PASTOR JOHN COLLINS DAILY DEVOTIONAL: CHRISTIANITY AND PAGANISM

PASTOR JOHN COLLINS, EVANGELIST: THE MIRACLE OF THE RESURRECTION OF JESUS IS NOT ABOUT EGGS AND BUNNIES

from Google images

The Holy Bible is pretty clear on the definition of paganism and not worshiping anything or anyone but God.  The first commandment taught to the Hebrews is to love the Lord our God with all our heart, with all our mind, with all our soul, with all our strength.  No compromise.  Everything we’ve got.  Pastor John Collins of Love That Cross Ministries calls out the pagan practices that have been woven into the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus Christ, Son of God.  The point of Easter, Resurrection Day, is that Jesus who came to the world as human was sacrificed and crucified, very painfully killed.  The miracle of the story is that He physically died and was resurrected, came back to life, proof that there is life after death.  The proof is that Jesus showed Himself after he died, very much alive, to hundreds and hundreds of people, that is documented in the Holy Bible.  Those hundreds of people suffered and died for that truth, standing boldly in the face of the Romans, even to death, declaring the truth. A lie wouldn’t have lasted three weeks. That proof is the truth of life after death. It is not about the hype and traditions of yet another holiday tied into pagan rituals.

“Jesus is not about bunnies and chocolate, ham and eggs or any paganism and yet it is what this world has chosen to associate with the miracle of the resurrection. Jesus is the proof that God has chosen to forgive the sinners of this world through the sacrifice of His beloved Son. The blood of Jesus was shed and His body was hung on a tree to be wracked with pain until the life left His flesh. Jesus came back to His people to prove that there is indeed life after death, there is a heaven to go home to and there is hope.” Pastor John Collins (April, 2018).

Pastor John Collins continues to bring revival across the United States just as he has been doing for the past decade.  Pastor John Collins is an evangelist and the head pastor of Love That Cross Ministries and John Collins Ministries.  Having seen so many people turn away from the church, God, and Jesus Christ, Pastor John Collins is committed to redeeming the Gospel so that the truth is heard.  Too many pastors preach what “tickles the ears”, meaning a feel good sermon that leaves the listeners feeling good about themselves instead of taking a look at what would please God and making that change in themselves.  Pastor John Collins preaches from the heart, and teaches us that we all have something that we can change, to work toward becoming better Christians; none of us, including Pastor Collins, have reached the perfection of Jesus Christ.  Becoming Christian is a work in progress for every day of our lives until we come face to face with God when we die. 

Pastor John Collins writes:

“But the angel answered and said to the women, ‘Do not be afraid, for I know that you seek Jesus who was crucified.  He is not here; for He is risen, as He said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay.’” Matthew 28:5-6 (NKJV).

What makes Christianity so special? Jesus! He was crucified and He was resurrected, seen by hundreds of witnesses and left His ministry in the hands of His apostles to take to the masses and tell of the miracle of His death and His rise from that death into life. Jesus is the Son of God. Jesus died for the sins of this world and was resurrected from death into life as the proof of the gospel and good news. This is what is celebrated with eggs and chocolate. This is what is celebrated with bunnies and ham. This is what has been confused with pagan rites and heathen practices in the church.

Jesus is not about bunnies and chocolate, ham and eggs or any paganism and yet it is what this world has chosen to associate with the miracle of the resurrection. Jesus is the proof that God has chosen to forgive the sinners of this world through the sacrifice of His beloved Son. The blood of Jesus was shed and His body was hung on a tree to be wracked with pain until the life left His flesh. Jesus came back to His people to prove that there is indeed life after death, there is a heaven to go home to and there is hope.

Christianity is the belief in the sacrifice of our Lord, it is the only way to the Father and it is not open to compromise. To have faith in the Son is to desire the Father and to seek to be obedient. To know who you worship is to trust in God and to know that the only way to achieve salvation is through Jesus. We need to let go of the traditions that do not honor the Son of God and to cling to the cross. It matters. The decorations and origin of the symbolism that is thought to be benign is foolishness indeed. Where traditions begin matters. Many choose to ignore the history of these pagan beliefs and think that the traditions that they have become are irrelevant. I know differently. It does matter because it is just another deception and lie that has been inherited by people who claim to know Christ and claim to love Christ above all. But, ask these believers to give up their traditions, give up the symbols and pagan ideas that represent their ‘holiday’ and see if they are willing. Too often, people cling to what comforts them and brings them joy and toss aside the beginnings with declarations of denial by claiming that, no matter the origin, they are worshiping in spirit and truth through the eggs and bunnies and chocolate and ham.

Christianity and paganism, paganism and Christianity. It is all mixed up. There is a lack of desiring purity in worship and a lack of desiring righteousness in faith. I choose to reject the trappings of this holiday and to honor my King with truth. The resurrection is a day of mourning for this world as too many have taken it for granted and too many have rejected the gift that has been offered. I will mourn for this world and yet give thanks to the humility of the King who obeyed His Father unto death and was resurrected unto life to sit down at the right hand of God.

“Then He said to them, ‘Thus it is written, and thus it was necessary for the Christ to suffer and to rise from the dead the third day, and that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in His name, beginning at Jerusalem. And you are witnesses of these things.’” Luke 24:46-48 (NKJV).

LOVE THAT CROSS PASTOR JOHN COLLINS

Pastor John Collins has many sermons, blogs, interviews, recordings and other media that can be viewed by clicking on the links found within this post.  Pastor John Collins preaches every Sunday at 1000 Mountain Time on Heaven’s Country Radio with Marty Smith, winner of radio personality of the year for Christian broadcasting,  and can be heard at www.heavenscountry.com.  If you would like to speak to Pastor John Collins for prayer, ministering, or questions-not to debate-he can be reached through his personal email at jc65777@yahoo.com.  If you are interested in revival, Pastor John Collins is available to guest preach or speak to your group. Pastor John Collins is in it to win it for God.

PASTOR JOHN COLLINS, DAILY DEVOTIONAL: THE MYTH OF JESUS

PASTOR JOHN COLLINS, EVANGELIST: 58% of 10000 PEOPLE RECENTLY SURVEYED BELIEVE JESUS WAS A MYTH

photo from Passion of the Christ (Icon Productions, 2004).

This 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 recent 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. 

“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.”  Pastor John Collins (March, 2018).

Pastor John Collins is an evangelist and the head pastor of Love That Cross Ministries and John Collins Ministries.  Pastor John Collins has been redeeming the Gospel of Jesus Christ for more than 10 years, more recently as a revival of hope and faith across the United States.  With a style similar to the late Billy Graham, Pastor John Collins preaches in a manner that is easy to understand and relate to, reaching into the hearts of those who hear him and helping us to understand what it is in ourselves that needs to change so that we can make it home to heaven, God and Jesus Christ.  Pastor John Collins does not pull back and tell us what we want to hear from a pulpit.  Pastor John Collins tells us what we need to hear, what we need to know about the truth of Jesus Christ and what we need to do to gain salvation.  Pastor John Collins emphasizes that being Christian isn’t just showing up for church on a Sunday, it is what we do-our actions-between the times that we go to church. Just because we go to church does not mean that we are Christian.  Being Christian means we believe in the Gospel that Jesus Christ taught and we work every day to become Christ-like and please God. 

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

Pastor John Collins can be heard live weekly at 1000 am Mountain Time, Sundays, on Heaven’s Country Radio with Marty Smith.  You can listen live by clicking on the link www.heavenscountry.com.  Other content, media, broadcasts, interviews, sermons and writings by Pastor John Collins can be found by clicking on the links within this post.  You can reach Pastor John Collins personally through his email at jc65777@yahoo.com for prayer, questions, and fellowship.  Pastor John Collins is available to guest preach and speak around the country, and you may use his email for that contact as well.  Pastor John Collins makes it very clear that he is in it to win it for God.

PASTOR JOHN COLLINS, LOVE THAT CROSS MINISTRIES: Easter, He is Risen!

Pastor John Collins, Love That Cross Ministries, who is recognized as an influential pastor in America, is reaching out in his passion for truth and salvation in this post from his Facebook pages.  He gives us a no nonsense and to the point call to examine our hearts, as Christians,  and how we approach the political correctness that we face in sitting on the fence with our faith and how we view evil in today's world.  He calls it like it is.  We need to get to know our God, up close and personal.

Pastor John Collins of Love that Cross Ministries posts devotionals on his Facebook pages.  These short, touch the core of your soul mini sermons make you evaluate your life, your faith, your salvation.

 Pastor John is identified as one of 15 influential pastors in America today.  It is easy to see how as you read through his posts. His words come from the heart.  He is biblically correct. This blog chooses a post from previous archives, but these posts are just as appropriate now as they were when they were created.  Love That Cross Ministries was launched in 2015 as a means for revival and salvation.  Pastor John brings a fire of life to evangelism and salvation.


This daily devotional is from a recent post on  Pastor John Collins' Facebook.  This post is a gentle reminder that we have a responsibility to our children to teach them what Easter is about, not just the commercialism of chocolate and Easter eggs.  We all struggle in this world, and our perseverance and reliance upon God and Jesus is what helps us get through those struggles. It's our trust as Christians in God and His Son that will give us strength to get through this life. It's up to us to teach and guide our children to heaven.  Enjoy Pastor John's devotional. Happy Resurrection Day.

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

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

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

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

LOVE THAT CROSS, PASTOR JOHN COLLINS, BELIEVE THAT

Click on the photo above to view a recorded sermon by PASTOR JOHN COLLINS, LOVE THAT CROSS MINISTRIES

Holy Bible excerpts are from New King James Version Bible. 



 

some photos from Google images

copied by permission from Facebook, John Collins (Pastor John Collins )