Like Cain, men continue to substitute their own ideas of how to worship God in the place of His clear instructions. And, like Abel, those who would rather live in obedience to God become the objects of disdain in the world.
Read MoreLuther’s challenge reverberated throughout Christendom. Many other devotees of the Roman faith had also lamented the corruptions they saw in the church. They read the 95 theses with joy and felt that the Lord had graciously set His hand to stem the tide of iniquity issuing from Rome.
Read MoreLuther had purposed in the early days of his walk with the Lord to continue in learning and faithfully sharing and caring for the sheep as their shepherd. Even though it was not his intention to place himself in the midst of a battle, his proclamations of Biblical truth repeatedly conflicted with the traditions of the church.
Read MoreHe saw the danger of exalting human theories above God’s Word. After his return to Wittenberg, Luther received the Doctor of Divinity degree. He devoted himself, as never before, to the beloved Scriptures. He took a vow to preach with fidelity the truth of God’s Word. He knew he was called to feed the flock of God—and they were hungering for truth.
Read MoreThe process of disentanglement from the fallen world can be a complex, delicate operation. Only the loving surgical hand of the Great Physician can accomplish it. Martin Luther encountered a Bible in the university library and correctly recognized the greatness of God. But that was just the beginning of his disentanglement.
Read MoreMartin found a Bible chained to the convent wall and spent every spare moment there. His rigorous works in the monastic life, augmented by fasting, scourging, and vigils brought him no sense of the desired pardon and peace. At the verge of total despair, God sent a friend who counseled him to cease looking to himself and look instead to Jesus.
Read MoreTo the right were the Pharisees and to the left were the Sadducees. From there, things became political as both groups sought to win followers. By the end of the earthly ministry of Jesus, they had united over a common enemy: JESUS!
Read MoreCorruption among the religious leaders who had rejected Jesus resulted in a voluntary blindness and deafness to any presentation of God’s Truth, which always—by contrast—points out error. They simply did not want to hear it. This pattern is often repeated in the Scriptures and continues still.
Read MoreIn the latter days of John Huss, tumult and confusion were heightened throughout Christendom as three popes were now contending for the coveted throne. Following the hurling of anathemas, they each sought to purchase arms and recruit soldiers. . .
Read MoreFor a brief time, Huss retreated to his native village. And once the tumult subsided, he returned to Bethlehem Chapel preaching with even more determination and greater power the precious truths of God’s Word. The spiritual battle continued to rage all around. Those who were being transformed by the Biblical message were growing in number.
Read MoreThis silent sermon arrested the attention of all classes. Crowds gazed, as the clear and unmistakable message pierced the very atmosphere of Prague. Even though the missionary artists were forced to flee, the lesson they taught was not forgotten.
Read MoreScripture reveals the Lord’s tender heart for orphans and widows. Evidence of His watchcare over a believing fourteenth century Bohemian mother who was widowed is a choice example. She surely must have prayed Luke 2:52 over her son . . .
Read MoreThe Word is anointed with supernatural power by the Holy Spirit, symbolized by oil. It is by the power of God’s love and the light of His truth that the Holy Spirit draws the sin-stained heart of fallen man into a transforming relationship with Him. No amount of human power or might can enact the metamorphosis from sinner to saint!
Read MoreWycliffe’s work of Bible translation shattered fetters of ignorance and vice, liberating and elevating his countrymen. Since this was still before the printing press, copies of the Word were multiplied by hand. The copyists could hardly keep up with the demand….
Read MoreWycliffe also organized a body of simple, devout men—who loved the truth and desired to share it—into preachers who went all over England—in the cities, marketplaces, country lanes seeking out the poor, sick, and aged in order to open to them the glad tidings of God’s grace.
Read MoreCries of agony were heard throughout the land, not only from bereft parents, but from the young people themselves who regretted the sorrow they had inflicted. Sadly, once in the sinister snare it was all but impossible to regain their freedom.
Read MoreWycliffe did not deliberately set himself in opposition to Rome. But inevitably, as the extensive errors were exposed by the Light, he fearlessly sought that the Bible be restored to the people and its authority re-established within the church.
Read MoreThese humble guardians of truth kept the Sabbath along with the rest of the articles of their simple faith. But Sabbath-keeping was against the command of the church of Rome. In fear and terror, there were churches across Europe who submitted to the prevailing error and superstition regarding church traditions.
Read MoreBeing followers of Christ and His principles of truth were valued above houses and lands, friends, kindred, even life itself. And even though the persecution of papal Rome often meant death for self, family and friends, they knew that no action of cruel men could blot out even one of His promises to those who love Him and desire do His will.
Read MoreThe ideas that lend credence to the coercive mark will be marketed in a positive light and probably sound very good economically and ecologically. But they will undermine the Lord’s foundational teachings regarding worship. The very words of God will be co-opted and misapplied in order to deceive people and divert worship away from Him.
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