HUMILITY-STRENGTH IN SUBMISSION FROM PASTOR JOHN COLLINS, JOHN COLLINS MINISTRIES

From John Collins, Evangelist:

“But Jesus answered them, saying, ‘The hour has come that the Son of Man should be glorified. Most assuredly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the ground and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it produces much grain. He who loves his life will lose it, and he who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life. If anyone serves Me, let him follow Me; and where I am, there My servant will be also. If anyone serves Me, him My Father will honor.” John 12:23-26 (NKJV).

Jesus speaks often of not being able to love this life and serve Him, of not being able to serve two masters, of following Him and being His servant in obedience in order to claim heaven as our home. Jesus may have spoken in parables but His message was clear. Those that truly believe must work at having a strong faith in order to live the life that is necessary to receive the rewards upon death.

People have allowed their faith to become weak and polluted in this life. Too many people are just not sure of what the truth is to them and what it means. Too many people do not devote enough time to prayer, bible study and to seeking righteousness.

It is too important to your eternal welfare for you to not care about your soul. It is too important to those you love that you show a strong faith and walk a righteous path in submission to Jesus. God did not make us weak and God did not create us to be pushovers or enablers in this life. God did not create us to be corrupt but God knows that this world is corrupt and our influences are poisoned. God has made it so that His grace is known and that His truth is right there in front of us so that we can choose. There is a point in life when we know that we are choosing His way over the world’s way, if we want to belong to Him and we believe.

As much temptation as is possible for you to encounter, the power of God and the pull of His love will always be stronger if you paying attention. There comes a time when personal indulgences must stop and submission to God must start of you want to go home to Him.

“Now My soul is troubled, and what shall I say? ‘Father, save Me from this hour’? But for this purpose I came to this hour. ‘Father, glorify Your name.’ Then a voice came from heaven, saying, ‘I have both glorified it and will glorify it again.’” John 12:27-28 (NKJV).

LOVE THAT CROSS, PASTOR JOHN

PASTOR JOHN COLLINS: LOOKING UP

From John Collins, Evangelist:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

LOVE THAT CROSS, PASTOR JOHN COLLINS

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

PASTOR JOHN COLLINS, JOHN COLLINS MINISTRIES: YOU ARE NOT ALONE

From Pastor John Collins:

“Are not five sparrows sold for two copper coins? And not one of them is forgotten before God. But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Do not fear therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows.” Luke 12:6-7 (NKJV).

God loves you, cares for you and has always known you. God cares for His creation, which you are. God has given you a heart to hear Him, trust Him and know Him. You are not in this alone. You are loved.

Jesus loves you and cares for you. Jesus said on the cross that you matter. Jesus wants you to know Him, follow Him and obey Him. You are not in this alone. You are loved.

“I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth.” 3 John 1: 4 (NKJV).

LOVE THAT CROSS, PASTOR JOHN COLLINS

PASTOR JOHN COLLINS, JOHN COLLINS MINISTRIES: A JOB TO DO

As a Christian, we all have a job to do.  We need to make the choiceof whether we will do that job, or not.  Our salvation depends on it.John Collins, Evangelist, John Collins Ministries

From Pastor John Collins:

“And when He was twelve years old, they went up to Jerusalem according to the custom of the feast. When they had finished the days, as they returned, the Boy Jesus lingered behind in Jerusalem. And Joseph and His mother did not know it; but supposing Him to have been in the company, they went a day’s journey, and sought Him among their relatives and acquaintances. So when they did not find Him, they returned to Jerusalem, seeking Him. Now so it was that after three days they found Him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the teachers, both listening to them and asking them questions. And all who heard Him were astonished at His understanding and answers. So when they saw Him, they were amazed; and His mother said to Him, ‘Son, why have You done this to us? Look, Your father and I have sought You anxiously.’ And He said to them, ‘Why did you seek Me? Did you not know that I must be about My Father’s business?’” Luke 2:42-49 (NKJV).

As a Christian you must be able to look at the life of Jesus and to see the focus and devotion that He had to doing the will of God and to make the effort to emulate it. Jesus knew that His life on earth was temporary and that He had a job to do while He was here and although the life of the Christian may not have the importance that the life of Jesus had, each life of a Christian comes with a job to do. Each person that is a believer in Christ has an obligation to the kingdom of heaven to glorify God and to follow Christ. That is the most important job that you can ever have and it is the only job that will see that you are permitted entry into the kingdom.

Whether you are busy being a parent, an employee, a student, a child, an athlete or a bum, you still have a responsibility to God. There is not any activity or obligation that you have that takes precedence over being a man or a woman of faith and living a life that shines for Jesus. There is not any excuse that you can give that will justify you ignoring God and choosing to not follow Jesus. We all have a job to do and either you do that job and receive the reward or you don’t do that job and you deal with the consequences. God is merciful and has much compassion but He is also righteous and His wrath will fall upon the wicked and the self-serving.

Don’t fool yourself into thinking that you are too busy for God because He is not too busy for you.

“And Jesus answered and said to him, ‘It has been said, ‘You shall not tempt the Lord your God.’” Luke 4:12 (NKJV).

LOVE THAT CROSS, PASTOR JOHN

SAMUEL~PASTOR JOHN COLLINS, JOHN COLLINS MINISTRIES

We are not so different from the Israelites of the
Old Testament.  No matter what we've done, God and Jesus
still love us and wait for our obedience to choose them.
Pastor John Collins, John Collins Ministries

When Samuel was old the people of Israel asked for a king to lead them. They were told that in doing so they would be rejecting God. They insisted on being given a king. God allowed them to have their way in this folly but sent thunder and rain to show them their wickedness.

“And all the people said to Samuel, ‘Pray for your servants to the Lord your God, that we may not die; for we have added to all our sins the evil of asking a king for ourselves.’ Then Samuel said to the people, ‘Do not fear. You have done all this wickedness; yet do not turn aside from following the Lord, but serve the Lord with all your heart.” 1 Samuel 12:19-20 (NKJV).

We are sinners. That is a fact. Sometimes we get caught up in our sin and find it hard to turn to the Lord. Some have yet to ever accept the Lord. Some may find it difficult to quit doing what they are doing although they know that it is wrong. I will say that it is harder to turn to God and His Son when you knowingly choose to sin with the intent of asking for forgiveness later. It is also known by God and Jesus what you are doing. What I mean by that is a person who is enjoying their life and saying to themselves, “I am young, having some fun, religion is for the dying and the old and I am not there yet.” The attitude of deliberately procrastinating in repentance and obedience is a sin that must be repented of along with the sins committed.

That being said, I want to encourage the most sinful of the sinners. No matter what you have done, God loves you and Jesus loves you too. Jesus died for all of us. God knows we are weak and we are stubborn. The point that Samuel was trying to make is that even though rebellion was at hand and rejection of God was taking place, he encouraged the Hebrews to obey God and trust in Him. That is our faith. When we have acted so awfully and know that our souls are dirty and we doubt our acceptance to our Lord, just take that leap of faith and trust in their compassion. Trust in the mercy of God and trust in the sacrifice of our Lord Jesus Christ. They are calling you to come home, hoping that you choose to become obedient to the will of God and Jesus for the salvation of your soul.

“The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.” 2 Peter 3:9 (NKJV).

LOVE THAT CROSS, Pastor John Collins

PASTOR JOHN COLLINS, JOHN COLLINS MINISTRIES: LIVE SAVING BELIEF

Pastor John Collins says:

Believe me, there is still plenty today for Jesus to weep over.
John Collins, Evangelist

“It is written in the prophets, ‘And they shall all be taught by God.’  Therefore everyone who has heard and learned from the Father comes to Me.”  John 6:45 (NKJV).

The teachings of Jesus were insightful and revealed the heart of the law.  He came with miracles and truth and compassion and mercy.  He came with clarity and sadness for the people.  It is sad to see people refuse to get right with God, to see people rebel in their hearts and choose their own will over God’s will.

It is sad to watch people choose to be sinners and choose to harm others to lift themselves up.  Believe me, there is still plenty today for Jesus to weep over.

Our world is filled with people choosing to self-govern and claim rational thought for themselves and believing that there is no God, that their own moral code will sustain them and see them through this life and that there is no cause to concern themselves with an eternal life.  There are people on the pulpits sharing the good news without teaching the requirements of being a follower of Christ.  There are stubborn people who choose to believe that there is not a right or a wrong way to worship God and that we get to self-determine our God and how we navigate our faith in our life and have concluded that by doing so we will enjoy the outcome that we have decided upon.  It doesn’t work that way!  God came and gave instructions on how to worship Him.  Jesus came and gave insight into the law and gave instructions on how to worship Him.

Nothing has changed.

Grace is given and faith is free but obedience is required to claim them.  You cannot claim to be a person of faith and have fellowship with God when you are living a life of selfishness and unfaithfulness.  If you are a greedy, lying, cheating, vain, malicious, gossiper and drunk then you are not obeying God.  If you are full of bitterness and resentment and refuse to forgive those who you believe have done you wrong then you are not in obedience with God.  If you are consumed with materialism and are obsessed with your looks and your appearance then you are not in obedience with God.  If you are abusing drugs and your body and are not a believer then you are not in obedience with God.  If you are not in obedience with God then you will not see the kingdom of heaven when you die.  It really is that simple.

You must obey God to claim the gifts of God.  Salvation is claimed by those who believe because those who believe will submit to the will of God and will obey God.  I am not talking about casual belief but the belief that produces results in a life, belief that produces change and purity in a life and belief that transforms a life of darkness into one of light.  There is always an opportunity to truly claim Jesus as your savior, not in word only but in truth.  You know whether your life is truly a life that would have God’s stamp of approval and there is just no reason to live in denial.  There is not any time to waste on self-indulgence and sin.  It is time to examine your existence and if you are not right with God then it is time to get right with Him.

Believe in the Son and claim salvation.

“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.”  John 15:5-6 (NKJV).

PASTOR JOHN COLLINS~LOVE THAT CROSS!!