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, November 3, 1968
Those who heed God’s call to “Come out of her my people” are often seen as self-willed rebels by the Christians they leave behind, but just the opposite is true. We came out of Christianity because we finally stopped rebelling (against God). To become a part of Christianity is of the will of man; to obey the voice of the Spirit and come out is of the will of God. We remained behind the white-washed walls of Christianity as long as we did because we were self-willed and rebellious (against the call of God, even though we did not realize it). I am so grateful that Jesus had mercy on us and helped us understand God’s will so that we could stop rebelling against the One who loved us, and whom we loved.
In Preacher Clark’s Sunday afternoon sermon, now many years hence, he said, “The reason I feel independent is because I’m so dependent on God.” This is how it always is with those who truly desire the will of God. They become so hungry that they forget to eat (the manna prepared by men). They long so much for fellowship in the light that they walk away from fellowship, with carnally-minded people, and are regularly criticized for it.
One time Uncle Joe described true fasting this way. He said that “true fasting is when you get so hungry, you don’t eat.” He was right. True fasting is the result of being so hungry (for righteousness) that natural food becomes irrelevant. We who have come out of Christianity, did not forsake that religion in order to avoid the company of Christians but to pursue the company of the saints of God. We were pulled away from that religion by a strong desire to be a part of God’s family. We came out because we want so much to be in (the light of God). We were not rebels; we were, at last, “obedient to the heavenly call”.
When we become so dependent on God for our spiritual sustenance that we cease to feed our souls on the doctrines of men, we will be misunderstood. That is how it has always been. The humble Savior was condemned as a rebel (by those who were still rebelling against the Father). Jeremiah was called a false prophet and imprisoned (by those who were speaking falsely to God’s people and were imprisoned by their own will). Paul was beaten within an inch of his life (by those who were dead to the things of God) and was cursed (by those who were cursed by God).
Dare to become dependent on God. You may be badly misunderstood, but you yourself will “understand all things”. And the love of God that will begin to fill your soul for those who misunderstand you will not only surprise you, it will also keep you from behaving the way you once behaved when things didn’t go your way. The following words of Jesus will finally apply to you, and you will be happy:
“Blessed are you, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you, falsely, for my sake. Rejoice, and be exceedingly glad, for thus they persecuted the prophets who lived before you.”