When I first got saved I told my boyfriend "if you don't come to Jesus, we're done. I am moving out and will never have contact with you." I was a baby in Christ but I was serious about my walk. So, the woman who led me to Christ would pray every night with me for my boyfriend to get saved. One month later he got saved, 9 months later we got married (and before you think it: no I was not pregnant!) and 27 years later we are still serving the Lord and still as much in love with each other.
Wonderful! So happy to hear this. May I please ask for you to pray for someone I love deeply. His name is Majed and he is Muslim. Please pray that he accepts Jesus Christ as his Lord and Savior. God bless you and thank you 🙏
@@wk1810 I have known him for about 3 years. We have been on and off again. As of now, I broke it off completely since beginning of July. I just couldn't keep doing this. I always felt a heavy burden on my heart because I knew we were unequally yoked. I still care very deeply for him and pray for him several times a day. It's been very difficult and I know he is upset with me and may never speak to me again. I'm asking people to pray with me when ever I can. I am hoping the Lord will make a way for him 🙏
@@rima5429 God richly bless you for doing the right thing in obeying the conviction of your heart! I pray our Lord comforts and strengthens you as you continue to put Him first. I pray He will keep you in perfect peace as your thoughts stay on Him. Encourage yourself in the belief that you are honoring and pleasing God, and His love will see you through. Remind yourself of why you chose to end the relationship, and that pleasing God is more rewarding than pleasing your flesh. I am with you, sister! Our flesh fights us every step of the way - sometimes begging, sometimes demanding, sometimes manipulating, sometimes taunting, sometimes doubting but always fighting - resist it in faith!
Amen! I just started posting some weekly videos on my channel! I wonder what your opinion would be on them. you sound like we on the same page. ua-cam.com/channels/Asn35ZK89fnt_1Q847eh5g.html?view_as=subscriber
Me too only I suspect my relationship with a Christian who somehow did witch craft. I dont really trust many people now but unless God sends a person we are supposed to be with, relationships shouldnt take priority over God
When he feel distant, it is because you moved away, not him. He is always there. You need to believe and trust, you need to love and forgive. You will be okay, that way. 😇🤗
I urge this young girl to listen to this message. As someone who was there once as a young girl. I have had a lot of hard times in my life, but it's all brought me closer to KNOWING GOD in a way I never did when I was a young teenager who just walked around with my head in the clouds. He speaks 100% truth. You'll be thankful one day!
But how do you get a better relationship with God without the life expierience? It seemed to me, you get saved, you communicate with God evryday but sometimes it feels like hes more around when read bible other times its other things. I need a good relationship asap. I know he loves me, I know the Holy Spirit is with me, like all believers but I feel I get treated different than evryone else. The people I speak of were Christian longer but I dont know if I get all the basic stuff the bible promises all believers. I'm not even at point of asking for gifts of Holy Spirit. I know I have not cuz I ask not but when you pray you must believe you can have it. The stuff I ask for I'm 100 percent sure God promised it but I'm 90 to 80 percent sure I can have it. Is that enough to ruin things?
I know this is an old post but thought I would respond anyways to those of you who read this and wonder. Here is the short answer... it does matter how long you are a believer. Day 1 or day 1000. If you want to be baptized with the Spirit lift that prayer up to the Lord. God sees our hearts and thats what He care about most. Ask and you shall receive. Hope that answers your question. Have a blessed day!
I was feeling far away from Jesus and I found this :) this came up to me that he will leave 99 sheep to find that one who has gone missing, I burst into tears and told myself that even if I feel far away he is not away he is here with me in me and he will never leave nor forsakes me✝️ I know it was holy spirit who reminded me the truth while I was drowning :)))))) Love you LORD JESUS♥️ * this was massage was so touching and beautiful thank you🙏🏻❤️
Peter denied Jesus three times, it did not mean his walk with Jesus beforehand was, "phony" or "religious". The Holy Spirit encounters and experiences you had with Jesus years ago are still valid and valuable despite the presumptions made about them in this video. Yes, walk deeper and grow closer to the Lord, but know he does not see you as what you did, the mistakes you've made or even the ones you might make again. He sees you as you are in Christ, a daughter LOVED, CHOSEN and INTENDED FOR SOMETHING MARVELOUS. Like the prodigal son, he doesn't care where you've been, he's just glad that you're back. Rejoice in his grace and mercy and walk out in freedom!
Morgan Reynolds I hear you, and good point, but I think Peters commitment to Christ still wasn’t what he thought it was. He promised with passion that he would never deny him and ended up denying him three times. After Jesus rose he then confronted him and asked him if he loved him three times, and commanded him to go feed his sheep. Peter then went off to build the first church and ended up dying for the faith (as many historians believe) in his newly committed relationship with God, I don’t know the girl who pastor John is talking about, but he didn’t condemn her....he just said to “consider” the possibility that her walk beforehand was not as committed and glorious as she may think it was. He even said at one point to test what he is saying to see if it is from God. You don’t know her either so I would just allow her to put these thoughts before God and take away what God is trying to tell her
Morgan Reynolds Just FYI, Peter denied Messiah three times BEFORE the indwelling of HOLY SPIRIT and the New Covenant. YESHUA hadn't yet paid for sins to give new life. Which Peter do we look at for example? Which Peter should we relate to?
Morgan Reynolds I think you make a good point. However, in the last chapter of the Gospel of John Jesus had to ask peter three times if he really loved him. He did this to see if he was being genuine and if he had truly repented. Perhaps he was stripping away any "phony" faith in Peter by doing this because after this encounter Peter never turned his back on Jesus again and became a great evangelist/leader in the early church.
All he's saying is God may have allowed this to happen, bc her walk may not have been what she thought. We can't go around sugar coating the truth. By her decisions making ... She made poor choice. And when we make poor choices there are consequences. But I do agree God's grace is enough. God works in mysterious ways his thoughts are higher than our thoughts. Jesus is the only way. I believe just going to church listening to the pastor and singing and using our gifts from God. Is great. But we also need to have the time to read our Bibles and know the truth and wisdom and practice it cuz if we did we'd make better decisions we wouldn't fall into temptation. So in other words I believe everything happens for a reason, even for her to ask this question for others to learn through her mistakes. There's a bigger picture here God's grace is enough Morgan, repent and pray again. God is a merciful god and his love is never changing Pastor John gave a great point, a valid point.
Everyday I wake up I pray to get my day started and I say outloud "Today I choose Jesus" To live more like Christ ( walking in love & truth) and crucify myself. I choose to live for God. I pray, talk & meditate in God throughout my day to keep that communication open & read His Word. Its been life changing! My heavenly Father I love you so so much! Everyday is a new day with its own challenges. My favorite bible versus..Phillipians 4:6 2 Corinthians 12:9, Deuteronomy 31:6 and Psalm 86:15
This is also my story. I went too far to be married to an unbeliever. I treated my husband as an enemy, but now I thank God for the great things He is doing in my heart and life through my husband.
It gives me always comfort to see that even all those kings and judges throughout the OT, even though they were evil and turning away from Him all the time, God did not forsake His people,He did not give up. Thank you Lord for your patience and mercy!
I can so relate to this! I thought I had a good walk with God, then I thought I was ready for a boyfriend so I was praying about it before my coworker expressed his interest in me. ((I no longer work with him and I definitely no longer date him)) I had been baptized just a few months before we started dating. I also prayed a lot back then and I loved praise and worship during church. At the time, I was also doing nursery and kids class, though I stopped with kids class because I forgot I was supposed to do class on the same day I brought my boyfriend to church. I did wait a few months before we had intercourse, though basically every time we hung out together we spent the time making out. He always wanted to further faster than I wanted to. I stayed at his house overnight and the walk home ((we lived about four blocks away from each other)) was so full of shame. He tried to help me justify it in the sense that women usually lost their virginity at a younger age or I was around the normal age idk. I thought I was gonna marry this man and all was gonna be fine, but the idea of marrying him made me have an emotional breakdown. Probably a few weeks before we finally did it, he said he wanted to marry the next woman he laid with. He had claimed to be “saved”, as in, he had done what I had done, said a prayer years ago. He only went to church because I went to church, and my biggest regret is that I did not shine the light of Christ to him because I was living like the devil at the time and was blind to it. :( I got so angry at God afterward for not keeping me from this. I was so angry at people at church who didn’t want to say anything if they were concerned that I would make a bad choice. But I remember God had stopped it from going too far many times in many ways. I just wanted it bad enough that He let me have it, but my mental and physical health were not the same. I ignored warnings from people who didn’t like my ex, so it really is my fault. But God has really been working with me for the past year and a half or so. I understand that I can’t blame God since He isn’t the one that tempts. He allows it, and I know I failed the test. This video has helped me understand more and it feels like God is saying the same thing to me. I don’t want a phony walk, but I struggle to make effort for a real one.
Courtney J I relate so much to you I have done the same thing or similar God had warned me about these two men and I didn’t listen. It’s hard sometimes to know whether they are saved or not. I thought mine were saved too. Satan comes as an angel of light though to deceive and distract people.
Thank you for your openness.. I think a genuine walk with Jesus is not so much about perfection and doing every right, because this is a process and we all fall short. A genuine walk is one where we may not be perfect, but we never give up our Lord. We stay close to him in our weakness. As it says, "those who call upon the name of the Lord will be saved!" Our hope is on Him, not in ourselves.
When I got saved, I asked God to do the most painful thing at that time. I asked him to help get me out of a relationship that my flesh reeeaally wanted to hold on to. And he did. And it hurt. But now, I’m married to a wonderful man who loves God and I am nothing but grateful for what God did in my life even when it hurt.
Oh! I just cried through this whole podcast! And my heart just kept responding with Amen! Amen! Amen! Kristen, I hope that the Holy Ghost convicted you that this message is true and just. This is my story too. Being religious and jumping from one emotional spiritual encounter to the next. I made God into one of the gods in my life: just keeping Him near when I needed Him. It took my daughter's death 3 years ago to open my eyes to God's truth about my life and my relationships to Him. God wanted my heart and my all! I am now enjoying my walk with God, and loving it when He reveals His heart to me. Yes, we all mess up at some point. But God can even use our messes to draw us closer to Him. Kristel, if you are reading this: just a word. I know you feel ashamed of your bad choices, but God doesn't want to keep you in this state! He has lots of great stuff planned for you. If you repent and turn away from sin, God forgives freely and wholeheartedly! But you must also FORGIVE YOURSELF! Don't let Satan keep you hostage out of shame. Yes, the consequences of your choices, of sin, will still be there, but don't put yourself in a prison of guilt. Take Jesus Christ's hand and walk this road on earth with Him.
Quick testimony - I grew up in a Christian home, but I was not born again until God saved me at the age of 16. I was a rebellious and lost teenager on the road to destruction before then. I was saved in God's perfect timing. For 5-6 years I was very committed, even did Bible school for 2 years after high school, but then I started growing cold in my heart to the things of God and church involvement ... For over 20 years I slid further and further away, sometimes trying to come back and repent, but it never lasted. I was lost in sin all over again, much worst than before, trapped in wickedness and alcoholism. But God ... In 2019, God slowly started reviving me, calling me back home. This accelerated greatly through 2020 and today He has restored me back onto the Narrow Way, where I continue to abide in Him and in His Word, waiting for our Lord, our Blessed Hope. Please come quickly, Lord Jesus 🙏🎺✈
For a long time I didn’t make God my first priority and now I can honestly say God comes first and put no one above Him. I pray that in my affliction he gives me the strength and stay focuse on him.
I felt this so deep... he’s not going to take me back to what I use to know it was fake...he wants to take me somewhere new somewhere deeper where I am unshakeable and nothing comes between he is making me tough....praise God thank you
I walked that path so ling ago. I felt so ashamed, as I should have. Thru tears and dedication, fasting and praying. Just Jesus, His word and I grew strong and rooted in Him. Today I know and treasure that Jesus is my husband, my perfect one my everything and eternity. In Him I live, daily spending time with my beloved! It's not an experience anymore it's full time relationship. Abiding in Him. AMAZING LOVE
Evie Walker How do you do that without it being a work ? I seem to be stuck in work mode a but but I want the relationship and to treasure Him and love Him like you do:)
Mike Hill Ask God to help you to love Him with all your heart and you can be sure He will answer that request. He did for me. I still fall short but I love God a lot more and I have that abiding relationship with Him. God bless and help you.
God is never distant from us...because we can not grow up without God. If you feel God is distant get more into the word of God and spend time praising and worshipping Him.
@@Jesusisnumberone5740 then you need to check if your heart is really for God. Do you believe He exists and do you believe His word. Prayer is our way of connecting to Him. So praying draws us close to Him. Obedience matters too. It's a whole relationship. Not a man-made religion.
@@sunithagirish2139 i believe Jesus died and resurrected 3 days later. I read the Bible, i pray. Idk what has caused distance and everything i could think of is repented of.
@@Jesusisnumberone5740 it could just be an emotion you're allowing to lead you. God is always with us. This truth is what I allow to help me know Hes with me.
@@Jesusisnumberone5740 allow the Word to lead your heart. Emotions come and go. They are unreliable. The Word is forever. Blessings in your walk with the Lord
I'm in a very difficult situation and I've been trying to avoid thinking about it by finding distractions. As a result, my relationship with God has suffered even though I read the Bible daily. The love in my heart was overshadowed by the hardness and the hurt. I'm venting but I'm writing this to say thank you because this has helped clear away some confusion. I could feel myself drawing further away from God, but He urged my heart to click this video and it was exactly what I need. Thank you, Pastor John and the team. God Bless.
@timwilson5740 i think you should keep praying and being open with God about how you feel. Strive to spend more time with Him each day, praying, worshiping and meditating on His word. And pray that He pours His Spirit on you (afresh). And when you do feel better, commit wholeheartedly to not slipping off again. That's what helps me when I feel this way. Genuinely hope you feel better soon if you haven't already.
God is not far but Near!! The Kingdom Of God is Within!!! In Him do we live and move and have our being!! {Acts 17). Many of you are searching for God and some have searched far and wide but you will soon "Realize" that God was with you the whole time!! This is what happened to me!! I was searching for Something that was never lost, He was with me The Whole Time!! The Prophet Jacob said that surely The Lord was in this place and i knew it not!!
Hi Kristen, I just read through Ezekiel 16 and wow there are some hard things in that chapter. Praise be to Jesus that we are not condemned for the things we have done if we are in Christ. I wanted to share this from my NIV Study Bible commentary (on Ezekiel 16:59-63): "Although the people had broken their promises and did not deserve anything but punishment, God would not break his promises. If the people turned back to Him, He would again forgive them and renew His covenant. This covenant was put into effect when Jesus paid for the sins of all mankind by His death on the cross (Hebrews 10:8-10). No one is beyond the reach of God's forgiveness. Although we don't deserve anything but punishment for our sins, God's arms are still outstretched. He will not break His promise to give us salvation and forgiveness if we repent and turn to Him." Turn to Him and receive His love and forgiveness that He is so willing to give to you today!
I experienced the samething and where I thought I believed I really didn't, but I thank The LORD that He loves me enough to discipline and have Mercy on me and this time I believe and can hold His hand and walk with Him knowing that He is truly with me and me with Him. I love you all and pray God's guidance and restoration for all of us that are in need of His help in Jesus Name Amen!!
very good answers we think we are spiritually strong till the trial or test comes thats when we know when we know if we were or werent living a good spiritually life. thank god god for his love
So touching. What a wonderful testimony. I have personally dealt with this very issue.. having what I thought was a close walk with God, but finding out it was not as strong as I thought it was. The past few years, my walk with God is SO different than it used to be, even though I thought it was great back then... I am so grateful to God for all the awesome things he does for us.. that we might not see as oh so awesome while we are experiencing them. There is hope for your walk, Kristin. God loves us SO much... he desires for us to be SO intimate with him. Thank you for this wonderful video, Pastor John. Appreciate it 🤗
Sara Thompson I feel really distant from Him also when I first came to Christ I was full of joy and hungry for Him and the word and doubts of salvation happned and ive been stuck in a a cycle of sin and doubt for a year now thats how old I am as a Christian how did you get a close walk with Him ? I want to be intimate with Him and close the world dosent interest me I want God but I feel so far away it hurts and its depressing
Mike Hill, I focused on talking with Him as much as I could. I became blatantly open and honest with Him about all the doubts that I felt and my fears... I spent a lot of time in my head talking with Him.. because I got very little time to myself to sit down and spend quiet time, so I just talked to Him all day long. I started reading the Bible more. I told God that I wanted to be close to Him and to please help me do that as I didn't completely know where to start. I asked Him for confirmation about the way He feels for me, because I wasn't sure if He still loved me. He gave me SO many dreams and flash visions to let me know. It was really SO wonderful. I would be laying in bed in the morning, only half awake, and words would just pop into the blackness of my mind. As if he were writing to me. It was incredible.... I haven't had many of those lately... but He gave them to me when I needed the reassurance, and for that I am grateful. He knows our heart... whether we are honest with ourselves or not.. he knows. So being open with Him about EVERYTHING just seemed to make sense.. it's kind of like a significant other.. you share everything with them.. how your day is going. What upset you. Frustrated you. What made you happy.. fears. Doubts. Might as well bring it all to Him ☺️
Sara Thompson Oh wow thats incredible! How beautiful :) I think I need to be honest and talk to Him more I desire to be really close to Him but like you say I haven't a clue where to start but I shall ask Him to show me where :) doubts of salvation is a horrible thing to battle but im not giving up I want Him and that means He put that desire there cause no one seeks after God unless He draws them :)
Her testimony is very similar to mine. I didn’t understand why I was going through what I did. But I would like her to know, what she went through has helped me better understand my situation I faced and am facing. I believe my testimony will definitely do the same! Wise words pastor John !!
I came into this from seeing the thumbnail, thinking I was going to hear something totally different than what I did, and I praise God for that tonight.
God is the Shepherd who protects us and saves from danger.... when we go astray he shall search for even one lost sheep to pull back, love, care and tend to that lamb and He rejoices when He brings back his sheep to the flock. May God bring back all his people on earth who have strayed away due to malpractices and bad habits...No one is perfect. There's always a chance to correct oneself and restart a new life to bring glory to GOD!!
Maybe God is doing this with me because I keep choosing porn over Christ and it kills me I want to love Christ and have Him as my treasure and know Him it hurts I feel so distant from Him
Mike Hill hey man I am in the same boat. I have been listening to videos today on sin and fighting sin. Here is one that I hope shocks you a little like it is doing me ua-cam.com/video/o4SQSQHUZR8/v-deo.html
Mike Hill Bro. your words show the character of repentance and love to Christ that, may be frustrated for now but is a good sign of what's going on in your heart. Feed that desire for Jesus - weakness may be a friend if it drives you to Him not away from Him.
🤠Hey bro, this is your time to get back , I'm happy that you are able actually understand your situation because you know some don't 😅. Don't worry , see how beautiful our God's ways are. I'm sure that you know what to do next. God bless you😃
2022-02-24 ... PLEASE pray for me, and marriage to my beloved wife Katherine ... I'm about to have a major breakdown after seven weeks apart, I pray often, I desperately need The Lord's guidance and a miracle ... "thank you" very much
Let forsaking each sin be a common practice in our lives so the spirit of God may take up the throne of our hearts. Without repentance we will grieve the spirit of God and our hearts will go from warm and supple back to cold and hard but God can always breathe new life back into us so long as we trust and obey the lead of his spirit. Always strive to repent completely and hold all gained territory over sin. Spiritual warfare never give up.
I felt something, I believe--a compassion and joy from the Holy Spirit as I listened to Pastor John's response. (Very severe and yet compassionate, always pointing to Christ.) Sometimes the wound has to be highlighted, deepened before it can be healed. I just prayed for Kristen to experience this renewal based on the rock-solid promises in God's word. I just noticed these series of verses. (Isaiah 54: 4-8) I have experienced these feelings before, and this promise has brought me GREAT hope! If you're reading, Kristen, take heart. Dig into God's promises in the Bible, and find treasures of greater worth than gold, and stand on them. “Do not fear, for you will not be ashamed; Neither be disgraced, for you will not be put to shame; For you will forget the shame of your youth, And will not remember the reproach of your widowhood anymore. 5 For your Maker is your husband, The Lord of hosts is His name; And your Redeemer is the Holy One of Israel; He is called the God of the whole earth. 6 For the Lord has called you Like a woman forsaken and grieved in spirit, Like a youthful wife when you were refused,” Says your God. 7 “For a mere moment I have forsaken you, But with great mercies I will gather you. 8 With a little wrath I hid My face from you for a moment; But with everlasting kindness I will have mercy on you,” Says the Lord, your Redeemer.
I'm a single mother and was on my face before God begging him answers to questions just last night. This scripture is the answer to that question. Thank you.
This was a video I firmly believe I needed to see. I believe God used this as a wake-up call for me to shake me out of the complacency I've been finding myself in for the last year and half or so and to call me deeper in my walk with Him.
I have failed so many tests (I know this now). I believe being saved from a phony walk with God. I have never known child-like faith. I appreciate this honesty, my life depends on it. Oh that God would have mercy on me and allow me moments of being touched by him I have no words good enough for my gratitude. God bless
Aaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!!! This video literally caused me to let out a war cry! PRAISE GOD! And have you forgotten the exhortation that addresses you as sons? "My son, do not regard lightly the discipline of the Lord, nor be weary when reproved by him. For the Lord disciplines the one he loves, and chastises every son whom he receives." Hebrews 12:5-6
Wow, I can't just listen to this podcast once... I have to like sleep on it then go back to this and write detailed applied notes cause I cannot take this message lightly... God is so powerful and so beautiful and so merciful to speak through His willing children to encourage his children!
Wow I relate so much to this! I married two unbelievers and I was saved. I chose unbelievers over Christ and finally coming back and now God seems silent. I can see why He is shaping me and pruning me
John is so loving when he gives her (and many of us) tha “bad news”. I love this guy. It’s speaking so much to my soul. I know for sure I haven’t given everything up to Hil and I NEED to.
Thank you for taking the time to read... Praying I also want to let you know I'm no better then you or anyone else on this thread. Im just a humble servant to the Lord. But I do know something, Jesus is the way truth & life. Through him you will receive everything you asked for... Ask in faith!! You shall receive 😊 Take care
God is with us, the merely feeling of praying and asking God for mercy and forgiveness is the Spirit of God working in us. Jesus said the healthy don't need a doctor. Jesus is our Doctor and He healed us and He is transforming us, let's continue to seek Him with all our heart and body and mind and strenght. Thank God for the wisdom that provide through John.
Whooweee! I love the hard truth of what Piper is saying! So true. I've been there and done that. Picking a man over God. What a fool I was. Good thing He saved me and brought me to a better place.
My adult children are sceptical about religion, as adults we are responsible to keep reminding them and praying for them, tell them all the wonderful things Jesus did for you and surely one day they will seek,I'm confident mine will (: peace be with you .
I loved this... Deep truth! Wow, he gave her some tough love... Hard truths and words... I laughed out loud a little because I needed to hear this as well
Thank you, Pastor John. While this is a strong, challenging, *biblical* response, I don't know if I've ever heard a church leader give it so personally and lovingly. From your mouth to the ears of all who need it, with God's blessings.
Thank you so much for this very sobering and encouraging counsel. I too want to grow deeper in my relationship with Jesus and be immovable. Jesus , You the best! Thank You for loving me , saving me, keeping me, teaching me, correcting me and most importantly helping me take heed to Your correction. I am tired of being an unbelieving believer. I out of everyone should have strong faith in You and Your power to save. After everything You have done in me. Let's run well . I start where You left off , Jesus ...... I am right b4 God. I approach You my beautiful beloved Father with NO consideration of sin. Free of my old nature and sin by Your son's sacrifice n blood to worship/now down to You in love, adoration and focused on You love for me and all of creation. Thank You. You are real and live in me.
Whew I felt this deep in my soul I totally can relate Thankyou lord Yashua for your love in my life you are so merciful your grace is truly a gift I don’t deserve thankyou for your mercy! Hallelujah may you restore what is broken and may you be the strong foundation for me to stand firm on! I will not ever turn my back on you!
Words of a true shepherd of God. I too truly hope Kristin will open her heart to edifying words that builds up and sets her eyes on what is above. Jesus is King and offers redemption. Praise the One and only Master and Lord Jesus Christ.
This is so for me. My heart leaped the moment you began speaking. Before you even got to the sweet part. I mean when you were explaining what her relationship actually was in contrast to what she (because I believe this is for me,), I thought it was. And I grabbed it for myself. The situations differ only slightly, the name as well (mine is Christeen her’s is Kristen), the leaving the church behind someone, mine began some decades ago, but the cry, the fear, the longing for the former relationship with Papa God to rekindle. The abyss, the Psalm 42 pain of Him not being part of me, my life, my possible future.... Oh my God how I thank you for leaving this message up. Because it truly encouraged me. I didn’t get offended. Not even in the slightest, my spirit actually cried for failing Him but then rejoiced for His saving me from certain death, and in time for me to give a some pay back to the one that tortured me for some 58 years. Yes, it lasted that long. Now (in His timing) I get to encourage others that have fallen into the same trap and feel no hope of recovery. There are so many out there and I know He’s going to use me to help me. We have common ground, afflictions, and yearnings. Oh my God how I thank you and Papa, I thank You for leading me here. You’ve lifted so much off of me and I’m only in the second day. Sweet Jesus !!!!!!! I want to scream and shot but all are asleep here, so I can’t. Pastor John, you don’t know me and we may never meet, but you hold a dear place in my heart for what you’ve done. Thank you and God bless you. From my deepest parts I pray He sends an overflowing rain not just in this ministry, but over and in everything your connected with in any way. A saturating rain that has no ending till you cry out ABBA Father, please stop. I can’t handle anymore. In Jesus Name Amen and Amen
May God bless the saints that don't try to please us, in our sinful nature, but to wake us up and exhort us to keep our eyes on Jesus only. It's not always pleasant to hear the truth, very often uncomfortable. But Jesus told us, and it's even a promise, that the truth will set us free (John 8:32). And how do we know the truth ? By holding on HIS teachings (Jn 8:32). Thank you for your question Christine, it's been a great opportunity for pastor John to remind us where is our salvation, and grace. In Christ, be blessed.
This is a WONDERFUL answer. I've struggled with church attendance because of some incidents and struggles. I feel like I have to be a phony person when going to church...look this way, act this way, etc. I don't want phony...I want sincere.
I truly felt that I wasn't deserving of God anymore. I had sex with multiple women out of wedlock, participated in an adulterous relationship, and had a crippling addiction to pornography. I confessed my sins after more than a decade of running away from the church, and while it is a struggle to heal every day, I feel closer to God having brought him my strengths and all my weaknesses to him. He knows them all, He welcomes me home. He walks beside me as I walk back the way I ran. To those who are struggling, I pray the Lord keeps you all safe and strong, physically and spiritually. Amen
I needed this so much🙏🏿🥺! Although I can't exactly relate, as I've never even touched a guy in a romantic way, I can say that I had emotionally broken my loyalty to God with a guy. So much emphasis is placed on physical chastity, but so little on emotional chastity. I don't see anything wrong with love, but it came to a point where I would think about him more than I even thought about God (borderline idolatry)...First thing in the morning, throughout the day and before bed. It wasn't even like he expressed any sort of fondness of me. Still, I would have to fight myself to not message/voicenote him everyday. I deceived myself and allowed my love to become like worship. He was very polite. So eventhough he didnt like me, he still tolerated me. His responses (no matter how short/indifferent) were enough to keep me happy. I knew that I had to change. I hurt myself so much in the process. I do regret ceasing communication with him. However, if I didn't, I would put my relationship with God 2nd place. I NEVER again want to put anyone or any passion before HIM. After all, when people ignore me or give me the bare minimum, it was only God's spirit that comforted me when I felt low. I don't want to give up on him because He never has given up on me. Men fail, but God never does! Proverbs 4:23 Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life.💖🙏🏿
I am exact type of person Pastor is talking of. And I can vouch that what he is saying is true. Many have this feeling of a close walk with God which is not any walk with God. In time God reveals the truth.
Sometimes we need to hear things like this because we need the truth, we need to hear the current condition of our souls and our walk with God because it is a very serious situation, we are fighting for our souls guys and God needs to be our utmost priority in life but not only that, we need to be willing to let him into our lives and trust him to know he is there even when people are either going to come in to strengthen our faith or ruin it. He tests us and He knows when we are genuinely allowing him in our life and when we are just tolerating things just to tolerate them. Always know he is there for us, even in our worst moments to offer his hand and pick us back up and that we can fight the battles because of Jesus being in our life and without him it can be a cold dark world, literally hell without him. He is always leading us right back to him and need only to grab his hand to get back up.
Thank you what a blessing I joined you station I love the way you speak the word of God and it's the truth You take a deep into the word Thank you so much I've been waiting and praying for someone like you to talk to me about God more I've been walking with the Lord since 1982 I gave my life I was at the altar the whole year crying and weeping and yes I turn my back on Lord sometimes but a state painful I stayed in church and I press down and shaking together kept moving closer and drawing nearer Thank you so much God bless you
Wow I'm truly coming to see that we look at our lives way different than God does! We be ready to wave the flag and count ourselves out and yet He's got redemption in view with fresh plans to show us the immutability of His counsel. And take us where we never even dreamed of going with Him. This was so opposite of what she probably thought to hear, yet I'm witness that God speaks just like this! I've had Him deliverer me from heavy religion, to the point I feel as if I'm just meeting Him. I thought He was good before, man, I had no idea!
Dear Kristin God loves you so much. Of course he wants you back. Sometimes we go through hard times and can use those to grow our faith. Even though it might not feel like it He will not let you go, because he entered into a covenant with you. Even when we mess up. The fact that you long for God is a sure sign that your on the right track. Don't loose heart. He is on your case. The story of the prodigal son might be a good one to read as well. 🙂 Kerstin Wyatt
God can see into your heart, so if you keep on sinning, but you actually want to do his will and be obedient to him ask God, “Lord, make my heart willing to hear You and obey you." Keep praying for the holy spirit to guide you, because you can't do it alone - you can't do it on your own strength. And read and read the Bible. If you say you can't hear God and you "want to", but your Bible is closed, you're not trying hard enough - you don't want him enough. "You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart." - Jeremiah 29:13.
That was so powerful. I needed to hear this. Thank you. Wow. God is so amazing. This was so intense. This needed to be said this way. It goes to that lukewarm thing. This can't be a coincidence that I stumbled on this, TODAY.
I overlooked things ... i guess !!! Because ... He blessed me sooo ... much all throughout my life !!! Thanks for this video !!! Maybe ... I’m rushing things and all I have to do is to wait for His perfect time !!!
When I first got saved I told my boyfriend "if you don't come to Jesus, we're done. I am moving out and will never have contact with you." I was a baby in Christ but I was serious about my walk. So, the woman who led me to Christ would pray every night with me for my boyfriend to get saved. One month later he got saved, 9 months later we got married (and before you think it: no I was not pregnant!) and 27 years later we are still serving the Lord and still as much in love with each other.
Wonderful! So happy to hear this. May I please ask for you to pray for someone I love deeply. His name is Majed and he is Muslim. Please pray that he accepts Jesus Christ as his Lord and Savior. God bless you and thank you 🙏
@@rima5429 May I ask how long have you been dating this man?
@@wk1810 I have known him for about 3 years. We have been on and off again. As of now, I broke it off completely since beginning of July. I just couldn't keep doing this. I always felt a heavy burden on my heart because I knew we were unequally yoked. I still care very deeply for him and pray for him several times a day. It's been very difficult and I know he is upset with me and may never speak to me again. I'm asking people to pray with me when ever I can. I am hoping the Lord will make a way for him 🙏
@@rima5429 God richly bless you for doing the right thing in obeying the conviction of your heart! I pray our Lord comforts and strengthens you as you continue to put Him first. I pray He will keep you in perfect peace as your thoughts stay on Him. Encourage yourself in the belief that you are honoring and pleasing God, and His love will see you through. Remind yourself of why you chose to end the relationship, and that pleasing God is more rewarding than pleasing your flesh.
I am with you, sister! Our flesh fights us every step of the way - sometimes begging, sometimes demanding, sometimes manipulating, sometimes taunting, sometimes doubting but always fighting - resist it in faith!
@@wk1810 thank you kindly for taking the time to talk with with me. It means the world to see people care. Please will you pray with me for him? 🙏✝️🌷
Proverbs 27:6
“Faithful are the wounds of a friend; but the kisses of an enemy are deceitful.”
Thank you for posting this. We all need someone who will be (lovingly and) brutally honest with us.
Amen
@@timothy8462I understand what you mean, but mercy and compassion are also part of who God is and He wants us to be like Him.
@@timothy8462rawr
I wish we had a “love” button for this video! It’s well presented in love, not condoning sin, but encouraging her in hope.
I agree!! I love his message
I agree ✨💖✨
@@brokenangel3695 Jesus is the truth
@@destiny9420 Jesus is the truth
Jesus is the truth
Heart. Left Christianity at 19 for love of Muslim man. Relationship didn't work out. It's a bad move to give up your faith for another person.
Amen!
I just started posting some weekly videos on my channel! I wonder what your opinion would be on them. you sound like we on the same page.
ua-cam.com/channels/Asn35ZK89fnt_1Q847eh5g.html?view_as=subscriber
Me too only I suspect my relationship with a Christian who somehow did witch craft. I dont really trust many people now but unless God sends a person we are supposed to be with, relationships shouldnt take priority over God
Watch The Truth of God with Pastor Gino Jennings on UA-cam
back ?
It never works out.
Amen.
I testify I was in this same condition but our Lord took me out.
Now I cant live a day without Him.
I need Him more than anything in this world.
🙋🏻♂️ Same here, Mel.
@@PortCanon We will make it to those Pearly Gates in His Name.
I pray you stand firm in the faith.
Amen.
Watch The Truth of God with Pastor Gino Jennings on UA-cam
JESUS IS KING
One of my favorite things to do is listen to Dr. John Piper with my husband 🦁 such important work 🕊🕊🕊🕊🕊🕊🕊🕊🕊🕊🕊🕊🕊🕊🕊🕊🕊🕊🕊🕊🕊🕊
When he feel distant, it is because you moved away, not him. He is always there. You need to believe and trust, you need to love and forgive. You will be okay, that way. 😇🤗
Dang this hit 😂🤦♂️
Amen 🙏
I urge this young girl to listen to this message. As someone who was there once as a young girl. I have had a lot of hard times in my life, but it's all brought me closer to KNOWING GOD in a way I never did when I was a young teenager who just walked around with my head in the clouds. He speaks 100% truth. You'll be thankful one day!
But how do you get a better relationship with God without the life expierience? It seemed to me, you get saved, you communicate with God evryday but sometimes it feels like hes more around when read bible other times its other things. I need a good relationship asap. I know he loves me, I know the Holy Spirit is with me, like all believers but I feel I get treated different than evryone else. The people I speak of were Christian longer but I dont know if I get all the basic stuff the bible promises all believers. I'm not even at point of asking for gifts of Holy Spirit. I know I have not cuz I ask not but when you pray you must believe you can have it. The stuff I ask for I'm 100 percent sure God promised it but I'm 90 to 80 percent sure I can have it. Is that enough to ruin things?
ashley black wow i feel you. update ?
@@AshePBlack did you ever get your answer?
I know this is an old post but thought I would respond anyways to those of you who read this and wonder. Here is the short answer... it does matter how long you are a believer. Day 1 or day 1000. If you want to be baptized with the Spirit lift that prayer up to the Lord. God sees our hearts and thats what He care about most. Ask and you shall receive. Hope that answers your question. Have a blessed day!
* it doesn't matter how long you are a believer.
I was feeling far away from Jesus and I found this :) this came up to me that he will leave 99 sheep to find that one who has gone missing, I burst into tears and told myself that even if I feel far away he is not away he is here with me in me and he will never leave nor forsakes me✝️
I know it was holy spirit who reminded me the truth while I was drowning :))))))
Love you LORD JESUS♥️
* this was massage was so touching and beautiful thank you🙏🏻❤️
Peter denied Jesus three times, it did not mean his walk with Jesus beforehand was, "phony" or "religious". The Holy Spirit encounters and experiences you had with Jesus years ago are still valid and valuable despite the presumptions made about them in this video. Yes, walk deeper and grow closer to the Lord, but know he does not see you as what you did, the mistakes you've made or even the ones you might make again. He sees you as you are in Christ, a daughter LOVED, CHOSEN and INTENDED FOR SOMETHING MARVELOUS. Like the prodigal son, he doesn't care where you've been, he's just glad that you're back. Rejoice in his grace and mercy and walk out in freedom!
Morgan Reynolds I hear you, and good point, but I think Peters commitment to Christ still wasn’t what he thought it was. He promised with passion that he would never deny him and ended up denying him three times. After Jesus rose he then confronted him and asked him if he loved him three times, and commanded him to go feed his sheep. Peter then went off to build the first church and ended up dying for the faith (as many historians believe) in his newly committed relationship with God, I don’t know the girl who pastor John is talking about, but he didn’t condemn her....he just said to “consider” the possibility that her walk beforehand was not as committed and glorious as she may think it was. He even said at one point to test what he is saying to see if it is from God.
You don’t know her either so I would just allow her to put these thoughts before God and take away what God is trying to tell her
Morgan Reynolds Just FYI, Peter denied Messiah three times BEFORE the indwelling of HOLY SPIRIT and the New Covenant. YESHUA hadn't yet paid for sins to give new life.
Which Peter do we look at for example? Which Peter should we relate to?
Blessed be the name of the Lord! Such hope you have! Wonderful!
Morgan Reynolds I think you make a good point. However, in the last chapter of the Gospel of John Jesus had to ask peter three times if he really loved him. He did this to see if he was being genuine and if he had truly repented. Perhaps he was stripping away any "phony" faith in Peter by doing this because after this encounter Peter never turned his back on Jesus again and became a great evangelist/leader in the early church.
All he's saying is God may have allowed this to happen, bc her walk may not have been what she thought. We can't go around sugar coating the truth. By her decisions making ... She made poor choice. And when we make poor choices there are consequences. But I do agree God's grace is enough. God works in mysterious ways his thoughts are higher than our thoughts. Jesus is the only way.
I believe just going to church listening to the pastor and singing and using our gifts from God. Is great. But we also need to have the time to read our Bibles and know the truth and wisdom and practice it cuz if we did we'd make better decisions we wouldn't fall into temptation.
So in other words I believe everything happens for a reason, even for her to ask this question for others to learn through her mistakes. There's a bigger picture here
God's grace is enough Morgan, repent and pray again. God is a merciful god and his love is never changing
Pastor John gave a great point, a valid point.
Everyday I wake up I pray to get my day started and I say outloud "Today I choose Jesus"
To live more like Christ ( walking in love & truth) and crucify myself. I choose to live for God. I pray, talk & meditate in God throughout my day to keep that communication open & read His Word. Its been life changing! My heavenly Father I love you so so much!
Everyday is a new day with its own challenges. My favorite bible versus..Phillipians 4:6
2 Corinthians 12:9, Deuteronomy 31:6
and Psalm 86:15
This is also my story. I went too far to be married to an unbeliever. I treated my husband as an enemy, but now I thank God for the great things He is doing in my heart and life through my husband.
How are things going now??
It gives me always comfort to see that even all those kings and judges throughout the OT, even though they were evil and turning away from Him all the time, God did not forsake His people,He did not give up. Thank you Lord for your patience and mercy!
I can so relate to this! I thought I had a good walk with God, then I thought I was ready for a boyfriend so I was praying about it before my coworker expressed his interest in me. ((I no longer work with him and I definitely no longer date him))
I had been baptized just a few months before we started dating. I also prayed a lot back then and I loved praise and worship during church. At the time, I was also doing nursery and kids class, though I stopped with kids class because I forgot I was supposed to do class on the same day I brought my boyfriend to church.
I did wait a few months before we had intercourse, though basically every time we hung out together we spent the time making out. He always wanted to further faster than I wanted to. I stayed at his house overnight and the walk home ((we lived about four blocks away from each other)) was so full of shame. He tried to help me justify it in the sense that women usually lost their virginity at a younger age or I was around the normal age idk. I thought I was gonna marry this man and all was gonna be fine, but the idea of marrying him made me have an emotional breakdown. Probably a few weeks before we finally did it, he said he wanted to marry the next woman he laid with.
He had claimed to be “saved”, as in, he had done what I had done, said a prayer years ago. He only went to church because I went to church, and my biggest regret is that I did not shine the light of Christ to him because I was living like the devil at the time and was blind to it. :(
I got so angry at God afterward for not keeping me from this. I was so angry at people at church who didn’t want to say anything if they were concerned that I would make a bad choice. But I remember God had stopped it from going too far many times in many ways. I just wanted it bad enough that He let me have it, but my mental and physical health were not the same. I ignored warnings from people who didn’t like my ex, so it really is my fault.
But God has really been working with me for the past year and a half or so. I understand that I can’t blame God since He isn’t the one that tempts. He allows it, and I know I failed the test. This video has helped me understand more and it feels like God is saying the same thing to me. I don’t want a phony walk, but I struggle to make effort for a real one.
Courtney J I relate so much to you I have done the same thing or similar God had warned me about these two men and I didn’t listen. It’s hard sometimes to know whether they are saved or not. I thought mine were saved too. Satan comes as an angel of light though to deceive and distract people.
Thank you for your openness.. I think a genuine walk with Jesus is not so much about perfection and doing every right, because this is a process and we all fall short. A genuine walk is one where we may not be perfect, but we never give up our Lord. We stay close to him in our weakness. As it says, "those who call upon the name of the Lord will be saved!" Our hope is on Him, not in ourselves.
When I got saved, I asked God to do the most painful thing at that time. I asked him to help get me out of a relationship that my flesh reeeaally wanted to hold on to. And he did. And it hurt. But now, I’m married to a wonderful man who loves God and I am nothing but grateful for what God did in my life even when it hurt.
Oh! I just cried through this whole podcast! And my heart just kept responding with Amen! Amen! Amen! Kristen, I hope that the Holy Ghost convicted you that this message is true and just.
This is my story too. Being religious and jumping from one emotional spiritual encounter to the next. I made God into one of the gods in my life: just keeping Him near when I needed Him.
It took my daughter's death 3 years ago to open my eyes to God's truth about my life and my relationships to Him. God wanted my heart and my all! I am now enjoying my walk with God, and loving it when He reveals His heart to me. Yes, we all mess up at some point. But God can even use our messes to draw us closer to Him.
Kristel, if you are reading this: just a word. I know you feel ashamed of your bad choices, but God doesn't want to keep you in this state! He has lots of great stuff planned for you. If you repent and turn away from sin, God forgives freely and wholeheartedly! But you must also FORGIVE YOURSELF! Don't let Satan keep you hostage out of shame. Yes, the consequences of your choices, of sin, will still be there, but don't put yourself in a prison of guilt. Take Jesus Christ's hand and walk this road on earth with Him.
Quick testimony - I grew up in a Christian home, but I was not born again until God saved me at the age of 16. I was a rebellious and lost teenager on the road to destruction before then. I was saved in God's perfect timing.
For 5-6 years I was very committed, even did Bible school for 2 years after high school, but then I started growing cold in my heart to the things of God and church involvement ... For over 20 years I slid further and further away, sometimes trying to come back and repent, but it never lasted. I was lost in sin all over again, much worst than before, trapped in wickedness and alcoholism.
But God ...
In 2019, God slowly started reviving me, calling me back home. This accelerated greatly through 2020 and today He has restored me back onto the Narrow Way, where I continue to abide in Him and in His Word, waiting for our Lord, our Blessed Hope.
Please come quickly, Lord Jesus 🙏🎺✈
For a long time I didn’t make God my first priority and now I can honestly say God comes first and put no one above Him. I pray that in my affliction he gives me the strength and stay focuse on him.
This was surgical revelation that hurt me deeply but also healed me. Thank you for posting 😭🙌🏾
I pray that you’re doing well ❤️
I felt this so deep... he’s not going to take me back to what I use to know it was fake...he wants to take me somewhere new somewhere deeper where I am unshakeable and nothing comes between he is making me tough....praise God thank you
I walked that path so ling ago. I felt so ashamed, as I should have. Thru tears and dedication, fasting and praying. Just Jesus, His word and I grew strong and rooted in Him. Today I know and treasure that Jesus is my husband, my perfect one my everything and eternity. In Him I live, daily spending time with my beloved! It's not an experience anymore it's full time relationship. Abiding in Him.
AMAZING LOVE
Evie Walker How do you do that without it being a work ? I seem to be stuck in work mode a but but I want the relationship and to treasure Him and love Him like you do:)
Mike Hill Ask God to help you to love Him with all your heart and you can be sure He will answer that request. He did for me. I still fall short but I love God a lot more and I have that abiding relationship with Him. God bless and help you.
diadenK Wow thank you! I will continue to ask for that I think He is doing it slowly :)
Was this after or before being born again? Recieving the Advocate?
Watch The of God with Pastor Gino Jennings on UA-cam
God is never distant from us...because we can not grow up without God. If you feel God is distant get more into the word of God and spend time praising and worshipping Him.
What happens when that doesnt work
@@Jesusisnumberone5740 then you need to check if your heart is really for God. Do you believe He exists and do you believe His word. Prayer is our way of connecting to Him. So praying draws us close to Him. Obedience matters too. It's a whole relationship. Not a man-made religion.
@@sunithagirish2139 i believe Jesus died and resurrected 3 days later. I read the Bible, i pray. Idk what has caused distance and everything i could think of is repented of.
@@Jesusisnumberone5740 it could just be an emotion you're allowing to lead you. God is always with us. This truth is what I allow to help me know Hes with me.
@@Jesusisnumberone5740 allow the Word to lead your heart. Emotions come and go. They are unreliable. The Word is forever. Blessings in your walk with the Lord
I'm in a very difficult situation and I've been trying to avoid thinking about it by finding distractions. As a result, my relationship with God has suffered even though I read the Bible daily. The love in my heart was overshadowed by the hardness and the hurt. I'm venting but I'm writing this to say thank you because this has helped clear away some confusion. I could feel myself drawing further away from God, but He urged my heart to click this video and it was exactly what I need. Thank you, Pastor John and the team. God Bless.
I feel the same way. Idk what to do
@@Jesusisnumberone5740 It'll come to u. Wait patiently and don't put too much pressure on yourself. Trust God to give u the answers. ❤
@@Isabella-vn3wg i felt this way for awhile. I hope i didnt do anything wrong. My prayers arent hindered but i havent felt close for awhile
@timwilson5740 i think you should keep praying and being open with God about how you feel. Strive to spend more time with Him each day, praying, worshiping and meditating on His word. And pray that He pours His Spirit on you (afresh). And when you do feel better, commit wholeheartedly to not slipping off again. That's what helps me when I feel this way. Genuinely hope you feel better soon if you haven't already.
God is not far but Near!! The Kingdom Of God is Within!!! In Him do we live and move and have our being!! {Acts 17). Many of you are searching for God and some have searched far and wide but you will soon "Realize" that God was with you the whole time!! This is what happened to me!! I was searching for Something that was never lost, He was with me The Whole Time!! The Prophet Jacob said that surely The Lord was in this place and i knew it not!!
God can restore any situation. But He also knows our human nature which needs to be guided.
Pastor Piper is always authentic and practical in Christ.
Praise God
Hi Kristen, I just read through Ezekiel 16 and wow there are some hard things in that chapter. Praise be to Jesus that we are not condemned for the things we have done if we are in Christ.
I wanted to share this from my NIV Study Bible commentary (on Ezekiel 16:59-63): "Although the people had broken their promises and did not deserve anything but punishment, God would not break his promises. If the people turned back to Him, He would again forgive them and renew His covenant. This covenant was put into effect when Jesus paid for the sins of all mankind by His death on the cross (Hebrews 10:8-10). No one is beyond the reach of God's forgiveness. Although we don't deserve anything but punishment for our sins, God's arms are still outstretched. He will not break His promise to give us salvation and forgiveness if we repent and turn to Him."
Turn to Him and receive His love and forgiveness that He is so willing to give to you today!
I experienced the samething and where I thought I believed I really didn't, but I thank The LORD that He loves me enough to discipline and have Mercy on me and this time I believe and can hold His hand and walk with Him knowing that He is truly with me and me with Him. I love you all and pray God's guidance and restoration for all of us that are in need of His help in Jesus Name Amen!!
very good answers we think we are spiritually strong till the trial or test comes thats when we know when we know if we were or werent living a good spiritually life. thank god god for his love
So touching. What a wonderful testimony. I have personally dealt with this very issue.. having what I thought was a close walk with God, but finding out it was not as strong as I thought it was. The past few years, my walk with God is SO different than it used to be, even though I thought it was great back then... I am so grateful to God for all the awesome things he does for us.. that we might not see as oh so awesome while we are experiencing them. There is hope for your walk, Kristin. God loves us SO much... he desires for us to be SO intimate with him. Thank you for this wonderful video, Pastor John. Appreciate it 🤗
Sara Thompson I feel really distant from Him also when I first came to Christ I was full of joy and hungry for Him and the word and doubts of salvation happned and ive been stuck in a a cycle of sin and doubt for a year now thats how old I am as a Christian how did you get a close walk with Him ? I want to be intimate with Him and close the world dosent interest me I want God but I feel so far away it hurts and its depressing
Mike Hill, I focused on talking with Him as much as I could. I became blatantly open and honest with Him about all the doubts that I felt and my fears... I spent a lot of time in my head talking with Him.. because I got very little time to myself to sit down and spend quiet time, so I just talked to Him all day long. I started reading the Bible more. I told God that I wanted to be close to Him and to please help me do that as I didn't completely know where to start. I asked Him for confirmation about the way He feels for me, because I wasn't sure if He still loved me. He gave me SO many dreams and flash visions to let me know. It was really SO wonderful. I would be laying in bed in the morning, only half awake, and words would just pop into the blackness of my mind. As if he were writing to me. It was incredible.... I haven't had many of those lately... but He gave them to me when I needed the reassurance, and for that I am grateful. He knows our heart... whether we are honest with ourselves or not.. he knows. So being open with Him about EVERYTHING just seemed to make sense.. it's kind of like a significant other.. you share everything with them.. how your day is going. What upset you. Frustrated you. What made you happy.. fears. Doubts. Might as well bring it all to Him ☺️
Sara Thompson Oh wow thats incredible! How beautiful :) I think I need to be honest and talk to Him more I desire to be really close to Him but like you say I haven't a clue where to start but I shall ask Him to show me where :) doubts of salvation is a horrible thing to battle but im not giving up I want Him and that means He put that desire there cause no one seeks after God unless He draws them :)
Mike Hill, you are exactly right! The fact that we desire Him is a VERY good sign ☺️ blessings to you 🤗
Sara Thompson Amen sister Its very exciting :) Im drawing closer to Him as we speak :)
Her testimony is very similar to mine. I didn’t understand why I was going through what I did. But I would like her to know, what she went through has helped me better understand my situation I faced and am facing. I believe my testimony will definitely do the same! Wise words pastor John !!
I came into this from seeing the thumbnail, thinking I was going to hear something totally different than what I did, and I praise God for that tonight.
God is the Shepherd who protects us and saves from danger.... when we go astray he shall search for even one lost sheep to pull back, love, care and tend to that lamb and He rejoices when He brings back his sheep to the flock. May God bring back all his people on earth who have strayed away due to malpractices and bad habits...No one is perfect. There's always a chance to correct oneself and restart a new life to bring glory to GOD!!
Maybe God is doing this with me because I keep choosing porn over Christ and it kills me I want to love Christ and have Him as my treasure and know Him it hurts I feel so distant from Him
Mike Hill hey man I am in the same boat. I have been listening to videos today on sin and fighting sin. Here is one that I hope shocks you a little like it is doing me
ua-cam.com/video/o4SQSQHUZR8/v-deo.html
Oswaldo Sanchez Thanks brother I shall listen :)
Mike Hill Bro. your words show the character of repentance and love to Christ that, may be frustrated for now but is a good sign of what's going on in your heart. Feed that desire for Jesus - weakness may be a friend if it drives you to Him not away from Him.
🤠Hey bro, this is your time to get back , I'm happy that you are able actually understand your situation because you know some don't 😅. Don't worry , see how beautiful our God's ways are. I'm sure that you know what to do next. God bless you😃
I'm in the same boat man. It's so difficult.
2022-02-24 ... PLEASE pray for me, and marriage to my beloved wife Katherine ... I'm about to have a major breakdown after seven weeks apart, I pray often, I desperately need The Lord's guidance and a miracle ... "thank you" very much
Let forsaking each sin be a common practice in our lives so the spirit of God may take up the throne of our hearts. Without repentance we will grieve the spirit of God and our hearts will go from warm and supple back to cold and hard but God can always breathe new life back into us so long as we trust and obey the lead of his spirit. Always strive to repent completely and hold all gained territory over sin. Spiritual warfare never give up.
Yikes this just wrecked me! The bitter truth! Wow wow wow!
I felt something, I believe--a compassion and joy from the Holy Spirit as I listened to Pastor John's response. (Very severe and yet compassionate, always pointing to Christ.) Sometimes the wound has to be highlighted, deepened before it can be healed. I just prayed for Kristen to experience this renewal based on the rock-solid promises in God's word. I just noticed these series of verses. (Isaiah 54: 4-8) I have experienced these feelings before, and this promise has brought me GREAT hope! If you're reading, Kristen, take heart. Dig into God's promises in the Bible, and find treasures of greater worth than gold, and stand on them.
“Do not fear, for you will not be ashamed;
Neither be disgraced, for you will not be put to shame;
For you will forget the shame of your youth,
And will not remember the reproach of your widowhood anymore.
5
For your Maker is your husband,
The Lord of hosts is His name;
And your Redeemer is the Holy One of Israel;
He is called the God of the whole earth.
6
For the Lord has called you
Like a woman forsaken and grieved in spirit,
Like a youthful wife when you were refused,”
Says your God.
7
“For a mere moment I have forsaken you,
But with great mercies I will gather you.
8
With a little wrath I hid My face from you for a moment;
But with everlasting kindness I will have mercy on you,”
Says the Lord, your Redeemer.
Matt Philleo these verses brought me to tears, thank you.
Thank you sharing this verse, it truly pierces my soul.
I'm a single mother and was on my face before God begging him answers to questions just last night. This scripture is the answer to that question. Thank you.
Amen💖🥺
Thank you dear sir thank you dear dear Lord Jesus Christ God
Praise God, Pastor John is so wise!
I always have a hunger in my heart for God.
This was a video I firmly believe I needed to see. I believe God used this as a wake-up call for me to shake me out of the complacency I've been finding myself in for the last year and half or so and to call me deeper in my walk with Him.
Friend, I'm feeling the exact same thing today
continue to seek his face no matter what
I have failed so many tests (I know this now). I believe being saved from a phony walk with God. I have never known child-like faith. I appreciate this honesty, my life depends on it. Oh that God would have mercy on me and allow me moments of being touched by him I have no words good enough for my gratitude. God bless
Aaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!!!
This video literally caused me to let out a war cry! PRAISE GOD!
And have you forgotten the exhortation that addresses you as sons? "My son, do not regard lightly the discipline of the Lord, nor be weary when reproved by him. For the Lord disciplines the one he loves, and chastises every son whom he receives."
Hebrews 12:5-6
Adam Woodie Amen. I love this verse.
Wow, I can't just listen to this podcast once... I have to like sleep on it then go back to this and write detailed applied notes cause I cannot take this message lightly... God is so powerful and so beautiful and so merciful to speak through His willing children to encourage his children!
Wow I relate so much to this! I married two unbelievers and I was saved. I chose unbelievers over Christ and finally coming back and now God seems silent. I can see why He is shaping me and pruning me
John is so loving when he gives her (and many of us) tha “bad news”. I love this guy. It’s speaking so much to my soul. I know for sure I haven’t given everything up to Hil and I NEED to.
Thank you for taking the time to read... Praying
I also want to let you know I'm no better then you or anyone else on this thread. Im just a humble servant to the Lord. But I do know something, Jesus is the way truth & life. Through him you will receive everything you asked for... Ask in faith!! You shall receive 😊
Take care
Its good to know that we are all going through the same thing. And that really helps knowing you are not alone, thank you pastor.
Awesome, I really needed this episode
Phew . . . thank you for this, Dr. Piper. So needed today.
I sensed such wisdom through his words. The fear of the Lord is truly in this man.
God is with us, the merely feeling of praying and asking God for mercy and forgiveness is the Spirit of God working in us. Jesus said the healthy don't need a doctor. Jesus is our Doctor and He healed us and He is transforming us, let's continue to seek Him with all our heart and body and mind and strenght. Thank God for the wisdom that provide through John.
Whooweee! I love the hard truth of what Piper is saying! So true. I've been there and done that. Picking a man over God. What a fool I was. Good thing He saved me and brought me to a better place.
This is my message , my life . Thank you Father
My adult children are sceptical about religion, as adults we are responsible to keep reminding them and praying for them, tell them all the wonderful things Jesus did for you and surely one day they will seek,I'm confident mine will (: peace be with you .
I loved this... Deep truth! Wow, he gave her some tough love... Hard truths and words... I laughed out loud a little because I needed to hear this as well
So good! I needed to hear this.
Thank you, Pastor John. While this is a strong, challenging, *biblical* response, I don't know if I've ever heard a church leader give it so personally and lovingly. From your mouth to the ears of all who need it, with God's blessings.
Wow Hallelujah I really needed to hear this 🖐️
Thank you so much for this very sobering and encouraging counsel.
I too want to grow deeper in my relationship with Jesus and be immovable.
Jesus , You the best!
Thank You for loving me , saving me, keeping me, teaching me, correcting me and most importantly helping me take heed to Your correction.
I am tired of being an unbelieving believer.
I out of everyone should have strong faith in You and Your power to save.
After everything You have done in me.
Let's run well .
I start where You left off , Jesus ...... I am right b4 God. I approach You my beautiful beloved Father with NO consideration of sin.
Free of my old nature and sin by Your son's sacrifice n blood to worship/now down to You in love, adoration and focused on You love for me and all of creation.
Thank You. You are real and live in me.
What is an unbelieving believer? :P
Really needed to hear this. I think somewhere inside i already new this, i just needed to hear it. Thank you pastor John and God bless you
What a great answer
Totally wrecked! God is so good🙏🏽
Whew I felt this deep in my soul I totally can relate Thankyou lord Yashua for your love in my life you are so merciful your grace is truly a gift I don’t deserve thankyou for your mercy! Hallelujah may you restore what is broken and may you be the strong foundation for me to stand firm on! I will not ever turn my back on you!
My heart is grateful.
Words of a true shepherd of God. I too truly hope Kristin will open her heart to edifying words that builds up and sets her eyes on what is above. Jesus is King and offers redemption. Praise the One and only Master and Lord Jesus Christ.
This is so for me. My heart leaped the moment you began speaking. Before you even got to the sweet part. I mean when you were explaining what her relationship actually was in contrast to what she (because I believe this is for me,), I thought it was. And I grabbed it for myself. The situations differ only slightly, the name as well (mine is Christeen her’s is Kristen), the leaving the church behind someone, mine began some decades ago, but the cry, the fear, the longing for the former relationship with Papa God to rekindle. The abyss, the Psalm 42 pain of Him not being part of me, my life, my possible future....
Oh my God how I thank you for leaving this message up. Because it truly encouraged me. I didn’t get offended. Not even in the slightest, my spirit actually cried for failing Him but then rejoiced for His saving me from certain death, and in time for me to give a some pay back to the one that tortured me for some 58 years. Yes, it lasted that long.
Now (in His timing) I get to encourage others that have fallen into the same trap and feel no hope of recovery. There are so many out there and I know He’s going to use me to help me. We have common ground, afflictions, and yearnings.
Oh my God how I thank you and Papa, I thank You for leading me here. You’ve lifted so much off of me and I’m only in the second day. Sweet Jesus !!!!!!! I want to scream and shot but all are asleep here, so I can’t. Pastor John, you don’t know me and we may never meet, but you hold a dear place in my heart for what you’ve done. Thank you and God bless you. From my deepest parts I pray He sends an overflowing rain not just in this ministry, but over and in everything your connected with in any way. A saturating rain that has no ending till you cry out ABBA Father, please stop. I can’t handle anymore. In Jesus Name Amen and Amen
Wow, I felt like this was speaking directly to me as well. Praise be given to our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ!
Best answer I ever heard. I hope it was received well.
Praise God that I saw this! This video has saved me from some really bad decisions I was about to make.
May God bless the saints that don't try to please us, in our sinful nature, but to wake us up and exhort us to keep our eyes on Jesus only. It's not always pleasant to hear the truth, very often uncomfortable. But Jesus told us, and it's even a promise, that the truth will set us free (John 8:32). And how do we know the truth ? By holding on HIS teachings (Jn 8:32). Thank you for your question Christine, it's been a great opportunity for pastor John to remind us where is our salvation, and grace. In Christ, be blessed.
Soooo incredibly convicting! So well and wisely, lovingly spoken Pastor John
YEEEEEEESSSSSSS Pastor John!... HALLELUJAAAAAHHHHH!!!... PRAISE THE LORD!!!🔥🔥🔥🙌🏿🙌🏿🙌🏿❤❤❤❤ I love this!.❤❤❤
This message was so amazing. I truly needed to hear it.
This is a WONDERFUL answer. I've struggled with church attendance because of some incidents and struggles. I feel like I have to be a phony person when going to church...look this way, act this way, etc. I don't want phony...I want sincere.
I truly felt that I wasn't deserving of God anymore. I had sex with multiple women out of wedlock, participated in an adulterous relationship, and had a crippling addiction to pornography. I confessed my sins after more than a decade of running away from the church, and while it is a struggle to heal every day, I feel closer to God having brought him my strengths and all my weaknesses to him. He knows them all, He welcomes me home. He walks beside me as I walk back the way I ran. To those who are struggling, I pray the Lord keeps you all safe and strong, physically and spiritually. Amen
Wonderful Truth! May many be transformed by this. 🙏🙌💖
Beautiful❤❤ I recently experienced this. The coming to TRUE faith after 12 yes of religious conditional shakable faith.
WOW! Amazing message. I really needed this today. Thank you.
I needed this so much🙏🏿🥺! Although I can't exactly relate, as I've never even touched a guy in a romantic way, I can say that I had emotionally broken my loyalty to God with a guy. So much emphasis is placed on physical chastity, but so little on emotional chastity.
I don't see anything wrong with love, but it came to a point where I would think about him more than I even thought about God (borderline idolatry)...First thing in the morning, throughout the day and before bed. It wasn't even like he expressed any sort of fondness of me. Still, I would have to fight myself to not message/voicenote him everyday. I deceived myself and allowed my love to become like worship. He was very polite. So eventhough he didnt like me, he still tolerated me. His responses (no matter how short/indifferent) were enough to keep me happy. I knew that I had to change. I hurt myself so much in the process.
I do regret ceasing communication with him. However, if I didn't, I would put my relationship with God 2nd place. I NEVER again want to put anyone or any passion before HIM. After all, when people ignore me or give me the bare minimum, it was only God's spirit that comforted me when I felt low. I don't want to give up on him because He never has given up on me. Men fail, but God never does!
Proverbs 4:23 Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life.💖🙏🏿
I am exact type of person Pastor is talking of. And I can vouch that what he is saying is true. Many have this feeling of a close walk with God which is not any walk with God. In time God reveals the truth.
Sometimes we need to hear things like this because we need the truth, we need to hear the current condition of our souls and our walk with God because it is a very serious situation, we are fighting for our souls guys and God needs to be our utmost priority in life but not only that, we need to be willing to let him into our lives and trust him to know he is there even when people are either going to come in to strengthen our faith or ruin it. He tests us and He knows when we are genuinely allowing him in our life and when we are just tolerating things just to tolerate them. Always know he is there for us, even in our worst moments to offer his hand and pick us back up and that we can fight the battles because of Jesus being in our life and without him it can be a cold dark world, literally hell without him. He is always leading us right back to him and need only to grab his hand to get back up.
Thank you what a blessing I joined you station I love the way you speak the word of God and it's the truth You take a deep into the word Thank you so much I've been waiting and praying for someone like you to talk to me about God more I've been walking with the Lord since 1982 I gave my life I was at the altar the whole year crying and weeping and yes I turn my back on Lord sometimes but a state painful I stayed in church and I press down and shaking together kept moving closer and drawing nearer Thank you so much God bless you
All thanks be to Jesus, Amen !
Wow I'm truly coming to see that we look at our lives way different than God does! We be ready to wave the flag and count ourselves out and yet He's got redemption in view with fresh plans to show us the immutability of His counsel. And take us where we never even dreamed of going with Him. This was so opposite of what she probably thought to hear, yet I'm witness that God speaks just like this! I've had Him deliverer me from heavy religion, to the point I feel as if I'm just meeting Him. I thought He was good before, man, I had no idea!
great answer, praise be to God!
Incredible! God is sooooo Good!!
Dear Kristin
God loves you so much. Of course he wants you back. Sometimes we go through hard times and can use those to grow our faith. Even though it might not feel like it He will not let you go, because he entered into a covenant with you. Even when we mess up. The fact that you long for God is a sure sign that your on the right track. Don't loose heart. He is on your case. The story of the prodigal son might be a good one to read as well. 🙂 Kerstin Wyatt
wonderful honesty. Thanks DG for this very insightful, thoughtful answer
God can see into your heart, so if you keep on sinning, but you actually want to do his will and be obedient to him ask God, “Lord, make my heart willing to hear You and obey you." Keep praying for the holy spirit to guide you, because you can't do it alone - you can't do it on your own strength. And read and read the Bible. If you say you can't hear God and you "want to", but your Bible is closed, you're not trying hard enough - you don't want him enough. "You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart." - Jeremiah 29:13.
Amen! Thank you Pastor John! This applies to my situation!
Excellent this makes perfect sense. His immense patience with us and our need to be faithful to the Lord's ways. My own life confirms this .
That was so powerful. I needed to hear this. Thank you. Wow. God is so amazing. This was so intense. This needed to be said this way. It goes to that lukewarm thing. This can't be a coincidence that I stumbled on this, TODAY.
Very deep circunstances, I am in the same and grateful fir this message.
Beautiful!!!
What a sobering video. Thank you pastor John!
That was the best Christian advice for the situation.
thank you pastor John, this is for me. I will do as you advice. God bless you.
Watch The Truth of God with Pastor Gino Jennings on UA-cam
Thank you Pastor John thank you so much you don’t even know how much what you said helped me just now God bless you
I overlooked things ... i guess !!! Because ... He blessed me sooo ... much all throughout my life !!! Thanks for this video !!! Maybe ... I’m rushing things and all I have to do is to wait for His perfect time !!!