Bro John:
I ran across this email of a sermon your father preached from 1947 when he was going through a time of persecution, and there was division among the body. There is such authority and strength in his words, and his confidence in God is amazing, considering all he endured. The first part of his sermon, which is not included here, addressed the issue of the union that God had created between your mother and him. But as you said in the story, “His nature was not to be on the defensive when he knew that God had done something for him, and so, as usual, he went on the offensive with the knowledge of an experience he knew his opponents simply did not understand.”
From George C. Clark, Pioneer of the Faith stories:
“What have you done to put you where you are? . . . What effect has your stand taken on you? Do you love everyone better? Are you humbler? Has your tongue been made tamer? Are you happier? Or are you more miserable than ever before? Has the grumbling spirit taken hold on you so you can’t be satisfied? Has your patience been destroyed? Where are you?
Is your God keeping you happy? (There may be many gods). How do we feel now? Are we calm? Are we feeling so peaceful that everyone feels freedom in our presence? Or are we nervous? Are our faces covered with hatred, condemnation for the other fellow, or sadness that keeps us from perfect peace? Would we be satisfied to live forever just like this? Is this the fruits of the Spirit of God? Or is this the effect of coming in contact with the truth and finding ourselves on the wrong side?
Let’s be honest, how many of [you] have the same spirit towards me now that others held toward you when you first started into this truth? I am receiving the same condemnation now from some of you that I received then, and listen, I am using the same weapons that I used then (they are not carnal). As you have seen others fall and dry on the stalk, so shall it be with you. I am no more anxious for you to change now than I was then for those who kept on fight[ing the truth] to change. I only give thanks to God for all, regardless of the part they play. You can play no part other than your own, as others have played theirs. I want no part other than mine. I am what I have been and expect to remain; yet I realize not many have known me or know me now. There is not one who has stood by me and known me who will not stand now. Those who have stood but can’t stand now have been deceived and are deceived and if we can be deceived in one person we can be deceived in another.
We have never been in the strait that we are in now. This is life or death. I want you to know the truth. The things that you believe, I wish you only knew, your freedom lies there. Death or life may be there for you.”
It really blessed me to read this again today. So thankful for the old saints who stood strong and faithful. I want to see them again one day. Because of their faithfulness we are the recipients of glorious blessings in the truth. As Preacher Clark said, “This is life or death. I want you to know the truth. The things that you believe, I wish you only knew, your freedom lies there. Death or life may be there for you.”
~ Sandy
PS “If you are sincerely thankful, then the ones whom God has used to bring His blessings into your life will feel that you are thankful, not just for your blessings but for them personally.” JDC 6-20-2006