June-July, 2017 | Published by Grace3 Ministries Wes Johnson, Founder and Editor “Stirring up believers to live in ’s Full Grace”

WHAT’S HAPPENING A GRACE NUGGET 1st Clergy Small Group Formed and Begun 1 Thessalonians 5:23-24 Our first Clergy Small Group Experience has begun with a May God himself, the God of peace, sanctify you through and through. May your whole beginning group of three clergy. The first session was spirit, soul and body be kept blameless at the hosted at First in Windom, MN. coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. The one The second session is scheduled for July 13th. Several who calls you is faithful, and he will do it. friends of the Ministry helped by providing snacks and As Paul comes to the end of his letter he picking up and providing lunch for our small group. prays for the church of the Thessalonians to

New Clergy Small Groups Being Planned be sanctified by the God of peace, through Several more pastors were planning on coming to the and through. Notice the emphasis of Paul on the completeness of this . He Clergy Small Group in Windom but were not able to. We uses the Greek word holotelous which is a are looking towards getting another Group scheduled for combination of holos meaning all or the either late summer or early fall in Southwest Minnesota. whole and telos meaning completion. This is Preliminary work has been done towards also scheduling where the translation of “entirely” comes a Small Group to meet around the Mankato area late from and is the scriptural basis for Entire summer or fall. If anyone knows of clergy or church lead- Sanctification. A synonym to this word is ers who would be interested in having a group in their ar- teleios which often is translated as ea contact Wes. “perfection”. He uses a similar word when

praying for their “whole spirit, soul and body Church Immersion Weekend Plans Nearly Complete to be kept blameless.” So Paul prays for We are still finishing up weekend structure, preliminary believers to be completely purified and trainings, and event timeline for Church Immersion Week- made holy in every aspect of their being. ends. Pastors or churches who may be interested in This is something only God can do. It is hosting an Immersion Weekend are encouraged to con- not by working harder or consecrating tact Wes. ourselves more. It can only be done by a

New Grace3 Church Introduction Sundays Offered work of God, a work of grace. Remember Wes has some Sundays he can preach in a church and in- this is for people who are already believers. Paul is referring to a second work of grace to troduce them to the message of God’s Entire Sanctifica- 3 sanctify a believer completely. tion and to Grace Ministries. Contact Wes if you are in- It should also be noted his prayer is not terested in hearing more about this. about after one dies , or after Christ returns; it is for the purpose of a believer to be kept “I continue to dream and pray blameless when Christ returns. The use of about a revival of holiness in our the word “at”, which is not in the Greek, in day that moves forth in mission most translations can be misunderstood. and creates authentic community The trustworthiness of this work of God in which each person can be un- happening to a believer is based on God’s leashed through the empowerment faithfulness and power, not the believer’s. of the Spirit to fulfill God's Paul is confident God “will do it” in them. creational intentions.” Have you experienced this work of God? Do you wish to seek God’s full sanctification? ― : How To Pray: The Best of John Wesley on Prayer GRACE NOTES June-July 2017—Page 2

What Was John Wesley Thinking? by Wes Johnson

John Wesley was the primary founder and designer of the Methodist Movement in the 18th Century which was the forerunner to the United Methodist Church and many other denominations and movements. Every year at each Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church there are nineteen “historic questions” asked of each person seeking ordination. These questions have been asked and answered since 1773. I want to lift up three questions in particular which most clergy have little clarity about and even Bishops who try to explain them often misstate Wesley’s intention and expectation. Question 2: “Are you going on to perfection?” 3: “Do you expect to be made perfect in love in this life?” 4: “Are you earnestly striving after it?”

Here is a quote from John Wesley from his Sermon, “The More Excellent Way.” From long experience and observation I am inclined to think, that whoever finds redemption in the blood of Jesus, whoever is justified, has then the choice of walking in the higher or the lower path. I believe the Holy Spirit at that time sets before him the ‘more excellent way,’ and incites him to walk therein; to choose the narrowest path in the narrow way; to aspire after the heights and depths of holiness, — after the entire image of God. But if he does not accept this offer, he insensibly declines into the lower order of . He still goes on in what may be called a good way, serving God in his degree, and finds mercy in the close of life, through the blood of the covenant. I would be far from quenching the smoking, flax, — from discouraging, those that serve God in a low degree. But I could not wish them to stop here: I would encourage them to come up higher. Without thundering hell and damnation in their ears, without condemning the way wherein they were, telling them it is the way that leads to destruction, I will endeavor to point out to them what is, in every respect, ‘a more excellent way.’

This “more excellent way” is what was meant by Wesley as Perfect Love and . This is what he was asking each person seeking to be an itinerate preacher. Are you seeking all the grace of God or settling for the comfort of knowing you have a relationship with God and are forgiven your sins through Christ? Are you just settling for preaching, “trust in Jesus and be saved?” Or are you yourself seeking to experience God’s purifying work of grace, that complete filling of the Holy Spirit that cleanses you from (continue on page 3)

Clergy Continuing Education Small Groups Local Church Immersion Weekend This Course Experience is for any clergy or aspiring cler- This is a weekend event held in a local church to immerse gy desiring to experience God’s Full Grace in their life. people in God’s Full Grace.

 Groups are made up of 4-7 members, taught and  This Event is nearing completion and is targeted to led by Wes Johnson. be available this fall.  3 group meetings over approximately 5 months  Development of a continuing small group ministry  1st meeting 9am-4pm, next two 9am-12:30pm out of the weekend is available.  4th meeting is an individual session with Wes  The event will start on Friday night and conclude  See website for more details or contact Wes and with a meal Sunday noon. set up a time to discuss further.  See website for more details or contact Wes and set up a time to discuss further.

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What Was John Wesley Thinking? (continued)

Original Sin and empowers you to live a holy, righteous, and blameless life? Wesley knew the human penchant to justify one’s own life and stay in control even while externally seeking more of God. Humans are PRAYER REQUESTS: alright with continuing in a direction as long as For the finalizing of two Clergy Continuing they can keep taking detours. As long as I can be Education Small Groups starting late this summer or losing weight I can feel good about myself. But in the fall. when I need to lose 30 pounds and I lose 2 3 pounds one month and gain 1 pound the next my For finalizing the structure and timeline of Grace chance of reaching my goal is in serious question. Immersion Weekends for this fall. Wesley knew this human disposition and For churches interested in having a Grace3 3 rationalization. So he added a second question, Introductory Sunday to be introduced to Grace ’s “Do you expect to be made perfect in love in this message and ministries. See pg. 1 in What’s Happening. life? Wesley’s use of “love” has become an out For favor and blessing from clergy Wes visits with for many people. But Wesley was talking about as he invites them to learn more about and love as he defined it. This is Perfect Love. This is experience God’s Full Sanctifying Grace. loving God with our whole heart, mind, soul, and For favor and blessing from denominational strength. He is clear that for us to do that leaders as Wes introduces the ministries to them and completely we need God’s second work of Entire looks for God’s open doors from them. Sanctification. In our own power we cannot love like this. With God not only is it possible but it is For on-going financial support and developing why Christ died on the cross. So, do you believe more opportunities for others to be involved in the God’s work of grace is not just a continual ministries. process of getting closer to Christ’s image but For the second session with the Clergy instead is a condition and relationship given by Continuing Education Small Group in Windom on July God while you still live on earth? th 13 . The second session focuses on experiencing Again, Wesley wasn’t going to let the aspiring God’s Full Sanctification and the cleansing from the preachers hide behind slowly turning their life power of sin. over to God. So he asks, “Are you earnestly striving after it?” For Wesley, and I believe for OPPORTUNITIES TO ASSIST THE WORK Jesus, staying in a life where one works against  Talk to people you think might be interested in the sin but never seeks God’s full grace to cleanse it message and ministries of Grace3 Ministries and fully is living a non-abundant life. Jesus died on share names with Wes. the cross not just to save us from our sins but to save us from our sin nature and the power of sin.  When new Clergy Small Group Experiences are To be “dead to sin” doesn’t mean doing the best I scheduled snack providers will be needed. Let Wes can, rather it means living in the victory over sin know if you would be willing to be a snack provider. offered to me through the Holy Spirit dwelling in  Contribute financially, either one time or on-going me completely. Isn’t this what you want? The 3 donations. Checks can be made out to Grace scriptures give the good news over and over that Ministries and sent to 103 S. Hill St., Marshall, MN you can live a blameless, holy life. Ask today for 56258. God’s full grace to purify you not in part, but  PRAY! PRAY! PRAY! This we desire the most. completely.