Dear Bro. John:

Thank you for sending your 1993 sermon “Destruction by Redefinition“ (and thanks to Amy B. for typing it for us). It blessed me again to realize that Jesus has saved us from so many of Christianity’s snares and opened our eyes to the truth, and that we believe and understand what he has given to us thus far. There was a lot to take in and so many good parts in the reading. I just wanted to share a small part that touched me:

And when Jesus came on Peter’s boat, he said, “Depart from me Lord, I’m an unclean man. I’m unfit for you to be here.” That’s the kind of person Jesus was looking for, because he knew that Peter was unfit for him to be there. This whole world wasn’t fit for Jesus to come to. He was too good for the whole place. He was looking for someone else who knew that. And every person that would come to Jesus and say, “I’m not worthy for you to be here”, was blessed by God. They were confessing the truth.

When the Centurion heard that Jesus was on his way to heal his son, he sent a servant and said, “Lord, I am not worthy to have you under my roof. Just say the word and my servant will be healed.” Jesus looked around at those following him and said, “I haven’t seen this kind of faith in all Israel. That’s the kind of faith I’m looking for. Go tell that man his son is healed.” But they didn’t have to go down there and tell him, his son was healed when Jesus said it. When they got there, he told them his son was healed! They got to figuring on the times, and figured out the young man was healed at the same time Jesus said he was. That’s what Jesus is looking for – for somebody who feels unworthy of him. That’s somebody God has spoken to. When God speaks to you, you find out you’re not worthy of Jesus.

My, my! If we come into His Presence with just that one thought – that we are unworthy of him. There is no room for pride in a heart that truly believes this. For him to visit us is such an honor and privilege. What I am feeling right now makes me want to crawl into our meetings.

I was so very thankful for the “moment” Jesus shared with me Wednesday night. I needed to feel the refreshing of the Spirit, to feel that thankfulness to be able to lift my hands in praise and feel the Spirit just flowing. As I listened to the words of Bro. Darren’s song, they were like “scrubbing bubbles” to my soul. It was like I was listening to the story of a rich man and realizing I was the rich man! I was unworthy, but Jesus knew what I needed – Him! I was thinking today how the flesh doesn’t want to “get past” what happened yesterday, to just let go of it all so that we can have our sweet moments with Jesus. Then, I thought of how Jesus left everything good with his Father to come to this world of woe so that we might know that “glorious good” they shared. Jesus had nothing to let go of but good – his life was perfect. But, he did that for us. Yes, we are unworthy of such love. How precious is our Savior!

So thankful for what you sent out today. Sorry for the length of this email, but I had to share just a little bit of how blessed I felt after reading your sermon.
Sandy

P.S. I do believe Bro. Darren’s song, “It’s Another One” may sum up the 1993 sermon. 🙂

Morning pastor John!

Last night at the meeting when sister Willie spoke about her test results​, it​ was so good to me.​ ​ I feel so blessed to grow in God under saints like sister Willie, Lou and sister Betty. ​Sister Willie’s attitude is perfect. ​ ​If it’s cancer or not​,​ she’s still thankful and still happy and faithful to God. ​ ​That is exactly what I want to be.​ ​ I feel so thankful to have time with these sweet saints of God.​ ​ I have always wished I could have known your father and uncle Joe. ​ ​Just really felt connected to both of them.​ ​ I want to soak up all the gold from those here with us.​ ​ I want to grow and learn.​ ​ What a wonderful example of really living the truth sister Willie is. ​ ​I am thankful to be here in NC, in this part of God’s family.

I feel very safe in our family.

Beth

Hi John,

It was so good to see Lou in the meeting tonight!  Sweet testimony.  And Sister Willie!  My, so real and full of His work.  And the songs by Gary and Darren–Wow!!!  Thank you, Jesus!!!  I love hearing what God has done, over and over again.  It never gets old!  What a wonderful song: “It’s another one”.  Wow.  Thank you, God!! 

Stuart

Good morning Pastor John,

This morning Jesus woke me up with this thought, “He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.”  I looked up the word “diligently”, and one of its meanings is “constant in effort to accomplish something”; “attentive and persistent in doing anything”.

I thought, “Lord, let me be constant in asking you for what I/we need.”  Then, Jesus began laying people on my heart, and I heard prayers come from my heart for different ones and for the body as a whole.  We need Him so much, every minute of everyday.  I want to be constant and persistent in serving and seeking Jesus. 

Michelle H.

Pastor John,

I woke up at 4 this morning.  Lying there, the Lord brought back memories of 2001.  All those heart feelings!  And not always understanding what was happening!  I just started praying for us all and how we get moved sometimes over the little things.  Pastor John, those times were very tough inside your heart where only God can go!  Some of those times were also the best times.  You could feel him close.  As I was lying there praying, I heard the spirit softly say, “I am coming to visit again.  Stay prepared!”

Jammie

==========

Hi Jammie,

I have been praying a lot to be prepared for whatever the Lord has determined for us in the future, whether good or bad.  One thing is for sure, namely, whatever it is, it will be too late to get ready for it when it comes.

Pastor John

Hey Pastor John,

Last night I was reading more in the George C. Clark stories and read “Not Healed”, the story about when a woman had come to your father for healing but she wasn’t healed.  Your father was troubled about it and asked Brother Hunnings about it, and he reminded your father of times when Jesus “could do no mighty miracles” because of unbelief.  That settled it in your fathers heart, and he returned to his work of healing.  Then I read this, and it has weighed on my heart:

    “How much faith and how much power Brother Clark must have begun to exercise if what surprised him was not when miracles happened but when they did not!  Who in our time is surprised and perplexed when someone’s prayer to be healed is not answered?

     Somewhere in the saints’ march through time, we have been deceived and robbed of the glory Jesus died for us to possess.  The body of Christ has clearly lost something that must be regained if we ever hope to be the community of faith that Jesus wants us to be.  That something was touched on by Brother Creech, Brother Clark, and a number of other Pentecostal ministers in the early part of the twentieth century.  May God help us to regain it and, this time, cling to it unto perfection.”

Then this morning going to work I was listening to the cd from 7/22/15, “Gods Above it All”, when Brother Earl was telling his dream and the experience he had.  What stuck out to me is when Brother Earl said that in the beginning of the dream he was trying to convince the people of the power of God and how “The word of God can come to you and it can convince you!  There is something more that comes deeper with healing.” 

It really fit with what I have been reading about your father. 

It really stirred up some feelings when you wrote that saints’ through the time have been deceived and robbed of the glory that Jesus died for us to possess.

Michelle

=============

Hi Michelle,

Pray for the Lord Jesus to again fulfill the scripture that says, “Then I restored what I did not take away.”  He has returned to his people the blessings they threw away many times, and unfortunately, we need him to do it again.

Pastor John