It has stood the test of time. 00:00:07.43\00:00:12.20 God4s book, the Bible. 00:00:12.20\00:00:17.23 Still relevant in today4s complex world. 00:00:17.23\00:00:22.10 It Is Written -sharing hope around the globe. 00:00:22.10\00:00:36.70 I'm John Bradshaw. 00:00:36.70\00:00:37.93 Thanks for joining me today on It is Written. 00:00:37.93\00:00:40.93 Part of Czechoslovakia for 75 years, the Czech Republic is 00:00:40.93\00:00:44.53 bordered by Germany, Austria and, Slovakia and Poland. 00:00:44.53\00:00:48.13 Its capital is the cit of Prague. 00:00:48.13\00:00:50.63 It dates back to about1100 AD. 00:00:50.63\00:00:52.73 It is an especially historic city, teaming with 00:00:52.73\00:00:55.93 magnificent historical sites. 00:00:55.93\00:00:57.66 [Background music] Prague castle, the largest castle in 00:00:57.66\00:01:23.90 the world, was likely founded in the 9th century. 00:01:23.90\00:01:26.83 It covers over 750 thousand sq ft or about 17 acres. 00:01:26.83\00:01:35.40 The Charles Bridge was built in the 14th Century by 00:01:35.40\00:01:38.70 Charles the IV who at the time was the Emperor of the 00:01:38.70\00:01:42.16 holy roman empire. 00:01:42.16\00:01:44.00 Prague was the capital of that empire and it has been 00:01:44.00\00:01:46.86 the seat of kings and an important commercial and 00:01:46.86\00:01:49.53 cultural center. 00:01:49.53\00:01:58.20 Now Prague isn't stuck in the past. 00:01:58.20\00:02:01.10 Its theaters and museums and galleries are world class. 00:02:01.10\00:02:04.90 Its scenery has inspired Hollywood to come and film 00:02:04.90\00:02:08.50 here and some of its architecture is whimsical and 00:02:08.50\00:02:11.30 quirky. 00:02:11.30\00:02:14.00 This is the magnificent Old Town Square. 00:02:14.00\00:02:17.00 It dates back to the 12th Century. 00:02:17.00\00:02:19.30 It's surrounded by fabulous buildings including two 00:02:19.30\00:02:21.56 massive churches and the old town hall. 00:02:21.56\00:02:24.86 Tourists from all over the world flock here to take 00:02:24.86\00:02:27.76 pictures of the churches and the steeples. 00:02:27.76\00:02:30.73 On the hour, they rush over to the clock tower to listen 00:02:30.73\00:02:33.43 to the chimes ringing and to see the figurines moving. 00:02:33.43\00:02:40.33 They throng to the many merchant stands which crowd 00:02:40.33\00:02:42.60 this place, especially during the summer months. 00:02:42.60\00:02:48.50 But in the process of running to and fro, many people often 00:02:48.50\00:02:50.90 miss the significance of something right here in the 00:02:50.90\00:02:55.00 middle of the old town square. 00:02:55.00\00:02:57.40 Unlike the rest of pretty well everything here in the 00:02:57.40\00:02:59.86 old town square, it's not really very old. 00:02:59.86\00:03:02.66 It was built at the beginning of last century, a statue 00:03:02.66\00:03:05.73 erected in honor of one of Prague's most famous sons. 00:03:05.73\00:03:10.93 You know, over time, there have been many, many famous 00:03:10.93\00:03:13.53 Czechs and we can think of tennis plays such as Ivan 00:03:13.53\00:03:16.73 Lendl and Martina Navratilova, Olympian, Neal 00:03:16.73\00:03:19.03 áááá, the writer, Franz Kafka was from Czech Republic as 00:03:19.03\00:03:23.03 was composer Antonín Dvoóák, and a number of Nobel prize 00:03:23.03\00:03:26.30 laureates, but none of them have had the profound effect 00:03:26.30\00:03:30.56 on the world as has this favorite son of Prague. 00:03:30.56\00:03:37.10 So, how well known is this man in his home town? 00:03:37.10\00:03:41.10 While he may be remembered and perhaps even revered here 00:03:41.10\00:03:43.90 in Prague, if you go outside of Prague, outside of the 00:03:43.90\00:03:46.86 Czech Republic, a lot of people are not even aware of 00:03:46.86\00:03:50.13 who this man is or what this man did. 00:03:50.13\00:03:52.80 His contribution to world history has lost a lot of its 00:03:52.80\00:03:55.03 luster. 00:03:55.03\00:03:56.36 What he did in favor of religious history and 00:03:56.36\00:03:59.53 religious freedom has been pretty well forgotten. 00:03:59.53\00:04:02.66 [Music in the background] This man, one of history's 00:04:02.66\00:04:09.76 great heroes, I think we can say, was ultimately executed 00:04:09.76\00:04:13.76 as a criminal, as a dangerous enemy of the state in the 00:04:13.76\00:04:17.43 year 1415. 00:04:17.43\00:04:19.60 So, what was it that led this family-oriented, 00:04:19.60\00:04:23.16 peace-loving, Bible-believing, 00:04:23.16\00:04:25.56 Bible-preaching man to be persecuted and executed? 00:04:25.56\00:04:30.53 The story of John Huss is inspiring. 00:04:30.53\00:04:33.50 It's full of lessons for people interested in 00:04:33.50\00:04:36.13 religious freedom. 00:04:36.13\00:04:37.40 Now, keep in mind you don't have to be a Christian or a 00:04:37.40\00:04:40.70 religious person to believe in religious freedom. 00:04:40.70\00:04:44.00 The truth is down through time many Christians had been 00:04:44.00\00:04:46.50 fabulously intolerant of the religious freedoms of others 00:04:46.50\00:04:49.30 and even atheists ought to be thankful for religious 00:04:49.30\00:04:52.50 freedom. 00:04:52.50\00:04:53.50 In another age, atheists would have been relentlessly 00:04:53.50\00:04:56.00 persecuted because they choose not to follow the 00:04:56.00\00:04:58.06 religious protocols of the day. 00:04:58.06\00:05:00.83 In fact, today, if you enjoy religious freedom, if you 00:05:00.83\00:05:04.06 believe in a person's right to believe what they want as 00:05:04.06\00:05:07.10 they want, if you believe in your right to take your faith 00:05:07.10\00:05:10.50 directly from the Bible and believe it as you wish, then 00:05:10.50\00:05:13.96 you owe a lot to this famous son of Prague. 00:05:13.96\00:05:18.46 John Huss was born around the year 1370 in the village of 00:05:18.46\00:05:22.26 Husenik in Southern Bohemia. 00:05:22.26\00:05:24.26 Southern Bohemia became part of what is now known as the 00:05:24.26\00:05:27.16 Czech Republic. 00:05:27.16\00:05:30.13 In fact, John Huss took his name from the name of his 00:05:30.13\00:05:33.23 village, Ian Huss or John Huss came from rather an 00:05:33.23\00:05:37.76 anonymous family. 00:05:37.76\00:05:40.06 There is not a whole lot known of the details of his 00:05:40.06\00:05:42.83 early life but what we know is this. 00:05:42.83\00:05:45.03 Influences in his family or from some other part of his 00:05:45.03\00:05:47.76 early life led him to ultimately make the decision 00:05:47.76\00:05:51.13 to become a priest. 00:05:51.13\00:05:53.56 Now, Huss has admitted that he became a priest initially, 00:05:53.56\00:05:55.73 at least, for status and money. 00:05:55.73\00:06:00.16 But, over time, his focus changed. 00:06:00.16\00:06:03.10 As John Huss studied, his love for God grew, as did his 00:06:03.10\00:06:06.63 commitment to ministry. 00:06:06.63\00:06:09.46 And, something else grew as well. 00:06:09.46\00:06:11.66 And, that is John Huss' love for and commitment to truth 00:06:11.66\00:06:16.86 and that is what ultimately led him to a lot of trouble. 00:06:16.86\00:06:20.56 What John Huss found out is that truth is not always 00:06:20.56\00:06:23.83 popular. 00:06:23.83\00:06:26.33 I'll tell you more in just a moment. 00:06:26.33\00:06:44.60 Time for today's Bible question and thank you for 00:06:44.60\00:06:47.70 submitting your questions. 00:06:47.70\00:06:50.26 I was raised going to church with my parents, and was 00:06:50.26\00:06:53.63 baptized as an infant. 00:06:53.63\00:06:56.13 When I grew up I left the church and now that I'm quite 00:06:56.13\00:07:00.36 a bit older and hopefully wiser, I've come back. 00:07:00.36\00:07:03.43 Do I need to be re-baptized? 00:07:03.43\00:07:05.63 What is baptism for anyway? 00:07:05.63\00:07:08.43 Well, let me tell you something. 00:07:08.43\00:07:11.90 The truth is that when you were an infant you weren't 00:07:11.90\00:07:14.63 baptized. 00:07:14.63\00:07:15.63 Like me, you were christened. 00:07:15.63\00:07:17.10 The word baptize means to 'fully immerse' or to 'plunge 00:07:17.10\00:07:21.30 under the water' - unless you were put all the way under 00:07:21.30\00:07:25.23 the water when you were an infant-and that's not very 00:07:25.23\00:07:27.40 likely--then you weren't baptized. 00:07:27.40\00:07:29.60 So, now that you've come back to faith in God and you've 00:07:29.60\00:07:31.80 reconnected with a church, it would be right to express 00:07:31.80\00:07:34.20 your faith in God by being baptized. 00:07:34.20\00:07:36.90 Baptism signifies that you have accepted Jesus, that 00:07:36.90\00:07:39.50 you've repented of your sins, and that you've died a death 00:07:39.50\00:07:43.33 to the old way of life. 00:07:43.33\00:07:44.93 That's why you're being BURIED as it were, and then 00:07:44.93\00:07:47.63 'raised up' to live a whole new life, under a whole new 00:07:47.63\00:07:51.13 power - the power of God. 00:07:51.13\00:07:52.63 The passage in the Bible that speaks right to this is in 00:07:52.63\00:07:56.10 Romans chapter 6. 00:07:56.10\00:07:57.83 From verse three it says, "Know ye not, that so many of 00:07:57.83\00:08:01.26 us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized 00:08:01.26\00:08:04.46 into His death? 00:08:04.46\00:08:05.76 Therefore we are buried with Him by baptism into death: 00:08:05.76\00:08:09.56 that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by 00:08:09.56\00:08:12.33 the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in 00:08:12.33\00:08:17.90 newness of life." 00:08:17.90\00:08:20.13 It isn't that you ought to be rebaptized. 00:08:20.13\00:08:23.20 It's time for you to be baptized. 00:08:23.20\00:08:26.23 It'd sn outward sign of an inward change, letting the 00:08:26.23\00:08:29.50 world know, and God know, and YOU know that you've changed 00:08:29.50\00:08:33.93 sides - that you're no longer following the old life, but 00:08:33.93\00:08:37.60 that Jesus has made you new--so new, it can best be 00:08:37.60\00:08:41.46 described or really only be described as if you had died 00:08:41.46\00:08:45.23 and been raised from the dead. 00:08:45.23\00:08:49.03 That's baptism. 00:08:49.03\00:08:50.53 If you have a question you would like answered, please 00:08:50.53\00:08:52.33 go to our website - www.ItIsWritten.com and click 00:08:52.33\00:08:55.53 on the questions tab. 00:08:55.53\00:08:56.96 Submit your question, and in a future program we might 00:08:56.96\00:08:59.56 answer your question. 00:08:59.56\00:09:02.80 If you have a Bible question for pastor John Bradshaw, 00:09:02.80\00:09:05.56 please write to It Is Written, Box O, Thousand Oaks 00:09:05.56\00:09:09.26 California 91359 or visit our website itiswritten.com and 00:09:09.26\00:09:12.86 send us your questions on-line. 00:09:12.86\00:09:25.56 Today, I am in Prague, in the Czech republic. 00:09:25.56\00:09:28.36 This city was the home of John Huss, a man who was 00:09:28.36\00:09:31.03 uncompromising in his faith in God, and who was 00:09:31.03\00:09:33.80 uncompromising in his faith in God's Word. 00:09:33.80\00:09:37.56 A man whose faith in God and in his Word saw him burned at 00:09:37.56\00:09:41.46 the stake. 00:09:41.46\00:09:43.50 So what was it about this great man of faith that saw 00:09:43.50\00:09:45.86 him fall foul of the religious leaders of his day? 00:09:45.86\00:09:50.23 Now, the conventional wisdom is that John Huss was not the 00:09:50.23\00:09:53.63 most remarkable university student that there ever was. 00:09:53.63\00:09:57.06 He did receive his master's degree in 1396 and a few 00:09:57.06\00:10:01.20 years later, he became a professor at the University 00:10:01.20\00:10:04.26 where he received his master's degree. 00:10:04.26\00:10:06.70 Then, in 1402, John Huss became the preacher at the 00:10:06.70\00:10:10.96 Bethlehem chapel, a church that was founded specifically 00:10:10.96\00:10:15.33 so people could hear the Word of God proclaimed in the 00:10:15.33\00:10:17.96 common language. 00:10:17.96\00:10:19.56 A practice, which in itself, was not very common in that 00:10:19.56\00:10:22.03 day. 00:10:22.03\00:10:31.73 Bethlehem chapel has changed a little bit since 1391. 00:10:31.73\00:10:35.66 Some years ago, a fire pretty well destroyed Bethlehem 00:10:35.66\00:10:38.13 chapel but when it was rebuilt, they retained some 00:10:38.13\00:10:41.43 of the original Bethlehem Chapel in what we see today. 00:10:41.43\00:10:45.73 It was in this very place some 600 years ago that John 00:10:45.73\00:10:49.90 Huss began to have a profound impact on the religious world 00:10:49.90\00:10:53.96 and, therefore, on the world at large. 00:10:53.96\00:10:57.30 Back in those days, the religious world was dominated 00:10:57.30\00:10:59.83 by the Roman Church and the Roman Catholic church took a 00:10:59.83\00:11:02.96 pretty hard line with dissenters. 00:11:02.96\00:11:06.26 Back then, people believed pretty well what they were 00:11:06.26\00:11:09.43 told to believe and so, the church was riddled with 00:11:09.43\00:11:11.53 ignorance and superstition. 00:11:11.53\00:11:14.00 John Huss started to rise to prominence at the same time 00:11:14.00\00:11:17.93 as the teachings of England's John Wycliffe started to gain 00:11:17.93\00:11:22.66 traction. 00:11:22.66\00:11:24.13 Bohemian students at Oxford University were exposed to 00:11:24.13\00:11:27.06 Wycliffe's ideas. 00:11:27.06\00:11:28.43 They brought them back here to Prague where John Huss got 00:11:28.43\00:11:31.66 a hold of them. 00:11:31.66\00:11:32.86 As John Huss read Wycliffe's teachings, he was moved. 00:11:32.86\00:11:36.76 Wycliffe was teaching ideas such as the authority of the 00:11:36.76\00:11:40.76 Word of God and justification by faith and they were 00:11:40.76\00:11:46.06 radical ideas for that time. 00:11:46.06\00:11:48.30 John Wycliffe didn't have any time for tradition, ignorance 00:11:48.30\00:11:51.66 or superstition or the teachings of men rather than 00:11:51.66\00:11:54.93 the teachings of God. 00:11:54.93\00:11:56.93 What Wycliffe wanted to see was the purity of the Word of 00:11:56.93\00:12:00.70 God get loose and become known and find its way into 00:12:00.70\00:12:04.10 people's hearts, so people could be liberated from sin 00:12:04.10\00:12:07.90 and connected with God. 00:12:07.90\00:12:09.90 John Huss started to teach John Wycliffe's ideas and it 00:12:09.90\00:12:13.90 was from there that Huss' ideas spread like wildfire 00:12:13.90\00:12:17.23 around Prague and around what we now know as the Czech 00:12:17.23\00:12:21.73 Republic and John Huss started to powerfully impact 00:12:21.73\00:12:24.93 his world. 00:12:24.93\00:12:27.00 So, it isn't difficult to see how somebody like John Huss, 00:12:27.00\00:12:30.86 educated, committed, zealous for the truth of God's Word 00:12:30.86\00:12:33.86 would get exercised by some of this. 00:12:33.86\00:12:37.30 The church, in John Huss' day, was teaching traditions 00:12:37.30\00:12:39.33 and errors and it was suffering from a real 00:12:39.33\00:12:41.80 leadership crisis, not simply that they couldn't decide who 00:12:41.80\00:12:44.80 the legitimate leader was, but on a more local level, 00:12:44.80\00:12:48.70 the church leaders were pretty corrupt. 00:12:48.70\00:12:51.50 Their abuses were legendary. 00:12:51.50\00:12:52.53 John Huss believed that the clergy ought to be model 00:12:52.53\00:12:57.00 Christians but they were far from model Christians. 00:12:57.00\00:13:01.33 Many of them were drunks and gluttons. 00:13:01.33\00:13:05.50 They were fabulously - maybe that's the wrong word- they 00:13:05.50\00:13:09.33 were famously immoral and self-centered, power-mad and 00:13:09.33\00:13:10.86 money-grabbing and John Huss decided that something had to 00:13:10.86\00:13:13.43 be done and he spoke out against this and in favor of 00:13:13.43\00:13:16.16 the Word of God. 00:13:16.16\00:13:19.03 John Huss was especially incensed by the practice of 00:13:19.03\00:13:23.00 simony. 00:13:23.00\00:13:24.66 That is when the church would make merchandise of or would 00:13:24.66\00:13:27.80 sell its blessings. 00:13:27.80\00:13:29.76 The people had to pay for the sacraments. 00:13:29.76\00:13:31.93 In fact, many people paid to have their sins forgiven. 00:13:31.93\00:13:37.56 John Huss didn't set out to be a troublemaker but he 00:13:37.56\00:13:39.73 really believed that God had called him to encourage 00:13:39.73\00:13:41.70 people to be liberated from this. 00:13:41.70\00:13:44.83 England's King Edward the III said "The Lord commissioned 00:13:44.83\00:13:51.83 the Apostles to lead the sheep to pasture and not to 00:13:51.83\00:13:53.40 fleece them." 00:13:53.40\00:13:54.26 And John Huss could see that there was a lot of fleecing 00:13:54.26\00:13:56.30 going on. 00:13:56.30\00:13:57.33 John Huss wasn't prepared to stand idly by while such 00:13:57.33\00:13:59.56 shocking behavior was going on. 00:13:59.56\00:14:02.06 So, he taught the Word of God as effectively as he could 00:14:02.06\00:14:05.23 and he opposed the appalling practices that were taking 00:14:05.23\00:14:08.06 place. 00:14:08.06\00:14:09.56 John Huss didn't mean to pick a fight and I don't believe 00:14:09.56\00:14:12.13 he expected to receive such stiff opposition but 00:14:12.13\00:14:15.13 something Jesus said suggested that John Huss was 00:14:15.13\00:14:18.80 in for a battle. 00:14:18.80\00:14:19.86 We read this in John 15:20 and 21, Remember the word 00:14:19.86\00:14:24.80 that I said to you. 00:14:24.80\00:14:26.40 A servant is not greater than his master. 00:14:26.40\00:14:29.13 If they persecuted me they will also persecute you. 00:14:29.13\00:14:32.23 If they kept my word, they will keep yours also. 00:14:32.23\00:14:35.56 But all these things they will do to you for my 00:14:35.56\00:14:38.16 namesake because they do not know him who sent me. 00:14:38.16\00:14:41.06 That's exactly what happened to John Huss. 00:14:41.06\00:14:44.76 Strong opposition started mounting against him. 00:14:44.76\00:14:47.26 Not because he was teaching contrary to the Bible but 00:14:47.26\00:14:49.70 because he was preaching strong, plain, clear Bible 00:14:49.70\00:14:54.53 truth. 00:14:54.53\00:14:58.90 In Matthew 4:4 the Word of God says "It is written 'Man 00:14:58.90\00:15:02.56 shall not live by bread alone but by every word that 00:15:02.56\00:15:06.30 proceeds out of the mouth of God'." 00:15:06.30\00:15:08.50 Every Word is a one minute Bible-based daily devotional 00:15:08.50\00:15:10.76 presented by Pastor John Bradshaw and designed 00:15:10.76\00:15:14.03 especially for busy people like you. 00:15:14.03\00:15:16.76 Look for Every Word on selected networks or watch it 00:15:16.76\00:15:20.26 on-line everyday on our website itiswritten.com. 00:15:20.26\00:15:24.13 Receive a daily spiritual boost. 00:15:24.13\00:15:26.63 Watch Every Word. 00:15:26.63\00:15:27.93 You'll be glad you did. 00:15:27.93\00:15:33.26 It Is Written is dedicated to sharing the gospel around the 00:15:33.26\00:15:35.96 world. 00:15:35.96\00:15:37.43 Our Dream is do impact the world for God 00:15:37.43\00:15:39.93 Our television programs only one aspect have try to 00:15:39.93\00:15:42.36 accomplish that to discover more about 00:15:42.36\00:15:45.46 it is written I invite you to visit our Website 00:15:45.46\00:15:47.96 itiswritten.com and browse the dozens of pages that 00:15:47.96\00:15:51.06 describe what we do and how we do it. 00:15:51.06\00:15:53.86 You'll also find an archive of past programs and script full 00:15:53.86\00:15:57.36 and its streaming video and audio files along with may other 00:15:57.36\00:16:03.66 helpful inspirational resources Let'ts get to know 00:16:03.66\00:16:05.53 each other better Visit our website 00:16:05.53\00:16:07.36 itiswritten.com today. 00:16:07.36\00:16:12.73 [background music] Some years before, a Pope Gregory had 00:16:12.73\00:16:44.76 outlawed the preaching of the Gospel here in the local 00:16:44.76\00:16:48.16 language, in the language of Bohemia. 00:16:48.16\00:16:50.33 So, news of what John Huss was doing started spreading 00:16:50.33\00:16:54.10 like wildfire and it made him very unpopular with some 00:16:54.10\00:16:58.10 particularly powerful people. 00:16:58.10\00:16:59.90 John Huss was summoned to appear before the Pope, which 00:16:59.90\00:17:03.53 many people believed would lead to his execution. 00:17:03.53\00:17:06.83 The King and Queen of Bohemia rallied to his defense as did 00:17:06.83\00:17:10.10 university faculty and government officials and 00:17:10.10\00:17:13.00 other people as well. 00:17:13.00\00:17:14.53 The Church responded by placing the City of Prague 00:17:14.53\00:17:18.26 under Interdict. 00:17:18.26\00:17:20.06 Interdict would fill the lives of people with dread 00:17:20.06\00:17:23.23 and fear. 00:17:23.23\00:17:25.10 When the Church stands in the place of God, putting a city 00:17:25.10\00:17:29.80 under interdict effectively locks people out of heaven. 00:17:29.80\00:17:35.40 That's because people now couldn't get married in the 00:17:35.40\00:17:38.10 church, they couldn't get forgiven from the church. 00:17:38.10\00:17:40.90 If somebody died, they couldn't get buried in a 00:17:40.90\00:17:44.10 church funeral service or a church graveyard. 00:17:44.10\00:17:46.00 Huss began to be perceived as someone who was a troubler of 00:17:46.00\00:17:51.53 the people. 00:17:51.53\00:17:52.73 He responded by leaving Prague. 00:17:52.73\00:17:54.63 Instead of being silenced, his voice was given greater 00:17:54.63\00:17:57.40 volume as he went from place to place, powerfully 00:17:57.40\00:18:00.76 proclaiming God's Word. 00:18:00.76\00:18:02.40 It reminds me of 2 Corinthians 13:8 which says: 00:18:02.40\00:18:05.26 We can do nothing against the truth but for the truth. 00:18:05.26\00:18:10.26 After a time, John Huss came back to Prague and preached 00:18:10.26\00:18:13.16 once again in Bethlehem Chapel, this time with 00:18:13.16\00:18:15.56 renewed zeal and he didn't labor alone. 00:18:15.56\00:18:19.13 Like Paul had Silas and Barnabas had John Mark, Huss 00:18:19.13\00:18:23.16 labored together with Jerome. 00:18:23.16\00:18:25.36 Their varied talents and gifts complimented each other 00:18:25.36\00:18:27.80 well. 00:18:27.80\00:18:30.10 About this time, another controversy began raging and 00:18:30.10\00:18:33.80 it was a big one. 00:18:33.80\00:18:35.20 Several different individuals each claimed the right to be 00:18:35.20\00:18:38.06 pope, all at the same time. 00:18:38.06\00:18:40.66 The French Cardinals had elected themselves a pope and 00:18:40.66\00:18:44.36 then the Roman Cardinals elected a pope of their own. 00:18:44.36\00:18:47.40 Each rival pope sang that whatever happened under the 00:18:47.40\00:18:49.90 authority of the other pope was invalid, which means, of 00:18:49.90\00:18:53.53 course, that the pardoned were not really forgiven and 00:18:53.53\00:18:57.13 the married were not really married. 00:18:57.13\00:18:59.13 Well, to add to the confusion or in fact, there was an 00:18:59.13\00:19:01.50 attempt to clear up a confusion, the Council of 00:19:01.50\00:19:04.36 Pisa elected a third person pope, Alexander V, who told 00:19:04.36\00:19:09.23 the other two to give up their ideas about being pope, 00:19:09.23\00:19:13.23 which they were not about to do. 00:19:13.23\00:19:17.03 So, you had Alexander V ruling from Pisa, Gregory 00:19:17.03\00:19:20.23 XII, another pope ruling from Rome, and Benedict XIII 00:19:20.23\00:19:25.23 ruling from, by now, Spain. 00:19:25.23\00:19:29.33 Each Pope claiming the right to be Pope. 00:19:29.33\00:19:31.73 How would they settle the question? 00:19:31.73\00:19:34.50 Well, the next large Council wasn't going to be held until 00:19:34.50\00:19:36.53 1414 in Constance in Germany. 00:19:36.53\00:19:39.36 Here, they said, this issue of the popes would finally be 00:19:39.36\00:19:43.03 settled. 00:19:43.03\00:19:44.36 Thousands of people descended upon Constance. 00:19:44.36\00:19:47.86 In fact, it was said that 1500 prostitutes were kept 00:19:47.86\00:19:50.86 busy during the Council of Constance. 00:19:50.86\00:19:53.70 This strange mingling of men of the cloth and ladies of 00:19:53.70\00:19:56.60 the night has been memorialized in a large 00:19:56.60\00:20:00.00 statue unveiled in 2002 at the entrance to the harbor in 00:20:00.00\00:20:04.43 Constance, Germany. 00:20:04.43\00:20:07.83 So, by the time the Council of Constance came about, 00:20:07.83\00:20:10.63 Europe was a stir. 00:20:10.63\00:20:12.73 The two anti popes had been summoned to appear at the 00:20:12.73\00:20:15.00 Council of Constance, as was John Huss who was to answer 00:20:15.00\00:20:18.63 to his teachings. 00:20:18.63\00:20:20.46 The two popes chose to stay away, out of concern for 00:20:20.46\00:20:23.36 their safety. 00:20:23.36\00:20:24.83 And even though his safety had been guaranteed by the 00:20:24.83\00:20:27.96 Emperor, Sigesmund, John Huss really felt that he was 00:20:27.96\00:20:31.50 traveling to his execution. 00:20:31.50\00:20:34.46 When he got to the Council of Constance, John Huss was 00:20:34.46\00:20:37.30 going to explain to the delegates what it was he 00:20:37.30\00:20:40.00 believed and why he believed it. 00:20:40.00\00:20:42.23 But, shortly after he got there, he was arrested by 00:20:42.23\00:20:45.23 order of the Pope and the cardinals and was locked up 00:20:45.23\00:20:48.90 in a foul dungeon. 00:20:48.90\00:20:50.73 Interestingly enough, one of the popes also was 00:20:50.73\00:20:53.90 imprisoned, the other two popes were deposed and a new 00:20:53.90\00:20:57.23 pope was elected. 00:20:57.23\00:20:59.36 And at this Council, the Council of Constance, it was 00:20:59.36\00:21:02.80 decreed that the bones of reformer John Huss should be 00:21:02.80\00:21:06.06 dug up and burned. 00:21:06.06\00:21:09.50 John Huss did have supporters of the Council of Constance. 00:21:09.50\00:21:12.60 But they were unable to change the minds of his 00:21:12.60\00:21:14.83 enemies. 00:21:14.83\00:21:15.83 When he was brought to appear before the Council, he was 00:21:15.83\00:21:18.56 bound in chains and was dreadfully ill. 00:21:18.56\00:21:20.63 John Huss, at his trial, spoke boldly in defense of 00:21:20.63\00:21:23.60 Biblical truth and against the excesses and corruptions 00:21:23.60\00:21:26.80 of the church. 00:21:26.80\00:21:28.43 At his trial, he stood before the very emperor who had 00:21:28.43\00:21:31.40 guaranteed his safety. 00:21:31.40\00:21:33.80 John Huss, in spite of his bold stand for God, perhaps, 00:21:33.80\00:21:38.76 because of his bold stand for God, was sentenced to burn at 00:21:38.76\00:21:42.20 the stake. 00:21:42.20\00:21:44.30 This was a man who had been sentenced to death because he 00:21:44.30\00:21:47.63 upheld the authority of the Bible. 00:21:47.63\00:21:50.33 Because he spoke against excess and corruption in the 00:21:50.33\00:21:53.26 church. 00:21:53.26\00:21:54.30 Because he dared to defy the authority of a pope. 00:21:54.30\00:21:57.63 Up until the time of his death, he lived in inhuman 00:21:57.63\00:21:59.73 conditions. 00:21:59.73\00:22:01.23 His suffering was great. 00:22:01.23\00:22:03.60 He lived in deplorable filth. 00:22:03.60\00:22:05.30 He was alone. 00:22:05.30\00:22:07.60 John Huss had been abandoned, but never once did his faith 00:22:07.60\00:22:11.60 in God come close to wavering. 00:22:11.60\00:22:15.00 John Huss remained ardent in his faith in God and in his 00:22:15.00\00:22:17.76 faith in God's word. 00:22:17.76\00:22:20.76 At his trial, he was given the opportunity to recant. 00:22:20.76\00:22:23.76 He would not do so. 00:22:23.76\00:22:25.33 A large procession of people led him away to the place 00:22:25.33\00:22:27.90 where he would be burned at the stake. 00:22:27.90\00:22:30.56 Again, once reaching that spot, John Huss was given the 00:22:30.56\00:22:33.10 opportunity to recant. 00:22:33.10\00:22:34.53 He wouldn't do so. 00:22:34.53\00:22:35.70 In fact, his reply was this: "What errors shall I 00:22:35.70\00:22:40.03 renounce? 00:22:40.03\00:22:41.83 I know myself guilty of none. 00:22:41.83\00:22:44.53 I call God to witness that all that I have written and 00:22:44.53\00:22:48.70 preached has been with the view of rescuing souls from 00:22:48.70\00:22:51.36 sin and perdition. 00:22:51.36\00:22:53.03 And therefore, most joyfully, will I confirm with my blood 00:22:53.03\00:22:59.20 that truth which I have written and preached." 00:22:59.20\00:23:03.36 As the flames burned around him, John Huss sang until his 00:23:03.36\00:23:07.70 voice was silenced forever. 00:23:07.70\00:23:12.30 Huss' life and ministry show us that truth is not always 00:23:12.30\00:23:17.56 popular. 00:23:17.56\00:23:19.13 John Huss' heroic example shows us that even when the 00:23:19.13\00:23:22.96 truth is not popular, God's Holy Spirit moves upon his 00:23:22.96\00:23:27.46 faithful ones and inspires them to stand for God anyway. 00:23:27.46\00:23:31.56 Paul addressed this very thing when he wrote to his 00:23:31.56\00:23:36.16 young friend, Timothy. 00:23:36.16\00:23:38.03 Here is what he said: "Preach the Word. 00:23:38.03\00:23:41.13 Be ready in season and out of season. 00:23:41.13\00:23:44.80 Convince, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and 00:23:44.80\00:23:48.50 teaching. 00:23:48.50\00:23:50.36 For the time will come when they will not endure sound 00:23:50.36\00:23:53.50 doctrine but according to their own desires because 00:23:53.50\00:23:56.33 they have itching ears. 00:23:56.33\00:23:58.30 They will heap up for themselves teachers and they 00:23:58.30\00:24:01.56 will turn their ears away from the truth and be turned 00:24:01.56\00:24:05.70 aside to fables. 00:24:05.70\00:24:07.20 2 Timothy 4:2-4 You see, that is really the choice that we 00:24:07.20\00:24:15.16 have to make. 00:24:15.16\00:24:16.36 To stand on the Word of God and let God's Word guide out 00:24:16.36\00:24:20.53 lives and mold our existence or stand instead with human 00:24:20.53\00:24:25.60 teachings and human traditions and that would be 00:24:25.60\00:24:28.23 a mistake and I hope you and me would never make. 00:24:28.23\00:24:31.76 You see, the Bible is not just another book. 00:24:31.76\00:24:35.00 The Bible is God's Book. 00:24:35.00\00:24:37.43 Did the death of John Huss silence the man? 00:24:37.43\00:24:42.90 Maybe it silenced the man, but it didn't silence his 00:24:42.90\00:24:46.90 message. 00:24:46.90\00:24:48.46 You see, the Bible says in 2 Timothy 3:16, "All Scripture 00:24:48.46\00:24:53.23 is given by inspiration of God." 00:24:53.23\00:24:55.73 And Jesus said, in John 8: "The truth will make you 00:24:55.73\00:25:00.06 free." 00:25:00.06\00:25:01.23 Writing to a friend once, John Huss wrote these words. 00:25:01.23\00:25:03.53 He said: "Truth (and that is God's truth), Truth prevails 00:25:03.53\00:25:07.03 overall. 00:25:07.03\00:25:09.23 Interestingly, the Czech government has adopted John 00:25:09.23\00:25:12.56 Huss' words as their national motto. 00:25:12.56\00:25:15.43 "Truth prevails". 00:25:15.43\00:25:18.00 And I certainly hope that will be true in your 00:25:18.00\00:25:20.73 experience. 00:25:20.73\00:25:22.86 John Huss had it right. 00:25:22.86\00:25:24.46 God's truth does prevail over all. 00:25:24.46\00:25:28.66 Let me pray with you: Father in heaven, we thank you for 00:25:28.66\00:25:32.70 truth and we thank you for John Huss and men like him, 00:25:32.70\00:25:35.83 people like him and for their example. 00:25:35.83\00:25:38.63 And I pray that by your grace, I, we would be 00:25:38.63\00:25:41.66 faithful and committed to standing for you, to standing 00:25:41.66\00:25:45.90 on your Word and allowing your Word to be the guide and 00:25:45.90\00:25:50.00 the rule of our lives. 00:25:50.00\00:25:51.83 I thank you today for the Bible. 00:25:51.83\00:25:54.73 And we pray today in Jesus' name, Amen. 00:25:54.73\00:26:12.76 Perhaps our program today is touch your heart and impress you 00:26:12.76\00:26:15.56 with the personal need for a deep bible studie 00:26:15.56\00:26:19.03 I you decide to listen to God and follow where He leads 00:26:19.03\00:26:22.00 We have a wonderful resource than can help you 00:26:22.00\00:26:23.83 do that in a systematic way, 00:26:23.83\00:26:26.13 The discover Bible Guides This study guides will take you 00:26:26.13\00:26:29.30 thru the essential true of scripture, they give you the big 00:26:29.30\00:26:32.56 picture showing how all fits together 00:26:32.56\00:26:35.70 The Discover Bible Guides are a wonderful way for you to become 00:26:35.70\00:26:39.40 grounded in the word of God and to see how Jesus Christ 00:26:39.40\00:26:43.00 relates to all the areas of our lifes 00:26:43.00\00:26:45.46 Please call or write us and the Discover Bible Guides will be on 00:26:45.46\00:26:49.10 their way to you If you live in Norht America, 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