Melchizedek

Hello Pastor John.

I don’t recall ever hearing it discussed but did Melchizedek only have man’s kind of righteousness? Considering he was the “king of righteousness” and the fact that Abraham paid tithes to him and not much else is known about him. I assume he didn’t have God’s righteousness but I’ve never heard it said, or at least I don’t remember hearing about him specifically.

Robert A. Payne, L. G.

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Hi, Bob.

Thanks for the question.

It was impossible for anyone to possess God’s kind of righteousness before God’s extraordinary Son came and paid the price for it. “King of Righteousness” is the meaning of the name “Melchizedek”; the true King of Righteousness is the Son of God, of whom righteous Melchizedek was only a figure, like Abraham, David, and many others.

Pastor John

Four Soils and Choices

Good morning,

I heard something on the Kings* teaching that went with what you were teaching about the four kinds of soils last night.  I had never heard it and it brought such relief when I did.  It is so good to me, I am almost afraid to say it because I don’t want to have it wrong.  I want it to be true.

You said our choices determine what kind of soil we are.

I hope I have that right!

If I do, I never knew that.  I thought we were just one of those soils, and I have prayed and prayed for Jesus to let me be good soil.  If that is true, what relief!  I don’t even really know why that is so good to me, but inside, I feel like how I picture Uncle Joe did in that hospital room, full of cancer, there is still hope!

I have been sitting on that a couple of days but since you brought up the four kinds of soil, it’s my chance to write you about it and see if that is right?

Either way, I am praying to be good soil!

Beth D.

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HI Beth.

I believe that all of God’s children can be the good soil that Jesus spoke of in his parable. So, yes, there is great hope for us all to be the kind of person that pleases God.  Of course, some of God’s children choose to go another way and become bad “soil”, but that doesn’t ever mean they have to.  Our choices do very much determine our spiritual condition.

I love the simple fact that if we just follow the Spirit, we will live in peace with God forever, regardless of how much or how little we know about anything.  It really is a matter of the heart.

Pastor John

*To order Pastor John’s teaching series on the Kings, please for the link below for our online store:

Pastor John’s House.com Gospel Material Available for Purchase. (pastorjohnshouse.com)

Our King is Jesus!

Good morning, 

I have been reading Deuteronomy and listening to you teach Kings*, and it is so good to me!  I love the feelings I feel hearing about God.  I feel alive!

This morning as I read about God giving instructions for Israel if they should want a king over them, it touched me to see that God knew they would want a human king over them before they did, and to see God still love them enough to say that when he sits on the throne of his kingdom, he must keep a book of the law and read it all the days of his life.  My heart hurt for God.  I just wanted to say to Israel, “Stay with God and let Him love you.  Don’t leave Him!”

After hearing you teach about the sin of Jeroboam, then thinking about Christianity, and the condition of this world, and what leaving God and doing things your own way leads to, I just want to curl up even closer to Jesus and let God love me!

Makes me cry to know God gave us Jesus for our King.  God gave us His best! 

Deuteronomy 17

14 When thou art come unto the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee, and shalt possess it, and shalt dwell therein, and shalt say, I will set a king over me, like as all the nations that are about me;

18 And it shall be, when he sitteth upon the throne of his kingdom, that he shall write him a copy of this law in a book out of that which is before the priests the Levites:19 And it shall be with him, and he shall read therein all the days of his life: that he may learn to fear the Lord his God, to keep all the words of this law and these statutes, to do them:

20 That his heart be not lifted up above his brethren, and that he turn not aside from the commandment, to the right hand, or to the left: to the end that he may prolong his days in his kingdom, he, and his children, in the midst of Israel.

Beth D.

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Hi Beth.

It is good that you are making the time to get anchored in the things of God.  Doing so is going to pay big dividends for you, and for anyone who does that.

Thank you for letting us know how and what you are doing.  It is a good example for us all.

Pastor John

*To order Pastor John’s teaching series on Kings, please follow the link below for our online store:

Pastor John’s House.com Gospel Material Available for Purchase. (pastorjohnshouse.com)

Life Languages

Hi, Pastor John;

I was walking over to your house this morning and enjoying listening to all the sounds of life. Different types of birds; mourning doves, owls, and even a Cardinal. There were types of frog sounds, crickets, a dog barking, and insects.  Each species of each bird, animal, insect and such, have their own unique sound or tongue in which to identify them. It made me smile knowing that God’s Son created every distinct sound for each species. Each of them is identifiable by the type of sound that they make, and all of them give glory to God’s Son. If we can hear it, they point to the one who created them.

Then, while walking,  I thought about the new creature that God created on the day of Pentecost. This creature was given a language, too. A Heavenly language that points and leads to the Creator more than any creature ever created, because the life of this new creature is God’s life. Whoever has this language testifies about the things of God, as they have been created to do. Without the creatures singing out this morning, I wouldn’t even know they were around. I walked back home and they were still telling on God.

Like Dr. U. told me in the hospital, “There’s life out there, Mr. Mellick” (as he pointed out the window).  We are in a very special place, where we are encouraged to speak the language that God created in us and live; this is, “no small thing”.

Simple things, but I like simple things.

Billy

God Speaking

Good morning!

I love this.  God spoke to Moses “mouth to mouth, and plainly, and not in riddles, and he beholds the likeness of Jehovah.”. It was not in a dream or vision, but intimate and personal because Moses was faithful in all God’s affairs!

What does that say to us in the times God speaks so plainly to us?  It made me think of the time I had a bad attitude about Jerry telling me I needed to make sure to pick up all the sticks before mowing and I wasn’t going to do that,  then Jesus told me, “Run over one stick and see if I do not break that mower.”

I felt such a fearful awe that day.  I didn’t want to move or breathe.  I can still feel it when I think of it.  It is a similar feeling when I think of Jesus speaking plainly to us, that God would even consider having His Son speak plainly and intimately to us. 

It really is a wonderful and fearful awe.

Numbers 12:

4. And Jehovah spoke suddenly to Moses, and to Aaron, and to Miriam, “Come out, the three of you, to the tent of meeting.” And the three of them came.

5. And Jehovah came down in a pillar of cloud, and He stood at the entrance of the tent, and He called Aaron and Miriam, and they both came forward.

6. And He said, “Hear now my words. If there be a prophet among you, I, Jehovah, will make myself known to him in a vision; I will speak with him in a dream.

7. Not so with my servant Moses. He is faithful in all my affairs.

8. Mouth to mouth do I speak with him, and plainly, and not in riddles, and he beholds the likeness of Jehovah. Why, then, were you not afraid to speak against my servant, against Moses?”

Numbers 21:

14. (Therefore, it is said in the Book of the Wars of Jehovah…. “

I didn’t know there was a book of wars of Jehovah! 

Beth D.

Lev 26:19–20

Good morning, 

I hope you are having a sweet time soaking in the Son! 

I just finished reading Leviticus 26.  Whew!  It is sobering and terrifying, and it left me so full of thankfulness. 

I read verse 10, and I thought about us, and how much food we have.  I recently had a sister send me something of ours to read (The Jerusalem Council) and I thought, “Oh, I want to start it, but first, I am reading in the OT, and then I want to get back to [the character] Uzziel!”  Brother Gary is getting new songs every day; we have the Thoughts for Today, Random Thoughts, Thoughts for the Evening.  Then add to that all the books we have, and will have.  It was sweet naming them out to Jesus this morning.  And at any time, Jesus can give us something new throughout the day!  We have so much food! 

To really look at how much we have been given and then read Leviticus 26 is sobering and terrifying.  How much more angry than that would God feel, after His Son died for us to have all we have, if we do not walk in that light!  I just keep feeling that God is serious about what He has given us.  Especially after seeing my mother recently, and seeing that evil spirit so alive in her dying body.  Recently you spoke of the demons Jesus drove away from us when he gave us the holy ghost coming back to see if there is an open door in our hearts.  How sobering! 

In Leviticus 26, God’s said he would send His people fleeing in terror when no one pursues, and that they would flee at the sound of a leaf shaking.  I read that, and it hit me how much Jesus has done for us.  The peace, and the rest we have because we have a clear conscience before God.  Reading this morning made me remember the days when I did not have peace, dreading the morning sun to come up.  I lived under nothing but anxiety and fear, drugging myself to try and outrun and numb those feelings.  Peace is something I could not give myself.

From Leviticus 26:11. “And I will put my tabernacle in your midst, and my soul will not abhor you.”

I never thought of God having a soul.  I assume that is just another way of saying that He will not abhor them, but it struck me that He said “soul”.

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Yes, Beth, God has a soul.  We were created in. his image.

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What does does “skies like iron and land like bronze”  mean? 

Lev. 26:19. And I will break your mighty pride. And I will make your skies like iron and your land like bronze,

20. and your strength will be spent in vain, and your land will not yield its produce, and the tree of the land will not bear its fruit.

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It means that there will be no rain and that the ground will become very hard and unproductive.

Pastor John

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Thank you,

Beth D.

The Great Physician’s Orders

Hey Pastor John! 

I want to share what Jesus did for me this morning. 

I pulled something in my upper back and shoulder the other day which has been causing pain and numbness in my arms. This morning I planned to cut my dad and Richard’s hair but my right arm and hand were completely numb, so I took some ibuprofen and sat down in the living room with a heating pad on my neck to see if I could get some relief before doing the haircuts. As I sat there, I could tell that I was feeling drained and down, both in my body and in my spirit.  I sat there and thought, “I should probably just stay here all day and rest.” 

Jessa came and sat with me for a bit, and we played a game.  When I looked at the clock, it was already 9:15am and my dad was going to be at my house at 10 am for his haircut.  So I decided to get on up to get ready. Then I had the thought to play a song from the music on my phone.  I like to play the songs in “shuffle mode” so they play in random order.  The first song that came up was Brother Gary’s “All You Need is a Little Drink of Holy Wine.” 

I hit the play button, got up, and went into my bedroom.  Right away the words of the song felt like the Great Physician’s orders!!

“Now what can take away cares and troubles

What can roll those burdens off your mind?

Take a sip of that holy wine. 

Lose yourself and you’ll be fine.

All you need is a little drink of holy wine.”

I started to move my body a little and began loosening up my shoulders.  At first, I was doing it, but then after a few minutes the holy ghost fell on me.  I completely yielded my body to the Spirit and danced all over my room, moving in all directions, all the while my neck, shoulders, and arms were popping and cracking!  I couldn’t stop my body from moving, and I danced through the whole song and part of the next one. The next song was “I Am Resolved”.  I dropped to my knees and thanked Jesus for his mercy and power touching me.  When I got up off the floor, I could tell I still had a little pain in my shoulder,  but I was so drunk that didn’t even matter.  It feels so good to feel good!! 

And I am very, very thankful that I do not have any numbness in my arms and hands!  I was able to do my dad and Richard’s haircuts without any problems.  Yay Jesus!! 

Looking forward to being with y’all soon!

Love,

Amy F.

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And let me add that it was the best haircut I have ever had! As she was telling me what happened, it felt really good. She was still feeling the Spirit, and so was I. What a wonderful testimony. 

Tom

Leviticus 2:11

Good morning, 

I am reading in Leviticus this morning.  As I am reading my mind says “this is archaic” –– even after what God has let me learn!   I have had to reset that thought a few times and remember that this is my God and my God’s heart.  I remember taking the Old Testament class with Jimmy & Sue and others and being amazed at learning about who God is, especially His love.  I  knew nothing about Him.

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The works of the law are archaic, Beth, but the Spirit still uses them to teach us about our Creator and His Son who became a sacrifice for us.  What Jesus did for us is the thing that makes the law of Moses relevant and interesting.  Isn’t it wonderful?

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I wish I could have had a peek at Aaron and his sons throwing the blood and burning the offerings, just to see what they were feeling or saying to each other.  How much time did this take?  They had a lot of people bringing offerings.  It would have been very messy, too.  The carnal mindset would probably make it seem solemn, swinging the smoke-filled incense burner and chanting.  Or at least, my mind pictures that.  I wish I could just have one peek to see them.

And in Leviticus 2:11, why did God forbid Israel to ever offer honey?  I think I understand the prohibition regarding leaven, but why not allow honey be brought for an offering?  Any reason?

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I do not know why God forbade “any leaven or any honey” to be burned with the offerings that were made on His altar, Beth, but I am sure that He had a wonderful reason.

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I thought about Leviticus 2:3 also, where God commands that a portion be given to His priests, and how it really is a matter of the heart.  God did not need those offerings in order for Him to take care of Aaron and his sons, but He wanted Israel to be blessed for doing it.  Likewise, God does not need our tithes and offerings to take care of His servants, but that is the way He has chosen for it to be done.  And our response answers the question, “Where is our heart?”

I love that.

Beth D.

Meeting Last Night

Good morning!

I loved last night’s meeting!  I agree with Bess, one of my favorites.  I remember when I started working at the hospital, all those nasty spirits around, I would be perfectly happy and joyful and as soon as I started walking in I could feel all the spirits talking.  It was such a heavy burden.  Then I remembered you would always tell us to pray to discern spirits so we can keep our joy.  I would ask Jesus all the time, please teach me to discern the spirits around me.  Every time  I would ask him I would always hear, “Know who you are”.  I didn’t understand that for the longest time and honestly sometimes now I forget it.  But what a wonderful reminder that was last night!  If we know who we are, we can recognize something talking to us that is not us! Staying close to Jesus, happy and free, what a wonderful life!

I’m also so thankful for Jesus opening my heart to the truth.  The truth is encouraging, uplifting and removes burdens!  It cleans your heart so Jesus can occupy every space!  Every time we have a meeting I close my eyes and see Jesus stretching out his hand and saying come on, I love you, you can do it, I’ve equipped you with everything you need!  There is not one speck of Christianity in that and I love it!

Thank you, Pastor John, for always feeding us pure, delicious food!  I want to eat every bit of it!

Michelle G.

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I am always amazed by the meetings.  Tonight’s message hit an issue I have been having.  It’s like you looked my soul and saw what has been bothering me. 

Thank you,

Mark W.

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Pastor John,

I went back and listened again and felt the mercy of God in what you were preaching last night.  I fell asleep afterwards and dreamed a short dream of Haskell & me together somewhere, and we saw a couple who moved together oddly, like while walking or doing other normal activities.  It looked familiar to us and we both said we were thankful for what Jesus had done for us because we used to be that way.  The best way to describe it is they moved like robots instead of just living.  They didn’t seem relaxed or real.

I woke up with a sweet feeling of peace and hearing Gary sing, “All I Love, I Love….If you get confused, or don’t know what to do, I’ll be there to carry you.”  I don’t want to be a mixture of good and bad, or be like the world and by that, put pressure on God’s children to feel like they’re not good enough.  I know I’ve hurt people by not being full of the holy ghost. 

Since my last surgery with my teeth, though, I feel like Jesus has helped me give more right responses.  But I pray to have a pure heart.  As soon as you talked about Bruised Reeds, I cried last night.  Just the day before, I had reminded Jesus of how he’d touched me with the Bruised Reeds tract before we had children.  I had gotten discouraged then, and when I read that tract, I felt so much lighter.  It helped me believe he would still do something for me, even though I felt like I had failed him. 

It touches me to know that Jesus put that prayer in my heart this week. Thank you for the message last night.

Cris

Thank You!

Hey!
One of my favorite messages I have learned through the years is who we are in Christ-who he has made us to be! And when we know that, then we know who we aren’t! Spirits that  would try to talk to us and get in our heads have to flee when we keep the mind of Christ alive! I am loving these meetings! It feels so good to my heart and soul! Thank you for teaching and preaching to us what Jesus gives to you

Bess S.

Leviticus – “Placating Aroma” Part 2

That answer does something to me.  I read your reply and went back to look at Exodus.  I want to read it all over again.  My mind was filtering everything through the law being a preparation and merciful, God preparing hearts for the day His Son came to rescue us.  

A few times, it has hit me about God’s wrath, but I read right through most of it without really seeing wrath, even the sufferings He sent for Israel building a golden calf.

To have wrath and still show mercy!  It is so hard to put those together in my mind.  To know that God sent Jesus to save me from sin and yet, HATED the sins I was committing just makes the mercy so much deeper!

It’s also scary to think of God’s wrath.  Imagine the wrath you might incur if you went back to your old filth after God called you out of it to be His.  Yet, I have seen him rescue a loved one with just such tender love and mercy.  It is all just swirling around in my mind right now.

Beth D.