PASTOR JOHN COLLINS: "I HEARD....."

 

From Pastor John Collins on Heaven’s Country (8.2.20):

.....I heard

"I went through the archive for Pastor John Collins Marty Smith, and do you know how many times in the last six years we talked about gossip? 24.  You know why? Kinda like last week when we talked about the old pastor doing John 3:16 over and over its because people aren’t catching it.

"I think that one of the worst things any human being can do to another is to either be a gossip, a slanderer, or a busybody. I’ve said this, and I don’t know how more plain I can be by saying this,  if the audience again they’re not going to like my language “if you don’t have anything nice to say about somebody that can build them up, shut up, because you’re only doing Satan’s work by putting them down and keeping them down.”

Proverbs 21:23 (ESV):  “whoever keeps his mouth and his tongue keeps himself out of trouble”

....But not so much that it keeps himself out of trouble in the eyes of God, but you may not be tearing down somebody’s soul. I just think that somebody that doesn’t have anything good to say about somebody, keep your mouth quiet.  If you get your jollies by talking about other people to try to discredit them, or disprove them, you’re not much of a Christian and in my eyes you’re not much of a human being in the first place.  You know, we have such a problem with everybody wants to be better than everybody else and they will say and do whatever it is that will get them status, and the heck with what the other person feels. Marty, you and I are big advocates of suicide prevention.  Suicide is caused a lot by bullying because of peoples actions and their tongue. A lot of sleepless nights are caused by people’s actions and their tongues.

Gossip has been a repeated topic in blogs and posts and sermons by Pastor John over the years…..and we still need to hear the truth.

The following are composed from previous blogs, posts, and sermons by Pastor John Collins.  When are we going to get it?

From Evangelist, Pastor John Collins during a revival:

Are our own lives so boring that we must entertain ourselves with the pain and humiliation of others?  Do we really need to know who is doing what and why?  Is it any of our business?  Isn’t there something we could be doing that is productive and good?  Isn’t there a wholesome way we could converse with each other?  Is it really any of our business to discuss the sex lives of others?  Is it proper to discuss our own sex lives with others?  Is there nothing that is sacred anymore?  Is there nothing we will not expose about someone just because we can?

 

“Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth, but what is good for necessary edification, that it may impart grace to the hearers.”  Ephesians 4:29 (NKJV).

 

Gossip is the same as murder in the eyes of the Lord.  It harms people, it destroys reputations and it is just an awful way to spend your time.  It is a part of society today and it is shameful and wrong.  Think of your conversations, consider your words and know that idle speech is of the devil.  We should all cast away our joy in gossip and learn to bridle our tongues.  Be careful of what you say and what you readily listen to.  You don’t have to be polite and listen to gossip.  You can easily say, “I prefer not to hear that.”  Life can be easily simplified by not engaging in idle talk.

 

“But no man can tame the tongue. It is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison.” James 3:8 (NKJV).

 

Your tone of voice is an indication of the true intent behind your words. Someone may say something that is true and yet the way in which it is said and the words that are chosen are either combative and malicious, calm and soothing, frank and impartial, or ingratiating and patronizing. Each of us should always be careful of intentions and try to avoid causing others to stumble in this life.

 

Our emotions determine our actions. When we are angry at someone and have no forgiveness in our hearts for a situation or person then our speech about anything concerning that situation or person will be hateful and bitter. When we are jealous of someone then our speech about them will be spiteful and cutting. When we are hurt we can lash out and try to hurt in return and say awful things that cannot be taken back but just becomes the next set of words and the next situation that must be repented of and forgiven. Life is exhausting if you do not manage to gain the perspective that permits you to desire to seek righteousness and obtain that goal.

 

“There are six things the Lord hates, seven that are detestable to him: haughty eyes, a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood, a heart that devises wicked schemes, feet that are quick to rush into evil, a false witness who pours out lies and a person who stirs up conflict in the community.” Proverbs 6: 16-19. (NKJV).

Jesus was righteous and His life taught that you can become righteous and you can do the right thing. You do this by choosing to learn how God sees things and by trusting that God will take care of the justice of this world. Humans are prideful and stubborn and always want to think that they are the wronged party, the misunderstood and the victimized. Humans just have that wrong.

 

Jesus came and showed us that life isn’t fair, life is tough, and people are judgmental and can be hateful. Jesus came and showed us that forgiveness is right, kindness is good and that God does value His children. Jesus showed us that our words have the power to hurt, heal, encourage, deflate, inspire and so many other wonderful and terrible things. You need to be willing to give your soul a chance at salvation and to that you need to be willing to obey the Lord, hear the Lord and submit to the Lord. You cannot do that if you are always right, always defensive or offensive, prideful, stubborn, unforgiving, hateful, bitter or unwilling to bend.

 

“Even so the tongue is a little member and boasts great things. See how great a forest a little fire kindles! And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity. The tongue is so set among our members that it defiles the whole body, and sets on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire by hell.” James 3:5-6 (NKJV).

 

LOVE THAT CROSS, PASTOR JOHN COLLINS, EVANGELIST

Reach Pastor John Collins through John Collins Ministries at www.johncollinsministries.com or through email at jcollinsministries@gmail.com.  Listen to Pastor John Collins on Heaven's Country Radio on Sundays at 10 a.m. and 6 p.m. Mountain Time.

 

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!

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

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

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.

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

 

PASTOR JOHN COLLINS: PARENTING

From Pastor John Collins:

“Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it.” Proverbs 22:6 (NKJV).

Our way of life has got to change. What happens when kids have kids? What happens when the “parents” put their social lives and partying ahead of their own children? What happens when a parent’s love life takes precedence over spending time with their kids? What happens when a child’s right of passage to maturity is their first beer, their first drag of a cigarette, their first joint, their first line and their first sexual encounter?

Too many parents are clinging to youth by partying and dressing to impress. Too many parents are living lives that are teaching the young that social interactions are at the top of the priority list. Too many parents are going out and cutting loose because they feel that they have lost so many of their “good years” to raising children. What example are we setting for the children we are meant to care for when we put ourselves first?

Raising children is a big responsibility and it is a challenge to remain selfless. It is not always fun to act like the adult. When you have kids at a young age and those children get to a rebellious stage it is not always easy to handle the problems that arise with maturity and confidence. There has got to be a point when parents make a conscious choice to parent.

Parenting is the most important job that a person can have. A parent is responsible for teaching their children how to be respectable people, how to behave appropriately, how to prioritize correctly, how to deal with confrontations and challenges that come with life and most importantly how to get to heaven. If you do not teach your child how to enter the kingdom of God, you have failed. If you do not live a life that exemplifies those lessons, you have failed. If we don’t make it home, we have failed.

We have got to grow up and get right with God. Parents need to parent. We have to be able to see that selfish pleasures and needs in our own lives do not serve our children well. There is too much partying and romance that keeps parents from their children. People don’t want to hear that faith is the answer but that is the truth. The solution to every problem lies in the hands of Jesus. The change that comes from believing and trusting in God is truly miraculous. The hope that comes from the Cross is eternal.

Be willing to be selfless. Be willing to change your ways and become a beacon of hope for your families. Children are a joy and such a gift. Let us learn to parent with the love of God and Jesus in our hearts and the devotion and commitment that our children deserve.

“Then they also brought infants to Him that He might touch them; but when the disciples saw it, they rebuked them. But Jesus called them to Him and said, ‘Let the little children come to Me, and do not forbid them; for such is the kingdom of God. Assuredly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God as a little child will by no means enter it.’” Luke 18:15-17 (NKJV).

Love that Cross!! Pastor John Collins 

PASTOR JOHN COLLINS: EASTER

From John Collins, Evangelist:

Happy Easter to all of you! As we gather today to celebrate the resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ we should have grateful hearts that are full of love. Many of us today will be getting together with family and will entertain the little ones and share joy in watching them. As you gaze upon those precious children today, I want you to think of their heavenly futures and know that it is your responsibility as parents, aunts, uncles, cousins, friends and loved ones to guide their precious souls toward knowledge and truth in Jesus Christ.

Let us not forget our foundation of faith and remember to pass that on. Our belief and hope is to be shared with our families as we know that family is important to God. We are meant to come together and be able to speak of the gospel and Christ and to rejoice in the hope that He provides.

Every holiday has become commercialized in so many ways that we need to avoid getting caught up in it all. Let us have gracious attitudes and welcoming homes and hearts today. And be encouraged and encouraging to others to not let this be just one of the days of the year that you celebrate Jesus.

Our Lord and Savior loves you and wants you to acknowledge Him in your hearts, homes, prayers and lives. Be open to His love and be ready to serve Him with loyalty and devotion and be prepared to receive peace and blessings.

LOVE THAT CROSS, PASTOR JOHN COLLINS

www.johncollinsinistries.com

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

PASTOR JOHN COLLINS: TORAH

From John Collins, Evangelist:

Jesus answered them and said, ‘My doctrine is not Mine, but His who sent Me. If anyone wills to do His will, he shall know concerning the doctrine, whether it is from God or whether I speak on My own authority.” John 7:16-17 (NKJV)

Christianity is going through a crisis of immense proportions. People have been waking up to the truth of the history of the church, to the paganism within the church and to the abuse of grace that has produced so much disobedience to God. Jesus was very clear in stating that you must obey the Father and not just believe, for it is those who love Him that are obedient. That being said, there are Christians everywhere who are taking their wake up call that was from God and jumping ship all together. There are Christians who have desired to start at the beginning, get to know the Torah and study the word of God to know what sin is, what obedience consists of, and what is promised in the prophecies. You have Christians going from learning about the feasts and wanting to observe them which has led to many seeking out rabbis to teach them which has led to them ditching Jesus and taking the steps to convert to Judaism. This is a problem and a big one. Those who are weak in their faith are finding themselves being convinced that Jesus is not the Son of God, that He was not the Messiah and that He was not even Torah observant Himself, but introduced pagan beliefs to His followers and created a new religion that has nothing to do with the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. Heaven forbid, but, it is true.

I will be very clear on this. God clearly instructed His feasts to be observed, they are prophetic and should be part of your knowledge. God clearly said that swine is an abomination, not only in the Torah but in Isaiah and unclean birds and detestable beasts are mentioned in Revelation which means that there are still clean and unclean animals. God said that the Sabbath was eternal and a sign between Him and His people and that keeping it would bring blessings. Now, there are many who claim that Jesus nailed to the cross all of the law of Moses, but, in truth what He did was pay the price of the curse of the law, as sin brought death and His death brings life, so we escape the penalty that our sin demands. There are many verses that clearly indicate that you should keep the law, but, there are the verses about grace too and there are so many parts of the law that are not possible to keep so there are many possible stumbling blocks to trip the believer up.

What does God want from you? He wants you to believe in Jesus and He wants to become a person after His own heart. How do you do that? You not only love your neighbor as yourself, but you study the word of God, you do your best to be obedient. Always think of the Sermon on the Mount and know that you are to not only obey the letter of the law, but more importantly, you are to obey the spirit of the law. Remember Jesus said, ‘Whoever therefore breaks one of the least of these commandments, and teaches men so, shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but whoever does and teaches them, he shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.’ Matt. 5:19 (NKJV). Are you going to hell for not keeping the feasts? Certainly not, especially if you didn’t know. If you know, should you keep them to the best of your ability? Yes. Should you keep Sabbath? Certainly. If you work and are providing for your family, will God know and also know your heart? Yes. Jesus has given us freedom to trust Him, to love Him, to find the strength to forgive, to let go of hurt and find peace, to stop gossiping and to stop using our bodies to sin. By His stripes, we are healed.

Those who choose to honor God, to obey Torah and to seek to worship Him as it instructs, that is good as long as you don’t find yourselves lost in Jewish teachings, pitching Jesus into the trash bin and chucking your salvation into the toilet. To those who choose to continue to worship Jesus and God as they always have and to ignore the Torah people and the confusion that is running rampant, stay in prayer and trust that the Holy Spirit of God will guide you and keep you. It is better to cling to Jesus and trust in His grace than it is to see Christianity as only evil, Judaism as the only truth and lose your salvation through confusion, doubt and thereby ultimately rejecting your Savior.

“Jesus said to him, ‘I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.’” John 14:6 (NKJV).

LOVE THAT CROSS PASTOR JOHN COLLINS

PASTOR JOHN COLLINS: A PITY PARTY

From John Collins, Evangelist: 

“Surely He has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows; yet we esteemed Him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted. But He was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities; the chastisement for our peace was upon Him, and by His stripes we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned, every one, to his own way; and the Lord has laid on Him the iniquity of us all.” Isaiah 53:4-6 (NKJV).

This world is not innocent. So, why do so many take things so personally and get so offended by the grief that comes with life? Why do so many place the blame squarely upon the shoulders of God? What is wrong with sorrow and grief? It teaches you to appreciate the joy and hope. What is wrong with sickness and death? It teaches you that there are seasons to life and health is not a guarantee. What is wrong with loss? It teaches you to appreciate what you have. There is beauty and wonder that we have feelings at all. Life is precious and filled with the ability to emotionally connect with others and death is filled with hope because Jesus has made it possible for you to continue loving those that you love.

People want to feel wounded and offended that they have suffered in this life and they want someone to blame and want to complain about it all, to be the victim. There are victims in this life and there are terrible things that happen but that is part of living among others who have the same opportunity as you have and that is free will. There are bad people in this world and there is evil in this world and that is something that we all have to deal with for now. It doesn’t mean that anyone has the right to blame God or to sit on the pity pot because as long as there is breath in your body, there is hope for salvation and you will not be gaining salvation while there is resentment for God and bitterness toward Him because you find your sufferings too big to accept.

Jesus did not grow old. Jesus did not get gray hair and lose His eyesight. Jesus did not raise a family and rock His child to sleep. Jesus did not take vacations and travel around the world to see different places. Jesus did not have the luxury of a long life. Jesus came to this world and from His earliest age was doing the work of His Father. Jesus concerned Himself with His people, His land and the salvation of this world. Jesus taught others and took the time to heal others and be kind. Jesus is perfect and yet He suffered for you. Jesus was ridiculed and mocked, beaten and hung on a cross to die. For you.

This is not a fairy tale that you have outgrown. This happened. Jesus is not just some man that lived long ago. Jesus is the Son of God and your Savior. Think about just how much you do have to be thankful for this week. As you make your plans to gather together for a meal and rejoicing, think about the times that Jesus gathered with His people for a meal. Jesus always was thinking of others, the salvation of souls. In the end that is what counts because the soul is eternal and we should all be thinking in that manner, maybe then awareness of the enormity of the gift that Christ has made possible for us all would truly sink in and gratefulness, the kind that produces life, would follow.

“And as they were eating, Jesus took bread, blessed and broke it, and gave it to the disciples and said, ‘Take, eat; this is My body.’ Then He took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, ‘Drink from it, all of you. For this is My blood of the new covenant, which is shed for many for the remission of sins. But I say to you, I will not drink of this fruit of the vine from now on until the day when I drink it new with you in My Father’s kingdom.’” Matthew 26:26-29 (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.

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.

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.

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

PASTOR JOHN COLLINS: WHERE SIN BEGINS...

From Pastor John Collins:

"You have that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not commit adultery.’ But I say to you that whoever looks at a woman to lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart.” Matthew 5:27-28 (NKJV).

Jesus gave us an interpretation of the law that is imperative that we understand. Prior to Him speaking about these things, it was the focus of the law to look at the actions of a person. Do not kill, steal, lie, or commit adultery and so on. Yet, with the words of our Lord, we learned that it is in our hearts that the sin begins. Before we will commit adultery we will lust, before we murder we usually hate. That is why Jesus said that what comes out of a man is what defiles a man.

Although we may feel that we understand this and we may even have given some thought to this, how often are we monitoring our emotions that will lead us to sin? We are filled with the propensity to be selfish and evil beings. That is a fact. We have to make the effort to allow Jesus to help us overcome ourselves. The most basic negative emotions, if left unchecked, will be the downfall of our souls.

We get depressed, angry, sad, resentful, bitter, and are full of fears and frustrations that may seem overwhelming to us. We must be diligent in our relationship with Jesus so that we allow Him to manage the purifying of our hearts for us. With His love leading us we are able to let go of the negative seeds in our hearts and to plant the positive and water them well. That is what being the branch to His vine is. That is where we will bear much fruit.

Do not let negativity rob you of the joy of Jesus. Do not allow bad emotions to build inside of you until they consume you. Pay attention to not only your actions, but to your feelings. That is where it begins.

“If your right eye causes you to sin, pluck it out and cast it from you; for it is more profitable for you that one of your members perish, than for your whole body to be cast into hell.” Matthew 5:29 (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.

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. 

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.

PASTOR JOHN COLLINS: THE TONGUE

From John Collins, Evangelist: 

"But no man can tame the tongue. It is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison.” James 3:8 (NKJV).

Your tone of voice is an indication of the true intent behind your words. Someone may say something that is true and yet the way in which it is said and the words that are chosen are either combative and malicious, calm and soothing, frank and impartial, or ingratiating and patronizing. Each of us should always be careful of intentions and try to avoid causing others to stumble in this life.

Our emotions determine our actions. When we are angry at someone and have no forgiveness in our hearts for a situation or person then our speech about anything concerning that situation or person will be hateful and bitter. When we are jealous of someone then our speech about them will be spiteful and cutting. When we are hurt we can lash out and try to hurt in return and say awful things that cannot be taken back but just becomes the next set of words and the next situation that must be repented of and forgiven. Life is exhausting if you do not manage to gain the perspective that permits you to desire to seek righteousness and obtain that goal.

Righteousness is doing the right thing all of the time and not just when it suits you. Jesus was righteous and His life taught that you can become righteous and you can do the right thing. You do this by choosing to learn how God sees things and by trusting that God will take care of the justice of this world. Humans are prideful and stubborn and always want to think that they are the wronged party, the misunderstood and the victimized. Humans just have that wrong.

Jesus came and showed us that life isn’t fair, life is tough, and people are judgmental and can be hateful. Jesus came and showed us that forgiveness is right, kindness is good and that God does value His children. Jesus showed us that our words have the power to hurt, heal, encourage, deflate, inspire and so many other wonderful and terrible things. You need to be willing to give your soul a chance at salvation and to that you need to be willing to obey the Lord, hear the Lord and submit to the Lord. You cannot do that if you are always right, always defensive or offensive, prideful, stubborn, unforgiving, hateful, bitter or unwilling to bend.

“Even so the tongue is a little member and boasts great things. See how great a forest a little fire kindles! And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity. The tongue is so set among our members that it defiles the whole body, and sets on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire by hell.” James 3:5-6 (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

PASTOR JOHN COLLINS: THE LIES OF A "PROPHET"

From John Collins, Evangelist: 

“I have heard what the prophets have said who prophesy lies in My name, saying, ‘I have dreamed, I have dreamed!’ How long will this be in the heart of the prophets who prophesy lies? Indeed they are prophets of the deceit of their own heart, who try to make My people forget My name by their dreams which everyone tells his neighbor as their fathers forget My name for Baal. The prophet who has a dream, let him tell a dream; And he who has My word, let him speak My word faithfully. ‘What is the chaff to the wheat?’ says the Lord. ‘Is not My word like a fire?’ says the Lord, ‘And like a hammer that breaks the rock in pieces?’ Therefore, behold, I am against the prophets, says the Lord, who steal My words every one from his neighbor. Behold, I am against the prophets, says the Lord, who use their tongues and say, ‘He says.’Behold, I am against those who prophesy false dreams, says the Lord, and tell them, and cause My people to err by their lies and by their recklessness. Yet, I did not send them or command them; therefore they shall not profit this people at all, says the Lord.” Jeremiah 23:25-32 (NKJV). 

There have been churches built on the lies of a ‘prophet’, there have been millions and millions of dollars collected on the basis of the lies of a ‘prophet’ and it has become nothing for people to say that God is giving them dreams and telling them this or that and that this person or that is a prophet to the Lord and is anointed.

There is a higher price to pay for deceiving people in the name of the Lord but the most awful price is paid by the one who is convinced by the deceiver. God is not unable to make His will known to all. God is not without the power to make sure that His message is received and it is unmistakable. God’s voice thundered from heaven when Jesus was baptized. The magnitude of the miracles that were done by Jesus and in the name of Jesus was not questionable. When God wants you to know something, He is not subtle.

Many a foolish person has been taken in by a Bible scholar who can spin the scriptures to delight the listener and convince them of the authority of the speaker. Do not be fooled by clever orators who eventually base their ‘church’ on themselves and demand your pocketbook and your complete devotion while claiming to have visions from God and instructions from God.

Get a Bible for under 10 dollars and read it. Then read it again and again. It will help you to have the ability to rightly discern the crackpot churches that have been around for centuries and it will help you tune out the nonsense that so many are tossing around these days.

“Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.  But shun profane and idle babblings, for they will increase to more ungodliness.” 2 Timothy 15-16 (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.

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.