PASTOR JOHN COLLINS, JOHN COLLINS MINISTRIES: MOB CONFORMITY

God or Satan? Conform or Righteousness?

 

From Pastor John Collins:

"Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts in the heavenly places.” Ephesians 6:11-12 (NKJV).

There is a day that is on the way and the devil knows it. His days have been numbered and he fights against it. Do not be naïve to the evil influence in this world nor to the wickedness that grows more pervasive with each season.

There has been an ever growing demand for conformity to believe as the mob movements want you to believe. Gather enough people and say what you believe often enough and it becomes truth for those who look to society to gauge the ‘right’ way to think and behave. Ah, but you must be careful, as totalitarianism can creep up on the unsuspecting and before you know it, you are trapped. You must think, act and believe as the mob says to do so or you will find yourself on the outside and cancelled. So, there are apologies demanded for centuries old realities and offences that must receive contrition and reparation for. Where does it end? If the history is erased and enough people and companies bow down and accept the demands of the mob, does it stop there? Do you really think that a shift in power would balance things out and reduce the demands? When will it become clear that the motivation of the current movement in society is not driven by righteousness and clarity but by a desire for power and control? This movement in our midst is violence driven, emotion driven and demands complete submission.

Who is determining the standard to which everything is determined as right or wrong? By whose judgement and standards are the views and agendas being based? The only righteous judge is God and His Son. These mobs in our midst that are demanding reparations, demanding the removal of our history and demanding that the people of this land agree with them or be damned are not doing so because they are standing in a place of righteousness. They are being propelled forward by the enemy of God and Jesus. They are being influenced by the devil whose time draws near.

When a person or group of people demand that their beliefs be accepted as truth and that their way to do things must not meet any opposition or those who oppose them will have to face consequences, then those who must accept their will are without choice and are no longer free. When free speech and opposing views are no longer tolerated, you are now at the mercy of totalitarianism and are at risk of losing all.

Do not be swayed by gilded tongues and clever words. The devil has many tricks to make you stumble. Your standard should always be the truth of God. Your beliefs and your conduct should always be measured by His word. How do you navigate this reality of negativity, demands for cancelling our history and erasing our past while the mob has a new expectation of apology if they are offended? Conciliation is for the weak and we know that we can do all things through Christ who strengthens us.

I will say this clearly that the mobs that have taken over and demanded eradication of our history are driven by the devil. The movement to force name changing and brand removal due to offense is not about offense at all but is a demand for and a show of power moving towards a very real denial of freedom of speech and all other freedoms will follow and fall. This is not about race, this is not about offense, it is about power and it is using race to get to the place that it wants to be. It is about demanding conformity to their will and this movement is wicked and evil. Remember who the true judge of this world is and choose who you will submit to.

“Then I saw a great white throne and Him who sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away. And there was found no place for them. And I saw the dead, small and great, standing before God, and books were opened. And another book was opened, which is the Book of Life. And the dead were judged according to their works, by the things which were written in the books.” Revelation 20:11-12 (NKJV).

LOVE THAT CROSS PASTOR JOHN COLLINS

This is copied with permission from Pastor John Collins. 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 Sundays at 10 a.m. and 6 p.m. Mountain Time.

PASTOR JOHN COLLINS, JOHN COLLINS MINISTRIES: GOD AND COVID-19!

From John Collins Ministries, Pastor John Collins:

(Transcribed from a recent Sunday radio broadcast)

“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, JOHN COLLINS MINISTRIES: Tough Times, Tough Choices

From Pastor John Collins:

It is through the tough times of tough choices
 that bring you a step closer to God ~
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).

Let’s assume that you have some faith in your life. How often do you reflect on the lesson in the trials of your life? Do you look for the wisdom gained and apply it to your life or do you ignore the lesson and just appreciate that the storm has passed for now?

You can certainly claim Jesus as your Lord and Savior in a moment but righteousness takes some serious dedication and hard work. If God granted you complete faith in the instant that you believed, what would do with it and do you understand what complete faith really is, anyhow? Complete faith is never doubting the truth of Christ and His work on the cross and it is living a life that is COMPLETELY in submission to God. Complete faith is a consciousness of God always not just sometimes. Complete faith is living a life that pursues the approval of God over all else. In order to claim complete faith you must work for it and it does not come easy.

Living in this world of distractions and entertainments and sinners and filth does not make it easy to choose to do the will of God every time and not only some of the time. It is through the tough times of tough choices that bring you a step closer to God when they become consistently righteous choices in your life. Every Christian needs to learn to want to obey God and every Christian needs to learn all of the tough lessons from God in order to claim complete faith and righteousness.

Pay attention to what motivates you and pay attention to the choices that you make and then be really honest with yourself about what the Bible says about your feelings, choices and behavior. One of the biggest mistakes that a Christian can make is to think that the Bible is antiquated and that God and Jesus really don’t feel strongly about the sin of today. God is the same yesterday, today and tomorrow and it is time that the Christian does better and gets back to reverence of our Lord.

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

LOVE THAT CROSS, PASTOR JOHN, BELIEVE THAT

John Collins Ministries: www.johncollinsministries.com

PASTOR JOHN COLLINS, JOHN COLLINS MINISTRIES: JESUS "MYTH"

From Pastor John Collins:

At least 58% of 10,000 people surveyed believe that Jesus Christ was a myth

This past week is traditionally recognized as Holy Week, Christians around the world reflect upon the events leading up to the crucifixion of Jesus Christ.  Jews will begin the celebration of Passover at sundown on Friday.  Easter for most Christians is recognized as the first Sunday after the first full moon following the spring equinox.  Without Easter, or Resurrection Day, Christmas is pointless.  In a broadcast, Pastor John Collins, evangelist and head pastor of Love That Cross Ministries, reflected that a survey of 10,000 people revealed that at least 58% of those surveyed believe that Jesus Christ and His story is a myth. The “myth” of Jesus Christ living and dying is written in the Holy Bible, for Christians, that is enough.  However, for those who question the validity of Jesus, there are other separate and distinct documentations of Jesus Christ written by the Romans very accurately:  Romans kept detailed documentation of political issues within the Roman Empire.  Also, a man known as Josephus, or Flavius Josephus, wrote a detailed and documented text about the history of the Jews which includes validation of the life of Jesus Christ.  Jesus is not a myth.  As Pastor John Collins succinctly put it, Jesus died, Mohammed died, Buddha died, Confucius died, John Smith died….they all died.  The ONLY one who rose from the dead is Jesus Christ.  The impact of Jesus Christ continues to spread more than 2000 years later, however, those of us privileged to live in the United States have degraded the lessons He taught and twisted them to what people want to hear.  We kicked God out of government, out of family, out of school, and out of church, and wonder why we have greater issues now in our society than ever before. **

Pastor John Collins writes in daily devotions:

"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

For more about John Collins Ministries, visit www.johncollinsministries.com.

PASTOR JOHN COLLINS, JOHN COLLINS MINISTRIES: WISDOM VS KNOWLEDGE

From John Collins, Evangelist:

“Does not wisdom cry out,

And understanding lift up her voice?

She takes her stand on the top of the high hill,

Beside the way, where the paths meet.

She cries out by the gates, at the entry of the city,

At the entrance of the doors;

‘To you, O men, I call,

And my voice is to the sons of men.

O you simple ones, understand prudence,

And you fools, be of an understanding heart.’” Proverbs 8:1-5 (NKJV).

There is a big difference between biblical knowledge and biblical wisdom. There are many people out there that can quote the bible because they have memorized certain passages that further their points of view. There are many preachers out there that can speak with seemingly great amounts of biblical knowledge but the really smart person is a person that knows how to take that biblical knowledge and apply it to their lives and show that they have obtained wisdom.

Just knowing what God has said and what Jesus has said will do you not one bit of good if you do not obey them. Just knowing that there was an Exodus from Egypt will not do you any good if you are not willing to see yourself as the rebellious Israelite and alter your ways. Just knowing why Judah was removed from their land is not enough if you are not willing to see that denying God His honor and refusing to submit to His will is repeating the same mistakes.

The bible is not just a story. It is not just history. The bible is the word of God and it is our blueprint to life. The bible is not ancient nonsense and it is not a book to just make us feel justified in our choices. The bible is our instruction, our conviction and it is there to guide us to heaven.

Being able to repeat some bible verses does not make you a righteous person. Being able to use the bible to increase your wisdom and bring hope to another with the message of Christ is to seek to please the Lord. Being able to allow your heart to admit its flaws and to seek the forgiveness and lessons of the Lord is to claim Jesus as your Savior. Be willing to learn and grow in your faith as you seek to reach out for righteousness and you will come to know wisdom well.

“I love those who love me,

And those who seek me diligently will find me.

Riches and honor are with me,

Enduring riches and righteousness.

My fruit is better than gold, yes, than fine gold,

And my revenue than choice silver.

I traverse the way of righteousness,

In the midst of the paths of justice,

That I may cause those who love me to inherit wealth,

That I may fill their treasuries.” Proverbs 8:17-21 (NKJV)

LOVE THAT CROSS, PASTOR JOHN

PASTOR JOHN COLLINS, JOHN COLLINS MINISTRIES: "PROPHETS"

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: TRADITIONAL CHURCH = SNOOZE FEST!

From Pastor John Collins:

Church should be inspired by GOD teaching! Not boring.

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

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

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

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

Times Square Church, founded by David Wilkerson

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

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

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

LOVE THAT CROSS, BELIEVE THAT, PASTOR JOHN COLLINS

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

PASTOR JOHN COLLINS, JOHN COLLINS MINISTRIES: SNOOZE FEST BORING CHURCH

From Pastor John Collins:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

LOVE THAT CROSS, BELIEVE THAT, PASTOR JOHN

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

PASTOR JOHN COLLINS, JOHN COLLINS MINISTRIES: NO WISH LISTS

From Pastor John Collins:

“I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing. If anyone does not abide in Me, he is cast out as a branch and is withered; and they gather them and throw them into the fire, and they are burned. If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you.” John 15:5-7 (NKJV).

There has been many a preacher to make a pretty penny with these words and to guide many a soul in the wrong direction. Jesus is not on stand-by to do our bidding and God is not waiting to fulfill our wish lists.

Jesus could easily say to His disciples and apostles these words because they all understood that once you truly belong to Jesus and believe in the gospel and the power of the Cross, you would not ask amiss. Jesus knows that those that have obtained righteousness will ask those things that the bible instructs and that God approves of.

When you seek the kingdom of heaven with all of your heart and you come to love God with everything that you are then you begin to desire things that are pure and good and will only benefit your faith and the faith of those you know and also don’t know. You will look at this world differently and upon meeting people or interacting with others you will pay attention to the small details that will let you know if their faith is strong or not and you will listen to what they say and it will guide you in your prayers for them. You should desire that others get to heaven and that you obtain righteousness so that you are a shining light in this world working for Jesus.

Never assume that you have done enough and never assume that you are pure enough. If you are always working to please God and to purify yourself then you will always be gaining more faith and more wisdom. Your life is a journey and as you come to know more you can share more. Be willing to desire good for others and not only yourself.

“By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit; so you will be My disciples. As the Father loved Me, I also have loved you; abide in My love.” John 15:8-9 (NKJV).

LOVE THAT CROSS, PASTOR JOHN COLLINS

PASTOR JOHN COLLINS, JOHN COLLINS MINISTRIES: BE ACCOUNTABLE

From Pastor John Collins:  

“Then the Lord God said, ‘Behold, the man has become like one of Us, to know good and evil. And now, lest he put out his hand and take also of the tree of life, and eat, and live forever’- therefore the Lord God sent him out of the garden of Eden to till the ground from which he was taken.” Genesis 3:22-23 (NKJV).

Maya Angelou has said when you know better you do better. I don’t agree. I don’t believe that people cheat on their spouses because they don’t know better. I don’t believe that people murder because they don’t know better. I don’t believe that people gossip and slander one another because they don’t know better. I don’t believe that people drink and drive because they don’t know better. I don’t believe that people are aborting children because they don’t know better. I don’t believe that people neglect their children while they entertain themselves and pursue their own lives because they don’t know better. I could just go on and on with so very many examples of knowing better and doing anyway. There is a time when you know right from wrong. That is what is called the age of accountability.

God gave us emotions and we need to learn how to handle them. We need to learn wisdom and take responsibility and that is life. God gave us guilt because our heart knows better than we give them credit for. When you do wrong, you know. Do it long enough and you won’t care anymore and will make excuses.

We do better when we WANT to do better. We obey the gospel when we want heaven more than earth. We submit to God when we want salvation more than anything. We do better when we want to do better. We all make mistakes but you learn from them and stop repeating them when we want to. It is not in the knowing it is in the wanting to know because your heart will tell you that you have hurt those you love, even when it is you.

We live in a world of education and knowledge. Jesus is not a secret. The bible is the most sold book in existence with over 5 BILLION copies sold. Think about that. It is not a secret how to get to heaven. It is not a secret how to act with righteousness. This world knows better. It is time to do better. There is not going to be the excuse of ignorance to claim when judgment must come.

“For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness, because what may be known of God is manifest in them, for God has shown it to them.” Romans 1:18-19  (NKJV).

LOVE THAT CROSS, PASTOR JOHN COLLINS

PASTOR JOHN COLLINS, JOHN COLLINS MINISTRIES: CRACKPOTS AND FAKE PROPHETS

From Pastor John Collins:

“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 we 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 COLLINS

PASTOR JOHN COLLINS, JOHN COLLINS MINISTRIES: HOROSCOPES AND FAITH

From Pastor John Collins:  

 

“There shall not be found among you anyone who makes his son or his daughter pass through the fire, or one who practices witchcraft, or a soothsayer, or one who interprets omens, or a sorcerer, or one who conjures spells, or a medium, or a spiritist, or one who calls up the dead.” Deuteronomy 18:10-11 (NKJV).

“Give no regard to mediums and familiar spirits; do not seek after them, to be defiled by them: I am the Lord your God.” Leviticus 19:31 (NKJV).

“And the person who turns to mediums and familiar spirits, to prostitute himself with them, I will set My face against that person and cut him off from his people.” Leviticus 20:6 (NKJV).

We live in a new age world that is modern and advanced in thought and deed. We are a knowledgeable people and we think that we have come so far from the dark ages and the ignorance of superstitions, right? Our society is fascinated with ghosts, mediums, psychics, astrologers, witches and the like. We watch shows about them, we go and have our palms read, our cards read and we wonder what it must be like to have the gift of sight. We have been played by the devil into accepting this a part of accepted society. We look up our horoscopes and wonder if we are compatible with our partners. What sign are you?

Satan has always been clever and just look at what time has done for him. We have learned to accept forbidden practices as a natural God-given gift to some. We think that the one who talks with the dead is working for God. As if God wants us to communicate with those that have died just to comfort ourselves. Jesus said to let the dead bury the dead. In other words, those who die without faith and salvation cannot be helped by you nor can you help them. Those that die with faith and salvation do not need your help and you still cannot be helped by them. You can be helped by focusing on Jesus Christ and ensure that your faith gets you home to heaven.

Just because something becomes familiar to us should not mean that it has become condoned by God. The bible is clear about psychics and mediums and we should never assume that just because society deems them acceptable and God-given talents that they are. We allow ourselves to be seduced into following those things that are against God. We allow ourselves to be talked into accepting those things that God has forbidden. What is your fruit of the forbidden tree that you eat from? We each can be lured into accepting what tempts us. Are you driven to connect with a loved one who died? Do you feel the need for a psychic to tell you when you will marry? Do you not trust that God is with you? Do you seek the advice and guidance of Satan and his minions because it has been deemed okay by society? Where do you find your solace? Does your faith allow you to seek God and Jesus alone?

Do not be deceived by a society that will enable the destruction of your soul. Psychics, mediums and those that would prey on your vulnerability are not going to be of service. Cling to Jesus and all of His glory and know that He wants you to be free of any influence that would cause your soul to perish. Be true to your faith and all will be well. Trust in the Lord with all of your heart and lean not on your own understanding.

“For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into apostles of Christ. And no wonder! For Satan himself transforms himself into an angel of light. Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also transform themselves into ministers of righteousness, whose end will be according to their works.” 2 Corinthians 11:13-15 (NKJV).

LOVE THAT CROSS! 

PASTOR JOHN COLLINS, BELIEVE THAT!

PASTOR JOHN COLLINS, JOHN COLLINS MINISTRIES: WISDOM

From Pastor John Collins:

Just knowing what God and Jesus has said will not do you
one bit of good if you do not obey Them.
Pastor John Collins, John Collins Ministries

 

“Does not wisdom cry out, And understanding lift up her voice? She takes her stand on the top of the high hill, Beside the way, where the paths meet. She cries out by the gates, at the entry of the city, At the entrance of the doors; ‘To you, O men, I call, And my voice is to the sons of men. O you simple ones, understand prudence, And you fools, be of an understanding heart.’” Proverbs 8:1-5 (NKJV).

There is a big difference between biblical knowledge and biblical wisdom. There are many people out there that can quote the Bible because they have memorized certain passages that further their points of view. There are many preachers out there that can speak with seemingly great amounts of biblical knowledge but the really smart person is a person that knows how to take that biblical knowledge and apply it to their lives and show that they have obtained wisdom.

Just knowing what God has said and what Jesus has said will do you not one bit of good if you do not obey them. Just knowing that there was an Exodus from Egypt will not do you any good if you are not willing to see yourself as the rebellious Israelite and alter your ways. Just knowing why Judah was removed from their land is not enough if you are not willing to see that denying God His honor and refusing to submit to His will is repeating the same mistakes.

The Bible is not just a story. It is not just history. The Bible is the word of God and it is our blueprint to life. The Bible is not ancient nonsense and it is not a book to just make us feel justified in our choices. The Bible is our instruction, our conviction and it is there to guide us to heaven.

Being able to repeat some bible verses does not make you a righteous person. Being able to use the bible to increase your wisdom and bring hope to another with the message of Christ is to seek to please the Lord. Being able to allow your heart to admit its flaws and to seek the forgiveness and lessons of the Lord is to claim Jesus as your Savior. Be willing to learn and grow in your faith as you seek to reach out for righteousness and you will come to know wisdom well.

“I love those who love me, and those who seek me diligently will find me. Riches and honor are with me, enduring riches and righteousness. My fruit is better than gold, yes, than fine gold, and my revenue than choice silver. I traverse the way of righteousness, in the midst of the paths of justice, that I may cause those who love me to inherit wealth, that I may fill their treasuries.” Proverbs 8:17-21 (NKJV).

LOVE THAT CROSS, PASTOR JOHN

PASTOR JOHN COLLINS, JOHN COLLINS MINISTRIES: A PRAYER

Prayer for the day, Pastor John Collins:

Lord, help me to embrace the moments of my life that are hard to get my arms around. Enable my eyes to see YOU in them. Help me to always acknowledge the abundance of your goodness to me. I lift to YOU the deepest struggles in my life, I trust YOU to open my eyes to see all YOU have for me in them. Reveal to me the fullness of it all, Thank you for opening my eyes to your truths and allowing me to spread your word.

PSALM 138:3 In the day when I cried out, YOU answered me, and made me bold with strength in my soul.

“Cast your burden on the Lord, And He shall sustain you; He shall never permit the righteous to be moved.” Psalm 55:22 (NKJV).

The Bible says that there is a time for everything and that is good common sense that we need to remember. We should never be carried away into singular emotions or activities for too long of periods. There is a need to allow our emotions to ebb and flow and our actions to do the same. We should never work continuously or play continuously and we should not expect to be happy continuously or allow ourselves to be sad continuously.

If sadness overwhelms you, allow yourself to weep but learn to realize that life itself is a reason to celebrate because it allows you to continue to pursue righteousness and to serve the Lord. The blackness of depression can suck you in if you let it. Call on the Lord to relieve your woes because He cares for you. All of us here on earth will be weighed down at different points in our lives and we may feel so alone but the truth is that we are loved by Jesus and God is our rock. If you find yourself in need of a friend, just pray and wait on the Lord because He will open a door for you that you did not expect.

If you are in a good place emotionally pray to God that He allow you to serve more fully His kingdom and opportunity will come your way for you to lift up another. This world can be harsh and mean and feel like a cold slap in the face. Let us take the time to welcome new friendships into our lives and let each of us allow God to prevail where we may just lose the momentum to move forward in our personal journeys.

Let us love ourselves enough to wait on the Lord and not give up on us. You faith is worth the fight and the kingdom of heaven awaits. If a tear is shed today just know that laughter is on the horizon. God is always good.

“My heart is steadfast, O God, my heart is steadfast; I will sing and give praise.” Psalm 57:7 (NKJV)

LOVE THAT CROSS, PASTOR JOHN COLLINS

Pastor John Collins and John Collins Ministries are determined to change the face of Christianity and redeem the truth of the Gospel and the word of God. 

You can hear Pastor John Collins broadcast on AM and FM stations across the USA.  John Collins Ministries has a Youtube channel that posts regular podcasts of Pastor Collins.  John Collins Ministries has a channel on Blogtalk radio.  This country needs to hear the truth of God and Jesus. This world needs to hear and understand what the rules are in order to get to heaven.  They aren’t preached and they aren’t taught, and it’s time for people to hear to hear that truth.  Pastor John Collins and John Collins Ministries is bringing that message with passion and fervor.  Take the time to listen.  If you want to reach Pastor John Collins, contact him for preaching, prayer, revival, guest speaking at jcollinsministries@gmail.com. We need to get it right.

PASTOR JOHN COLLINS, JOHN COLLINS MINISTRIES: TEMPTATION

FROM PASTOR JOHN COLLINS:

Take note of how you think of GOD and Jesus.
Don't be lazy in your faith.
Pastor John Collins

"And the devil said to Him, “If you are the Son of God, command this stone to become bread. But Jesus answered him, saying, “It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word of God.’” 

Then the devil, taking Him up on a high mountain, showed Him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time. And the devil said to Him, “All this authority I will give You, and their glory; for this has been delivered to me, and I give it to whomever I wish. Therefore, if You will worship before me, all will be Yours.” 

And Jesus answered and said to him, “Get behind Me Satan! For it is written, ‘You shall worship the Lord your God, and Him only you shall serve.’” Then he brought Him to Jerusalem, set Him on the pinnacle of the temple, and said to Him, “If You are the Son of God, throw Yourself down from here. For it is written: ‘He shall give His angels charge over you, to keep you,’ and, ‘In their hands they shall bear you up, Lest you dash your foot against a stone.’” And Jesus answered and said to him, “It has been said, ‘You shall not tempt the Lord your God.’” Luke 4:3-12 (NKJV).

These are the temptations that Jesus was tempted with. It is interesting to take note of the temptations and the responses that Jesus gave. Satan tempted with scripture. The devil did to Jesus what he had done to Eve which is to twist things to his benefit and lure. Jesus responded with scripture as well and that is what I would like for you to take note of. There were three temptations and three responses.

Since Jesus had not eaten in 40 days, he was very hungry. Satan said to turn the stones to bread, which brought the response that man shall not live by bread alone but by every word of God. This was a temptation for the body’s natural desires. Hunger, shelter, passion, love, and all of our base desires should never be given into when it compromises our relationship with God. We need to trust that when we put God first, He will provide what we need, maybe not what we want but what we need.

Satan then offered Jesus authority and power over the kingdoms of the world if Jesus would worship Satan. Jesus responded by rebuking Satan and reminding him that only God is to he worshiped and served. We should never desire power and status. We need to be careful of what is offered to us and at what cost. That big promotion, the company car, the stock tip, the client who is not so honest but will bring big bucks and you can fill in the blanks on the possible exchange of status and your soul. We must make sure that any advancement that we are given in life comes along side our worship of God.

We must put our faith first because when we choose to give in to the desires of moving up in this world without God, we are choosing to place our material wants along with our craving authority in our own right above our desire for God and Jesus.

Satan then tells Jesus from the top of the temple to throw Himself down and trust that the angels will catch Him. Jesus responds with the truth that you shall not tempt God. Oh, this is a doozy. So many of us are guilty of this. I believe that the apathy that society has for God has led to more and more tempting of Him. People just don’t fear God anymore. People say things out loud that are tempting God and they do things that are tempting Him as well. We need to be aware of our words and our actions, that they do not tempt God, especially His wrath because of unbelief or doubt. Every idle word will be accounted for.

Take note of how you think of God and Jesus. Take seriously your faith. Don’t take for granted your time here on earth and most importantly, get your priorities straight. Get on your knees and pray with sincerity. Take the time to become a disciple of Christ. Don’t assume anything because you never want to get lazy in your faith.

“The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me, Because He has anointed Me to preach the gospel to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed; to proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord.”  Luke 4:18-19 (NKJV). 

Love That Cross, Pastor John Collins

PASTOR JOHN COLLINS, JOHN COLLINS MINISTRIES: THE GRUDGE

From PASTOR JOHN COLLINS: 

“For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.” Matthew  6:14-15 (NKJV).

Look deep inside and know that the truth is that withholding
 forgiveness means that you are not forgiven
PASTOR JOHN COLLINS

If anyone has read the Bible, gone to church to hear the gospel or been taught of our Lord Jesus Christ and has not realized yet that it is necessary to forgive others in order to obtain forgiveness, please keep reading.

Who do we think we are when we get hurt and become offended and our defenses go up and we become bitter and resentful of those who have crossed our paths and crossed us? Who do we think we are to withhold forgiveness from someone who has wronged us? Who do we think we are to expect what we are unwilling to give?

The Bible says that God makes the sun to rise on the evil and the good. We make the choice of which we will be. Why do we feel justified in holding on to our bitterness and anger, our grudges and resentments? Doesn’t anyone realize that forgiveness is for ourselves and not only the forgiven? 

These negative feelings lead to hatred, fights, killings, wars and death to our souls. What is the point of holding on to your self-justified sense of being right?

Who says that you need to have an apology given in order to return forgiveness?

It amazes me that people would harm their own souls for anger and hurt. I am amazed that people just don’t realize that forgiveness does not come from the Lord to us unless we are willing to offer forgiveness from us. Jesus said it Himself!!

The bible says that we are to be holy as God is holy. It tells us to be Christ-like and Jesus said that He does what He has seen from His Father. We are to make the effort to obey them and to become righteous people. What purpose does holding on to some grudge serve any of us?

The Bible tells us that we all fall short of the glory of God but that does not mean that we do not obey God and make the effort to seek salvation with all of our hearts and souls. When we cannot let go of those past hurts and refuse to forgive those who have hurt us we are then killing our own souls.

Jesus was humiliated, beaten, had thorns thrust into His skull and the skin ripped from His body and had nails driven into His hands and feet. He was hung from that Cross and He did it for you. He said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do.” Luke 23:34 (NKJV).

How arrogant we are! Do we think that we are better than the Son of God, demanding retribution and apologies and vengeance, which is clearly the Lord’s? Does our pride demand that grudge, that justice that we feel is our right and our due? How can we feel that way when we have broken the commandments of God and deserve hell? How can we feel justified in our lack of forgiveness when we know in our souls that we have gone against the very laws of God and so many times we have done this deliberately? Are we so petty?

Look to your hearts people and let go of the ugly. Look deep inside and know that the truth is that withholding forgiveness means that you are not forgiven. We must get over ourselves. Life is more than offenses, victims and perpetrators. Life is making the choices that lead us home to heaven and our Lord. Life is letting go of what will not matter in the least once you are dead. Life is coming to know that the soul is more important than the body. Life is choosing Jesus over yourself.

“Then Peter came to Him and said, ‘Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? Up to seven times?’ Jesus said to him, ‘I do not say to you, up to seven times, but up to seventy times seven.’” Matthew 18:21-22 (NKJV).

LOVE THAT CROSS, PASTOR JOHN COLLINS