Living Waters of Grace March 11, 2026

This is Living Waters of Grace, the teaching ministry of Clark

Wofford, senior pastor of Calvary Chapel of Westmoreland,

County of Greensburg, PA. Now here's Pastor Clark as he

continues teaching through God's Word.

There's a high calling for the believer, isn't there?

There's a high calling for the Church of Jesus Christ.

And we need to do the things that the Bible declares to us to

do. We can't just say, well, that's

like radical Christianity or that's fanatical Christianity.

I can just sort of do my thing and go my own way and do what I

feel like doing. And it's no problem because God

loves me. And I prayed a prayer, and I

know I'm saved. And you know what Jesus says, If

you love me, you'll keep my word.

In an obstacle course, there are several challenges that you're

expected to push yourself through to make it to the end.

American Ninja Warrior is a great example.

These challenging obstacles are meant to push you to your limit

and for you to prove you can conquer the challenge through

strength, grit, and determination.

Now think of your Christian walk.

There are many challenges and obstacles to overcome.

Pastor Clark teaches on how God gives you his Word, His Spirit,

and the mental determination to overcome.

Now here's Pastor Clark in John chapter 15 with today's edition

John 15 · chapter mention

of Living Waters of Grace. God has a special feeling for

his elect or his bride today. If you're a Christian here and

you believe in Jesus Christ and you've been born of the Spirit,

be grateful because it isn't anything you did, is it?

Jesus says you have not chosen me.

What's he say? But I have chosen you and have

ordained you that you should go forth and bear much fruit.

And so we have this situation here that God is speaking to

this church in Philadelphia about these problematic people

here who are causing them all this problem.

One more thing, I want you to look at Galatians chapter 3.

Galatians 3 · chapter mention

It's important to have this stuff down in the sense of your

own understanding of how God sees Israel, how he works with

Israel today, how he still desires to have the nation come

to recognize that Jesus is a Messiah.

But I'll tell you, all those Jews over there that are still

without Christ, they're all bound for hell if they don't

come to Christ, right? There's no special dispensation

just because they've been born in Jerusalem and they're part of

the nation of Israel. They have to come through the

same bloodline that you and I have come through as Gentiles

through the blood of Jesus Christ.

That's the only way someone can become born into the family of

God. It says in Galatians chapter 3

Galatians 3:5

verse 5. Therefore he who supplies a

spirit to you and works miracles among you, does he do it by the

works of the law or by the hearing of faith?

Just as Abraham believed God and it was accounted to him for

righteousness. Therefore know that only those

who are of faith are sons of Abraham.

And the Scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the

Gentiles by faith, preach the gospel to Abraham beforehand,

saying, in you all the nations shall be blessed.

So then, so then those who are of faith are blessed with

believing Abraham. Some people ask questions, well,

what happened about the people in the Old Testament?

How did they get saved? They got saved the same way you

and I got saved by faith in Jesus Christ, faith in the

Messiah. It was to come.

The promise was there way back in the Garden of Eden, wasn't

it? When God said to Adam and Eve

that there will be a seed that will come that will bruise the

heal of Satan. And that seed is Jesus Christ

himself, the the victor, the overcomer, the one who will come

and save his people from their sins.

So when you look at the judgment seat of Christ or the great

White Throne judgment, let's think about that.

That's the judgment of those who are either in Christ or out of

Christ. The the book will be open, the

book of life. Whosoever's name is not found

written in the Lamb's Book of Life will be cast into the lake

of fire. How does your name get written

in that book? Being a good person, taking

little ladies across the street, not stealing too much, not

lusting too much, not hating too much, being better than

everybody else makes you qualified and acceptable to

enter into God's perfect Kingdom.

No, for all of sin and fallen sure of the glory of God,

there's none righteous. No, not 1.

So it's a judgment. Some people say, well, who's

going to be there? The Catholics will say if you're

really a strong Catholic and you believe in the things before

Vatican 2, you're going to say anybody that isn't Catholic is

what anathema. The church is the institution of

salvation. If you're not in the Catholic

Church, you're doom, right? Some Baptist Church will say,

well, if you're not a Baptist and you're not baptized, you're

not going to get to heaven. The Presbyterians forget it.

The Lutherans are Methodists are not going to make it.

You got to be a Baptist, a Bible thumping, believe in Baptist.

No long hair, no blue jeans, no rock music.

You got to be a Baptist. I was a Baptist for Ross.

I know what that's all about. Some Orthodox will say, well, if

you're not part of the true one Holy Catholic Apostolic Church,

you're not going to enter into the Kingdom of heaven because

there's salvation only through the Orthodox Church.

Well, show me where that is in the Scriptures.

Now, if you make up a tradition that's independent of the

Scriptures or on par with the Scripture, you can basically say

whatever you want, right? And the people figure, well, I

guess you're the expert, you're the trained seminarian, you're

the doctor of theology or the priest or the Pope or the

pastor. You guess you know what's going

on. I guess we just got to believe

what you say. I have a dear Orthodox friend,

82 years old. I love hanging out with him

because he doesn't see any of it that way.

He says Clark, at the judgment, there's only going to be

believers and unbelievers. There's not going to be Jews

there, or Gentiles or Orthodox or Catholic, is there?

There's going to be sheep and goat believers or unbelievers.

God's not going to look down and say, well, you're a Baptist.

I got a special room for you up here.

You come up here, you Presbyterians are way back

there, you Methodist. This didn't make it.

Sorry, not going to be that way. If your name is written in the

Lamb's Book of Life, you're going to be there and it'll be

wonderful because you will have people who were Catholic there.

You will have people who are Orthodox there.

You will have people, believe it or not, that Raven Calvary

Chapel people be there. And you will have the Baptist

there too, because it's so wonderful.

I love what it says in the Scriptures.

There's neither Jew nor Gentile bond.

They're free, male or female, but we've all been made together

to drink of that same spiritual drink, which is Christ and Him

alone. So the Jews at this particular

time were the principal persecutors of Christians, and

they came from the synagogue's. They were the Sanhedrins, and

the Sanhedrins were those who supported the Court of the House

of Israel. They were the experts in the law

and the spiritual dealings of the church.

This was the same group that conspired against Christ to have

Him crucified. They paid off Judas.

They also ordered the stoning of Stephen, the first martyr in the

New Testament, the book of the Acts.

It's, it's amazing how when you study history, if you guys have

studied it, it's appalling to see what Rome did to the Eastern

Church. The martyrdom.

If you're not Catholic, we're going to kill you.

And even in the sense of the Reformation, what unfortunately

John Calvin did to those who didn't believe in infant

baptism, this has nothing to do with Christianity, does it?

Jesus says by this sheep, people will know you're my disciples by

the love you have for one another.

And in verse 9, the justice of God, he's reminding this Church

of the persecution, the trials, everything they're going

through. Don't worry, one day these

people who are your persecutors will worship before your feet.

They're not going to worship you, but they're going to be

humbled to realize that you will be sitting with Christ on His

throne and seen as overcomers. That we'll get into that later

on in verse 21. I love what it says in

Philippians 210. It says that the name of Jesus,

every knee shall bow of those in heaven and those on earth and of

those under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that

Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory of God the Father.

All the enemies of God, all the people who have persecuted

believers, all those who have worked against the Kingdom of

God, the atheists, the agnostics, the role of Islam.

Who would think that we are heretics because we believe in a

triune God? One God manifests in three

persons, Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

Jesus said in John 1723 That the world may know that you have

sent me and have loved them. That's referring to us as you've

loved me. One day we will have our reward.

The Bride of Christ will no longer be stepped upon and spit

upon. There'll be no more martyrdom,

There'll be no more abuse. There'll be no more persecution.

There'll be no more imprisonments for the Bride of

Christ. But there'll be worship.

And all those at that time who were our enemies will have to

bow down. And at that time it'll be too

late, and they'll confess with their mouth on their knees that

Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory of God the Father and the

tragedy. Then the book is open.

Whosoever's name is not found, written into the Lamb's book of

life is cast into the lake of fire.

Depart from me. You cursed.

I never knew you. And so Jesus tells them though

he's going to keep them from the hour of trial.

In verse 10, First Thessalonians 59 says, for God did not appoint

us to wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus

Christ. We see this as we interpret this

and there's some other opinions on this, but I'll tell you what

we feel about this or what we believe.

We believe in a pre tribulation rapture.

We believe that Christ will not bring judgment upon his bride.

There's no reason why he would do that.

See the judgment and revelation that's poured out.

The bowls of wrath are to be poured out upon the ungodly, not

upon the godly, not upon the remnant or the elect of the

Bride of Christ. And so we believe that Christ

will come and take us out of this world prior to the wrath of

God coming out upon the earth. Now, some people wonder, well,

when will that be? You know, like if I was living

in China right now or Afghanistan or Sudan, I would

think I'm in the tribulation right now.

Why am I still here? Why am I being persecuted?

Why? I can't guarantee you and the

scriptures don't guarantee you that you won't have some trials

in this life. Things could get worse in this

country and we're all standing around like, when's he coming?

I thought I'd be out of here before this happened.

If I'm in a jail cell someday, I'm going to be thinking that

that I misinterpret the Scripture.

But Christ, only the Father, he says, knows the time of his

coming. But the fact is that Jesus

promises them that he will keep them from the hour of trial.

And this is the global crisis. This is a little problem here in

Philadelphia at the time. This is a worldwide future

tribulation that will come about come upon the whole earth and he

promises to keep us. I believe and we believe as a

fellowship of churches. The bride will be removed from

the earth prior to this severe trial.

And so he encourages them in verse 11 to hold fast what you

have that no one may take your crown.

He talks about he who overcomes I will make him a pillar in the

temple of my God. The importance of overcoming you

know the the big problem in modern day Christianity.

There is no concept of denying self or sacrifice, is there?

Laying down your life for the sake of others.

There's no concept Because of the easy believism and the false

gospel that's being proclaimed in so many churches.

You don't hear the idea of working out your salvation with

fear and trembling. If any man will follow me, let

him deny himself. Take up his cross daily and

follow me. If you want to find your life,

you have to lose it. For my sake.

Let everyone that nameth the name of Christ depart from

iniquity. I beseech you, brethren, by the

mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice,

holy and acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable

service. And be not conformed to this

world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you

may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of

God. There's a high calling for the

believer, isn't there? There's a high calling for the

Church of Jesus Christ, and we need to do the things that the

Bible declares to us to do. We can't just say, well, that's

like radical Christianity, that's fanatical Christianity.

I can just sort of do my thing and go my own way and do what I

feel like doing and it's no problem because God loves me.

And I prayed a prayer and I know I'm saved.

And you know what Jesus says if you love me, you'll keep my

word. There's nothing ever written in

the Bible where Jesus says if you love me, you'll do what you

want to do. If you love me this.

No, don't be serious about this. I understand you, you, you sort

of want to do your own thing. Lots of times it's OK with me.

Have a nice life. He says if you love me, keep my

command. And so the importance of

overcoming. We believe that a true Christian

is an overcomer, someone who doesn't want to sin, someone who

doesn't want to disobey God, someone who wants to follow him

and to learn to love him with all their heart, with all their

soul, with all their mind and all their strength.

A true Christian is someone who hates what God hates and loves

what God loves, right? A true Christian is someone that

doesn't want to have anything to do with the world system, the

ungodly world system. Guys, I don't know how many of

you here are involved with the world, but if you're involved

with the world and you say you're a Christian, get out of

it now before it's too late. Repent while you have a chance

because there's going to be people to judgment.

It's going to say, I believe that and Jesus is going to say,

depart from you, curse that I never knew you.

And and this is the preachers. They're like, why cast out

demons? Your name?

I preach this, I did this, I did that, right?

It's shocking. And he says, depart from you,

curse that I never knew you. That's why it says judgment has

to begin first with us, with the House of God.

And there's been too much watered down Christianity being

taught by men in the pulpit. And men in the pulpit are going

to be judged more severely, the Bible says, than anyone else

because they're leading the people astray.

So he encourages them in verse 11, hold fast through the trials

and the persecutions. Verse 12, be an overcomer.

And you know, Jesus is really interested in the fact that we

stand. Be like my kids.

I don't know about you guys, but there was times I was really

embarrassed about their behavior and there was times I was very,

very proud about their behavior. Not in a product.

My I got great kids. No, when I saw them doing what

God wanted them to do, when I saw them doing what God didn't

want them to do, it was embarrassing and heartbreaking

and difficult and trying. But when I saw them endeavor to

please God and do what he wants them to do, it was exciting.

One of the most exciting times was when my daughter was wayward

and, and she was really out there in the world and, and God

broke her and broke her and broke her and finally, you know,

she just yielded and she and she was willing to go do ADTS at a

youth with a mission base. And I remember flying out with

her and she's smoking a couple packs of cigarettes a day prior

to getting there. And she knew that no smoking in

the boot camp in the base. So she got the patch.

We went to the supermarket and got the patch, you know, and

walking around and everybody knew what the patch was.

You know, she had a short sleeve shirt.

A pastor's daughter and pastor sometimes have the worst kids

for whatever reason they do. It's just like the devil says,

man, that's like really make these kids messed up so that the

pastors will quit or whatever. But God worked in her heart and

whenever she began to learn to walk with the Lord and obey him

and, and to this day, she's this way now she wants his will.

She wants to honor him. I'm so excited to introduce my

daughter as a child of God, someone who loves the Lord and

wants to follow him and wants to train her children up in her

husband and the way the Lord right.

The Bible says no greater joy than I have right than to see my

children walk in the truth. There's Krish, daughter and

perspective son-in-law. Both strong Christians love the

Lord and want to serve the Lord with all their heart.

No greater joy, right? I know you guys, Ron's son Josh,

he has a heart that want to be a pastor someday.

No greater joy guys, huh? And to see your children walking

the truth and that's the way it is with the Lord when we stand

someday before him. You know, he wants to brag on

us. He wants to point out, as all

the masses are there, this is my son Clark.

This is what he once was, but this is what I made him into.

This is my daughter Julie. This is what she once was.

This is what I've made her into. It says that in the ages that

come, he might show His glory revealed to us in Jesus Christ.

It says, for we are his workmanship, right, created in

Christ Jesus. And it says He's conforming us

to the image of His Son, all of us, making us a little bit more

like Jesus Christ every day. It's not how you start guys that

matters. It's how you finish.

Are you going to remain firm to the end?

It says in the last days there will be a great falling away.

I'm seeing it already happened. I'm seeing people that I know

and I love that once we're radically in love with God and

on fire that no longer follow Him anymore.

It's happening as we speak. We are in the last days, but we

must remain firm to the end. The admonition in Revelation and

Hebrews to the believer is that you hold fast and at the end he

says there's going to be 3 inscriptions or rewards that are

going to be placed on us. The first one he says he's going

to write the name of God on us. I will write on him the name of

my God. I love how Dave Venucci prays if

you ever heard him pray. My God, my God, my Father God,

my God. He is our God, isn't he?

My God is going to write his name on me.

Your God is going to write his name on you, and then he's going

to write this city of my God, the new Jerusalem, which comes

down out of heaven from my God again.

The new Jerusalem, the city of God, we'll get into that later

as we go through this book and then he says my new name and 73

we'll get to that later too. The late later.

The Angel is expressing concern that the judgments not begin

while we have sealed the servants until we have sealed

the servants of God on their foreheads.

It's a beautiful picture that the angels focused on all these

things being done and accomplished and that the true

bride, the believer, is sealed with the name of God and then

we're protected and taken out from this horrendous judgment is

going to come on the earth. The unbeliever will be signing

up standing in line to get the mark of the beast on their

forehead to be able to buy and sell and to do commerce.

I don't know if it's going to be some kind of chip or some kind

of identification mark. They can scan people now with

implants. It's real easy.

You know, you go through the, the, the, the check out and the,

you'll, you'll just put your, your, and they'll automatically

debit it out of your account and, and then you'll move on.

But if you put your wrist there and, and there's no number there

that will identify that you're part of this Antichrist

movement, the alarms will go off and you'll be arrested and and

put in prison. You know, it's not too long

before these things are going to come come to pass.

The technology is already there and it says it in 14 one, that

the Father's name will be written on our foreheads and

will be seen everywhere by everyone as God's possession.

The seal, the mark of his ownership.

And the New Jerusalem is a seal of the heavenly citizenship that

you and I, we belong to a Kingdom that's not of this

world, who's builder and maker is God.

Now, some people believe that the Church of Philadelphia and

all these churches represent certain churches in time and

history. And we, we break these things

out in a more contemporary way too, that this church is seen by

many as a church at the time of the Great Awakening started

around 1793. The prophetical aspect or the

futuristic approach of what this church represents in our day and

age. And that's in the days of Wesley

and Whitfield's preaching at Edward and Moody in the 18th and

19th century, the beginning of an evangelistic explosion around

the earth, right, Because because of Rome held the church

in captive, right. For a long time, people didn't

have Bibles. They couldn't read their Bibles.

There wasn't the opportunity to go out and do anything because

if you did you, you would be looked upon as a heretic.

You would be many times martyred.

Martin Luther got tired of the rules and he started being

challenged. He said, you know, no matter how

much I try, I still see my wickedness in me.

I'm a religious person, but I'm dead.

I'm depraved. I have sinned.

I have bad thoughts. You know, this doesn't make

sense to me, that I'm supposed to be a child of God, and yet I

feel like a child of the devil. He was a tormented man, and so

he started reading the book of Romans.

And as he read the book of Romans, he had an epiphany when

he came upon that verse that the just shall live by faith.

Justification is by faith alone, by grace alone and Christ alone.

And no magisterium, no church, no tradition of man can bring

salvation. It's a gift of God.

We are digging into the Book of Revelation here on Living Waters

of Grace. Pastor Clark is tackling this

challenging book as we try to discern the messages that are

within its pages. There's so much imagery, and at

times you're not always sure what's literal and what's

metaphorical. At one point, there's a

reference to an adulterous woman riding on a beast.

And as someone else mentioned, at one point it almost sounds

like a rodeo from hell. And in actuality it kind of is.

You learn about the downfall and demise of a sinful and

rebellious world, falling down in worship to someone who is the

anti hero, the enemy, Satan working his insidious ways into

the minds of fallen people. It's sad and it's heartbreaking,

but it's a classic story of good versus evil.

Thankfully, we know how this story ends.

Jesus wins, Jesus reigns, and evil is conquered once and for

all. We pray and trust you've

received Jesus as your Savior. But if you haven't, don't wait

until the events and revelation become what's happening on the

streets. None of us wants you to be there

at that time. Instead, we'd love for you to be

with us in heaven as we celebrate the marriage supper

with Jesus as his bridegroom. To get a better understanding of

where we are in the Book of Revelation, to listen to any

messages before or after this one, you can find them at our

website, calvarychapelonline.com.

That's it for today's edition, but we hope you'll want to hear

Pastor Clark teach more from the Book of Revelation.

It can be exciting to think about the future for believers,

but it can feel a bit harrowing for those who don't believe.

Come here more next time on Living Waters of Grace.