The Gospel

Thought for the Evening
10-08

THE GOSPEL, PART TWO

I recently listened to a CD from a prayer meeting in Pastor John's house that took place on June 5th, 2004. In it, Pastor John was telling of a dream he had in which Jesus was preaching to him. He said that Jesus preached to him in his dream for about half an hour on the glory of the Gospel. This is the second of five TFE's taken from Pastor John's sermon in that prayer meeting concerning what the Lord preached to him about the Gospel.

If anyone would like a copy of that sermon and that prayer meeting, let us know.

Amy Pittman

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In Revelation 4, what did John see when he was called up into heaven? What did John see the Gospel doing up there? John was taken up into heaven, and he saw a throne surrounded with beautiful colors. Verses 3-11 say this:

"And He who sat on the throne had the appearance of a stone of jasper and sardius, and a rainbow similar to an emerald encircled the throne. Around the throne were twenty-four thrones, and upon the thrones were sitting twenty-four elders clothed in white garments, and upon their heads were golden crowns. Out of the throne came flashes of lightning, and voices, and thunders, and in front of the throne seven lamps of fire were blazing, which are the seven spirits of God, and in front of the throne was something like a sea as transparent as glass, like crystal.

And in the midst of the throne and around the throne were four things that were alive, full of eyes in front and behind. The first living form resembled a lion; the second living form resembled a calf; the third living form had a face like a man; and the fourth living form resembled a soaring eagle. And the four living beings-each of them having six wings apiece, full of eyes within and all around-also take no rest day and night, crying, Holy! Holy! Holy! Lord God Almighty, who was, and who is, and who is to come! And whenever the living beings give glory and honor and thanks to Him who is seated on the throne, who lives forever and ever, the twenty-four elders fall down before Him who sat on the throne, and they worship Him who lives forever and ever, and they cast their crowns before the throne saying, You are worthy, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created everything, and by your will they came into being and were created."

They don't stop praising God day or night because they are feeling the Gospel. It is the Gospel that is making them say, "Holy, Holy, Holy! Lord God Almighty." Why, the Gospel has to wear off in order for you to get tired. Several men in the Bible, feeling the power of God, overwhelmed with it, moved by it, influenced by the power of God, went for forty days and nights without either eating or drinking. They may not have even slept. There is power in the Gospel!

Those heavenly beings were not too proud to say, "Holy, Holy, Holy!" because they were full of the Gospel. The Gospel of God keeps pride out of heaven! There's no pride up there. The Gospel won't have it. Are you too proud to praise God? Just hold on. You won't be after a while. Jesus is going to give you some relief after a while, if not here on earth, then on that day when "every knee shall bow, and every tongue shall confess that Jesus is Lord." But you had better do it now. Don't wait until God forces you through sheer terror to bow before Him. Paul said, "I am not ashamed of the Gospel of Christ for it is the power of God unto salvation." Paul was wise because of the Gospel.

Peter said that anointed men "preach the Gospel by the holy Ghost that was sent from Heaven." You can't preach the Gospel of Christ without the holy Ghost. It's not an earthly thing; it's a heavenly thing. It makes sinners fall on their knees and it makes saints fall on their knees. Sinners see it as a threat, and saints see it as a relief. You are going to be influenced by something. It might as well be a body of righteous souls. You are going to follow something; why not something holy and eternal that will save your souls?

You know what the Gospel makes people act like? Like they are on fire. You have seen people tremble and shake under the power of God, haven't you? Of course they do. Didn't Jesus say we would be "baptized with the holy Ghost and fire." It is an honor to feel the power of the holy Ghost so strongly that it moves your body! The Gospel doesn't come in word only. It comes "in demonstration of the spirit and power of God", just as Paul said. There is no reason that anyone on the earth resists the wonderful blessing of the Gospel, except for pride, and a guilty conscience. The Gospel is so good! There is nothing wrong with the Gospel. We are criticized for being fanatics sometimes, but we're not even satisfied with how much Gospel we have yet. As young King David said when he was mocked for dancing before the Lord, "I'll be more vile than that!" He didn't back up to avoid criticism. He loved God! We're not backing up either. We still have too much sickness around to be satisfied with where we are, but more of the Gospel will get rid of it. God is for people. He has things He wants to reveal to them, and blessings He wants them to receive.