Pastor John, 

RE: An excerpt from: Random Thought, 12-9, Putting Off Sackcloth, by Pastor John 

I love this. It is so good. I prayed as I shared this on Facebook, “Lord, please let them see it!”

Whenever God removes your sackcloth, He covers you with robes of mercy. He gives the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness (Isa. 61:3). When men remove their own sackcloth, they are left naked before God, even if they do not know it.

Men have never known when to remove their sackcloth; that is why we must humble ourselves to wait on God. “It is Good”, said Jeremiah, “that a man should both hope and quietly wait for the salvation of the Lord” (Lam. 3:26). Those who do not wait on God will be left to join one of the many religions that mankind has developed as a substitute for true mercy and grace. They will take off their own sackcloth and join ranks with the multitudes who are traveling naked toward the Judgment. To just such a man (as to all who have removed their own sackcloth), Jesus once said, “For you say, ‘I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing,’ but you don’t know that you are wretched, and pathetic, and poor, and blind, and naked, I advise you to purchase from me gold refined by fire so that you may be rich, and white garments so that you may clothe yourself and the shame of your nakedness not be exposed, and eyesalve to anoint your eyes so that you might see” (Rev. 3:17—18)….

“They will take off their own sackcloth and join ranks with the multitudes who are traveling naked toward the Judgment.” 

What is written above touched me when I read it.  After seeing the young people praise the Lord recently, it did something to me.  I saw the most beautiful sight in those moments.  It did something to my heart, and when I read the above, it stirred deep in me again.  I know what is written is true; no one could ever tell me it is not true.  The Lord not only showed me, but he etched it into my soul.  Maybe even to my foundation.  I don’t know, but it does something to me. 

I want those young people to read it, Pastor John, but more than that, I want them to see it. 

“They will take off their own sackcloth and join ranks with the multitudes who are traveling naked toward the Judgment.” 

It hurts my heart. 

Beth

Pastor John, 

The Lord reminded me of this truth after reading your December 7th Pearl of the Day:

Envy, just like grumbling, is slander against God. 

It implies that God didn’t get it right. 

Jerry D.

I just wanted to thank Jesus for his sweet, sweet power of the Holy Ghost, sweeping over my heart and soul last night! To just lie there on the floor feeling his power, and releasing me from my burdens, thoughts, and cares of this life, feeling his sweet washing power sweeping over and over inside of me! All I could feel going over and over inside me was Jesus, Jesus feel my heart, cleanse me from me, I need more of You!  

How can people live without it? Oh, how I thank him for the GOOD HOLY GHOST! ! 

Jimmy T.

Hi Pastor John,  

I was thinking about how beautiful the young people looked praising the Lord Saturday evening. The thought “garment of praise” came to mind. When I looked up Isaiah 61:3 in our translation, it shows “mantle of praise”. It is hard for me to think of a “mantle of praise” being the same as a mantle like Elijah passed on. In my mind I think of a mantle as representing an anointing.

I looked up the word mantle to reference how it is used in the Bible, and it seems to be many times as a robe or clothing. To think of Jesus wrapping us in his spirit and allowing us to praise him moves me deeply. What I saw on the young people was pulled from within them and they were submitting to that heavenly draw. I feel it every time I watch the video. Thinking about a garment of praise, I can picture Jesus standing there in the room with us, covering each of them that night.

I guess when Jesus chooses one to anoint, he is laying a heavenly cloak upon them.  Brings tears to my eyes thinking about Jesus laying a cloak upon you, Pastor John.

I don’t know anything more beautiful than the truth, Pastor John. 

Isaiah 61:3

“To provide for those mourning in Zion — to give them beauty instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, a mantle of praise instead of a weary spirit — that they might be called, “trees of righteousness, the planting of Jehovah”, that He might be glorified.”

Beth

Pastor John,

The Spirit spoke to me this evening while you were preaching. I will try to describe it.

I needed to use the bathroom and I was getting uncomfortable because of it. Determined not to miss anything I finally told (myself) with the intent of settling the matter, “I’m not going while he is preaching, it’s too good, I’m not going!”

After letting myself “have it” there in your basement, I then recalled attending a meeting of brother Benny Hinn’s, some 12 years ago in Tennessee.

Brother Hinn started his service that night by telling everyone that we were all there for the purpose of getting something from the Lord. He then went on to tell us that in a short time some of us were going to start feeling restless, or get the feeling that we needed to go to the bathroom. He then fixed his eyes on us all and said sternly, “Hold it!” (referring to the bathroom) “God is worth you waiting on, and worth you being uncomfortable for.”

After recalling brother Hinn’s words tonight, from his meeting some 12 years ago, a feeling came over me of how very much “in order” those instructions were to everyone.  I thought to myself, Benny Hinn told us to “hold it” that night, because he knew his words from the Lord had VALUE.

The Lord then interrupted that thought of mine, pastor John, with this:

“and you who do not require that your children mind you the first time you speak, do so because you know your words DO NOT have value.  GET VALUABLE!!

What the Lord is passing out has value!”

Thanks,

Jerry

The humility and grace inherent in your writing, Pastor John, is breathtaking to me.  I weep when I read such heartfelt, honest writing.  Do you know why I weep?  Because I identify with it…with what you wrote…with your same feelings. 

In 1994 (24 YEARS AGO!), I came to know the truth through brother Gary’s efforts (his radio broadcast and the tracts he sent me).  Then, after my eyes had been opened, and after I had fully repented, I was born again…and then I’ve drifted for quite some time, also wondering why Jesus revealed such profound and wonderful truths to me, yet not to others.  I have been alone, mostly, for 15 years; but of course, remaining dedicated to you and our family in Christ who have also continued to stay in love with the truth.  And I’ve always wondered where I fit in… into the work God has given you..and I still do not know.  I have beside me a wife who has also fallen in love with Jesus and this truth, and we are excited about discovering how and where the Lord will lead us, and if/when my talents can be put to use in some way for the benefit of your work…or perhaps my own work, to share this truth to those who are hungering to know it.  

It seems that very few, indeed, are hungering and thirsting for the truth, as I always was.  “Jesus found me“, I tell  people, because I was looking but not finding true rest in religious church groups.  I obeyed His call to come out, and it has made all the difference in the world, sitting under your tutelage and being blessed—and persecuted—because of it. 

I love what you have written.  It is good for a man to examine himself, to see if he is truly in the faith—and why!

Please pray that I may find my place in God’s plan.  I am not sure of where I fit into the big scheme…but I have a heart that yearns to know…and so does my darling wife, Allison. 

Looking forward to our visit in a few days. 

Brad

Pastor John, 

I was reading this morning and this really struck me.  I never really considered being an enemy of God because of sin.

Romans 5:

10. For if when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by His life.

Verses 7 and 8 really touched me.

Romans 5:

7. Rarely will someone die for a righteous man, though for a good man, one might possibly bring himself to die,

8.but God commends to us His kind of love, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.

Matthew 5:

44. But I say to you, love your enemies; bless those who curse you; do good to those who hate you; and pray for those who mistreat you and persecute you,

45. so that you may be children of your Father who is in heaven. For He makes His sun to rise upon the evil and the good, and sends rain upon the just and the unjust.

Beth D.

John, 

I enjoyed immensely the education you gave on translating in tract room last night, thank you!  It just cements in the fact that we must have the spirit to lead us.

I am thankful if I have any little part in getting the message to the Jews.  I feel like we are just starting to understand why the Jews  were confused and rejected the messiah.

My, my, when will I learn that Jesus just meant what he said, “You search the scriptures; in them, you think you have life, but they are they that testify of me.  And you won’t come to me.”

Now, Jesus is allowing you to see him in the scriptures.

Looking forward to Revelation Sunday Night.

Wendell