John 16:7

Hi Pastor John,

I noticed in our translation of John 16:7 that is says “…for if I do not go away, the Comforter will not come to you; but if I go I will send Him to you.”  I didn’t notice before that it says “him” when speaking of the comforter.  But the comforter is not a him, it’s an ‘it’. That would support the trinity!  SO it makes me wonder why it says him, and not it?

I love our translation!

Jenny

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Hi Jenny.

As I explain in my Pneuma Study, the word “comforter” is a masculine word in the Greek language, and so, “he” is the appropriate pronoun to use when referring to it.  However, the word “Spirit” is a neuter word in the Greek language, and so, the apostles always used “it” when referring to that word.

Thank you for writing.  I am glad you are enjoying our translation.

Pastor John

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Taking Off the Sackcloth

Pastor John, 

RE: An excerpt from: Random Thought, 12-9, Putting Off Sackcloth, by Pastor John 

I love this. It is so good. I prayed as I shared this on Facebook, “Lord, please let them see it!”

Whenever God removes your sackcloth, He covers you with robes of mercy. He gives the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness (Isa. 61:3). When men remove their own sackcloth, they are left naked before God, even if they do not know it.

Men have never known when to remove their sackcloth; that is why we must humble ourselves to wait on God. “It is Good”, said Jeremiah, “that a man should both hope and quietly wait for the salvation of the Lord” (Lam. 3:26). Those who do not wait on God will be left to join one of the many religions that mankind has developed as a substitute for true mercy and grace. They will take off their own sackcloth and join ranks with the multitudes who are traveling naked toward the Judgment. To just such a man (as to all who have removed their own sackcloth), Jesus once said, “For you say, ‘I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing,’ but you don’t know that you are wretched, and pathetic, and poor, and blind, and naked, I advise you to purchase from me gold refined by fire so that you may be rich, and white garments so that you may clothe yourself and the shame of your nakedness not be exposed, and eyesalve to anoint your eyes so that you might see” (Rev. 3:17—18)….

“They will take off their own sackcloth and join ranks with the multitudes who are traveling naked toward the Judgment.” 

What is written above touched me when I read it.  After seeing the young people praise the Lord recently, it did something to me.  I saw the most beautiful sight in those moments.  It did something to my heart, and when I read the above, it stirred deep in me again.  I know what is written is true; no one could ever tell me it is not true.  The Lord not only showed me, but he etched it into my soul.  Maybe even to my foundation.  I don’t know, but it does something to me. 

I want those young people to read it, Pastor John, but more than that, I want them to see it. 

“They will take off their own sackcloth and join ranks with the multitudes who are traveling naked toward the Judgment.” 

It hurts my heart. 

Beth

Pearl of the Day, December 7, 2018

Pastor John, 

The Lord reminded me of this truth after reading your December 7th Pearl of the Day:

Envy, just like grumbling, is slander against God. 

It implies that God didn’t get it right. 

Jerry D.

 

Last Night

I just wanted to thank Jesus for his sweet, sweet power of the Holy Ghost, sweeping over my heart and soul last night! To just lie there on the floor feeling his power, and releasing me from my burdens, thoughts, and cares of this life, feeling his sweet washing power sweeping over and over inside of me! All I could feel going over and over inside me was Jesus, Jesus feel my heart, cleanse me from me, I need more of You!  

How can people live without it? Oh, how I thank him for the GOOD HOLY GHOST! ! 

Jimmy T.

Wrestling an Angel

Pastor John, 

In Genesis when Jacob was wrestling with an angel how exactly was he “wrestling”?

Was it a literal physical fight or more spiritual or sicknesses?

Michelle

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Hi Michelle:

Jacob was physically wrestling the angel.

Pastor John

Garment of Praise

Hi Pastor John,  

I was thinking about how beautiful the young people looked praising the Lord Saturday evening. The thought “garment of praise” came to mind. When I looked up Isaiah 61:3 in our translation, it shows “mantle of praise”. It is hard for me to think of a “mantle of praise” being the same as a mantle like Elijah passed on. In my mind I think of a mantle as representing an anointing.

I looked up the word mantle to reference how it is used in the Bible, and it seems to be many times as a robe or clothing. To think of Jesus wrapping us in his spirit and allowing us to praise him moves me deeply. What I saw on the young people was pulled from within them and they were submitting to that heavenly draw. I feel it every time I watch the video. Thinking about a garment of praise, I can picture Jesus standing there in the room with us, covering each of them that night.

I guess when Jesus chooses one to anoint, he is laying a heavenly cloak upon them.  Brings tears to my eyes thinking about Jesus laying a cloak upon you, Pastor John.

I don’t know anything more beautiful than the truth, Pastor John. 

Isaiah 61:3

“To provide for those mourning in Zion — to give them beauty instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, a mantle of praise instead of a weary spirit — that they might be called, “trees of righteousness, the planting of Jehovah”, that He might be glorified.”

Beth

Tonight

Pastor John,

The Spirit spoke to me this evening while you were preaching. I will try to describe it.

I needed to use the bathroom and I was getting uncomfortable because of it. Determined not to miss anything I finally told (myself) with the intent of settling the matter, “I’m not going while he is preaching, it’s too good, I’m not going!”

After letting myself “have it” there in your basement, I then recalled attending a meeting of brother Benny Hinn’s, some 12 years ago in Tennessee.

Brother Hinn started his service that night by telling everyone that we were all there for the purpose of getting something from the Lord. He then went on to tell us that in a short time some of us were going to start feeling restless, or get the feeling that we needed to go to the bathroom. He then fixed his eyes on us all and said sternly, “Hold it!” (referring to the bathroom) “God is worth you waiting on, and worth you being uncomfortable for.”

After recalling brother Hinn’s words tonight, from his meeting some 12 years ago, a feeling came over me of how very much “in order” those instructions were to everyone.  I thought to myself, Benny Hinn told us to “hold it” that night, because he knew his words from the Lord had VALUE.

The Lord then interrupted that thought of mine, pastor John, with this:

“and you who do not require that your children mind you the first time you speak, do so because you know your words DO NOT have value.  GET VALUABLE!!

What the Lord is passing out has value!”

Thanks,

Jerry