687. Pastor John Johnson Shares his Personal Testimony - November 19, 2024

[00:00:06] Welcome to Wisdom Today. My name is Bill Kelley and I'll be your host. In this podcast we will be exploring the book of Proverbs.

[00:00:22] Father God, I thank you for anyone listening to this podcast today. Lord, I pray that you would reveal to everyone listening how much you truly love each and every one of them. I ask this in Jesus' name. Amen.

[00:00:36] This is Proverb 19 beginning in verse 1. Better is the poor who walks in his integrity than one who is perverse in his lips and is a fool.

[00:00:49] Also it is not good for a soul to be without knowledge, and he sins who hastens with his feet. The foolishness of a man twists his way and his heart frets against the Lord.

[00:01:03] Wealth makes many friends, but the poor is separated from his friend. A false witness will not go unpunished, and he who speaks lies will not escape.

[00:01:16] Many entreat the favor of the nobility, and every man is a friend to one who gives gifts. All the brothers of the poor hate him. How much more do his friends go far from him?

[00:01:30] He may pursue them with words, yet they abandon him. He who gets wisdom loves his own soul. He who keeps understanding will find good.

[00:01:42] A false witness will not go unpunished, and he who speaks lies shall perish.

[00:01:49] Luxury is not fitting for a fool, much less for a servant to rule over princes. The discretion of a man makes him slow to anger, and his glory is to overlook a transgression.

[00:02:04] The king's wrath is like the roaring of a lion, but his favor is like dew on the grass. A foolish son is the ruin of his father, and the contentions of a wife are a continual dripping.

[00:02:20] Houses and riches are an inheritance from fathers, but a prudent wife is from the Lord.

[00:02:30] Laziness casts one into a deep sleep, and an idle person will suffer hunger. He who keeps the commandment keeps his soul, but he who is careless of his ways will die.

[00:02:44] He who has pity on the poor lends to the Lord, and he will pay back what he has given.

[00:02:52] Chasten your son while there is hope, and do not set your heart on his destruction.

[00:02:59] A man of great wrath will suffer punishment, for if you rescue him, you will have to do it again.

[00:03:07] Listen to counsel and receive instruction that you may be wise in your latter days.

[00:03:13] There are many plans in a man's heart. Nevertheless, the Lord's counsel, that will stand.

[00:03:22] What is desired in a man is kindness, and a poor man is better than a liar.

[00:03:29] The fear of the Lord leads to life, and he who has it will abide in satisfaction.

[00:03:36] He will not be visited with evil.

[00:03:38] A lazy man buries his hand in the bowl, and will not so much as bring it to his mouth again.

[00:03:47] Strike a scoffer, and the simple will become weary.

[00:03:52] Rebuke one who has understanding, and he will discern knowledge.

[00:03:56] He who mistreats his father, and chases away his mother, is a son who causes shame, and brings reproach.

[00:04:05] Cease listening to instruction, my son, and you will stray from the words of knowledge.

[00:04:12] A disreputable witness scorns justice, and the mouth of the wicked devours iniquity.

[00:04:21] Judgments are prepared for scoffers, and beatings for the backs of fools.

[00:04:27] Friends, I have a special treat for you today.

[00:04:29] I have Pastor John Johnson.

[00:04:33] And Pastor John, you know, we just went over Proverb 19, and Proverb 19 is one of my favorite

[00:04:40] proverbs, but if you would, please share with the audience which verse you would like to

[00:04:44] share today, and tell the audience why.

[00:04:47] Yes, the verse that I have picked today is Proverbs 19 and 16.

[00:04:55] He who keeps the commandment keeps his soul, but he who is careless of his ways will die.

[00:05:04] And the reason why I chose that today is because God gave Moses the Ten Commandments on Mount Sinai

[00:05:11] in Exodus 22 through 17, and the law was to show mankind their sin and point us to God as a schoolmaster.

[00:05:24] And then over in the New Testament, in Luke 10 and 28, Jesus, whenever the man came to him, he said,

[00:05:34] Ye shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your strength,

[00:05:42] and with all your mind, and your neighbor as yourself.

[00:05:47] And Jesus speaking, said to him, You have answered correctly.

[00:05:52] Do this, and you shall live.

[00:05:55] So in that, to me, it was speaking as it states that he who keeps the commandment keeps his soul

[00:06:04] because he is keeping that which God has given us to help direct and give us life.

[00:06:10] And then when we follow the laws of God himself, it is for the betterment of us and our soul itself.

[00:06:20] And it says that, But he who is careless of his ways will die,

[00:06:25] because sin itself means to miss the mark.

[00:06:29] And we were all born into sin through Adam's rebellion in the garden.

[00:06:36] And Romans 3.23 says, For all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God.

[00:06:44] But in Romans 6.23, it says, For the wages of sin is death.

[00:06:51] But the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

[00:06:56] That's really good.

[00:06:57] And, you know, you really hit on some good points, John.

[00:07:01] But what I'd like for you to do is the audience does not know you.

[00:07:06] If you would, let's go back to your childhood.

[00:07:09] Where did you grow up?

[00:07:11] Tell us, did you have any brothers and sisters?

[00:07:14] Did you go to church growing up?

[00:07:16] If you would, just share a little bit about your upbringing that you'd like to share with the audience.

[00:07:23] Yes.

[00:07:24] Thank you so much, Brother Kelly.

[00:07:25] Growing up as a young man, a young boy, I grew up in Sumter County, Florida.

[00:07:32] I was born in 1969.

[00:07:34] My father was Ernie Johnson and my mother, Judy Johnson.

[00:07:39] They had came to Florida back in the 50s.

[00:07:42] And my daddy was a St. Lucie County Sheriff's Deputy.

[00:07:46] And then he got on the Florida Highway Patrol and transferred over to Wildwood, Florida,

[00:07:52] where I grew up until about age 10.

[00:07:57] And then after age 10, we moved out to our 15-acre farm in the little town of Oxford,

[00:08:05] where we had a wonderful childhood growing up in the country and on the farm.

[00:08:10] We weren't rich by no means, but the Lord sure blessed us.

[00:08:14] We had a roof over our head, clothes on our back, and food on our table.

[00:08:20] And all throughout the years of us growing up, my mother, Judy Johnson,

[00:08:27] she was a wonderful, sweet, loving Christian woman, a woman of God who always sat down at night

[00:08:35] and she read us the Bible, told us about Jesus and how important it is to have Jesus in your life.

[00:08:42] And not only that, she took us and raised us in the church.

[00:08:46] We grew up in the First Baptist Church in Wildwood, Florida, which is still there today

[00:08:52] until the time we moved to Oxford, Florida,

[00:08:56] and we continued to be raised in the Oxford Baptist Church

[00:09:00] and where at age 11 I gave my heart to Jesus.

[00:09:05] My mom had already prepared our hearts in helping us understand who Jesus the Christ is and was to us

[00:09:15] and what the meaning is and for us to receive him as our Lord and Savior.

[00:09:22] And on that Sunday, I felt the Lord knocking at my heart's door

[00:09:27] and illuminated his truth to me and I went forward to call upon the name of the Lord

[00:09:33] and confess my sins to him that my name would be written in the Lamb's Book of Life.

[00:09:39] Okay.

[00:09:39] You know, that's really good.

[00:09:41] And, you know, I can't even begin to tell you how blessed you are to do that at an early age.

[00:09:48] Okay?

[00:09:49] But, John, I'm going to call you Pastor John because you have your own church

[00:09:53] and you've earned that designation.

[00:09:56] But what I'd like to do, Pastor John, is when you went up and made that decision,

[00:10:03] did you change right away?

[00:10:07] Yes, sir.

[00:10:08] I did change right away.

[00:10:09] I felt the tugging of the Lord.

[00:10:12] And even as well through growing up, my mama always said that even as a young boy,

[00:10:18] I would get up on a box and I would, you know, like I was preaching

[00:10:22] and that she always knew that there was a calling upon my life.

[00:10:27] And from that point forward, I began to serve the Lord.

[00:10:31] I had a desire to live for him, a desire to be able to, you know, be in his word and in fellowship.

[00:10:38] And I couldn't wait to get to the Baptist church where we grew up and to spend time

[00:10:42] and listen to the pastors and the Sunday school teachers as they taught us of the Lord Jesus Christ.

[00:10:49] And all the way up through to my high school years and being able to be there for all of my classmates

[00:10:57] that would come to me and ask me for prayer or ask me to be able to lead them in the center's prayer

[00:11:05] because they wanted to receive the Lord Jesus Christ or even prayers to help them get through the trials and tribulations

[00:11:12] that they were going through.

[00:11:14] And it was after the point of my graduation that I was led to want to go to a theological school.

[00:11:24] And I went to seek it out.

[00:11:27] And at that time, I went to my father because two of his brothers from West Virginia were preachers.

[00:11:35] And I had asked my father about becoming a preacher.

[00:11:39] And he had been in law enforcement all of his life.

[00:11:42] And he told me that if you get into the ministry,

[00:11:45] you'll have everybody's problems on your shoulder and you won't make any money.

[00:11:50] And I allowed that to hit me wrong.

[00:11:53] And from that point forward, I began to be the prodigal son.

[00:11:58] You know, I'm going to stop you right there because that reminds me of Proverbs 29, 25.

[00:12:04] And it says, the fear of man brings a snare.

[00:12:07] And, you know, Pastor John, you know, as a young boy,

[00:12:12] now you're talking about graduating from high school, but you're still a boy.

[00:12:17] I mean, you're right on the age of manhood, and yet you still are heavily swayed by your father.

[00:12:26] And so that led you astray.

[00:12:29] Is that what you're telling me?

[00:12:31] Out of my own decision and choice, I rebelled.

[00:12:35] I was looking for some spiritual direction and didn't understand it at the time.

[00:12:40] But I was praying that my father would say, son, I'll take you and we'll go and research this out

[00:12:47] and find you a good school to get into.

[00:12:50] But he didn't know any different because he wasn't serving God.

[00:12:54] And he was a hard mountain man from law enforcement all his life and all that he'd been through.

[00:13:00] And he was just giving me the knowledge that he had and the understanding of the world that he'd been through.

[00:13:06] So at that time, I was what I refer to as a Jonah and a prodigal son.

[00:13:15] As Jonah knew that he was supposed to go to Nineveh and be able to warn the people that God wanted him to go do,

[00:13:24] he turned and he ran as far as he could to Tarshish.

[00:13:28] And in that, it took the whale to swallow him whole before he surrendered.

[00:13:34] And to me, the world itself was what swallowed me whole.

[00:13:39] You know, I'm going to go ahead and stop you there.

[00:13:41] You know, Pastor John, there may be some people listening that are not all that familiar with the story of Jonah.

[00:13:49] And that is found in the Old Testament.

[00:13:52] And if you have any desire to check that out, it is a short book.

[00:13:56] It only has four chapters.

[00:13:58] You probably could read it easily in 15 to 20 minutes.

[00:14:01] But if you have any interest at all, and you're not all that used to reading the Bible,

[00:14:07] I invite you to check out the book of Jonah, if you would continue.

[00:14:12] Yes.

[00:14:13] And so at that moment, after I finally surrendered, waking up to reality about 27 years later,

[00:14:22] I surrendered my life unto the Lord as the prodigal son.

[00:14:26] And I said, Lord, I can't do this without you.

[00:14:30] And I need you to continue to be my Lord and Savior.

[00:14:34] And today, I'm not surrendering only a part, but I'm surrendering all to you.

[00:14:39] And here I am, broken and in many pieces, with lots of pain, heartache, tears, and all that I've been through in this old world.

[00:14:49] But I surrender my heart, my soul, my mind, and body to serve you for the rest of the days that you give me breath in my body.

[00:14:57] And from that moment, I began to serve the Lord in the way that I was supposed to as God had created and designed me.

[00:15:05] So from that point forward, we began what was called the Country Boy Church every second and fourth Sunday off the back of our porch in Summerfield, Florida.

[00:15:17] And we had a back porch that was 14 feet wide and 32 feet long.

[00:15:25] And every second and fourth Sunday, I would get up on that porch and people would come sit on the back of their tailgates on their pickup trucks.

[00:15:35] I had tree stands up in the setup on the trees.

[00:15:39] I had seats around the fire pit.

[00:15:41] And we had a good crowds that would come, sometimes the CMA bikers along with the outlaw bikers.

[00:15:48] And different ones would come out as I preached the gospel of Jesus Christ.

[00:15:53] And many were saved and baptized in that little backyard of ours in Summerfield, Florida.

[00:15:58] And throughout, for the last 15 years, I followed in evangelism.

[00:16:06] You know, I wanted to stop you there.

[00:16:08] And, you know, Pastor John, you know, there are people listening.

[00:16:13] And a lot of times people may have a difficult time going to a pastor.

[00:16:19] They're embarrassed about some of the things going on in their lives.

[00:16:23] They're just, you know, they're nervous.

[00:16:26] And they don't know how to approach a pastor.

[00:16:29] So, as we develop this relationship, and I'm going to go ahead and just tell you right now that Pastor John has, you know, graciously accepted my invitation to be a regular contributor to this podcast.

[00:16:46] And we're going to be picking his brain.

[00:16:48] And you're going to look inside the heart of a pastor.

[00:16:54] Because, guys, I'm going to tell you the truth.

[00:16:58] Everyone puts on their pants the same way.

[00:17:01] And, Pastor John, I'm going to go back to when I was in the service.

[00:17:04] And I was in the 7th Army Chorus.

[00:17:06] And one of our concerts, we had just finished singing.

[00:17:11] And we had some really top-notch people in the military come and see us.

[00:17:18] And we had a four-star general named George Blanchard.

[00:17:23] He was in charge of Europe Army, Army, 7th Army Europe.

[00:17:28] And, anyway, this guy, and I went up and talked to him.

[00:17:33] And before I talked to him, a couple people said, you're not going to actually go talk to the general, are you?

[00:17:38] And I said, he puts on his pants the same way I do.

[00:17:42] And I was not afraid.

[00:17:44] And I went there as a 19-year-old boy.

[00:17:49] And I shook hands and said, general, I'd like to thank you for coming to our concert today.

[00:17:54] I hope you enjoyed it.

[00:17:55] And he just talked to me just like I was a normal person.

[00:17:59] I talked to him just like he was a normal person.

[00:18:03] So if there's anybody out there that is avoiding church,

[00:18:07] and really they're just a little bit too embarrassed to talk to a pastor,

[00:18:12] John, if you would address that and let people know that that is your job

[00:18:17] and that is what you do for anyone who comes to you.

[00:18:20] Yes.

[00:18:21] As I say all the time, that the church itself and the building here of worship is a place that where we all,

[00:18:30] because we have all fallen short of the glory of God, and we all need a Savior.

[00:18:35] And that's one of the things that I would love for the people to be able to understand and see today,

[00:18:40] because as it was talking about of the law itself,

[00:18:44] the law itself is to reveal to us of our own moral self that we have failed the law,

[00:18:53] and therefore we need a Savior.

[00:18:55] So in that, these doors of this building here are open any time, whether they're the homeless,

[00:19:03] whether they've got earrings, tattoos, piercings, whether they're homeless,

[00:19:09] whether they're rich, poor, because to God, there is no preference.

[00:19:15] They're all God's children.

[00:19:16] And I let the people here know that all the time, that God's arms are open and welcome to all.

[00:19:24] That is why in his word it says,

[00:19:27] For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son,

[00:19:32] that whosoever believeth in him shall not perish but have everlasting life.

[00:19:38] And if God did that out of his love for all,

[00:19:41] then me as God's representative here, as the shepherd of this congregation,

[00:19:47] I must resemble my Father who art in heaven.

[00:19:51] You know, I'm going to go ahead and stop you there.

[00:19:53] And I'm going to once again ask anybody in the audience that,

[00:19:58] that once again, it may be afraid to go to church.

[00:20:01] And I'm going to bring up James chapter 2, beginning in verse 1.

[00:20:05] And it says,

[00:20:05] My brethren, do not hold the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ,

[00:20:10] the Lord of glory, with partiality.

[00:20:14] For if there should come into your assembly a man with gold rings in fine apparel,

[00:20:20] and there should also come in a poor man in filthy clothes,

[00:20:24] and you pay attention to the one wearing the fine clothes and say to him,

[00:20:29] You sit here in a good place and say to the poor man,

[00:20:34] you stand there or sit here at my footstool.

[00:20:38] Have you not shown partiality among yourselves and become judges with evil thoughts?

[00:20:45] Pastor John, what you just said portrays that exactly.

[00:20:51] We are not to show partiality.

[00:20:54] God never shows partiality.

[00:20:57] In 2 Peter 3, 9, it says,

[00:20:59] God is not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.

[00:21:06] Pastor John, a lot of people think they have the wrong impression of God,

[00:21:12] that God is an angry God.

[00:21:14] They go back to the Old Testament and think that he's a God of judgment,

[00:21:17] and he has a scowl on his face,

[00:21:20] and he's not pleased with any people on earth.

[00:21:23] If you would, show the audience and tell the audience why that is simply not true.

[00:21:31] I believe it's simply not true because from the beginning of time,

[00:21:37] God had prepared a place, as he did for Adam and Eve,

[00:21:42] and that was a place in the garden that was peacefully,

[00:21:47] and that was a place that they could have fellowship together

[00:21:51] and be able to experience his love that he had,

[00:21:55] and that the purpose that they were created was to have fellowship with him

[00:21:59] until the rebellion,

[00:22:02] and they were found naked,

[00:22:04] and they were placed outside of that garden from that point forward.

[00:22:08] But God's love, and he's even stated that in that,

[00:22:14] that he spoke and said to the serpent itself

[00:22:18] that your seed and the woman's seed will have enmity with each other

[00:22:22] because already from the foundation of the world,

[00:22:26] God had prepared and planned his love was so great

[00:22:31] that he would send his only begotten son, Jesus the Christ,

[00:22:36] which John the Baptist, when he was there baptizing,

[00:22:40] and he looked up and he saw Jesus the Christ coming,

[00:22:43] he said,

[00:22:44] Behold, the Lamb of God that taketh away the sin of the world.

[00:22:50] That's why we can see throughout the Old Testament

[00:22:54] all the way into the New Testament

[00:22:56] how much God's love for us truly is

[00:23:01] because from the beginning he's always wanted us as mankind

[00:23:06] to surrender our life to him

[00:23:09] and walk in his will and his ways

[00:23:11] so that our souls will not face an eternal damnation

[00:23:16] into the lake of fire after the great judgment.

[00:23:20] Well, you know, I'm going to bring up two scriptures.

[00:23:23] First of all, in Proverb 1130,

[00:23:25] there are two parts to that verse.

[00:23:27] The second part says that he who wins souls is wise.

[00:23:33] Now, that's such a powerful verse

[00:23:35] and a lot of times people overlook that verse.

[00:23:37] But Pastor John, the main reason why we are on earth

[00:23:42] is to first of all have fellowship with God,

[00:23:45] but it's also to share the goodness of God

[00:23:50] and to try to bring souls into the kingdom.

[00:23:54] Now, when I say that,

[00:23:56] because some people only try to convert people.

[00:24:00] They try to lead people in a sinner's prayer

[00:24:02] and they feel that they have done

[00:24:05] what God has told them to do.

[00:24:07] But Pastor John, it goes much deeper than that.

[00:24:10] He has not called us to make converts.

[00:24:13] He's called us to make disciples.

[00:24:16] Please explain to the audience

[00:24:18] your interpretation of what that means.

[00:24:21] What does it mean, make disciples of all nations?

[00:24:26] To my understanding of the word to make disciples

[00:24:29] and we are to go out into all the world

[00:24:32] is that as we take the gospel itself,

[00:24:37] because without the gospel,

[00:24:39] we have no antidote to the sin problem.

[00:24:42] It's Jesus the Christ that took away the sin of the world

[00:24:46] that died upon the cross,

[00:24:48] arose in victory the third day

[00:24:50] and sits at the right hand of the Father.

[00:24:52] He is the only way

[00:24:53] and the only way to eternal life.

[00:24:56] And then as you state with the disciples,

[00:24:59] going out and discipling others to become disciples

[00:25:03] who would therefore do as they even done

[00:25:05] in the scriptures,

[00:25:07] that they were excited to go and tell others

[00:25:10] that they have met the Savior.

[00:25:13] And that's what we as believers,

[00:25:16] as we share the gospel and that good news

[00:25:20] and in training others to go out

[00:25:22] and tell others who haven't heard of this good news

[00:25:26] to receive it.

[00:25:27] And it's not us who draw them,

[00:25:31] it is the spirit of the Lord

[00:25:32] who draws them unto eternal salvation.

[00:25:35] It's our job to take that gospel into all the world

[00:25:39] and in as far and everyone who has an ear to hear

[00:25:43] and a heart to receive it.

[00:25:44] And that's wherefore it also talks about

[00:25:48] we all have to work out our own salvation

[00:25:51] with trembling and fear

[00:25:53] because the word of God,

[00:25:55] it does one of two things.

[00:25:56] When the truth is spoken,

[00:25:59] it either pricks man's heart

[00:26:02] and they get angry and they reject it

[00:26:04] or either when it pricks their heart,

[00:26:07] they receive it with joy

[00:26:09] and they can't wait to go and tell others

[00:26:12] what God has done for them

[00:26:14] and then the good news that he brought

[00:26:17] that Jesus came to be the Savior of the world

[00:26:21] to deliver us from sin

[00:26:23] that we may have life and life eternal.

[00:26:26] That's so good.

[00:26:27] And I'm going to go to the book of Revelation.

[00:26:29] I think the best book in the entire Bible,

[00:26:32] but Pastor John, to be honest with you,

[00:26:34] a lot of people don't have any business

[00:26:36] going in the book of Revelation

[00:26:38] because it's deep

[00:26:39] and you have to be really, really

[00:26:42] a foundational Christian

[00:26:43] for I think many years

[00:26:45] to truly understand what Revelation really is.

[00:26:48] But in the 12th chapter of Revelation,

[00:26:50] verse 11,

[00:26:51] it says,

[00:26:52] and they overcome by the blood of the Lamb,

[00:26:56] sharing their testimony.

[00:26:58] It talks about the importance

[00:26:59] of sharing your testimony,

[00:27:02] but at the end it says,

[00:27:04] loving not their life,

[00:27:06] even unto the death.

[00:27:08] And friends, what that means is

[00:27:10] if you're truly a Christian,

[00:27:11] you need to be willing to die

[00:27:14] for your Christianity.

[00:27:16] You cannot give in

[00:27:18] to the temptation of the evil one.

[00:27:21] And we need to literally be willing to die

[00:27:25] rather than to forgo

[00:27:27] being a Christian

[00:27:29] and giving our lives away.

[00:27:31] Your thoughts on that, Pastor John?

[00:27:33] Yes, sir, Brother Kelly.

[00:27:35] My thought is the same

[00:27:36] as in the Testaments

[00:27:38] when it was stated

[00:27:40] that we are to take up our cross

[00:27:42] and follow Him.

[00:27:43] And we know that

[00:27:45] in the meaning of that,

[00:27:47] when you take up your cross,

[00:27:48] as Christ took up His cross,

[00:27:50] no matter what came,

[00:27:52] the persecutions,

[00:27:54] He was beat

[00:27:55] and with the cat of nine tails,

[00:27:57] He was spit on,

[00:27:58] He was mocked,

[00:27:59] and He still went to the cross

[00:28:03] to be able to redeem mankind

[00:28:07] and for the remission of sins

[00:28:09] that He died upon that cross

[00:28:11] that His blood covered us,

[00:28:13] His blood bought and paid for us,

[00:28:16] that we are to be those

[00:28:18] who place our faith and trust in Him

[00:28:21] so that our names are written

[00:28:23] in the Lamb's book of life.

[00:28:25] But knowing that no matter what,

[00:28:28] as you said,

[00:28:28] taking up the cross to follow Christ,

[00:28:31] we are going to face persecution.

[00:28:33] We are going to go through trials

[00:28:35] and tribulations and storms,

[00:28:37] but we know that our life,

[00:28:42] our soul,

[00:28:44] and our spirit

[00:28:45] is in the hand of the hand

[00:28:47] of the nail-scarred hand

[00:28:49] that went to Calvary for us

[00:28:51] and the one who can calm all storms

[00:28:53] in life itself.

[00:28:55] But we are doing it all

[00:28:56] to the glory of God

[00:28:58] and one day,

[00:29:00] as you know in the book of Revelation,

[00:29:01] it states

[00:29:02] that there'll be no more tears,

[00:29:04] no more crying,

[00:29:05] no more sorrow,

[00:29:07] because we will see Him face to face

[00:29:09] and He will wipe every tear away

[00:29:12] and we'll be in His presence forevermore.

[00:29:15] So to me,

[00:29:16] we just have to endure this old world

[00:29:18] and all the darkness,

[00:29:20] all the pain and the sufferings,

[00:29:22] but everything that we do,

[00:29:24] it's to His glory

[00:29:25] and in one day,

[00:29:26] we'll be with Him forevermore

[00:29:28] and have our peace

[00:29:29] and back in the paradise state

[00:29:31] that He wishes us all to have

[00:29:32] in the New Jerusalem.

[00:29:34] You know,

[00:29:35] I'm going to go over

[00:29:35] a couple of scriptures

[00:29:36] that I just,

[00:29:37] you know,

[00:29:38] they're just coming across my mind

[00:29:39] and friends,

[00:29:41] you know,

[00:29:41] I just kind of want to get this out there

[00:29:43] that,

[00:29:43] you know,

[00:29:44] the more familiar

[00:29:46] you are with scripture

[00:29:47] and this happens a lot with me,

[00:29:50] I'll hear somebody talk

[00:29:51] and just when I hear somebody talk,

[00:29:53] it brings a scripture to mind,

[00:29:55] but,

[00:29:56] you know,

[00:29:56] Pastor John,

[00:29:57] I'm thinking about

[00:29:57] 1 Peter chapter 5

[00:29:59] when Peter says,

[00:30:01] clothe yourself

[00:30:03] with humility

[00:30:05] and another verse

[00:30:06] I'm thinking about

[00:30:07] that says,

[00:30:09] I am meek

[00:30:10] and lowly of heart.

[00:30:12] That is Jesus speaking.

[00:30:14] So,

[00:30:14] Pastor John,

[00:30:16] it's important

[00:30:17] to get the word

[00:30:18] of God out there,

[00:30:19] but we need to do it

[00:30:21] as we are lambs

[00:30:24] and not as we are lions.

[00:30:26] Your thoughts on that?

[00:30:29] I always like to think

[00:30:32] of Jesus himself

[00:30:33] as he taught

[00:30:34] and even

[00:30:35] whenever he was

[00:30:37] before the disciples,

[00:30:39] when he was before

[00:30:39] the multitudes,

[00:30:41] his teaching

[00:30:42] was in love.

[00:30:44] He never forced it

[00:30:45] on anyone,

[00:30:46] but as he taught

[00:30:48] with the great wisdom,

[00:30:49] the anointing

[00:30:50] of his father

[00:30:52] who art in heaven,

[00:30:53] because most people

[00:30:54] don't even know

[00:30:55] that when he came,

[00:30:56] when the angel

[00:30:57] of the Lord

[00:30:58] overshadowed his mother Mary,

[00:31:01] that the angel said

[00:31:02] that his name

[00:31:03] would be Emmanuel,

[00:31:04] meaning God with us,

[00:31:05] so that he wasn't

[00:31:07] a created being.

[00:31:08] He always was

[00:31:09] from the beginning,

[00:31:10] and most people

[00:31:11] don't understand

[00:31:12] that also

[00:31:13] over in the book

[00:31:14] of Genesis

[00:31:15] when it's stated

[00:31:16] to let us make man

[00:31:17] in our image,

[00:31:18] that God was always there,

[00:31:21] God the Father,

[00:31:22] the Son,

[00:31:22] and the Holy Spirit,

[00:31:24] and that Holy Spirit

[00:31:25] which came to live

[00:31:27] in us

[00:31:27] the moment

[00:31:28] that we accepted

[00:31:30] Christ as our Lord

[00:31:31] and Savior

[00:31:31] by faith

[00:31:33] through grace,

[00:31:34] that now

[00:31:35] he lives in us,

[00:31:36] and the old man

[00:31:38] in us

[00:31:39] has died,

[00:31:40] but now Christ

[00:31:42] has came alive

[00:31:43] within us,

[00:31:44] and now we are

[00:31:45] representing the Father,

[00:31:47] and as the Spirit

[00:31:48] lead us,

[00:31:49] that we are to walk

[00:31:50] in his love

[00:31:51] and his will

[00:31:52] and his way

[00:31:52] with others,

[00:31:53] and in that teaching

[00:31:55] as you stated,

[00:31:56] to have that love

[00:31:57] and that patience

[00:31:58] and be like the lamb

[00:31:59] that God wishes us

[00:32:01] to be,

[00:32:02] and not the ones

[00:32:03] who try to attack

[00:32:05] like a lion,

[00:32:06] but yet we're bringing

[00:32:08] forth the love

[00:32:08] of Christ.

[00:32:10] You know,

[00:32:11] I'm going to go ahead

[00:32:11] and stop you right there.

[00:32:13] I'm going to go over

[00:32:13] one more verse

[00:32:14] before I give you

[00:32:15] a couple minutes

[00:32:16] to just share

[00:32:18] any last thoughts

[00:32:19] for this time.

[00:32:20] But if we go to

[00:32:21] the book of Revelation

[00:32:22] again,

[00:32:23] I always like

[00:32:24] to refer to Revelation

[00:32:26] because it's such

[00:32:27] a powerful book.

[00:32:28] But in chapter 3,

[00:32:30] verse 20,

[00:32:31] these are the words

[00:32:33] of Jesus,

[00:32:33] and all of chapter 3

[00:32:35] is in red letters,

[00:32:36] meaning that this

[00:32:37] is Jesus himself

[00:32:38] speaking,

[00:32:39] but it says,

[00:32:40] Behold,

[00:32:40] I stand at the door

[00:32:42] and knock.

[00:32:43] If anyone hears

[00:32:45] my voice

[00:32:46] and opens the door,

[00:32:47] I will come

[00:32:48] into him

[00:32:49] and dine

[00:32:51] with him

[00:32:52] and he with me.

[00:32:54] Pastor John,

[00:32:56] that is Jesus'

[00:32:57] desire for everyone

[00:32:58] listening to this

[00:32:59] podcast today.

[00:33:00] He wants us

[00:33:01] to open up

[00:33:02] our hearts

[00:33:03] and let him

[00:33:05] in

[00:33:06] so he can come

[00:33:07] in and

[00:33:08] commune

[00:33:09] and dine

[00:33:10] with us.

[00:33:11] So what I'd like

[00:33:12] for you to do

[00:33:13] is just take

[00:33:14] a couple moments,

[00:33:15] Pastor John,

[00:33:16] if you would,

[00:33:18] share why

[00:33:19] anyone listening today

[00:33:21] should receive

[00:33:22] Jesus today

[00:33:23] and if you would,

[00:33:25] lead anyone

[00:33:26] who has not

[00:33:27] yet made

[00:33:28] the decision

[00:33:29] to receive Jesus

[00:33:30] into the kingdom.

[00:33:32] Yes, sir.

[00:33:34] I believe

[00:33:39] what the Lord

[00:33:40] has taken me to

[00:33:42] is that

[00:33:43] we should all

[00:33:44] understand

[00:33:45] that as I

[00:33:46] stated earlier

[00:33:47] in Romans 3.23,

[00:33:50] the scripture says,

[00:33:51] for all have sinned

[00:33:52] and fallen short

[00:33:53] of the glory of God

[00:33:54] because through

[00:33:56] the academic

[00:33:56] nature

[00:33:57] we have fallen

[00:33:58] short

[00:33:59] because we were

[00:34:00] in the loins

[00:34:00] of Adam

[00:34:01] when he rebelled

[00:34:02] against God.

[00:34:03] So being born

[00:34:04] into sin,

[00:34:05] we are walking

[00:34:07] in the darkness,

[00:34:08] we are facing

[00:34:09] death

[00:34:10] and the wages

[00:34:12] of sin

[00:34:13] is death

[00:34:14] without Christ

[00:34:15] in our life.

[00:34:17] And that's where

[00:34:18] Romans 6.23 says,

[00:34:20] for the wages

[00:34:21] of sin

[00:34:21] is death

[00:34:22] but the gift

[00:34:24] of God

[00:34:24] is eternal

[00:34:25] life through

[00:34:25] Jesus Christ

[00:34:27] our Lord.

[00:34:28] So while we are

[00:34:29] in our sin nature

[00:34:30] and walking

[00:34:31] throughout this

[00:34:32] old world,

[00:34:34] we are walking

[00:34:35] in darkness

[00:34:37] and we do not

[00:34:38] have the light

[00:34:39] of the Lord

[00:34:40] who is the light

[00:34:41] of the world

[00:34:42] or salvation

[00:34:44] in our life

[00:34:45] so we are

[00:34:46] continuously

[00:34:46] in darkness

[00:34:47] and we are

[00:34:48] facing the

[00:34:49] great judgment,

[00:34:50] the great

[00:34:50] white throne

[00:34:51] judgment

[00:34:51] that where

[00:34:53] those who have

[00:34:54] not repented

[00:34:55] or been born

[00:34:56] again

[00:34:56] and their name

[00:34:58] is not written

[00:34:58] and found written

[00:35:00] in the Lamb's

[00:35:00] book of life,

[00:35:01] they will be

[00:35:02] cast over

[00:35:03] into what is

[00:35:04] called the second

[00:35:04] death,

[00:35:05] the lake

[00:35:05] of fire

[00:35:07] for eternity

[00:35:08] to where

[00:35:09] they will

[00:35:10] never,

[00:35:10] ever,

[00:35:11] ever experience

[00:35:13] or be

[00:35:14] in the presence

[00:35:15] of God

[00:35:15] ever again

[00:35:16] but for those

[00:35:18] who hear

[00:35:20] the gospel

[00:35:21] of Jesus Christ

[00:35:23] and it says

[00:35:24] that the truth

[00:35:26] will make us

[00:35:27] free

[00:35:28] when we know

[00:35:28] the truth,

[00:35:29] when we've met

[00:35:30] the Savior

[00:35:31] because so many

[00:35:32] religions around

[00:35:34] the world

[00:35:34] they say

[00:35:35] that Jesus

[00:35:36] was only a teacher,

[00:35:37] Jesus was only

[00:35:39] a rabbi

[00:35:39] but when we

[00:35:41] truly understand

[00:35:43] as Peter

[00:35:45] understood

[00:35:45] that Jesus

[00:35:48] you are

[00:35:49] the Messiah

[00:35:50] the Son

[00:35:51] of the Most

[00:35:52] High God

[00:35:53] at that moment

[00:35:54] in our lives

[00:35:55] we are allowing

[00:35:57] Jesus

[00:35:58] the Christ

[00:35:59] the Messiah

[00:36:00] to do a mighty

[00:36:01] and major

[00:36:02] and powerful

[00:36:03] work

[00:36:04] of regeneration

[00:36:05] of the new birth

[00:36:07] that we are

[00:36:07] being then

[00:36:08] born again

[00:36:09] in Christ

[00:36:11] and now

[00:36:12] we have become

[00:36:13] a new creation

[00:36:14] in Christ Jesus

[00:36:15] and the Spirit

[00:36:16] of God

[00:36:17] has come to live

[00:36:18] in us

[00:36:19] but without that

[00:36:21] we have no life

[00:36:22] we have no

[00:36:23] life with him

[00:36:25] and we have no

[00:36:26] opportunity

[00:36:27] to ever come back

[00:36:28] into his presence

[00:36:29] again

[00:36:30] but while we are

[00:36:31] here on this earth

[00:36:32] and we are

[00:36:33] breathing

[00:36:34] and living

[00:36:35] there is an

[00:36:36] opportunity

[00:36:37] to surrender

[00:36:38] our hearts

[00:36:38] to him

[00:36:39] so today

[00:36:40] brothers and

[00:36:41] sisters

[00:36:41] I would say

[00:36:42] if you do not

[00:36:43] know the Lord

[00:36:43] Jesus Christ

[00:36:44] as your Lord

[00:36:45] and risen Savior

[00:36:46] and you feel

[00:36:47] the Lord

[00:36:48] knocking at

[00:36:48] your heart's door

[00:36:49] the scriptures

[00:36:50] that I love

[00:36:51] is always

[00:36:52] to know

[00:36:53] that for God

[00:36:54] so loved the world

[00:36:55] that he gave

[00:36:56] his only begotten

[00:36:57] son

[00:36:57] that whosoever

[00:36:59] believeth in him

[00:37:00] shall not perish

[00:37:01] but have everlasting

[00:37:03] life

[00:37:03] for God did not

[00:37:04] come into the world

[00:37:05] to condemn it

[00:37:06] but yet through him

[00:37:08] that all might be saved

[00:37:10] so I pray

[00:37:11] that if this is you

[00:37:12] and the Lord

[00:37:12] is opening your heart

[00:37:13] to him today

[00:37:14] that you have received him

[00:37:16] as your Lord

[00:37:17] and your Messiah

[00:37:18] Jesus Christ

[00:37:20] so let's pray

[00:37:21] our most gracious

[00:37:22] heavenly Father

[00:37:23] we just love you Lord

[00:37:25] and we thank you

[00:37:25] for your love

[00:37:26] and your grace

[00:37:27] and mercy

[00:37:27] and Father

[00:37:29] for those today

[00:37:30] that need you

[00:37:31] as their Lord

[00:37:31] and Savior

[00:37:32] we just ask right now

[00:37:34] that they open

[00:37:35] their hearts

[00:37:35] in faith

[00:37:36] through grace

[00:37:37] Lord God

[00:37:38] that you will come

[00:37:39] and they will confess

[00:37:40] their sins to you

[00:37:42] right now

[00:37:43] they have repented

[00:37:44] and they are receiving you

[00:37:46] as their Lord

[00:37:46] and risen Savior

[00:37:47] they believe

[00:37:48] that you sent

[00:37:49] your son Jesus

[00:37:50] to the cross of Calvary

[00:37:51] to take away the sin

[00:37:52] and on that third day

[00:37:54] he arose

[00:37:55] and sits at your right hand

[00:37:56] Father

[00:37:56] and today

[00:37:57] their heart

[00:37:58] is open

[00:37:58] to receive him

[00:38:00] as their Lord

[00:38:00] and risen Savior

[00:38:01] and to live for you

[00:38:03] forevermore

[00:38:04] we just pray that

[00:38:05] for each and every one

[00:38:06] of y'all today

[00:38:07] and may the light

[00:38:09] of the Lord

[00:38:09] and his anointing

[00:38:10] and blessing

[00:38:11] be upon you

[00:38:11] and be assured

[00:38:13] that your name

[00:38:14] if you have received him

[00:38:15] this moment

[00:38:16] that your name

[00:38:17] has been written

[00:38:18] in the Lamb's book of life

[00:38:19] and now

[00:38:20] you can live for him

[00:38:21] forevermore

[00:38:22] in Jesus name

[00:38:24] we pray

[00:38:24] amen

[00:38:25] well thank you so much

[00:38:27] Pastor John

[00:38:27] and I am going to

[00:38:29] close with a blessing

[00:38:31] now may the Lord

[00:38:32] bless you

[00:38:33] and keep you

[00:38:34] the Lord make his face

[00:38:36] shine upon you

[00:38:37] and be gracious to you

[00:38:38] the Lord lift up

[00:38:40] his countenance

[00:38:41] upon you

[00:38:41] and give you peace

[00:38:44] Pastor John

[00:38:45] will be on again

[00:38:46] in about five

[00:38:47] to six months

[00:38:48] I look forward

[00:38:49] to having you

[00:38:49] back on

[00:38:50] and we will pick up

[00:38:51] where we left off

[00:38:52] I'd like to know

[00:38:53] a little bit more

[00:38:54] about how you met

[00:38:55] your wife

[00:38:55] we'll probably get

[00:38:56] into that next time

[00:38:57] but until then

[00:38:58] please join me

[00:39:00] again tomorrow

[00:39:00] as we further explore

[00:39:02] wisdom today