It has stood the test of time,
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God's book -- the Bible.
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Still relevant in
today's complex world.
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It Is Written ...
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sharing hope around the globe.
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Thanks for joining me today.
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I'm John Bradshaw and
this is It Is Written.
00:00:37.43\00:00:41.46
Every now and then someone
appears on the world stage
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that makes a
dramatic difference.
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As the old saying puts it,
Cometh the hour, cometh the
00:00:47.06\00:00:49.83
man.
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The 'hour' we're
talking about today was the 18th
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Century - a time when England
had degenerated, religiously,
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into a tired and
formulaic routine.
00:00:58.26\00:01:01.06
The Church of England was
now the state church in the
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United Kingdom, and though
it had broken from Rome, and
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several of Rome's doctrines
had been rejected, the forms
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of Rome had been largely
retained by the Church of
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England.
00:01:12.40\00:01:13.40
And the monarchy had simply
taken the place of the pope
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as the head of the church.
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The road to
Protestantism had been rocky.
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Men and women had won freedom
from Rome at a great cost -
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many lost their lives
being murdered, or martyred, and
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persecution was intense.
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By the 1700s, Protestantism
in England wasn't the vital
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force its founders
had hoped it would be.
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The vitality had just
seeped right out of the church.
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Formalism and nominalism
had taken over spiritual life.
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Something was needed.
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Someone was needed.
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[Music] And in the early
1700s - June 28, 1703, the
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15th of Samuel and Susanna
Wesley's children was born
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here in Epworth, in
Lincolnshire, England.
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Epworth is about 45 miles
south of York and about the
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same distance from Leeds,
and today has a population of
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less than 4000 people.
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Obviously much
smaller back then.
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The Wesleys had
moved here in 1695.
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Yet from this unassuming
place came the man who would
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go on to become one of the
great religious reformers of
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all time.
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He would become the founder
of the Methodist Church -- and
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would breathe new life into
Christianity in England -- and
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provide inspiration to
Christians all over the
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world.
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Only 10 of Samuel and
Susanna Wesley's 19 children
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survived.
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And if you think that
was a large family, Susanna's
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father - a dissenter pastor
who had separated from the
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established church - had 25
children, and Susanna was the
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25th.
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Samuel Wesley - who went to
school with Daniel Defoe, the
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author of Robinson Crusoe -
had graduated from Oxford and
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was the church of England
pastor here - and this is
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where the Wesley's lived.
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At that time the rectory
was a wooden building and it had
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a thatched roof.
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When John Wesley was 5 years
old, the Rectory burned down.
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His father would say that
he believed the fire was set
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intentionally by
discontented church members.
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Little Jacky (as his mother
called him) was rescued in
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dramatic circumstances.
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John wrote later that he
was saved 'as a brand plucked
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from the burning'.
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This new Rectory was built
in 1709 at a cost of £184, not
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quite $300 USD.
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When John Wesley was
about 13, certain events lead
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people to believe that
this Rectory was haunted.
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People urged Samuel Wesley
to take his family away from
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here and get them to safety.
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Samuel said that he believed
the devil should flee from
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him, and not the
other way round...
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[Music] Samuel Wesley,
John's father, was the pastor of
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this church.
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This is St Andrew's Church,
the parish church of Epworth.
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Parts of this building
date back to the 12th Century.
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And as a young man, John
Wesley was the curate of the
00:04:47.06\00:04:50.86
parish church in the little
village of Wroot, about 5 or
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6 miles from Epworth.
00:04:54.60\00:04:56.60
He is buried here, just yards
from where he used to preach.
00:05:01.66\00:05:05.30
John Wesley would come
back to Epworth and come here to
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St. Andrews and step up on
top of his father's tombstone
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and use it as a pulpit
from he would preach the Word of
00:05:12.86\00:05:15.63
God.
00:05:15.63\00:05:17.63
When he'd come back to
Epworth to visit his family,
00:05:21.13\00:05:24.63
John Wesley would normally
stay right here, at the Red
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Lion Inn, and because the
wasn't allowed to preach in
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the churches, he'd preach
from unorthodox places, such
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as from right on top of
his father's tomb and he would
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preach here, from these
very steps, in this exact place
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and from these steps take
his Bible in his hand, proclaim
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the Word of God and encourage
the people of Epworth to
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follow Jesus Christ by faith.
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In Matthew 4:4 the Word of
God says, "It is written, man
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shall not live by bread
alone but by every word that
00:06:05.83\00:06:09.56
proceeds from the mouth of God.
00:06:09.56\00:06:11.63
Every Word is a one minute
Bible based daily devotional
00:06:11.63\00:06:14.80
presented by Pastor
John Bradshaw and designed
00:06:14.80\00:06:17.90
especially for
busy people like you.
00:06:17.90\00:06:21.56
Look for Every Word on
selected networks or watch it
00:06:21.56\00:06:27.73
on line every day on
our website itiswritten.com.
00:06:27.73\00:06:32.60
Receive a daily spiritual boost.
00:06:32.60\00:06:36.06
Watch Every Word.
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You'll be glad you did.
00:06:37.53\00:06:40.60
Here's a sample.
00:06:40.60\00:06:42.70
I read an article recently
that investigated why it is
00:06:42.70\00:06:45.60
that kids in other
countries seem to take on
00:06:45.60\00:06:48.53
responsibility more
readily than American kids.
00:06:48.53\00:06:51.66
The article said that
children in many other parts
00:06:51.66\00:06:53.66
of the world seemed to be
more disciplined, and that
00:06:53.66\00:06:56.40
Western kids -- Surprise!
00:06:56.40\00:06:57.73
Surprise!
00:06:57.73\00:06:58.73
-- are indulged.
00:06:58.73\00:06:59.83
Parents seem to coddle and
spoil them, the story said.
00:06:59.83\00:07:02.60
But look at what
Solomon wrote in Proverbs 29:17,
00:07:02.60\00:07:05.56
"Correct your son, and he
will give you rest; yes, he
00:07:05.56\00:07:08.30
will give delight to your soul."
00:07:08.30\00:07:09.63
Not cruelty,
discipline - which is
00:07:09.63\00:07:12.23
virtually the same
word as "disciple".
00:07:12.23\00:07:15.16
Many parents want to be
their kids' buddy, but not their
00:07:15.16\00:07:16.56
parent.
00:07:16.56\00:07:18.03
And maybe it's because
self-discipline is slipping
00:07:18.03\00:07:20.43
slowly away.
00:07:20.43\00:07:21.56
Sometimes you've got
to put your foot down.
00:07:21.56\00:07:23.50
Parents with
children, absolutely.
00:07:23.50\00:07:25.33
But also put your
foot down in your own life.
00:07:25.33\00:07:28.16
Our parent, God,
might want to correct us.
00:07:28.16\00:07:30.20
And when he does, we
need to let Him do so.
00:07:30.20\00:07:32.73
Let's live today by Every Word.
00:07:32.73\00:07:35.86
It is written is dedicated
to sharing the gospel around the
00:07:35.86\00:07:38.20
world.
00:07:38.20\00:07:39.80
To discover more about It
Is Written, I invite you to
00:07:39.80\00:07:42.06
visit our
website: itiswritten.com.
00:07:42.06\00:07:45.13
And browse the dozens of
pages that describe what we
00:07:45.13\00:07:47.73
do and how we do it.
00:07:47.73\00:07:49.46
Let's get to know
each other better.
00:07:49.46\00:07:51.13
Visit our website
itiswritten.com today.
00:07:51.13\00:07:55.53
[music]??????
John Wesley studied
00:07:55.53\00:08:11.50
at Christ Church
at Oxford University.
00:08:11.50\00:08:14.03
It was and still is a
very prestigious school.
00:08:14.03\00:08:17.16
King Edward the
7th was educated here.
00:08:17.16\00:08:19.70
William Penn, the founder
of the State of Pennsylvania,
00:08:19.70\00:08:21.83
and the current
Archbishop of Canterbury.
00:08:21.83\00:08:25.20
In fact, Christ Church
has produced as many Prime
00:08:25.20\00:08:27.73
Ministers of Great Britain
- 13 - as the other 45 Oxford
00:08:27.73\00:08:31.76
colleges combined.
00:08:31.76\00:08:32.86
And it was while he was
here that John Wesley began to
00:08:32.86\00:08:40.10
experience
personal spiritual revival.
00:08:40.10\00:08:43.30
Along with his brother,
Charles, and others such as
00:08:43.30\00:08:45.30
George Whitefield, or
Whitfield, depending on your
00:08:45.30\00:08:47.30
pronunciation, John
Wesley formed the Holy Club - a
00:08:47.30\00:08:51.06
group that met regularly
and were determined to live a
00:08:51.06\00:08:54.30
holy life dedicated to
God, in a very systematic way.
00:08:54.30\00:09:01.06
Wesley sought to be holy.
00:09:05.90\00:09:08.86
So he adopted a very rigid
approach to his life, often
00:09:08.86\00:09:12.66
denying himself and following
certain 'methods' of living
00:09:12.66\00:09:16.70
that he believed would enable
him to live that life that he
00:09:16.70\00:09:19.93
wanted to live.
00:09:19.93\00:09:21.43
This 'methodical' approach
to faith in God saw Wesley and
00:09:21.43\00:09:25.53
his fellows in the Holy
Club here at Lincoln College
00:09:25.53\00:09:29.73
become branded as
"Methodists." To begin with,
00:09:29.73\00:09:33.80
this term "Methodists"
was intended as an insult but
00:09:33.80\00:09:38.40
Wesley and his friends
came to embrace the term as they
00:09:38.40\00:09:42.00
believed it reflected
God's will for their lives.
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[Music] When Wesley came
to Oxford University, he knew
00:09:53.30\00:09:55.43
full well just what
faithfulness to the Word of
00:09:55.43\00:09:57.76
God could cost.
00:09:57.76\00:09:59.40
He knew that in 1536
another former Oxford student,
00:09:59.40\00:10:02.40
William Tyndale, had been
burned at the stake for his
00:10:02.40\00:10:05.13
faith in Jesus Christ and
for daring to disobey the orders
00:10:05.13\00:10:08.13
of the Roman Catholic Church.
00:10:08.13\00:10:10.23
And Wesley had another
very graphic reminder of what
00:10:10.23\00:10:13.23
faithfulness cost.
00:10:13.23\00:10:14.23
You see, right here behind
me is the very spot in which
00:10:14.23\00:10:19.56
Hugh Latimer, Nicholas Ridley
and Thomas were burned at the
00:10:19.56\00:10:23.16
stake for their
faith in the Word of God.
00:10:23.16\00:10:25.96
Latimer and Ridley in 1555
and Cranmer, who had been the
00:10:25.96\00:10:28.66
the Archbishop of
Canterbury - in 1556.
00:10:28.66\00:10:32.33
It is said that Latimer said
to Ridley as they were about
00:10:32.33\00:10:35.63
to be burned,
"Be of good comfort."
00:10:35.63\00:10:38.43
"We shall this day light such
a candle, by God's grace, in
00:10:38.43\00:10:42.33
England, as I trust
shall never be put out."
00:10:42.33\00:10:46.46
Now Cranmer, on the other
hand, recanted his opposition
00:10:46.46\00:10:49.63
to the Roman Catholic
Church several times but then he
00:10:49.63\00:10:53.80
recanted his recantations.
00:10:53.80\00:10:55.73
He was brought to this spot
on Broad Street in Oxford and
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burned at the stake.
00:10:59.66\00:11:00.73
And when he was, he did
what he said he would do.
00:11:00.73\00:11:03.86
He took the very hand that
had written the recantations
00:11:03.86\00:11:06.93
and thrust it into the flames.
00:11:06.93\00:11:10.76
Today, a cross commemorates
the spot at which these men
00:11:10.76\00:11:14.26
gave their lives for their
faith in Christ, while near
00:11:14.26\00:11:17.60
this sport stands the
Oxford Martyrs' Memorial, in
00:11:17.60\00:11:20.73
remembrance of
Latimer, Ridley and Cranmer.
00:11:20.73\00:11:24.06
The inscription on the
base of the memorial says this:
00:11:24.06\00:11:28.20
"To the Glory of God, and in
grateful commemoration of His
00:11:28.20\00:11:31.70
servants, Thomas
Cranmer, Nicholas Ridley, Hugh
00:11:31.70\00:11:35.50
Latimer, Prelates of the
Church of England, who near
00:11:35.50\00:11:39.33
this spot yielded their
bodies to be burned, bearing
00:11:39.33\00:11:43.00
witness to the sacred truths
which they had affirmed and
00:11:43.00\00:11:45.93
maintained against the errors
of the Church of Rome, and
00:11:45.93\00:11:50.23
rejoicing that to them it
was given not only to believe in
00:11:50.23\00:11:54.36
Christ, but also to suffer
for His sake." John Wesley
00:11:54.36\00:12:02.96
knew that the road to
reform would not be easy.
00:12:02.96\00:12:06.06
He understood what opposition
to truth could look like.
00:12:06.06\00:12:09.26
But he was determined.
00:12:09.26\00:12:10.90
He was determined to
live a life of faith.
00:12:10.90\00:12:13.30
A life to the glory of God.
00:12:13.30\00:12:15.10
A life that would result
in personal transformation.
00:12:15.10\00:12:19.66
But just as the road to
reform in the church would no
00:12:19.66\00:12:22.60
be easy, Wesley discovered
that the road to reform in
00:12:22.60\00:12:26.63
his own personal life
would not be easy either.
00:12:26.63\00:12:30.33
You see, like most people,
John Wesley had to learn the
00:12:30.33\00:12:33.36
secret of
living a life of faith.
00:12:33.36\00:12:36.23
So what was it that John
Wesley learned that changed
00:12:36.23\00:12:39.43
his life?
00:12:39.43\00:12:40.63
And could it change your life?
00:12:40.63\00:12:43.26
More in just a moment.
00:12:43.26\00:12:45.26
Planning for your financial
future is a vital aspect of
00:12:47.63\00:12:50.40
Christian Stewardship.
00:12:50.40\00:12:51.86
For this reason, It Is
Written is pleased to offer
00:12:51.86\00:12:54.10
free planned giving
and estate services.
00:12:54.10\00:12:57.13
For information on how
we can help you, please call
00:12:57.13\00:13:01.76
1.800.992.2219.
00:13:01.76\00:13:02.76
To receive additional
material on the advantages of
00:13:02.76\00:13:05.26
life-income plans such as
a Charitable Gift Annuity,
00:13:05.26\00:13:08.40
which can provide you with
tax benefits and income for
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life, call today or
visit our special website:
00:13:12.30\00:13:15.26
www.hislegacy.com.
00:13:15.26\00:13:19.36
You could also write to It
Is Written, Planned Giving and
00:13:19.36\00:13:22.36
Trust Services, Box O,
Thousand Oaks, California
00:13:22.36\00:13:25.80
91359.
00:13:25.80\00:13:28.10
Our toll-free number again
is 1-800-992-2219 and our web
00:13:28.10\00:13:33.70
address: www.hislegacy.com
00:13:33.70\00:13:35.80
Perhaps something in
today's program has sparked your
00:13:42.26\00:13:44.53
interest in greater Bible study.
00:13:44.53\00:13:46.76
We invite you to visit our
website itiswritten.com where
00:13:46.76\00:13:50.30
you will find a host
of inspirational resources
00:13:50.30\00:13:53.36
including free Bible
study guides, there's also a
00:13:53.36\00:13:56.03
complete archive of
past television programs and
00:13:56.03\00:13:58.46
special video seminars
that you can view on-line or
00:13:58.46\00:14:01.76
download.
00:14:01.76\00:14:02.76
Discover more at
itiswritten.com It was in
00:14:02.76\00:14:08.23
1735 that John Wesley and
his brother Charles, newly
00:14:08.23\00:14:12.20
ordained to ministry,
left England bound for the
00:14:12.20\00:14:15.73
province of Georgia
in the American colonies.
00:14:15.73\00:14:18.83
They left from Gravesend,
near where the River Thames
00:14:18.83\00:14:21.30
runs into the English
Channel, on a ship called The
00:14:21.30\00:14:24.20
Simmonds.
00:14:24.20\00:14:25.63
And it was on that journey
that John Wesley came face to
00:14:25.63\00:14:28.30
face with what he perceived
to be his own great spiritual
00:14:28.30\00:14:32.03
lack.
00:14:32.03\00:14:33.26
While crossing the
Atlantic Ocean, a terrible storm
00:14:33.26\00:14:36.13
arose.
00:14:36.13\00:14:37.33
Wesley believed that he
was going to die - and he was
00:14:37.33\00:14:40.46
terrified.
00:14:40.46\00:14:42.46
But also aboard the ship
were a number of German Moravian
00:14:43.53\00:14:46.13
believers, members of a
religious group that had its
00:14:46.13\00:14:48.83
origins in the teachings
of John Huss - who himself was
00:14:48.83\00:14:52.43
strongly influenced by
another English reformer,
00:14:52.43\00:14:55.43
John Wycliffe, the
Morning Star of the Reformation.
00:14:55.43\00:14:59.43
During this storm the
Moravians remained calm - no
00:15:01.30\00:15:05.13
panic, and they had a peace
that Wesley didn't possess.
00:15:05.13\00:15:09.03
In fact, they sang as
the storm raged around them.
00:15:09.03\00:15:13.66
Wesley later asked them if
they had been afraid to die.
00:15:13.66\00:15:16.53
No, they said, we
were not afraid to die.
00:15:16.53\00:15:19.30
And it was then that Wesley
realized that in spite of his
00:15:19.30\00:15:23.10
methodical approach to
his religious life, he was
00:15:23.10\00:15:26.26
missing something
tremendously important.
00:15:26.26\00:15:29.56
His brother Charles
had a similar experience.
00:15:29.56\00:15:32.16
It was thought at one
time that Charles was going to
00:15:32.16\00:15:34.46
die.
00:15:34.46\00:15:35.46
He had become so ill and
somebody asked him upon which
00:15:35.46\00:15:38.60
he rested his hope of salvation.
00:15:38.60\00:15:41.30
Charles answered by
saying, "I have used my best
00:15:41.30\00:15:44.70
endeavors to serve God."
Led to believe his answer might
00:15:44.70\00:15:48.70
have been lacking just a
little bit, Charles thought,
00:15:48.70\00:15:51.26
"Are not my endeavors a
sufficient ground of hope?
00:15:51.26\00:15:55.40
I have nothing else to trust
to!" The Wesleys had thought
00:15:55.40\00:16:01.66
that living a virtuous
life and observing all the right
00:16:01.66\00:16:04.26
forms would bring them to
the place where they had peace
00:16:04.26\00:16:07.03
with God.
00:16:07.03\00:16:08.03
But they came to understand
that genuine Christian living
00:16:08.03\00:16:11.80
involves an inward change
that affects the thoughts and
00:16:11.80\00:16:15.13
the feelings, not just
the words and the actions.
00:16:15.13\00:16:18.16
They came to understand
that this inward transformation
00:16:18.16\00:16:21.50
was an integral part of
genuine Christian living.
00:16:21.50\00:16:24.86
Up until now, they
had been trying to achieve
00:16:24.86\00:16:27.20
righteousness by works but
now they began to understand
00:16:27.20\00:16:30.93
that great foundational
teaching of Christianity -
00:16:30.93\00:16:34.23
righteousness by
faith in Jesus Christ alone.
00:16:34.23\00:16:38.70
By 1738, John Wesley, now
35, and his brother Charles, 31,
00:16:38.70\00:16:46.50
returned to England.
00:16:46.50\00:16:47.50
And it was that year
that something remarkable
00:16:47.50\00:16:51.33
happened, something
that would the world.
00:16:51.33\00:16:54.96
On May 24, 1738, John was
attended a Moravian meeting
00:16:54.96\00:16:59.50
in London, right
here on Aldersgate Street.
00:16:59.50\00:17:03.56
This is what he would
later write about what happened
00:17:03.56\00:17:05.60
here that night.
00:17:05.60\00:17:08.10
"In the evening I went
very unwillingly to a society in
00:17:08.10\00:17:12.00
Aldersgate Street, where
one was reading Luther's preface
00:17:12.00\00:17:15.26
to the Epistle to the Romans.
00:17:15.26\00:17:17.53
About a quarter before
nine, while the leader was
00:17:17.53\00:17:20.50
describing the change
which God works in the heart
00:17:20.50\00:17:22.76
through faith in Christ,
I felt my heart strangely
00:17:22.76\00:17:26.20
warmed.
00:17:26.20\00:17:27.56
I felt I did trust in Christ
alone for salvation; and an
00:17:27.56\00:17:32.00
assurance was given me
that He had taken away my sins,
00:17:32.00\00:17:35.60
even mine, and saved me
from the law of sin and death."
00:17:35.60\00:17:40.03
[Music] John Wesley would
never be the same again - and
00:17:51.83\00:17:54.70
nor would the world.
00:17:54.70\00:17:56.16
He continued to live
his methodical, self-denying
00:17:56.16\00:17:59.43
life, but now as the result
of his faith in God, and not
00:17:59.43\00:18:04.00
the ground of his faith in God.
00:18:04.00\00:18:06.56
Wesley came to understand
that the grace of God is the
00:18:06.56\00:18:09.20
foundation of a believer's
existence and he realized
00:18:09.20\00:18:12.50
that grace
resulted in obedience.
00:18:12.50\00:18:16.03
Wesley dedicated his life
to preaching these great truths
00:18:16.03\00:18:19.66
- justification through
faith in the blood of Jesus, and
00:18:19.66\00:18:23.16
the transforming power of
the Holy Spirit in a person's
00:18:23.16\00:18:26.10
life.
00:18:26.10\00:18:28.66
Today we've looked at
individuals whose lives were
00:18:28.66\00:18:30.76
changed because of the
power of the Word of God.
00:18:30.76\00:18:33.30
And I want to share with
you how the Bible can bring joy
00:18:33.30\00:18:36.36
and victory into your life.
00:18:36.36\00:18:38.60
There is a special Bible
study guide I want you to
00:18:38.60\00:18:41.06
have.
00:18:41.06\00:18:42.06
It's called The
Secret of Happiness.
00:18:42.06\00:18:44.70
In just a few pages, you'll
discover what the Bible has
00:18:44.70\00:18:47.03
to say on this vital subject
and it's our free gift to
00:18:47.03\00:18:50.16
you.
00:18:50.16\00:18:51.16
The secret of happiness
explains just how the Word of
00:18:51.16\00:18:53.86
God has the power to
transform your life and give
00:18:53.86\00:18:57.30
you abundant joy.
00:18:57.30\00:18:58.83
Right now, it's available
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00:18:58.83\00:19:01.16
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Is Written, Box O,
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00:19:10.66\00:19:15.53
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00:19:25.26\00:19:29.00
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00:19:33.86\00:19:36.73
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00:19:38.50\00:19:42.40
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Like many reformers, John
00:19:56.80\00:20:01.60
Wesley had no intention of
starting a new denomination
00:20:01.60\00:20:04.20
when he founded Methodism.
00:20:04.20\00:20:06.46
It's interesting -
Catholicism had been the
00:20:06.46\00:20:08.70
state religion, and it
needed serious reformation.
00:20:08.70\00:20:11.93
Out of that milieu came
the Church of England - which
00:20:11.93\00:20:14.73
itself came to the
place where IT needed to be
00:20:14.73\00:20:17.20
reformed.
00:20:17.20\00:20:18.43
To begin with, John Wesley
wanted to teach and preach
00:20:18.43\00:20:20.60
within the confines
of the Church of England.
00:20:20.60\00:20:22.90
But it wasn't long and he
wasn't welcome in the Church
00:20:22.90\00:20:25.53
of England.
00:20:25.53\00:20:26.70
He was ardently opposed
to the Calvinist teaching of
00:20:26.70\00:20:29.10
predestination, believing
instead that people were free
00:20:29.10\00:20:32.53
to choose whether they
wanted to accept or reject
00:20:32.53\00:20:35.60
salvation.
00:20:35.60\00:20:37.03
This pitted him
against his good friend, George
00:20:37.03\00:20:39.30
Whitefield, with
Wesley saying that he believed
00:20:39.30\00:20:42.96
Calvinism represented "God
to be worse than the devil."
00:20:42.96\00:20:46.50
After Whitefield died,
John Wesley wrote that "in some
00:20:46.50\00:20:50.90
things, people
might agree to disagree".
00:20:50.90\00:20:54.10
That's the first time we know
of that the phrase "agree to
00:20:54.10\00:20:56.40
disagree" ever
appeared in print.
00:20:56.40\00:21:00.06
And John Wesley was a
committed abolitionist.
00:21:03.93\00:21:06.66
He was friends with William
Wilberforce and with John
00:21:06.66\00:21:09.36
Newton who wrote
the hymn Amazing Grace.
00:21:09.36\00:21:12.90
So this was another point
where he differed from his
00:21:12.90\00:21:14.90
friend George Whitefield,
who had argued in favor of
00:21:14.90\00:21:17.66
slavery.
00:21:17.66\00:21:19.46
John Wesley usually travelled
on horseback, and he preached
00:21:19.46\00:21:21.96
two or three times a day.
00:21:21.96\00:21:23.66
Stephen Tomkins wrote
that Wesley traveled "more than
00:21:23.66\00:21:26.20
250,000 miles, he gave
away 30,000 pounds, ...
00:21:26.20\00:21:31.20
and preached more
than 40,000 sermons.
00:21:31.20\00:21:34.73
Now all this travel was not
especially good for Wesley's
00:21:34.73\00:21:37.36
marriage.
00:21:37.36\00:21:38.73
When he was 48 he married
Mary, a 40-year-old widow.
00:21:38.73\00:21:43.50
Wesley's
philosophy was pretty simple.
00:21:43.50\00:21:45.90
He wrote, 'I cannot
understand how a Methodist
00:21:45.90\00:21:48.76
preacher can answer it to
God to preach one sermon or
00:21:48.76\00:21:52.10
travel one day less, in
a married than in a single
00:21:52.10\00:21:55.73
state.' Mary had a hard
time seeing it that time.
00:21:55.73\00:21:59.63
She grew weary of his
relentless travel schedule,
00:21:59.63\00:22:02.50
and she become jealous of
the attention that Wesley was
00:22:02.50\00:22:05.50
getting from other women.
00:22:05.50\00:22:07.63
Now it cannot be said
that John Wesley handled all of
00:22:07.63\00:22:10.60
the pressure on his
marriage like a saint.
00:22:10.60\00:22:13.13
He actually wrote and said
some pretty scathing things
00:22:13.13\00:22:15.60
to Mary.
00:22:15.60\00:22:16.76
Biographer Robert Southey
wrote 'There are few stomachs
00:22:16.76\00:22:19.76
which could bear to have
humility administered in such
00:22:19.76\00:22:22.30
doses.' Molly actually
left Wesley several times, but
00:22:22.30\00:22:26.00
after he would beg her
to return, she'd come back.
00:22:26.00\00:22:29.60
But things were
not good at home.
00:22:29.60\00:22:31.63
Write John Pollock wrote
that Mary was actually seen
00:22:31.63\00:22:35.03
dragging Wesley
across the floor by his hair.
00:22:35.03\00:22:38.76
No wonder, then, that
after 15 years of marriage, Mary
00:22:38.76\00:22:41.33
left.
00:22:41.33\00:22:42.33
And when she did, Wesley
wrote, ", 'I did not forsake
00:22:42.33\00:22:45.43
her, I did not dismiss her,
I will not recall her.' [Music]
00:22:45.43\00:22:54.33
Wesley's Chapel here on
City Road in London was built in
00:22:56.83\00:23:00.73
1778.
00:23:00.73\00:23:02.93
Wesley preached in this
very chapel - continuing to
00:23:02.93\00:23:05.83
proclaim the powerful
grace of God that is able to
00:23:05.83\00:23:09.33
forgive sins and
change a human heart.
00:23:09.33\00:23:12.86
Wesley taught a lot
about the Holy Spirit, and the
00:23:12.86\00:23:15.80
infilling of the Holy Spirit,
which he believed to be the
00:23:15.80\00:23:19.10
privilege of a
believer to receive.
00:23:19.10\00:23:21.80
He taught on the doctrine
of sanctification, how a person
00:23:21.80\00:23:25.13
could have the "mind which
was in Christ, enabling us to
00:23:25.13\00:23:28.96
walk as He
walked" as Wesley said.
00:23:28.96\00:23:31.96
He taught that a person
is restored "not only to the
00:23:31.96\00:23:34.96
favor, but likewise to the
image of God." Wesley died in
00:23:34.96\00:23:45.43
1791, almost 87 years old.
00:23:45.43\00:23:48.50
His emphasis on personal
revival based on the power of
00:23:48.50\00:23:52.40
the Bible and the work of
the Holy Spirit in a person's
00:23:52.40\00:23:54.66
life saw him leave
behind 135,000 Methodist Church
00:23:54.66\00:23:59.83
members and over
500 itinerant Methodist
00:23:59.83\00:24:02.90
preachers.
00:24:02.90\00:24:03.90
And he died poor.
00:24:03.90\00:24:06.16
Virtually everything he owned
or had earned he had given to
00:24:06.16\00:24:09.66
the cause of God.
00:24:09.66\00:24:12.50
When he was dying, he
took hold of the hands of those
00:24:12.50\00:24:15.50
with him in his room and
said again and again, "Farewell,
00:24:15.50\00:24:18.86
farewell." And finally he
said, "The best of all is,
00:24:18.86\00:24:23.53
God is with us".
00:24:23.53\00:24:24.80
And he said it again: "The
best of all, God is with us."
00:24:24.80\00:24:29.13
And then, he died.
00:24:29.13\00:24:31.93
He's buried here,
just behind this chapel.
00:24:36.80\00:24:40.63
His Godly mother, Susanna,
is buried just across the street
00:24:40.63\00:24:43.30
in Bunhill Fields cemetery
as is John Bunyan, the writer of
00:24:43.30\00:24:48.53
one of the most magnificent
and famous literary works in
00:24:48.53\00:24:51.30
the history of Christianity
- Pilgrim's Progress.His
00:24:51.30\00:24:55.33
brother Charles is buried
about two miles from here.
00:24:55.33\00:24:58.40
Charles is famous for
writing some of Christianity's
00:24:58.40\00:25:00.73
best-loved hymns.
00:25:00.73\00:25:02.23
Hymns such as "And Can
it Be"; "O For a Thousand
00:25:02.23\00:25:06.20
Tongues to Sing"; "Christ
the Lord is Risen Today";
00:25:06.20\00:25:10.70
"Soldiers of Christ Arise."
00:25:10.70\00:25:13.73
What an active place this is
going to be on the morning of
00:25:13.73\00:25:16.80
the resurrection, when
"the dead in Christ shall rise."
00:25:16.80\00:25:21.63
Like so many of us, John
Wesley had a religion that
00:25:21.63\00:25:24.56
was all about the forms or
religion but didn't have the
00:25:24.56\00:25:27.90
power of living faith.
00:25:27.90\00:25:29.66
His belief system didn't
change his heart or give him
00:25:29.66\00:25:32.46
assurance of salvation.
00:25:32.46\00:25:34.46
But everything changed
because John Wesley met Jesus
00:25:35.60\00:25:40.26
- the real Jesus, a personal
Saviour, a close friend.
00:25:40.26\00:25:45.13
John Wesley discovered
the power of the presence of
00:25:45.13\00:25:49.43
Christ in his life.
00:25:49.43\00:25:50.66
I want you to know that the
same Jesus that changed John
00:25:50.66\00:25:55.70
Wesley's life
can change your life.
00:25:55.70\00:25:59.93
The same Bible that brought
such power into John Wesley's
00:25:59.93\00:26:03.03
daily existence can bring
power to where you are right
00:26:03.03\00:26:06.56
now.
00:26:06.56\00:26:08.00
And the same Holy Spirit
that brought transformation and
00:26:08.00\00:26:12.06
assurance of forgiveness
of sins and the life of Jesus
00:26:12.06\00:26:15.86
lived out in John Wesley's
life can bring all those
00:26:15.86\00:26:20.46
things into your life right now.
00:26:20.46\00:26:23.80
Just one man - John Wesley
- and the world was changed.
00:26:23.80\00:26:28.76
Just one man - Jesus - and
you're life can be changed,
00:26:28.76\00:26:34.23
today.
00:26:34.23\00:26:35.23
Let me pray with you...Our
father in heaven, from this
00:26:35.23\00:26:39.53
really rather sacred spot,
I want to thank you today for
00:26:39.53\00:26:43.23
Jesus, the Jesus that
John Wesley met, the Jesus who
00:26:43.23\00:26:46.60
changed his heart
and changed his life.
00:26:46.60\00:26:49.33
And the Jesus who can come
into our lives right now and
00:26:49.33\00:26:51.60
make them
everything they ought to be.
00:26:51.60\00:26:54.10
I thank you today for assurance.
00:26:54.10\00:26:57.43
I thank you that you forgive
us for our sins and I thank
00:26:57.43\00:27:00.53
you that Jesus will live
his life in us and make us
00:27:00.53\00:27:04.53
completely new.
00:27:04.53\00:27:05.53
Let us live now believing
and knowing and leaning on you
00:27:05.53\00:27:10.16
and trusting in
Christ for our salvation.
00:27:10.16\00:27:13.00
We pray and thank
you in Jesus' name, Amen.
00:27:13.00\00:27:20.00
[Music] I want to thank
you for joining me today and
00:27:40.83\00:27:42.83
until next time, remember:
It is written, man shall not
00:27:42.83\00:27:47.63
live by bread alone, but by
every word that proceeds from
00:27:47.63\00:27:51.90
the mouth of God.
00:27:51.90\00:27:53.90