June-July, 2017 | Published by Grace3 Ministries Wes Johnson, Founder and Editor

“Stirring up believers to live in God’s Full Grace”

WHAT’S HAPPENING

1st Clergy Small Group Formed and Begun Our first Clergy Small Group Experience has begun with a beginning group of three clergy. The first session was hosted at First United Methodist Church in Windom, MN. The second session is scheduled for July 13th. Several friends of the Ministry helped by providing snacks and picking up and providing lunch for our small group.

New Clergy Small Groups Being Planned Several more pastors were planning on coming to the Clergy Small Group in Windom but were not able to. We are looking towards getting another Group scheduled for either late summer or early fall in Southwest Minnesota. Preliminary work has been done towards also scheduling a Small Group to meet around the Mankato area late summer or fall. If anyone knows of clergy or church lead-ers who would be interested in having a group in their ar-ea contact Wes.

Church Immersion Weekend Plans Nearly Complete We are still finishing up weekend structure, preliminary trainings, and event timeline for Church Immersion Week-ends. Pastors or churches who may be interested in hosting an Immersion Weekend are encouraged to con-tact Wes.

New Grace3 Church Introduction Sundays Offered Wes has some Sundays he can preach in a church and in-troduce them to the message of God’s Entire Sanctifica-tion and to Grace3 Ministries. Contact Wes if you are in-terested in hearing more about this.

A GRACE NUGGET 1 Thessalonians 5:23-24

May God himself, the God of peace, sanctify you through and through. May your whole

spirit, soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. The one who calls you is faithful, and he will do it.

As Paul comes to the end of his letter he prays for the church of the Thessalonians to be sanctified by the God of peace, through and through. Notice the emphasis of Paul on the completeness of this sanctification. He uses the Greek word holotelous which is a combination of holos meaning all or the whole and telos meaning completion. This is where the translation of “entirely” comes from and is the scriptural basis for Entire Sanctification. A synonym to this word is teleios which often is translated as “perfection”. He uses a similar word when praying for their “whole spirit, soul and body to be kept blameless.” So Paul prays for believers to be completely purified and made holy in every aspect of their being. This is something only God can do. It is not by working harder or consecrating ourselves more. It can only be done by a work of God, a work of grace. Remember this is for people who are already believers. Paul is referring to a second work of grace to sanctify a believer completely. It should also be noted his prayer is not about after one dies , or after Christ returns; it is for the purpose of a believer to be kept blameless when Christ returns. The use of the word “at”, which is not in the Greek, in most translations can be misunderstood. The trustworthiness of this work of God happening to a believer is based on God’s faithfulness and power, not the believer’s. Paul is confident God “will do it” in them. Have you experienced this work of God? Do you wish to seek God’s full sanctification?

“I continue to dream and pray

about a revival of holiness in our

day that moves forth in mission

and creates authentic community

in which each person can be un-

leashed through the empowerment

of the Spirit to fulfill God's

creational intentions.”

― John Wesley: 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 Christians. 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 Christian Perfection. 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 This Course Experience is for any clergy or aspiring cler-gy desiring to experience God’s Full Grace in their life.

Groups are made up of 4-7 members, taught and led by Wes Johnson.

3 group meetings over approximately 5 months

1st meeting 9am-4pm, next two 9am-12:30pm

4th meeting is an individual session with Wes

See website for more details or contact Wes and set up a time to discuss further.

Local Church Immersion Weekend This is a weekend event held in a local church to immerse

people in God’s Full Grace.

This Event is nearing completion and is targeted to be available this fall.

Development of a continuing small group ministry out of the weekend is available.

The event will start on Friday night and conclude with a meal Sunday noon.

See website for more details or contact Wes and set up a time to discuss further.

Grace3 Ministries

Wes Johnson 103 South Hill Street Marshall, MN 56258

103 South Hill Street Marshall, MN 56258 Phone/Text: 507-401-7547 E-mail: wjj1960@gmail.com Website: www.grace3.org CHECK THE WEBSITE OUT!

Grace Notes is a publication of

Grace3 Ministries.

Grace3 Ministries’ Mission is to stir up pastors and believers to grasp, experience, and live in God’s complete love and full

sanctifying grace.

Wes Johnson is the founder of Grace3 Ministries and Editor of

Grace Notes.

GRACE NOTES June-July 2017—Page 3

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 alright with continuing in a direction as long as they can keep taking detours. As long as I can be losing weight I can feel good about myself. But when I need to lose 30 pounds and I lose 2 pounds one month and gain 1 pound the next my chance of reaching my goal is in serious question. Wesley knew this human disposition and rationalization. So he added a second question, “Do you expect to be made perfect in love in this life? Wesley’s use of “love” has become an out for many people. But Wesley was talking about love as he defined it. This is Perfect Love. This is loving God with our whole heart, mind, soul, and strength. He is clear that for us to do that completely we need God’s second work of Entire Sanctification. In our own power we cannot love like this. With God not only is it possible but it is why Christ died on the cross. So, do you believe God’s work of grace is not just a continual process of getting closer to Christ’s image but instead is a condition and relationship given by God while you still live on earth? Again, Wesley wasn’t going to let the aspiring preachers hide behind slowly turning their life over to God. So he asks, “Are you earnestly striving after it?” For Wesley, and I believe for Jesus, staying in a life where one works against sin but never seeks God’s full grace to cleanse it fully is living a non-abundant life. Jesus died on the cross not just to save us from our sins but to save us from our sin nature and the power of sin. To be “dead to sin” doesn’t mean doing the best I can, rather it means living in the victory over sin offered to me through the Holy Spirit dwelling in me completely. Isn’t this what you want? The scriptures give the good news over and over that you can live a blameless, holy life. Ask today for God’s full grace to purify you not in part, but completely.

PRAYER REQUESTS:

For the finalizing of two Clergy Continuing Education Small Groups starting late this summer or in the fall.

For finalizing the structure and timeline of Grace3 Immersion Weekends for this fall.

For churches interested in having a Grace3 Introductory Sunday to be introduced to Grace3’s message and ministries. See pg. 1 in What’s Happening.

For favor and blessing from clergy Wes visits with as he invites them to learn more about and experience God’s Full Sanctifying Grace.

For favor and blessing from denominational leaders as Wes introduces the ministries to them and looks for God’s open doors from them.

For on-going financial support and developing more opportunities for others to be involved in the ministries.

For the second session with the Clergy Continuing Education Small Group in Windom on July 13th. The second session focuses on experiencing God’s Full Sanctification and the cleansing from the power of sin.

OPPORTUNITIES TO ASSIST THE WORK

Talk to people you think might be interested in the message and ministries of Grace3 Ministries and share names with Wes.

When new Clergy Small Group Experiences are scheduled snack providers will be needed. Let Wes know if you would be willing to be a snack provider.

Contribute financially, either one time or on-going donations. Checks can be made out to Grace3

Ministries and sent to 103 S. Hill St., Marshall, MN 56258.

PRAY! PRAY! PRAY! This we desire the most.