Pastor John,
I’ve been reading the George C. Clark stories* again. I love them! They are filled with faith, instruction and pure love of God. Many times I’ll read something that I missed or had forgotten. I read this tonight and it was so good I wanted to share it.
This is Aunt Nannie’s testimony concerning the vision Jesus graciously gave her:
“Many times I have been to bed and prayed that God would reveal Himself to me, that He would give me a dream or vision that I could not wait until the day to tell about, that I would have to wake someone up to tell them. Wednesday night at our prayer meeting, I went up for prayer and was slain in the Spirit. It was so wonderful, the love and the warmth that followed me. Thursday night I dressed for bed and sat down on the side of the bed and picked up, The Broadcaster, a monthly letter from our pastor. I lay down and my eyes fell on these lines: ‘There are commandments to be kept if those who are in covenant with Christ would be saved from the coming wrath of God.’ Suddenly, my eyes filled with tears and my spirit cried out, ‘Michael! Michael!’ I knew that if Michael had kept the commandments and loved God with all his heart he would not have left and gone where they do not preach the truth. Then, suddenly, I felt a tap on my forehead. And a voice said, ‘I don’t need Michael, but he needs me.’
Then, I was not on my bed. I was out in a field at the edge of a woods. It was late in the afternoon. Dusk was falling. Everything was quiet. Then I heard a voice that spoke directly in my heart. It said, ‘Here I am.’ I turned my head slightly to the left and saw Jesus, standing ahead. He didn’t open his mouth, but his voice, or word, was speaking to a group of people. The voice said, ‘I don’t need you. You need me. I can give you peace, comfort, and protection from the wrath of God that’s coming.’ I felt great fear and tried to fall down at his feet. I knew that I would be safe there, but I couldn’t move. I couldn’t pick my feet up. I tried to push myself. I was so close. Then I was aware that I was back on my bed, holding The Broadcaster up in the air.”
“What are we to gather from this wonderful vision from the Lord to Sister Nannie? She received from it three distinct impressions.
First, from her testimony, in her own words, ‘I know that if we receive anything from God, we have to come to him with all our hearts, with nothing between us.’
Secondly, we have to receive before we can give to others. We can’t even give a birthday present until we purchase and receive it first. Oh Lord, have mercy on your people.
Aunt Nannie’s third clear impression from her vision was that, ‘We must come to this place [in Christ], or he will replace us with someone who will.’
Jesus doesn’t need me. I need Jesus. Jesus doesn’t need man in order to have his gospel preached. Men need the anointing of Christ to be able to preach his gospel. Jesus doesn’t need the body of Christ to be the light of the world. The body of Christ needs grace from God that it might be the light of the world. Jesus has no need of tithes and offerings. The body of Christ needs anointed men to receive their tithes and offerings in his name. Jesus doesn’t need us, our talents, our money, our plans, our buildings, our organizations, our many members. We need Jesus and his power, his wisdom, his goodness, his correction, and his Spirit. He is our life! We are not his life. Without him, we are hopeless. Without us, he lives and reigns forevermore.”
Whew, Amen! This is wonderfully sobering! I’m just lying here tonight so thankful for these old saints. Thankful that you’ve passed their testimonies to us. It feels just as good to my soul today as I’m sure it did Aunt Nannie’s then!~ He is our life!
Michelle
* https://www.pioneertract.com/