John Newlin

A WATCHMAN WARNING! TIME FOR JUDGMENT

2012-01-26T14:30:00.000-05:00

We are at a point now where events are getting tooobvious, and where the plowing ahead gets really tiresome.

There is nothing so wonderful as having new peoplesuddenly realize who Christ is, be saved, be healed, be delivered, be set freeand move into the Kingdom of God.

But there is such heavy lifting required these days,such breaking up of barricades, such challenging of blind eyes and deaf ears,of spiritually numb people that populate this world.

It doesn’t take a spiritual giant to see the birthpains have increased and become very pointed. It doesn’t take a Luther or Oral Roberts to discern that judgment isbeing laid out in specific cases that are symbolic of larger judgment andimpending disaster.

A people cannot thumb their noses at God over andover again for year after year, taking the name of God, of Jesus, out of publicdocuments and discourse and schools and prayer and so on, with norepercussion. A people cannot decide toformally accept life styles that are absolutely condemned as abominable by Godand expect no reaction.

Oh, but you say, those are those other people inHollywood and NY and government and politics and such. Not me, you say. I go to church. I don’t agree with all that.

But you do live here, you live here. You are part of this country andsociety. What have you done to work tochange that society? Have you just beentolerant by your silence?

Many major church denominations have decided to betolerant. And accepting. Oh, their memberships are crashing, to besure. Those who are sincere leave thosedenominations and search tirelessly for more serious churches which they oftennever find, ending up at home or in small groups.

Many of those same denominations have decided Israelis not the apple of God’s eye. No, theythink, it is their churches, this man-made organization of religious rules andhumanist objectives, that is now the modern Israel. And they seek to disengage from Israel. No investments there.

The majority of American churchgoers attend thosedenominations. And are they even awareof the heresy of the opinions of the church organization to which theybelong? Not unless someone points it outto them. Even then, they say, well myspecific church is not like that. Ah,but you are a member of the denomination. And by your silence and actions you are accepting the position andbehavior and actions of the denomination. Not to mention that part of your financial support most likely goes tothe national church organization.

Where is the full gospel being preached? Where is the power gospel beingdisplayed? Blind eyes opened? Deaf earshealed? Tumors vanished? Pains expelled. Curses broken? Jesus praised and lifted high? Prayers lifted for the peace ofJerusalem?

Time for judgment. It’s that time.

For a few minutes once each week throughout thecountry many churchgoers sit and hear in essence a report, a little music, andshake hands and smile. As one associatesaid, it’s a social occasion. Sometimesit’s not even that. And they miss thegreat truths – that God is real, that Jesus is alive today as he was 2000 yearsago, that the Holy Spirit is real and here now, that demons and the devil arereal too, that angels are real, that healings and miracles are real now too,and that Jesus is coming very soon to complete this age and move on.

Time. It’stime. This age is over. There were some interesting movements andcountries and events. But now it’s allabout floundering around. Masscorruption and perverse behavior. Thoseare primary characteristics of our culture and society. Those who haven’t noticed have become toocold and jaded by the tolerance of all around, by the tolerance of theirchurch.

Tough words, aren’t they. But they are true. These are tough times we are living in. And they will be tougher.

STANDING IN FOR JESUS

2011-08-29T17:40:00.002-04:00

We are living in the midst of an increasingly troubled world while we anticipate the Lord’s imminent return to collect his Church. Organizations and institutions that people have depended on are not working, and public leaders clearly do not know what to do. Fear is setting in as an ever present partner of many on earth who do not know the Lord.

Often I write about all this when considering aspects of that coming return. But even if the world is a mess all around us, all who know the Lord should be focused on him! It is God’s great love for his creation that has given us the opportunity to look forward to eternal life with Jesus and the Father and to wonder just what is about to unfold. So, focusing on Jesus and not on the events in this world, I offer this vignette from a couple weeks ago for your meditation.

Recently I sat in a quiet private session with just a few others and a precious little girl who was fighting a dreadful disease. For a few minutes I talked about divine healing, about God’s great gift. And then I prayed for healing. As God’s truths came out, as we moved forward to the key point, I suddenly began to say: "Standing in for Jesus here, I say …”

Now I have said that before. This time as I looked into her wonderful little face, at those precious innocent eyes, and as I said, “Standing in for Jesus, I…” there was a sudden rush of the Holy Spirit all over me. I could scarcely speak. I had to take a moment to be able to form words. His amazing presence just took over.

Standing in for Jesus…Representing Jesus…Speaking for Jesus… Several times I have sought to explain that in meetings. Sometimes I have said simply, do you realize that when I stand here speaking what I am led to say, I am in reality standing in for Jesus. This is the Lord through me speaking, healing, doing what he wishes. The Holy Spirit takes over. Always my silent prayer: Take over Holy Spirit. Lord, your will here tonight. Your words.

Years ago once when praying the Holy Spirit told me, “John, if you don’t have time to prepare, I’ll speak for you.” I have always counted on that. I always spend time seeking and searching and praying before meetings and services. And I always count on the Holy Spirit.

It is really true. Whenever I am preaching before a group the anointing comes. There is a strong anointing on me whether people in the audience experience that or not. It took me a while to realize that sometimes those listening experience the presence and sometimes not.

But that is what it is – standing in for Jesus. The Lord through me. The Holy Spirit handling things. That’s the way it works.

That’s the way it can work for you too when you step out and stand in for Jesus.

I AM NOT AMAZED. JUST SAD.

2011-06-09T15:43:00.002-04:00

In the gospels I have always been interested and surprised by Jesus at times being upset and angered by the unbelief of people around him. Remember
- “you will never believe unless you see signs and wonders”
- “you do not understand because you are not my sheep”
- his ordering the money changers out of the temple – “tear down this temple and I will rebuild it in three days”
- the preaching about the Jews being the descendents of those who murdered the prophets
- all he preached to the religious leaders in the temple and their not understanding
- his reference to people wanting food after they saw him feed the 5000

and much more.

Jesus is the son of God, a member of the Trinity. He walked the earth as the son of man. He knew what was in man, as the gospel of John tells us at the end of chapter 2.

So he certainly knew many would never understand, would never see. When he was talking to the crowds, he knew many could not grasp. He knew Isaiah 6, that many would not perceive, could not understand. So why so upset?

Well, I know all those things too. I’ve read the scriptures. And I’ve read Jesus’ words about how few actually find the way to life with him and the father, eternal life. So I too know that many don’t get it.

And I see when we hold what I think are really valuable programs on important subjects – especially focusing on the fullness of who Jesus is and all the aspects of his imminent return – how few are seriously interested and attend. There are some, to be sure, strongly focused on God and the truth. But so many others?

A friend who often ministers in music at our programs once said after a program that we could just as easily have done that for 10,000 as for the number that came. That’s true. Same effort.

The cities are full of brick building churches. And each teaches some truth. But most never get into the fullness of Jesus nor warn with the urgency needed of his imminent return and present all the prophecies relating to his return now fulfilled. Not many ever go over all that Jesus said about those who would be in the kingdom:
- must be born of water and the spirit
- be like little children
- believe
- narrow is the road that leads to life, and few are they that find it

One of the great gifts of Jesus is divine healing. By his stripes we are healed and made whole. Direct, divine healings happen, they really do, some dramatic and some not so dramatic. Yet even when they happen to people who are members of church bodies, most in those bodies still never come to a healing service even though many of them are sick. Even when we hold a full day of healing program, people who have expressed interest will suddenly go elsewhere – to work on some project at their church, to do something else. While our program is offering the opportunity to health and life, they have chosen a mundane work task. And at those programs people see God operate right in front of their faces and have their lives changed forever.

The fact is, most people really do not know. They just don’t know. All their lives church and the Bible and Jesus and God are just tradition and subjects in a book. They have missed God. The truth is Jesus is coming very very soon. His return is imminent. That means any day now. In Luke, he says after listing events to happen before the return, that when these events begin to happen, look up. Well, those events have long ago begun to happen – wars and rumors of wars, earthquakes, frightening oceans, nation against nation, false prophets, deception rampant, etc.

There is nothing to stop the Lord from coming while you are reading this – maybe he will have come before you receive it.

Get the point?

Maybe. Maybe. If you are one of his sheep, one of the elect, you do. I’ll pray you do.

WHAT IS GOING ON? WHAT IN THE WORLD IS GOING ON? TIME FOR STRAIGHT TALK!

2011-05-25T09:13:00.002-04:00

Those are the questions you hear the newsmen and the meteorologists ask.

All these horrible tornados. Incredibly powerful! We’ve never seen so many so powerful. And look where they go, at times right into the hearts of cities.

Well….now for the answer.

You will never find it in meteorology books or records. The answer is a spiritual one.

Way back, about four thousand years ago, God told Abraham – the father of the Jewish people and in fact the patriarch of all believing Christians as well – that I will bless those who bless you and curse those who curse you.

He also told Abraham that he was giving him and his descendants all the land from the river in Egypt to the Euphrates River (which we all know is in Iraq).

And he told Abraham this gift was forever. In fact, we know from another scripture that the gifts of God are without repentance. They are forever.

So God gave the Jewish people the land of Israel from the river in Egypt to the Euphrates, a much, much larger piece of land than the current nation of Israel occupies.

But what is the current attitude of the government of the US? Of the man who lives in the White House? You heard it all very recently. Pressure on Israel to give back from the little land it now has --- even to consider going back to the lines before the 1967 war.

The truth is that the US government has been pressing Israel to give up territory for a long time.

One problem – this is not in line with God’s plan for Israel. And remember, those who bless you I will bless and those who curse you I will curse.

Well, get ready for some serious cursing, United States. Serious.

God does not mess around. He is devoutly to be feared. Yes, loved, people like to talk about that. But feared too. His words are true.

It is obvious that the leaders of the US do not know this God truly. They are either absolute unbelievers or just Sunday morning believers. Actually knowing him and believing and understanding the Bible? Hardly.

Maybe there are one or two. I don’t know them all.

By public appearances and actions in Washington, it certainly appears we don’t have believing leaders. They are not aware that what they are doing will incur and is incurring God’s wrath. They just don’t know. Certainly the resident of the White House does not know. And those preachers brought in for prayer breakfasts don’t know either, or they aren’t telling the leaders. The Bible warns against false prophets too.

There have been people who have traced many horrible events in US history to actions the US took that were against God’s plan for Israel. Do you know that? You can even buy books about that. But certainly that is a subject that will not come up on the news programs because - get serious now - the reporters and producers and media in general just don’t get it.

But the US is getting it now, isn’t it? Some serious punishment. And the getting is going to get worse.

Is this all part of the events leading up to the return of Jesus? Probably. But more specifically it is certainly in direct response to the actions of this country through its “leaders” that oppose Israel and the will of God for Israel. That is the wrong side to be on.

Israel is the apple of God’s eye. Do you know that? The Bible says that too.

You may say you do not agree with the views expressed by the US leaders. Well, that is good for you. But you do live here. So you are at risk here. The rain falls on the just and the unjust alike.

Keep your eyes on Jesus. Pray protection over your family and your home and your neighborhood. And to the extent you can, change the views of the leaders of this country. Or through the democratic process that for now is still operative, change the leaders.

BEING TRUE TO "THE CALL"

2011-05-09T15:04:00.002-04:00

Sometimes God calls you to go “this” way. But another way – “that” way – would be more comfortable, more convenient.

Going that way would line up with the expectations of family and friends. It is where they think you are heading, now they see you have been called. It is what they naturally expect. It fits well with the traditions of the church your family attends. It would be logical.

That way seems like what you naturally would want to do. But Jesus has called you to go this way - - - this way is the call. Perhaps less adulation, less praise, less public recognition. Maybe more hardship and less remuneration. Loneliness in human terms. Strange, even to friends and family.

This is the way you have been called, and this is where you know you must go. And as you go this way, they are watching. They see you heading in a strange direction. They do not understand, at least most of them. A few may. And you, you just keep going… this way.

Comment:

If you are going to be a disciple of Jesus, if you are going to follow him, then you cannot simply choose an attractive course and action. You have to go where he calls you to go and do what he calls you to do. Otherwise, you are following yourself or the interests of others.

Amazing Events in the Countdown to the Return

2011-04-02T09:19:00.002-04:00

All of you who follow our ministry have heard or read my saying how Jesus several years ago suddenly began telling me to “tell them who I am and that I am coming soon.” As that was repeated over time with more specific guidance, it became the overall mission of the ministry – to tell all people this.

I have spoken on the many aspects of Jesus and his return that the Lord has brought me, from all he did and does now to the many facets of his imminent return to earth.

At times I have sensed many would like me to focus more on healing services and the like, and the Lord knows I love doing healing services. But in very clear terms, I have guidance that while I can certainly hold those programs, the focus right now is on Jesus and his return. He is coming back soon. Real soon.

This week we have seen an extraordinary number of amazing signs. Please ask the Holy Spirit to guide you in considering all that has and is happening as presented below:

1 – Plans of the Muslim World – This week a video tape recently produced by the government of Iran became public. Part is now available and I include a link later so you can watch it. I encourage you to do so. It has English subtitles. This video is produced for distribution throughout the Muslim world. It describes the current time from the Muslim perspective. As you may know, satan has counterfeited much of what is happening as regards Jesus and his return, and you can see this here. Basically, this tape presents the view that we are right at the point of the return of the Muslim “messiah,” the mahdi. The tape goes through Muslim prophecy and writings. Certain current individuals are identified as people prophesied in Islam writings. President Ahmadinejab, for example, and the “supreme leader” of Iran, Ayatollah Khameini.

Also, King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia. The point is made that when Abdullah dies, the mahdi should come. There have been comments about Abdullah’s health over past years. He currently is in his upper 80’s.

This tape goes through the uprisings in Egypt and other Arab countries. It talks of wars and such. The mahdi obviously comes in a period of chaos.

The overall objective stated in the video and shown on the screen is the establishment of a new Islamic civilization.

Let me paraphrase a comment from Pat Robertson: When the cold war existed, the USSR and the United States did not use their nuclear weapons because neither side wanted to lose so many of their own citizens in a nuclear war. But that is not the case with Muslim leaders in Iran. If Iran were to attack Israel and in the process lose a huge number of its own citizens by Israel’s counterattack, that would be acceptable to the leaders there since it sets the stage for the return of this mahdi.

This is a chilling video. Many of the Muslim “prophecies” noted in it have already been fulfilled. And the time is short – the “Muslim end times” position filled by Ahmadinejad is to be filled 72 months before the return of the mahdi. He became president of Iran in August 2005.

Please watch the video and share it with others. You certainly cannot count on the US government or the current news media to get this out.

http://atimetobetray.com/blog/iran-leaders-the-coming-is-upon-us-%E2%80%93-israel-shall-be-destroyed-watch-the-video/

2 – Deception – Regarding the last days, Jesus warned us to watch that we are not deceived. Deception is rampant in our world, among political leaders, among the press, among well known entertainers, and so on. Many people are just deceived. If you do not have the guidance of the Holy Spirit, you cannot and will not see the truth.

Examples of deception are all those examples of political correctness you see every day – not calling something truthfully what it is. For example, the great physical threat to America and the western world is from radical Islam, but we all see how many political leaders and reporters refuse to identify individual terrorists as Muslims when they clearly are. Jay Sekulow, head of the American Institute of Law and Justice, recently said that we have to stop kidding ourselves, that "The only religious group right now in the world engaged in international, coordinated efforts to kill civilians is Islam…." It is difficult to deal with issues unless they are approached with truth and open eyes, and deception prevents all that.

A good example of such deception just occurred. Lawrence McDonnell, host of a nightly news program on MSNBC, recently went on a rant on his program. He said,“The Book of Revelation is a work of fiction describing how a truly vicious God would bring about the end of the world. No half-smart religious person actually believes the Book of Revelation. They are certain that their God would never turn into a malicious torturer and mass murderer beyond Hitler’s wildest dreams.” ----Sad, isn’t it. Lost, that’s being lost, lost, lost.

3 – Egypt Air, an airline that I in the past have flown in Egypt and The Sudan, has issued a new route map which does not contain the nation of Israel.

4. – Uprisings in Many Middle Eastern countries: Egypt, Syria, Bahrain, Libya, Yemen, Saudi Arabia, Jordan - These nations are dictatorships, regardless of what the leader is called. Their citizens would not revolt normally, because they are aware of the swift reprisal from the government, the swift punishment. These are not democracies. So how do you think all this uprising and these public demonstrations came about? Do you really think this is just young people seeking freedom and better paying jobs? Does it really make sense that they would all be happening at the same time? How about considering this is a move to bring about a more united Muslim front. Consider that such as the Muslim brotherhood may be behind all this, and Iran. All these “uprisings” are an area where the deception Jesus warned about is rampant in the news media and the political/government world.

5 – Japan earthquake – Just another warning, another terrible event as we head toward the return and the tribulation. Japan is not a Christian country. About 1 % of the people there are considered Christian. Pray that there are sufficient Christian missionaries in Japan who speak in a way the Japanese people can understand, that the people will listen to them, and that God is using all this to get the truth of who Jesus is through to the Japanese.

6 – The US government – Sad, isn’t it. I remember when we were all so proud of the government, proud of the US . I think we still are proud of the history. But how lost and how desperate and even how dangerous is the current government of the United States? What are we really doing in Libya? Does anyone know? Why did we choose to help this particular group of people? The best the American people can do right now may be just to hold all elected people accountable and to seek to put persons who believe in Jesus in office.

Concluding Comment
Please be alert to what is happening. Considering all the above, and this is hardly all that we could have included here, it should be more and more evident how important it is to get the message out to people of who Jesus is and that he is coming soon. Please, please help us in this. It always astounds me how people contribute so much to secular causes like public television and school alumni funds, to medical causes like the heart association, and to good groups that bring temporary help like the Red Cross, but don’t give with the same gusto or amount to the spread of the real truth that saves people’s lives for eternity. Why do you think Jesus is guiding me to focus more on talking about him and his return than about healing? Here’s the answer: Divine healing is for a short time. Knowledge of Jesus and a relationship with him is forever.

Please help us if you can. If you were in my shoes and saw with Jesus’ eyes what is happening locally and worldwide, you would be amazed and you would be greatly saddened by the great numbers everywhere who do not know him and are not ready at all for his return.

John

Revelation 3:20-21 Revelation 22:20 John 14:6

ALERT!!! WILL AMERICANS WAKE UP NOW? THE GREAT JAPANESE EARTHQUAKE!

2011-03-11T08:05:00.002-05:00

Today the worst earthquake in Japan ’s history followed by a giant tsunami has hit the country. We still do not know the extent of the devastation and loss of life and likely will not for days. Because this is a technically advanced country, we have television images of the disaster – pictures of the tsunami and of trucks and cars and boats rolling along carried by the tsunami.

Earthquakes are one of the signs of the impending end of this age and the coming return of Jesus, as those who red the Bible and follow our ministry know. We have had an extraordinary number of devastating such events in the last few years.

It should be noted that Japan is overwhelmingly not filled with Christians. There is a very small percentage of believers in Jesus there, although that number has been reported to be on the rise.

I usually do not make this point, but it is time to make it – please notice that the greatest natural disasters in history have occurred in non-Christian nations. So here is my point – I believe the US and Europe too may have been spared such giant disasters in the past by the intercession of the number of true believers in Jesus who have lived in these areas.

But now Europe has a very small percentage of Christians. And the US steadily has been falling away, with much of its formal/organized religion only having a form of godliness but denying its power.

God called me long ago to “tell people who he is and that he is coming soon.” Well, I cannot pass by this moment without warning people that HE IS COMING SOON! Time to make sure you really do know him, that you are living in the right relationship with him.

We all should pray for the Japanese people. We also should pray for ourselves and all those we know, that all who do not know Jesus would be drawn by the Father to Jesus.

Keep Your Eyes on Jesus!

OBSERVATIONS ON TODAY'S WORLD

2011-03-10T14:48:00.001-05:00

Before God called me in such a dramatic fashion many years ago, I worked and traveled in and through many countries. Most of those places were what we might today call third-world or developing. Some were not developing at all. As I went to several of the countries in the Middle East, for example, I remember seeing and telling others that the people there were held back by their own religion. I didn’t know how true that was then, but of course it is obviously true. Following a false god, believing incorrect things, is disaster for humans. So too is taking harmful actions against Israel (remember God’s words - I will bless those who bless you and curse those who curse you). And all the strange and unpleasant restrictions placed on people in Islam, especially women, are just that, strange and unpleasant.

But then all these Muslims are lost and will stay that way until they realize who Jesus is and accept him as their Lord. That does happen, usually with great pressure on Muslims making the conversion, often with the need to get away from where they are, often with resulting persecution, even sometimes death. I heard at a missions meeting back in the mid-1990’s of how Jesus had been appearing in dreams/visions to some Muslims, even Muslim religious leaders, leading of course to conversions of those people. Some in the mission field call that a power play. It certainly is, isn’t it! That continues. I don’t know how many have received such power plays, but it has happened and is happening.

In a similar way, when I was in many of the sub-Saharan African nations I experienced the wretched poverty of the areas and saw the results of corrupt governments and just lack of funds and lack of knowledge and education. A question that frequently came up was what it will take to get Africans out of this, referring of course to the economic level and quality of life. The answer should be obvious – knowledge of and faith in God. They needed true Christian leaders who would not be corrupt. All the people themselves needed to know Jesus, to know the truths of the Bible, to know how to go forward in living and applying the truths of the Bible.

I remember at one program in the US when I mentioned something about God’s provision, perhaps the verse that God provides all our needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus, a woman sarcastically said, “tell that to the Africans!” But she missed the point. All that God wants people to have will not come to them unless they know him, unless they accept Jesus as Lord, unless they know the various truths and principles in the Bible and actually apply them to their daily lives. That has now begun to happen, with really great changes afoot. Some giant missionary efforts have brought great numbers coming to Christ, and Africa like China is at least in some areas a hotbed of new and serious Christians.

GOD'S PROVISION FOR A VICTORIOUS LIFE

2011-03-10T14:35:00.002-05:00

The commands, the promises, the rules given in the Bible are not there because God wants to be harsh on people or because he wants them to have a hard time. No, God knows the behaviors that will bring hardship and heartbreak, and he has given us there truths of his kingdom that will enable us to avoid such behaviors if they are obeyed and followed in our actions. Sadly, most people have either not known the Bible at all or have treated it as a general guidebook or an interesting ancient book kept on a table. But the Bible is full of God’s truths, and also warnings about what is to come. It was written by God through people as a gift to people. It is not a guidebook. It is the policy manual and the book of laws for the Kingdom of God. You could say also it is the policy manual and the book of laws for a truly successful life now and in that Kingdom. One more point - these truths and promises of God work if they are actually applied to your life, if you actually act on them.

WHO IS GOING WITH HIM?

2011-02-09T13:58:00.002-05:00

[Some items are too important not to post. This article was sent out February 9 to all on our ministry newsletter list. I wanted to be sure that those who come to this blog would see it as well.]

A minister friend of mine has recently been active in missionary work in Africa, and I along with others am thrilled as we hear reports of God working through his actions there.

From time to time our ministry has been invited to partner with startup and existing churches in Africa, in India, in Pakistan, and elsewhere, and to come and hold crusades there. But when I some time ago prayed about going to minister in one of these places, I received clear guidance that our ministry is here, in the US (at least the “in person” ministry for now. Our CDs and newsletters and the web site of course go around the world.).

And that has all led me to thinking. So many of the serious believers correctly get very excited and also concerned about all those around the world who have not heard the good news. Some become active in international missions, whether going themselves or supporting the efforts of others. But one thing people forget – a huge number of Americans are also not currently in line to join God in Heaven, in the Kingdom, whether in the rapture or through death. Large numbers of Americans are just not genuine believers. Now of course you know that about people who clearly just don’t know God at all. But I’m here to tell you that huge numbers of others as well are certainly not currently lined up for Heaven.

We all see or hear those polls that say large percentages of Americans believe there is a God. So people like to say that a high percentage of Americans are believers. Large numbers also say they are Christians, and large numbers go to brick building churches on Sundays. But saying there is a God or that you believe in God does not get you into the Kingdom of God, into Heaven. Saying you are a Christian or going to church on Sundays does not get you there either.

Jesus and others such as Paul very specifically pointed out the requirements to be in the Kingdom. For example, Jesus said a person must have a spiritual rebirth (“born again”) just to see the Kingdom of God and must be born of water and the spirit in order to enter the Kingdom. Large numbers of churches in America never get into focusing on the spirit at all. It’s a part of the Bible they have overlooked.

Paul said that if a person confesses with his mouth that Jesus is Lord and believes in his heart that God raised him from the dead, then he is saved. Saying that Jesus is Lord means you have made him Lord of your life. That means that you obey what he says. What does he say? As a minimum, all he said in the Bible. For example, I recently saw a prominent poll that said that half of all people who say they are Christians don’t believe the devil is real. But Jesus talked about the devil. He warned about the devil. He knew the devil is real. If a person does not believe that, then they are not believing Jesus. They certainly haven’t made Jesus Lord of their lives.

Elsewhere Jesus talks about just believing. Believe he is who he says he is and that he did what he did. That type of belief is absolute, like your believing there is enough air in the room in which you are reading this now so that you will stay alive (otherwise you would run out!). Absolute, genuine belief.

Jesus really is the Son of God. He really did come to earth and be born as a human being – actually his mother was a human but his Father was God himself. Jesus is alive, really alive. Currently he sits at the right hand of the Father. All things are under his feet. He is the King of the Kingdom of God.

Jesus himself made the point that few are they who find the way to life (e.g., to be in the Kingdom of God, to life eternal with him and his father). This point is made more than once. Few. That is way less than half. Few.

Clearly there is great room for ministry and mission work to those who live in the United States as well as elsewhere. Watch what happens around you in your town, neighborhood, city, nation – on TV and in person. Scan the front page of the local newspaper. Lots of lost and confused people. Listen to the entertainment celebrities, the politicians, the reporters. How many of those people have any idea who Jesus really is? Talk to ordinary everyday people. Let’s face it - huge numbers of Americans are not genuine believers in Christ.

You can try this test yourself. Go ask random people in your neighborhood or business or school how people get to Heaven. Jesus said he is the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except by him. Jesus is the only way. In this confused age of political correctness, you will hear many say they believe there are many ways to God. And you will see they are accepting of many false religions. Right away you know those people are lost.

Or you might ask people who goes to Heaven. You will hear some say that everyone goes to Heaven. Again, lost people.

A few years ago a man came to our office. He asked about our ministry. After some discussion, I remarked that he was not from the US. He replied that he was from Africa. I said I had been to Africa. After some discussion we found I had been to the city he had come from. So we had a good relationship. He mentioned that in his country people are healed by God. I said that we had divine healings in our ministry. He found that hard to believe, but I assured him it was true. He finally came out and said that he was a missionary sent from his country to the US, a Christian missionary. And he offered his views on why so many in America don’t see such things as healings by God. Since then I have found there are other missionaries from other places here to speak to Americans.

The US is a mission field. Yes, there are thousands upon thousands of big and small church buildings. The country does not need any more church buildings. Those funds could be used for far greater works. What the country needs is people to present the full power gospel of Jesus, whether in buildings or in home groups, and for people to actually believe and act on the truths of the gospel. People need to know and to obey the words of Jesus. What is being presented in many churches is a narrow and watered down gospel, a cultural gospel of no power. Jesus took care of everything that separated people from God. Yes he served as a substitutionary sacrifice for us, to pay the debt we all owed God for our sins. And he overcame that so that if we truly accept him we are forgiven and we have life eternal with him and his father. But he also took upon himself all our pain and sicknesses and disease, and by the horrible beatings he suffered, we are healed and made whole. He became a curse for us on the cross, so that we are free from curses of the law. He overcame evil, overcame death, overcame the world. And in him we do the same. He became poor that we might be rich. And on and on. So much more than is taught almost anywhere. Most people who say they are Christians have never heard most of what Jesus did, and they are not aware of who they are in Christ or that they have a power gospel. Rather so many sit like bored sheep on Sunday mornings and hear narrow, limited sermons, leaving with no revelation and no power. And they are lost.

Jesus Christ is coming soon to collect his CHURCH, that body of people who truly believe in him no matter where they are in the world.

Will he find faith on earth? Will he find it in you, in your house, in your neighborhood?

Just who is he really going to take with him?

IT'S NOT THE ECONOMY...

2010-11-07T20:39:00.001-05:00

Last Tuesday the United States held its annual election day. The party out of power bolstered by a strong independent group known as the Tea Party claimed a huge upsurge in the House of Representatives and a real increase in representation in the Senate. There was also a great increase in the number of Republican governors. This pattern was repeated in many state legislatures, such as North Carolina which has the first Republican majority legislature since the 1800’s.

All this has many politicians and pundits making a variety of claims. I’m sure you’ve seen many of them – repudiation of the current administration’s policies, demand for change, throwing out people who do not represent the population they are supposed to serve, and so forth.

More specifically, I hear people talking about how the real issue is the economy, how that is the great problem in America, how the focus has to be on fixing that – including such actions as cutting spending, continuing the Bush era tax cuts, and so forth.

I’m writing this to tell you the real problem in America is not the economy. Most certainly not. Yes, abut 10% unemployment is high and bad, and yes, there are probably even more out there unemployed who are not counted. But the real problem for these United States is that the people – as a whole – have forgotten who they are, if some ever knew. They are focused on their own income and security, while steps have been taken to dismantle the fundamental structure of the country.

The United States, as I have written before, was founded by a group of spectacular individuals who were well grounded in the Christian faith and who sought God’s blessings on this enterprise. The original bold documents were laid out to provide and protect individual liberty and to reward individual effort. In fact the original holders of political positions were not really full time politicians. They had other jobs, like being a farmer or something else. It was like many of our state legislatures used to be – part time jobs filled by people connected to the real economy and society of the country. But over the years we have come to have career politicians, people who have never held a real job in the economy and thus have little or no understanding of the economic system that drives the country and job creation. Senators and Congressmen serving many years! And people out of office working in Washington as lobbyists until they can be appointed or reelected to another position.

Some times in the past when I was involved in the business world I would go to meetings and functions with these people or their staffs in Washington, “inside the beltway.” The discussions even in the informal time before or after the meetings were all about politics. I remember thinking – no one in the rest of the country cares about what these people are talking about.

This great separation of the “leaders” from the population was never so clear as in the past two years when the federal government pushed through dramatically new legislation and actions that were not wanted by the American people. This population, this 330 million people, was ignored by an elected elite that considered itself above it all, perhaps wiser and better than the rest.

The past two years saw steady moves to a socialist system, a federal takeover of much more of the countries activities. But it is the private enterprise system that is the engine that has driven the country up to such economic heights.

And it has been the strong Christian beliefs of some of the population that has led the country to take bold steps in the past to defend other less powerful nations and peoples. The action of a leader apologizing to the world for the actions of the US is out of line with history. Yes, of course, the country has made mistakes, and when that happens they should be apologized for. But in this secular world, the US has been the greatest force for good the world has seen these past many years. Had the US not entered World War II in Europe as well as in the Pacific, something many did not want to happen, the world would be living today with the Nazis in control of Europe. Britain alone could not have defeated Hitler and the Nazis. That’s just one good example, one very good example. The same can be said for stopping Japanese aggression in the Pacific.

Over the years this country has been the base for sending countless missionaries into the world, for sending huge relief efforts to areas devastated by drought, by war, by famine, by typhoons and earthquakes and other natural disasters.

There is only one true responsibility of a national government – to protect the country and the citizens against foreign enemies. Everything beyond that is an add-on that does not have to be included.

We see today an enormous number of people who now feel they are owed things by the country, by the government – people refer to this as entitlements. So for those people the issue of going forward to the best of their abilities (hopefully with their eye and prayers toward God and seeking his guidance) does not exist as it once did in the country.

The founding fathers, clearly guided by God, created a country where people had the environment and the opportunity to go forward with their God-given talents and pursue to the best of their abilities the areas they wished to pursue. That’s it. That’s all. No one is owed anything by a national government. Yes, there has to be provision for those truly physically or mentally unable to participate fully, but that is a very small number indeed, not the huge numbers today expecting to receive from the government.

Here seems a good time to move more into the preacher role. God is the source, not the government! God is the source. We have this extraordinary government and society because clearly this land has been blessed by God in its founding, because there have been so many godly people living here. One of the Psalms points out how God has claimed the godly for himself. And there are many verses in the Bible that point out how God blesses people. There are also verses that point out that people are to work hard. Also that that work is not to take all the time from waking to going to bed.

The great problem in America is that most Americans have forgotten who they are. That includes the magnificent heritage of the creation and history of the country. And it includes the role that faith in God has played. I would say that is why the country has been so successful. As so many Americans pull away from God – which we clearly see in the entertainment world, the political world, the media and everyday life– the United States slips steadily from the shining platform it had reached.

Some voting advice: Don’t elect ungodly leaders. Don’t elect people who think the economy is the greatest problem in the country. Don’t elect leaders that will take the country to failed social systems that have long ago been disproved in Europe and Asia. Don’t ever elect leaders who cannot see truth and hide behind phony facades like political correctness. And don’t elect leaders who have had no personal experiences in working in the system that prospered the country.

This recent election at least shows a sizable number of Americans know something is wrong. Well, it is. We are rapidly approaching the time of Jesus’ return to earth. And in the US there is a national falling away from God, almost a rebellion against God; a blatant disregard of things God has boldly warned us about in the Bible; and a blind acceptance of people as leaders who even a cursory glance would show are highly unqualified and even dangerous.

May God have mercy on the United States of America.

PRAY AGAINST THE STORM! ORDER IT AWAY!

2010-09-01T11:05:00.000-04:00

TO ALL THOSE WHO LIVE ON THE ATLANTIC COAST:

A couple of years ago when the coast was threatened by a storm similar to the current hurricane EARL, I sent an email asking all along the coast to take action. And the threatening hurricane then was indeed kept at bay, offshore.

It's time to do that again.

Most of you have heard me or read my writings talking about John 14:12-14 and Mark 11:22-24.

In John 14:12, Jesus states that those who believe will do the same things he had been doing.

In Mark 11:22-23, Jesus makes the point that anyone who has faith can say to their mountain, "go and throw yourself into the sea," and if he/she believes and does not doubt, it will be done as they have said.

Well, it's time right now to put those verses and your faith into action. The gospel of Jesus Christ is a gospel of power and not just word! It is these verses and others that lead us to realize that in Jesus all things are possible.

What did Jesus do? He healed the sick. He also changed the weather. And he says we can do the same thing.

Well, we do. People do receive their healing! And the weather is changed!

What is the mountain today for people along much of the Atlantic Coast - the storm EARL.

I have always believed it is those most directly affected who have the most urgency and most responsibility to pray and who have - in Jesus name - the most power is a situation. So go outside and face the ocean, wherever you are, face East, and in Jesus name, speak to the storm EARL today, right now. Order it's winds to diminish. Order it to turn away from the coast and disappear. And whatever else the Holy Spirit guides you to , all in Jesus' name.

The miracles we have seen in this ministry have all happened because we take Jesus at his word.

So what are you waiting for?

May you always live in the blessings of God.

JOHN

Keep Your Eyes on Jesus!

A Message For Those Who Teach And Preach, and for Those Who Listen

2010-06-11T15:59:00.000-04:00

Not long ago I read a remarkable thing by the Christian writer Oswald Chambers. He observed that people called by God first “do” and then they “teach.” I partly agree with that. After God’s initial dramatic call on my life, I studied and prayed, wrote, and did other things. Then there was a period of focusing almost entirely on healing, always accompanied by teaching. There is nothing like being in the power and presence of the Holy Spirit and seeing God work – especially when for many present this might be the first time they have ever seen God work. As I moved along I found myself teaching more and more.

One day about five years ago Jesus clearly said to me, “John, tell them who I am and that I am coming soon.” He has repeated that, sometimes with elaboration, several times since. So I do. Now we still heal the sick and do other things in ministry, but the focus is on teaching and preaching all about who Jesus is and that he is coming soon. So in reality, first I “did” and then I moved into more “teaching,” still “doing” along with “teaching.”

I have seen this pattern in others. One famous world-wide minister was for years focused on miracle healing programs. He held those everywhere. Then while still doing healing programs his focus seemed to move to teaching. He held programs on teaching about how to minister. He referred to his ministry as an “end times” ministry. Why? Probably because he in some way heard something similar to what I heard. Jesus really is coming soon. It’s a time of picking up as many for the kingdom as possible.

Maybe doing builds the faith needed to teach the Word with boldness and confidence. Maybe.

Why is teaching so important? Because knowing Jesus – receiving him as your Lord – is more important than anything else. Remember, the Bible does make the point that teachers of the Word are held to a higher standard. (James 3:1).

Once years ago we were asked by a relief organization to go to a difficult war-torn country and oversee provision of certain necessities to the people. One problem to us was that we were told we could not tell the people in that country about Jesus. We could just provide the necessities of life that the people did not have – in this case housing. Well, we realized, what does it matter if they have housing and do not know Jesus? Very little. Years later, I was asked to interview to be head of that organization, but the same issue troubled me, so I did not follow up.

What does it matter if you are healed physically but do not know Jesus? Nothing, really, except that for a miniscule moment in time you are healed. Because long-run, you will live in absolute torment unless you do receive Jesus.

If you are thinking about teaching the gospel, never forget that teachers are held to a higher standard. Jesus is preaching and teaching through you. It is the Holy Spirit who is impacting the listeners.

There is another insight to all this, a warning not only for all preaching and teaching the Word of God but also for all listening to such. Once in a city when I had begun to speak to various local ministers, one said to me, “John, when you’re going about meeting all these preachers, you’re going to find that many of them haven’t even been born again.”

Now there is an indictment! He was saying that many of those preaching and teaching the Word don’t know Jesus, don’t have a regenerated spirit, and quite obviously don’t know the Holy Spirit. And they are preaching and teaching others, on Sunday mornings in churches and elsewhere. Yet teachers of the Word are held to a higher standard.

We need to be wise about whom we listen to and sit under, in person and on television and in books. Always, always be guided by the Holy Spirit in such matters. As regards a local church, here are a couple suggestions – Do you see God moving in the church, people actually healed, miracles happening? If you can’t answer yes to that, you need to consider where you are and why you are there. When you listen to preaching on Sunday mornings or whenever you do listen, is it inspired? Do you receive any confirmation in your spirit from what you hear? Does it line up with the Bible? And is the fullness of the gospel being preached, all those many things Jesus did for us and told us to do that are so often not ever mentioned?

Something to ponder seriously.

2010-03-23T14:57:00.000-04:00

Sign of the Times: STEPPING INTO THE NIGHT

Sunday (March 21), the light went out on the American season, an end to an amazing run.

Rather than continue to shine above the others and show the way to a better life, the US took a major step to joining the world’s countries in their trod toward uniformity and mediocrity. Socialism, the government knows better, a government unfocused on the one true God or on truth – that’s the way of the world. The United States has now joined that world.

Jesus overcame the world.
In him we do too.
Thank God.

The current US government, put in place by an undiscerning people blinded by too many years of preferring image to substance, has taken steps not only to nationalize health care but to move in numerous other ways in other areas of life toward national control.

It is a worldwide government that the antichrist heads in the end times. It is a worldwide government that terrorizes and destroys and is itself eliminated by Jesus in his return.

The US Sunday took a step off the cliff into the morass that is humanism, progressivism, socialism, or communism. Take your pick. Countries with those philosophies have always failed. The US has stepped from the light into a dark night. It is ironic to note that the amazing economic success of China in recent decades has come from its conscious move to adopt many of the basics of the historical American economic system. Now it is even a great holder of American debt, a position it is uncomfortable with.

Some time back I used to wonder what role the US played in the last of the last days, in the time before Jesus’ coming to call out the church, in the seven year tribulation. Now I know. Nothing significant. The US is in free fall from the position of being a light in the world that it held much of the last century, falling to be just another inconsequential society and nation.

That’s what happened Sunday. You may not have recognized it. Maybe you don’t want to get involved. But oh you are now. Just think - all those years of offering criticisms about other national governments with their dictatorships and government control and frightening views. Well, now you’re living in one of those places.

Fortunately Jesus is coming soon. So believers, your day of relief is in sight. Thank God. But for most of you Americans, alas, your night has just begun.

2010-03-09T09:45:00.000-05:00

Signs of the Times: WHERE IS THE OUTRAGE? WHERE ARE THE PRAYERS?
[written in May 2009 but still very pertinent]

For decades Americans for the most part have focused on their own lives – their jobs, their houses, their cars and boats and for some their clubs and sports. They have not been interested or shown interest in looking beyond that small constricted circle.

What was happening in the rest of the world? What is going on in the greater spiritual world? Was there more to the spiritual world than just going and sitting through an obligatory one hour program each Sunday?

Well, now Americans are finding out. There was much more going on. There is much more going on.

In just a little over a hundred days the underlying formal structure of the country and the formal moral fabric has changed more than it ever has. We now have a leadership that either does not know the foundations of the country or does not care about those foundations, and that is clearly determined to lead the nation and the society on a road away from Jesus Christ and freedom and to a road of big government, invasion of personal life, much less freedom, and the truly socialist view that government knows best. The last great society that followed that view was the USSR, and it was a complete failure in the lifetimes of most adults living.

Americans, true to their narrow self focus of so many decades now, late last year and early this year paid attention to the economy. Nothing matters to Americans like the economy. So steps to improve that were accepted. But those steps involved actions way out of bounds – monster spending that hugely increases debt and places the country more and more as a debtor in the hands of such as the People’s Republic of China.

While watching the government take bold and even unconstitutional steps that eventually lead to takeover of major banks and invade and destroy major businesses – by the way the US government does not inherently have these rights – Americans have acquiesced and sat quietly. Other than our brave young soldiers, that’s generally how Americans behave today – sitting quietly, watching TV or whatever.

While the attention was on the economy, numerous steps were taken – some completed, some begun – to move to a socialist state, to turn away from God, to turn away from the country’s history and principals.

Well, didn’t a recent report by George Barna point out how few people who say they are Christians truly believe major points of Christianity? Yes, that’s true. So no wonder the people can’t recognize what is happening.

Consider:

• Steps were taken to allow US funds to be used to fund abortions in foreign lands. Your money.

• Steps have been taken to move in the direction of stem cell research on embryos.

• The volunteer core has been greatly expanded, and in the process there actually was discussion and even language drafted that those responsible would be able to consider making this volunteer core mandatory. That would be forcibly putting young people in a volunteer core for a few years – maybe senior citizens too. What nation in the last century does this sound like?

• Pressure is being indicated and brought on doctors who will not perform abortions.

• The elected leader in the White House has said that the USA is no longer a Christian nation.

• A hate crimes bill is rapidly making its way through Congress, a bill which would put gags in the mouths of those who would speak out about some horrible evils. Are you aware of that? True preachers of the Word would no longer be able to point out, for example, that the Bible and thus God speak loudly and clearly against homosexuality. In fact, a list of deviant behaviors currently is protected by the draft of this bill making its way along, behavior such as pedophilia.

• The current White House occupant has taken trips abroad where he has apologized for the US everywhere he has gone and where he has gladly shaken hands and smiled at tyrants and evil leaders. He either does not know the history of the US or does not believe it. The fact is that the US has, among the world’s nations, been the greatest force for good on earth in our lifetimes. What other nation actually goes to war to help other people?

• The government also continues its pressure on Israel to split, to give up land to the Palestinians. But remember – “I will bless those who bless you and will curse those who curse you.” The actions regarding Israel clearly place the US on the side of those lining up for receiving cursing – not the position Harry Truman had in mind when he boldly recognized the new nation of Israel in 1949.

It is difficult for me to write these things because I want to spend my time on Jesus – who he is and that he is coming soon. But I do have to point out what is happening, because what is happening is in keeping with the truth that Jesus is coming soon, very soon.

A last sign before the antichrist is revealed and then the Day of the Lord comes is a falling away from, or rebellion against, God (II Thessalonians, 2:3). I would say we are living in the midst of that. The original Greek for this falling away is apostasia, from which we get our word for apostasy. That is where we are, in the midst of apostasy.

Jesus in three chapters talking about the last days (Mark 13, Matthew 24, Luke 21) warned strongly about deception. Americans and all in the world are living in the midst of that.

If you do not truly know Jesus, now is the time to correct that. Ask him into your life. Ask for his mercy, his forgiveness of your sins. Recognize him for who he is – Lord – and make him your Lord.

You see, soon, at the name of Jesus, every knee will bow – the knees of those who know him and the knees of those who don’t. You do want to be in the first group.

The Bible notes that the evil one has blinded the eyes of non-believers. That is true. But you say, well I see many Christians who are happy with the government. I reply, scripture says the devil has blinded the eyes of non-believers. As we approach the end of this age, we all will learn there is a big difference between all those who call themselves Christians and those who truly are believers in Jesus Christ.

So what do you do? Pray. Pray. Pray. For the veils to be removed. For people to wake up. For people to turn to God. And for a wave of outrage and then wise Godly action to follow in response to all the deception and evil now being foisted on the American people.

May God have mercy on us all.

2010-03-02T14:33:00.000-05:00

Signs of the Times:

JESUS IS COMING: EVENTS GOT YOUR ATTENTION NOW?

In the three chapters of the Bible known as the Olivet discourse, Jesus gave prophecies of events to happen before his return to earth (Luke 21, Mark 13, Matthew 24). In each of these chapters one of the prophecies dealt with great earthquakes in divers places.

We are seeing that fulfilled at an increasing frequency. In our February newsletter a short report dealt with the January Haiti earthquake and some amazing statistics. A key point made there is that of the top twenty deadliest earthquakes in recorded history ( a long time – the deadliest occurred in 1556 AD!) more than half have occurred in just the last approximately one hundred years – and twenty percent just since December 26, 2004! That is way out of what would be expected through normal statistical distribution. These statistics do not include the Chile earthquake of February 27! Where that will end up ranking is not yet known, but we certainly see it was an extremely powerful earthquake.

Jesus called events such as these earthquakes birth pains. You all know how birth pains work. They get closer and closer together until the baby is born. In this case, closer and closer together until – the Lord is here!

If we are alert, we can see the signs. Jesus said that. And the signs are amazingly clear. I’ve talked about that at length in person and on television and in several CD recordings. It is one of the primary subjects God has called me to cover. Like all things with the Lord, some people get it and the rest just go on oblivious to what is happening.

For all of you who get it, realize the time is very, very short. I’m even thinking about the need to issue an update of our Prophecies Fulfilled CD every few months.

For those who did not see the article, repeated below are the recent newsletter comments about the Haiti earthquake and Jesus’ return.

THE HAITI EARTHQUAKE AND JESUS’ RETURN
The recent earthquake in Haiti is a giant human disaster, a tragedy for all who are in or connected to Haiti. But here I want to note something else. The scale of this earthquake puts it into the list of the 20 most deadly earthquakes in recorded history – really, into the top 10 of that list. You’ve heard me on this subject before. Great earthquakes in divers places is one of the prophecies of Jesus himself regarding events to happen leading up to his return. Without going into detail, I now here remind you of these three facts that are either encouraging to those awaiting Jesus’ return or shocking to those who haven’t yet waked up to what is happening in our time:
• Of the 20 most deadly earthquakes in recorded history – and that is hundreds and hundreds of years, 11 have occurred in the last approximately 100 years! That’s 55 %. If I had just asked you how many you think have occurred in the last hundred years, you would likely have said 1 or 2, and mathematically that would have been a reasonable answer. But 11? More than half? Surely you recognize this is out of a normal distribution over time.
• Of the 10 deadliest hurricanes (or typhoons) in recorded history, 4 or forty percent, have occurred in the last 40 years. The same point as above – this is way more than would have normally been expected (Jesus also warned of people being frightened by the roaring and tossing of the sea.).
• Now, for the real shocker, 4 of the deadliest earthquakes of recorded history and 1 of the deadliest hurricanes of recorded history have all happened since December 26, 2004. And 3 of these have occurred since May 2008!

Yes, partners and friends, we are living in the days of Jesus’ return. As detective Friday in the old show Dragnet would have said, “just the facts.” Yes, just look at the facts.

Keep Your Eyes on Jesus!

A CHRISTMAS GIFT

2009-12-01T13:37:00.002-05:00

[This event happened two years ago. At this Christmas time it reminds us all again what a loving God we have and how he is concerned in the very details of our lives!]

God loves us. He really, really does. That’s a key part of the Christmas message. Why else would He ever have sent His son here to go through what he went through? And why else would Jesus ever have willingly gone to the cross?

I was reminded of that this past weekend in a way only God can arrange.

Sunday afternoon a friend was coming to visit us at home. Late in the afternoon the doorbell rang, and I opened the door. There stood our friend, holding out a box of clementines. For those of you who do not know, clementines are small citrus fruit, like small oranges, and they seem to make an appearance in grocery stores about this time of year. They come in small but clearly distinct boxes.

Our friend handed me this box of clementines. “God told me to get this for you,” she said. And she went on, exclaiming that God was very specific and strong about it. “So I went into a grocery store and I couldn’t find them. I thought that I would just get a poinsettia, but well, God said to get clementines.” So she stuck with her search, and she found them.

Later in the kitchen she spoke with Cathy and asked if clementines were my favorite. Our friend couldn’t get over how insistent God had been.

Later I thought more about this. I remembered how as my children grew up we would always get a box of clementines sometime around Christmas. It was a regular feature in our house. The box could always be found sitting somewhere in the kitchen. Everyone liked them. To this day when I see a display of clementines in a store, I want to buy a box.

And I thought some more. Here we are in the ministry involved in our usual activities and praying for guidance from God on key issues, like where and how to proceed in the expensive television ministry, where and what meetings to arrange, whether to begin another regular meeting in southeastern NC, and more. For months, even years, we have been going steadily forward, always fighting and overcoming attacks of the evil one which do come whenever anyone steps out for God.

Into the midst of all that God sent an obedient woman friend to bring a box of clementines. Even when I write this the Holy Spirit is so strong in the office I keep stopping and reflecting. Is that love? Yes! And much more. That is God saying - John, even in the midst of all this, I’m still here, and I love you, and look, I even know little things about you, like how you like a box of clementines and what that means to you.

So I've been feeling really warm every since. God sent me a box of clementines for Christmas.

God knows where you are and what you’re going through. He knows every hair on your head. Every day, if we’ll just look around and take time to see with spiritual eyes, we’ll see God directing our paths. What a heavenly Father we have!

(December 7, 2007)

Copyright 2007 © by John Newlin Ministries, Inc.

SIGN OF THE TIMES! - LAODICEAN MAKES THE TV NEWS!

2009-05-29T09:25:00.002-04:00

I hope you heard the morning news today. The winning word in the national spelling bee was "Laodicean!"

How is that for God again trying to make a point to people!

The newsperson that I heard said that the word meant lukewarm and had religious connotations.

I'll say it has spiritual connotations! It has belief connotations! In Revelation 3:14-21, Jesus dictates a letter for John to write to the church at Laodicea. In that chilling letter, he makes the point that he really cannot abide their lukewarm behavior. They are neither cold nor hot, and Jesus says he will spit them out.

That of course is an apt description of large numbers of modern churches today. Not recognizing the power or reality of the Gospel, not even recognizing the truth of the Word, they exist - neither cold nor hot. They are lukewarm, and Jesus says He will spit them out.

Prepare for the spitting. It is beginning.

2009-05-28T17:15:00.001-04:00

HELD TO A HIGHER STANDARD

Not long ago I read a remarkable thing by the Christian writer Oswald Chambers. He observed that people called by God first “do” and then they “teach.” I had never thought of that, but it has been true in my own life. After the initial dramatic call, I sought to fulfill what Jesus had called me to do. I studied and prayed, wrote, and did other things. Then there was a period of focusing almost entirely on healing. There is nothing quite like being in the power and presence of the Holy Spirit and seeing God work – especially when for many present this might be the fist time they have ever seen God work. But then as I moved along I found myself teaching more and more.

One day about four years ago Jesus clearly said to me, “John, tell them who I am and that I am coming soon.” He has repeated that, sometimes with elaboration, several times since. So I do. Now we still heal the sick and do other things in ministry, but the focus is on teaching all about who Jesus is and that he is coming soon. So in reality, first I “did” and then I moved into “teaching,” still “doing” along with “teaching.”

I have seen this pattern in others. One famous world-wide minister was for years focused on miracle healing programs. He held those everywhere. Now he still does heal, but his focus clearly has moved to teaching. He holds programs on teaching about how to minister. He refers to his ministry as an end times ministry. Why? Probably because he in some way heard something similar to what I heard. Jesus really is coming soon. It’s a time of picking up as many for the kingdom as possible.

Maybe doing builds the faith needed to teach the Word with boldness and confidence. Maybe.

Teachers of the Word, you know, are held to a higher standard. The Bible says that (James 3:1). Why is this teaching so important? Because knowing Jesus – receiving him as your Lord – is more important than anything else.

Once years ago we were asked by a relief organization to go to a difficult war-torn country and oversee provision of certain necessities to the people. One problem to us was that we were told we could not tell the people in that country about Jesus. We could just provide the necessities of life that the people did not have – in this case housing. Well, we realized, what does it matter if they have housing and do not know Jesus? Very little. Years later, I was asked to interview to be head of that organization, but the same issue troubled me, so I did not follow up.

What does it matter if you are healed physically but do not know Jesus? Nothing, really, except that for a miniscule moment in time you are healed. Because long-run, you will live in absolute torment unless you do receive Jesus.

Just remember if you are thinking about teaching the gospel, teachers are held to a higher standard. In essence, Jesus is preaching/teaching through you. It is the Holy Spirit who is impacting the listeners.

AN IMPORTANT ASIDE:
There is another insight to this, really a warning for all preaching and teaching the Word of God. Once in a city when I had begun to speak to various local ministers, one said to me, “John, when you’re going about meeting all these preachers, you’re going to find that many of them haven’t even been born again.”

Now there is an indictment! He was saying that many of those preaching and teaching the Word don’t know Jesus, don’t have a regenerated spirit, quite obviously don’t know the Holy Spirit. And they are preaching and teaching others, on Sunday mornings in churches and elsewhere. Yet teachers of the Word are held to a higher standard.

Maybe there is a warning to all of us here. We need to be wise about whom we listen to and sit under, in person and on television and in books. Always, be guided by the Holy Spirit in such matters.

WILMINGTON BROADCAST TIME CHANGE

2009-05-28T17:04:00.000-04:00

FOR WILMINGTON AND SOUTHEASTERN NORTH CAROLINA VIEWERS OF
DARE TO BELIEVE! WE HAVE A NEW BROADCAST TIME AND DAY:
Wednesday mornings at 8:30 AM!
WSFX Fox 26
Time Warner and Charter cable channel 9

See How the Lilies of the Field Grow (Matthew 6:28)

2009-04-22T20:20:00.004-04:00

These are difficult times if you're looking at the world’s economies and governments. In recent newsletters and an episode of the television program, we focused on God's economy and fear. In essence, believers should live in God's economy, not the world's. And as for fear, we know who has won and where we're going.

Take some quiet time to spend with Jesus. He calls all those who labor and are heavy laden to come to him and rest (Matthew 11:28). That's most of us. And while you're thinking about God, look for him everywhere, as in this true story that played out right in front of Cathy and me some years ago:

FLOWER BOXES
(copyright 2004 by John Newlin)

She lived quietly by the sea,
On the very beach itself,
Her front yard only sand,
Her view the unending ocean.

Often as we passed on our way,
She quietly moved about,
Caring for flowers in boxes
Neatly stationed along deck rails.

She always wore bright scarves
Firmly wrapped about her head,
Their colorful patterns
Hiding the absence of hair.

We would see her from our house,
Steadily moving,
Watering plant after plant,
Gliding in a flowing skirt.

The years passed, four years,
And we noticed a “for sale” sign.
Well, she died, you know, we were told.
No, we did not.

Suddenly new people arrived,
Filling the freshly painted house
With activity and new life.
No flower boxes could be seen.

Reborn, the house lives on,
With a new identity.
The past has disappeared.
Fresh life fills the rooms.

And the flowers that once grew,
So that she could water them,
Now bloom on other decks,
Their purpose here fully served.

I AM.

2009-04-09T16:54:00.004-04:00

We are now celebrating the anniversary of the greatest moment in human history, the reconciliation of lost human beings to God by the actions of Jesus in going to and through the cross, in his victory over evil, over sin and death, over sickness and disease and pain and curses, in other words victory over anything that separated human beings from God.

On the night he was arrested, the band of soldiers and others came to where he and the disciples were. Estimates of the size of the group of soldiers amazingly range from 300 to 600. Obviously they did not know what to expect.

When the band arrived, Jesus asked them, “Who is it you want?”

They replied, “Jesus of Nazareth.”

And an astounding thing happened. According to our English language Bibles, Jesus answered, “I am he.” And the soldiers and others with them drew back and fell to the ground (John 18:6)!

But Jesus did not say, “I am he.” What he said, in the original Greek, was “ego eimi.”

“Ego eimi” means “I AM.”

That’s what Jesus said. “I AM.” The same phrase that God had applied to himself in speaking with Moses in Exodus 3:14. Our English translations have added the word “he” to “I am,” but Jesus did not say “he.” To the credit of the King James translation, the word “he” there is in italics to indicate it has been added.

Jesus had simply stated who he was. “I AM.” The overwhelming power and glory that was and is his knocked all the soldiers to the ground.

Now, having clearly demonstrated who had the greater power, he then allowed himself to be arrested and taken off to be slaughtered for you and me.

Amazing, isn’t it. That God would take such a step. We cannot comprehend that level of love. We cannot truly and fully comprehend what motivated God to send his son down here for such a purpose. Jesus had the right to take up his life and to lay it down. Thankfully, for all of us he chose to go through with the heavenly plan.

Remember when Philip in John 14 asked Jesus to show the disciples the Father, and Jesus replied that anyone who has seen him has seen the Father.

Remember elsewhere when Jesus declared that the Father and he are one?

That was the Son of God the soldiers came to arrest and that Philip was looking at. In essence and in truth, that was God they were arresting and that Philip was seeing. The great “I AM” answered the soldiers.

Jesus referred to himself that way more than once. Check out John 8:58 and John 13:19.

Nothing should prevent you from accepting Jesus as your Lord and being reconciled to the Father. If you have not done so, then sincerely ask for forgiveness for all your sinful actions and life and ask this Jesus to be your Lord. Now. There is not much time left. He’s about to make a second visit.

NEVER HOME - ALIENS ON PLANET EARTH

2009-03-25T22:35:00.000-04:00

One of God's calls on my life is to write. For several years after my encounter with God in the car on the New Jersey Turnpike, I did write...and then years later there was another period of intense writing. Today, most of my writing goes into the various ministry activities and products.

Specifically, God defined the writing call as writing poems and hymns, and other works. Over the years I've written many poems - and many have been published, several by publications affiliated with Christian groups.

Now in this extraordinary period in which we live, one so close to the return of Jesus, one in which the secular world is filled with steps by leaders and media and other groups so out of line with the path with which believers would identify, I find that the poems written years ago fit very well. I intend from time to time to include a few here, intermixed with the essays, insights, and revelations. Sometimes we need a break. And besides, poetry often can say things prose cannot.

This poem presents the way I think many believers in Jesus feel today. Well, we should. Because it is true.

WE ARE NEVER HOME
(Copyright 2004 by John Newlin)

We are never home.
Not now. Not here.
No matter how we try.
We cannot get there.

The moments of joy
Family and friends bring
Cannot dispel
The longing of our hearts.

Harsh though the words,
God’s children are
Strangers in a foreign land,
Aliens on planet earth.

This is not our world.
But we will soon be home,
That we know.
Our hope is secure.

[published in Standard January 11, 2004]

That's right, this is not our home, not this secular lost society of fear and misdirection. That's why we often feel alone, craving to be truly home. That home is with Jesus and the Father. That home is soon to be realized.

Aliens

2009-03-18T07:46:00.000-04:00

Twenty-six years ago for reasons known only to him, God saved me from certain death. Not only that, he also saved three other members of my family from certain death. A few years later, in response to my calling to Jesus for help, God came into my car on the New Jersey Turnpike and filled me to overflowing with his presence, with the Holy Spirit. His call on my life began and continues to evolve even today.

I had been a successful big corporation executive with a really good income, working throughout the world with business and government leaders, serving on international asociation boards. But no more. There was a new overwhelming purpose in life, one that immediately went way to the front of the list.

God is real - I just couldn't get over that. God is real, Jesus is real, the Holy Spirit is real, the Bible is true. God's continuing call on my life took several forms. Primary has been to "feed His sheep," which I do. And to give my testimony, which I do. Also to have a prayer, preaching, and healing ministry with my wife - that's how He said it, and we do. Write - religious poems and hymns and other works, and I have and do. A couple other major calls I do not share publicly.

So I have sought to reveal to people the fullness of who Jesus is. So much more than most know, than is taught in the traditional churches. And miracles just occurred and kept occurring over time. You can read about all this as well as an expanded testimony on our web site, www.johnnewlinministries.org. There you can see articles and newsletters and request CD's and DVD's, even go to video postings of our television program DARE TO BELIEVE!.

AND THEN! - Beginning in March 2005 Jesus specifically began telling me: "John, tell people who I am and that I am coming soon." He elaborated on this many times, saying such things as "this is no joke" and "when I come, things will be different." (God does speak to you in the language that you will understand.). And He just kept bringing this up and pressing me on this. So my life and our ministry turned to focus primarily on this specific assignment. On television and in CD recordings and newsletter writings. Over and over.

You see, all those prophecies in the Bible of events to happen before Jesus returned, which had never occurred, suddenly began to be fulfilled. In the last century and up to today suddenly they were fulfilled one after another. The reestablishment of the nation of Israel. The takeover of Jerusalem by the Jews. (Read the teachings. Get our CD's on this.). It was all so obvious. He indeed is coming, and coming very soon! Later I realized he had been revealing this to some other ministers and individuals in the country. He wanted people to know. Because certainly most don't.

Now, we are right there, right at the point of his return. All the many things he talked about regarding his return have happened or are happening. We are right in that period Paul referred to as the apostacy, or rebellion, the falling away from God. Hard for anyone to deny that is the case in the US today, and certainly much of the world. At the same time that there are great pockets of mission work in the world with many coming to Christ, there are also huge zones where faith in God seems dormant, especially in the modern industrialized world.

The events in our society today should be readily apparent to most. But then most don't know the Bible, don't know the truth, sadly even don't know Jesus, so how can they recognize what is happening. The fear pouring out of Washington and the media, the confusion seen and felt by all, surely some are getting the point. We can hope. We can pray.

Are you ready for that return? Regardless of circumstances or events, the key question is whether you know Jesus. Get our material or that of other ministries truly focused on Jesus and the Bible. Read the book of John and the other gospel books. Ask Jesus to come into your life and be your Lord. Ask his forgiveness for all your wrong behavior in life, your "sins" to use Bible talk. And never stop seeking him. God says you will find him when you seek him with all your heart. He also says that you can call out to him and he will answer you and will show you great and hidden things you do not know. The Bible says if you lack wisdom about something, then ask God for that.

It really is now. Times for the country and world are getting tough. And so very soon, Jesus will be here. You want to be ready.