Showing posts with label Faith. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Faith. Show all posts

Tuesday, June 16, 2020

PASTOR JOHN COLLINS BRINGING BACK GOD & FAITH: GOD AND COVID-19

From John Collins Ministries:

Transcribed from a recent Sunday radio broadcast:


PASTOR JOHN COLLINS:

“I think we’ve been saying over the past eight years that one day, God is going to get tired of getting slapped across the face by people.  We are going to have a wake-up call for something to happen, because He wants us to turn back to God.  We need to get rid of politics and get back to the Cross, first and foremost, but that is the problem.

“God didn’t do this.  People going out into the public when they weren’t supposed to, not wearing masks when they were supposed to, not social distancing when they were supposed to, that was the problem.  This could have been not as deadly as it was, in my opinion, if we would have done these things.”

 “You shall not tempt the LORD your God as you tempted Him in Massah” (Deuteronomy 6:16, NKJV).
“Jesus said to him, “it is written again, ‘You shall not tempt the LORD your God’” (Matthew 4:7, NKJV).
“And Jesus answered and said to him, “It has been said, ‘You shall not tempt the LORD your God’” (Luke 4:12, NKJV).

“I think there’s Scripture that says “do not tempt the LORD thy God.” Why would you go out and do things that would harm yourself or harm another person then blame it on an Almighty God?  That’s what I don’t understand.

“I’m hoping that people use this time….you know a couple years ago we did a whole Sunday show on pastors in the pulpit and how their egos were dividing churches and people were leaving the churches, and in a lot of cases, God wasn’t even allowed into His own home, because He wouldn’t be affiliated with the doctrines that are being preached. I hope that people are using this time to get their knees dirty, to get their arms heavy from having to lift them to the sky, getting a crick in their neck from bowing their head and closing their eyes. I hope they are using this time to get closer to an all-powerful and just glorious God. I hope people are taking this lull that they have of not being able to go into a building that man built that when they go back in, and give it back to God.  He has been merciful to an awful lot of people through this pandemic.  There are prayer warriors.  We are going to make, it sooner than later, we do make it.  Let’s just be faithful.

“Here’s the thing, “where two or more are gathered, I am in the midst” (Matthew 18:20, NKJV, paraphrased). Don’t lose your faith because you can’t walk into that building. Go online and get your GOD on that way, get your Jesus on that way! God hasn’t let us down, and if we are down, He will pick us up, that’s what He does.  We have to be faithful to Him.  Now is a great time to get into your Bible, now is a great time to pray, more importantly, now is a great time to get a better relationship not only with your family, but…GOD!

“GOD is doing things to empower people to develop a relationship with Him again.  And for the people who are church-burned, for the people that stopped believing, now is a great time to get to know Him again because He is a great, almighty, perfect GOD and they should never forget that.”

LOVE THAT CROSS!! PASTOR JOHN COLLINS


If you have questions, if you are hurting, if you are searching, please reach out to Pastor John Collins through his website, www.johncollinsministries.com or by email at jcollinsministries@gmail.com. God wants us back!

Wednesday, April 29, 2020

PASTOR JOHN COLLINS: AN EDITORIAL ~ CHURCH HURT

From John Collins Ministries:


Pastor John feels it is time to show the world how far from Christianity we have gotten.  He wants to change the face of Christianity and make it mean something!  If you do not understand what this means, let me explain it to you.

Today we have people who do not want to go to church for very good reasons!  There are the "church hurt" people.  Church hurt means someone who was hurt by their church.  This could be someone who turned to their church for help and was turned away.  It could mean someone who was judged in church, felt pushed away or uncomfortable within their church or disagrees with everything going on inside of their church.  How do you take a church hurt person and get them to trust in a church again?

At one time, it was very respectful to be a Christian.  Today, it is not cool to be a Christian because look how bible thumping Christians behave!  They think they are holier than thou, better than others, quote bible scripture out of one side while the other side behaves like a fool and hypocrite.  People like to claim they are a Christian and their actions speak otherwise.  In fact, some people run from those who claim they are Christians.  If you are a true Christian, there is no need to brag or state it because your actions will prove it (one way or the other).

THE DARKNESS

Let’s take a look at the Catholic Church.  How do you trust that your child can attend a catholic school or church without your supervision?  You can't and it is being proven over and over.  The molestation that happens on a daily basis is not subsiding.  Once it was swept under the rug but today it is coming out more and more.  Even with the news being publicized, the priests are still continuing down this dark satanic path.

THE PROSPERITY DOCTRINE

Take a look at the doctrine being preached by preachers all over the world.  The one you will see on T.V. at any time of the day is the prosperity doctrine.  When did Jesus tell us to preach for money?  Who said it was okay to take payment for prayer?  This is wrong on so many levels.  It just makes me sick!  Damnation is a very scary word that these preachers must not understand!

SO WHAT HEALS US?

So what heals us?  It is simple, our faith through Jesus Christ and our trust in the one and only true God, the Almighty!  NOT A MAN ON A PULPIT claiming to have magical powers. They might as well get their crystal ball out and pretend to speak in tongues to it!  Come on people! Don't be so ignorant to believe that a sinful man can heal your sickness.  It doesn't work like that, never has and nowhere in the bible does it say it does!  One of the greatest scriptures to support this is the woman in the bible that bled for many years, touched the cloak of Jesus and he turned to her to say "Woman, your FAITH has healed you".  How great are those words!

So you say you are a Christian but others will judge you. They will point the finger at you and say you're not politically correct.  Why can a Christian not stand for what is written in the Holy Bible and not be criticized?  There is an answer. Jesus said we can be persecuted for our belief.  Matthew 5:10 - 11 "Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.  Blessed are you when men shall revile you and persecute you and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely for my sake." The beatitudes are wonderful and tell us what will happen.  Are we willing to endure the persecution, and at what cost?

According to Pastor John, if he had to base Christianity upon what he sees and hears on T.V., radio, and in church, he would NOT be one!  Most people wouldn't be one with these outlets as their guidelines.  Pick up the Holy Bible and figure out what you believe, not what someone else tells you to believe.  That someone else is not going to stand beside you and take the heat when you are asked by God on your final day "why did you do this".
The face of Christianity needs a face lift!  Remove the evil and replace with our one true God, His laws, His will, and our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.  It is that simple!

Pastor John Collins feels that there is a great need in the United States to get away from the prosperity gospel, to get  priorities right, that there is no price to be put on a soul.  Each person is precious and deserves to hear the word of God in its entirety and without it being watered down.  Pastor John Collins is available to travel to speak to churches or groups for this sermon series.  He can be reached through John Collins Ministries, www.johncollinsministries.com.

LOVE THAT CROSS!! BELIEVE THAT!! 

PASTOR JOHN COLLINS


Monday, April 27, 2020

PASTOR JOHN COLLINS: DANGEROUS TIMES


FROM PASTOR JOHN COLLINS:



It is not okay to take your life, your actions, your words and your feelings lightly~ Pastor John Collins


“And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. But rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.” Matthew 10:28 (NKJV).



We live in dangerous times, as have all of those who ever walked this earth. It is a perilous thing to live without faith and it is more dangerous to live without belief in the Son of God than it is to live in a land filled with terrorists and civil unrest. People pay attention to what they can see and people will fear what they can sense can cause them harm but people don’t fear what they can’t see and when people walk without faith then they are blind and without the ability to perceive the danger to their souls.

It is not a time to be casual in your faith. It is time to wake up and get right with God. God doesn’t fool around and God will not cease from being God but He will continue to be that great and almighty Lord that sees everything and everyone as they truly are and He will be the one who has the last laugh. It is not okay to take your life, your actions, your words and your feelings lightly. They all matter and they all will be taken into account when it comes to judging your soul. Each person will be judged and each person will either go up or go down and it really is that simple.

“It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.” Hebrews 10:31 (NKJV).

You have no guarantee of tomorrow and you only get this one chance at life so take it seriously and don’t put off until another day your relationship with God. God sent Jesus to die for you and you should be thanking Jesus for the strength and obedience that was in His soul so that your soul could be saved. You should cherish and nurture your relationship with Jesus and praise God always. Come to know what is expected of you and do that. The rules are not going to change and the gospel must be obeyed just as Jesus has said. There will not be favorites given a pass because they are just so cute or so charming. There are lots of good people in hell today and there will be many more that follow. Do what you must so that you are not one of them.

“Jesus answered and said to him, ‘If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our home with him. He who does not love Me does not keep My words; and the word which you hear is not Mine but the Father’s who sent Me.” John 14:23-24 (NKJV).

LOVE THAT CROSS, PASTOR JOHN BELIEVE THAT

John Collins Ministries: www.johncollinsminstries.com


Monday, April 20, 2020

CONNECT!! PASTOR JOHN COLLINS REDEEMING THE GOSPEL REVIVAL



Pastor John Collins: Connect




“Now My soul is troubled, and what shall I say? ‘Father, save Me from this hour’? But for this purpose I came to this hour. ‘Father, glorify Your name.’ Then a voice came from heaven, saying, ‘I have both glorified it and will glorify it again.’ Therefore the people who stood by and heard it said that it had thundered. Others said, ‘An angel has spoken to Him.’ Jesus answered and said, ‘This voice did not come because of Me, but for your sake.’” John 12:27-30 (NKJV).

From Pastor John Collins: 




Jesus grew up knowing the duty and responsibilities that He had been given. He knew what would come and He lived with an awareness of what was to be gained. He did not live with His own needs and wants but with those of His Father’s. Jesus was driven to give as He had always seen God give.



It is so clear that Jesus wanted those He encountered to understand the gifts that came from the Father. He wanted them to know that God was reaching out to them. He often pointed out that certain things were done for the benefit of others. Jesus did not need the reassurances that we need and did not lack the understanding that we do.



I believe that we often take too much of life for granted. We should slow down and look up. 

We should stop in our tracks and pray. Jesus was mindful of God always and was mindful of His impact on our souls. Jesus cares for us and wanted only the best for those that He ministered to. His life was full of determination for all of the right things. We have so much to learn from Him and we have so much be thankful for.


If there is one thing that you can do for yourself in your daily lives, it is to take the time to connect with the Lord. You should be seeking the opportunities to quiet your lives and to become more aware of God. You should think about what you have done in your life and what you want to do. But do this according to the gospel of Christ and see where that takes you.


God has always done things to reach us and has always provided a way home. God has given us His Son and we should take note of the character of Jesus so that we can learn from Him. Jesus pleased God in every way and we should seek to do the same. It is possible for us to have the commitment to God that Jesus displayed by choosing to follow our Lord.



Let us be aware of the efforts of God and Jesus and let us respond to their love. Let us be honest with ourselves in our lives and be willing to sacrifice for our eternal souls. Let us become more faithful people who choose to pay attention to the things that are above over the things of this earth. Let us praise God for His consideration and selfless love.



“Now is the judgment of this world; now the ruler of this world will be cast out.  And I, if I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all peoples to Myself.” John 12:31-32 (NKJV).



LOVE THAT CROSS! PASTOR JOHN COLLINS

If you need to reach out to someone, you may contact Pastor John personally through JOHN COLLINS MINISTRIES, www.johncollinsministries.com or by email: jcollinsministries@gmail.com. 


You are not alone!  GOD bless you.

Friday, April 17, 2020

PASTOR JOHN COLLINS: FEAR! THE WORLD IS CLOSED

From Pastor John Collins:


In the face of COVID-19, fear abounds across the world.  Remember, God is with us, Immanuel:

“For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and love and of a sound mind.” 2 Timothy 1:17 (NKJV).
Fear is where bad thoughts and bad decisions lie. Fear can make you be suspicious of your loved ones, fear can make you act crazy and overbearing towards your children, fear can make you act territorial on your job and fear can cost you relationships that you cherish. Fear can make you hit the bottle, buy a bag or slam the needle. Fear can keep you from living your life peacefully. Fear can keep you inside your home, fear can keep your from opening up to others and fear can ruin your life.

God does not want us to live in fear whether we are aware of it or not. God does not want us to be weak because of fear nor give in to what we do not believe in because of fear, whether it is fear of not getting along and being accepted, fear of getting hurt or fear of losing something or someone. God wants us to be strong and confident in the face of fear because we know that His promises are true.
“Fear not, for I am with you; Be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, Yes, I will help you, I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.” Isaiah 41:10 (NKJV).

“There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves torment.But he who fears has not been made perfect in love.” 1 John 4:18 (NKJV).
Some people are driven by fear. They are afraid of failure, of success, of others’ opinions, of death, of life, of pain, of happiness and on and on. It is natural to experience fear in this life. There are times when it is appropriate and there are times when it is paralyzing.


The faith that we have and the trust that we have in God and in Jesus is meant to help us overcome our insecurities and ourselves. We need to know that we do not belong to this world but we belong to God. That truth, when it is planted in your heart, will banish your fears and fill you with hope.


The apostles and prophets were killed in terrible ways and yet they held on to their hope and the love of God and the power of Christ to get through the suffering. Whatever may bring fear to your door is never going to be bigger or stronger than God and the promises that He has made. When you find yourself struggling with fear or anxiety just stop and say a little prayer and move forward. Trust that He will see you through the day and that is just what you need to know, that day by day He has got you and you have nothing to fear.
“Whenever I am afraid, I will trust in You.” Psalm 56:3 (NKJV).
“For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.” 2 Timothy 1:7 (NKJV).

There have been many self-help books and seminars on fear and on the power of positive thinking. Many people have grasped the concept of positive thinking and have chosen to devote themselves to changing the way that they think in order to have better outcomes on their situations in life. There are 2 options when it comes to positive thinking: you can stand in your personal power to think yourself into a positive outcome of whatever place you find yourself or you can stand in godliness and trust in the Lord to help you find solutions to your problems and grace to accept your failures along with wisdom to grow in your faith which allows your soul the maturing that God is hopeful that you will claim while you live here on earth. God is aware of all of your joys, problems, fears and complications in your life. God wants you to stand strong in your faith with loyalty to Him and with a heart for Him. God wants you to learn to trust Him and to know that without Him you are nothing, without Jesus you are nothing. That is the truth of this world. Positive thinking comes from knowing you are loved and in return you are obedient to the will of God. Positive thinking that leads to heaven comes from knowing that you are meant to live your life with the knowledge that it gets messy and how you deal with all of it is the test and it is your greatest opportunity to show your love and faith in God.

Positive thinking is good when it is based on faith in God. But positive thinking that is based on what you can create and claim for yourself is arrogant and selfish and without true knowledge. We must move forward in this life with confidence and faith and not fear, but we must also move forward with humility and not pride and a true desire to please God because it matters and where your soul ends up depends upon it.

“And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.  For I say, through the grace given to me, to everyone who is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think soberly, as God has dealt to each one a measure of faith.” Hebrews 12:2-3 (NKJV).

LOVE THAT CROSS PASTOR JOHN COLLINS

 

Thursday, April 18, 2019

THE VOICE OF GOD-PASTOR JOHN COLLINS, JOHN COLLINS MINISTRIES


From John Collins, Evangelist:


“Most assuredly, I say to you, the hour is coming, and now is, when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God; and those who hear will live. For as the Father has life in Himself, so He has granted the Son to have life in Himself, and has given Him authority to execute judgment also, because He is the Son of Man. Do not marvel at this; for the hour is coming in which all who are in the graves will hear His voice and come forth-those who have done good, to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil, to the resurrection of condemnation.” John 5:25-29 (NKJV).

This is one of the truths of the Bible and of this world and the perfection of God that should amaze everyone. God is all-knowing and from the beginning of this world and the first deaths of this world those souls were held in waiting for Jesus. They slept and their faith while they lived and the deeds that they did would speak for themselves as to whether or not they would believe in Jesus Christ when He spoke. Those that were true believers in God and those who lived by faith heard Jesus and believed in Him immediately upon waking. Those who were not believers in God and did not live by faith awoke to condemnation and eternal hellfire.

God will always be perfect and this world has yet to have all revealed to them. When new revelations come, as with Jesus, those who truly belong to God will hear the truth and follow that truth. There will be sons of damnation that will try to challenge your faith and your belief but God knows those who are His and He will always call them home. Trust that if you truly want to belong to God, you will because you will choose Him over this world and He will hold you safe from all.

“I can of Myself do nothing. As I hear, I judge; and My judgment is righteous, because I do not seek My own will but the will of the Father who sent Me.” John 5:30 (NKJV). 

LOVE THAT CROSS, PASTOR JOHN


Saturday, April 6, 2019

PASTOR JOHN COLLINS: PRAYER WORTHY


From Pastor John Collins:

“My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.” James 1:2-4 (NKJV).

Many times, when we are going through tough times or are experiencing tragedy or extreme hardships, we will pray to God and ask for His help, for a miracle or for strength to get through. Many times, when we are not suffering, we pray to God and ask for this or that or something that we want. In order to have our prayers answered we must first seek to become worthy of answered prayers. What does that mean, ‘worthy of answered prayers’?

God does not answer prayers from non-believers although many non-believers seek His help in times of trouble. God does not answer the prayers of the unrighteous which means that He is not creating financial stability in the lives of those who do not follow His Son. Many people attribute their ‘success’ to God when He had nothing to do with it. God wants the believer to recognize their need for a Savior and to come in submission to the foot of the cross. In order to have your prayers answered, genuinely answered by God, you must follow the steps of the believer which is repentance, submission, seeking to obtain righteousness and a pure heart through obedience to the gospel of Jesus Christ.

You cannot expect God to listen to any of your prayers if you are not bothering to listen to the words of Jesus and obey them. You must seek heaven above all else and you will find yourself praying for the fruit of the Spirit to become yours and you will find yourself praying for all of the right things and those prayers will be answered. When you pray for righteousness first and mean it, then God will be for you and not against you. Look at Solomon who wanted wisdom so that he could rule as God would have him rule and God gave him wisdom and then so much more. It is not about the stuff in this life, it is about the richness of the spiritual life that you can have and in having that rich spiritual life you can be such a blessing to others and that is the heart of the gospel that will ultimately have you receiving the prize of entry into heaven.

“If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him.” James 1:5 (NKJV).

LOVE THAT CROSS, PASTOR JOHN BELIEVE THAT


Read more about JOHN COLLINS MINISTRIES or reach me, Pastor John, personally through John Collins Ministries at www.johncollinsministries.com.




Monday, March 18, 2019

PASTOR JOHN COLLINS: HEALING THE HEART



From Pastor John Collins:

“I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” Philippians 4:13 (NKJV).

Sometimes it may be difficult to get over wounds in your life. Sometimes you may not feel that you are valuable. Sometimes you grow up and have left over scars from the process that can lead to low self-worth, addictions, grudges, resentments and self-sabotaging behavior. It can be hard not to blame others and end up blaming yourself for all kinds of things that just lead to more pain. Sometimes it is just so hard to let go of past hurts and to find the optimism for the future and the joy for today. We all hurt and we all struggle. Faith in the Lord is what allows His love to come into our hearts and heal us. Knowing the value that Jesus places on us and the value that God places on us is where true love begins. It is important to know that you are loved without end and that God wants a relationship with you.


You are worth it. You are unique and you are strong. You are capable of overcoming and you are capable of forgiveness in your life. You are filled with the capacity to be kind and to share love greater than you have ever known. Jesus is there for you and He cares for you. Jesus walks with you and you do not need to feel unworthy, unloved or unwanted, ever. You may have been hurt in life, you probably experienced pain in childhood as well as doubt and fear and awkwardness but that is part of growing and maturing. Life is learning to accept human weakness and human failure, knowing that life is full of lessons. You will make mistakes and you will overcome and you can know that no matter what, Jesus is there for you. You matter. Your heart is capable of healing because you are loved.

“The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.” Philippians 4:23 (NKJV).

LOVE THAT CROSS PASTOR JOHN COLLINS

Read more about JOHN COLLINS MINISTRIES, or reach me, Pastor John, personally through John Collins Ministries at www.johncollinsministries.com.


Friday, March 15, 2019

PASTOR JOHN COLLINS: OUR ESSENCE, OUR CHOICE


From Pastor John Collins:


“But, beloved, do not forget this one thing, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day.  The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.” 2 Peter 3:8-9 (NKJV).

The story of mankind began long ago. The story of the planets, the stars and the sun and moon began long ago. There are those who want do debate the specifics about these topics, how it all happened and the timing of it all. There are those who devote their entire lives to discovering the answers to these things. For me, it is simple and miraculous and awe inspiring. But, the reality of us, our world and all that surrounds it, as amazing as those truths remain, there is a bigger story, an infinite story and one that takes precedent over them all. Our souls are the very essence of us, not our flesh and God has more to consider in His timeline of things than just this generation, He has all generations to consider.

We may wonder at the timing of God but He knows the timing from beginning to everlasting and He knows the timing of this world and what each generation will encounter, produce and overcome. There are those who would expect God to step in and prevent the bad and keep us all from experiencing complications, loss and fear. But that is not His job. He created and we are given the free will to do with our lives as we choose. When God does step in and guide, correct and encourage it is because at those times God creates an opportunity for the blessed generation that receives His direct interaction with mankind and it is up to the following generations to continue in obedience and faith. We, as a whole, have not lived up to our potential nor our obligations as God’s creation. Whether we want to admit it or not, there is a war going on in the Spirit. There is evil that wants your souls to choose sin over salvation. Satan rebelled and took 1/3 of the angels down to hell with him and the opportunity to choose God is a daily one. The time will come that God does step in again and what can you do until that intervention arrives? Do you know the bible? Do you pray and what are you praying for? God is not a genie in the sky to give you the winning lottery numbers but is a Father who wants your soul to come home to Him.

God is long-suffering and we need to be thankful for that. God does want salvation for the souls here on earth and we need to be thankful for that because He will move in His time to give this world another chance. Let us prepare to receive the revelations that He is willing to give through humility and gratefulness. Pray with your family and have hope in your heart. Read your bibles and increase your knowledge. Go and sin no more.

“Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time, casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you.  Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. Resist him, steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same sufferings are experienced by your brotherhood in the world.” 1 Peter 5:6-9 (NKJV).


LOVE THAT CROSS PASTOR JOHN COLLINS



Wednesday, February 20, 2019

PASTOR JOHN COLLINS: ABORTION


From John Collins, Evangelist:


“For You formed my inward parts; You covered me in my mother’s womb. I will praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; Marvelous are Your works, My frame was not hidden from You, When I was made in secret, And skillfully wrought in the lowest parts of the earth. Your eyes saw my substance, being yet unformed. And in Your book they all were written, The days fashioned for me, When as yet there were none of them.” Psalm 139:13-16 (NKJV).

Children are precious, each and every one of them. They are a gift from God as we were when we were created. You see, we are made in the image of God and that is not a fact to be taken lightly. Yet, not everyone values the life of a child. Many see it as a choice that is to be made. I want you to know that I am not one to judge but I am one to educate and that means speak the biblical truth so that understanding can come. This society has laws that permit abortion and between 1973 and 2011 there have been an estimated 53 million abortions performed in the US.

Now, there are many preachers and even religions that include guilt in their doctrine. What you need to understand about guilt is that it is useful to guide us toward repentance. If we do not understand what is acceptable to God and what is not acceptable to God we will have no idea of what we must seek forgiveness for in our lives. We would be living without any remorse for the choices that we make. God is willing to forgive us which is why He sent Jesus to die on the Cross for us. But we cannot take for granted the way in which we live our lives and the choices that we make.

It is not an antiquated idea that abortion is not in God’s plans for our lives. God does not change and even though society may deem this an acceptable choice for women and has encouraged us to believe that this is so, the truth is that it is taking a life, it is choosing to not allow that life to come into fruition. This subject is a volatile one for many. For God and Jesus, it is a simple one. We are created in their image and we are wrong when we choose to take that life and there is not any justification by claiming it is a fetus and not a child.

Abortion is a sin and it is a choice that should put a hole in your heart. It is necessary to repent and it is forgivable. God and Jesus want us to come to know those things that they approve of and they want us to begin to live lives that are in submission to the will of God. How can that happen if you cannot find within yourself the remorse needed to seek forgiveness because society has created in you an acceptance to sin? We must overcome society and what is deemed lawful. Remember the world is evil but Jesus has overcome the world. We must aim to do the same, without anger, without bitterness but with acceptance and a willingness to seek righteousness in our lives.

“How precious also are Your thoughts to me. O God! How great is the sum of them! If I should count them, they would be more in number than the sand; When I awake, I am still with You.” Psalm 139:17-18 (NKJV).



Love That Cross, Pastor John, BELIEVE THAT!!

Read more about John Collins Ministries or reach me, Pastor John, personally through John Collins Ministries @www.johncollinsministries.com



Tuesday, February 12, 2019

BACKSLIDING FROM PASTOR JOHN COLLINS, JOHN COLLINS MINISTRIES:

From John Collins, Evangelist:

“For if, after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, they are again entangled in them and overcome, the latter end is worse for them than the beginning. For it would have been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than having known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered to them.  But it has happened to them according to the true proverb: ‘A dog returns to his own vomit,’ and, ‘a sow, having washed, to her wallowing in the mire.’” 2 Peter 2:20-22 (NKJV).


Ah, the backslider, those slippery paths, that jumbled mess of a highway system that has him lost, confused and picking that well-traveled road. The see-saw of the decided Christian then the undecided Christian who misses the fun and back and forth. 

There has been a weakening of the term backslider for the Christian. Backsliding should not be taken lightly and although God is merciful and compassionate, God is also not stupid and is very aware of the desires of your heart and the choices that you make based on them. You cannot claim to be a Christian on Sunday and having been out drinking and whoring on Saturday night think that you are pleasing God in any way. God knows if you are genuine in your faith or not. God knows if you are truly committed to becoming righteous and God knows if you are genuinely working toward accomplishing that goal. Once you choose to be a Christ follower you should do so with a complete heart without turning from that choice.

Christians should not be casual in their faith and lazy in their efforts to claim their place in heaven. You are not guaranteed tomorrow so you should never wait to seek the Lord and you should never be complacent in your faith. Never take backsliding with a casual attitude but be forceful in your determination to see your life through with obedience to the Lord. What do you think the Christian faith would look like today if Paul had gotten lazy and inconsistent in his pursuit of doing the Lord’s will? It is necessary to claim consistency in your walk with God.

“But Jesus said to him, ‘No one, having put his hand to the plow, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.’” Luke 9:62 (NKJV).


LOVE THAT CROSS, PASTOR JOHN

Read more about JOHN COLLINS MINISTRIES or reach me, Pastor John, personally through John Collins Ministries at www.johncollinsministries.com.

Monday, February 4, 2019

PASTOR JOHN COLLINS: POWER OF PRAYER

From Pastor John Collins:



“And this is the condemnation, that the light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. For everyone practicing evil hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his deeds should be exposed. But he who does the truth comes to the light, that his deeds may be clearly seen, that they have been done in God.” John 3:19-21 (NKJV).

There is true evil in this world. We can look around and see it. Many people would like to ignore it, not be bothered by it, not have it touch their lives and just go about their business. Sometimes evil intrudes and we are shocked, hurt and want to question if there is a God at all. If God is so powerful, why does He allow bad things to happen? That is always a question for those who would deny that there is a God and would claim that if there was a God at all then He must not care about us and must not be all good as those who believe in His say. God gave men free will to live and choose to behave as they would have it and for that reason there will always be evil in this world. Evil is just selfish desires and power grabs manifested in this world. Evil is those choosing to lash out at others because of their own hurt. Evil is defiance and rebellion acted out in order to lift oneself up. Evil is petty and there will come a time when God chooses to step in and bring about further revelation to this world.

Some wait for God to act and some want to ignore the signs but while there is still yet time we should be praying for more light to shine in the darkness. Prayer is a powerful thing and God wants to hear from us, not just about our lives, our desires, our sicknesses and needs, our family and friends but about our hopes and thoughts regarding this world. Do you consider praying about those who suffer, the abused men, women and children? Do you pray for the weak? Do you pray that those who protect us are themselves protected? Do you pray that righteousness would make its way into the government? Do you pray that foreign nations would be strengthened in food and health to limit the depletion of your own country? Do you pray that revelation would come from God that would minimize the desire to blow each other up? There are people whose only desire is for more power, more money, more weapons and the opportunity to display it all for the world to see. There is evil in this world because some only care about themselves and they don’t value life or the gifts that come with it.

What so many have forgotten, failed to realize or choose to ignore is that the only true power in this world comes from God alone and all of the rest is an illusion. God is the one who has all of the strength and He really does want us to make the best choices available to us and sometimes people just don’t know what that is. Changing things in this world can start with hope and prayer. Change does need to come, more light needs to permeate the dark and more people need to wake up to the reality that things are changing and we need to change as well. We need more righteousness in this world, not more rebellion. Pray for that.

“For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.” John 3:16 (NKJV).

Love That Cross, Pastor John Collins

Read more about JOHN COLLINS MINISTRIES or reach me, Pastor John, personally through John Collins Ministries at www.johncollinsministries.com.

Saturday, February 2, 2019

PASTOR JOHN COLLINS: PRIDE

From Pastor John Collins:


“Then a dispute arose among them as to which of them would be greatest. And Jesus, perceiving the thought of their heart, took a little child and set him by Him, and said to them, ‘Whoever receives this little child in My name receives Me; and whoever receives Me receives Him who sent Me. For he who is least among you all will be great.’” Luke 9:46-48 (NKJV).

“Listen, my beloved brethren: Has God not chosen the poor of this world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom which He promised to those who love Him?” James 2:5 (NKJV).

Who is worthy to be lifted up? How does God choose those that He would separate and use for His purposes? He chose Abraham and Abraham was considered a friend of God’s. He chose David and David was a man after God’s own heart. He sent His Son who died for us all.

Even those who walked with Jesus thought of themselves and the impact that they would have on this world. This is so wonderful to know that the human instinct to desire to rise above and be great was felt in those men who walked with Christ. This allows us to recognize this in ourselves and work to overcome. They were corrected and they learned what true humility is. They witnessed their Lord humble Himself to the Cross. Yet there are so many that want to be great in the name of the Lord. They call attention to themselves and think highly of themselves. But, God resists the proud and gives grace to the humble. Believe me when I tell you that God knows what He is doing and He knows our hearts.

God has no use for pride. God does not want servants that think highly of themselves and their eligibility. God wants people to serve Him that are humble of heart. When we choose to walk with Jesus it should be with a pure heart and a true devotion to obedience to the Lord. We should never seek our own. We should not care what others think of us. We should be concerned only with whether we are an asset to the kingdom of God or a burden. If we have selfish ambition in our heart and a desire to stand out and be important, we are seeking status in this life and we are then unworthy to be a true servant of the Lord.

We must be careful when we desire to leave a name for ourselves, to want to be recognized for our importance or to be valued among men. Even those who walked with Jesus thought of themselves and the impact that they would have on this world. This person thinks of salvation when he looks upon the souls of this world. This person has sadness in his heart because of the condition of the human race. This person worries of the state of other’s faith in their lives. This person considers opportunities to share the gospel and help others come to Jesus. This person wants to see others go to heaven and lives his life as an example. This person will sacrifice and find ways to be a light in a world of dark.                                                                                                                           

This person will please God.

“Blessed are the poor in spirit,
For theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are those who mourn,
For they shall be comforted.
Blessed are the meek,
For they shall inherit the earth.
Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness,
For they shall be filled.” Matthew 5:3-6 (NKJV)

Love That Cross, Pastor John

Read more about John Collins Ministries or reach me, Pastor John, personally, through John Collins Ministries at www.johncollinsministries.com.

Saturday, January 26, 2019

PASTOR JOHN COLLINS: HELL IS FOR REAL


From Pastor John Collins:


“If your hand causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life maimed, rather than having two hands, to be cast into hell, into the fire that shall never be quenched-where ‘their worm does not die, and the fire is not quenched.’” Mark 9:43-44 (NKJV).


Mark 9:43 Jesus preaches Hell
Jesus goes on to say the same of your foot and your eye, which if it were to cause you to sin, you should cut it off or pluck it out. That is a brutal truth that is said in order to make the hearer and the reader realize just how important it is for a person to seek to be obedient to God in this life and to not sin. It is also very important for every person living to realize the absolute truth of hell, that it is a place of torment and those that are judged worthy of deserving hell, do indeed go there and everyone who does go there will be there for eternity and the suffering will never stop.

That is not what people want to hear. It is fire and brimstone preaching that our grandparents listened to but we don’t want to hear it, right? There are even many so-called Christians who refuse to accept that existence of hell and have chosen instead to delude themselves and say that “their God” would never create a place of eternal torment and that “their God” is a loving God who would never hurt His children and that means that hell is just being separate from the presence of God, or it is just a metaphor, or it is symbolic of some other state in which we may find ourselves during life or temporarily after death but it is not eternal nor is it a final judgment of torture. That is just wrong thinking and as much as people do not want to hear it or accept the truth of it, hell is real, just as heaven is real.

A choice of good and bad since the beginning
You cannot have one without the other. There was the tree of the knowledge of good and evil in the Garden of Eden and that means that there has been the choice of good and bad since the beginning. Yes, all that we do in life is a choice and it all leads to the ultimate day of reckoning for everyone. There will be a time in which all will matter and will determine where you spend eternity. Are you going to be forever in heaven or in hell? Are your choices selfish ones, are your choices made with God and His will in mind and do you believe in the truth of the righteousness and truth of God, in the sacrifice of Jesus and in the available to you, through faith? These are things that you need to be aware of as you go through the day to day activities of your life, as you grow up, get a job, get married, have and raise children and do your best to be a person that can look yourself in the mirror in the morning and feel good about. Could you sit down with God and have a conversation knowing that He knows every single thought and feeling you have ever had and knows every single thing you have ever done alone and with every single person you have ever come into contact with? Could you honestly sit down with God and trust that you have done all that you could to obey Him and not sit there justifying your life?

Don’t waste what time you have been given with denials that are only good to serve your own disobedience. God will not give up on you and you should not give up on you but you must know that you are only given a very limited amount of time here on earth.  You should live that life with purpose knowing that your priorities will indeed have you sitting down with God one day so that you don’t have to live with regret while suffering the torments of the damned for all eternity.

“For everyone will be seasoned with fire, and every sacrifice will be seasoned with salt. Salt is good, but if the salt loses its flavor, how will you season it? Have salt in yourselves, and have peace with one another.” Mark 9:49-50 (NKJV).

LOVE THAT CROSS, PASTOR JOHN

Read more about JOHN COLLINS MINISTRIES or reach me, Pastor John, personally through JOHN COLLINS MINISTRIES at www.johncollinsministries.com


Saturday, January 19, 2019

PASTOR JOHN COLLINS: FAITH


From Pastor John Collins: 

“For you have need of endurance, so that after you have done the will of God, you may receive the promise: ‘For yet a little while, And He who is coming will come and will not tarry. Now the just shall live by faith; But if anyone draws back, My soul has no pleasure in him.’ But we are not of those who draw back to perdition, but of those who believe to the saving of the soul.” Hebrews 10:36-39 (NKJV).

A life is only worth living if the soul is saved, otherwise it is a tragedy no matter how well that life was lived. A life must achieve salvation in order to produce worth.


A person can grow up brilliant, become a scientist and cure a disease, become a surgeon and save lives, become a soldier and fight for freedom, become a teacher and pass along knowledge to so many, become any number of things that enhances the lives of those living on this planet and still fail. If you don’t make it to heaven, you fail.


No matter the success, accomplishment, or enlightenment that you bring to this world, if you don’t live a life of faith in the Son and the Father and commit to living a life in obedience to the gracious will of God, you will not enter heavens gates upon your earthly death.


Life is a gift and in all of its trials and troubles it is precious and an opportunity for you to grow in righteousness. Life is a gift and it is full of trauma and beauty that too many just waste on nonsense. Life is a gift that should be cherished and appreciated and used to ensure your salvation which can only happen through devotion to the Lord.


Do not squander your life. Do not take a single breath for granted. Do not waste what you have been given. Love God, love the Son, love the cross, love your neighbor and love yourself enough to seek those things which are above which is to seek to become more Christ-like and to seek righteousness before all.


“Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.” Hebrews 11:1 (NKJV).


LOVE THAT CROSS, PASTOR JOHN BELIEVE THAT

Read more about JOHN COLLINS MINISTRIES or reach me, Pastor John, personally at John Collins Ministries, www.johncollinsministries.com.

Sunday, January 13, 2019

PASTOR JOHN COLLINS: SUICIDE

From Pastor John Collins:

“And not only that, but we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance; and perseverance, character; and character, hope. Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us.” Romans 5:3-5 (NKJV).

Sometimes life just beats you up and sometimes your faith is tested more than you think that you can bear. It is important to begin and maintain that relationship with Jesus so that you can be sure that all of your struggles in life will produce the results that you seek. You should be seeking first and always to obey the Lord and get to heaven and your entire life should produce godly fruit that is evident of your conviction.

When you are not striving to do the will of God and you are living your life doing your own will and pursuing your own desires then you can be sure that any pitfalls that you fall into are not about testing your faith but are about providing opportunities for you to begin to pursue your faith. If you are a person who devotes each day to becoming more Christ-like then you can be sure that all of your struggles are not in vain but are a product of your learning to trust in God and also learning what is approved of by God while strengthening your character and preparing you for heaven. Only the pure and the approved get to go to heaven and just believing in Jesus does not mean you will be welcomed into Paradise. Remember that even the demons believe.

Perseverance is a challenge for everyone. It is not easy to feel burdened and tormented in life and it is not easy to deal with all that may happen that produces loss and hurt and scars. The beauty of submitting to the will of God and in obeying the Lord and in calling upon Jesus is that you know that when your faith is genuine, their strength is your strength and their hope for you is complete and they won’t let go. God really does want you to make it home to Him and Jesus really did die for you so that you could go there.

Life is difficult and times are tough and it is nothing new. Give your life to Jesus and commit to being loyal and obedient in your faith and know that no matter what you go through in this journey He will be there for you. Trust that you do have what it takes to persevere and it is worth it to try and try and try. Hold on to the hope that the Lord has given because He does love you.

“Blessed is the man who endures temptation; for when he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him.” James 1:12 (NKJV).


LOVE THAT CROSS, PASTOR JOHN BELIEVE THAT

Read about JOHN COLLINS MINISTRIES or contact me, Pastor John, personally through JOHN COLLINS MINISTRIES, www.johncollinsministries.com



Wednesday, January 9, 2019

PASTOR JOHN COLLINS: LAZY FAITH

From John Collins, Evangelist:



“For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive the things done in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad.” 2 Corinthians 5:10 (NKJV).

It is time for a serious reality check for every single person living on earth at this time: You are going to die an earthly death and will have to face the righteous judgment of God. You may think you know what that means, you may not care but let me fill in the blanks for so many….whether you choose to believe in God or not, whether you find God fair or not, whether you agree with God or not, whether you end up dismissing God or not, whether you reject God or not and whether you end up getting as angry at God as you want and as defiant toward God as you want and you can ignore Him, disobey Him and reject His Son but in the end, ALL will come before the judgment seat of Christ and ALL will face the righteous judgment of God, whether you want to or not and whether you believe it or not.


Heaven is NOT a given. Heaven is NOT guaranteed. Heaven is a reward of the salvation that you claim when you choose Jesus and obedience over your worldly life and yourself. People are so selfish and self-involved and so full of self-importance that they just can’t seem to work out their salvation with fear and trembling because they have lost their capacity for reverence and most have never bothered to develop it for God in the first place but have transferred that delight and wonder and awe for the material things of this world and for the prestige that can come with it.

Everyone wants to talk about how God is love and just ignore the truth that God is wrath as well. Remember that God is complete, God is divine and God is the Creator of all and is without flaws. Judgment happens in a moment and is irreversible and it is forever. Why take any chances with your eternal soul when today allows you call on Jesus and to obey the Lord. Do not be lazy in your faith. Get right with God.

“For it is written: ‘As I live, says the Lord, Every knee shall bow to Me, And every tongue shall confess to God.’ So then each of us shall give account of himself to God.” Romans 14:11-12 (NKJV).


PASTOR JOHN COLLINS, LOVE THAT CROSS!

Read more about John Collins Ministries and reach me, Pastor John, personally through JOHN COLLINS MINISTRIES at www.johncollinsministries.com.

Monday, January 7, 2019

PASTOR JOHN COLLINS: RELIGION STUMBLING BLOCK


From John Collins, Evangelist:


"But this I confess to you, that according to the Way which they call a sect, so I worship the God of my fathers, believing all things which are written in the Law and in the Prophets. I have hope in God, which they themselves also accept, that there will be a resurrection of dead, both of the just and the unjust. This being so, I myself always strive to have a conscience without offense toward God and men.” Acts 24:14-16 (NKJV).

Paul was speaking of the Way in which we should all live in accordance with the commandments of God and in belief of Jesus Christ as our Savior.  There is truth given to men by God and we are to respond to this truth with faith and let our behavior be of righteousness in order to attain salvation upon our deaths so that we can be among the just in resurrection. The Israelites were not as clear about resurrection and heaven and hell. The afterlife was not spoken of in definitive terms but it was clear that God chose the Hebrew people to reveal His commandments and they received the oracles and Laws. Jesus made it clear that He was the way to righteousness and to heaven. Unfortunately, religion has become a stumbling block for godliness.


The Israelites were given instructions on righteous behavior and how to live their lives daily and even they stumbled over the ‘rules’ of it all. That became the basis for so much instruction in the New Testament which has led to the 'Christians' doing the same thing. You cannot separate your life from your faith.  You cannot have religious observances and sinful living simultaneously.  That is the problem that people have always had. They compartmentalize their faith and their lives.  The Way is to become your  way of life, your standard of living and your faith is to guide you in all that you do. Religion is a stumbling block because the doctrines of men have taken over just  as the oral tradition of men took over in Judea so long ago and yet it is these traditions that are still in control of the 'faith' of people.

When you allow the routine of your religion to become the religion itself and you rely on going through the motions and requirements of that religion then you have been blinded and have fallen into the ditch. Faith is meant to guide you, to strengthen you and to give you the knowledge and confidence in God that allows you to live your life according to His standards. Your faith is not meant to become a routine of bullet points that you tick off in order to complete the list of obligations so that you can meet the minimum requirements that will allow you to reap the rewards without interrupting your life and your pursuit of happiness in any extreme way.

Your faith in Jesus is meant to give you hope and the courage to live your life as His servant. As His disciple you are meant to follow His example always not when it is convenient. Those who follow Christ will experience unpleasantness and will stand out in this life because as the world hated Him it will indeed hate you. Let the love of the Lord seep into you and flow through you and you will live a life that shines for Jesus and you will reap the rewards that are promised by God. Do not allow your ‘religion’ to be routine, compartmentalized or stagnant. Trust that the way you live your life will determine whether your resurrection is of the just or the unjust and both will be judged.

“Thomas said to Him, ‘Lord, we do not know where You are going, and how can we know the way?’Jesus said to him, ‘I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.’” John 14:5-6 (NKJV).

LOVE THAT CROSS! PASTOR JOHN

 Read more about John Collins Ministries or reach me, Pastor John, personally at John Collins Ministries, www.johncollinsministries.com


Tuesday, December 25, 2018

Christmas Thoughts

From John Collins, Evangelist:


"For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.” Luke 2:11 (NKJV).

“And the Child grew and became strong in spirit, filled with wisdom; and the grace of God was upon Him.” Luke 2:40 (NKJV).

Jesus came to be our Savior, to teach us and to die for us. As you go through life, you are to look to Jesus to care for you, to guide you and to strengthen you. The human spirit is strong and can withstand more than you could ever imagine.
Jesus is strong in spirit and knows your weaknesses. He knows what scares you, what intimidates you and what you avoid. Jesus is there to help you face your fears and conquer what you thought you couldn’t. Jesus will listen to you and will help you.

Faith in the Lord allows your spirit to have courage. Hope in the Lord allows your spirit the freedom from worry and that confidence allows you to serve the Lord honestly. The human spirit is capable of being beat up, smashed down and trampled upon and it will still get up and fight. The spirit of a person is a gift from God and faith in His Son is the eternal blessing.

If you are in the need of encouragement just look to Jesus and His life and you will find it. Look to the character of Jesus and you will find the beauty and grace of God. Look to the Son to find the hope of all of your tomorrows and you will know that the spirit that is inside of you is made of strong stuff indeed.

“For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope.” Jeremiah 29:11 (NKJV).

LOVE THAT CROSS, PASTOR JOHN

Read more at John Collins Ministries or reach me personally at www.johncollinsministries.com

Sunday, December 23, 2018

PASTOR JOHN COLLINS: BORING CHURCH

From Pastor John Collins:




“Preach the word! Be ready in season and out of season. Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all long-suffering and teaching.” 2 Timothy 4:2 (NKJV).

It does not take a person of great mental gymnastics to recognize the reason that charismatic preachers and musical ministers have claimed the hearts of so many ‘Christians’. Traditional church with traditional preachers equals boring church that families have been members of that only have their doors still open due to obligatory ‘respect and allegiance’. Traditional church is a snooze-fest!!!!


Church should be led by a pastor who is filled with the Holy Spirit and is inspired in their teaching of the word of God. Church should TEACH you how to apply the gospel to your life and why!!! Church should not be a concert, a motivational speaking class, a boring sermon recited by a boring pastor or a boring lesson with readings from the bible that are not applicable or relevant to your life.


The bible teaches you how to live your life, the gospel teaches you that Jesus Christ died for you and He teaches you that you must obey Him to claim the reward of heaven. Church should be a wake-up call for you to recognize your sin and to evaluate your choices in life. Church should be about teaching you to love Jesus and worship Him and the Father. 


Boring traditional church does not claim the attention of our children and by making this experience a part of their Sunday is not helping them become true followers of Christ. You would be better off keeping them home, spending an hour reading some scriptures and talking about why it matters to obey God, why it matters to remain pure and why it matters that they should not approve of the filth in the world nor partake of the bounty thereof. Exciting music and inspirational speakers are another influence that lacks the reverence of God, the seriousness of worship and makes the gospel shallow. 


Music is wonderful to worship with as long as the preaching is full of substance and godly wisdom and is the focus of the service. When seeking a church be picky and be aware of whether your children are sitting there in bored silence because you say they must or if they are paying attention and for that matter, how are you feeling about the service yourself? Just because something is traditional does not mean that it is what will guide your soul into heaven.


“You therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. And the things that you have heard from me among many witnesses, commit these to faithful men who will be able to teach others also.” 2 Timothy 2:1-2 (NKJV).



LOVE THAT CROSS, BELIEVE THAT, PASTOR JOHN

Reach me in person and read more about John Collins Ministries at www.johncollinsministries.com.