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

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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

 

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Brad: “Why We Know the Truth?”

The humility and grace inherent in your writing, Pastor John, is breathtaking to me.  I weep when I read such heartfelt, honest writing.  Do you know why I weep?  Because I identify with it…with what you wrote…with your same feelings. 

In 1994 (24 YEARS AGO!), I came to know the truth through brother Gary’s efforts (his radio broadcast and the tracts he sent me).  Then, after my eyes had been opened, and after I had fully repented, I was born again…and then I’ve drifted for quite some time, also wondering why Jesus revealed such profound and wonderful truths to me, yet not to others.  I have been alone, mostly, for 15 years; but of course, remaining dedicated to you and our family in Christ who have also continued to stay in love with the truth.  And I’ve always wondered where I fit in… into the work God has given you..and I still do not know.  I have beside me a wife who has also fallen in love with Jesus and this truth, and we are excited about discovering how and where the Lord will lead us, and if/when my talents can be put to use in some way for the benefit of your work…or perhaps my own work, to share this truth to those who are hungering to know it.  

It seems that very few, indeed, are hungering and thirsting for the truth, as I always was.  “Jesus found me“, I tell  people, because I was looking but not finding true rest in religious church groups.  I obeyed His call to come out, and it has made all the difference in the world, sitting under your tutelage and being blessed—and persecuted—because of it. 

I love what you have written.  It is good for a man to examine himself, to see if he is truly in the faith—and why!

Please pray that I may find my place in God’s plan.  I am not sure of where I fit into the big scheme…but I have a heart that yearns to know…and so does my darling wife, Allison. 

Looking forward to our visit in a few days. 

Brad

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Enemy of God

Pastor John, 

I was reading this morning and this really struck me.  I never really considered being an enemy of God because of sin.

Romans 5:

10. For if when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by His life.

Verses 7 and 8 really touched me.

Romans 5:

7. Rarely will someone die for a righteous man, though for a good man, one might possibly bring himself to die,

8.but God commends to us His kind of love, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.

Matthew 5:

44. But I say to you, love your enemies; bless those who curse you; do good to those who hate you; and pray for those who mistreat you and persecute you,

45. so that you may be children of your Father who is in heaven. For He makes His sun to rise upon the evil and the good, and sends rain upon the just and the unjust.

Beth D.

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Thanks for Explaining Things

John, 

I enjoyed immensely the education you gave on translating in tract room last night, thank you!  It just cements in the fact that we must have the spirit to lead us.

I am thankful if I have any little part in getting the message to the Jews.  I feel like we are just starting to understand why the Jews  were confused and rejected the messiah.

My, my, when will I learn that Jesus just meant what he said, “You search the scriptures; in them, you think you have life, but they are they that testify of me.  And you won’t come to me.”

Now, Jesus is allowing you to see him in the scriptures.

Looking forward to Revelation Sunday Night.

Wendell

 

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While Praying

Pastor John, 

While praying today the Lord told me, all transgression is against Him, there is no transgression against me- the person.  I’m not supposed to be here, I’m supposed to be a reflection of my Father in Heaven.  I am supposed to decrease, while He increases in me.  If I will humble myself and realize that I am nothing, that is my safety, my security.  That will keep me from ever being offended.

When Jesus walked the earth, he took nothing personally, he was nothing, he was no one – in his eyes; he was a worm.  Jesus knew all spite, all hatred, all malice, all wickedness and misunderstanding that was directed at him, was really aimed at his heavenly Father.  And he prayed for those who felt that way- that God would forgive them for their attitude, toward God, not him!

If we will walk in that place, knowing we are nothing, it makes it very easy to forgive.  In that place we can’t be offended.  We can easily pray for those who misunderstand or aim to hurt us, or do so without intending to.  We can seek the Lord for them as Jesus did, knowing that all praise heaped upon us by men, for doing well, belongs to God.  And all hatred heaped upon us by men, for doing well, belongs to God as well.  We can just pray for them, knowing that God watches over our soul.

The Lord told me once, many years ago, “Taking care of you is what I do, while you are taking care of other people.”  

Jerry

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What about Places in History other than the Middle East?

Hey Pastor John,

I was thinking about the world during the time of the Bible and I want to know what you think. At what point do you think that the American Indians occur in biblical history? I have heard that they have similar stories of the flood in their folklore. Do you think that they were there after Pentecost time or before? And if after, could it be possible that they would have heard of Jesus or Holy Ghost? I’m wondering because there isn’t much that I have heard/read mentioned in the Bible that talks about other places in the world. It’s a funny question I guess but I still have been wondering for a while. 

Much obliged,

Jon Sellers

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

Hi, Jon!

Just about every culture in the world has had a flood story because the true story was passed down by the eight survivors, and then, through the years, their descendants changed the flood story, changing some facts, adding some things and omitting some others.

As far as American Indians are concerned, I don’t know when they began living in North America.  That’s a question men have debated for a very long time.  But no man really knows.

Hope that helps.

Pastor John

 

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