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  • Pearl of the Day, April 19, 2014

     

    pearl 0419

     

    Dad,

    I’m n​ot sure I’m getting the gist of this pearl.  Jesus seemed “bothered” by hypocrites in this passage and others, especially when he turned over the tables in the temple…

    Then spake Jesus to the multitude, and to his disciples, 2Saying, The scribes and the Pharisees sit in Moses’ seat: 3All therefore whatsoever they bid you observe, that observe and do; but do not ye after their works: for they say, and do not. 4For they bind heavy burdens and grievous to be borne, and lay them on men’s shoulders; but they themselves will not move them with one of their fingers. 5But all their works they do for to be seen of men: they make broad their phylacteries, and enlarge the borders of their garments, 6And love the uppermost rooms at feasts, and the chief seats in the synagogues, 7And greetings in the markets, and to be called of men, Rabbi, Rabbi. 8But be not ye called Rabbi: for one is your Master, even Christ; and all ye are brethren. 9And call no man your father upon the earth: for one is your Father, which is in heaven. 10Neither be ye called masters: for one is your Master, even Christ. 11But he that is greatest among you shall be your servant. 12And whosoever shall exalt himself shall be abased; and he that shall humble himself shall be exalted.

    ​​13But woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye shut up the kingdom of heaven against men: for ye neither go in yourselves, neither suffer ye them that are entering to go in. 14Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye devour widows’ houses, and for a pretence make long prayer: therefore ye shall receive the greater damnation.”

    ​te

    ===========

    This Pearl refers to the foolishness of losing one’s peace because of the foolishness of another.  Righteous people can be vexed (2Pet. 2:7), but they never are so vexed that they resort to evil themselves because of the actions of the wicked (Ps. 37:8).  They participate in the true, inner fast that God accepts, part of which fast is to refrain from trying to yoke others to what you know is right (Isa. 58:9).  The foolish cannot be at peace unless others are doing what is right; they want to yoke everybody around them to their will, and if others will not take on their yoke, they lose their peace and joy.  That is the spiritual reality to which this Pearl refers.

    ​Pastor John​

     

  • Our choices determine our future.

     

    Pastor John,

    I found this old email I sent to you back in Nov. 2009. It came to mind as I was walking in my door from work. All the events since 2009 sure make it a lot more real to me.

    Paul
    —————
    From: Paul
    Sent: Tuesday, November 03, 2009 8:42 PM
    To: John Clark
    Subject: Our choices determine our future.

    Hey John,
    I listened to your sermon from Sunday. The title was called, “Your choices determine your future.” I felt as though it was going to be good. It was! Here are some things that really touched me that you preached.

    (1) Our lives, right now, are the result of the decisions we have made in the past.
    (2) After Adam made his decision, after the deed was done, he had no more choice. He could only reap what he had sown. You are going to reap what you have sown!
    (3) Whether we want it this way or not, our choices determine our future. Adam lost his happy life. He ate sorrow the rest of his time on earth. He had no choice about that because he had made the wrong choice.
    (4). You then asked a question John, you asked, “Do you have any good thing in your life that you want to keep?” “Do you really want to keep your blessings?” The key is to live like you want to keep them. You have to have thankfulness for what God has giving you – health, wealth, the people in your life – treat those people and things like you value them because things can change, and will change.
    (5). God told Adam, “In the day you eat thereof, you will die.” Adam didn’t believe it, and he didn’t value his happy life, so God gave him another one.
    (6). Don’t play around with your blessings. You may wake up one day to find them gone, and there may not be a way to get them back. Value them!
    (7). God has blessed us with the freedom to make choices, but once our choice has been made and the deed done, the results are entirely up to God.

    You have no say-so in that. We have to take advantage of the opportunity to make the right choices!
    This was just the first four tracks of the cd. It made me consider the times, today. God is so good! Let’s choose God first.

    Thanks,

    Paul

  • Good morning

    Bro. John,

    I woke up before daybreak thinking about last night’s meeting. It was truly a heavenly gathering; Jesus was doing wonderful things. I was watching you play your guitar and sing, then you held the guitar out and started shaking, going back and forth. It looked like you might slide out of your chair. Even though we were clapping and singing, my insides got very still as I watched. It was holy. What Jesus was doing was holy.

    Seeing the pictures of Luke’s red spots there and then gone was breathtaking. Then sweet Jamie came bouncing in with her miracle for all to see. Jesus had healed her little boy and she just couldn’t stay home any longer. I loved that excitement. Seeing Luke smiling and running up to you was sweet. Jacob was clapping his hands because he was so happy that Jesus healed his little brother.

    Ben’s smile and the life that is in his face is wonderful. He is really coming out and enjoying himself. It looks like Jesus has just given him a new face.

    Token’s testimony was super wonderful. She has so much feeling in every word. I enjoy watching her expressions because she is so real and excited and just can’t thank Jesus enough. (I do love watching her try though.) She just seems to have victory in Jesus.

    The happy children in the line, singing, holding hands and swinging them back and forth was beautiful. It looked like they were all celebrating together.

    Testimonies of how Jesus worked out tiny details in situations was really something. He can make things be – when they aren’t.

    The songs gave so much freedom. How blessed to be able to clap, sing, sway, reel, dance, jump, raise our hands, smile and wave to one another. Very glad the children can grow up seeing that, having experiences and not be ashamed.

    Last night was more than a meeting, a real gathering of the saints. It was very faith building from beginning to end. Jesus is so good to us. I am very thankful to be a part of it all. I just love it; and as Sister Donna says, absolutely love it!

    Thanks be to Jesus and you, Bro. John, and all the saints in my life that are faithful to their calling.

    Sheila P.

  • Satan Omnipresent?

    Pastor John,

    Can Satan be in more the one place at a time? If he cannt how can more then one person @ a time be tempted I believe he cannt. He dictates to his fallen angels and demons to do his bidding….(Show scripture)
    Pastor Donnie
    Kentucky
    ===========
     
    Hi Brother Donnie.
     
    Thank you for writing.
     
    Satan is, personally, not everywhere around the world at the same time; otherwise, there would be no need for him to “walk about as a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour”.  However, his influence is felt everywhere in human society, and he has “deceived the whole world.”
     
    The question you asked is one of the many questions we can ask about spiritual matters, Donnie, but it is relatively unimportant.  God’s children need good spiritual food.  Let’s concentrate on teaching them about the weightier mattes of the kingdom of God, as Jesus said, such as, When is a person born again?  What must we do to be saved?  What is the relationship of the Father and the Son? and so forth.
     
    God bless you, and the saints there with you, and thanks again for writing.  Stay in touch! 
     
    Your servant,
    Pastor John

  • Psalm 139:20

    Hi John,

    While reading in Psalms it struck me that David mentioned the Lord’s enemies took His name in vain. In the context of the surrounding verses it’s hard to believe these men were anything but wicked. Were these men Jews?
    Thanks

    Michael
    ===============
    Hi Michael.

    Yes, David was referring to God’s people, the ones who had “taken God’s name” upon themselves by entering into covenant with Him.  They had made themselves His enemies by disobeying His law.  “A man’s enemies”, one of the prophets said, “shall be those of his own household.”  And when those in the household of faith walk contrary to the will of their Father, then He has enemies in his household, too.

    Thanks for the question.  It’s one that is asked by everyone who knows what “taking the name of the Lord” means, and then comes upon that verse in Psalms.

    Pastor John

  • Sweet dream

    Mornin’ Bro. John:
     
    I just woke up from a sweet, wonderful dream.
     
    In the dream, we were all in a meeting and Aunt Leatha was there.  She was testifying so joyfully, dancing around in thankfulness “just to be a thing of God’s”  She was telling us that “just to be a thing of God’s” was reason enough to be thankful and joyful in the Lord.  The feelings were so sweet.
     
    I remember years ago when the Lord told me “you are not a product of that union anymore” concerning my earthly parents.  I thought “a product?!”  The Lord just called me a product!  🙂   But that is exactly what we are – products – things created and owned by God!  Isn’t that wonderful!
     
    I looked up the word “thing” for a fuller understanding and here’s what I found:
     
    “whatever may be possessed or owned or be the object of a right“
     
    We are possessed and owned by the Creator of All.  Being called a “thing of God’s” is a wonderful label to have.  And that was Aunt Leatha’s point in the dream.  If you can think of no other reason to praise God today, be thankful that you are His “thing”!  🙂
     
    What a wonderful thought to start the day! 
     
    Sandy
    “a thing of God”

  • Losing Peace

    Hey there,

    You were talking this weekend about having peace from Jesus that will anchor us down and that the world can’t take away. I was thinking – so often when I leave work after spending 12 hours with bad attitudes, ungratefulness, dirty talk, sickness, and other such garbage from patients and coworkers, I feel so beat and dirty, and know I need a spiritual bath.  Am I losing peac , or am I just in need of a spiritual bath when I leave?

    Thank you,

    Anna

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

    Hi Anna.

    That’s all it is.  God’s children need spiritual baths as they go through this life, much the same way that all people in this world need physical baths.  A person doesn’t have to do anything wrong to feel the need of a bath, spiritually or physically.

    That’s the importance of gathering with the saints.  The fellowship, the songs, the testimonies, and the messages from the Lord wash our spirits, so to speak, from the spiritual grime we may pick up each day as we deal with the ordinary cares of this life.  So, be encouraged, and keep taking those spiritual baths!

    Pastor John

  • Genesis 6:4

    Good Morning!
    Could you explain Chapter 6 verse 4 in Genesis? It sounds a lot like Greek Mythology. Who are the sons of God?

    : )
    Beth

    ==========

    Hi Beth!

    Here is Genesis 6:4:  “There were giants on earth in those days, and also afterwards, when the sons of God went in to the daughters of man. And they bore them children, and they were mighty men, men of renown, from long ago.”

    The book of Genesis pre-dates all Greek mythology, and it is easy to see where Greeks got the ideas for many of their myths.  They have flood stories, which are just perversions of the true flood story, etc.  So, your comment would better be put like this:  Greek myths sound a lot like Genesis 4:6″ instead of “Genesis 6:4 sounds a lot like Greek myths.”

    We know that the “sons of God” mentioned in Genesis 6 are not angels because Jesus said that angels do not marry.  Instead, they are men who were righteous and who were seduced by ungodly women of this world, “the daughters of men”.

    Thanks for the question.  I think that we all have wondered about that as we learned the Bible.

    Pastor John

  • Two ways

    Pastor John,

    I was in the shower praying this morning, when the Spirit spoke to me and said, “There’s a difference between you having children and God giving you children. Abraham had Ishmael, and God gave him Isaac.”

    I thought about this all day.  It’s the same way with anything.  You can have a family, or God can give you one. He makes all the difference!!

    Jammie C
    ==========

    Yes, Jammie, that is a good testimony.  Let me add this note of caution, however.

    Many times, as you know , people have what they have because they are disobedient to God.  But there need not always be evil involved in someone “having children” instead of God miraculously giving them children, or in simply having a family, or a car, or anything else.

    When God miraculously gives us anything, it is a great blessing.  But He often gives us choices as to what we would have, and when He does, He blesses whatever choice we make.

    Thanks for telling us what you heard from the Lord today. I love testimonies like that.

    Pastor John

  • Daniel 12:11-13

    Daddy,

    Naomi and I were reading in Daniel and I wondered what these scriptures mean in Chapter 12:

    11. And from the time that the daily sacrifice shall be taken away, and the abomination that maketh desolate set up, there shall be a thousand two hundred and ninety days.

    12. Blessed is he that waiteth, and cometh to the thousand three hundred and five and thirty days.

    13. But go thou thy way till the end be: for thou shalt rest, and stand in thy lot at the end of the days.“

    I know that the “abomination of desolation” is Christianity coming.  What was it is that one is “blessed for waiting” 45 more years Beyond Christianity coming?   It would seem that was either Jesus’ time or the holy Ghost coming.   But didn’t Christianity come after that?   Is it possibly saying that the roots of Christianity began BEFORE Jesus came?   

    Thanks, te.

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

    Yes, those verses can provoke some good questions.

    I don’t think the abomination of desolation is “Christianity coming” as much as it is the “strong delusion” about which Paul prophesied and that Jesus said would be so strong that “if it were possible, even the very elect would be deceived.”  Christianity certainly is an abomination, and it is a strong delusion, but there is still a greater form of that delusive abomination to come.  Both Paul and Jesus were speaking of end-time events.

    As you know, we are living in a time when the mysterious Third Seal of John’s Revelation is being opened.  How long these days of the Third Seal will be, we cannot say, but we know that after this puzzling Third Seal, there are no more mysteries as to what will happen, and in what order. This means that the saints who are living in those times will know exactly where they are, in terms of when in the order of last-day events they are living.  They will, then, know when it is time for Jesus to come back.  You will remember that Paul said, even though the world will be unprepared, the return of Jesus would not come upon God’s saints “as a thief”.  They will be expecting the Lord to come when he comes.

    This is where I have always understood those verses in Daniel to apply.  It is like the Parable of the Wise and Foolish Virgins.  Those “virgins” knew when their lord was supposed to return, but when he delayed his return, some were not prepared for that.  Daniel seems to be saying that (1) when it is time for Jesus to return, all believers will know it and (2) when it is time for Jesus to return, he will delay his coming by the amount of time the angel told Daniel.  That delay will certainly try the faith of the persecuted believers remaining on earth at that time.Good question.

    Daddy

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