PASTOR JOHN COLLINS, LOVE THAT CROSS: SPIRITUAL WARFARE

PASTOR JOHN COLLINS, EVANGELIST: What do you fight for?

So many people believe that this world is the true hell, that we simply have to get through our day to day struggles, make it to the end of our lives, and heaven is guaranteed because we say we believe in Jesus.  Pastor John Collins of Love That Cross Ministries and Pastor John Collins Ministries reminds us that everything belongs to God, but God gave us this world, Earth, to live in, to love in, to experience life in it.  The joys and sorrows, pain and rejoicing that we feel here are all part of living.  Believing in something means to go all in, taking in the lessons that were taught by the original Teacher and making them part of our lives, not simply giving lip service and the shallow belief of occurrence but not of incorporating the action into our very hearts.  That is belief.

How do you interact with the people you come into contact with?  Do you try to impress them with what you’ve done, or do you greet them with patience, kindness, compassion, and a love of people?  How are you raising your family?  Are you interested in a hike along a river, or through a forest, walking in the rushing blue surf, or beside arid canyons with condors soaring nearby? Yes, we have things that we have to deal with as we travel our life paths.  Those are the choices we need to make, because indeed we do have free will, and our choice determines our outcome both here and for eternity, says Pastor John Collins.

“God wants you to fight the good fight. God wants you to seek to please Him and to do the right thing in life. Be charitable, be good, be kind, be forgiving, be loving and compassionate toward others. As you go about doing these things you will have to battle your own demons. We all have them. We all think of the easy path, the shortcut and the darker temptations in life and it is that battle that you must encounter each day.” Pastor John Collins, January 2018.

Pastor John Collins is an influential evangelist living in the United States today. His passionate and enthusiastic sermons will grab our hearts and show us what we need to do in order to grow closer to God and to Jesus.  Too many times churches now fluff the original message of the Holy Bible to suit the needs of the speaker, Pastor John Collins does not, he tells it like it is, whether it makes the listener uncomfortable or not.  Sometimes we need to be made uncomfortable in where we are in our faith, which is what will drive us to work to get closer to the Cross: Pastor John Collins has gone through the fire of tests and trials and will the first to tell you just where he has been.  The Gospel was taught by Jesus Christ over 2000 years ago because man was getting in the way of himself.  After the resurrection of Jesus, over the course of centuries, man has once again gotten in the way of ourselves, twisted the scriptures to suit our own needs and wants instead of turning to Jesus for everything, big and little. Now the Gospel needs to be redeemed, and Pastor John Collins is driven and determined to bring the Gospel and God back to a country that is in desperate need of faith and repentance. 

Salvation is the way to fight for your eternal life, but the path is not meant to be a narrow focus-Pastor John Collins (paraphrased).

Pastor John Collins writes:

“The heaven, even the heavens, are the Lords’; But the earth He has given to the children of men.” Psalm 115:16 (NKJV).

God has given you life and you need to enjoy it. As you walk the path that leads to righteousness, you will face many situations that make you realize that it is a battle not just outside in the world and with those you encounter but also within yourself. God wants you to fight the good fight. God wants you to seek to please Him and to do the right thing in life. Be charitable, be good, be kind, be forgiving, be loving and compassionate toward others. As you go about doing these things you will have to battle your own demons. We all have them. We all think of the easy path, the shortcut and the darker temptations in life and it is that battle that you must encounter each day.

So, what are you fighting for? Is it just to get to heaven? That narrow focus can make a person crazy, burn out or just give up. If you cannot see that life has meaning, that you can enjoy life then it is easy to lose your way and fall off the path of the faithful. You have to take the time to live, to feel really alive and to acknowledge that your life is a blessing for all of the struggle. What makes you feel alive? Is it standing in the rain, walking on a beach, riding on a four-wheeler in your swimsuit in the middle of winter surrounded by snow, or maybe it’s a candlelight dinner with your most special someone followed by a dance? Whatever gives you pause and delights your soul is what you should take the time to do. It does not have to be often and it does not have to be so planned that the moment gets lost but you should be looking for those moments in your life that become the memories that you prize. You will take those with you because they belong to you forever.

In your day to day life you may feel run down and overwhelmed with the mundane. In your day to day life you may become discouraged. You need to allow yourself those special moments where you catch your breath and you even need to make the effort to recognize the moments that you have already had and seek out more. That is what you are fighting for in your faith. You see, heaven is full of joy and people who feel that intense awareness of love and hope and happiness every day. You will never truly seek to become a righteous person if you don’t believe in that promise and in order to truly believe in the promise you need to trust and believe in God. It is easy to believe in the truth of God when you can glimpse joy in its perfection in experiences in your life that touch your soul and become engraved on your heart. That is a blessing from God and you should never underestimate His greatness and your connection to Him.

“May the Lord give you increase more and more, you and your children.  May you be blessed by the Lord who made heaven and earth.” Psalm 115:14-15 (NKJV).

LOVE THAT CROSS,  Pastor John Collins

Take the time to recognize the joy that you have here, and know that the fight is worth it to seek more.  That is our connection to God.

Pastor John Collins has been spreading revival for over 3 years across the United States.  Among the leading influential pastors living in the United States today, Pastor John Collins has received awards and recognitions for Evangelist of the Year worldwide.  You can experience more of Pastor John Collins’ recordings, YouTube, sermons, blogs, interviews, radio programs and more by clicking on the links found within this post.  You can also hear Pastor John Collins on Sundays at 10:00 a.m. Mountain Time on Heaven’s Country Radio at www.heavenscountry.com. Pastor John Collins posts daily thoughts and devotionals on Facebook and Twitter. Pastor John Collins can be reached through his email at jc65777@yahoo.com.  Pastor John Collins is available for revival and guest preaching. 

Pastor John Collins is in it to win it for God!

PASTOR JOHN COLLINS, LOVE THAT CROSS: HEALING PAST HURT

from google images

PASTOR JOHN COLLINS, EVANGELIST:  HEALING OLD WOUNDS

We all have pain and scars that need to heal.  Because so many have never known the love of God or His Son, that hurt never seems to heal.  That hurt leads to alcoholism, drug abuse, addictions of all kinds, low self-esteem, cutting: there are so many things that we do to ourselves out of pain of living.  Pastor John Collins, evangelist and head pastor of Love That Cross Ministries and Pastor John Collins Ministries, tells us that it is faith in God and Jesus that will heal us.  All we have to do is realize that God and Jesus are there and want us to come to Them, warts and all, and the healing will begin.

Tears and pain keep us from enjoying what God does put into our lives even when we have a little faith.  It is how the enemy, who is Satan, keeps us from that perfect relationship with God.  The child who once trusted Jesus becomes the surly adolescent who is rebellious of parents and church because the realities of life take over with bullying, temptations of being with the “in” crowd, and the examples of Christians that are out there are hypocritical so that a teen doesn’t want to be known as Christian.  The hurt gets buried instead of healed.  The teen grows into an adult, life wears him down, and skepticism replaces what little faith there had been.  Resentment sets in, and the tide of hurt simply continues.  It isn’t necessary.  All that needed to be done was for someone to show some compassion and speak truth of the love of Jesus, the salvation that is there for all of us to ask for.  That’s all that we need to do, says Pastor John Collins, all we need to do is ask-get down on our knees, pray, and ask. Keeping the pride and ego of suffering only gets us more suffering.

“You are worth it. You are unique and you are strong. You are capable of overcoming and you are capable of forgiveness in your life. You are filled with the capacity to be kind and to share love greater than you have ever known. Jesus is there for you and He cares for you. Jesus walks with you and you do not need to feel unworthy, unloved or unwanted, ever. You may have been hurt in life, you probably experienced pain in childhood as well as doubt and fear and awkwardness but that is part of growing and maturing. Life is learning to accept human weakness and human failure, knowing that life is full of lessons. You will make mistakes and you will overcome and you can know that no matter what, Jesus is there for you. You matter. Your heart is capable of healing because you are loved.” – Pastor John Collins, 2018.

Pastor John Collins is speaking truth.  For over three years, Pastor John Collins has been spreading a revival of hope and faith around the United States.  The example of the teen to the adult is the result of an epidemic of pastors having “pastoral separation” from congregations, according to Pastor John Collins. That epidemic is deadly to the salvation of souls.  Pastor John Collins gave an example of a minister who said that he and his wife don’t associate with sinners, drug addicts, and alcoholics, that the minister didn’t deal with “those people”.  News flash-Pastor John Collins calls it out-we are all under grace to repent with a pure heart, and those who are pastors need to be a voice for the voiceless, that there is no separation between sinners.  God doesn’t separate sin, Pastor John Collins reminds us, a sin is a sin in God’s eyes, no matter what that sin is. Healing of past hurts and wounds is not going to happen if the people in the pulpit are not going to step up and do the job right.  God is there and waiting for everyone with arms wide open, and those in the pulpit need to bring that message to the people. All it takes is a pure heart of repentance and to ask.

Pastor John Collins writes:

“I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” Philippians 4:13 (NKJV).

Sometimes it may be difficult to get over wounds in your life. Sometimes you may not feel that you are valuable. Sometimes you grow up and have left over scars from the process that can lead to low self-worth, addictions, grudges, resentments and self-sabotaging behavior. It can be hard not to blame others and end up blaming yourself for all kinds of things that just lead to more pain. Sometimes it is just so hard to let go of past hurts and to find the optimism for the future and the joy for today. We all hurt and we all struggle. Faith in the Lord is what allows His love to come into our hearts and heal us. Knowing the value that Jesus places on us and the value that God places on us is where true love begins. It is important to know that you are loved without end and that God wants a relationship with you.

You are worth it. You are unique and you are strong. You are capable of overcoming and you are capable of forgiveness in your life. You are filled with the capacity to be kind and to share love greater than you have ever known. Jesus is there for you and He cares for you. Jesus walks with you and you do not need to feel unworthy, unloved or unwanted, ever. You may have been hurt in life, you probably experienced pain in childhood as well as doubt and fear and awkwardness but that is part of growing and maturing. Life is learning to accept human weakness and human failure, knowing that life is full of lessons. You will make mistakes and you will overcome and you can know that no matter what, Jesus is there for you. You matter. Your heart is capable of healing because you are loved.

“The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.” Philippians 4:23 (NKJV).

LOVE THAT CROSS PASTOR JOHN COLLINS

Life is full of hurt, failure and pain.  It is part of the process of life.  It can be made easier if we have faith in the Son of God and the gift of salvation that was offered by the sacrifice of His life.  God is waiting for us.

Pastor John Collins can be heard weekly on Heaven’s Country Radio with Marty Smith at 1000 a.m. Mountain Time at www.heavenscountry.com. Pastor John Collins is an enthusiastic speaker with the drive and desire to reach as many people as possible with the message of the Gospel.  Other recordings, sermons, blogs, interviews, and Youtube clips by Pastor John Collins can be seen by clicking on the links within this post.  Daily devotionals can be read on Pastor John Collins’ Facebook page.  Pastor John Collins can be reached at jc65777@yahoo.com. 

Pastor John Collins is in it to win it for God. BELIEVE THAT!

PASTOR JOHN COLLINS, LOVE THAT CROSS: EMPTY WORDS, HOLLOW HEARTS

PASTOR JOHN COLLINS, EVANGELIST: "PRAISE JESUS, AMEN, PRAISE GOD...."

google images

How many times do you ask someone “how’re you doing?” and get the response of ‘I’m okay?,” knowing that the person really isn’t?  Filling in an answer to each other often has become a knee jerk reaction, what is expected response to a truly heart-felt question of concern. Pastor John Collins of Love That Cross Ministries and Pastor John Collins Ministries tells us that our knee jerk ‘amen’ and ‘yes, Lord’ responses to spoken prayer and during sermons may be more of a reflex and empty words than coming from a feeling deep in our hearts.  Even prayer that is a recited liturgy can is empty of the faith that is needed to remain close to God and Jesus.

Imagine you find your child in your home, lying unconscious on the floor.  You discover the child has written a suicide note and has attempted suicide.  The child is committed to a hospital, and you have no idea what is going on with that child because the laws say that hospital staff does not have to release any information to you because of regulations and rules of the medical industry around mental health issues and suicide.  You tell yourself you are fine, it’s going to be okay, but inside you feel the guilt of ‘is this because of me’ and the replay of what-ifs run through your mind, plus the anger and hurt that goes along with the emotional roller coaster of family members associated with suicide. Someone asks how are you doing, you may not be inclined to go into full detail of the emotional mess you are and you say “I’m fine”.  God and Jesus know what is going on inside you, and they also know that faith is questioned during the most painful times in your life.  It is this shallowness of heart and faith that so many congregations and believers have today, giving mouth to what is expected, not what is truth of our hearts, says Pastor John Collins.

“We are part of a society and generation that has lost its faith in God. We are part of a nation that has lost its way. We allow this shallow worship to be a part of our lives and we should be fighting with everything in us to get right with the Lord. We need to reorganize our values in our lives and we need to learn to speak with honesty. If we are praising the Lord we need to be worshiping in spirit and truth.” Pastor John Collins, February 2018.

We are not expected to endure the pain of life on our own, but we do need to look at where our hearts truly are and examine our reasons for our actions.  Our accountability for our actions will be examined one day when we stand before God.  Our faith is what will matter to God, because that is the only thing that will save us when we do leave this life.

Pastor John Collins, an influential evangelist in the United States, is spreading the word of hope across the United States through revival.  As a country, we have lost our way from God and Jesus, and Pastor John Collins is determined to bring the word of God back to our country.  It has gotten to the point where we do not know how to pray, how to worship God, how to keep faith in our lives every day, and the fault lies with us Pastor John Collins points out, we have allowed ourselves to get in the way of our faith. Pastor John Collins reminds us that God truly knows whether we mean what we say and feel toward Him and His Son Jesus Christ. We need to get real with our faith and praise of our Lord and Creator, it’s time to get back to God, to bring God back into our lives says Pastor John Collins.

Pastor John Collins writes:

“For whatever things were written before were written for our learning, that we through the patience and comfort of the Scriptures might have hope.  Now may the God of patience and comfort grant you to be like-minded toward one another, according to Christ Jesus, that you may with one mind and one mouth glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore receive on another, just as Christ also received us, to the glory of God.” Romans 15:4-7 (NKJV).

You can easily turn on the TV and see congregations say over and over again, “Praise Jesus, Amen, Praise God” and similar phrases that should come across as genuine acknowledgment of the power and magnificence of God. You hear many people at award shows or in interviews thank God for this or that and it should come across as true and honest homage paid to the Most High. The truth is that so very many of these statements ring false. The truth is that it is easy to say these words and hard to live a life that truly radiates belief in these words.

Too many times when we hear others praising the Lord it is empty and obvious that the reason why these things are said is because it is expected. We need to get real in our lives and in our faith. We are not meant to give praise with a ready tongue and an empty heart. In order to be genuine in our praise we must first be genuine in our beliefs. We need to connect with God and Jesus. We need to have a relationship that is loyal and true before any words of praise that we may utter will be received with authenticity. There are just too many Christians out there who use God and Jesus as a cover and a distraction of their true beliefs.

We are part of a society and generation that has lost its faith in God. We are part of a nation that has lost its way. We allow this shallow worship to be a part of our lives and we should be fighting with everything in us to get right with the Lord. We need to reorganize our values in our lives and we need to learn to speak with honesty. If we are praising the Lord we need to be worshiping in spirit and truth.

Take the time to increase your faith and take the time search your heart. If there is a hollowness in your soul and you find that your faith has become window dressing then you need to find your way back to the Cross. You need to pray connect with Jesus in a real way. Let each of us honor and glorify God with a genuine heart and a genuine belief that comes from a transparent relationship with the Father and the Son.

“Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.” Romans 15:13 (NKJV).

LOVE THAT CROSS! Pastor John Collins

Pastor John Collins is an enthusiastic evangelist with a heart purely for God and Jesus Christ.  Pastor John Collins has multiple Evangelist of the Year awards from around the world. Pastor John Collins’ sermons will grab you by the seat of pants and pull you by the heart to come to the foot of the Cross and back to the salvation that is promised by the sacrifice of Jesus Christ on that Cross.  

Pastor John Collins can be heard Sundays at 1000 mountain time on Heaven’s Country Radio with Marty Smith at www.heavenscountry.com.  Other sermons, interviews, radio programs, blogs, Youtube recordings, and resources by Pastor John Collins can be viewed or heard by clicking on links throughout this post.  Pastor John Collins also posts daily devotionals and thoughts of the day on Twitter and Facebook.  If you need to speak to Pastor John Collins, you can reach him through Pastor John Collins email at jc65777@yahoo.com.  Pastor John Collins is also available to guest preach or for revival sermons. 

Pastor John Collins is in it to win it for God, BELIEVE THAT!

PASTOR JOHN COLLINS, LOVE THAT CROSS: PRAYER, OUR PERSONAL RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD

PASTOR JOHN COLLINS, EVANGELIST: PRAYER, A PERSONAL CONVERSATION

google images

Paul’s letter in 1 Thessalonians 5 says to “rejoice always, pray without ceasing, in everything give thanks, for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you” ( 1 Thessalonians 5: 16) NKJV. Pastor John Collins preaches that God wants to hear our prayers.  Some doctrines teach that there needs to be a person to intervene for your prayer; this is not so.  God sent Jesus Christ to be our intercession for prayer.  When we pray, we are to pray in Jesus’ name, as the old hymn says “what a privilege to carry everything to God in prayer.” 

God wants that personal relationship with us, He wants to hear our prayers ~ Pastor John Collins, 2018.

What a wonderful thing to be able to talk to our Father about anything and everything, from thanks to pain to worries about family, God is our loving Father who wants to hear from us.  Yes, God knows exactly what we need and He knows what is going on for us, but as our Father, He wants that personal relationship with us.  How do we do as Paul instructs to pray without ceasing?  We couldn’t work, we couldn’t attend to our physical responsibilities, and we physically cannot stay on our knees unceasingly.  The Hebrew word for without ceasing means “constantly recurring”.  Instead of trying to pray without ceasing, God wants us to tune in frequently.  As Pastor John Collins has preached, prayer should be the first thing you do when you wake up and the last thing you do before you fall asleep.  If you happen to fall asleep while praying, it’s ok, when you wake up, you will remember you were praying, finish that prayer, God understands and will hear us. Prayer and conversation with God should be a priority in our lives.

“We have a God that wants to hear from us, wants that relationship with us and He is seeking those who would worship Him in Spirit and Truth. Let your life be grounded in prayer, built upon prayer and fueled with prayer. Always be willing to prioritize your time and know that prayer should be at the top of the list.” Pastor John Collins, April 2018.

Pastor John Collins is an American evangelist and head pastor of Love That Cross Ministries and John Collins Ministries, Inc.  Pastor John Collins travels throughout the United States to bring revival of faith and hope back to churches and congregations around the country.  Communities are looking for hope and change, and Pastor John Collins is a voice of hope among the craziness in society today.  Pastor Collins posts devotionals on his Facebook page to help to explain where our faith should be, redeem the Gospel, and talks about difficult issues that many pastors won’t.  Pastor John Collins is determined to redeem the Gospel and bring God and Jesus back into our lives.

Pastor John Collins writes:

“In my distress I called upon the Lord, And cried out to my God; He heard my voice from His temple,And my cry came before Him, even to His ears.” Psalm 18:6 (NKJV).

We are told to pray without ceasing, to give our burdens to the Lord and to seek Him in all that we do. Too often people get busy in their lives, they have things to do, jobs to go to, children to raise, families to see to and trying to carve out some personal time to enjoy social activities all while trying to maintain a strong relationship with God. Sometimes prayers are whittled down to the bare necessities or even cast aside until a day of trouble and calamity. Prayer is personal and essential to your walk of faith. Prayer is your journal of love, hurt and worry written on your heart and trusted with the One who is trustworthy. Prayer is your place that you can admit all that you hide from the world, where you can be more honest than you ever dare to be out loud. Prayer is the place you are safe.

We should be taking the time to pray in thanks to our Creator and be willing to voice that praise out loud to all. We should be casting our cares upon Him and sharing our fears and worries while trusting that all things work for the good of them who love the Lord. We should be seeking wisdom and righteousness in all we do, coming prepared to every situation, having been founded in prayer. We should be connecting with God continuously so that His strength is what we carry with us through the days. We should never put off our prayer, ignore our need for prayer nor should we allow our prayers to become rote. We have a God that wants to hear from us, wants that relationship with us and He is seeking those who would worship Him in Spirit and Truth. Let your life be grounded in prayer, built upon prayer and fueled with prayer. Always be willing to prioritize your time and know that prayer should be at the top of the list.

“I will bless the Lord who has given me counsel; My heart also instructs me in the night seasons. I have set the Lord always before me; Because He is at my right hand I shall not be moved.” Psalm 16:7-8 (NKJV).

LOVE THAT CROSS PASTOR JOHN COLLINS

God loves us, we are His children.  Like any good parent, He wants to know what is going on in our lives first hand from our own hearts and minds.  Prayer is our way to talk to God. 

Pastor John Collins is a dynamic and charismatic preacher with humility and a love for God and Jesus that sets an example for everyone.  Pastor John Collins is a featured speaker on Heaven’s Country Radio, www.heavenscountry.com, on Sundays at 10:00 a.m. Mountain with Marty Smith.  Other content of Pastor John  Collins can be accessed by clicking on links through this blog post, including interviews, radio programs, sermons, and YouTube recordings.  Pastor John Collins is determined to bring God back to church, family, and society through redeeming the Gospel of Jesus Christ.  Pastor John Collins walks the walk and talks the talk.

In all things, pray.  Believe that.

PASTOR JOHN COLLINS, LOVE THAT CROSS: JOHN 3:16

PASTOR JOHN COLLINS, EVANGELIST: BELIEVE VS BELIEVE IN

There is a difference in believing and believing in.  Many people believe that God is there, is real, that Jesus is the Messiah, that He was crucified on a cross and died for our sins.  It is one thing to believe, it is another to believe in.  To believe in something is to give everything you have to that purpose, that idea, that concept, that cause. To believe in something is to pursue it with determination, tenacity, a single-mindedness that will not sway you no matter what.  Paul the apostle says it is running a race, and Pastor John Collins, evangelist and head pastor of Love That Cross Ministries and Pastor John Collins Ministries, Inc., preaches it means to run the race of a lifetime, full out, all in. 

There are a lot of people who say that they are Christians and give only lip service to belief.  They go into a church on Sunday for appearances or to socialize, may be it is a tradition or a habit, but they are not going there to learn how to give their whole life to believing in Jesus Christ and God. “Just because you go into church on Sunday doesn’t make you a Christian any more than going into a garage makes you a car” says Pastor John Collins.  This is a humorous analogy, but it is truthful.  

People go to church and are pew warmers, putting in the appearance, but for whom?  God sees what your heart truly is, whether you believe in His Son and the salvation that is offered by the sacrifice that was given over 2000 years ago.  To believe in something is to do it with everything you have. 

To believe in something is to take it fully, with your whole heart.  That is what God wants, that is what God expects.  He knows that it is going to take more than saying you accept Jesus as your Lord and Savior, it takes more than saying you are sorry for the sins that you have committed in your life, it takes more than saying the words.  It means having to learn, and if you truly with effort and dedication and devotion accept that you have to accept Jesus as Savior and whole heartedly admit you are a sinner and repent, meaning a willingness to change your ways, God and Jesus will take that tiny little kernel of faith and grow it into a beautiful rose bush, full of blossoms.  The thing is, so many churches get tied up in the rituals and the rules that the “believe with all your heart, soul, mind, strength” part is lost in the routine of another Sunday.

“Why do you believe in God and Jesus Christ? Is it what you were taught as a child, what your spouse believes, what your heart tells you is true or is it self-preservation and hedging your bets? There are many reasons why people claim that Jesus is their Savior and not all of them are because they genuinely believe this to be true and unfortunately many that do believe are not being responsible in their own faith because they are not living lives that are truly committed to God.” ~ Pastor John Collins, May 2018.

It is time for revival of hope and faith in the United States says Pastor John Collins.  People who say they are Christians need to give more than lip service to their faith, and people who don’t know Jesus and God need to be taught about Them.  Pastor John Collins has been across the country for three years spreading a revival of hope and faith.  Pastor John Collins posts daily thoughts on his Facebook page to stir our hearts and souls.  So many pastors, preachers, ministers and priests are silver coating the Gospel so that the message of redemption from sin has become lopsided; not recognizing that to be redeemed, one must believe in God and Jesus, not just simply say “I believe” says Pastor John Collins. John 3:16 says that “whosoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have everlasting life”.  To believe in Jesus does not mean to say “yes, I believe” and keep on lusting, lying, gossiping, slandering, envying, holding bitterness, resentment, hating….all those actions that God clearly says He does not tolerate.  It means to believe in what Jesus taught from God, to love each other, to care, to have compassion for the weak, the sick, the lonely, and to take to heart that it means no matter what that person looks like, acts like, smells like, who that person works for or doesn’t work.  Every single one of us should have the same chance at the choice of salvation and taking that salvation to heart, believing in that salvation, that sacrifice, and the free gift of forgiveness.  The sad truth is, there are generations that have absolutely no clue what it means:  people go to church because it’s what you do, then go home and do the same sin, the same life, the same routine without keeping Jesus right there beside you each and every step of the way.  Either that, or those pastors, ministers and priests and a judgmental congregation have made it too hard for someone who is truly seeking God to have their questions answered.  Pastor John Collins preaches it is time for a change, and that time is now. 

Pastor John Collins writes:

“Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show by good conduct that his works are done in the meekness of wisdom. But if you have bitter envy and self-seeking in your hearts, do not boast and lie against the truth. This wisdom does not descend from above, but is earthly, sensual, demonic. For where envy and self-seeking exist, confusion and every evil thing are there.” James 3:13-16 (NKJV).

Why do you believe in God and Jesus Christ? Is it what you were taught as a child, what your spouse believes, what your heart tells you is true or is it self-preservation and hedging your bets? There are many reasons why people claim that Jesus is their Savior and not all of them are because they genuinely believe this to be true and unfortunately many that do believe are not being responsible in their own faith because they are not living lives that are truly committed to God.

It is easy to allow self-seeking in this life keep you from truly giving your life to God. It is very easy to seek God out of self-interest as well. Many people pray to God because they want something from God in this life such as wealth, health, love and success. Many people choose to go to church for all of the wrong reasons. Don’t be a Christian out of habit and don’t bother going through the motions if your heart is not truly in it because God knows the difference.

You should never want a relationship with Christ in order to gain something in this life. The promises and rewards that do come from faith in God are eternal and priceless but if you are self-serving and self-seeking in this life then you can be sure that you will be given your reward here on earth and will not be given anything further.

You should want a relationship with Christ for all of the right reasons. You should place the salvation of your soul at the top of your priority list and do all that you need to in order to make sure that you get right with God and stay there. You must be conscious of your faith day by day and behave accordingly. You must be careful to know the why behind everything that you do, including why you seek God.

“But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality and without hypocrisy. Now the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.” James 3:17-18 (NKJV).

LOVE THAT CROSS, PASTOR JOHN COLLINS

Commit yourself to God and Jesus, you cannot sit on the fence and hedge your bets on your faith.  There is no other living God, and no other person died and came back to life.  There is no other way to secure eternal life in the presence of God, instead of in Hell.  You can’t simply believe as if Jesus Christ and God are Santa Claus or the Easter Bunny, you need to believe in, full on, all out.

BELIEVE (IN) THAT!

Pastor John Collins is featured Sunday mornings in a broadcast on Heaven’s Country Radio with Marty Smith.  You can hear Pastor John Collins’ sermon at 1000 am mountain time at www.heavenscountry.com.  Other sermons, recordings, blogs, YouTube, and media by Pastor John Collins can be viewed by clicking on link found within this blog post.  If you wish to reach out to Pastor John Collins, you can do so by email at jc65777@yahoo.com.

Pastor John Collins is in it to win it, for God!

PASTOR JOHN COLLINS, LOVE THAT CROSS: JEALOUSY

PASTOR JOHN COLLINS, EVANGELIST: JEALOUSY, A ROOT OF ANGER AND ENVY

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 traveling 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!