Truths, experiences, and insights into God's mystery – This is a site filled with spiritual truths, personal experiences, and insights into God’s mystery shared by a man ordained by the laying on of the hands of Jesus.

A Slave to Jesus

Unlike most people, I didn’t choose the Lord, He chose me. And I am glad He did. Serving Him is an honor. My path has been lonely, but well worth it. The Lord has healed my son of an incurable crippling disease and He has vindicated me several times when people have misjudged me.

I have seen Him heal others along my path, bringing them joy and health. I have been given the privilege of hearing the trees praising God, and of flowers revealing secrets to me.

Once my Master told me that if I would trust Him to supply all my needs, I must be willing to give away even that which I needed. My wife and I gave all our money to others more needy than ourselves. We had no income at this time, no savings, no assets worth anything. And the Lord supplied our needs in miraculous ways without our telling any one that we were in need.

Today we have enough money that we give to both the church and to the poor every year. You see, the Master to whom I am a slave is a wonderful Person; He is love; He is merciful, compassionate, and His lovingkindness endures forever.

Someone once told me that I have no human dignity, since I am a slave to Jesus. But what he didn’t understand is that Jesus treats me like I am the apple of His eye. We watched our son going crippled for 18 months and Jesus healed him in the blink of an eye. I spoke the words, “In the name of Jesus be healed,” one night when our son was asleep. The following day He was not crippled anymore.

My goodness, I would be a slave to Christ even if He didn’t want me. I would follow Him wherever He went. I once felt the weight of Jesus’ hands when He ordained me. His garment moved when I touched it. I stood with Him and three apostles when I was caught up with Him. Another apostle, Paul, walked by in front of us looking straight at me. He knew me. A man who was raised from the dead knew he had been dead, and credited Jesus for bringing him back to life. I now have skin cancer, but I am not the least bit concerned, because my Lord loves me, and there is nothing impossible for Him.

By God’s grace I will be His slave forever. Will you?

Jon David Banks, God’s most unworthy servant

P.S. The skin cancer has since been removed and all is well.

For the Sake of conscience

In Galatians 6 Paul spoke of a second creation — “But may it never be that I should boast, except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world. For neither is circumcision anything, nor uncircumcision, but a new creation. And those who will walk by this rule, peace and mercy be upon them, and upon the Israel of God,” Galatians 6:14-16.

The first creation is of the earth, the second is of heaven. In the first creation Adam was formed, in the second creation the church, or the body of the risen Christ, is being formed. Through the cross of Christ, the world was crucified to us and we were crucified to the world.

The first creation was one in which all inhabitants were disobedient to God. The second creation is one in which all inhabitants are trained up in the way they should go and learn obedience from the things which they suffer.

All who endure and both learn and practice obedience, will inherit eternal life and become partakers of a new heaven and a new earth. As Hebrews 5:9 says, And having been made perfect, He [Jesus] became to all those who obey Him the source of eternal salvation.

And, “FOR THOSE WHOM THE LORD LOVES HE DISCIPLINES, AND HE SCOURGES EVERY SON WHOM HE RECEIVES.”

It is for discipline that you endure; God deals with you as with sons; for what son is there whom his father does not discipline?

But if you are without discipline, of which all have become partakers, then you are illegitimate children and not sons, Hebrews 12:6-8.

Now, a little about this obedience:

1 Peter 2:19,

19For this finds favor, if for the sake of conscience toward God a person bears up under sorrows when suffering unjustly…

What a powerful sentence this is. If someone is mistreating us or causing us sorrow in any way, we are to bear the sorrows without defending ourselves or fighting back in any form. We are simply to bear them. We are not called to correct them or demand apologies. We are to bear them for the sake of conscience toward God.

When I speak with people about following Jesus, I use exceeding the speed limit as an example. To the Romans, Paul writes,

Romans 13:1-5,

1 Let every person be in subjection to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those which exist are established by God.

2 Therefore he who resists authority has opposed the ordinance of God; and they who have opposed will receive condemnation upon themselves.

3 For rulers are not a cause of fear for good behavior, but for evil. Do you want to have no fear of authority? Do what is good and you will have praise from the same;

4 for it is a minister of God to you for good. But if you do what is evil, be afraid; for it does not bear the sword for nothing; for it is a minister of God, an avenger who brings wrath on the one who practices evil.

5 Wherefore it is necessary to be in subjection, not only because of wrath, but also for conscience’ sake.

Paul is saying we must submit to, and obey, the governing authorities that exist not just because it is lawful, but because it keeps our conscience clean before God. Paul was aware that those who walk by the Spirit would be stricken in their conscience if they broke the law in any way. However, He was also aware that few walk by the Spirit consistently. So He reminds us of the need to obey to get us to be more attentive to the Spirit.

When people argue with me about the insignificance of obeying the speed limit, I always remind them that speeding is against the law and that the word of God tells us to obey governing authorities. Therefore, to speed is not only disobeying the government authorities but also disobeying God. We are deliberately going against His will (and people wonder why their prayers aren’t answered).

A Christian should obey the speed limit in honor of God. I obey the speed limit because I am so appreciative of what He has done for me. My conscience will not allow me to willfully go against His will, whether it’s exceeding the speed limit or lusting after a woman.

Peter was referring to the same principle when he said, “For this finds favor, if for the sake of conscience toward God a person bears up under sorrows when suffering unjustly.” If we care about God we will conduct ourselves in a manner worthy of our calling. If we care more about ourselves than we care about God, we will fluff it all off and tell ourselves we are deserving of better treatment.

If we love and appreciate our Lord we will follow His example, for we have been called for this purpose, since Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example for you to follow in His steps, WHO COMMITTED NO SIN, NOR WAS ANY DECEIT FOUND IN HIS MOUTH; and while being reviled, He did not revile in return; while suffering, He uttered no threats, but kept entrusting Himself to Him who judges righteously… 1 Peter 2:21-23.

We were bought with a precious price, and there is no way we can repay that price. Walking in obedience is the least we can do.

We must take heed to what Paul said, “Walk by the Spirit [the second creation], and you will not carry out the desire of the flesh [the first creation],” Galatians 5:16.

Jon David Banks, God’s most unworthy servant

P.S. In case some are thinking I am just finding fault for the sake of finding fault, let me say this:

I never purposely exceed the speed limit. I won’t drive for even one block without my seat belt on. For years I cleaned up public toilets I used because I believe a Christian should leave a place better than he or she found it. I have not done so for nearly two years now because of my health. If I bend over too much or put too much pressure on my right arm I am in excruciating pain for hours. So I had to quit cleaning public bathrooms. I did so with the Lord’s permission. Actually, He told me to stop. I always cleaned them out of respect for Him and I have to admit I still want to do it but He tells me not to.

Now, am I bragging? No, I am not bragging. I am simply talking about walking in a way that is pleasing to the Lord; a way that exemplifies our love for one another and our love for our Lord. I have been called to help people, and I try to do so in any and every way I can. This is why I write these letters, to help all who love God to follow the way and the truth and the life.

Every time we do even the smallest good deed, whether cleaning restrooms or opening a door for a lady, or maintaining the speed limit, the rulers and powers and forces of darkness are humiliated by the triumph of the cross of Christ. Spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places cringe when we put on the Lord Jesus Christ and love everyone in deeds and not just words.

We are a people for God’s own possession, that we may proclaim the excellencies of Him who called us out of darkness into His marvelous Light. To Him be glory, majesty, dominion, and authority before time and now and forever.

Faith, Hope, Love

I’m 78 years old and for the past year or so I’ve been noticing a lot of changes in my health. I have a few maladies that are slowly but steadily growing worse.

For several months I woke up thinking that I was one day older than I was the day before. This thought haunted me nearly every day.

Well, a few weeks ago I woke up with a completely different thought. It was this — I’m one day closer to being with Jesus. Oh, my goodness, that thought has changed everything.

A few people have even noticed a change in me. Just last night a friend commented that I’m starting to look younger. I think he was exaggerating a little, but I liked what he said.

I’m going to be very open and honest about this. My health is getting better, quite a bit of pain has been subsiding, and I’m so happy to know I’m going to be with Jesus one day. I’m looking forward to that day.

I have been treated pretty badly by many people since I was born. The doctors have told me I have most likely had PTSD since childhood and it was worsened by experiences in the Army.

Throughout my entire life, I have been an outcast, even in my Christian life. I am very familiar with bearing the Lord’s reproach outside the gate. I also realize I am very honored for the opportunity to be treated in such a manner.

I used to either get mad or weep when people turned on me. I never knew which it was going to be. But I am finally learning to rejoice when I’m treated so badly, especially by Christians, because the path I have walked has taught me to trust in Jesus. If He is pleased with me, that is enough.

It matters not what people think if we’re doing the will of God, as long as God is pleased with the way we are doing it. This life is but a whisper in a strong wind. It’s here and gone in a flash.

Oh, my goodness, God is so magnificent, so majestic, so beyond this tiny world we live in, Yes, the world is tiny compared to God. Think about it, the human race began from the dust of the ground. We as a species have accomplished much. But in comparison to God, we are specks of sand.

I didn’t intend to write all this. I was just going to write about my change of thoughts every day. But I’m going to leave everything in this writing.

In closing, I want to say that by my faith in the name of Jesus, a man was raised from the dead and given another chance to accept Christ, which he did. By faith a demon was cast out of a lady and a pearl was laid up for me in heaven. By faith, I have seen angels and demons. By faith, I have seen Jesus several times. He once laid His hands on my shoulders and ordained me to preach His gospel. I felt the weight of His hands. I reached out and touched His robe as He started up the staircase I was sitting on. I saw His robe move when I touched it. He stopped, looked back, and smiled at me, then walked to the top of the stairs and disappeared.

There is another experience even more miraculous than these. So I have had a glimpse of the vastness of God. In one vision I saw into heaven. In another, I saw Israelites as far as the eye could see; Israelites who had received a spirit of stupor for the sake of the Gentiles.

One would think that after seeing and participating in all these things I would have faith running out of my ears. The truth is all those things, while wonderful and helpful, were like a drop in the bucket to me. Yes, I was amazed each time; and I mean totally and completely amazed. But I could never rest in the Spirit. I was always torn in two.

You see, I was raised being taught that I wasn’t worthy to breathe the same air as everyone else and that I should apologize to everyone I see. I was taught this in very convincing ways. The things I endured in my childhood affect me to this day.

They affected me deeply in accepting the love of the Father and Son. I was programmed to believe I deserved the worst of what life had to offer. So when I was born again I had a hard time accepting the Lord’s love. I could accept His forgiveness, but not His love. This has gone on for decades.

I don’t know how it has happened but I have recently been opening myself before God. This past year I have laid myself bare before Him and He has done things within me that have boggled my mind. He witnesses to my heart in such comforting and loving ways, letting me know He understands my predicament and is leading me out of it.

Just recently I have been experiencing something that is above my pay grade. It’s like a glimpse into something I can’t even describe. I never expect it; it just comes. And when it comes it is like perfect peace entering my entire being. This has happened several times.

It’s like expressions of God’s love, or flashes of light that enter my heart and my spirit, and my soul. It’s fleeting, but it’s immensely powerful. And it has made my faith flourish.

The thought of Jesus loving me as much as He does humbles me to the point that I can barely raise my head. I am so unworthy. And He loves me despite the bad things I’ve done in my past, and He has forgiven me. He still forgives me to the extent that I forgive those who sin against me. As long as I am forgiving, He is forgiving.

He loves each of us equally. We need only accept His love. Accepting His love for us makes it so much easier to both love and forgive others. It also makes it easier to have a good attitude to begin each day.

If anyone who reads this has a similar problem of accepting God’s love, please be honest with Him. He loves honesty. He knows our needs before we ask Him, yet He still wants us to ask Him. He longs to comfort us and show His amazing love for us, but we must open ourselves before Him and allow Him to do these things.

There are two things when approaching God, that both honor and please Him beyond words. These two things are ‘honesty’ and ‘truthfulness.’ He will overlook our shortcomings and embrace us with open arms. He wants us to put down our defenses and rely on Him so that He can show us each of the attributes of His love.

Psalm 51:6, Behold, Thou dost desire truth in the innermost being, and in the hidden part Thou wilt make me know wisdom.

Never try to work up faith, never claim anything, just trust in God. If you are having trouble believing something, don’t stand on the word, or claim a promise. Standing on the word and claiming something from God is the height of arrogance. Who are we to demand He does what we ask.

Instead, we should say, “Lord, I believe. Please help my unbelief.” This is honest and truthful. God knows when we have trouble believing something, just as the writer of Hebrews said —

Hebrews 4:13,

“And there is no creature hidden from His sight, but all things are open and laid bare to the eyes of Him with whom we have to do.”

God already knows the thoughts and intentions of our hearts, if we go to Him acting like or claiming we have faith when we have doubts, He will see us as following the father of lies, that one who was a liar from the beginning. The more honest we are, the more help He will give us, and the faster we will attain to the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God.

Our heavenly Father desires us to be truthful with ourselves and with Him, and if we do this He makes us to know wisdom. This wisdom comes from Jesus, for He has become to us wisdom from God. So if we are not truthful, we are not wise, nor do we belong to Jesus.

But now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love.

May we all lay down our arms and be truthful in our innermost being, so the Lord can express Himself to us and give us wisdom, as He sheds His love abroad in our hearts.

Ephesians 3:14-21,

14 For this reason, I bow my knees before the Father,

15 from whom every family in heaven and on earth derives its name,

16 that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with power through His Spirit in the inner man;

17 so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; and that you, being rooted and grounded in love,

18 may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth,

19 and to know the love of Christ which surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled up to all the fulness of God.

20 Now to Him who is able to do exceeding abundantly beyond all that we ask or think, according to the power that works within us,

21 to Him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations forever and ever. Amen.

Jon David Banks, God’s most unworthy servant

Apart from Me you can do nothing

We can do nothing in and of ourselves to please God or walk worthy of Him. However, He has prepared works that we are to do. The only way to do these works is to abide in Jesus and follow Him. “I am the vine, you are the branches; he who abides in Me and I in him, he bears much fruit, for apart from Me you can do nothing,” John 15:5. If we don’t do this, we are illegitimate children, for only those who are led by the Spirit of God are the sons of God, Hebrews 12:8.

Even when doing these works, we are acutely aware that it is not us doing them, but God who is working in us. As Jesus did nothing on His own initiative, neither should we.

Even during times of temptations and striving against sin, we escape temptation, not because we’re strong, but because God has made a way of escape for us, and He guides us through our trials, all the while fashioning us into obedient children. He does this so that when we mature we will be without stain or blemish, thereby having reached the maturity of the first creation, Adam, without the sin of the first creation.

“For Jesus [the last Adam] appeared in order to take away sins, and in Him there is no sin. No one who abides in Him sins; no one who sins has seen Him or knows Him,” 1 John 3:5,6.

“Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come,” 2 Corinthians 5:17.

Do you, as I do, feel too weak to sustain a life of abiding in Christ? The Lord has provided for this; for just as He told Paul, so it is with us, “My grace is sufficient, for power is perfected in weakness,” 2 Corinthians 12:9.

“Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you, and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart; and you shall find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My load is light,” Matthew 11:28-30. I’ve found it so, I’ve found it so.

Jon David Banks, God’s most unworthy servant

Please weigh everything I say on the scales of the word of God.