In the story of Job, a valuable object lesson is given to show just how ready our adversary is to inflict harm. Too often our underestimation—or obliviousness—of the enemy is exactly what leads us into subjection to him.
Read MoreIn our ‘instant-gratification’ modern world, among things that pertain to life and godliness are the exceedingly great and precious promises of God. These promises are about what He desires to do in us, for us, and through us—but only those who trust Him wholeheartedly will recognize His divine power at work.
Read MoreA panoramic view across the ages shows us that Satan has used any and every strategy that suits him in a given circumstance: persecution, compromise, heresy, and popularity (especially popularity). All of these methods are used to harden hearts against the influences that God has placed in the world for our good.
Read MoreEvery person is caught in the crossfire of the war between good and evil, right and wrong, obedience and rebellion, life and death. Genesis 3:1 tells us that the leader of the rebellion is subtle! That one word gives us a “heads-up” that the enemy is to be carefully guarded against.
Read MoreThose who idolized individual reformers unwittingly replaced one form of idolatry with another—certainly not the intent of the godly men whom they intended to honor.
Read MoreGod has made clear to us the simple and foundational principles by which we are to live. And then, we are faced daily with practical tests. Do not allow the enemy to take back “territory” that you have surrendered to Jesus.
Read MoreAmazingly, this persecution was accompanied by tremendous growth and spread of the original, pure faith. In fact, the very intensity of the persecution of those days is exactly what kept it free from nominal and lukewarm Christians.
Read MoreGod’s watch-care protected Tyndale as he carried out his calling during many tedious years of continued harassment by the papacy. Having the privilege of an excellent education, Tyndale used the Hebrew and Greek texts to craft a stunning masterpiece of the English language in his Bible translation.
Read MoreThe bishop of Durham bought the entire stock of Bibles from one bookseller for the purpose of destroying them. His thinking was that this would greatly hinder the Reformation. But the monies procured actually covered the publishing cost of an improved edition!
Read MoreWilliam Tyndale was told by one papal leader that “the church had given the Bible and the church alone could explain it” to which Tyndale replied, “Do you know who taught the eagles to find their prey? Well, that same God teaches His hungry children to find their Father in His Word. Far from having given us the Scriptures, it is you who have hidden them from us.
Read MoreA partial list of offenses included: reading the Bible, listening to the Bible being read, preaching, listening to preaching, talking about the Bible, praying in secret, refraining from bowing to an image, singing a psalm, missing mass, worshiping at home. The penalty for things such as these was death.
Read MoreToday it is politically incorrect to be verbal regarding the Word of God as the standard by which we are instructed and enabled to make distinctions. But, apart from the Word, how can we possibly give our children what they need in order to distinguish good from evil?
Read MoreJohn Calvin had been awakened to numerous, but not all, of the errors taught in the established church of the Dark Ages. He, like other heroes of the Reformation, gratefully recognized and received the light of truth that came to him. He tirelessly helped countless others escape the ruin that he had so thankfully escaped.
Read MoreGeneva became a refuge for hunted reformers from all over western Europe. Calvin remained there for the better part of thirty years while a continual stream of wounded and starving refugees arrived and were welcomed and tenderly cared for.
Read MoreFarel invited Calvin to join with him in the work of strengthening Geneva, emphasizing that, though they had cast off the authority of Rome, they still needed—as individuals—to be fully converted by the power of the Holy Spirit and cared for as a flock. Calvin took this to be a call from Heaven on his life.
Read MoreSuddenly there were vacancies in every kind of position: university professors, authors, artisans, printers, scholars, even courtiers. Their self-imposed exile from their beloved France astonished the papists, who previously had no idea the extent of those who favored the Biblical faith.
Read MoreBeloved, times of testing are just ahead. You may be in the midst of a fiery trial even at this moment. Make sure that your focus is only on Jesus, who is The Overcomer (what it means to be called Israel). If our trust or focus is on anyone, any one, other than Jesus, we are at risk of failing to stand the barrage of testing to come.
Read MoreA group of eager French Reformers decided to strike a bold blow against the superstitious and occult practices of the Catholic mass. They were zealous to jump-start the Reformation in France and catch up to the wonderful progress that Germany and Switzerland had made.
Read MoreAs the numbers of listeners continued to grow, it was deemed safer to meet outside the city. A secluded cave was chosen, and they would travel to it in small companies, by various routes. The Bible was read aloud and it was here that the Lord’s Supper was celebrated for the first time by the Protestants of France.
Read MoreCalvin went from house to house, teaching the Word of Christ, the testimony of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world (Revelation 13:8). Some houses were castles, and some were cabins. But he was received with great favor and many hearts were won for the Lord! Soon Calvin was back in Paris. He continued his teaching from house to house.
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