Chapter 5: John G. Lake’s Comments

I love to read books about men and women who believed Jesus when He said that we would do greater things than Him with even just a little faith. The great followers of Jesus all had one thing in common—they loved the commands of Jesus. John G. Lake is a man of God who I was thankful to read about. He did the greater things as Jesus promised. One of my friends from South Africa had a dad that grew up and worked in Rhodesia (now Zimbabwe). His dad worked in a hotel when John G. Lake walked through the lobby of the hotel to check in. His dad heard a big commotion and ran into the lobby to see what had happened. It turns out, as Lake walked through the lobby, everyone there was slain in the Spirit by the power of the God on him.

By the power of the Jesus in Him, he was also said to have healed approximately 100,000 people in South Africa and another 100,000 or so in Spokane, Washington, which became known as the healthiest city in the U.S. during that time. John G. Lake loved Jesus’ commands and wrote the following piece about His commands. I’ve underlined certain parts for emphasis.

The Commandments of Jesus – The Only Real Basis for a Kingdom Consecration by Reverend John G. Lake

“How far the world and the Church are away from the standard of Jesus Christ can best be understood by a study of the commandments of Jesus. The commandments of Jesus are binding and constitute His standard for the Christian conscience. The degree of our Christ- likeness can be ascertained by the practical application of these commandments to our life. As a test of the spirit, they are the only infallible rule. If the spirit in us honors, teaches, and causes us to live in absolute harmony with the principles and commandments and teachings of Jesus Christ then it is the Spirit of God.

The eight Beatitudes are the basis for the real Christian’s consecration. When they are embodied in us in actual fact, we are citizens- elect of the kingdom of heaven. In the millennial age , when Jesus establishes on this earth His universal kingdom, consisting of a parliament of man , the federation of the world, and governs the same as King, the eight Beatitudes or principles, together with the Sermon on the Mount, (Matthew 5, 6, and 7) and the commandments of Jesus, will be the constitution and laws of the kingdom.

He who obtains a place in the kingdom of heaven does so through being born again. From his new birth, his life should be governed by the principles and commandments of Jesus. The tremendous selfishness of the world and the average Christian life is best understood by the application of the unselfish principles and commands of Jesus. Observation demonstrates that the really great in God who bless mankind are those who live in absolute accordance with the

teachings of Jesus. With what force then, the word of Jesus come to us, as spoken at the close of the Sermon on the Mount:

“Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine and doeth them, I will liken to a wise man, which built his house upon a rock: And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded on a rock. And everyone that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth not them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand: And the rain descended, and the floods came , and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell; and great was the fall of it. And it came to pass, when Jesus had ended these sayings, the people were astonished at his doctrine: For He taught as one having authority.” Matthew 7:24-29

The commandments of Jesus are the authoritative declaration of the Son of God and are forever binding on the Christian soul. They supersede the Ten Commandments of the law of Moses, as is seen clearly in the fact that Jesus declared, “ It is written in your law, ‘Thou shalt not kill, but I say unto you that he that hateth without a cause is a murderer.” Matthew 5:21-22

What is the value of the former commandment when superseded by one making a superior demand upon the conscience?

“Again, the Law says, “Thou shall not commit adultery.” But I say unto you he that looketh on a

woman to lust after her, has committed adultery with her in his heart.” Matthew 5:27-28 So the original commandment was made null and void by the holier commandment.

The commandments of Jesus embody the entire teaching and practice of real Christianity. How a Christian can live without a copy of the commandments of Jesus is a surprise. The fact that they have never been compiled and published except by ourselves is one of the greatest surprises. They should be in the hands of every person, saint and sinner, who is interested in knowing what real Christianity is and what Jesus really taught.”

The Commands of Jesus (41-50)

Command 41

So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets. (Matthew 7:12)

Command 42

Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it. (Matthew 7:13-14)

Command 43

Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are

ferocious wolves. (Matthew 7:15)

Command 44

But Jesus told him, “Follow me, and let the dead bury their own dead.” (Matthew 8:22)

Command 45

Some men brought to him a paralyzed man, lying on a mat. When Jesus saw their faith, he said

to the man, “Take heart, son; your sins are forgiven.” (Matthew 9:2)

Command 46

But I want you to know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins.” So he said to the paralyzed man, “Get up, take your mat and go home.” (Matthew 9:6)

Command 47

But go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy, not sacrifice.’ For I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.” (Matthew 9:13)

Command 48

Jesus turned and saw her. “Take heart, daughter,” he said, “your faith has healed you.” And the

woman was healed at that moment. (Matthew 9:22)

Command 49

Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.” (Matthew 9:37-38)

Command 50

These twelve Jesus sent out with the following instructions: “Do not go among the Gentiles or

enter any town of the Samaritans. Go rather to the lost sheep of Israel…” (Matthew 10:5)