August 26, 2002

Pastor John,

I have a question. If a spouse threatens to commit adultery, is that the same as having committed adultery?

Thanks,

JB

Hi JB:

No, a threat is not the same as committing the act. Such foolish threats can be made while under great stress, or while angry, or for a number of other reasons, even when the person threatening to commit adultery doesn't really want to do it.

In the "Sermon on the Mount", Jesus said that desiring to commit adultery is the same as committing the act. But we cannot say that merely threatening to do so is the same thing.

Pastor John

August 15, 2002

Dear Mr. Clark,

I have only this evening found your WebSite, and am impressed by what I have read so far.

One question I would like to ask if I may......

You seem to have ' pulled the rug from under the feet ' of most Church members, so what I'm about to ask will probably sound like ChurchSpeak, but here goes anyway.

I had an encounter with Jesus when I was 18 years old.... I'm now 61. This happened when I was spoken to by a group of Christians in the Apostolic Church in Glasgow, Scotland. This church came into being after the Welsh Revival of 1904. I had an overwhelming conviction of my sinfulness, and after reading aloud Romans Ch. 10 V. 9 I had what I can only describe as an ecstatic experience which filled me with an immense feeling of Joy, originating in the solar plexus.

This wonder lasted for at least 10 years, but I was unable to deal with lustful thoughts in my mind either then or now. I was told to seek the 'Baptism in the Holy Ghost' but despite having hands laid on me on at least a dozen times in the last 40 years, I have never found freedom from 'sin' despite having sought this Baptism over a long period.

First of all, Ken, having someone to lay hands on you is not "seeking the holy Ghost baptism". Seeking the baptism of the Spirit is the process of repentance from sin that is a matter solely between you and Jesus. When you have satisfied him with your repentance, you will receive the baptism of the holy Ghost, with the evidence described in the Bible.

It is good that you felt conviction for sin when you were younger. That was the work of God, however; it was not something you did. He convicts, and then our part is to respond with desire for His holiness and with deeds that please Him. If that desire is real, then the desire for, or lust for, other things fades away. Every person who hungers and thirsts after righteousness "shall be filled" according to Jesus. You lost your hunger for God, if that was what you were really hungry for, and that is why you never received the Spirit.

My question is .... do many not receive because they are not pre-destined to receive the New Birth? Do many of us experience a counterfeit conversion ?

Since the baptism of the holy Ghost is conversion, you were never converted. Christianity offers to men a counterfeit to God's conversion, and Romans 10:9 is the Scripture often used by Christians in that phony "conversion" ceremony. But that ceremony is a gross misrepresentaion of what Paul meant when he wrote that Scripture.

Every person whose name was written in the Book of Life before the foundation of the world will at some point in this life receive the baptism of the holy Ghost and thereby become a member of the body of Christ.

I have ceased to seek any longer and now feel that annihilation will be just as welcome, as then at least it will be over for us. However if some of us are destined to go on anyway, in an inglorious way then so be it.

You are wrong. It will not "be over". Death will be for you and people like you just the beginning of an eternity of suffering. Read my tract # 10, "The Second Death", and you might not feel so glib about what is coming for sinners.

The 1904 Welsh revival was accompanied by strange lights in the sky and also lights settling over church roofs and steeples, and within the precincts of Egryn Abbey when Mary Jones spoke. It may well have been UFO- based, in which case the Apostolic Church could have been deceived. It believed in ' new Apostles ' having been ordained in its setup.

Apostolics believe some foolish things, along with some true ones. But that shouldn't concern you. Your undivided attention should be focused on preparing to meet God.

Having read your Article on the New Birth, it would appear that without the Baptism and ' speaking in Tongues ' we are not a new creature. Is that correct?

Yes. That is correct.

So what can any of ' us ' do, if anything ?

Repent.

Please do not be afraid to speak frankly as I am very much hardened to bad News. On seeing the tremendous amount of injustice perpetrated by both Man and the Elements on poor dumb (?) creatures and cataclysmic events in the Universe.. eg. the colliding of Galaxies. I would very much doubt, now that I am much older, and wiser, if there is such a thing as a ' Gospel'!

Yours ever,

Ken C.

Over the decades, your mind has wandered far from God and a real search for truth. You would do well to turn from your enormous pride and humble yourself before Jesus before you die. Please do this, Ken. You do not want to die in the condition you are in now.

Pastor John

PS

By the way, Ken, to use the preposition "in" in the phrase "baptism in the holy Spirit" is popular but incorrect. We are baptized into Christ by (or "with") the holy Ghost, much as John the Baptist baptized by (or "with") water. We couldn't be baptized "in" the holy Ghost unless we were already in it and received the baptism while there.

August 15, 2002

Dear pastor John,

This morning we finished our bible reading/study on the book of 1Peter. Good verses showing us the duties of an elder and how good submission of elders to younger ones and younger ones gives strength to God's people. Also in verse 2 we saw that any man from God feeds the flock by example/experiences in Jesus and not by constraint, filthy lucre or lording over them.

Verses 6 and 7 were most exciting and revealing. Though we have been reading these verses as Christians for a long time especially verse 7. This is verses

6 Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time:
7 Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.

While in Christianity, they have been using verse 7 to speak on the care of God in terms of prosperity. This morning, the Spirit of God taught us something in addition. We understand first that verses 6 and 7 should not be taken as separate sentences; they both should be read together. We understood fully that God was telling His people that for them to be obedient and humble to Him (verse 6), they need to "Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you." (verse 7).

Having said the above, I have one or two questions to ask:

1. Who in the true sense of the word is an elder?

An elder is an experienced brother or sister in Christ who has been tested and approved by the holy Ghost to guide your heart into spiritual wisdom, righteousness, peace, and joy.

2. What is filthy lucre as in verse 2?

It is money.

3. Does "when the chief Shepherd shall appear" in verse 4 mean when Jesus shall return again?

Yes.

4. Does "ELECTED together with you" in verse 13 talk about God's election (separation) rather than Christian election of it's ministers.

Paul knew of no such thing as voting on and electing ministers. Christianity invented that way of securing its pastors, so that Christians could control what that pastor taught. The hiring and firing of ministers is one of the things that makes Christianity an abomination to God.

August 14, 2002

Dear pastor John,

There are some things that I have heard you teach and without fully understanding them or having a personal experience, I believed them. One of such things was what Jesus showed us in our bible study on Sunday morning. We were continuing our reading of the bible book of 1 Peter 3. When we got to verses 20 and 21, it was difficult for us to really comprehend what it was saying in our King James version (KJV). Here are the wordings:

20 Which sometime were disobedient, when once the longsuffering of God waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was a preparing, wherein few, that is, eight souls were saved by water.
21 The like figure whereunto even baptism doth also now save us (not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God,) by the resurrection of Jesus Christ:

So we looked at the references, other version of the bible, considered how Noah's generation was destroyed by water, the part that the ark played, it became CLEAR to us that those verses were revealing a truth.

That truth is that the Holy Spirit baptism is NOW the ark. Amen. That is the truth. That truth is simple.

That makes the message of Christ simple. That shows us that Christianity is wrong in their teachings and doctrines. That simple truth saying "get the Holy Ghost baptism or be drown by the 'water'." Apart from the baptism with the holy Spirit and godly living, nothing else is safety.

Pastor John, I cannot describe the joy that this brought to myself and brother Frank. It kept us happy all that Sunday. In fact, we had a beautiful service. We have been taught something that has been hidden from us for years by Jesus! The gospel of Jesus is simple, get what I died for and remain in It! That is safety!

Thank you once again pastor John for leading us in the truth though far physically from us.

J O E
Lagos, Nigeria.

JOE:

Jesus said that where two or three were gathered together in his name, he would be there in the midst of them. You and Frank make two, and if there was anyone else there with you, that is good but not necessary.

It is exciting to hear from Jesus isn't it? That is the word of God to you! It gives life and peace. It is true and good, and it will heal the souls who hear and love it.

Keep listening. Jesus has more to tell us.

August 4, 2002

Hey Pastor John

I have some of those nit-picky questions that accumulate over time.

First, in Acts 3:19," Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord;"

When are the times of refreshing, is it a future event or is it a reference to the time when a person's sins are blotted out at conversion?

"Times of refreshing" refers to receiving the holy Ghost, according to Isaiah 28:11-12.

Second, why do the 24 elders sing in Rev 5:9-10, "And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation; And hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth."

These words seem to apply to humans and not to beings already present in heaven. Or are they singing in our place in anticipation of Jesus' return and the accompanying salvation of the faithful saints?

I assume the 24 elders are humans redeemed by God from the earth. Exactly who they are, whether men from the first covenant era or from another time, I cannot say, in the absence of greater evidence.

Lastly, listening to the Leviticus tapes I noticed Lev 23:3, "the seventh day is the Sabbath of rest, an holy convocation."

Being a former Sabbath keeper, I am surprised I had not thought of this before. I have heard you say that God did not ordain worship for the Sabbath day which is true but what is a holy convocation and what would it have been used for?

You are right to notice a difference in purposes for certain Sabbath days. If you pay close attention not only to the Sabbath days but to the Sabbath years, you will possibly be able to attribute to the different Sabbaths several different purposes. I should have made it clear in the Old Testament class that the weekly Sabbath day was the Sabbath that was never intended by God to be a day of worship.

The idea that God set apart one day a week for worship is an idea that springs from the superstition of early Christianity and is a distortion of the way God set forth in Moses's Law.

Also in your hand out sheet containing a list of things not allowed on the Sabbath day, you included "abiding in your own place" from Ex 16. I believe this statement must be taken in connection with the collection of the manna and the performing of servile work and not as a rule unto itself to stay at home. After all, Jesus himself walked through the corn field on the Sabbath day amongst other things that are recorded.

You are right, and if you will notice on my hand-out containing that list of prohibitions, I have a footnote that says exactly what you have pointed out; to wit, that this specific prohibition may have applied only to the time Israel spent in the wilderness gathering manna.

The elders of Israel, by the way, did later add to Moses's Law a prohibition of walking more than a certain distance on the Sabbath days. Adding (or taking from) Moses's Law was a principal factor in Israel's failure to recognize Jesus for who he was--the Savior sent from God.

Thanks for the "nit-picky questions". There is much to learn, and without good questions, good answers are hard to come by.

jdc

August 2, 2002

Dear Pastor John,

Yesterday, brother J. O. E. (odinikpo) brought home some of your online articles from the Broadcaster section of your website. I just read one of the articles "Yahweh: god of the Christians". After reading the illustration there, I fond myself saying yes and no at the same time. To find out the cause of it, I had to take careful look at this very Yahweh: god of the Christians again.

I now recalled that I had once been taught by a Christian pastor that that name Yahweh was from an Hebrew letter that appears to be YHWH written even in the bible. So to make these letters to be pronounceable, they now added some vowels to it which are letters a and e. Now pastor John, does it mean that YHWH is supposed to be written like this JHVH and does it mean also that this name Jehovah was not clearly stated right from time? as you can see, pastor John, I need more comments on this very issue.

Thanks for your reply.

Bro. Frank

Brother Frank:

I am glad you read and responded to my article on the name Yahweh.

In your response, I noticed this sentence of yours:

" . . . that name Yahweh was from an Hebrew letter that appears to be YHWH written even in the bible. So to make these letters to be pronounceable, they now added some vowels to it which are letters a and e."

My question to you is, who is the "they" to whom you refer in that sentence? And on what basis did "they" insert those particular vowels? Was it heavenly revelation? Or was it simply a guess?

According to the theory that gave birth to then name Yahweh, no one knows what vowels belong to the tetragrammaton. Then, if no one knows, why change from Jehovah, a word "they" claim was invented by men, to Yahweh, a name obviously invented by men? In all this, I can see no logical reason for abandoning the name Jehovah for the name Yahweh. Do you?

Pastor John

August 2, 2002

Greetings Pastor JDC,

Before my meeting your ministry and subsequent belief in your teachings about Jesus Christ and His believers, Jehovah Witnesses had talked to me on their views about Jesus teachings, the Bible and Christianity. While I will say there is similarity in the belief about what Christianity means in today's world, there is sharp difference in the area of Baptism of Holy Ghost.

JDC, I would like you to tell me more about what you know about this sect and what we at Isaiah58 share in common (if there is any) and difference (which I believe exists).

Thank you.

Ladioloyede

Ladioloyede:

Thank you for writing. I hope you and yours are well and happy in Jesus.

I have studied the Jehovah Witness teaching very little, as I have never studied many of the strange sects that exist. I have been told that agents in the federal government who specialize in counterfeit money are trained to spot forgeries by knowing well what genuine money looks like. If you know the real thing well enough, then all else is obviously not real. Concentrate on knowing the truth and knowing it well. Be committed to it, rooted and grounded in the right ways of God in Christ Jesus. After that, you will see clearly what is similar or dissimilar with everything else you have ever heard or ever will hear.

To say that there is a sharp difference between what I teach and what the Jehovah Witnesses teach is to say that they do not believe the gospel at all. Everyone who is without the holy Ghost baptism is not of God (Rom. 8). Forget the Jehovah Witness religion and concentrate on Jesus. Leave it all behind and get to know Jesus. He knows everything you need to hear.

jdc

Pastor John,

Thank you for your prompt response. It is short but very clear and straight answer to my question.

Once more, thank you for been there whenever we require clarification like this.

Our Lord Jesus Christ will continue to strenghten you for us.

Ladi Oloyede

One viewer's comments concerning the email above are as follows:

Amen, Bro. John!

This reminds me of what I was reading in your father's tract "Life, More Abundantly" today. Some of his wonderful words from that tract:

Doctrine is good, if it is true. But true doctrine always turns men's eyes to God and His power, not to men and their words. Synthetic theology can never rouse the hearts of God's people. Only the power of God can do that. The power of God, which brings us the abundant life, has nothing to do with knowledge. That power makes its connection with our wills and affections. (From "Life, More Abundantly")

Amen! When, in 1989, that power made its connection with my will and my affection, I stopped looking and I stopped comparing. I started living - - the abundant life!! Praise God!! Thank you, Jesus, that you are real!! You have made me happy and content with you!

"The common people heard him gladly" Mark 12:37

Sandy :)

August 1, 2002

I have read your tract, The True Sabbath", yet there appears to not be an actual answer to the topic at hand. So, I ask you now, which day of the week is the true Sabbath of the NT?? I am confused.

Thank you, Bob B.

Bob:

There are no holy days in the New Covenant, only holy people. When the time comes for me to reprint the article we have on the true sabbath, I will try to make it clear that Jesus instituted no holy days and that Paul warned God's people not to believe that any day was above another.

Thanks for the comment.

jdc

July 25, 2002

Dear John, Have you read the teachings of Martin Luther and do you believe his teachings to be the truth?

Thanks,

John S

Hi JS:

Thanks for writing.

I have read several of the things Martin Luther is said to have written, in addition to studying the history of his time and a couple of his biographies, but it has been some years ago since I have done so. He certainly saw the foolishness of some of the absurd ritual and gross covetousness of the Catholic clergy of his day. Of course, he did not intend to leave the Catholic religion in the beginning; he merely desired that his Catholic superiors should reform and renounce some of their worst errors.

In summary of his teachings contra Catholic Xty, Martin Luther purportedly made a famous statement at one of his trials to the effect that salvation is accomplished "by faith alone". I do not believe that is true, at least as it is understood and taught today by Christians. It certainly is not Biblical. If you listen to my teaching series on "What Must I Do To Be Saved?", then you will understand why it is wrong to think that salvation is "by faith alone" (or by anything else "alone"). Salvation is not even by Jesus "alone", because that leaves out the Father.

If you had any other particular issue in mind concerning Martin Luther please feel free to tell me.

Yours,

Pastor John

July 24, 2002

John:

You often refer to God's children's obedience to the Lord having an effect on sinners' conscience, but what is the word you normally use in that phrase?

Wendell

Wendell:

I believe that the word you are looking for is "commend". Paul spoke of it in 2Corinthians 4:2. There, he said that when the saints manifest the truth (by what we say or by what we do), we "commend" ourselves to every man's conscience in the sight of God.

jdc

July 22, 2002

John:

What a glorious meeting yesterday!!!!

Question: Is this a Home-Made Scriptures?

As you were speaking about obedience to the Spirit which would sear men's conscience, a question came to mind. The question involved a homemade scripture I picked up somewhere. It goes like this: "[Paul said] I served God with a ('clear pure') conscience all my life." I glanced in the concordance last night and I failed to find an exact corresponding scripture.

The above scripture couldn't be true if Steven was full of the Holy Ghost and Paul was there at his death? Wouldn't Paul's conscience have been seared? I have tried to remember when I have used that scripture, and I am certain that I probably have done so, but I can't remember the exact instances.

Please let me know if I am missing something.

Thanks:

Wendell S

Wendell:

I am not sure what you mean by "seared", but there are a few Scriptures that make it obvious that, from his youth, Paul was determined to serve the God of Israel with a clear conscience. He was brought up at the feet of Gamaliel,one of Israel's greatest Rabbis at the time. In a letter to Timothy and when giving a testimony in Acts, Paul spoke of his devotion to Israel's God.

First, 2Tim.1:3: "I thank God, whom I serve from my forefathers with pure conscience. . . . "

And the other is Acts 23:1: "I have lived in all good conscience before God until this day.".

In Acts 26:4, Paul speaks of his upright life as a young person.

Also, in Galatians (1:14), Paul tells the saints that he exceeded many of his own generation in his great zeal for God. The words Paul used to describe his heart before being called by Jesus were "pure" and "good" instead of "clear", but the meaning doesn't change. I suspect that Stephen's conduct when he was being stoned to death had a hand in convicting Paul's otherwise "good" conscience.

I myself have often said that Paul told Timothy that he had "served God with a clear conscience from a youth up". And he did say that, but not exactly in those words. By the way, the precise phrase, "from a youth up", actually was used by the rich young ruler when speaking with Jesus (Mt. 19:20; Mk. 10:20), but I believe that Paul could have used that phrase to describe himself and his life-long efforts to do the will of God, as well as this young man.

Thanks for pointing out the absence of the phrase that I have used in the past as if it were in the Bible that way. It is always helpful to be reminded of what is really there and what is not.

jdc

July 16, 2002

Dear John and family,

This morning has been rich and full of God's love. After I rose early from sleep, I was compelled to take time to pray through some troubling things on my heart. A nice quiet Sunday morning, in my "closet"; my wife and daughter still asleep for awhile. I was led to read many psalms that I hadn't read in awhile. They all seemed to speak to the way of receiving THE blessing. e.g.:Ps 24:4; 25:14; 32:1,2; 34:11,12,13,14; 37:4,5,7; 51:10,17!; 119-(all); then I came upon 19:12,13,14, which greatly moved me. . . . . (I also re-read your father's tract about the "besetting sin") It's confounding!

Even still, I had great fellowship with God, as He led me from one Psalm to the next, convicting me deeper, bringing forth confessions, tears, supplications for deliverance, and ultimately comfort, with new understanding. At one point, I was so full of the love of God with His revelations that I got up to close the window, in case I started shouting and/or speaking in tongues. I thought I was getting closer to getting the holy ghost, and I wish I'd been in a meeting with all you folks, getting prayed for and supported, instead of trying to stay quiet in my spare room and not disturb my family and the neighbors if the holy ghost were to have fallen on me!

Nevertheless, it felt so GOOD to spend time with God! Before breakfast, before letting the cats in to be fed, before my morning exercises. Just to let God lead me, teach me and give up my agenda! Whew! What a blessing!

Then I continued to read through some of ACTS, then back to the gospel of LUKE, where one point confused me. In LUKE 1, when John is born to Elizabeth, the Bible says that his father, Zacharias, who had been temporarily mute, began to speak and praise God after he named his son John.

Verse 67 says that he was filled with the Holy Ghost,----and he prophesied. But after all you've taught, John, about the apostles not recieving the holy ghost, (because Jesus hadn't died to send it back yet) nor anyone receiving the holy ghost until Pentecost, how could THE Holy Ghost be inZacharias at that previous time?

Please answer at your convenience. Have a great day. Please pray for me, because I am feeling closer all the time!

Brad

Brad:

Man, you sound just like somebody who is about to receive the holy Ghost! Just let us know when it happens.

As for your question, we know that the holy Ghost was given to nobody before the day of Pentecost in Acts 2. John 7:39 makes that clear enough. But the holy Ghost did "come upon" all of God's servants in the Old Testament. Sometimes, that "coming upon" is called something like "being in" or "filled with", but that is all there is to it. I, too, have noticed such phrases are used in the Old Testament time before the Spirit was actually given (Micah 3:8 is one of the most notable), but sometimes we have to use the knowledge that God gives us in one area to get a balanced picture of another area.

This next comment has nothing to do with you, Brad, but this discussion brings it to mind. I believe that God has put some Scriptures in the Bible just to confuse those who want an excuse not to believe the truth. If what a person wants is a red herring, God has laid plenty of them across the right path. As Isaiah once said, "Verily, thou art a God that hidest thyself, O God of Israel, the Savior." Even so, Jesus said, "Seek and ye shall find." Amen!

Keep following the right scent, Brad. It leads home.

Pastor John

July 7, 2002

Pastor John,

Before I came to the knowledge of the Truth, I prayed one night to Jesus, recalling every sin I could remember committing and asking him to forgive me. I was crying and shaking while I pleaded with Jesus to have mercy on me. All of a sudden, a peacefulness came all over me and I felt like Jesus was there and answered my prayer. I was certain that he had forgiven me for all my sins.

My question is this: were my sins forgiven then, yet still on record to be blotted out when Jesus baptized me with the holy Ghost?

Another question: in the Old Testament, when a person repented and then was baptized by John, were his sins forgiven? If so, were they still on record, not yet blotted out because Jesus' sacrifice had not yet been accepted by the Father?

Mark

Mark:

Thanks for the questions.

In Proverbs, Solomon said that the man who would receive mercy from God is the man who would both confess and forsake his sins. In the OT, then, sins were forgiven if the sinner both confessed and repented from (ceased from) his sin, AND if the appropriate sacrifice(s) were offered. Still, as you know, Jesus had to come and offer himself to God in order for those sins to be "blotted out" or "washed away". God forgave sins in the OT, but only the blood of Christ could blot out those forgiven sins from God's book.

In this NT that Jesus has brought about by his self-sacrifice, there is no forgiveness of sin apart from his blood--which is applied to our hearts when we are redeemed by Christ (Col. 1:14). And, as you know, we are redeemed to God when we are baptized into the family of God by the holy Ghost. We are redeemed by the incorruptible blood of Christ (1Pet. 1:18; Rev. 5:9), which is the holy Ghost (see my tract titled, "The Blood of Christ").

Of course, if after we are first forgiven and washed from sins, we stumble in our walk with God and transgress, we must be, and can be, forgiven and washed again. In the books of the NT, there are many references to this type of being forgiven. Our first forgiveness and washing from sin, however, is special, and is called the baptism of the holy Ghost. This is what is called being "born again", and it can happen only once in a person's life. Forgiveness for errors made after being born again is simply being renewed and refreshed in the cleanliness and holiness of God, and thereby restored to fellowship with the Father and the Son.

So, no, your sins were not forgiven the night you experienced that wonderful, encouraging blessing from God. You did not at that time receive the holy Ghost baptism, God's witness that He has forgiven and washed a person from sin. I wish everybody in the world could feel the conviction you felt that night, and have such an experience as Jesus gave you, but as precious an experience as it clearly was, it was not the experience of being forgiven for your sins. That came the day Jesus filled you with the holy Spirit and you began to speak in tongues "as the Spirit gave the utterance" (Acts 2:1-4).

Pastor John

July 3, 2002

John:

I have a couple of questions from reading Revelation. In these verses, after "the great city Babylon" is destroyed:

[20] Rejoice over her, thou heaven, and ye holy apostles and prophets; for God hath avenged you on her.
[21] And a mighty angel took up a stone like a great millstone, and cast it into the sea, saying, Thus with violence shall that great city Babylon be thrown down, and shall be found no more at all.
[22] And the voice of harpers, and musicians, and of pipers, and trumpeters, shall be heard no more at all in thee; and no craftsman, of whatsoever craft he be, shall be found any more in thee; and the sound of a millstone shall be heard no more at all in thee;
[23] And the light of a candle shall shine no more at all in thee; and the voice of the bridegroom and of the bride shall be heard no more at all in thee: for thy merchants were the great men of the earth; for by thy sorceries were all nations deceived.
[24] And in her was found the blood of prophets, and of saints, and of all that were slain upon the earth.

What does verse 22 and 23 mean? In Christianity (Xty), what is the "sound of a millstone" and "light of a candle", and how can "the voice of the bridegroom and of the bride" be heard there today? Is this referring to God's people with the holy Ghost who have been deceived and are innocently captured in Babylon (Xty)?

Thank you for your answer.

Sandy

Sandy:

The "voice of the Bridegroom and the Bride" clearly refers to Jesus and his saints who were deceived by Christianity but who then obeyed his voice and came out. The fact that Jesus still speaks through some and still uses some who are in Christianity confuses those who do not understand God's tender mercy and patience. (In John 12, God prophesied through Caiaphas even as he was in the act of scheming to kill God's Son!) But there is coming a day in which the voice of the Bridegroom will no more come to anyone inside Christianity's white-washed walls because all who truly love Jesus will have come out, and the rest God will have rejected. What a happy day that will be! And that is why the angel cried out, "Rejoice over her, thou heaven, and ye holy apostles and prophets!"

The "light of a candle" in verse 23 refers to the body of Christ, the place where the Spirit dwells. Jesus walked in the midst of the seven golden candlesticks in Revelation, Chapter one. Then we are told that the candlesticks represent the congregations of Asia [Minor]. One day the wise and faithful among the "Bride" are going to forsake Christianity and finally be made one by the power and love of God.

Babylon's "sorceries" are Christian doctrines that have poisoned the hearts of men against Christ for centuries, confusing and dividing God's own children who drank the spirits of the doctrines of Christian ministers.

Those musicians and workmen mentioned in verse 22 could refer to God's children who now are in the captivity of Christianity and who labor for that religion, "thinking to do God a service". God's children, being the sincerest of all people, are willing to give the most and do the most for Jesus. The great tragedy is that they have been deceived into thinking that giving to and working for the religion of Christianity is working for Jesus. In reality, by doing so, they are being used by Satan for his glory, not Christ's. They are, as Peter prophesied God's children would become, mere "merchandise" (2Pet. 2:1) for the use and the glory of deceived men.

Since the Beast will completely ruin Christianity, the great Whore, those mentioned in verse 22 could also refer to all people, whether born again or not, who refused to heed God's warning to come out of the religion of Christianity before His wrath fell upon her (Rev. 18:4).

How thankful I am that Jesus allowed me to hear his voice and to come out of Christianity, Sandy! It is a precious gift to understand what God was saying when He cried to all His children, "Come out of her My people!" Thanks for the question.

Your non-Christian servant in Jesus Christ:

jdc

July 2, 2002

I am a christian and i do not believe there is anything wrong with saying that. I came across your website while looking for some teaching for children. This really does not make sense to me. The bible is very important to me and should be to any that is born again. The holy ghost leads and guids us into all truth if we will listen. The most important teaching is to tell people about Jesus Christ and him crucified. Then tell them to go to church and read their bible. I really can't believe what you are trying to teach. This is taking the focus off of Jesus and putting it on a person that believes they have some new revelation from God.

But taking the focus off of where it needs to be leads to this kind of stuff doesn't it. I hope and pray this will stop.

Samantha:

I understand how your feel, but you would be wise to talk to Jesus about this issue before saying much else. He is the one who called me and many others out of Christianity, the great Whore that has divided and confused God's children from its inception.

Without God's help, Samantha, what men hold dear often destroys them because men do not know good from evil. As Jesus himself said, "That which is highly esteemed among men is abomination with God."

jdc

June 20, 2002

Hey Pastor John:

Is it your normal practice is to tithe on gifts? When you are given money, it is easy to tithe but when it is something else, it is not so obvious. We would welcome any clarification or understanding you can give us about this.

Damien

Damien:

The commandment of God was to tithe on our "increase". I understand that friendly little gifts that one may occasionally receive are inconsequential, vis-a-vis rendering tithes on them, but would not substantial gifts such as a car be an "increase"?

There is no love of God in this world, Damien. The love of God is "spread abroad in our hearts by the holy Ghost, which He has given to us." In practical terms, that means that there is no such thing as receiving a "free gift" from any person who is without the Spirit. (How many "free gifts" have you been offered by businesses that are actually after your money?) The flesh always has an ulterior motive for giving a gift, even if the person giving the gift does not realize it. It is in the flesh. It is man's nature to expect tit for tat. I see God's commandment to render tithes on all our increase as a means of protecting us from falling into the trap of feeling obligated to a sinner because of all that he has either done for us or given to us.

Satan knows that God's children are very tenderhearted. He knows that if he can do them enough favors (performed by friendly people whom he controls), then they will feel obligated to yield to his suggestions (as presented by those same friendly men and women). Fishermen disguise their hooks with attractive bait. There is a hook in every gift from an unsanctified heart. Every gift that comes from a carnally minded person is a Trojan horse. Unfortunately, many of God's own children are carnally minded, and so we must also be on guard when they offer their gifts. The Lord has led me to reject money offered from at least a dozen people, mostly born again people, over the past few years because their lives were so much out of order. Some were immoral; some were given to self-willed spirits; etc. God is no beggar, and no minister who begs for money is of God. Jesus never "took up a collection", as the saying goes.

We are not allowed to make a doctrine out of this wisdom concerning gifts because there may be circumstances in which God will permit us to receive a gift even from a fool; He is in charge of our decisions, not us. But still, this is a wisdom we should embrace and use as a guide. No wise man allows the ungodly to do him many favors. I have learned better than to allow a carnally minded person to buy his way into a position of influence over the saints that meet in my house. Jesus would grind me to powder if I were covetous like that. That is the spirit of Xty and its ministers, pleading for and grasping for all the money anyone will give, and so, eventually overcome by the influence of those who have paid the price for it.

A few years back, there was a very rich man who came to our meetings for a while, and even humbled himself in the beginning and received the baptism of the holy Ghost (though later he would become ashamed of it). He was very proud of himself, probably the proudest man that I have ever known, and he had purchased friends and influence everywhere in our small town. He had purchased respect and position among several Xn and public organizations (the Presbyterian Church, the Salvation Army, the Chamber of Commerce, the Hospital Board, etc.) But in time, when he began to realize that he could not buy influence over the saints here, either with his money or his reputation, he hardened his heart and began to drift away from the love of Jesus.

This man was one of those fools who thinks he makes too much money to tithe on it, and he never obeyed God by doing so. But he would write out an occasional small check and would allow his godly wife also to bring a check for a few hundred dollars or so every month. I used to say that the money he brought to me meant about as much to God as it did to him, which was nothing. In fact, I wanted to refuse even the paltry amount he did bring, but the Lord loved that man and would not allow me to refuse his money for a long time, a couple of years or more if I remember rightly. The man was, according to the world, a sharp, highly intelligent business man. That same man was, according to the Spirit, a frail, semi-retarded child of God who needed help.

Now, Damien, there were several times when I could have used some help (not financial, but technical, or on construction matters, or even good legal advice) that this man was well able to give, or at least able to tell me the best place to go to get the help I needed, but Jesus would not allow me to ask him for anything. For that rich man's sake, whom Jesus loved, I could not ask for his advice. He already saw himself as the hero of half the town; he already had many Xn leaders and political officials looking to him for his aid and guidance. The Lord would not permit us to become another one of them. Jesus would not allow me to put him into the position of being our benefactor, too. It would not have been good for him. So, I took the hard road on several occasions because Jesus did not want me to make that rich man even prouder of himself than he already was. The love of God for him would not put him in a position of seeing himself as the savior of another group of people. For me to have asked for and then receive a gift in any form from him, whether in the form of money or technical assistance, would have been to sin against Christ by casting a stumbling block before one of God's dear children.

By not putting the rich man in a position of helping us, Jesus was telling him, "I love you, but I don't need you; you need me!" Jesus was giving that rich brother every opportunity to surrender to God's love and care; instead, he chose to preserve his public persona instead. It was so sad to watch!

After this man was forced to admit to himself that he would never be able to buy his way into a position of influence over the saints here (there are no "positions" to be had in my house), and after he had drifted back into sin, his very intimidated wife meekly asked him one day while they were alone at home if he would talk to her about it. After much angry rambling, he finally burst out with the truth. He bitterly told her he would never give his money to any place where he had no control over how it was spent. The truth came out at last, when the light of his wife's sincere questions was shined on him.

You see, Damien, he understood that in this world, money is control (and gifts are another form of money). He knew how to play the game. What he never understood is that God's kingdom is not of this world. God's ways are not our ways, and His thoughts are not our thoughts. Through covetousness and pride, this rich brother failed to understand that his tithes and offerings are not "his money" and that as long as he had control over that money, he had not given it to God.

This is the wickedness of the Xn way of tithing. Xty exhorts men to give money to a religious organization of which the givers are a part. But if you bring your tithes and offerings to an organization of which you are a part, you have not brought them to God at all; you have merely given them to yourself. And that is why, with the saints that meet at my house, God's people bring their tithes to me, as the servant of Jesus for them, and not to an organization in which they have voting rights. The saints here have absolutely no control over what I do with the tithes and offerings that are brought to me, and it would be sinful if they did.

I ask constantly for advice from the saints here concerning many things, often including how to best use the money that they bring to Jesus. I am thankful that in the congregation here I have some prudent money managers whose judgment I can trust. But both they and I understand that when we are talking about God's money, we are talking about money over which they have surrendered all control because they have brought it to the Lord, not to their own institution. In 1992, Jesus ordained me to receive tithes and offerings to his people, and when he did so, he said, "Every dime that comes into this work is for you and your children." Only in the past year or so have I begun to understand fully what those words meant.

With all these things, I have wandered a bit from your question, Damien, but I think that all this is related. By way of summation to your specific question, I say that escaping the feeling of obligation to a manipulative, ungodly man or woman is a prime benefit of rendering tithes to God on all substantial gifts. If a gift offered to you is so large that you are unable to render tithes to God on it, then it is too large for your faith, and Jesus is merely trying your heart. Turn it down and trust God. Otherwise, receive the gift if you want it, praise the Lord that it was given to you, and don't forget to render your tithes and thanksgiving offerings to God.

In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths."

jdc

June 16, 2002

Pastor John

Hi, my name's nick and I'm 18 years old. A while back I was becoming enlightened by the holy ghost and the spirit of God was moving me in every deed and thought. It was all because I made decision to let christ guide my life because I wanted to help some people out who I knew needed help. Somewhere along the line though, I turned from this enlightenment, and now I feel like I'm in eternal darkness, and my days are coming to an end because I turned from christ after receiving his light and the knowledge of him in me and his beautiful truths. I was righteous for a short while but now seem wicked again and I don't know if there's any way back.

I mean, I read the scriptures now (whereas during that time period I didn't really read the bible....I just tried to improve myself and become one with God....until I decided to start living for myself again and I didn't accept God's gift of salvation)....but all the scriptures I see are the ones that say that I am not of God or I wouldn't sin like I do now...ever since I turned away...I was so close to the perfection that God wants us all to come to through his son but I didn't have faith when I should have and I became an unbeliever...I think I'm the worst of the worst or something...a devil instead of a child of god.....is there no return to righteousness? Is there no way that I can bring my soul back to life? It seems like my soul is dead AGAIN...and I don't think there's any way to bring it back because God's grace was bringing it to life but now it's dead again and my mind feels like it's decaying or something.....Is there no way to reverse this process of death a second time? Does God not forgive those like me?

Nick:

First of all, Nick, you need to stop congratulating yourself on how righteous you used to be. It never happened. You yourself admit that during that "righteous" time of your life you " just tried to improve myself and become one with God". You never were right with God, so forget about being a "devil" or being unforgivable. In spite of what your flesh would have you to think, you never were that great in sin.

Once you have admitted to yourself that you are not an extraordinary sinner but just a common sinner like the rest of mankind, then you can stop pitying yourself for having fallen from such a lofty height and really get right with God. He is waiting for you to do that, with mercy enough to cover every sin you have ever committed, including the sin of pride, the kind of pride that puffs up men to believe that they are such powerful sinners that even God can't cleanse them.

So, get over yourself, Nick. It isn't about you and your astonishing sinfulness; it is about Jesus and his wonderful power to save.

Jesus loves you with all his heart, and he wants you to be happy and holy. When you become willing to be healed and turn to him with all of your heart, he will bless you with the Spirit that washes away all sin.

Pastor John

June 11, 2002

Do you call yourself by a name? if not Christian? What is the name of the church that you go? Pentecostal? Confused but open minded. I purchased a picture bible to read to our children not to long ago and found the name Yahweh in it. I didn't know whether it was right or wrong (this children's bible is indorsed by Christian musicians) but it made me feel uncomfortable and I inked each reference out. Otherwise the bible goes according to the KJV, they just added this extra name here and there. Do you also feel that there is a certain bible that a person should read that is most accurate.

We'll keep praying for God's direction in my life and wisdom to know what is right and wrong. We want to bring our children up according to God's will and not according to tradition.

Thank you for your time,

Albert & Eva Harder

Dear friends:

Thank you for your letter. I have been out of state ministering to a precious non-Christian congregation since before your email arrived, so I am just now able to answer it. As to what we call ourselves, we have no title as such. We use "followers of Jesus", and "non-Christian servants of Jesus" to describe ourselves, among other Biblical phrases. But we have no specific title and don't feel the need to have one. I believe that the selection of a standard title for any particular group of saints is a worldly, Christian thing, another tool Satan uses to divide and conquer the saints.

You have been wise to mark out of that children's Bible story book all references to "Yahweh" for your children. That act of yours encourages me to think that you are indeed hearing from God. I don't remember if the BROADCASTER article I wrote ("Yahweh, God of the Christians") is online yet or not, but if not, send me your address and I will mail it to you. You will never again look the same way at that ancient Roman name for the Devil after reading my BROADCASTER on the subject.

The most trustworthy Bible is the King James Bible, but upon occasion I read from any practically any version, with the exception of a few worthless ones. The best, of course, is the original Greek and Hebrew, but next to that, the King James is without question the best. If you have any questions about certain passages in the KJV, write me, and if at all possible, I will clarify it for you.

May God be with you and your family. If we can be a part of your happy journey, please let us know. Stay in touch.

Pastor John

June 11, 2002

John,

Sammy has been listening to the tape on Grace and he says it is sooooooooo good; it is right up there with that tape on liberty. He has a question. Paul said in one place that he had served God with a clear conscience "from his youth up" ( ) If that is true, how then did Saul (later Paul) slay some of God's children, such as Stephen, with a "clear conscience"? Saul knew the law, thou shalt not kill, so how could he kill Jews with a clear conscience?

Thanks.

Sheila

Sheila:

I wish every child of God everywhere could hear that message on Grace, or at least the tract. That truth would make a great difference in some lives, and that is why we are keeping the tape available permanently at no cost.

As for Saul (later Paul) helping to kill some of God's people with a clear conscience, he said he "did it ignorantly in unbelief". That is why he "obtained mercy" (1Tim. 1:13). What you and Sammy want to remember is that there was no prohibition in the Law against killing fellow Israelites who corrupted the holy faith of Israel; in fact, God demanded that it be done (example: Dt. 13:6-11). Therefore, in killing members of the body of Christ, Saul considered himself to be obeying God by killing those who preached Jesus to Jews in addition to preaching Moses. Thinking that way, his conscience was clear.

Later, Paul learned that even though his conscience was clear at the time he committed those crimes against Christ, he was dead wrong, and Paul would write to the Corinthian believers (I paraphrase him), "I don't know anything against myself, but that does not make me right with God" (1Cor. 4:4). Paul had learned not to trust his own opinion of himself, but to place all his hope and faith in Jesus.

jdc

June 11, 2002

Hi John,

I have a question. I was reading in Isaiah chapter 42 this morning:

1) "BEHOLD my servant, whom I uphold; mine elect in whom my so delighteth;

I have put my spirit upon him he shall bring forth judgment to the Gentiles."

I know he his talking about Jesus here. The next verse is the one I don't understand.

2) "He shall not cry, nor lift up, nor cause his voice to be heard in the street."

What he saying here? That his preaching was done only in spirit? Or it was done so that not everyone would hear?

Stuart

Stuart:

Jesus spent much of his earthly life trying to escape the multitudes. He spent none of his life trying to work up a crowd. He was not a Christian evangelist. His ministry did not depend on money.

This verse refers to the essential different personalities of the Old and New Testaments. An important part of this difference is shown in the different method of preaching and converting in the New Testament (NT). The nature of the NT that Jesus purchased with his blood is such that no one can be bullied or forced into it. (Christianity's forced conversions of American Indians and others, for example, is a sure evidence that Christianity is a religion outside the NT of God.) Jesus is not a bully, and neither are any of God's true servants.

In the Old Testament (OT), men and women in the Promised land were sometimes burned alive if they trespassed certain of God's most important commands. That was what God demanded of the judges of Israel. The body of Christ, however, has had no such authority from God, and never will have that kind of authority until Jesus returns to rule the earth "with a rod of iron" for a thousand years.

Lastly, I would say that this verse suggests that any individual's participation in God's NT will be God's choice alone. As Jesus said, "No man can come to me except the Father draw him." The NT is the kind of covenant that men are born into spiritually, not naturally. In the OT, one's first birth in Israel made one a child of God. Now, each person must repent and be washed by Jesus for himself. A second birth is required for each person. Having a born-again parent is not sufficient because true holiness is not biologically transferable.

That is what I have always gotten from that verse, Stuart. It is difficult to explain, probably because I don't yet have a firm grasp on it myself. But I have always had the same feeling when I read that verse, one of the very great humility and lowliness with which Christ came the first time, as opposed to the very great wrath and indignation he will demonstrate when he comes again. (God have mercy on us when he comes!)

jdc

June 11, 2002

Hello Pastor John,

I was reading/studying Luke 9. I don't fully understand verse 23 which says, then he said to them all: "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me". What did Jesus mean when He said "he must deny himself and take up his cross daily?" Thanks in advance for your assistance.

Nic'Kole

Hi Nic'kole

It is good to hear from you again.

In this verse, the cross represents the will of God. The will of God (the cross) for Jesus was to die on the literal Roman cross at Calvary for the sins of the world. The will of God (the cross) for others will be different, but it still is a cross that no one else can carry.

One of my favorite verses of all hymns that I have ever heard is about this matter. It is the third verse of an old, old hymn about a man meeting a stranger on an old pathway. The stranger is bent beneath the weight of a cross, and it turns our that it is Jesus bent low with the weight of his cross. The man offers to help poor, suffering Jesus carry his heavy cross, when . . . well, here is that verse:

"Oh let me bear your cross, dear Lord!" I cried.

And, lo, a cross for me appeared,

The one, forgotten, I had cast aside,

The one so long that I had feared.

Thank you and it's nice to be in contact with you again :) I understood your explanation, however, I still don't know what Jesus is saying when He says one must deny himself. What does He mean?

~Nic'Kole

Sorry, Nic'Kole, but I must have missed the focus of your question the first time around.

To deny one's self just means to carry the cross God gave you instead of doing something else, the same way Jesus was willing to do in the Garden of Gethsemane. To deny one's self is summed up in Jesus's words, "Not my will but thine be done."

jdc

May 31, 2002

John,

Sammy wants to know what Ecc.1:18 means – "For in much wisdom is much grief: and he that increaseth knowledge increaseth sorrow."

Thanks.
Sheila

Sheila:

No one can come to the knowledge of God without feeling His deep sorrow for the suffering and confusion of people. But even more than that, the one who comes into the knowledge of the truth must suffer for the condition of God's people on earth.

The wisdom of this world leads ungodly men to believe and to teach that man is essentially good and has evolved through billions of years into an ever superior state. The wisdom of God teaches us that in man "there is no good thing" and that since he was created, he has fallen into ever increasing evil and pride. To know how true that is, is to carry the burden of the Lord.

The wisdom of Satan teaches men that God is the kind of God who will accept into eternal all who say they believe; the wisdom of God teaches us that "the righteous will scarcely be saved", and that there are precious few among the saints living today who are prepared to meet God in peace.

There is no way that we can know God and avoid the pain of seeing things as they really are. God help us, and all others, not only to know Him but to walk in the way He has shown us to walk, while there is still hope.

jdc

One viewer's comments concerning the email above are as follows:

Hello Pastor John,

In the early hours of today I read your reply to Sammy on Eccl 1:18. When I did I did enjoyed it. Few minutes ago I opened it again and as I was about to read it over again I found myself asking myself, "how did pastor John explain that verse in a very simple method that even a fool can understand it"? Though I know that the Spirit teaches so many things to His people, but I am amazed most times when you explain difficult bible things in a very simplified manner. It might seem a funny question but I have to ask "how do you do that"? Does it come through experience or education coupled with the annointing of God on you? I am so impressed and ..........! Jesus is greater in the life of His people than I thought.

JOE:

To answer your question, "How do you do that", first let me respond by saying that I am thankful to Jesus that you were blessed and encouraged in the Lord by my answer. Jesus is the connection that enables his people to have a common understanding.

I have had students in the Community College ask me a similar question. After they have been in the class for a while, I have had a number of students over the years ask me, "How did you get to know the Bible so well?" At first, I had no answer because I had never thought about it. Then, when I thought about it, I realized that the way I came to know the Bible so well was simply to believe it. That's all. As I was learning the Bible in the beginning, I believed everything I read in it. And if I did not understand something in the Bible, I did not try to make excuses or assume that the Bible was wrong. I considered myself wrong and the Bible right, no matter what I read.

In time, I found that God began to piece it all together for me (and there is much more to learn!). The Bible builds upon itself, but I could never have come to know that unless I believed what I read. Because I believed what I read in Genesis, I could understand what happened in the book of Judges, and Kings, and the prophets, etc. THAT is the only way anyone will ever come to know the Bible. And if we believe the Bible with all our hearts while we read it, then we will eventually understand what we read.

jdc

May 18, 2002

Pastor John

When David wrote "Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path." what did he mean by "thy word"? What does it mean to us now?

Thanks

Damien

Damien:

Since David heard from God, it is clear that by the phrase, "thy word", he was referring to whatever God said to him, which is the perfect definition of that phrase. Of course, David also would have considered what God spoke through prophets such as Nathan to be "thy word", too.

The word of God that was spoken to Moses was written down, and David would have rejoiced and revered that written record of what God said to Moses. But what gave David light was the communication HE had with God, not the communication that Moses had with God. That personal communication was the word of God to David, and it was God's word to him, God's communication with David, that enabled David to know which written record of "God's word" was the real thing.

The world was filled then, as it is now, with men and women who claim to be spreading God's word. Without God's word coming to us personally and teaching us, we can never figure out who is telling the truth. God's word to us alone enables us to recognize God's word in somebody else. In such a case, God's word is a light to our path, as it was to David.

jdc

David would not have understood the phrase "thy word" to mean "the Bible" per se.

May 14, 2002

Dear Pastor John,

I have been talking to a friend about speaking in tongues and I told him I believe the only way to go to heaven is to get the holy Ghost through speaking in tongues. Well he has spoken in tongues and he believes a lot of what we do except that speaking in tongues is the only way to receive the holy Ghost. He believes that you can receive the holy Ghost through belief and faith but you don't have to speak in tongues.

To him it's good to speak in tongues but not everybody has to. Faith can also be the holy Ghost. And he was very up on his scriptures, so when he showed me why he believed what he believes, it made me see why he would think that. I didn't really know what to tell him b/c i don't know my scriptures as well, but all I could say is it's a good feeling. And I know . . . it's the feeling of true life. So i got on your website and researched a little and came up with Acts 18 25-26 and Acts 19 1-7. Today the boy read the Unknown Tongues tract but in it it said you can only get the holy Ghost through repentence and faith . . . and then later it said through speaking in tongues, which he underlined with some other parts that confused him. And i didn't know how to explain it to him. Also why does it say in Acts 8:37-39 that the eunuch was able to be baptized with water if he believed that Jesus was the Son of God? I know he'll point that out to me . . . so i wanted to get the answer.

Mom told me to just tell the boy that speaking in tongues is right and that's all there is to it =) But I would like to know for myself where it all is in the Bible and all about it. I feel it in my heart that this is the real way and the Truth, but I would also like to have the knowledge to be able to tell people. So i just want to start learning about the Truth and gain more knowledge . . . so i might be popping up with questions once in a while. I want to learn about my life.

Thanks, Maleah

Dear Maleah:

We do not "receive the holy Ghost through speaking in tongues" as you seemed to think I taught. We receive the holy Ghost through faith and repentance, just as you read in my tract. You understood that point of mine rightly. And I am glad you are asking about these things. Keep it up!

What your friend seems to be saying is consistent with what Christians in general teach; to wit, men can (and/or must) simply "take it by faith" that they have received the Spirit. Of course, this leaves men standing on shaky ground, for they then are placing their hope of eternal life on their understanding of the Bible rather than upon a real experience with God.

What I am saying is that when a person receives the Spirit, "the Spirit itself bears witness with our Spirit" (Romans 8). In other words, God Himself lets us know when we or anyone else is born of the Spirit. He has not left it up to us to decide that we have received the holy Ghost. "The Spirit is the witness because the Spirit is truth" (1Jn. 5:6). In the fifth chapter of my book, Spiritual Light, and you will find a full discussion of the Scriptures related to this issue.

As a word of caution, it is probably not a good idea to get too deeply embroiled in any doctrinal controversy with anyone. It is good to discuss the truth with anyone, and to ask questions of anyone. But always be on guard not to allow any conversation about Jesus to drift into a contention.

These are the simple things we want to do: Be confident and stand strong for whatever Jesus teaches us, be willing to say we don't know when we don't know, and always make certain that people feel loved and feel no spirit of strife in anything we do or say.

jdc

April 29, 2002

Hello Pastor John,

I have a question, and saw your name on a Pentecostal resource web page. Actually it is two questions. One has been addressed on the web page and that is, "Is Jesus God?" Me and my friend both have read it and still have questions. The general impression we get from the web page is Jesus is NOT God. Is this correct or did we misunderstand?

Also if we did get it right how come numerous other Pentecostal web sites states that Jesus is God. I've seen terms like the "Trinity", "Oneness of God" (most Pentecostal sites I've seen), and now "Jesus is not God at all". Could you please help clarify. I appreciate your help and God Bless,

ernie

Thanks for your e-mail, Ernie.

As you thought might be the case, you and your friend have misunderstood what I have written, if my gospel tracts or books are the materials to which you are referring. I have always taught that Jesus is God over me, and everyone else on earth, and God over all creatures in heaven, in the seas, and beneath the earth, and anywhere else, with one obvious exception. He is not God over his own Father, the Holy One who created him and gave him life and anointed him with the power that he has.

Trinitarian doctrine is wrong because it "denies the Father and the Son" by making those two beings part of what can only be described as a nebulous, divine blob. Apostolic doctrine is also wrong because it "denies the Father and the Son" by saying that Jesus was his own Father. In John's first epistle, he said that all who "deny the Father and the Son" are motivated by the spirit of antichrist, and we believe that is true.

Jesus is God, Ernie, over everything everywhere, with the exception of the One who "made him Lord and Christ." He bows down to his Father; his Father has never and will never bow before His own Son.

Pastor John

April 17, 2002

Mr. Clark my name is Brad Harris and I have been reviewing your web-site "Isaiah 58," and am interested in what you are saying. Since your teachings are quite different from orthodox Christianity, would you please answer a few questions to help me understand your background and source of understanding? The following questions to start,

1. How and when did you come to your present perspective as it relates to your current understanding of Christian doctrine?

A: In May of 1993 I realized that what the Spirit had been calling me out of for years was the religion of Christianity (Xty).

2. When you came to this understanding, what sources helped you make these conclusions?

A: No source except the Spirit of God (which Jesus promised would guide us into all truth) and, of course, God's book, the Bible.

3. Are you affiliated with any religious sect?

A: No. That is, unless you consider God's family a "religious sect".

4. Since one of the most important issues you write about is the "trinity," please tell me how you construct Romans 9:5 as it relates to "unitarian" thought?

A: I have no idea what "unitarian" thought is, Brad. I am not a theologian; I am a simple servant of Jesus. Theologians bore me.

As for Romans 9:5, I have never read the word "God" in that verse as referring to Jesus. I read it as Paul praising God for making Jesus Lord over all. As for the relationship between Jesus and his title as God, however, you can read my printed sermons on "Is Jesus God?" and "The Father and the Son". They are among my gospel tracts listed on the web site.

Thank You for taking the time to answer these important questions. I ask them only out of a sincere desire to seek the truth. Thank You Again

A: You are most welcome, Brad. Please feel free to continue to contact me whenever you need to. It is my privilege to share the message of the truth with those who are looking for it.

jdc

April 12, 2002

Dear Pastor,

My mother has called and asked me to go on line and ask a question. One of her fellow church members made a remark, that has her quite disturbed. If mother cannot find it in one of her many bibles........well..........she has asked me to go on line. This is how I found your site.

The statement was made the devil was a minister of music, in heaven before he was kicked out. My mother said she has researched and found nothing, Is this true?

Thank You for your time.

Sheila

Sheila:

It is probably true that your mother found nothing in the Bible about Lucifer being the choir leader in heaven long ago because there was nothing in the Bible for her to find. I am glad she looked, though. The Bible (in Acts) speaks well of those who search the Scriptures to see if what they hear about spiritual things is actually true. Good for her! What is sad to me are the many people who write, having found things "in the Bible" are aren't in there at all!!?! So, I am happy your mother found nothing. That's a good sign, in this case. :)

I believe I remember hearing that same rumor about the devil being the leader of the heavenly "choir" when I was small. It is not true. Or if it is, the Bible does not tell us.

Pastor John

April 9, 2002

Pastor John:

While you were recently teaching the Bible (one of your OT classes), a little child asked you if it is OK to trick someone into doing right, and you answered "Yes." Can you explain this saying further? It looks deceptive to say that "IT IS OKAY TO TRICK SOMEONE TO DO SOMETHING THAT IS RIGHT."

J. O. E.
Lagos, Nigeria.

JOE:

The child was Jeremiah Sellers, a thoughtful six-year-old who comes up with some very challenging questions, as most children can do so well. I was taken aback by the question at first; I had never considered it. But then, I remembered some stories in which God inspired certain of His servants to "trick" somebody in order to prevent that person from committing a sin or making a foolish choice. God loves people so much that He will do whatever it takes (except for sin) to give us the best opportunity to know and to please Him, and to have a happy life--forever.

I'll give you some examples from the Bible of times when God commanded someone to "trick" others to bring about something good.

Twice God used Abraham's "lie" concerning Sarah being his sister to make him a much richer man (Gen. 12:14-20; 20:1-16).

God commanded the Israelite slaves to "borrow" money, jewels, and other riches from the Egyptians immediately before they escaped Egypt forever, and He promised that He would make the Egyptians willing to "lend" those things to the Israelites, the result being that "ye shall spoil the Egyptians" (Ex. 3:21-22). This they did in Exodus 11:1-3, right before God struck Egypt with the last plague.

Samuel, at God's command (1Sam. 16:1-5), tricked the people of Bethlehem into holding a feast to the Lord when the Lord sent Samuel to Bethlehem to anoint David as king instead of Saul. By doing that, the prophet tricked King Saul into doing a right thing (not murdering Samuel).

We don't know what "craftiness" Paul used to win the heart of the congregation in Corinth (2Cor 12:16), but whatever he did, he did with the guidance of God's pure and holy Spirit for their good and for the furtherance of the gospel. We do know that Paul cleverly provoked quite a conflict in Acts when he turned the hostile attention of his Pharisee and Sadducee accusers at each other instead of against him (23:6-10).

I believe that in cases such as this, God is calling us to a higher understanding of good and evil, of what constitutes a lie and what does not, of what sin is and is not. We are being called to outgrow schoolyard theology and childish susceptibility to spiritual baiting by religious men who know neither God nor His ways. He whom the Son sets free is "free indeed". How little we really know of that liberty!

It is clear, Joe, that men with unclean spirits will use such examples of "trickery" in the Bible to justify themselves in their lying and deceit. I have seen that done. That is why I warn the children of God that the liberty of Christ is so great that it is dangerous. Jesus liberates men to choose to do either good or evil (the carnal mind can only do evil -- Rom. 8:7). But since we will most certainly reap for every good or evil thing we do, we must come to know the mind of the Spirit because it is clear from the Scriptures that some deeds we would have thought were evil in God's sight were actually good and that on other occasions God despised some deeds that we would have thought were good. Oh, how blind we are without the knowledge of God!

Not once has God ever done evil; nor has He ever led one of His saints to do evil. But how could God condemn harlots to death in the Law, and then command His faithful prophet Hosea to marry a harlot? How could God have told godly people to do some of the things they did and to say some of the things they said? That is a question we will never be able to answer without being filled with the holiness of God's Spirit and without being instructed in the right ways of God.

JOE, the simple answer to your question is this: Anything we say is a lie if it is contrary to what the Spirit is saying, no matter how true it used to be. And anything we say is the truth if it is in agreement with what the Spirit is saying, regardless of how wrong it may appear. There is no true doctrine except what the Spirit is saying right now to the body of Christ. And everything except what the Spirit is saying right now to the body of Christ is a lie, even if the Spirit has led righteous men in the past to say it. "Behold, NOW is the accepted time; behold, NOW is the day of salvation" (2Cor. 6:2).

Anything men do is sin if the Spirit disapproves of it, even if righteous men used to do it. And anything men do is righteous if the Spirit inspires it, even if God forbade it yesterday.

We have but two choices. Either we know God, or we do evil. There is no middle course. It is the lack of the knowledge of God that destroys God's people (Hosea 4:6) because when we do not know God, religious men can easily lead us astray with words that sound right but are not right. The way of the Spirit is a living way, not a dead way, cluttered with high-sounding clichés, religious tradition, ritual and proper form. "Thus saith the Lord" is still the only way to salvation. A wise man's question, then, is always, "What is the Lord now saying?"

Brother JOE, you have learned by now that those who are trained to be professional religious leaders often sound and look more righteous than those who have "merely" sought God and have been shown the truth of Christ. Not one of Israel's elders would have dared contradict God's Old Testament commandment to drink no blood, the way Jesus did in John 6. But Jesus had heard something new from God! And not one of Christianity's leaders now dare to tell God's children to leave Christianity and escape the coming wrath of God; it doesn't look or sound good to proclaim that to God's children. But Jesus has taught you, and he is the only righteous One. Put all your confidence in him and in what he tells you to do and to say. We do not know the way of salvation; the desert is too wide and hot. But Jesus knows, and we must trust in him. That is our burden, and it is our rest from all burdens. May God help us hear the voice of His Son clearly and to obey it quickly--regardless of what the multitudes still in bondage think, or say, or do.

Pastor John

One viewer's response to the email response above is as follows...

That feels so good John. Makes me want to find a child of God to "trick", so they will do good towards their saviour and we can all be blessed! :)

Gary

Another viewer's response is as follows...

Hi John:

I remember when you were asked that question on the OT tape. I paused it for a minute and thought, "hmmm..what is he going to say? That's a tough one!" And when you answered him, I thought, "That was perfect!" Your first reaction to it was funny, though.

Thanks again for the tapes.

Jackie B

April 5, 2002

Dear Pastor John,

What exactly does 1 Timothy 5:9-10 mean concerning widows. We got there in our bible study this morning and it was not very clear to us.

1 Timothy 5
9 Let not a widow be taken into the number under threescore years old, having been the wife of one man.
10 Well reported of for good works; if she have brought up children, if she have lodged strangers, if she have washed the saints' feet, if she have relieved the afflicted, if she have diligently followed every good work.

J O E
Lagos, Nigeria.

JOE:

With the phrase "into the number" (verse 9 above), Paul is referring to the list of old saints that were being cared for by the rest of the congregation in Ephesus, where Timothy was pastor. Paul is warning Timothy not to allow any lazy, ungodly old women to take advantage of the saint's tender hearts and generosity by persuading the congregation to give them money. Only those who have proved themselves worthy over a long period should receive such support from the congregation. When I was becoming too generous with the saints' money a few years ago, the Lord sternly asked me, "Am I running a welfare agency?" If I give God's money to a person unworthy of possessing it, then I put that person at risk as well as myself. To handle God's money is no small matter. It is holy, and one must be anointed to touch it safely.

This wicked world knows how to play on the sympathy of good men, and to steal from them in the guise of humbly asking for help. My father warned me years ago, "If you don't waste your money, the devil will persuade you to give it to someone who will." We must be led by the Spirit in the area of giving financial aid to people as much as in any other area of life. Otherwise, we will be displeasing God in "helping" others, as well as placing others in the dangerous position of holding God's money with unworthy hands.

So in these verses from 1Timothy 5, Paul is laying out to Timothy some basic guidelines for judging who is worthy of the saints' financial support and who is not.

Pastor John

April 3, 2002

Hi my name is Christina Beckwith, and I attend Radford University (Located in VA) and I am currently enrolled in a religion class, where one of the assignments is to interview some preists of different religions about their 'typical' sunday routines. And some of the beliefs of their religions. I hope so hear a response from you, and thank you!

Christina Beckwith

We are non-Christian followers of Jesus Christ. We do not recognize as authoritative the Christian "holy day" Sunday, but living as we do in this Christian society, we do take advantage of the Western tradition of releasing workers of their duties on Sundays to meet and worship on that day. But we could as easily meet another time if we were not working on those days. Nowhere in the Scriptures, even in the Old Testament, was the weekly Sabbath said to have been a day set aside for God's people to worship Him. The Sabbath was given for rest, not for worship. The idea that God set apart a day each week to worship Him is foreign both to the Scriptures and the Spirit.

We have no routine for Sundays beyond gathering for worship on the first and third Sunday of each month. The other weekends I am usually traveling to minister in another city. As for our meetings, there is no way to characterize them because they differ from time to time. Sometimes they are loud with singing and praises to God. Sometimes they are very quiet and thoughtful as we speak to each other of circumstances we are facing. Sometimes, we sing a lot; sometimes we hear a lot of testimonies from different people here; sometimes we pray a lot; sometimes most of the meeting time is taken up by a sermon. We try balance the necessary common understanding of when and where to meet with the flexibility required to have one's actions and plans guided by the holy Spirit.

To "be led by the Spirit" precludes any ritual or form. Can one be available to be led by the Spirit in worship if one is married to a routine or ceremonial form?

Thanks for the query. I hope that beyond the required course work, your question is a part of your own sincere desire to find God for yourself and to please Him. And to that end, I am

Your non-Christian servant in Christ Jesus the Lord,

Pastor John

April 1, 2002

dear sir I was reading some of the material I would really like to be enlightend on where your coming from such as how can you say that Jesus is not coming back for years??? now im not trying to be ignorant or anything where are you backing that up? and do you believe that the christians will be raptured before the beast { antichrist is revealed } please feel free to e-mail me.

Sam

Sam:

If you will send me your mailing address, I will be happy to send you a complimentary copy of my book on Revelation that will explain why I say that Christian ministers are not telling the truth when they say that the time has come for Jesus's return. Other than that, you can read the materials we have on line to find the answers to your questions.

Pastor John

March 27, 2001

In our study this morning of three chapters of II Thessalonians, we had a problem understanding II Thessalonians 2:3-12. Please do explain to us what those verses really mean with special emphasizes on verse 3, 8 and 9. Are they talking about the antichrist and the beast?

J O E
Lagos, Nigeria.

Joe:

Those verses from 2Thessalonians do not refer to the Beast that is mentioned in Revelation, but to the spirit of antichrist that is in our day sitting in the holy place (among God's children), saying that he is god. You see, or hear, this every time that you hear someone with the holy Ghost say that to "get saved " is greater than to receive the holy Ghost baptism. That doctrine, that one can be born again before receiving the holy Ghost baptism, was beginning to be taught in the latter days of the Apostles. As Paul said in this section of Scripture you mention (verse 7), "the mystery of iniquity doth already work."

Antichrist is never mentioned in the book of Revelation, and for good reason: Revelation is a prophecy of the future, and antichrist had already come in the days of the apostles. The apostle John wrote in his first epistle, "Even now there are many antichrists."

Christian teachers often use 2Thessalonians 2:4 to teach that the Jewish temple ("the temple of God") will be rebuilt in Jerusalem and that "the antichrist" will set up his throne in it. That is foolishness. Even if a temple is rebuilt in Jerusalem, it would not be the temple of God. Nothing is the temple of God except where God's presence is. Paul told believers that WE are the temple of God, if the holy Ghost dwells within us. That is where antichrist is. And that is where he was in the days of the apostles. Those who are under the spell of antichrist think he has not yet come, when in truth he has been here almost two thousand years dividing and deluding the children of God. The apostles saw it in their day. And if God anoints our eyes, we see it in ours.

You can read more on this issue on our gospel tract, #87, "The Antichrist".

Pastor John

March 27, 2001

Pastor John:

I was reading in Matthew 24 about the "end times." I am not sure that I understand exactly what the following means. What is the "abomination of desolation?" Is it referring to Xnty?

[15] When ye therefore shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, stand in the holy place, (whoso readeth, let him understand:)
[16] Then let them which be in Judaea flee into the mountains:

Sandy S.

Sandy:

There is a doctrine so dangerous to the children of God that when it is taken in, it makes them desolate of the grace and power of God. This is what Xty has always done to the saints. It is that abomination that makes the saints desolate when they partake of it. The abomination of (or, "that brings about") desolation is basically the false idea that Xty is of Christ. If we could rid the saints of God of that one wrong idea about God, there would be an exodus out of Xty that would make Moses jealous. THAT is the exodus for which I am laboring.

Pastor John

March 23, 2002

Dear Pastor John,

I have been listening to your tapes "What must I do to be saved?". I believe that I am being saved according to Jesus answer to the certain lawyer in Luke, chapter 10, verses 25-28. I also believe that to love God, I must be obedient to him and live in a state of repentance. I do not believe that I can repent, love God, or obey him, on my own, but only by God's grace and the power of the holy spirit. Would you help me with this, I'm seeking the truth for my salvation? How does this differ from what you are saying in your tapes? I thank God for you!

Ted

Hi Ted:

Thanks for the e-mail.

Sounds to me as if you are seeing things pretty clearly on that subject. Anyone who loves God with all his heart (and his neighbor as himself) will be saved. Such a person cannot do evil to anyone, and cannot be happy unless he is pleasing God. Thankfully, the way of salvation is a simple way (Isa. 35:8).

In the light of the Bible's view of the desperately deceitful condition of the human heart (e.g. Jeremiah 17:9 & Romans 7:18), I suppose the issue that some would raise is, how can we know we are not fooling ourselves when we think we are in a right standing with God? The only answer to that problem is, yes, we do need some help from God to let us know when we really love Him. And knowing that, God did not leave us to our own understanding nor to our own opinion of our spiritual condition. Through Jesus' sacrificial death, God provided a Witness to faith, wherever faith is obedient and sincere. That Witness is the holy Ghost, and the testimony of that Witness is the only testimony we can trust in.

Solomon said that "every man is right in his own eyes, but the Lord searcheth the heart." And when Jesus told his followers not to judge (Mt. 7:1), he meant that as a prohibition against judging ourselves and others to be right with God as much as a prohibition to judging ourselves or others to be wrong. Paul said he did not even judge himself but would wait until the end for Jesus to judge him (1Cor. 4:3-5).

At the same time, Jesus commanded his followers to "judge righteous judgment" (Jn. 7:24). And Paul chided the Corinthians because there was not one wise man among them "able to judge between his brethren" (1Cor 6:5). So, we are required to know right from wrong, and to stand for the right, but that knowledge must come from God's Spirit; it is not in man. Listening to the Spirit of God is the only way man can do this.

God's way is simple, Ted. Complications arise when men learn how to talk the right way instead of simply living the right way. Nevertheless, "the foundation of God is sure", and though we can be and often have been fooled by appearances, God knows those who are His. And when He gives His Spirit to someone, He is right. And when he does not give His Spirit to someone, He is right. God is our wisdom, and we trust His decisions instead of what we would like to think concerning everyone (including ourselves).

Let me know of that answers any of your thoughts. Thanks again for the letter.

jdc

March 23, 2002

Dear Pastor,

In your experience do people always speak in tongues when they recieve the holy ghost, because Jesus came to me, put his hand on my head and many demons came out quite violently, but I did not speak in tongues. I have had a quite different view of the world since this experience because, having searched for about a year, this was the first night I had actually used the name of Jesus to heal me, before this night i had an irrational fear of his powerful name.

awaiting your reply
Michael

Michael:

There are many, many wonderful experiences we may have with God before we receive the experience of new birth, which is the baptism of the holy Ghost with the evidence of "stammering lips" or speaking in other tongues. I am glad you had an encouraging experience from Jesus. Let me encourage you to continue to have them, even after you are born again.

Pastor John

March 22, 2002

OFS from Nigeria wrote:

Hello Pastor John,

Good day. Over this weekend, we studied the books Colossians from the beginning to the end. It was refreshing and revealing about God, Jesus and whom we are in him as contained in the three chapters of that book.

As it was written in the book of Colossians 2:10, that we are complete in Christ, which is the head of all principalities and powers. And in the book of Philippians 2:10, that at the name of Jesus every knee should how, of things in heaven and things in earth, and things under the earth and that every tongue should confress that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

My question now is, should believers give their attention especially when praying.

Sorry, Brother Frank. I do not understand this question. Get Brother JOE to help you re-phrase it.

Secondly what is principalities and powers?

There are differing levels of evil beings, just as there are differing levels of angels and other heavenly beings such as Cherubs and Seraphs. With the phrase, "principalitites and powers", Paul is referring to these various kinds of evil spiritual beings.

I will also appreciate if you can tell me what is the meaning of this word longsuffering?

"Longsuffering" refers to spiritual strength in the area of patience. It means that a person is like God in that he is "slow to wrath" and quick to forgive and to show mercy.

Thanks for answering my question and God bless. Greet all the saints for me.

OFS

March 22, 2002

Frank in Nigeria wrote:

Should believers give their attention especially when praying the way Christians do, "binding" spirits, warring against evil spirits in prayer like the christians do? Most of the time that christians pray, they pray against one evil spirit or the other that they believe is hindering one thing or the other in their lives. If all things are being directed for our good by our Father and Jesus, not Satan or evil spirits, should believers give their attention and time to dealing with those evil spirits especially when praying.

Maybe this has something to do with what is in Ephesians 6:11-12 and 2 Corinthians 10:4-5

Ephesians 6:11-12
11 Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.
12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.

2Corinthians 10:4-5
4 (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;)
5 Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;

Brother Frank:

It is more profitable for us to talk to the Father when we pray than to spend time "rebuking demons" or "binding spirits". I have no confidence in that sort of thing. I'd rather talk to Jesus, and of course if he then sends someone to rebuke and cast out demons, that is fine, too. But even then, it will not be a prayer to those demons; it will be an irresistible command.

"Wrestling" against spiritual powers always includes times of earnest prayer, but that prayer will be a prayer before the Lord, not a heated argument with the devil. "Wrestling" against spiritual powers can also refer to the constant struggle not to be a partaker of wrong ideas about God, including wrong ideas about what spiritual "wrestling" is! When we do not surrender to the pressure of following a multitude down a wrong pathway, we have already "cast down imaginations and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God", and have "brought into captivity" all our thoughts to the "obedience of Christ."

Our warfare is not against people; that is true. But our warfare is very much against the spirits that ungodly people believe and love. And in this warfare, you need not pray to or even speak to those invisible spirits; you need only "draw nigh unto God, and he will draw nigh unto you." He is sufficient.

jdc

March 22, 2002

Deborah B wrote:

HI BRO. JOHN,

I HOPE YOU ARE THE SAME PERSON I USE TO GO TO CHURCH WITH ABOUT 20 YEARS AGO, IF NOT PLEASE FORGIVE ME AND HAVE A NICE DAY!!!

I AM DEBORAH B...RW'S SISTER...IT HAS BEEN A LONG TIME SINCE THEN AND I AM GLAD TO SEE YOU ARE STILL PREACHING. I RAN ACROSS YOUR SITE BY ACCIDENT..BUT WAS SO GLAD TO SEE IT. I WAS LOOKING FOR A PREACHER TO EXPLAIN TO ME ABOUT THE DEATH PENALTY.

I HAVE NEVER BEEN FOR IT BECAUSE I HAVE ALWAYS BELIEVED IT WAS WRONG. I DO BELIEVE YOU HAVE TO BE PUNISHED FOR YOUR ACTIONS AND MISTAKES BUT I DON'T BELIEVE WE SHOULD KILL. THAT IS THE LORD'S DOINGS. I COULDN'T PULL THE SWITCH, COULD YOU?

ANYWAY, I HOPE YOU ARE DOING GOOD AND YOU ARE THE ONE I AM SPEAKING OF....HOPE TO VISIT YOUR SITE AGAIN, IF YOU ARE.

LATER,

SIS. DEBORAH

Hi Sister Deborah:

Yes, this is the same John Clark. Thanks for writing. I hope everyone in your family is well and happy in Jesus.

Your question on the Death Penalty is a common one, and your opinion about it is one that is often heard today in this country and others, especially in Europe.

God instituted the death penalty in the Garden of Eden. Later, He delegated the authority to take the life of murderers to men (Genesis 9). Still later, He gave detailed instructions to the rulers of Israel concerning for what offenses the death penalty was to be imposed (e.g., Exodus 21-23). Various methods of execution were ordained by God in the Law for the worst offenders. Some of them were: burning at the stake, piercing with a spear, and stoning.

When Jesus came, he removed from the people of God the authority to exercise civil authority over men and to impose civil punishments. That is why the body of Christ now has no authority from God to punish traffic offenders, thieves, murderers, and other evil-doers of this world. Instead, the world's governments have that authority from God now (Rom 13), and they will continue to possess it until Jesus returns. At that time, civil authority will once again be given to the saints, and we shall reign over this world with Jesus for a thousand years. The Lord's reign will see the Death Penalty reinstated as a function of the saints; it will be a part of how Jesus reigns ("with a rod of iron over the nations").

Whether or not we could "pull the switch" now is almost irrelevant. The only relevant question is, Is it the will of God that the children of God place themselves in positions of worldly power so that they must "pull the switch"? And the answer for the children of God at the present time is "no". That is why the children of God must stay completely out of politics, and why saints cannot go to war for this nation or any other earthly government. There will be plenty of both governing and fighting for us to do when Jesus returns. May we all be prepared to meet him in peace!

Since God Himself instituted the Death Penalty, and since he commanded men in earthly authority to impose it, and since Jesus will himself kill many thousands at his return and afterwards during his thousand-year reign, I cannot agree with you that the Death Penalty is wrong. I see no Biblical basis for anyone to oppose the Death Penalty. Thanks again for the e-mail, Deborah. Stay in touch.

Pastor John

March 22, 2002

JOE
Lagos, Nigeria wrote:

I have two questions that I would like to ask. We found the questions while studying the book of Thessalonians.

The questions you will find in 1 Thessalonians 2:15, 18. What does Paul mean in verse 15 when he said that Jesus was KILLED. Is he saying that Jesus would have lived longer than the years he spent on earth here?

Yes, Jesus would have lived longer if ungodly men had not killed him. When God's Son was killed, it was no game. The Father really lost something precious to Him, and it hurt Him deeply. He foresaw and foreordained all that happened; still, He bent the heavens down to be closer to earth when His Son was struggling for breath on the cross.

And what does Paul mean by “that Satan hindered us” in verse 18?

Whenever Paul was "hindered by Satan", it was that Satan had deceived some in the body of Christ and that Paul had to re-arrange his traveling schedule until he dealt with that situation. Satan determined nothing about Paul because Paul knew the truth and was free. However, the same cannot be said about the body of Christ as a whole, and Paul on some occasions altered his plans in order to help a congregation in a particular place that had fallen victim to one of Satan's evil devices.

Pastor John

March 22, 2002

JOE wrote:

Reading Matthew 2:7,16 in KJV we find the word wise men and reading the same verses in NIV, we found the word Magi. Also in Luke talking about the same story the word shephard was used. Is Magi the same as wisemen. Who is a wiseman or what does it take for one to be called a wise man?

KJV: Matthew 2
7 Then Herod, when he had privily called the wise men, enquired of them diligently what time the star appeared.
16 Then Herod, when he saw that he was mocked of the wise men, was exceeding wroth, and sent forth, and slew all the children that were in Bethlehem, and in all the coasts thereof, from two years old and under, according to the time which he had diligently enquired of the wise men.

NIV: Matthew 2:7
Then Herod called the Magi secretly and found out from them the exact time the star had appeared.
Matthew 2:16
When Herod realized that he had been outwitted by the Magi, he was furious, and he gave orders to kill all the boys in Bethlehem and its vicinity who were two years old and under, in accordance with the time he had learned from the Magi.

JOE:

First, the shepherds were a different group of men from the Magi. The shepherds were Jews who were there the very night Jesus was born in a manger in a stable in Bethlehem. If you will read the story of Matthew carefully, you will notice that when the Magi visited Mary and the baby, they were living in a house, not in the stable where Jesus was born, and that it may have been up to two years after Jesus's birth that the Magi, or "wise men" arrived.

There are several different kinds of "wisdom"; there is a wisdom that the holy Ghost alone teaches (1Cor. 2:13); there is a fleshly wisdom (2 Cor. 2:12); there is a demonic wisdom (James 3:15), and maybe some others, slightly differing even from these obvious kinds of wisdom.

In the ancient world, there were so few people who could read and write, so we are told, that those who could read were probably considered mysterious and "wise" men. The wise men in the story of Jesus's earliest days were highly educated and deeply religious men, astute observers and students of the skies. By their knowledge of God's use of the heavens to bear witness to His righteousness and work, they understood that a great king of the Jews had been born. No one knows how they knew that exactly nor what star they saw. No details are given in the Bible. But their knowledge of such things well qualified them for the title of "wise men".

At first, it seems strange that God would send star-gazers from another part of the world to Israel to declare the birth of the King, but then, God uses all nations and men to accomplish His often hidden purposes, doesn't He?

Pastor John

March 14, 2002

Mark B wrote:

Just out of curiosity, what faith or religion are you?? None of my business--just wondering.

Thanks again.

Mark

'I was in prison and you visited me. Truly, I tell you, just as you did it to one of the least of these brethren, you did it to me. -- Matt. 25:36

Hi:

I am a non-Christian servant of the Lord Jesus Christ. For info on this, you can go to Gary Savelli's Isaiah58.com web site and scroll to the bottom and click on the words "non-Christian".

The world offers men but two choices, either be a Christian or a sinner. The truth is not that way. The real choice is, either do the will of God as a servant of His Son Jesus Christ or be in danger of losing your soul. Christianity has nothing to do with Christ; it just claims to. I hope someday to abhor that institution as much as Jesus does now; otherwise, I may never be able to love people as purely he always has.

If I can explain myself further, it would be a privilege.

Your non-Christian servant in Christ Jesus,

jdc

March 14, 2002

Pastor John,

In Exodus 10:22 when God covered the land of Egypt with thick darkness that could be felt, was that the same kind of darkness that Jesus was talking about when He spoke of outer darkness?

Thanks,

Bess

Bess:

No, that was not the same darkness at all. The "outer darkness" Jesus mentioned is not a part of this creation. It is only found in "the Lake of Fire", which is the "Second Death." Nothing in this universe is like the darkness that God has prepared for the wicked.

You can read about this "Second Death" in tract #10, "The Second Death"

Pastor John

JOE from Nigeria wrote:

Can u tell me what is the secret place of the most high as we have it in psalms 91:1?

JOE:

The "secret place of the Most High" is the will of God. In the Old Covenant, the secret place was the Law of Moses and the kind of life it instructed God's people to live. The "secret place of the Most High" in this New Covenant is new and abundant life in the holy Spirit, purchased for us by Christ's sacrifice. When we live in the Spirit, our lives "are hidden in Christ", as Paul said.

The saints are not hidden physically; however, even though the world can see us, it does not see us, because "it doth not yet appear" who we really are (the sons of the Most High God). We are eager for Jesus to return and at long last to bring about the "manifestation of the sons of God" (Rom. 8:19). But with patience we wait for him, continuing to do the will of God. The world can also hear us, but then again, it cannot hear us because only those who are of God can hear God's voice (Jn. 8:47).

The place into which Christ baptizes us is indeed a very secret place; still, it is right here in the middle of everything in this life. Jesus has not called his people to hide in the desert or in a mountain's secret cave. That is not the kind of "secret place" meant by the Scriptures. The life of a religious hermit is the worthless life of a coward and a blind man. God's people are called to be shining lights among men, not hidden beneath the basket of a dark cave, a desert retreat, a convent, or monastery, or any such thing. Stay available to people and stay alive in the holy Ghost, and in Christ you will be hidden enough from all evil in the secret place of God.

jdc

Hello,

hi. I read through ALOT of the aricles on Isaiah 58 and some on Pastor johns house. I must say that i feel that it is coming from the Spirit of God. Here is the problem.

I am scared. I have been decieved SOOO many times. I grew up Catholic, was a Jehovahs Witness, involved in the Word/faith movement, the pentecostal church and various protestant denominations. Every time i left one of these churches because of the confusion and errors . . . i thought "whew finally i am out of that deciet and i know the truth" . . . then i continually was led into another deception and another and another.

Sister Karen, Brother JOE in Nigeria forwarded your letter to me. I hope you won't mind if I respond to some of your concerns.

When we first discover the truth, Karen, it does seem to make a "problem" for us, doesn't it? But the reality is, the truth is so different from all the errors that are out there that we hardly know what to do with it, and whole at first that may seem to be a problem, it really isn't. All we need is faith in God.

Practically all of God's children who are sincerely hungry for truth have searched in many, many places to find it. Often, they are so worn out by the search and so discouraged by the time they do find the truth that they have a hard time allowing themselves to put down their guard and be comforted by Jesus. They have been scarred and used by Christianity's system and find it difficult to trust anyone any more.

You can put down your guard now, Sister Karen. You will not be disappointed in this, nor will you be hurt. You can safely close your eyes and rest in Jesus now, dear sister, and let his truth heal you and comfort you. You are home.

I want to believe what Isaiah 58 [and PastorJohnsHouse] is teaching . . . i really do. But i am so afraid of being led to yet another false teaching only to find out 2 yrs from now and be upset yet again. Because of all the confusion . . . I left God and the church for about 8 months.

You only went away from the mass confusion of Christianity (Xty). Unknown to you, your doing so made your heavenly Father happy. That was good and courageous of you. And God never left you, no matter what you think you did to Him.

God's children think, because Christian (Xn) ministers tell them, that they have only two choices: either stay in Xty or go out in sin. That is not true. There is a third, hidden choice that is revealed only to those who truly hunger and thirst after righteousness. And that third choice is to leave Xty and go to Jesus. Praise God! I feel that in my soul!

I only recently came back in repetence and started walking in the Spirit again around the time i met you . . . a couple months ago. Over the last few months my husband and i have been looking for a new church. We have been reading alot of John MacArthurs stuff . . . which is leading us to a Bible church. I am starting to feel uncomfortable about it. I am starting to see it as biblolotry if you know what i mean . . . almost like worshipping the bible rather than jesus.

they teach a literal interpretaion of the bible and say all the answers and truth are in the bible. They teach that the gift of tongues was for the early believers only.

Now . . . i am reading all this other stuff on Isaiah 58 . . . and utterly confused. i dont know what to believe. I did have the experience of speaking in other tongues back in 1991. From all that people said over the years to me . . . i have questioned that experience. They tell me it is a false tongue . . . like its evil or something.

Christians (Xns) can only teach you what they have been taught by other Christians. Forgive them, and move on. Listen to Solomon: "Go from the presence of a foolish man, when thou perceivest not in him the words of knowledge" (Prov. 14:7). And "He that wandereth out of the way of understanding shall remain in the congregation of the dead" (Prov. 21:16). Dear sister, please do not wander away from the understanding that Jesus is giving you. He has seen your struggle; he has always felt your hurt and loneliness, and he has heard your prayers. Now, he has given you your heart's desire. What will you do with it?

Anyone, Karen, who calls the Bible the Word of God is "worshiping the creature more than the Creator". God's Son is God's Word, not the Bible. That is what the Bible repeatedly tells us. Still, Xns hold their Bibles up and extol it as the "Word of God". But what about Jesus?!? Jesus told people who also worshiped the Bible, "Ye search the Scriptures, and in them ye think you have eternal life, but [the Scriptures] are they that tell of me; but ye will not come to me, that ye might have life."

If the Bible is the Word of God, then the Word of God can be bought and sold in bookstores, can't it?

Here is a question for you. Is their a true baptism in the spirit of speaking in tongues . . . and also a counterfeit experience of speaking in tongues. I know that some from other religions also speak in tongues. How is that to be explained? I know my experience of speaking in tongues . . . was not me . . . it was GOD. It happened at 3 in the morning in the middle of my living room. I had prayed for 2 months for God to give me the baptism of the Spirit, because at the time i was at a pentecostal church and they were telling me about it. I desired the baptism. I wanted to be closer to God. When the experience happened i felt like heaven opened up. I was speaking in tongues and singing in a voice that wasnt mine for over an hour. It was so amazing. Most people i tell of that experience can not relate to it--even many of those who speak in tongues.

Many who speak in tongues learned how to do it from their church . . . and just did it. Or they got hands laid on them at church and when they had the experience it lasted maybe 5 to 10 minutes or something. They didnt see the light i saw . . . they didnt feel an overwhelming presence of God that i felt. I dont understand this. Did they have a counterfeit experience? Or is it just different for everyone? I have only spoken to two people in my life that had a similiar experience to mine. Even with all the people in the pentecostal church i knew . . . that spoke in tongues.

We are under no obligation either to try to understand or explain strange religious experiences that people have. Those experiences could be either good or evil, but we do not have to spend any time trying to figure it out. On the contrary, those people themselves had better try to figure it out themselves. It's their souls that are at stake.

Karen, you know that the experience Jesus gave you was both holy and real. Do not allow those who are suspicious of such holy experiences to disturb the peace that it brought you. Peter describes such people in this manner (2Pet. 2:10): ". . . they are not afraid to speak evil of dignities".

When you were being blessed and filled with God's holy Spirit, it was a dignified thing. Some people, influenced by Xn ministers, have no fear to speak evil of such holy things, but you know better. Be kind to them, but do not allow their lack of gratitude for your blessing to cause you to lose the precious joy Jesus gave you that night. Keep it as a "pearl of great price." Honor God by enjoying His blessing!

My husband's experience of speaking in tongues happened at church and lasted a few minutes . . . and he felt nothing. I dont get it. He doesnt see it as a valid experience.

God's dealings with people vary according to His plan and their personalities. It may have been that your husband felt pressured by people praying around him to try to speak in tongues, or maybe he really was touched by God's Spirit and really did speak in tongues. I don't know. But it is good that he admits to you that he was not satisfied with that. You be honest with him, too, and let him know that Jesus very much satisfied your soul that night he blessed you. Let him know now how you feel and what you think, and let God work out your lives together to make you one in Him.

Another question. After the initial experience . . are we supposed to speak in tongues in prayer? Is it something we should do on a regular basis? I have done it on and off for 10 years . . . depending on what i thought about it at the time. There have been churches i was involved in that told me it was wrong so i stopped doing it.

As your own words show, you already know the answer to that question. Keep it up. Don't follow the advice of people who do not know your God.

The idea of letting go of the Trinity doctrine is a little scary. I understand what the articles said and they make sense. I always was confused about how the Holy Spirit could be a 3rd person of the trinity. Yet the Christian church teaches it as a true major important doctrine . . . and basically brand you a heretic if you dont believe in it.

I am so worried right now. I dont want to be decieved again. I really dont.

Karen, if you want to avoid being labeled a heretic by Xns, you should ask Jesus to stop teaching you the right way. Be courageous and joyful. Whose displeasure do you fear most, anyway? God's or man's? Who would you rather would call you a heretic, Jesus or Xns?

Please keep me in your prayers. I have prayed earnestly for the truth for the last 11 years. I have seeked God with all my heart. Why has he allowed me to be so led astray so many times? I am so sick of this roller coaster ride. I dont know who is Satan and who is God anymore. I feel like a failure. How come i cant discern the truth? How come i am so confused? This is just tearing me apart. Then im scared too . . . because i dont know how to tell my husband all this that im learning. he is sick of the confusion to. He is going to be upset if i want to leave church. Then how do i have fellowship with other spirit led followers of christ if not at a church?

You will never have perfect fellowship with Spirit-led believers inside Xty. It isn't in there. That is why Jesus led you to the truth. If you obey, and if the next brother or sister obeys the Spirit's call to "come out", and the next one does, then God will begin the process for you of healing you with His people and uniting us all who love Jesus in the perfect bond of liberty and holiness.

Also, do you know anything about the book of Revelation. The interpretation of it coming from the pentecostals just doesnt seem right at all. I would appreciate any wisdom concerning any of these things that you could share. Thanks alot.

In Christ Jesus,

Karen

Karen, do not pursue any prophetic issues yet. AGAIN, you are feeling the right thing. The doctrine of Xn teachers about the future is, for the most part, as wrong as everything else Xn ministers teach. For now, however, just concentrate on learning how to retain the joy and peace Jesus has already given to you.

There will be plenty of time later for you to study and learn about Revelation because, contrary to what practically every Xn teacher says, Jesus is not coming back "any minute." We have years to go yet, maybe many years, before his return.

God bless you and your husband. Please stay in touch . . . with Jesus.

Pastor John

Joe W wrote:

I was in much agreement about your article about the holy spirit. What I was wondering what Greek scholar you used the most in your article. Or was this idea original with you. The only reason I am bring it up is I would like to read some of his books. This may only be conjecture on my part but having read some of your articles I do not find the Greek used im them much. I also read the Greek language and thought I might gain some knowledge from you.

May his grace be with you.

Hi Joe:

I have written many articles that deal with the holy Ghost, so I am unsure as to which article you have been reading. In general, to answer your question, if there is any Greek translation in my articles, it is often my own translation--but not always.

You are right in your observation that my use of Greek is sparse. My observations over the years have led me to believe that most of the time when ministers make use of Greek publicly, it is to impress more than it is to inform. That is why I keep the use of Greek or Hebrew to a minimum. There is, after all, nothing holy about either language. People who knew Greek and/or Hebrew killed Jesus. So, we know that knowledge of Greek and Hebrew does not make one wiser to the things of God. Only the Spirit reveals to us the things of God.

Thanks for the inquiry.

jdc

and later...

Joe W wrote:

The article to which I was refering to was the one containing all the relative pronoun and neuter articles [The Influence of Trinitarian Doctrine on Transations of the Bible]. This is the article to which I was refering. Whoever wrote this was one who had a good background in Greek. This was the author I was trying to locate. Most of our thoughts come from others, and I see no problem using a thing if it is true.

Joe:

I wrote that. It was a simple, information-gathering work that took me about two weeks of steady work to complete, as I recall. And I agree that it is fine to use anything that is true and good in the sight of God.

jdc

Brad C wrote:

John,

I read your correspondence to Bro. Frank Simon, Lagos. You qouted Jesus: Love thy neighbor as thyself.

John, who are our neighbors? The people next door, literally? Or our own earthly family in our home? Or only the brothers/sisters in the body of Christ?

Whom should we love, as we love ourselves, to obey this commandment?

Brad

Brad:

Jesus was asked the same question. Read the parable of the "Good Samaritan" to see his response.

jdc

"N.A." wrote:

Hi Pastor:

I'd like to know where in the Bible does it discuss how Lucifer became Satan. I've heard the Xty version of the story, but I'd much rather learn the truth from the Bible and the Spirit. Please respond soon.

Nic'Kole

Nic'Kole:

The Bible is relatively silent on details concerning Lucifer's fall from purity into sin. We know that he was perfect when he was created and that at some later time "iniquity was found" in him (Ezek. 28:15). We know that he was created "perfect in beauty" and that and he became exceedingly proud because of his spectacular beauty (Ezek. 28:17). We also know that Lucifer's secret desire was to "be like the Most High" (not to replace God, as Xn ministers often teach. Isa 14:13-14).

Other than that, Nic'Kole, there is not much revealed. As a matter of fact, the Bible is very silent, overall, concerning Satan. Satan gets far more attention and publicity from his ministers within Xty than he does from the Spirit of God. Did you know that Satan is not even mentioned in the Bible until the book of 1Chronicles, chapter 21? That means he had to wait until the thirteenth book before he was mentioned. I bet that just burned him up when God did that!

Really, Nic'Kole, the devil is just not that important a character. Our whole life is in Jesus's hands alone--and Jesus loves us! Thank God, Jesus is Lord of all. Praise God for Jesus!

I don't know that "Lucifer" is a name that pre-dates "Satan", as your inquiry suggests. The Bible never makes that distinction. But one thing I know--Jesus pre-dated everybody in heaven and in earth, and only a fool like Satan can't rejoice about that! Our best friend is sitting on the right hand of God! I feel like David---"Somebody help me praise him!"

Thanks for the question. Stay in touch . . . with Jesus!

Pastor John

and later...

Pastor John:

In a recent email, you asked, "Did you know that Satan is not even mentioned in the Bible until the book of 1 Chronicles, chapter 21? That means he had to wait until the thirteenth book before he was mentioned."

Well, I had no idea. In some of the sects of Xty I've been affiliated with, Gen. 3 is the book that's referenced regarding his debut. I suppose that that's not true. So would it be that the serpent mentioned in Gen. 3 is just a serpent possessing an evil spirit then?

Nic'Kole:

No. I believe that Satan, being the "father of lies" that he is, was involved in that scene with Eve and the serpent. Whether he took the form of a serpent or not, the Bible never tells us, so we cannot say. But my point was that the Bible just doesn't talk about Satan as often as his minsiters do! By none of his names is he mentioned until 1Chrionicles 21.

jdc

and later...

Ok, I understand what you're saying. There was miscommunication on my part. You were speaking of the name itself whereas I was thinking about the presence of Satan. Thanks for the clarification.

Nic'Kole

OFS from Lagos, Nigeria wrote:

Hi Pastor John,

I give God thanks for enabling you to answer my questions on John 2:28. Even when I was in Xty, I never agreed with such belief of women being pastors or teachers in the for of sure they are weaker vessels truly. Therefore I say thanks a lot once more again. Pastor John, how do you see this phrase “doing something for the Lord?” can a human being do something for the Lord? In the world of Xty, they usually ask people what are you doing for the Lord? And many at times they do ask such question just to know someone’s position in the Lord and how zealous is the person and so on. So, pastor John, I want to know how possible is it for someone to be doing something for the Lord.

My regards to the whole saints over there and may God richly bless you mor