PASTOR JOHN COLLINS, LOVE THAT CROSS: MOB CONFORMITY

 

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From John Collins Ministries:

"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, DAILY THOUGHT: ARROGANCE, EGO, PRIDE

From John Collins Ministries:

Pastor John Collins: An age of arrogance, ego and pride

Pride gets us nowhere with God

The Giant Goliath held King Saul and his army in a siege.  In his arrogance, he taunted the army threatening anyone who would stand against him. Young David, years from becoming the next king of Israel, was there and stepped up to face Goliath.  Goliath's pride and arrogance would not allow him to see the threat that David really did present.  David's faith and humility in facing that giant pleased God, and God allowed David to defeat Goliath by hitting him with a stone thrown from a sling and then David cut off Goliath's head.  Pride gets us nowhere in the face of God.

Pride and humility.  We are a proud people here in the United States.  We have so much that we have accomplished, the rest of the world sometimes looks at us in disgust because we give the appearance of not being satisfied.  It’s never enough and we draw attention to ourselves where ever we go.  Celebrities are recognized and lifted up as examples for us to live by.  Through all of the media, it’s “look what I can do”.  God resists the proud. Pride will not get any soul into heaven.

“Pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall.” Proverbs 16:18 (NKJV).

Our faith as Christians today doesn’t measure up to the faith of Abraham, of Noah, of Moses, of David.  These men were humble to begin with and knew the value and spirit of humility before God.  Our pride gets in the way.  How would God choose from among us today?  We often don’t have the strength of faith to worship Him, let alone look beyond what our human hands and minds create and put before God.  Our offerings of ourselves lack humility.  We need to let go of pride and ego, let go of the pride that we have accomplished something and let God and Jesus Christ work in our lives.

Evangelist Pastor John Collins began a revival of awakening.

That awakening stirs the spirit of those who hear him.  From a pulpit or behind the microphone of a recording studio, his words are Biblically correct. Being Biblically correct in a very politically correct world is difficult for most of the strongest of Christians today.  

Pastor John Collins says it well and puts pride and humility into this perspective:

“Then a dispute arose among them as to which of them would be greatest. And Jesus, perceiving the thought of their heart, took a little child and set him by Him, and said to them, ‘Whoever receives this little child in My name receives Me; and whoever receives Me receives Him who sent Me. For he who is least among you all will be great.’” Luke 9:46-48 (NKJV).

Who is worthy to be lifted up? How does God choose those that He would separate and use for His purposes? He chose Abraham and Abraham was considered a friend of God’s. He chose David and David was a man after God’s own heart. He sent His Son who died for us all.  Even those who walked with Jesus thought of themselves and the impact that they would have on this world. This is so wonderful to know that the human instinct to desire to rise above and be great was felt in those men who walked with Christ. This allows us to recognize this in ourselves and work to overcome that ego. They were corrected and they learned what true humility is. They witnessed their Lord humble Himself to the Cross. Yet there are so many that want to be great in the name of the Lord. They call attention to themselves and think highly of themselves. But, God resists the proud and gives grace to the humble. Believe me when I tell you that God knows what He is doing and He knows our hearts.

Pastor John Collins of Redeeming the Gospel Revival, John Collins Ministries continues on: God has no use for pride.

God does not want servants that think highly of themselves and their eligibility. God wants people to serve Him that are humble of heart. When we choose to walk with Jesus it should be with a pure heart and a true devotion to obedience to the Lord. We should never seek our own acclaim. We should not care what others think of us. We should be concerned only with whether we are an asset to the kingdom of God or a burden. If we have selfish ambition in our heart and a desire to stand out and be important, we are seeking status in this life and we are then unworthy to be a true servant of the Lord.

We must be careful when we desire to leave a name for ourselves, to want to be recognized for our importance or to be valued among men. A truly worthy person that will serve God well is a person that has no ambition in his heart. This person thinks of salvation when he looks upon the souls of this world. This person has sadness in his heart because of the condition of the human race. This person worries of the state of others’ faith in their lives. This person considers opportunities to share the gospel and help others come to Jesus. This person wants to see others go to heaven and lives his life as an example. This person will sacrifice and find ways to be a light in a world of dark. This person will please God.

“Listen, my beloved brethren: Has God not chosen the poor of this world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom which He promised to those who love Him?” James 2:5 (NKJV).

“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted. Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth. Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be filled.” Matthew 5:3-6 (NKJV).

Learning to be humble takes a commitment to become obedient to God.  In order to become obedient to God, we need to learn to draw near to Him in prayer and through the words in the Holy Bible.  God wants each of us to have the opportunity to come to know Him, so that we all can go home to Him one day.  That is the reason He sent His Son Jesus Christ, for our salvation through His sacrifice on the Cross.  Jesus humbly accepted the punishment of our sins, died publicly in humility and obedience.  God won’t ask us to do anything that He won’t equip us to handle.  We can become obedient and humble ourselves before God, just as His Son did.  God wants us to come to know Him and His love, to help us with our lives and be part of our lives here in this world.  Pride and ego turns us from God.  To be meek, to be poor in spirit means to be humble; we need to learn the humility of Christ. Bring back God in our lives, come humbly to the foot of the Cross.

“God is never secondary in my life, He is always Primary”- Pastor John Collins, Evangelist.

So you’ve disappointed God, now what?

Pastor John Collins says "It is not possible to go through this life without sinning and it is impossible to not have disappointed God at some point in your life, but what is most important is what you do about it. It is not easy for mere humans to recognize the ways of God and to know the miracles and hope that suffering produces. In Jesus' name, with faith, there is now the hope of forgiveness and of acceptance into heaven. With your own suffering comes humility and growth in your faith. Faith is something that you have to fight for and want. Faith is not a given and it is not just a belief. It is a trusting and a knowledge that Jesus did die for your sins and with this knowledge comes a willingness to live in hope and obedience to the word of God.  It is easy to allow your humanly interpretations of situations and your own personal desires to get in the way of the will of God. Every so often you need to do a self-check and examine your motives and desires in this life and to see if they line up with the word of God. Do your best to not interfere with the will of God and do your best to not confuse the will of God with your will. You can tell the difference between the two by examining which one will produce righteousness in your life. Which choices in your life will bring about godliness?  When you feel that you have disappointed God then it is time for you to repent. You can't live in perpetual guilt and you cannot allow your mistakes to drive you away from God.  You must become humble so that you choose to come before Him and seek His forgiveness and His guidance, so that you can move forward in your life with confidence and trust, knowing that you are seeking the kingdom of heaven above all."

This is a sample of Pastor John's new sermon series.  This powerful message does not promise false hope, does not promise wealth of money or property, and won't leave a false feeling of security. What he does do is focus attention on salvation and pleasing God.

Pastor John Collins feels that there is a great need in the United States to get away from the prosperity gospel, to get  priorities right, that there is no price to be put on a soul.  Each person is precious and deserves to hear the word of God in its entirety and without it being watered down.  Pastor John Collins is available to travel to speak to churches or groups for this sermon series.  He can be reached through John Collins Ministries, www.johncollinsministries.com.

PASTOR JOHN COLLINS, JOHN COLLINS MINISTRIES: CONNECT

PASTOR JOHN COLLINS, REDEEMING THE GOSPEL REVIVAL

CONNECT

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 ~ Pastor John Collins, John Collins Ministries

“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

You are not alone!  Reach Pastor John Collins through JOHN COLLINS MINISTRIES website www.johncollinsministries.com or email jcollinsministries@gmail.com

God bless you!

photos courtesy Google images

PASTOR JOHN COLLINS DAILY THOUGHT: PETTY JEALOUSY

PASTOR JOHN COLLINS, EVANGELIST: JEALOUSY

There is a thought that the Holy Bible is simply a good historical book that has some really great stories in it, but it doesn’t apply to us today.  Pastor John Collins, evangelist and head pastor of Love That Cross Ministries and Pastor John Collins Ministries, Inc., repeatedly reminds us that the Holy Bible gives examples of how we are supposed to live. Jealousy and envy still cause resentment, bitterness, rage and hate.  Cain was jealous of Abel’s sacrifice that was accepted by God, and Cain killed Abel.  Joseph was resented by his brothers and sold into slavery.  King Saul lost favor with God and spent his life driven crazy by jealousy for David who would eventually replace King Saul and his lineage upon the throne.  The Pharisees were resentful of the attention that Jesus was given by the masses.  Jealousy is not excusable.  Jealousy causes murder, and the stories of the Bible that relate to jealousy, anger, and hatred are still good examples of how we should be acting today.

Jealousy causes people to become violent and create chaos and harm to others.  Mass shootings, child kidnappings, theft all relate back to a root of jealousy.  If we say we are Christians, then to be jealous means that we are not satisfied with what God has given us. Who are we to tell God that we aren’t happy with what He has given us?

Jealousy will cause your soul to wither and die if you allow it to. We do not need to look to what others have and desire that for ourselves because if we could just learn to love what we have and be grateful for the smaller things in life our satisfaction would never waiver. God provides what we need and the more we realize this and the more content we are the more our lives will reflect that thankfulness. It is not about how much you have or how well you are known around town; it is about how well God knows you and how well you know Him. Life is more than recognition and material things.” Pastor John Collins, April, 2018.

For several years, Pastor John Collins has been travelling the United States spreading the word of the Gospel and igniting revival in the faith of those who hear him.  Pastor John Collins recognizes that the Holy Bible has been manipulated to control people, to suppress populations, and to serve the leaders who present it instead of serving God who wrote it through His divine influence upon people.  The Holy Bible is meant to be a guideline for living in a righteous manner, in a way that would please God in all ways.  Pastor John Collins preaches that God is far from pleased with us and the way the world is now, and the time has come for change.

Pastor John Collins writes:

“And Israel said to Joseph, ‘Are not your brothers feeding the flock in Shechem? Come, I will send you to them.’ So he said to him, ‘Here I am.’ Then he said to him, ‘Please go and see if it is well with your brothers and well with the flocks, and bring back word to me.’ So he sent him out of the Valley of Hebron, and he went to Shechem.” Genesis 37:13-14 (NKJV).

“Now when they saw him afar off, even before he came near them, they conspired against him to kill him. Then they said to one another, ‘Look, this dreamer is coming! Come therefore, let us now kill him and cast him into some pit; and we shall say, ‘Some wild beast has devoured him.’ We shall see what will become of his dreams! But Reuben heard it, and he delivered him out of their hands, and said, ‘Let us not kill him.’ And Reuben said to them, ‘Shed no blood, but cast him into this pit which is in the wilderness, and do not lay a hand on him’-that he might deliver him out of their hands, and bring him back to his father.” Genesis 37:18-22 (NKJV).

Jealousy has caused many a murder. It has caused hate and resentment, bitterness and rage. The bible says that God is a jealous God. That means that He is jealous for our souls and loves us so much that He does not want to lose us to the pits of hell. This does not mean that we are permitted to feel jealousy and envy. God’s jealousy is righteous and we must never justify our own jealousy by comparing it to Gods.

We each know right and wrong in our hearts. Reuben knew that it was wrong to harm Joseph and tried to save his life and be clever at the same time so that his brothers would not turn on him as well. There are times in our lives that we may face opposition that seems overwhelming when we want to do the right thing but we need to have the faith and confidence in our hearts and trust that God will provide a way for our righteousness to prevail. It is never right to go along with what others are doing just because it is easier.

Jealousy will cause your soul to wither and die if you allow it to. We do not need to look to what others have and desire that for ourselves because if we could just learn to love what we have and be grateful for the smaller things in life our satisfaction would never waiver. God provides what we need and the more we realize this and the more content we are the more our lives will reflect that thankfulness. It is not about how much you have or how well you are known around town; it is about how well God knows you and how well you know Him. Life is more than recognition and material things.

Let petty jealousies fade and don’t allow envy to burden your heart and when you have the chance stand up and do the right thing. Don’t allow yourself to partake in evil just because it is easier than calling on your faith to find a way to act with righteousness. God will not let you down and will guide you always so trust that doing the right thing is better than doing the wrong thing or nothing at all.

“Then Reuben returned to the pit, and indeed Joseph was not in the pit; and he tore his clothes.” Genesis 37:29 (NKJV).

LOVE THAT CROSS, PASTOR JOHN COLLINS

Pastor John Collins is redeeming the Gospel and the Scriptures.  On Sunday mornings at 1000 a.m. Mountain Time, you can listen to Pastor John Collins and Marty Smith on Heaven’s Country Radio by linking to www.heavenscountry.com.  Other sermons, radio recordings, interviews, blogs, and YouTube and media of Pastor John Collins can be viewed by clicking on the links found within this post.  Pastor John Collins can also be reached at jc65777@yahoo.com for prayer, ministering, or to discuss the possibility of guest speaking, preaching or revival at your group, church, or gathering.  As Pastor John Collins very passionately puts it, he is in it to win it for God.  Believe that!

PASTOR JOHN COLLINS DAILY DEVOTIONALS: MARRIAGE AND DIVORCE

PASTOR JOHN COLLINS, EVANGELIST: COMMITMENT AND TEAMWORK

from Google images

What does it take to make a marriage last? “About 40% to 50% of married couples in the United States divorce, according to the American Psychological Association. The divorce rate among those who remarry is even higher” (Harrington and Buckingham, 24/7 Wall Street, Feb. 2, 2018). 

Commitment to a partner is meant to be something special that God created for us, but our society and our lack of faith and the change in values of the course of decades has made marriage in the United States a statistic of 50-50% chance of lasting a lifetime.  Sins of the heart that the apostle Paul speaks of destroy marriages.  On top of that, long term relationships are developed without the commitment of marriage-living together is just as common as marriage when four generations ago, this would not even have been considered.  Our lack of faith in God and our denial of His word have turned us into a society of broken relationships, broken hearts, and broken families.  What makes a marriage last?  It takes faith and God understanding, commitment and teamwork according to Pastor John Collins, evangelist.

Pastor John Collins has given several sermons on the relationships between men and women as it is supposed to be, referring to living our lives as it says in the Holy Bible.  The Bible is a blue print for everything in life, and Pastor John Collins encourages us to get back into the Bible, to read it not just for a verse, but to read it and ask for guidance to understand what it says.  God reveals the truth of the scriptures as we need it, all we have to do is ask, says Pastor Collins.

Love and marriage are meant to be a commitment. You are supposed to be a team and you are meant to work together through the bad and the good. Too often long term goals and world viewpoints are not discussed before any commitment takes place, with or without any marriage license. When a couple chooses to take on life together, they need to make the effort to stay resolute in their fidelity to each other and to find the character within themselves to see it through. Marriage is more than lust and passion is not a reason for marriage, for without the faith to see it through, to be on your spouse’s team against all odds, you will find your marriage failing and you will find yourself divorced.” (Pastor John Collins, March 2018).

Pastor John Collins is an evangelist and the head pastor of Love That Cross Ministries and John Collins Ministries.  For the past decade, Pastor John Collins has been traveling across the United States spreading revival of faith and hope and redeeming the Gospel of Jesus Christ.  Pastor John Collins is an enthusiastic speaker.  Pastor Collins’ presentation of the Holy Bible and what it represents tells it and teaches it as it was done over 2000 years ago.  Pastor John Collins openly admits that he loves God and he style is like old time tent revival style preaching.  What Pastor Collins preaches on any Sunday reaches every emotion, and keeps you thinking about it Monday through Sunday. 

Pastor John Collins writes:

“But from the beginning of the creation, God ‘made them male and female. For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh, so then they are no longer two, but one flesh.’” Mark 10: 6-8 (NKJV).

Divorces are now the norm and multiple marriages with blended families are finding their way through the complications of upheaval. Commitment from the very beginning and the willingness to see it through to the end in relationships is definitely on the decline. What makes people want to end marriages and begin again? Many times, lust is mistaken for love and allows people to justify changing spouses and too often these changes come without the benefits of marriage to begin with. Too many marriages are based on lust and not on love. People want to be romanced and to have their lives filled with heightened passion that is full of excitement and delight. Too many times adultery is the result of seeking this excitement and too often a spouse is discarded because someone fell out of love.

Love and marriage are meant to be a commitment. You are supposed to be a team and you are meant to work together through the bad and the good. Too often long term goals and world viewpoints are not discussed before any commitment takes place, with or without any marriage license. When a couple chooses to take on life together, they need to make the effort to stay resolute in their fidelity to each other and to find the character within themselves to see it through. Marriage is more than lust and passion is not a reason for marriage, for without the faith to see it through, to be on your spouse’s team against all odds, you will find your marriage failing and you will find yourself divorced. Any passion that is stolen with another or any relationship that is created to avoid the obligations of home are going to leave a thirst inside of you and is indeed sin that will taint your soul. Faith and honor matter and marriage matters to God, for He gave it as a gift to you. It takes courage to stay committed and to stay faithful in this fallen and wanton world that we live in, but in the end it is worth it.

Do not let your flesh determine your steadfastness because the heart is desperately wicked and will deceive you into thinking that love is guiding you, when it is not. Choose a partner that is faithful, willing to go the extra mile and is committed to living as your teammate. If you find that your marriage is struggling then do a heart-check and find a way, through prayer and the word of God, to see what is motivating any distance between you and your spouse. A marriage takes work and a marriage is more than passion, romance and excitement. Your spouse is meant to be your biggest helpmate and together you are meant to stand strong against an evil world.

“Therefore what God has joined together, let not man separate.” Mark 10:9 (NKJV).

LOVE THAT CROSS PASTOR JOHN COLLINS

Self-examination of your relationship is necessary to make it last.  In all things, turn to God to guide you.

Pastor John Collins can be heard Sunday mornings at 1000 a.m. on Heaven’s Country radio with Marty Smith, through live streaming at www.heavenscountry.com. Pastor John Collins is very charismatic and does not expect you to open a Bible to a specific verse and read along with him.  He preaches with enthusiasm and vigor, and looks to make listens think and feel the word of God.  Other recordings, interviews, media, YouTube, radio broadcasts and blogs related to Pastor John Collins can be accessed by clicking on the links within the post.  If you wish to speak to Pastor John Collins for prayer, ministering, or to arrange for guest speaking or preaching, you can reach Pastor Collins at jc65777@yahoo.com.  Absolutely hands down, Pastor John Collins is in it to win it for God.  Believe that.

PASTOR JOHN COLLINS DAILY DEVOTIONAL: FAITH IS NOT A CHECKLIST

PASTOR JOHN COLLINS, EVANGELIST: ROUTINE RELIGION

from Google images

When Jesus walked and taught, He was not creating more landmines for humanity to get around.  God sent Jesus to teach and bring people back to God because, people being people, those in charge set up roadblocks and traps that prevented people from getting closer to God.  The routines of religion became the focus instead of the worship and appreciation of God.  Jesus went after the Pharisees and the Sadducees because those men set up rules that God never created.  The answers Jesus gave to these men frustrated them because His responses were righteous and they couldn’t argue with Him.  Today, the same thing has happened with the rituals of Sunday morning church and organized religion.  The practices have become routine and empty, devoid of passion for God.

 “When you allow the routine of your religion to become the religion itself and you rely on going through the motions and requirements of that religion then you have been blinded and have fallen into the ditch. Faith is meant to guide you, to strengthen you and to give you the knowledge and confidence in God that allows you to live your life according to His standards. Your faith is not meant to become a routine of bullet points that you tick off in order to complete the list of obligations so that you can meet the minimum requirements that will allow you to reap the rewards without interrupting your life and your pursuit of happiness in any extreme way.” Pastor John Collins, January, 2018.

Faith is not a checklist.

Pastor John Collins writes daily thoughts and devotionals designed to explain the gospel in the way it is meant to be understood, the purpose of these messages is to educate according to the Scriptures, help grow faith in others and assist others in becoming more submissive to the will of God.  Pastor John Collins wants to encourage people to become righteous followers of Christ, not to continue the comfortable routines that have been done for so long that leaves people questioning and wondering that there should be more.

Pastor John Collins is an evangelist and head pastor of Love That Cross Ministries and John Collins Ministries.  For several years, Pastor John Collins has been travelling the United States spreading the word of the Gospel and igniting revival in the faith of those who hear him.  Pastor John Collins recognizes that the Holy Bible has been manipulated to control people, to suppress populations, and to serve the leaders who present it instead of serving God who wrote it through His divine influence upon people.  The Holy Bible is meant to be a guideline for living in a righteous manner, in a way that would please God in all ways.  Pastor John Collins preaches that God is far from pleased with us and the way the world is now, and the time has come for change.

Pastor John Collins writes:

 “But this I confess to you, that according to the Way which they call a sect, so I worship the God of my fathers, believing all things which are written in the Law and in the Prophets. I have hope in God, which they themselves also accept, that there will be a resurrection of dead, both of the just and the unjust. This being so, I myself always strive to have a conscience without offense toward God and men.” Acts 24:14-16 (NKJV).

Paul was speaking of the Way in which we should all live in accordance with the commandments of God and in belief of Jesus Christ as our Savior. There is truth given to men by God and we are to respond to this truth with faith and let our behavior be of righteousness in order to attain salvation upon our deaths so that we can be among the just in resurrection. The Israelites were not as clear about resurrection and heaven and hell. The afterlife was not spoken of in definitive terms but it was clear that God chose the Hebrew people to reveal His commandments and they received the oracles and Laws. Jesus made it clear that He was the way to righteousness and to heaven. Unfortunately, religion has become a stumbling block for godliness.

The Israelites were given instructions on righteous behavior and how to live their lives daily and even they stumbled over the ‘rules’ of it all. That became the basis for so much instruction in the New Testament which has led to the ‘Christians’ doing the same thing. You cannot separate your life from your faith. You cannot have religious observances and sinful living simultaneously. That is the problem that people have always had. They compartmentalize their faith and their lives. The Way is to become your way of life, your standard of living and your faith is to guide you in all that you do. Religion is a stumbling block because the doctrines of men have taken over just as the oral tradition of men took over in Judea so long ago and yet it is these traditions that are still in control of the ‘faith’ of people.

When you allow the routine of your religion to become the religion itself and you rely on going through the motions and requirements of that religion then you have been blinded and have fallen into the ditch. Faith is meant to guide you, to strengthen you and to give you the knowledge and confidence in God that allows you to live your life according to His standards. Your faith is not meant to become a routine of bullet points that you tick off in order to complete the list of obligations so that you can meet the minimum requirements that will allow you to reap the rewards without interrupting your life and your pursuit of happiness in any extreme way.

Your faith in Jesus is meant to give you hope and the courage to live your life as His servant. As His disciple you are meant to follow His example always not when it is convenient. Those who follow Christ will experience unpleasantness and will stand out in this life because as the world hated Him it will indeed hate you. Let the love of the Lord seep into you and flow through you and you will live a life that shines for Jesus and you will reap the rewards that are promised by God. Do not allow your ‘religion’ to be routine, compartmentalized or stagnant. Trust that the way you live your life will determine whether your resurrection is of the just or the unjust and both will be judged.

“Thomas said to Him, ‘Lord, we do not know where You are going, and how can we know the way?’Jesus said to him, ‘I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.’” John 14:5-6 (NKJV).

LOVE THAT CROSS PASTOR JOHN COLLINS

Jesus taught His listeners and disciples to not use vain repetitions or draw attention to themselves in prayer, not to let worship to become ritual-knowing full well that is what the Hebrew priests, Pharisees and Sadducees had led the Hebrews to, drawing them away from God and more to themselves and the actions rather than the righteous of God’s commandments. Here we are, 2000 years later with people in the pulpit doing the very same thing that Jesus taught not to do.

Pastor John Collins is redeeming the Gospel and the Scriptures.  On Sunday mornings at 1000 a.m. Mountain Time, you can listen to Pastor John Collins and Marty Smith on Heaven’s Country Radio by linking to www.heavenscountry.com.  Other sermons, radio recordings, interviews, blogs, and Youtube and media of Pastor John Collins can be viewed by clicking on the links found within this post.  Pastor John Collins can also be reached at jc65777@yahoo.com for prayer, ministering, or to discuss the possibility of guest speaking, preaching or revival at your group, church, or gathering.  Pastor John Collins very passionately puts it he is in it to win it for God.  Believe that!

PASTOR JOHN COLLINS DAILY DEVOTIONALS: BUBBLES OF DENIAL

 PASTOR JOHN COLLINS, EVANGELIST:  AVOIDING THE TRUTH

from google images

“Are you talking to me? Are you talking to me?”  If we hear that phrase with a heavy New York accent and a hand gesture by the speaker pointing to himself, we chuckle.  The prophets of old told of tales of horror and pain, and the Hebrews looked at them blankly as if to ask “Are you talking to me?”  Sadly, we are in the same situation now, and it isn’t funny.  The commandments that God wrote for Moses and the Israelites have been padded with the lie that we don’t have to pay attention to them because Jesus replaced them.  Wrong.  Fear and trembling have been padded with shiny promises of wealth and fortune if we give enough money to a prosperity pastor.  Wrong. 

Pastor John Collins is passionately preaching and teaching that our will gets us in trouble, that God wants us to come back to Him and find Jesus again follow the will of God.  We don’t want to look in a mirror and examine why we keep on the blinders and keep doing what pleases us.  We need to let go, and let God and Jesus take over those reins and in pleasing them, we become more, we enjoy more, we are more…more than what we can create alone.

“Most people are fed up with religion and look out into the world and see the effects of what so-called faith has brought about. The deaths and wars, the judgment and exclusion and the riches for the wrong and the poverty for the right. Most people want to move past the need for religion that many see as just an opiate for the masses. Underlying the superficial of religion lies the truth of God and He has commandments that most find antiquated and obsolete.” Pastor John Collins, January 2018.

Pastor John Collins asks when Jesus calls, what are you doing, what are you going to do?  Will you drop everything and turn to Him, or will you keep on doing what pleases you?  Pleasing yourself will earn you judgement that will make you go “oops” one second after you die.  When we answer “yes Lord”, we begin a marvelous journey of regrowth, renewal, and yes-rebirth as crazy as that sounds, for there is no other description that fits.

From rebuilding community churches to spreading a renewal of hope and revival, Pastor John Collins is fighting the fight to bring God back to all who will hear the Word.  Pastor John Collins preaches, speaks and writes with a passion born of faith and obedience to God that leads Him to speak the truth as God meant it to be spoken.  Pastor John Collins is an evangelist and the head pastor of Love That Cross Ministries and John Collins Ministries.  From a not-Christian past to giving his life to serving God and Jesus, Pastor John Collins is reaching out to redeem the Gospel so that people have a genuine understanding of what Jesus taught and preached over 2000 years ago.  The Holy Bible is full of hope, but the truth should never have been glossed over by those who would rather deny that the faults of the men and women who lived as an example for us to follow now existed, or that their trials and tests don’t apply to us today.  King Solomon even pointed out millennia ago that there is nothing new under the sun….and that is the truth.  Pastor John Collins is determined to bring the truth back for the salvation of all who will hear it.

Pastor John Collins writes:

“An astonishing and horrible thing has been committed in the land: The prophets prophesy falsely, And the priests rule by their own power; And My people love to have it so. But what will you do in the end?” Jeremiah 5:30-31 (NKJV).

One of the most difficult truths for a believer in the truth of God and Jesus Christ to acknowledge is that most people don’t want to be bothered with the commandments of God, with the consequences of rebellion and disobedience or with what may be required of them in order to follow the will of God. Most people don’t want to have to examine their motives, their actions or their feelings about it all. Most people don’t want to hear of hell, judgment or their own peril. People like to live in the bubble of denial because it is comfortable and it allows them to go about their own selfish way.

Most people are fed up with religion and look out into the world and see the effects of what so-called faith has brought about. The deaths and wars, the judgment and exclusion and the riches for the wrong and the poverty for the right. Most people want to move past the need for religion that many see as just an opiate for the masses. Underlying the superficial of religion lies the truth of God and He has commandments that most find antiquated and obsolete. Most people find comfort in the niceties of religion that coat us all in bright and shiny hope but they don’t want to look into the mirror and face the possibility of the need to overhaul their souls. There has always been a passionate determination to avoid the judgment of God by living in the moment and choosing to believe that all is well in your world and somehow, someway God will find a way to fulfill all of the desires of your heart because He wants you to be happy.

Is the truth all doom and gloom? Is the reality all bad and not any good? Is there no hope for joy and pleasure in this life? Is there only burning judgment to look forward to? No. There is love and hope in this life and joy beyond measure but if you allow yourself to live in a bubble of denial and refuse to acknowledge the commandments of God and follow your own will and the pretty promises of others without examining your own heart and making changes according to the standards of God and His requirements for receiving the promises that He has made then you are living in delusion and will find disappointment for your soul when it is too late to do anything about it. If you don’t make it to heaven, you have failed. If you don’t teach your children how to get to heaven and give them a righteous example to follow, you have failed. Be willing to hear the warning and be willing to heed it.

“To whom shall I speak and give warning, That they may hear? Indeed their ear is uncircumcised, And they cannot give heed. Behold, the word of the Lord is a reproach to them; They have no delight in it.” Jeremiah 6:10 (NKJV).

LOVE THAT CROSS PASTOR JOHN COLLINS

Being Christian doesn’t mean you go to church Sundays or Wednesdays, then go home and keep on acting like you did before, says Pastor John Collins.  Just because you go into a church doesn’t make you Christian, just because you go into the garage doesn’t make you a mechanic.  You have to walk the walk, take the time to stop and reflect upon what you are doing, and honestly ask yourself if what you are doing is pleasing to God.  Use those Ten Commandments and honestly answer have you broken them?  Paul said we all fall short of the glory of God, we all are sinners, and we all need the salvation that Jesus has offered us, every day, for the rest of our lives. It truly is a race to run, using the analogies of Paul the Apostle.  The only way to get through this life with true joy is to find hope in Jesus Christ and ask for forgiveness, seek His help and ask His guidance every day, every minute-Pastor John Collins, April 2018.

Pastor John Collins can be heard broadcasting on Sunday mornings at 1000 am Mountain Time on Heaven’s Country Radio with Marty Smith at www.heavenscountry.com.  Other sermons, interviews, YouTube recordings, media, blogs, and broadcasts can be viewed or heard by clicking on the links found within this blog.  Pastor John Collins takes his faith seriously.  He can also be reached by email at jc65777@yahoo.com for prayer, ministering or to make arrangements for guest speaking, preaching, or revival for your church or group.  Pastor John Collins is in it to win it for God. Believe that.

PASTOR JOHN COLLINS DAILY DEVOTIONALS: 3 STEPS TO SALVATION

PASTOR JOHN COLLINS, EVANGELIST: REPENTANCE

desperate prayer, Google images

Repent. What does the word “repent” truly mean? John the Baptist made it his clarion call as he prepared the way for Jesus Christ to make it on the scene over 2000 years ago.  The Old Testament has many passages about repentance before Jesus Christ came.  God wants us to truly feel sorry for our sinful natures and ask for forgiveness because God truly wants His children to come home to Him.  Guilt is a useful tool that helps us recognize that we are in the wrong before God, writes Pastor John Collins of Love That Cross Ministries.  Until we feel genuine remorse for the actions that we have done that offend God, we cannot find salvation nor can we expect to make our way to heaven.  Heaven is not a guarantee just because we say we are Christian, just saying we are sorry and saying we are Christian isn’t going to get us anywhere if we don’t change how our hearts act.  Actions speak louder than words, and God knows exactly what we really feel and how we really are.  There’s three steps to repentance:

1.       To repent is to recognize that we have offended God by not following His commandments.  Sin.  Repentance means to feel genuinely sorry for our actions.
2.       Seek forgiveness.  We will sin every day because we are human.  Ask for forgiveness through Jesus Christ and mean it from the heart.
3.      Make an effort every day to become a better person, seeking to become Christ-like, acting in compassion and caring for others.  This is a life long journey, the race that Paul refers to.

It really is as easy as that, Pastor John Collins preaches.

The problem with the word “repent” is that it sounds offensive.  Street hawkers of “repent and be saved” who stand on the corners waving a Bible spouting Bible verses of doom and hell are threatening and drive more people away from God and the Word of the Gospel.  Shoving religion in the public’s face in a manner that is threatening is no way to win souls for God.  It certainly wasn’t the way Jesus did it.  Teaching the Gospel with sincerity and candor, with a nonjudgmental approach will draw attention of people, and those people when drawn will come to listen, and in listening will come to understand the concept of repentance.  Pastor John Collins is an evangelist who preaches the truth, reaches the heart, and draws listeners closer to God.

“I don’t believe that there is a true understanding by most people of what repentance is. Repentance is recognizing your sin and the wrongs that you have committed against God and being sorry about it. It is knowing that you need forgiveness and that what your actions, feelings, thoughts and words have reaped is worthy of sending you to hell. This is an acceptance of God’s law in your heart and soul and it produces a genuinely contrite heart. This will then produce the desire within you to stop those sinful behaviors and to seek to obey the laws of God.” Pastor John Collins, Love That Cross Ministries (April, 2018).

Pastor John Collins began preaching over a decade ago, and more recently began a revival of hope and trust in God.  As the head pastor of Love That Cross Ministries and John Collins Ministries, Pastor John Collins reaches congregations around the United States, bringing God back to those who hear him.  As an evangelist, Pastor John Collins has a passion and love for the Cross that is unwavering.  So many people have been disillusioned by churches, the false doctrines of pastors who are looking for nothing more than money in their pocket and bodies in the pews to fill the offering plates, or the prestige of being on a pulpit but not practicing what is preached. Pastor John Collins is determined to bring faith in God back for the people, recognizing that the Gospel of Jesus Christ has been watered down like so much Kool-Aid to fit the need of the people in the pulpit, not the needs of souls in the seats.  The Gospel needs to be redeemed says Pastor John Collins, it needs to be made clear and understandable so that people can find their way to God.

Pastor John Collins writes:

“The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God. As it is written in the Prophets: ‘Behold, I send My messenger before Your face, Who will prepare Your way before You.’ ‘The voice of one crying in the wilderness: Prepare the way of the Lord; Make His paths straight.’ John came baptizing in the wilderness and preaching a baptism of repentance for the remission of sins.” Mark 1:1-4 (NKJV).

John the Baptist preached repentance, Jesus preached repentance and His Apostles preached repentance, even the Prophets preached repentance.

I don’t believe that there is a true understanding by most people of what repentance is. Repentance is recognizing your sin and the wrongs that you have committed against God and being sorry about it. It is knowing that you need forgiveness and that what your actions, feelings, thoughts and words have reaped is worthy of sending you to hell. This is an acceptance of God’s law in your heart and soul and it produces a genuinely contrite heart. This will then produce the desire within you to stop those sinful behaviors and to seek to obey the laws of God.

Now, how is it possible to feel these feelings with a genuine heart and not just give a mental nod followed by lip service? You must agree with God. That is where true faith, repentance and forgiveness begin. You must agree that God and His laws are right and that it is for you to obey them. If you don’t agree with God, you will never truly submit to Him, repent of anything nor claim true salvation.

If you don’t agree with God, you will find ways to justify your point of view and to excuse yourself for your sin. Every human sins and every human has an opportunity to have a relationship with Jesus. If you see the laws of God as antiquated and therefore don’t agree with them and choose to disregard them, even if you come to know Jesus and seek forgiveness for your past sins, your heart will not genuinely be remorseful. Imagine a man who cheats on his wife and she never finds out about it. He sees it as hurting no one. He goes to church and claims Jesus as His Savior. In his old age, his cheating stops and he does ask for forgiveness. But his heart does not really feel sorry because he feels that what his wife never knew never hurt her and it really was not any big deal. His heart is unable to feel the remorse required to be forgiven.

Just because we ask for forgiveness does not mean that it is given. We have to mean it. We show that we mean it by choosing to live lives that do not embrace sin. Like Paul says, if you stole, steal no more. We are to quit the sinful behavior and seek to alter our actions, words, thoughts and feelings. We begin to make these right choices when we agree with God. That is why to be friends with the world is to be enemies with God.

“From that time Jesus began to preach and to say, ‘Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.’” Matthew 4:17 (NKJV).

Love That Cross, Pastor John Collins

Our hearts have to come to know what our sinful behaviors are.  Repenting, being truly and honestly sorry for our actions is the beginning of changing our lives, here and eternally.  The right choices will take us along the road back to God, home to heaven, and those actions are a daily commitment to changing.  Allowing Jesus into our lives is the key to changing our hearts. Asking forgiveness means we believe we are indeed guilty, and we have the humility to admit it.  No one of us is free of sin; no one of us will be able to make it to heaven without Jesus.

Pastor John Collins can be heard at 1000 am Mountain Time weekly on Sunday on Heaven’s Country Radio with Marty Smith. You can listen via the Internet at www.heavenscountry.com.  Other sermons, recordings, blogs, interviews, Youtube clips, and other media of Pastor John Collins can be found by clicking on the links within this post.  Pastor John Collins is available for prayer, discussion and ministry-not to debate-at jc65777@yahoo.com.  If you want Pastor John Collins to come to speak to your church or group, contact can be made through the same personal email.  Pastor John Collins is in it to win it for God.