Jesus also, that he might sanctify the people with his own blood, suffered outside the gate. Therefore, let us go forth to him outside the camp, bearing his reproach. For we have no continuing city here, but we seek one to come.
Select a thought to read by choosing a collection, the month, and then the day:
From a sermon by Preacher Clark at Grandma’s house, 1970
Taken from Gary’s Reel #9, CD#28a, Track 6
During his sermon that day, Preacher Clark said, “You never have been able to disturb a holiness meeting when God’s got it. The ones you can disturb are the ones where man’s got it.” Yes, when men are in control of a prayer meeting, almost anything can disturb it; but, when God is in control, almost nothing can. In personal terms, I suppose we could ask, is some bad spirit bothering you? Or are you bothering it with your victory and joy? Preacher Clark mentioned how that some women worry about their babies disturbing the meeting, but he declared that if God’s people were full enough of the holy Ghost, they would disturb the babies instead.
In the early twentieth century, when he first started in the Lord, he went on to say, no one could come into a holiness meeting and be able to tell who the preacher was. The holy-Ghost filled saints who gathered in those little home prayer meetings were unconcerned with status and titles; they were, instead, altogether concerned about having the power of the holy Ghost alive in their souls. Everybody had a sermon or testimony; everybody had a song; everybody had a revelation; everybody had joy. And why not? What rule in the kingdom of God forbids it? Men’s ceremonial forms cannot make enough room for such victory. Once, Preacher Clark told me that in those long-ago meetings, if a brother or sister came to a meeting and did not overflow with shouts of joy in Christ, everyone would wonder what was wrong with that person. “And it would not be long before the pastor would visit them”, he said, “to find out what had happened to them.”
Where is such wisdom and joy now? Where are the saints who are so full of God that strangers can hardly tell who is the pastor and who is not? Has God changed or have men? “When righteous men rejoice”, said Solomon, “there is great glory.” We want God’s great glory in our midst! Pray that God’s glory will again fill the temple of His saints and that the meetings of the saints everywhere will again reflect His greatness and majesty, not our weakness and confusion. Otherwise, something might disturb our meetings.