Jan 5
The Anointing and the trash
Travel is a part of my life and my calling. I am usually in four to six nations a year and dozens of cities and towns. I meet a lot of spiritually gifted people. I hear numerous remarkable testimonies of God’s never ending power. I see God’s hand in various and sundry ways. I have hoped, trusted, and depended on some of those “walking gifts of God” only to have them fail to honor their promise. It has cost me a lot not only in terms of finances, but in emotional duress, and often I have been left with buckets full of diminished hope. I know - we are to keep our eyes on God and not man, but that is too easily said and very difficult to live. It is hard to not look at the world when you live in it.
Over the years, I have learned to recognize earthly traits of deeper spirituality. When I see these traits, I know the depth of the spirit within the person who stands before me. I have learned to take the time to watch gifted people and here are few of the things I’ve learned.
* How a man/woman responds to their spouse when it is inconvenient, is how they will respond to God (and you) when what He asks them to do something that is not convenient.
* How a parent treats their children will be how they will treat those who follow them.
* A person’s work habits will become their ministry habits.
* How a person talks about others to you, will be how will they talk about you to others.
* The degree a person talks about themselves, is the degree they will not defend you.
* The degree a person become angry for not getting credit for something they did, is equal to the depth of pride in their life.
* How a man/woman does the menial tasks of life tells the depth of their humility.
* Humility is the watermark of a great leader. Anyone can lead, but great leaders have humility.
I have found that God is looking for people who will be content to raise the dead and take out the trash and not think any differently about themselves. Perhaps that is the reason we see so many superficially gifted people.
Sincerely,
John Paul Jackson
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Your comments are so very true. I just pray that the Lord will be merciful enough to give us a man with godly traits to be our next President, full of humility and fine leadership qualities. Also, I pray this for the Vice Pres., Congress, Senate, etc….all in leadership positions in our nation. (I liked Iowa’s results)
Your post reminded me of a Richard Foster quote from Celebration of Discipline (pg 130)
“Nothing disciplines the inordinate desires of the flesh like service, and nothing transforms the desires of the flesh like serving in hiddenness. The flesh whines against service but it screams against hidden service. It strains and pulls for honor and recognition.”
And of Jesus’ words in Matthew 5:16… “Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven.”
May we shine brightly and may GOD get all the glory.
Another fine, inspirational and thought provoking post, thanks!
Z
I want to thank you for being such a blessing…God has used you to bring timely words of breakthrough to me through your newsletters, so acurately that it’s as if you are going through the same thing (and I beleive at some point in your life you did go through it)…many voices have come and gone in my life but your voice is one of those that has stood the test of time in a very unique way…thank you very much, I praise God for people like you, and specifically for you!
Concerning what you have said above, I’d like to share with you the aspect that I have encountered in gifted people - the more natural they are (even with great gifting), the more supernatural they are (abide, live, minister, etc…)
Is that acurate?
God Bless
Antonio Pinto
(Portugal)
“people who will be content to raise the dead and take out the trash and not think any differently about themselves.” That line just sums it all up for me.
Matt. 32:12 “For whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted.”
My husband always says, humility is in our future be proactive.
Thank you for the reminder to always keep our focus on Him.
If a person doesn’t have good character and dependability, it is difficult for them to be effective in their gifting. God calls us to reflect His character, as well as use the giftings He’s placed in us.
the Lord disciplines those He Loves may the Lord bless you and keep you all in the palm of His hand we are poured out wine and broken bread for the Masters good Pleasure Shalom and keep those encouraging thoughts coming.
Thank you for blogging, John Paul! This one (Jan. 5) made me think and examine my heart(your comments and teachings usually do that…). Not always pleasant what I find in there but I’m sure grateful to get the chance to have things removed before they do greater damage to others and me.
And I’m looking forward to the day where I will raise a dead person and take the trash out afterwards.
Barbara from Switzerland
this has been a dilemma for quite while now, my hearts cry is to be conformed to the full image and likeness of the son of the living God almighty in reality in my life in his nature&works for the Lords glory,romans8;29
Your observations are so practical and so very true; thank you for sharing them.
Don’t you just love somebody whose real enough to speak the truth, but in a loving, relevant way?
John Paul, thank you. I appreciate you so much, my brother in Christ. “Anoninting and the Trash” is one for all of us to ponder…
All glory be to God!
People hurt people, christian hurt other christians, family members hurt other familiy members because of poverty of the human heart/spirit. Instead of praying for abilities talents and financial blessings! We should pray for the ability to love other’s like Christ loves His Church. We have to be willing to be a living sacrifice and die daily to self so that He can live more fully in us. This is the highest law of the land. A ministry not based in love and humility is not a ministry at all. The way that people interact with one another in good attitude and encouragement is the beginning in this walk of humility. I think a good course for many believer’s should be Christian Love 101 followed by everything else. God’s love is the most powerful thing that a human being can ever experience on this side of Glory. Once experienced on a continually basis, it is hard to go back to our former ways because it is so transforming. We as christians when we see an authentic move of God working in the life of an individual for the benefit of the Body of Christ should welcome the move and not give in to envy or jealousy, it only leads to despair, depression, and hopelessness because that is not the love of God. In doing this we will have given Jesus a place to rest in us. A place to abide. When we do not do this the heart of man on a corporate level grows cold. Because there is no place for the Son of God to rest His head.
We need to individually repent daily and empty ourselves of all of our criticisms, judgments/prejudgments, predispositions to maladaptive behaviors that can destroy relationships in order to be able to be filled with God’s complete mercy, love and grace and then much of this back biting mistreatment and misunderstanding that is coming against the Body of Christ would cease and lessen a bit. We also in our prayer time and in corporate gatherings need to take communion daily to be in communion with Jesus and the rest of the Body of Christ.
We need to put on Jesus Christ in this way to enter into our new man nature daily. Worship and the reading of the word of God daily is also a great way to stay focused and connected to the things of heaven so that we can be some earthly good as we endeavor to bring the kingdom of God to the earth. Keep on worshiping the God we love and serve and do good to each other eventhough we are persecuted for this is the way of grace.
The key word here is ‘content’. Excellent.
Thank you for the reminder.
God Bless You,
Linn
HEY! on how a woman responds to her spouse when it is inconvenient, You cut me to the core!
Right on John Paul, thanks for the coffee talk. I’m looking forward to your posts. You help me keep on the straight and narrow road. Lynn from Az.
I appreciate you taking time out of your busy days to share your thoughts with others (like me). Your observations on peoples behaviour are so true, - and so challenging. It makes me take a status quo and (re-)discover my great potential for improvement. I still pray, though, that I will always be open for such unpleasant realizations about myself.
You are a blessing indeed !!! I take out the trash real well and have some mighty moments while washing dishes.
Now I seek the raising of the dead and my mighty vision;
The healing of the mentally challenged, “A sleeping army”
as I recieved it? Yes, just like your words, God is showing me my many bumps in the trail…I truly desire divine health and I am the sickest one I know??? Faith is a massive eternity!!! Love the Lover, and “we” who wish we were farther within that which is unseen to others.
Dear John Paul, On the way to work, I was listening to your CD#3 “Developing your Prophetic Gift” and heard the part about pride. You were saying on the CD the person who mops the floor is just as important in the kingdom as the person with a word from the Lord. Right at that moment, a big truck with the label “AMERIPRIDE” cut in front of me and I couldn’t see anything in the lane ahead. How fitting! God’s reminder that pride blocks vision!!! God Bless YOU!
I look forward to reading your blog….I’ve always appreciated your heart and spirit as you minister in so many different ways. The 365 Names of God book and CD are my favorites as well as a little tape I have of you overseas in a session where the angelic lights were flying around and the crowd was ooing over it all in unity….that was so cool! And the more time went on, the more drunk in the Spirit you became….And then your book “Needless Casulties of War” was a good eye opener for sure…..I look forward to reading your blog. I have a blog too and enjoy writing devotional thoughts…..Bless you and may God continue to give you strength and power to match your days!!
Thank you so much John. I miss that honesty in the lives of other believers. I asked God to search my heart after i read this blog. I want you to know that you are a refreshing breeze. i have not been on your site for many years. I use to attend your conferences in Clearwater, Florida at the vineyard years ago. I can’t even begin to describe the joy of reading a blog of yours, after all these years and still hear the gifted, honest, real John Paul. You are an amazing witness of the steadfast character of our Lord. thank you for being so real!
I am convicted. How many times I have inwardly moaned when my husband has asked for the “inconvenient”…even something as simple as a cup of coffee.
Thank for for loving us enough to tell us the truth.
I am loving Coffee Talk.
I am blessed to be able to receive from you via this blog. Pastor Z. has given us a heads up on this site. So glad he did!
This blog today is a keeper for me.
Thanks for sharing your wisdom and experience. It has already proven very helpful.
I hope it is okay for me to link this site to my blog?
thank God!he has sent a man,that knows he is a man,sent to love and inspire others to know, that we always need to keep our eyes on the upward call of Christ…it is Christ in us and to what degree we seek this and search for this;that the Christ in us comes forth.Service to the body of Christ…at our fullest potential..fully in our gifts and callings,fully surrendered.The declaritive prayer on your new site speaks volumes to me. at this time in my life in Christ..even in the darkness, or anxiety of the mind..I will decare the goodness of the Lord,and his goodness in me,will surely spring forth…for His glory always….
people with special giftings are just natural man like anyone.i know its tough when people whom we deeply admired and wanted to be like in some aspects has a public failure..
“gifted anointed man”" are constantly watched under a HUGE microscope and their mistakes are blown outof propotion… people may find it difficult to forgive , but there is no fullstop to gods mercy. let us never put a fullstop to gods mercy in others life coz we never put a fullstop to gods mercy in our life:))…
i just listened paul cains message in http://www.jubileechurch.com .. i was deeply touched by the heartbeet of love tht he has for everyone. his greatest gift is truly his great humilty… the best days are still to come in our life.. wht god has united , can anyone break ??..NO ONE…
may god bless yaa paul
god loves yaaa with an everlasting love
Praise the Lord! “And ye shall know them by their FRUITS” … not gifts. We might just make it yet, brother.
Thenk you John Paul. Here are my thoughts on the matter…
The Future is Humility – I have seen the future and the future is humility. Not prosperity. Not intellectualism. Not emotionalism. Not dispensational rapture insanity. Not illogical escapology. The future is humility. Jesus said John the Baptist was the best prophet. Why? Not for John’s works, but for his humble spirit. John said, “He (Jesus) must increase and I must decrease,” which made him continuously God indwelt. Humility must temper surges in euphoric but errant religion. Humility delivers what pride cannot. Pride now delivers much religious jabberwocky. Through scourging God delivers our prideful spirits mirrored back to us through excruciating circumstances. If we let this process crucify our rigidity and pride, we become more flexible and humble, which then allows God to indwell ourselves more fully. This is how our Adamic prejudice against self-incriminating truth dies. And living in us is then God. And living in God is then us. When religious babble dies and truth lives; that’ll be the day. And it will be a day of repenting, weeping and humility. Sadly, this day has not yet come. But when it does, what a happy day it will be: When pride in man decreases, humility in man increases and God in man lives.
Ya, this Humbled me that I have a lot go learn and grow in few areas. I know this I generally work very hard. It good to know that I one area I am ok. I generally work extreamly hard and willing to do that task no one likes. Like clean the bathrooms or anything or doing the dishes (not my favorite task.) I hate it went someone who has a calling and destiny and does not “first count the cost” and expects for it to be easy and not work…you should be working with the Holy Spirit in your everyday and they are not willing to truely “embrass the cross” and expect to reap the rewards. I got kind of agetated over it when someone did not realize it not out ourselfs. I know this Heidi talks about being a “Layed Down Lover for Christ”. I want to be a Layed Down Lover so much they don’t see me they See Christ. Not me.(This is real, So I can draw all men to Christ and not me.) The question are we drawing people to ourselves and not to Christ? I have realize the Height of God’s promotion the Lower in Humilty you have to go to continually be pointing others to Christ and not yourselves. I know this the I decrease so he can increase in me. I know this with my calling is this. “if” it is as large as it is. It has to be totally God and nothing of myself. I but not confidence in my own flesh (ya that stunk last year) but I am learning to put my confidence in Christ. Romans 8 Jason Upton said something on You Tube that rocked me. I was dealing with some issues, Jason said something that hit me like a ton of Bricks.
From a Layed Down Lover…seeking to face of God. ;o)
Last month I was introduced to the awesome “I AM–365 Naames of G_d CD. I first put it on my player in my car. The anointing that fell over the car was mind-boggling. I truly believe my car was not on the road all the 20 miles home. Then I got your books “I AM-Inheriting the Fullness of G_d’s Names” and “I Am–365 Names of G_d.” Such anointing!!! I teach for a Christian university and one of the classes I teach is “Spiritual Care of the Client” and I am going to find a way to incorporate these into my five weeks. Our DEan of Nursing and several faculty also have the CD and they play it constantly in the Nursinf DEpartment. Thank you for beieng so obedient in this ministry. Father G_d has moved on my heart many years ago that HIS Names should be used in worship Thank you and be mightily blessed.
very fascinating. One thing God told me years ago, which even today is a tough one. “Will, if you ever get to proud to clean a messed toilet, then you are too proud for me to use you”
as a background, let me say that I am a ‘germ freak’ and that God started me doing this to my horror and grossed out factor of way high.
Over the years, I began to see it as worship, and I would thank God for the opportunities to do such things. Eventually it led me to working a professional cleaning Job, and as gross as those times were for the ‘germ freak’ part of me, the spirit part of me found that it was the most peaceful and holy moments I had had. God would speak to me profoundly and I would have angelic visitations in public restroom cleaning times…
Whenever I see someone who is a little too ‘messy’ for church people to spend time with, whenever I goto a church and I see and hear in the otherly realms thoughts of negative and crude judgement going to some people, I rememver messy toilets, and I try and reach out to those people, because I know that some of the greatest people I have ever met were the ones that were rejected by the masses.
the greatest beleivers I have ever met were the ones that many had discredited, but they remained faithful to God regardless.
their is unusually beautiful wild flowers in the forsaken fields.
I just wanted to add that a person’s quality is shown in how they treat children and those weaker than themselves. This is a quality we’re looking for in our children’s future spouses. If they treat children with respect they often do the same to other people as well.
Thanks for your many insights into God. I also appreciate your blog and find your letters and writings extremely inspiring and yet convicting. I want to grow up in the Lord and you are one of those who are helping me. I agree that HIS Love is the spiritual trait ,of deeper spirituality,of what it means to be God breathed, Spirit filled and fully committed to Him. I’m not there yet, I am moving in that direction though as I daily seek Him.
I’m Wanting More of Him so I can see Him in His Glory.