Pastor John

You know what your message on Sunday does, PJ? — It knocks the dust of Christianity right off my heart.  So many times my flesh has wanted you to be my hero, to be like those Christian ministers who say what the flesh wants to hear.  But this… this makes my soul shout.  This feeds my soul.  I love this so much I can hardly stand it.  I can’t tell you how many times Jesus has given it to me straight.  He has stopped me in my tracks many times by saying it exactly like it is.  Jesus does not sugarcoat things with me.  This sounds and feels just like Jesus to me.  And I love it.  I need it this straight and this real.

Talk about “straight is the way”!  You said, 

“There is something about the truth Jesus gives that so satisfies the soul that you cannot want 

something else.  You can desire more of that heavenly manna and more of that refreshing 

spiritual water, but no other bread or water can appeal to you.  “I am the bread of life,” Jesus 

said, “and he who comes to me will never hunger, and he who believes in me will never thirst” 

(Jn. 6:35).  There have been people who attended our meetings for decades, even born to parents 

who were already here, who never found the way of holiness.  They knew when to clap their 

hands and when to smile, but they never got to know the Spirit.  In time, they were offended, not because I did anything, but because they were thirsty for something else, and God made sure that they found something better to their liking. 

I didn’t take credit for them being here, and I didn’t take credit for them leaving.  That is God’s business.  I am not that powerful.  No man is.  It is not part of my job description to decide who or how many come or go; my job is to be faithful to the one who called me out of darkness and gave me hope of eternal life.   My goal is not to try to persuade anybody to stay here and not go away; that is not by job.   My job is to please my Master and teach you the way of righteousness, to feed you the living word of God, to offer you the bread of life that comes down from heaven, to give you a taste of 

the Son of God, and hopefully, to cause you to “taste and see that the Lord is good.”  It is actually none of my business whether or not that heavenly bread tastes good to you.  The result of my feeding the body is entirely up to God.”

Amen! Amen! Amen! 

Love,

Beth

Pastor John,

     Years ago, when we started loving God and obeying the truth, we received some of the same persecution from our families and friends that you talked about in your message on Sunday.  Living in Ridgeway among our family members and former friends, we felt isolated and alone.  We were no longer invited to family dinners or other functions and pretty much ignored.  They tried to persuade us at one point to go to any Pentecostal church, anything but John Clark’s meetings.  We continued loving the truth that you were teaching, and what God was showing us.  The persecution from our families was irrelevant.  We feel privileged to be a part of this work that God has given you and to be a part of this family of God.

     Thank you for this message reminding us again that this is how it has always been and will continue to be. 

Randell

Hey Pastor John, 

     I have had a little something on my mind and Jesus has been very plain and straight with me recently!  During the meeting on Wednesday, I was talking to Jesus and I was asking him to give me opportunities to prove myself.  I don’t want anyone to be wondering about me.  This really goes for everyone, if someone goes out and dances in the Spirit or testifies, I don’t want to be surprised; I want to think “oh there they go again!  Amen!”  Tonight, I was thinking about that again, and I heard Jesus tell me something like this, “Every time you feel me move, you can prove yourself!”  And then I went on to think, every time we don’t go with the spirit, we are losing our chance; someone is going to take our blessing!  The more and more we drift away, the more people start to wonder about us!  I don’t want people to wonder about me, and I want to prove myself and live in the Spirit!! 

     Recently, I feel like many people have been telling us teenagers that we need to go with our feelings and that we aren’t too young!  I feel as though those thoughts of being too young can really deter us sometimes.  But I’m starting to realize we are not too young to feel anything, and we are not too young to prove ourselves.  I am expecting lots and lots of more trials to come but we might as well practice early!  Everything has just been feeling so good lately!  I’m excited 🙂

Grace C.

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I am happy and excited for you, Grace.  Thank you for writing!

Pastor John

Pastor John,

This evening when you were telling us about God putting us here together and being put here for a reason, it made me think of something you wrote in “God Had a Son Before Mary Did” book: (Going to Jesus.com – God Had A Son Before Mary Did)

“God‘s children are happiest when they occupy their appointed place in the order of God and acknowledge the places occupied by others.  When you are in the place that you were created to be, you feel contentment, for your place is not an it.  Your place is a who – you!  The “place” God has for you is your life as the person God intended you to be from the foundation of the world.  Only in that place, only in being yourself in Christ, will you ever experience perfect peace and joy.”

I remember when I read this I had the same feelings as when I learned our names were written in the book of life before the foundation of the world – very loved.

He knows us, and what we need, and what we don’t need.  He knows how to make us happy!  He’s got each of our lives perfectly planned for us.  Mistakes and all.  That is perfect love. 

Michelle 

Pastor John,

I loved the sermon from 1981 Amy sent out yesterday.  There’s so many good things I had to listen a couple of times and this evening I read the transcript Amy sent out.

After I listened the first time, I prayed, “Oh Lord, search my heart.  I want to get rid of rocks, thorns and any cares of this life that’s still there”.  Fill my heart with the love of God!”  I had the thought, Jesus when you filled me with the holy Ghost I became yours, heart, soul, mind and body.  You’re in there!  Then I read this in the transcript:  “And do not make God’s Holy Spirit sad, for the Spirit is God’s mark of ownership on you– a guarantee that the day will come when God will set you free.  Get rid of all bitterness, passion and anger.  No more shouting or insults.  No more hateful feelings of any kind.  Instead, be kind and tenderhearted one to another and forgive one another as God has forgiven you through Christ. Amen.  No more harmful words.”  Whew… that’s the love of God in action!

You said, “Let the good thing that God has placed in you bear good fruit! This was so encouraging to me.  There is so much more, but I loved the feelings, serious but so encouraging.

“If we’re going to understand the truth that’s on the way, we’ve got to prepare for it before it comes – you said, “I’m sure God has more for us to see.  Now’s the time to get ready to hear it.  Now’s the time. We can’t wait.”

I want my heart to stay prepared, ready and free.

I love the truth you have taught us.  Every bit all along the way.  It stirs my heart and makes me feel encouraged and excited.  

And… I loved hearing you at 29 yrs old!  The anointing, zeal and love of God is still there!  This should encourage every young person who hears it! It sure did encourage me!  You’ve held onto the truth a long time… that is no small thing.  I’m so thankful Jesus put me here with you!

Michelle 

Pastor John,

I just had one of those mind-blowing moments, similar to when I first started coming around and learned how much I misunderstood what it meant to take God’s name in vain. After reading today’s Thought for the Evening, Reconciled By His Death,* the Spirit finally let me understand what it means to be dead with Christ, or reconciled by his death. I didn’t realize how much of Christianity I still had in me until I recognized that I still put too much emphasis on His physical death at Calvary. 

I know now that the death Jesus experienced before he died on the cross –  the “death to sin, death to self and death to the ways of this world” is the one that we can be partakers in and has the power to reconcile us to God.  It’s the only type of death where we can still live after we’re dead! Now that I understand this, all the verses in the New Testament that talk about how we’re saved by Jesus’s death, particularly those said by Paul, are crystal clear!  I feel this will have a life changing effect on me. Learning things like this and letting it have its affect on me feels like what is meant to worship in “Spirit and in Truth”.  

I’m sure this is one of those things where you’re like, “Well yeah, you didn’t know that? I have been saying that for years!” Well, now I know and it feels wonderful to know the Truth. 

For those of us who grew up in Christianity, we’re so blessed to have you as a teacher to help us unravel from so much confusion. 

Michael D

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Thank you, Michael.

It is wonderful feeling for us to finally get what the Lord has been saying for a while.  I know how that feels!  And that is how we “grow in Christ”.

Pastor John

* Going to Jesus.com – Reconciled By His Death

Read this tonight. It is from the Thought for the Morning 8/10, “Hating God.”* The only way is to worship in spirit and in truth!  Any form of worship that man comes up with is hating God!  

“There is no man who does not hate God unless the holy Spirit of God has come into him, no matter what that man says or thinks.  By nature, every man hates God.  This is the truth behind the fact that every way of worship man has devised is sinful. How can any way of worship that man invents honor a God that he by nature hates?  We need the holy Ghost to lead us in everything; it alone knows “the deep things of God.”  The holy Ghost is an absolute necessity for salvation.  Without the holy Ghost, man is led by his own flesh, and when the flesh leads a man, his actions, even his religious ones, reflect hatred of God instead of submission to Him.”

Carrie

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Hi Carrie.

That is what I believe. Without the Spirit, we have no choice but to be led by the flesh, and Paul said that the flesh is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit is contrary to the flesh (Gal. 5:17).

Pastor John

*https://www.goingtojesus.com/gtj_thoughts.html?tname=tfm08-10

Hey, Pastor John,

I just wanted to share some sweet thoughts I’ve been having!  I’ve been loving reading the things you have written over the years!  Last night, I was reading the “Keep Yourself Pure” tract (Going to Jesus.com Tracts – Keep Yourself Pure), and I was just thinking about how good God is that He gives us a kind of life to where we want to be pure and have peace!  It feels so sweet!  I know He is the only One that can do that because just going through daily life in the world you can feel all the junk that is out there, but to feel the difference among God’s people and in the wonderful feelings He gives us in the Spirit!  Wow!  After reading the tract, I starting listening to some of our music on Uncle Vince’s Youtube channel, and it felt so good! 

I love this life Jesus has given me, and I pray that Jesus keeps me in that place!  It is worth everything, and I hope He never let’s me forget that!  Thank you for all you do to nurture us in the truth PJ!

Love you! 

Hope M.

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Hi Hope,

Thank you, Hope.  I am very happy for you, that Jesus has put it into your heart to love him and his people. Hope to see you soon!

Pastor John

Brother John, 

We are praising JESUS in our home this morning, after another day of deeper study re-reading your Revelation book. (Going to Jesus.com – Revelation)

After we finished the morning Bible reading last week, we immediately dug into the Revelation book to attempt to understand it better, and after painstakingly reading aloud every day we finished Chapters 1 & 2! 

Slowing down really helped us to genuinely comprehend  Jesus’ messages to the pastors and the Assemblies in Asia.  

It’s amazing how insightful your analysis is, John!  You point out details and comparisons so clearly; points that any cursory reading would gloss over!  Now we understand it at least 50% better than before!  And it’s wonderful!! 

Your examination of this book has changed my mindset from being discouraged to being elated that it IS understandable!!   

There’s a lot of truth to the benefit of SLOWING DOWN.  Here a little, there a little, line upon line; literally!

Thank you for your work for us (and for the Body of Christ).  

Brad