. On the other hand, those of His children who are still there may not be held guilty at all, if they are doing it in ignorance. God was going to allow some of the same the children of Israel who built the golden calf at Mount Sinai to enter into the land of promise, but he refused to allow Moses to go in simply because he hit a rock with a stick. "To whom much is given, much is required."

YOU ALSO WROTE TO SISTER BETTY:

"They most certainly can be saved in the end from the damnation of God, if they have kept themselves morally pure, even though they have worshiped God in ignorance."

What I meant by this, JOE, is simply this: No matter what anyone has been taught in Xty, there is NEVER an excuse for immorality. NO immoral person will inherit the kingdom of God.

SP wrote:

We were reading the Broadcaster last night and Sammy had two questions.

1) Is everbody's heart wicked until God touches them?

2) If a wife and husband are both full of the holy Ghost, does that make their child different from one born to two people without the spirit? Solomon said a corrupt tree cannot produce good fruit neither can a good tree produce corrupt fruit.

Thanks.

SP:

The answer to your first question is yes. "The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked." (Jer. 17:9)

The answer to your second question is also yes. The children of the saints of God are particularly blessed, though as you know, sometimes they do not appreciate what God has given them. Also, children of vile sinners sometimes prove to have a heart for God, but it is more difficult for them because their parents do not encourage them in the right ways of the Lord.

When I remember how blessed I was to be born with the parents I had, and how long it took for me to realize that i was blessed, I marvel, and I highly respect those people who come from godless homes to Christ. Even with much help, it took me many years to understand. They had, in some cases, no encouragement at all to do right, and still wanted to! My hat is off to them.

jdc

J.O.E. wrote:

I keet getting surprised on the reason why SO MANY do not see that those who have the Spirit of God are not Christians, rather they are Sons, children of God or believers in our Lord Jesus Christ. I had a friend over the Internet whom I have been trying to show this, but each time, he keeps saying that all believers in Christ are Christians. I think the same reason goes for them not seeing the "tiny" message of John the Baptist concerning the Water Baptism as well as that of Jesus concerning the Communion. I do not know why people keep doing things that they do for the sake of doing it whether it adds any value to their lives or not.

Christians continue in things they do because they are taught (intimidated) by Christian ministers to believe that if they do not do those things, God will be displeased. Christianity uses the love for God that is in God's children against them. It twists it into the same kind of thing Satan used on Jesus during his temptation: "If you really are the Son of God, then you will turn this rock to bread . . . etc." Christianity says now to the people who belong to God, "If you really believe in Jesus, then you will be baptized in water" or "If you really believe in Jesus, then you will participate in Christian communion." God's people are trapped by that intimidation. They need to be told that such standards are false. They are of Satan, but we can escape and overcome his lies if we listen to the One who overcame him two thousand years ago.

The two issues that I asked that more time be given to me to look at them again were the water baptism and the communion. If I remember correctly, the pastor told me that the disciples of Jesus were commended to baptize people and also have Holy Communion after the death of Christ. He quoted Matthew 28:18-20 (to show that the instruction was given by Christ after His resurrection) and 1Corinthians 11:24-27. He further said that if Holy Communion were symbols, Paul would not have been instructed of it by revelation, as he was not with the disciples when Jesus shared the communion with them. He went ahead also to ask me whether I was not water baptised and later receive the Holy Spirit baptism?

Joseph, these are good questions for you to ponder. You need to understand yourself, and what the Lord is doing for you.

First, Paul never gave any rules concerning a ceremony that Christians call "Holy Communion".

Second, let's think about this issue. The disciples of Jesus were not only were supposed to continue baptizing in water, they were supposed to continue preaching and practicing physical circumcision, animal sacrifices, observing holy days, attending religious ceremonies at the temple in Jerusalem, and whatever else the Law of Moses demanded of the Jews. A generation after the Spirit came at Pentecost, God's people in Judea were still observing the Law of Moses. In fact, James, a principal leader of God's people in Judea, told Paul that the thousands of believers in Judea were very zealous for the Law (Acts 21). Paul himself in that same chapter in Acts participated in animal sacrifices at Jerusalem.

Why, Joseph? Can your former pastor explain why the early assembly, including the apostles, continued in the works of the Law long after the Spirit came? Were the apostles ignorant of the truth? What does your pastor say about that? Why does he stress the water baptism they practiced, while excluding all the other ceremonial works they performed and observed?

Ask him.

The answer he gives concerning that will give you an insight into the truth concerning water baptism and "holy communion" that I cannot by any better means provide.

Someone that I discussed with the other day after given him the New Birth tapes told me that he does not see the reason why someone should be asking the question "when where the disciples born again". Also he said that if your fellowship in the truth has been on since the 1900's, why have many not known of it or even people refer or quote you.

I have a better question than that. The truth of the gospel for the Gentiles "has been on" since it was revealed to the apostle Paul. Why isn't your friend referring to or quoting him? I can tell from his comment about when the disciples were born again that he does not know the answer. So, instead of giving one, he wants to make the one asking the question appear to be foolish. Why can't he feel the love of God in that simple question? The truth isn't against people; it is for people!

Now two things are evident before me:

1. I need to give more time to listening to the voice of the Spirit of God and also do more studies.

2. I know that no man/woman can come to God (Truth) except the Spirit of God draws him/her. And until that is done, it is IMPOSSIBLE to convince such a one about anything about the move of the Spirit of God for this age and time.

When this came to my mind, I was happy and at the meeting I told the pastor that I am "confused" and that I am in the same position as I was at that night that my father and my uncle were questioning me. I told him that I know the Pentecostals were good but they are no longer relevant to my spiritual growth though I also find myself not VERY sure of the new way I am following only that I have this FEELING that it is the BEST way for me. I hope you understand what I mean.

I had a nice praying time two days ago. The Lord during those minutes taught me about "God's hands". It was refreshing.

More to come as I call them to memory.

J.O.E.

I am happy that your were honest with your former pastor. Keep praying and let me know if we can help.

Pastor John

B.R. wrote:

What does Paul mean by "I thank my God, I speak with tongues more than ye all:?" (1 Cor. 14:18).

Also, 1 Cor. 12:30: "Have all the gifts of healing? do all speak with tongues? do all interpret?"

And 1 Corinthians 14:23: "If therefore the whole body be come together into one place, and all speak with tongues, and there come in those that are unlearned, or unbelievers, will they not say that ye are mad?"

Lastly, 1 Cor. 14:5: "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 congregation may receive edifying."

I think it's obvious why these verses confuse me. Some of these verses seem to be saying that tongues is just another gift, like prophesying. I know about diverse tongues, but Paul doesn't say diverse in these.

14:18 altogether puzzles me.

Additionally, 14:23 seems to be saying not to speak in tongues when the congregation comes together, even though later on he says "forbid not speak with tongues."

(This is BR. I have emailed you a few times in the past, I don't know whether you remember me or not. I know this is a lot of questions for one email, but I will greatly appreciate your response. Thank you.)

Sincerely

Dear BR:

Yes, I do remember you. I hope you are well and are baptized with the holy Ghost by now. Are you?

BR., I think you are working too hard at trying to understand something with your intellect that can only be understood by experience. Paul's letter to the Corinthians is a letter to people who "come behind in no gift" and were filled with the holy Ghost and faith. In this perverse generation, the Corinthian saints are constantly being analyzed and criticized by Christians who don't have the holy Ghost (and don't want it!), and that is not even to mention the complete absence of the power and gifts of the Spirit in their congregations. I would to God that the Christians who so often criticize the Corinthian saints were close enough to God to have the problems the Corinthian saints had!

The issues you raised, B., are beyond Christianity's ability to resolve. And yet those issues can be resolved very simply. Let me give you an example by using the first question you asked. You asked, "What does Paul mean by "I thank my God, I speak with tongues more than ye all?" (1 Cor. 14:18).

I will risk sounding too blunt, but the only right answer is that by saying, "I thank my God that I speak with tongues more than ye all", Paul meant that he thanked God that he spoke in tongues more than them all. Really, what else could he mean, BR?

I recently had a lively correspondence with a highly intelligent gentleman in California who had written a very erudite and complicated book, 196 pages in length, the sole purpose of which was to explain a single verse from 1Corinthians 14! This verse, however, needed no explanation at all! In general, and there are of course some exceptions, if we take what the Bible says at face value, we have the answer already. Imagine, BR, the man in California wrote 196 very scholarly pages to explain something anyone with good sense could understand the first time he read it!

All your questions, BR, have to do with 1Corinthians 14. There are simple answers. Rather than respond in an e-mail to each of the verses you mentioned, let me suggest that you send for a copy of my sermon on 1Corinthians 14. Send an e-mail to Brother Earl at epittman@new-vista1.com and ask for the tape on 1Corinthians 14. I think it will answer your questions. If not, let me know.

Pastor John

Hi Pastor John

There is a topic I would like to share with you as it causes me to ponder and I am uncertain in my thinking. Prior to God leading me to the truth I was getting very enthusiastic about something that is becoming known as the city-reaching movement. In particular, I was quite enamoured of a video called "Transformations". Maybe you have heard of it. It shows communities that have undergone some quite radical improvements seemingly as the result of a move of God among them. We are not talking about Christian church growth but an effect that drastically invades levels of government and brings about significant moral change in the society more widespread than usually happens. This is a phenomenon occurring throughout the world but principally in the less developed parts of the world.

There was a Transformations conference held in a nearby city which we attended. At this conference clips from the next Transformations video were shown along with a rather amazing sound clip. This sound clip was recorded in a little place called Pond Inlet way up on Baffin Island. At the beginning you hear music and people praying for certain youth that were attending the meeting. There are people praying in tongues present. What happened was that a noise started and grew louder. Two or three times the recording sound levels were reduced because they thought they had a feedback problem. Eventually all you can hear is the sound of a roaring wind which continues for a minute or so. It sounds like Acts 2:2-3 You can hear people exclaiming about "fire". I have no reason to doubt that this was a remarkable visitation of the Spirit upon these people. I just don't know where this type of event belongs. These people, though obviously Pentecostal, also fit in the Christian box doctrinally; otherwise, I doubt they would make it onto this video. It just seems incredible that God would be blessing people with such an experience in the Spirit, and yet they remain ignorant of their errors in the truth. I feel that we may be on the brink of a time where the power of God is demonstrated more abundantly than in recent history. But we must worship in Spirit and truth.

If God demonstrates His power so dynamically in a place that does not have the truth or refuses to repent of its errors when convicted by God then we have something that could become an extraordinarily strong delusion and a very dangerous trap for believers. I am not quite sure what I want to ask you about this. It just makes me feel questions without words. I suppose what I am feeling goes along with questions about men like Benny Hinn where there is an anointing but the truth is not taught. How do we approach such things? I have recorded a bit of this sound from the video but I hesitate to send it because I don't want to trivialise an incredible manifestation of God. If you would like to hear it I will send it separately.

Damien:

Your "questions without words" are perfectly understandable to me and to anyone else who has heard the truth and loved it. How can there be such wonderful men as Oral Roberts, who obviously have been anointed by Jesus, but who teach lies to God's children? Over the years, I have pondered over that issue often. I have high regard for such elders in the faith, and I would fear the wrath of God were I ever to speak evil of them. And yet, I know that they are not telling the truth to the saints or to sinners! Such a conflict of heart should not exist in the kingdom of God. But I have never found an answer for it, except for me to say, at last, as Paul once wrote, "To his own Master he will stand or fall." Those men of God are not my business; they belong to God, who commanded us, "Touch not My anointed, and do My prophets no harm." So, I have to leave it there.

And yes, you are exactly right. When holy things are mixed with evil, the delusive power of that evil to hold God's children captive is greatly multiplied. If the truth were preached widely today, Oral Roberts and Benny Hinn would be two of the greatest stumbling blocks to the children of God believing it--not because they are evil men but because they are godly men participating in and endorsing ungodly things. I strongly suspect that this reality has something to do with the "mystery of iniquity" that Paul mentioned in 2Thessalonians. I hope someday to understand it all perfectly.

I can tell you this, though. In about 1931, my father was also anointed with power from Jesus for miracles and healing. When I complete the book about his life that I am working on now, you will be able to read about how God used him. He told me once that the greatest miracles that God ever worked through him were done while he was still teaching false doctrine (Church of God denomination).

The day Jesus came to him and anointed him, the Lord said something to my father that he could not forget, but did not understand. When my father asked for power and Jesus told him, "You'll have it", Jesus added, "I am going to give you what goes with it." Later, my father learned that in referring to "what goes with it", Jesus was talking about the knowledge of the truth. My father was not praying, as far as he knew, for another doctrine. He expected to teach Church of God doctrine the rest of his life, I suppose. That gift from Jesus was a surprise.

I know, I know. You are asking, as I have asked a hundred times at least, "Why, then, hasn't Jesus given 'what goes with it' to others whom he has anointed?" I do not know.

Also, about ten years ago, my wife became very burdened about this same issue, as most of us who know the truth have, at one time or another. She had read a book about the life of Nora Lamb, a Chinese girl whom Jesus loved and used in wonderful ways. Barbara prayed about it. How could people such as she and Oral Roberts be so wonderfully used by Jesus and still be so blind to the truth? The Lord told her that they were a part of "that Gentile religion." At that time, none of us knew that Christianity was an evil institution; now, however, we know what Jesus meant by referring to "that Gentile religion." When, shortly after that, Jesus taught me that Christianity is the Roman Empire (in an altered form), I understood at last what he meant by "that Gentile religion". The truth will never be received by anyone in Christianity because the truth is that Christianity is not, and never has been, of God. Christianity is the Gentile's perversion of the gospel, and all who are in it are blinded by it.

Damien, people receive the baptism of the holy Ghost through faith, not by knowledge. They receive the anointing through faith, not by knowledge. But I cannot help but feel that to bring His children into the knowledge of God is God's ultimate purpose of all the blessings the saints receive from Him. He is the one who said, after all, that "My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge." I am happy when I hear of God pouring out His marvelous power and blessings upon people; we need His encouraging touch. At the same time, I know more certainly than I know that I am here writing this to you that unless those blessed people come out of Christianity and learn to worship the Father in spirit and in truth, the gifts they have from God will wither and die, and the purpose for those blessings will never be realized.

Pastor John

Hi Pastor John

I have a couple of questions I have accumulated. People speak of the battle of Armageddon yet this is not a biblical expression. Rev 16 talks of the kings being gathered together at Armageddon for "the battle of that great day of God Almighty". But doesn't Joel 3:9-14 (and other places) indicate that the actual battle occurs at Jerusalem?

On the All Things subject where do our past patterns of sin in the natural fit into God working things for our good? Thank you for your patient assistance.

Damien

Hi Damien:

First, the battle of Armageddon will probably cover a wide area. When Jesus returns and fights against the Beast and his armies, the blood will flow five feet deep for 200 miles, Revelation tells us. That means there will be an awfully large army squeezed into Israel's small territory. Zechariah tells us that the Beast and his armies will have conquered all of Israel and will have taken Jerusalem by the time Jesus actually shows up with the saints. So, yes, the focus of the battle will at that moment be in and around Jerusalem, but the armies will be scattered over the whole landscape, I am sure. They will camp at Armageddon (in the valley around Megiddo), so that is where the battle gets its name.

Second, you have a "new past" when you enter into Christ and become a new creature. He becomes your past; that is why you are considered a Jew when you are born again. He was a Jew and you are in him. That means that you, in him, kept the law of Moses perfectly, being circumcised the eighth day, being baptized in the Jordan by John, obeying the holy feast days, offering sacrifices. He didn't just suffer and die for us; he lived under the Law for us. He is now your past.

Well done, Damien. From one Jew to another, I am glad you have obeyed the Law of God with me and the rest of God's children!

As for your natural past, forget it. Jesus will bring to your memory, whenever he chooses, the parts of it that he may use for his purposes now and then. Other than that, it is no longer your history. That man is dead. Leave the poor fool in the grave, and don't be like the foolish who "dig up evil" with their tongues.

G'day, mate.

Pastor John

Hi John:

Thank you for the Broadcaster #121 on "Secrets". it was very good. In it you said that an old saint had kept some sins by her relatives secret from the congregation. I was wondering, were her relatives believers with the Holy Ghost? If we have relatives that are not believers, should we hold them up to the same standard that God holds believers up to? I'm wondering because Gary is into some things that are wrong, and it seems that if I demand him to quit these things, I'm trying to make him measure up to a standard that he is not able to without God's help.

Thank you John!

Jackie

Jackie:

No, I never said that the old saint ought to have demanded that the sinners change. I only said that she kept their wickedness secret from the body of Christ to their hurt and ours. She kept it secret so that the body would not know. She knew full well that the body would have counseled her not to continue visiting that home, knowing the nasty situations that existed there. The key to understanding my point, Jackie, is this: She did not tell the saints about the sin that she was witness to because she had a guilty conscience for continually going back to be around it--and for allowing that same ungodliness to take place in HER home when those filthy minded people came to see her.

So, leave your husband alone unless he pressures you to partake of ungodliness with him. Peter said that the believing wife is to be a witness of uprightness to her ungodly husband "without the word".

Also, in answer to your question, the ungodly people who were nearest to that old saint did not have the Spirit. Others kin to her did, but not those particular ones.

JDC

Hey Pastor John,

I have a question for you. We were talking in the bible study tonight, and we were wondering how old Solomon was when he became king. I found where it said that he ruled for forty years, but I didn't see how old he was when he died.

Thanks,

JP:

Nobody knows exactly how old Solomon was when he began his reign. David called him "young and tender", though (1Chron. 29:1). So, in David's eyes at least, Solomon was very young.

Pastor John

Dear Pastor John:

We sent to our former AOG pastor a letter regarding our non-attendance in the future.

We then received a reply today which is reproduced below. We would very much appreciate your insight in this matter as to what, if anything, we should say in reply. This is a completely new experience for us. What he says is pretty predictable, unfortunately.

Dear D______ & K_____,

I cannot understand your decision not to attend our services as you seemed to be enjoying your time with us so much.

You say in your letter that you must do what God wants you to do but how can this be so when the word of God clearly tells us to gather together. Heb 10:24-25.

. . . .

I believe that you may be facing convictions in your lives that are hurtful but you don't want to face them at this time, please don't run as we can't hide from God!

. . . .

Please contact us so that we can talk this through.

Love in Christ

Pastor ________

Hi D_______ and K_______:

"Confessing Christ" is not simply a verbal event; it is putting into action the revealed will of God. What you are going through is called "confessing Christ", in the best sense of the term. When we, in a spirit of meekness, do the will of God without fear, we confess Christ before men, and he promised that if we do that, then he will also confess us before his Father.

Let me make certain that you understand the original meaning of the injunction found in Hebrews 10:24-25. The writer of Hebrews is telling God's people to be diligent to assemble together to encourage one another in spirit; he is not telling God's people to assemble with just anybody. And that is what Christianity causes God's people to do: assemble to worship God with both unbelievers and rebellious sons of God, as well as some sincere and clean-hearted saints. Christianity is an unholy mixture, and the writer of Hebrews would never have encouraged God's children to be a part of that kind of congregation. In order to understand the writer's words, "assemble yourselves together", we must first understand who the "yourselves" is.

It is not God's will for His people to worship together with those who do not, or cannot, worship as He commands (in spirit and in truth). Nor is it His will for His people to sit at the feet of teachers who have no anointing from Him. On the contrary, we are commanded to "Go from the presence of a foolish man, when thou perceivest not in him the words of knowledge" (Prov. 14:7). Our Father has warned us to "Cease to hear the instruction that causeth to err from the words of knowledge" (Prov. 19:27), and Christian teachers are full of such instruction. Christian teachers routinely cause God's children to sin. By their example, they persuade God's people to "remain in the congregation of the dead." (Prov. 21:16).

We have obeyed God's voice to "come out from among them" so that we can obey what the writer of Hebrews was really exhorting God's people to do; to wit, to gather together as a family for mutual edification without the interference of Christianity or any other of man's vain ideas.

The underlying error of Pastor ________'s appeal for your return to his church is his faith in a lie. Of all the lies Satan has ever conceived, that Christianity is God's family is Satan's most formidable and persuasive. Sadly, Pastor ________ believes that lie. I may not in reality possess such love and faith, D______, but I feel that I would be willing to surrender my life if I could only liberate God's children from the bondage of that hateful thought. That one lie holds my brothers and sisters fast within Christianity's white-washed walls. If they could only discover that Christianity is not the family of God, they could more easily hear the Spirit's voice and have the courage to forsake that abomination, to seek their Father, and to be united and blessed. Then, D_____, they could finally obey the injunction of Hebrews 10:24-25 and at long last "assemble together" according to the will of God and edify one another as they should.

Isn't Satan clever? First he persuade God's children to believe that Christianity is the family of God; then, his ministers misuse the very Scriptures that exhort them to assemble together, as instruments to make the saints feel obligated to stay within their denominations and stay divided, forever prevented by their divisions from being able to "assemble together"! If Satan worked for a human corporation, he'd get a promotion for his ingenuity and dedication to his task.

Pastor D________ is correct in saying that he does not understand what you have told him. And unless he, too, obeys God and comes out, he will never understand you. This understanding is not found anywhere inside Christianity; it is only found out here, outside the gate, with Jesus. Apparently, you told him once that the Lord was leading you to fellowship. I believe that is true, and I believe that is why you are continuing to listen to His voice. If you thought that by attending the worship services of one of Christianity's sects you would find that fellowship, that is perfectly understandable; it happens all the time in the lives of God's children. We all have thought that. But if you were following that holy Voice with a clear conscience and a pure heart, then is it any surprise that you discovered that the fellowship of Christ was not there? I can understand that; he cannot. I hope that he will.

I don't know what the "hurtful convictions" are that he is suggesting you are running from, but he is only guessing as to your motives. As he said, he doesn't understand what you are doing. There are folks here who have come out, and their old congregations, after a dozen years, are still guessing as to what made them so "angry" that they went away. "My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge." Oh, D_______, the most dangerous thing in this world is ignorance of the truth of God. If we don't know God, we don't know anything rightly.

It is a burden to be misunderstood. I have known saints (and experienced this myself), for whom others have wept with deep sorrow because Jesus baptized them with the holy Ghost, thinking that they had become entangled in some weird, hurtful cult. In 1981, there were some saints of God who wept publicly with deep sorrow for me when Jesus revealed the truth to me about "All Things" working together for our good. They just did not know God, Damien. What was I to do? Soften the tone of my message so that those who could not receive the truth could bear to hear me preach it? Not on your life! I was too happy and thankful to have heard from Jesus to do that. And don't you back up, either. It's full speed ahead, my brother. God will decide who catches up with you.

Stay willing to be wrong, and you will remain capable of learning. Stay open with Pastor D_____ and fear nothing. It is God you are serving and to whom you belong.

Your non-Christian servant in Christ,

John David Clark, Sr.

John,

When I read that email I thought of how cruel and hard Christianity is on God's people. As I was reading, I saw this picture of how Satan uses God's children (in Christianity) as a tool to lure God's little children into the trap. Saying or using any kind of tactic to keep you in. Christianity is mixed with good and bad. It's like you said in your email, "an unholy mixture" where clean hearted saints and rebellious children come together thinking that is the fellowship that the bible speaks of. When in reality, it is totally opposite. And someone being just a babe in Christ, seeing those good hearted people in Xty brings a stronger pull toward it. That's why xty always offers high positions for the doers because it needs to keep those types of people in its church.

Fellowship outside of the gate is clean and pure. It is only a holy mixture and nothing else! I don't know, reading the email just made me feel compassion on God's children. Made me want to be careful to not have any hardness of the like toward anybody especially God's people in xty. And wondering how many other of God's people are out there being told the same things.

If Pastor ________ only knew who was really hiding. I thought about someone who might be feeling to leave and not understand or see any truth. They would feel compelled to go back IN and face convictions they don't even have. phew! Thank God for the truth and that we have been blessed to see it! I love the clean fellowship we have in God. We shouldn't take it for granted. And at the same time, I am excited for D______ and his wife. Hope they keep it up!

Sister A.P.

Hey John,

Did the disciples do animal sacrifices when following Jesus? What about before following Jesus? Was the Old Covenant in effect or was it a transition period? If the Jews were still required to do works of the Law after Pentecost, did they still do the animal sacrifices?

Thanks,

Brent

Brent:

Yes, the disciples, being under the law with Jesus while he was here (Gal. 4:4), would have made animal sacrifices both before and after following Jesus, as would Jesus whenever the Law demanded it. Jesus and his disciples were obedient Jews. You will notice when you read in the gospels that it was Jesus's custom to meet with other Jews in the synagogue and that he obeyed the Law's commandment to travel to Jerusalem for the three major feats of Israel.

Even throughout the book of Acts, decades after the holy Ghost came, we see that the whole Jewish congregation, including the apostles, were very dedicated to the Law (Acts 21:20). There was, as you suggested, a transition period from a purely Jewish congregation (Acts 2-8) to a congregation in which biological history means nothing to God (today). Early in that transition period, the writer of hebrews described the Law as "decaying and waxing old" (8:13). Notice that these words imply a process. The Law did not end suddenly. The Jews' conscience could not have borne that. God is very tenderhearted, and He slowly made the transition from the congregation being within the nation of Israel only to the congregation being open to all people everywhere. Read my tract #27, "The Keys of the Kingdom", and you will understand how this transition began, according to the Scriptures. It was a beautiful, loving process.

Jews are no longer required to observe Moses's law in order to be converted to Christ any more than are the Gentiles. Only those Jews who were living during the time of John the baptist, Jesus, and the Jewish apostles who carried the "gospel for the circumcision" were required to keep the Law (Gal. 2:7; 5:3). And the Law required the worshipers of God to make sacrifices. Even the apostle Paul made sacrifice in Jerusalem when he visited his Jewish brothers. Read the story of Paul's last visit to the city of Jerusalem in Acts 21:17-26. Paul is acting in accordance with the commandments of God found in Moses's Law in that section of Scripture.

Brent, it is extraordinarily important for your faith that you understand that Paul's gospel was for uncircumcised people (Gentiles) differed from Peter's "gospel of the circumcised" (Jews). It seems as if almost no Christian minister has ever noticed that this was the case, and not knowing that, they confuse the two gospels to their own hurt and to the confusion of their listeners. Learn this well. You will use it many times in the future to help people.

Pastor John

I have two questions that I would like to ask.

1. If I finally leave my present �church� where would I be paying my tithe to? I also need to know more about tithing as I know that there is more to it than what I have been thought in Christianity.

I am excited and happy for you, that Jesus is opening your eyes to the truth. You are a very blessed man because of that. He is making you a fountain for other thirsty souls. Don't be afraid; be humble and thankful for this honor.

As for this particular question, it is not one that you should even be asking. Jesus will not give you an answer to such things now, even if you fast and pray forty days and nights. You will not be allowed to know "where to go" or "what to do" until AFTER you obey God and come out. This question is the kind of faithless question that Christians (Xn) ask whenever they hear God's voice. It is not the sort of question that Abraham would have asked. When Abraham heard the voice of God saying, "Go", he went, "not knowing where he was going." He also went, not knowing what he was going to do with his tithes. Unknown to him, God had a man waiting in Canaan to receive Abraham's tithes. His name was Melchizedek, and he was a "priest of the Most High God".

Trust God, Joseph, not what you can see now. You have heard His voice, Joseph. Now, move! Quickly! Don't play around with God. He will supply everything you need when you have obeyed His voice.

You are right in saying that there is more to tithing than what you have heard from Xn teachers. There is information on tithes and offerings in our tract #19, and in some of our Broadcasters that are not yet on line. I will try to get them to you. I mailed a small package today of two tapes containing the sermon you have recently heard about, "Richly All Things To Enjoy". Let me know when and if you receive them.

2. Nigeria has 36 states and I happen to reside in just one of the states. I have this feeling that I need to do something about it at list for those who might hear and receive mercy. What should I or we do?

Unless God sends you, do not go. Many have done that and displeased God greatly. Even in ancient Israel, God was grieved that some of His people were running around trying to save the lost without being sent by God to do so (Jer. 23). It requires great faith, Joseph, to stand still, to wait on Jesus to send you. The desire you have to reach people with the truth may be of the Spirit of God, or it may just be that over-religious spirit of Xty that makes everyone feel that he or she must "do something for God". Be still, and ask Jesus to make it plain as to what, if anything, he wants you to do. He is able to communicate plainly with us concerning our future.

A few years back, the Lord commanded me to "Neither expect nor desire any big thing. But make your work perfect." I am satisfied, then, with a small work, as long as it is perfectly pleasing to God. You will hear God's voice, too, brother, if He speaks to you. Stay ready.

Also, a friend in the office would like you to address the following issues:

1. How can I explain the Gift of the Holy Spirit in a gathering like ours? We have people of different opinion about the Spirit of Holy Ghost here in Africa.

You cannot explain the gift of the holy Spirit in a gathering such as yours. That is why Jesus is calling you out. Obey God and come out of Xty. If you do, you will never have to ask that question again.

2. When you people meet for fellowship, do you appoint some individuals to take songs, message etc just like the Christians do? Please describe to me in some practical terms.

No, we appoint nobody for any function. That is not how the Lord's Spirit works among his people. We do not decide anything beforehand, though we are prepared to do whatever the Lord wants done that day. It is insulting to the LIVING God for vain man to decide on his own before a gathering of the saints what he will say and do. We do not know before we meet whether or not there will be ANY singing, or any preaching, or even any praying, though usually we have some of all those things. We meet, Joseph, in order to meet with God, not in order to go through a ceremonial form in His honor. That brings Him no honor at all.

There are times when Jesus gives me a message for the body ahead of time, such as the recent one, the text of which you read yesterday. And he does so because I need time to prepare myself in study and prayer to deliver that message. Other times--most of the time in fact--when he gives me a message for the body, he gives me the message during the meeting that we are having. At other times, other people are anointed that day with some wisdom or exhortation for the body. And others may also have testimonies of what God has done for them, or TO them, recently. The part others may have is to ask questions. I love the meetings we have when someone has unresolved questions in his heart and asks the saints for an answer.

The way of the Spirit is a "new and living way", Brother Joseph. Xty offers us no godly example of how to serve the living God in this new way. It is dead, and always has been. It was never of God from its inception. Get out of it before it infects you more with its disease and kills you with death.

All along, people will ask me "What kind of services do you all have?" I can only ask them, "On which day?", because all our meetings are so unpredictable as to the forms they take, just as Jesus is unpredictable as to the form his love and power takes toward man. We have quiet meetings and at other times we have loud meetings. We have long meetings and short meetings. We have prayer meetings, singing meetings, preaching meetings, testimony meetings. We have different combinations of all those things. We always make ourselves available to the Lord for what HE wants. We do not meet and expect him merely to have to listen and to watch us perform a ceremony that we have been taught to do.

JDC

I spent the better part of my Saturday evening burning more books that I had in my library that are no longer relevant to my new faith in Christ Jesus. I had accumulated so much books (Christian and non-Christian) when I was running my Christian library. It reminds me of the record in Acts 19:17-20. Continue to be in prayers with me as I continue to destroy this temple that I had built thinking that I was working for my Saviour.

Be encouraged in the Lord and do the work God puts in your heart to do, J.O.E. Make your work perfect before the Lord. I sent you a box of books and tapes two days ago. I was told it would be there within 6-10 days. Let me know when it gets there. I can send more later.

Reading the book of the Acts (acts of the Holy Ghost through the Apostles) this morning (20/05/2001), I found in Acts 2:12-13; 3:11; 4:7; 7:1 incidents where as a result of one miracle or the other, the disciples were asked simple one line questions. In place of the one line answer they were supposed to give, they had to take the people back to in some history before answering their questions. Why do you think they do this?

God's servants have to do that because many times men do not quite understand the questions they themselves want to ask. This is because we often "feel" more questions than we understand how to ask. Very frequently, I have had to help people rephrase or restate their question so that they can understand the answer they really are seeking and that I am about to give them. This is not unusual. Before we attain to the knowledge of God, we "feel" questions more than we can express them. Paul said something in Acts 17 about men "feeling after" God like blind men.

I like the song that says, "I searched for him, and I knew not what I searched for. I longed for him, and I knew not what I longed for."

That is so true! When we are "hungering and thirsting for righteousness", we do not--we cannot--know what it is we are desiring to have from God. Haven't we often been surprised by God's answer to our prayers? God's knows what our heart's desire really is; we only think we do.

Only by God's mercy is any man able to ask a good question. Good questions are rare, and only a person with an enlightened heart can ask one. The questions that were asked of Jesus and his apostles were often questions that sprang out of ill will and ungodliness. For the sake of those who were listening, then, Jesus and his disciples had to clarify the question, or give a lot of background material along with the answer to make sure it could be understood.

My present pastor informed me today that he would like us to have another meeting. And because of his busy schedule, he suggested the 2nd Saturday in June, 2001. He asked if that is too far, but I told him that if I find the need to change that date, I would get back to him. And for sure I think that date is far. I realised the urgency of my getting out after reading JDC�s reply to my Friday�s email.

JDC, your email of Friday touched my soul so much that I could not attend the monthly night vigil (night prayer) we normally have. After reading your email on that Friday, I felt that going will be wasting of my precious night. I stayed behind, slept and woke up early to read.

I have been hearing these two words (tug and feeling) for a long time but I think that my poor English has been failing me. Would you like to tell me what they are?

It is critical that we not lose our feelings. Sin dulls the heart (our feelings), as does false doctrine. Many, many Christian teachers in this country tell people, "ignore your feelings", as if genuine faith is apart from our feelings. Such men are evil teachers. God has always used our feelings to guide us, to warn us, and to bless us. When God "tugs" at your heart, He is pulling on your feelings. Paul said that the kingdom of God is "righteousness, peace, and joy in the holy Ghost" (Rom 14:17). Two of those three things (joy and peace) are feelings! The other, righteousness, has to do with our WORKS, as John warned the body of Christ: "Little children, be not deceived. He that DOETH righteousness is righteous."

Keep your feelings, J.O.E. And beware the man who tells you to ignore them. Do good works, and beware the man who tells you that you will be saved in the end without them.

Pastor John

SP wrote:

We were reading the Broadcaster last night and Sammy had two questions.

1) Is everbody's heart wicked until God touches them?

Thanks.

SP:

The answer to your first question is yes. "The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked." (Jer. 17:9)

jdc

Hi, Pastor John!!

I know this may sound silly, but where is the best place in the Bible to read of the Law?? I have had trouble really understanding the scriptures while reading at home, but have been praying about it and it is getting better. We had a most wonderful meeting yesterday! God is blessing me more than I ever thought possible! And helping me love Him more that I thought I could. It's awesome!!

Love to all!

Sister Ruth

Hi Sister Ruth.

The Law of Moses basically refers to the instructions Moses gave to Israel, beginning at Mount Sinai and contiuing to his death in Deuteronomy 34. There are sections of the Law that are more readable than others, but the value of the whole is so great that mere sections cannot be picked out for beginners to read without leaving the wrong impression with them about the omitted parts. In 1978, when I first started teaching the Bible in the Community College system, I omitted sections of the Bible story for my class. Later, I learned that one chapter I omitted from my class's reading assignment contained one of the most imprtant events of the entire Old Testament! Now, I have my students read it all.

The harder to read parts, Sister Ruth, are mixed in with the parts more easily read. My suggestion, if you intend to read the Law, is to begin at Mount Sinai (Exodus 20) with the intention of reading it all, and if you come to a section that is too difficult for you, then skip over that section until you find the next easily place that you can more easily read and understand.

Take care, and thanks for writing.

AP wrote:

John,

I was looking up the word froward in the King James concordance because I wasn't exactly sure I knew what having a froward tongue was. I saw that there is a froward mouth or tongue, but also having a froward heart. Can someone have a froward mouth and not a froward heart? I know I have seen some with a froward tongue but I know that is not what they feel in their heart. So, their must be a difference? Thanks!

AP:

Jesus said, "Out of the abundance of the heart, the mouth speaketh." A froward tongue is always an indication of a spiritual problem in the heart. But this does NOT mean, as you suggested, that a person with a froward tongue necessarily has a "froward heart". However, it does mean that something is not perfect with that person's heart. What the problem is may differ with each person, but a froward tongue is always an indication of a problem.

The froward tongue is the doorway to many sins. Oh, that everybody would be careful to maintain an humble tone of voice when they speak to others. "The sweetness of the lips increases knowledge", as Solomon said. A froward tongue, on the other hand, makes a person blind and foolish.

You will learn much about the "froward tongue" and the danger it holds for young people from my sermon entitled "The Froward Tongue". You can send your request for that cassette tape to epittman@new-vista1.com

Pastor John

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