[Music] It has stood 00:00:00.46\00:00:08.06 the test of time. 00:00:08.06\00:00:10.06 God4s book, the Bible. 00:00:11.93\00:00:16.30 Still relevant in today4s complex world. 00:00:16.30\00:00:23.86 It Is Written -sharing hope around the globe. 00:00:23.86\00:00:33.90 I'm John Bradshaw. 00:00:33.90\00:00:37.20 Thanks for joining me today on It is Written. 00:00:37.20\00:00:40.53 Part of Czechoslovakia for 75 years, the Czech Republic is 00:00:40.53\00:00:44.20 bordered by Germany, Austria and, Slovakia and Poland. 00:00:44.20\00:00:47.76 Its capital is the cit of Prague. 00:00:47.76\00:00:50.33 It dates back to about 1100 AD. 00:00:50.33\00:00:52.33 It is an especially historic city, teaming with 00:00:52.33\00:00:56.23 magnificent historical sites. 00:00:56.23\00:00:58.13 [Music] 00:01:01.70\00:01:11.40 Prague castle, the largest castle in 00:01:22.00\00:01:23.73 the world, was likely founded in the 9th century. 00:01:23.73\00:01:26.46 It covers over 750 thousand sq ft or about 17 acres. 00:01:26.46\00:01:31.83 The Charles Bridge was built in the 14th Century 00:01:31.83\00:01:35.86 by Charles the IV who at the time was the Emperor 00:01:35.86\00:01:37.86 of the holy roman empire. 00:01:37.86\00:01:40.63 Prague was the capital of that empire and it has been 00:01:40.63\00:01:47.13 the seat of kings and an important commercial 00:01:47.13\00:01:51.83 and cultural center. 00:01:51.83\00:01:53.60 [Town Hall clock chiming] Now Prague isn't stuck 00:01:53.60\00:01:58.33 in the past. 00:01:58.33\00:02:00.40 Its theaters and museums and galleries are world class. 00:02:00.40\00:02:04.50 Its scenery has inspired Hollywood to come and film 00:02:04.50\00:02:07.03 here and some of its architecture is whimsical and 00:02:07.03\00:02:10.80 quirky. 00:02:10.80\00:02:13.53 This is the magnificent Old Town Square. 00:02:13.53\00:02:15.76 It dates back to the 12th Century. 00:02:15.76\00:02:17.86 It's surrounded by fabulous buildings including two 00:02:17.86\00:02:21.06 massive churches and the old town hall. 00:02:21.06\00:02:24.26 Tourists from all over the world flock here to take 00:02:24.26\00:02:27.16 pictures of the churches and the steeples. 00:02:27.16\00:02:29.43 On the hour, they rush over to the clock tower to listen 00:02:29.43\00:02:32.13 to the chimes ringing and to see the figurines moving. 00:02:32.13\00:02:39.63 They throng to the many merchant stands which crowd 00:02:39.63\00:02:42.03 this place, especially during the summer months. 00:02:42.03\00:02:49.06 But in the process of running to and fro, many people often 00:02:49.06\00:02:51.16 miss the significance of something right here in the 00:02:51.16\00:02:54.36 middle of the old town square. 00:02:54.36\00:02:56.56 Unlike the rest of pretty well everything here in the 00:02:56.56\00:02:59.50 old town square, it's not really very old. 00:02:59.50\00:03:02.16 It was built at the beginning of last century, a statue 00:03:02.16\00:03:05.70 erected in honor of one of Prague's most famous sons. 00:03:05.70\00:03:10.56 You know, over time, there have been many, many famous 00:03:10.56\00:03:12.76 Czechs and we can think of tennis plays such 00:03:12.76\00:03:15.20 as Ivan Lendl and Martina Navratilova, 00:03:15.20\00:03:17.73 Olympian, Emil Zátopek, the writer, Franz Kafka 00:03:17.73\00:03:20.83 was from Czech Republic as was composer 00:03:20.83\00:03:23.13 Antonín DvoYák and a number of Nobel prize 00:03:23.13\00:03:25.96 laureates, but none of them have had the profound effect 00:03:25.96\00:03:30.83 on the world as has this favorite son of Prague. 00:03:30.83\00:03:35.06 So, how well known is this man in his home town? 00:03:35.06\00:03:39.13 While he may be remembered and perhaps even revered here 00:03:39.13\00:03:43.50 in Prague, if you go outside of Prague, outside of the 00:03:43.50\00:03:46.83 Czech Republic, a lot of people are not even aware of who 00:03:46.83\00:03:49.86 this man is or what this man did. 00:03:49.86\00:03:52.26 His contribution to world history has lost 00:03:52.26\00:03:54.56 a lot of its luster. 00:03:54.56\00:03:55.56 What he did in favor of religious history 00:03:55.56\00:03:58.66 and religious freedom has been pretty well forgotten. 00:03:58.66\00:04:01.80 [Music in the background] This man, one of history's 00:04:01.80\00:04:09.66 great heroes, I think we can say, was ultimately executed 00:04:09.66\00:04:13.33 as a criminal, as a dangerous enemy of the state in the 00:04:13.33\00:04:16.90 year 1415. 00:04:16.90\00:04:19.03 So, what was it that led this family-oriented, 00:04:19.03\00:04:22.16 peace-loving, Bible-believing, 00:04:22.16\00:04:25.10 Bible-preaching man to be persecuted and executed? 00:04:25.10\00:04:30.13 The story of John Huss is inspiring. 00:04:30.13\00:04:33.06 It's full of lessons for people interested 00:04:33.06\00:04:35.20 in religious freedom. 00:04:35.20\00:04:36.80 Now, keep in mind you don't have to be a Christian 00:04:36.80\00:04:39.93 or a religious person to believe in religious freedom. 00:04:39.93\00:04:43.50 The truth is down through time many Christians had been 00:04:43.50\00:04:45.56 fabulously intolerant of the religious freedoms of others 00:04:45.56\00:04:49.03 and even atheists ought to be thankful for religious 00:04:49.03\00:04:52.10 freedom. 00:04:52.10\00:04:53.10 In another age, atheists would have been relentlessly 00:04:53.10\00:04:55.53 persecuted because they choose not to follow 00:04:55.53\00:04:57.80 the religious protocols of the day. 00:04:57.80\00:05:00.56 In fact, today, if you enjoy religious freedom, if you 00:05:00.56\00:05:04.03 believe in a person's right to believe what they want as 00:05:04.03\00:05:07.16 they want, if you believe in your right to take your faith 00:05:07.16\00:05:10.06 directly from the Bible and believe it as you wish, 00:05:10.06\00:05:13.30 then you owe a lot to this famous son of Prague. 00:05:13.30\00:05:17.86 John Huss was born around the year 1370 in the village of 00:05:17.86\00:05:22.06 Husenik in Southern Bohemia. 00:05:22.06\00:05:24.73 Southern Bohemia became part of what is now known as the 00:05:24.73\00:05:28.33 Czech Republic. 00:05:28.33\00:05:29.76 In fact, John Huss took his name from the name of his 00:05:29.76\00:05:32.70 village, Ian Huss or John Huss came from rather an 00:05:32.70\00:05:38.36 anonymous family. 00:05:38.36\00:05:39.36 There is not a whole lot known of the details of his 00:05:39.36\00:05:41.56 early life but what we know is this. 00:05:41.56\00:05:44.23 Influences in his family or from some other part 00:05:44.23\00:05:47.33 of his early life led him to ultimately make the decision 00:05:47.33\00:05:50.66 to become a priest. 00:05:50.66\00:05:53.06 Now, Huss has admitted that he became a priest initially, 00:05:53.06\00:05:56.10 at least, for status and money. 00:05:56.10\00:05:59.13 But, over time, his focus changed. 00:05:59.13\00:06:02.76 As John Huss studied, his love for God grew, as did 00:06:02.76\00:06:07.06 his commitment to ministry. 00:06:07.06\00:06:09.13 And, something else grew as well. 00:06:09.13\00:06:11.13 And, that is John Huss' love for and commitment to truth 00:06:11.13\00:06:15.60 and that is what ultimately led him to a lot of trouble. 00:06:15.60\00:06:20.20 What John Huss found out is that truth is not always 00:06:20.20\00:06:24.36 popular. 00:06:24.36\00:06:25.83 I'll tell you more in just a moment. 00:06:25.83\00:06:27.83 [Music] 00:06:27.83\00:06:33.76 Time for today's Bible question and thank you for 00:06:44.83\00:06:47.90 submitting your questions. 00:06:47.90\00:06:50.56 I was raised going to church with my parents, 00:06:50.56\00:06:53.23 and was baptized as an infant. 00:06:53.23\00:06:56.60 When I grew up I left the church and now that I'm quite a bit 00:06:56.60\00:06:59.93 older and hopefully wiser, I've come back. 00:06:59.93\00:07:02.46 Do I need to be re-baptized? 00:07:02.46\00:07:05.76 What is baptism for anyway? 00:07:05.76\00:07:09.26 Well, let me tell you something. 00:07:09.26\00:07:11.73 The truth is that when you were an infant you weren't 00:07:11.73\00:07:14.43 baptized. 00:07:14.43\00:07:15.43 Like me, you were christened. 00:07:15.43\00:07:18.16 The word baptize means to 'fully immerse' or to 'plunge 00:07:18.16\00:07:21.46 under the water' - unless you were put all the way under 00:07:21.46\00:07:23.76 the water when you were an infant-and that's not very 00:07:23.76\00:07:25.76 likely--then you weren't baptized. 00:07:25.76\00:07:28.73 So, now that you've come back to faith in God and you've 00:07:28.73\00:07:31.00 reconnected with a church, it would be right to express 00:07:31.00\00:07:34.26 your faith in God by being baptized. 00:07:34.26\00:07:37.10 Baptism signifies that you have accepted Jesus, that 00:07:37.10\00:07:39.76 you've repented of your sins, and that you've died a death 00:07:39.76\00:07:43.33 to the old way of life. 00:07:43.33\00:07:44.76 That's why you're being BURIED as it were, and then 00:07:44.76\00:07:48.10 'raised up' to live a whole new life, under a whole new 00:07:48.10\00:07:51.60 power - the power of God. 00:07:51.60\00:07:53.90 The passage in the Bible that speaks right to this is in 00:07:53.90\00:07:56.56 Romans chapter 6. 00:07:56.56\00:07:57.66 From verse three it says, "Know ye not, that so many of 00:07:57.66\00:08:01.96 us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized 00:08:01.96\00:08:05.70 into His death? 00:08:05.70\00:08:07.53 Therefore we are buried with Him by baptism into death: 00:08:07.53\00:08:10.86 that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by 00:08:10.86\00:08:13.83 the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in 00:08:13.83\00:08:18.06 newness of life." 00:08:18.06\00:08:20.43 It isn't that you ought to be rebaptized. 00:08:20.43\00:08:23.30 It's time for you to be baptized. 00:08:23.30\00:08:26.56 It'd sn outward sign of an inward change, letting the world 00:08:26.56\00:08:30.53 know, and God know, and YOU know that you've changed sides 00:08:30.53\00:08:35.40 - that you're no longer following the old life, 00:08:35.40\00:08:37.73 but that Jesus has made you new--so new, it can best 00:08:37.73\00:08:42.16 be described or really only be described as if you had died 00:08:42.16\00:08:46.80 and been raised from the dead. 00:08:46.80\00:08:48.96 That's baptism. 00:08:48.96\00:08:51.23 If you have a question you would like answered, please 00:08:51.23\00:08:53.86 go to our website - www.ItIsWritten.com and click 00:08:53.86\00:08:56.26 on the questions tab. 00:08:56.26\00:08:57.46 Submit your question, and in a future program 00:08:57.46\00:09:00.13 we might answer your question. 00:09:00.13\00:09:02.26 [Music] 00:09:04.60\00:09:10.00 Today, I am in Prague, in the Czech republic. 00:09:10.36\00:09:13.20 This city was the home of John Huss, a man who was 00:09:13.20\00:09:16.06 uncompromising in his faith in God, and who was 00:09:16.06\00:09:18.63 uncompromising in his faith in God's Word. 00:09:18.63\00:09:21.53 A man whose faith in God and in his Word saw him 00:09:21.53\00:09:25.06 burned at the stake. 00:09:25.06\00:09:28.30 So what was it about this great man of faith that saw 00:09:28.30\00:09:31.00 him fall foul of the religious leaders of his day? 00:09:31.00\00:09:35.36 Now, the conventional wisdom is that John Huss was not 00:09:35.36\00:09:38.36 the most remarkable university student that there ever was. 00:09:38.36\00:09:41.43 He did receive his master's degree in 1396 and a few 00:09:41.43\00:09:46.36 years later, he became a professor at the University 00:09:46.36\00:09:49.20 where he received his master's degree. 00:09:49.20\00:09:51.73 Then, in 1402, John Huss became the preacher at 00:09:51.73\00:09:55.46 the Bethlehem chapel, a church that was founded specifically 00:09:55.46\00:10:00.06 so people could hear the Word of God proclaimed in the common 00:10:00.06\00:10:04.90 language. 00:10:04.90\00:10:05.53 A practice, which in itself, was not very common in that day. 00:10:05.53\00:10:09.46 [Building Music] 00:10:11.70\00:10:14.60 Bethlehem chapel has changed a little bit since 1391. 00:10:16.93\00:10:20.60 Some years ago, a fire pretty well destroyed Bethlehem 00:10:20.60\00:10:23.13 chapel but when it was rebuilt, they retained some 00:10:23.13\00:10:26.36 of the original Bethlehem Chapel in what we see today. 00:10:26.36\00:10:29.16 It was in this very place some 600 years ago that John 00:10:29.16\00:10:33.80 Huss began to have a profound impact on the religious world 00:10:33.80\00:10:38.66 and, therefore, on the world at large. 00:10:38.66\00:10:42.40 Back in those days, the religious world 00:10:42.40\00:10:44.40 was dominated by the Roman Church and the Roman 00:10:44.40\00:10:46.63 Catholic church took a pretty hard line with 00:10:46.63\00:10:49.10 dissenters. 00:10:49.10\00:10:51.00 Back then, people believed pretty well what they were 00:10:51.00\00:10:53.16 told to believe and so, the church was riddled with 00:10:53.16\00:10:56.03 ignorance and superstition. 00:10:56.03\00:10:59.60 John Huss started to rise to prominence at the same time 00:10:59.60\00:11:03.96 as the teachings of England's John Wycliffe started to gain 00:11:03.96\00:11:07.80 traction. 00:11:07.80\00:11:08.90 Bohemian students at Oxford University were exposed 00:11:08.90\00:11:12.06 to Wycliffe's ideas. 00:11:12.06\00:11:13.13 They brought them back here to Prague where John Huss 00:11:13.13\00:11:16.33 got a hold of them. 00:11:16.33\00:11:17.33 As John Huss read Wycliffe's teachings, he was moved. 00:11:17.33\00:11:22.30 Wycliffe was teaching ideas such as the authority of the Word 00:11:22.30\00:11:25.73 of God and justification by faith and they were 00:11:25.73\00:11:30.80 radical ideas for that time. 00:11:30.80\00:11:32.83 John Wycliffe didn't have any time for tradition, ignorance 00:11:32.83\00:11:36.40 or superstition or the teachings of men rather than 00:11:36.40\00:11:40.13 the teachings of God. 00:11:40.13\00:11:41.30 What Wycliffe wanted to see was the purity of the Word 00:11:41.30\00:11:44.50 of God get loose and become known and find its way into 00:11:44.50\00:11:48.76 people's hearts, so people could be liberated from sin 00:11:48.76\00:11:51.70 and connected with God. 00:11:51.70\00:11:54.73 John Huss started to teach John Wycliffe's ideas and it was 00:11:54.73\00:11:59.10 from there that Huss' ideas spread like wildfire 00:11:59.10\00:12:02.96 around Prague and around what we now know as the Czech 00:12:02.96\00:12:06.30 Republic and John Huss started to powerfully impact 00:12:06.30\00:12:09.66 his world. 00:12:09.66\00:12:11.10 So, it isn't difficult to see how somebody like John Huss, 00:12:11.10\00:12:14.60 educated, committed, zealous for the truth of God's Word 00:12:14.60\00:12:18.46 would get exercised by some of this. 00:12:18.46\00:12:21.53 The church, in John Huss' day, was teaching traditions 00:12:21.53\00:12:24.23 and errors and it was suffering from a real 00:12:24.23\00:12:26.86 leadership crisis, not simply that they couldn't decide who 00:12:26.86\00:12:30.00 the legitimate leader was, but on a more local level, 00:12:30.00\00:12:33.00 the church leaders were pretty corrupt. 00:12:33.00\00:12:36.13 Their abuses were legendary. 00:12:36.13\00:12:39.10 John Huss believed that the clergy ought to be model 00:12:39.10\00:12:42.50 Christians but they were far from model Christians. 00:12:42.50\00:12:45.70 Many of them were drunks and gluttons. 00:12:45.70\00:12:48.13 They were fabulously - maybe that's the wrong word- they 00:12:48.13\00:12:50.73 were famously immoral and self-centered, power-mad 00:12:50.73\00:12:54.26 and money-grabbing and John Huss decided that something had 00:12:54.26\00:12:58.40 to be done and he spoke out against this and in favor 00:12:58.40\00:13:01.86 of the Word of God. 00:13:01.86\00:13:03.96 John Huss was especially incensed by the practice 00:13:03.96\00:13:07.83 of simony. 00:13:07.83\00:13:08.83 That is when the church would make merchandise of or would 00:13:08.83\00:13:12.30 sell its blessings. 00:13:12.30\00:13:13.83 The people had to pay for the sacraments. 00:13:13.83\00:13:16.10 In fact, many people paid to have their sins forgiven. 00:13:16.10\00:13:20.86 John Huss didn't set out to be a troublemaker but he 00:13:20.86\00:13:23.90 really believed that God had called him to encourage people 00:13:23.90\00:13:26.96 to be liberated from this. 00:13:26.96\00:13:28.96 England's King Edward the III said "The Lord commissioned 00:13:28.96\00:13:32.30 the Apostles to lead the sheep to pasture and not 00:13:32.30\00:13:35.43 to fleece them." 00:13:35.43\00:13:36.93 And John Huss could see that there was a lot of fleecing 00:13:36.93\00:13:39.93 going on. 00:13:39.93\00:13:41.16 John Huss wasn't prepared to stand idly by while such 00:13:41.16\00:13:44.53 shocking behavior was going on. 00:13:44.53\00:13:46.76 So, he taught the Word of God as effectively as he could 00:13:46.76\00:13:50.13 and he opposed the appalling practices that were taking 00:13:50.13\00:13:53.03 place. 00:13:53.03\00:13:54.20 John Huss didn't mean to pick a fight and I don't believe 00:13:54.20\00:13:56.66 he expected to receive such stiff opposition but something 00:13:56.66\00:14:00.43 Jesus said suggested that John Huss was in for 00:14:00.43\00:14:04.03 a battle. 00:14:04.03\00:14:05.03 We read this in John 15:20 and 21, 00:14:05.03\00:14:08.93 Remember the word that I said to you. 00:14:08.93\00:14:11.26 A servant is not greater than his master. 00:14:11.26\00:14:13.93 If they persecuted me they will also persecute you. 00:14:13.93\00:14:17.23 If they kept my word, they will keep yours also. 00:14:17.23\00:14:20.76 But all these things they will do to you for my 00:14:20.76\00:14:22.96 namesake because they do not know him who sent me. 00:14:22.96\00:14:27.50 That's exactly what happened to John Huss. 00:14:27.50\00:14:29.53 Strong opposition started mounting against him. 00:14:29.53\00:14:31.83 Not because he was teaching contrary to the Bible but 00:14:31.83\00:14:34.80 because he was preaching strong, plain, clear Bible 00:14:34.80\00:14:41.13 truth. 00:14:41.13\00:14:43.66 In Matthew 4:4 the Word of God says "It is written 'Man 00:14:43.66\00:14:47.50 shall not live by bread alone but by every word that 00:14:47.50\00:14:51.20 proceeds out of the mouth of God'." 00:14:51.20\00:14:53.20 Every Word is a one minute Bible-based daily devotional 00:14:53.20\00:14:56.43 presented by Pastor John Bradshaw and designed 00:14:56.43\00:14:59.43 especially for busy people like you. 00:14:59.43\00:15:02.13 Look for Every Word on selected networks or watch it 00:15:02.13\00:15:05.00 on-line everyday on our website itiswritten.com. 00:15:05.00\00:15:09.23 Receive a daily spiritual boost. 00:15:09.23\00:15:11.20 Watch Every Word. 00:15:11.20\00:15:12.66 You'll be glad you did. 00:15:12.66\00:15:14.33 Here's a sample. 00:15:14.33\00:15:16.63 [Music] 00:15:17.93\00:15:19.93 A short verse speaks loudly to us today. 00:15:24.83\00:15:26.60 Acts 8:8 succinctly states, "And there was great joy 00:15:26.60\00:15:30.23 in that city." 00:15:30.23\00:15:31.23 What city was that, and why was great joy there? 00:15:31.23\00:15:33.73 The city was Samaria, and there was great joy 00:15:33.73\00:15:36.63 there because Philip went there and preached Christ. 00:15:36.63\00:15:39.43 The people gladly heard what he said, and God 00:15:39.43\00:15:42.00 worked great miracles. 00:15:42.00\00:15:43.00 How would you like to experience great joy today? 00:15:43.00\00:15:46.23 If you'll bring Christ into your environment, and gladly 00:15:46.23\00:15:50.03 hear what He says, God will work miracles in your life. 00:15:50.03\00:15:53.26 Healing? 00:15:53.26\00:15:54.06 Money? 00:15:54.06\00:15:54.96 I don't know. 00:15:54.96\00:15:55.76 But certainly the greatest miracle - a new heart 00:15:55.76\00:15:58.73 and true peace. 00:15:58.73\00:16:00.40 "And there was great joy in that city," 00:16:00.40\00:16:03.16 where Jesus was made welcome. 00:16:03.16\00:16:04.60 Welcome Jesus into your life - or through your witness, 00:16:04.60\00:16:06.93 bring Him into the lives of others - and there'll 00:16:06.93\00:16:09.03 be great joy in your city or home or life today. 00:16:09.03\00:16:12.83 Let's live today by Every Word. 00:16:12.83\00:16:15.83 [Soft Music] 00:16:16.93\00:16:22.93 Some years before, a Pope Gregory had outlawed 00:16:46.96\00:16:50.16 the preaching of the Gospel here in the local language, 00:16:50.16\00:16:56.86 in the language of Bohemia. 00:16:56.86\00:16:57.86 So, news of what John Huss was doing started spreading 00:16:57.86\00:16:59.86 like wildfire and it made him very unpopular with some 00:16:59.86\00:17:01.93 particularly powerful people. 00:17:01.93\00:17:03.96 John Huss was summoned to appear before the Pope, 00:17:03.96\00:17:07.23 which many people believed would lead to his execution. 00:17:07.23\00:17:10.76 The King and Queen of Bohemia rallied to his defense as did 00:17:10.76\00:17:13.80 university faculty and government officials 00:17:13.80\00:17:16.43 and other people as well. 00:17:16.43\00:17:18.36 The Church responded by placing the City of Prague 00:17:18.36\00:17:22.26 under Interdict. 00:17:22.26\00:17:24.10 Interdict would fill the lives of people with dread and fear. 00:17:24.10\00:17:29.16 When the Church stands in the place of God, putting a city 00:17:29.16\00:17:33.76 under interdict effectively locks people out of heaven. 00:17:33.76\00:17:39.13 That's because people now couldn't get married 00:17:39.13\00:17:41.23 in the church, they couldn't get forgiven from the church. 00:17:41.23\00:17:44.23 If somebody died, they couldn't get buried in a church 00:17:44.23\00:17:46.70 funeral service or a church graveyard. 00:17:46.70\00:17:49.96 Huss began to be perceived as someone who was a troubler 00:17:49.96\00:17:54.90 of the people. 00:17:54.90\00:17:56.40 He responded by leaving Prague. 00:17:56.40\00:17:58.30 Instead of being silenced, his voice was given greater 00:17:58.30\00:18:01.20 volume as he went from place to place, powerfully 00:18:01.20\00:18:04.50 proclaiming God's Word. 00:18:04.50\00:18:05.66 It reminds me of 2 Corinthians 13:8 00:18:05.66\00:18:08.40 which says: We can do nothing against the truth 00:18:08.40\00:18:12.23 but for the truth. 00:18:12.23\00:18:14.33 After a time, John Huss came back to Prague and preached 00:18:14.33\00:18:16.86 once again in Bethlehem Chapel, this time with 00:18:16.86\00:18:19.66 renewed zeal and he didn't labor alone. 00:18:19.66\00:18:22.46 Like Paul had Silas and Barnabas had John Mark, 00:18:22.46\00:18:26.06 Huss labored together with Jerome. 00:18:26.06\00:18:28.86 Their varied talents and gifts complimented each other well. 00:18:28.86\00:18:34.23 About this time, another controversy began raging 00:18:34.23\00:18:36.96 and it was a big one. 00:18:36.96\00:18:39.03 Several different individuals each claimed the right to be 00:18:39.03\00:18:41.96 pope, all at the same time. 00:18:41.96\00:18:44.70 The French Cardinals had elected themselves a pope 00:18:44.70\00:18:47.93 and then the Roman Cardinals elected a pope of their own. 00:18:47.93\00:18:50.93 Each rival pope saying that whatever happened under 00:18:50.93\00:18:54.03 the authority of the other pope was invalid, which means, 00:18:54.03\00:18:57.43 of course, that the pardoned were not really forgiven 00:18:57.43\00:18:59.76 and the married were not really married. 00:18:59.76\00:19:02.96 Well, to add to the confusion or in fact, there was 00:19:02.96\00:19:05.36 an attempt to clear up a confusion, the Council 00:19:05.36\00:19:08.00 of Pisa elected a third person pope, Alexander V, who told 00:19:08.00\00:19:13.23 the other two to give up their ideas about being pope, 00:19:13.23\00:19:17.20 which they were not about to do. 00:19:17.20\00:19:19.63 So, you had Alexander V ruling from Pisa, Gregory XII, 00:19:19.63\00:19:24.46 another pope ruling from Rome, and Benedict XIII 00:19:24.46\00:19:29.36 ruling from, by now, Spain. 00:19:29.36\00:19:32.60 Each Pope claiming the right to be Pope. 00:19:32.60\00:19:35.70 How would they settle the question? 00:19:35.70\00:19:37.70 Well, the next large Council wasn't going to be held until 00:19:37.70\00:19:40.06 1414 in Constance in Germany. 00:19:40.06\00:19:43.23 Here, they said, this issue of the popes would 00:19:43.23\00:19:46.50 finally be settled. 00:19:46.50\00:19:47.50 Thousands of people descended upon Constance. 00:19:47.50\00:19:50.76 In fact, it was said that 1500 prostitutes were kept 00:19:50.76\00:19:54.43 busy during the Council of Constance. 00:19:54.43\00:19:57.26 This strange mingling of men of the cloth and ladies of 00:19:57.26\00:20:00.80 the night has been memorialized in a large statue 00:20:00.80\00:20:04.50 unveiled in 2002 at the entrance to the harbor in Constance, 00:20:04.50\00:20:09.13 Germany. 00:20:09.13\00:20:11.40 So, by the time the Council of Constance came about, 00:20:11.40\00:20:14.16 Europe was a stir. 00:20:14.16\00:20:15.53 The two anti popes had been summoned to appear 00:20:15.53\00:20:18.46 at the Council of Constance, as was John Huss 00:20:18.46\00:20:21.76 who was to answer to his teachings. 00:20:21.76\00:20:23.86 The two popes chose to stay away, out of concern 00:20:23.86\00:20:27.23 for their safety. 00:20:27.23\00:20:28.23 And even though his safety had been guaranteed 00:20:28.23\00:20:30.90 by the Emperor, Sigesmund, John Huss really felt 00:20:30.90\00:20:34.50 that he was traveling to his execution. 00:20:34.50\00:20:38.10 When he got to the Council of Constance, John Huss 00:20:38.10\00:20:41.16 was going to explain to the delegates what it was 00:20:41.16\00:20:43.90 he believed and why he believed it. 00:20:43.90\00:20:46.30 But, shortly after he got there, he was arrested 00:20:46.30\00:20:49.33 by order of the Pope and the cardinals and was locked 00:20:49.33\00:20:52.33 up in a foul dungeon. 00:20:52.33\00:20:54.80 Interestingly enough, one of the popes 00:20:54.80\00:20:57.00 also was imprisoned, the other two popes 00:20:57.00\00:20:59.20 were deposed and a new pope was elected. 00:20:59.20\00:21:02.46 And at this Council, the Council of Constance, 00:21:02.46\00:21:05.30 it was decreed that the bones of reformer John Huss should 00:21:05.30\00:21:08.53 be dug up and burned. 00:21:08.53\00:21:10.53 John Huss did have supporters of the Council of Constance. 00:21:12.80\00:21:15.60 But they were unable to change the minds 00:21:15.60\00:21:17.86 of his enemies. 00:21:17.86\00:21:19.10 When he was brought to appear before the Council, 00:21:19.10\00:21:21.26 he was bound in chains and was dreadfully ill. 00:21:21.26\00:21:23.56 John Huss, at his trial, spoke boldly in defense 00:21:23.56\00:21:27.13 of Biblical truth and against the excesses and corruptions 00:21:27.13\00:21:30.63 of the church. 00:21:30.63\00:21:31.63 At his trial, he stood before the very emperor who 00:21:31.63\00:21:34.80 had guaranteed his safety. 00:21:34.80\00:21:36.36 John Huss, in spite of his bold stand for God, perhaps, 00:21:36.36\00:21:41.90 because of his bold stand for God, was sentenced to burn 00:21:41.90\00:21:46.53 at the stake. 00:21:46.53\00:21:47.83 This was a man who had been sentenced to death because 00:21:47.83\00:21:50.66 he upheld the authority of the Bible. 00:21:50.66\00:21:53.20 Because he spoke against excess and corruption 00:21:53.20\00:21:55.60 in the church. 00:21:55.60\00:21:56.76 Because he dared to defy the authority of a pope. 00:21:56.76\00:22:01.46 Up until the time of his death, he lived in inhuman conditions. 00:22:01.46\00:22:04.26 His suffering was great. 00:22:04.26\00:22:06.03 He lived in deplorable filth. 00:22:06.03\00:22:09.86 He was alone. 00:22:09.86\00:22:11.03 John Huss had been abandoned, but never once did his faith 00:22:11.03\00:22:15.76 in God come close to wavering. 00:22:15.76\00:22:18.66 John Huss remained ardent in his faith in God 00:22:18.66\00:22:22.50 and in his faith in God's word. 00:22:22.50\00:22:24.66 At his trial, he was given the opportunity to recant. 00:22:24.66\00:22:27.63 He would not do so. 00:22:27.63\00:22:29.26 A large procession of people led him away to the place 00:22:29.26\00:22:32.10 where he would be burned at the stake. 00:22:32.10\00:22:33.70 Again, once reaching that spot, John Huss was given 00:22:33.70\00:22:36.90 the opportunity to recant. 00:22:36.90\00:22:38.50 He wouldn't do so. 00:22:38.50\00:22:43.50 In fact, his reply was this: "What errors shall 00:22:43.50\00:22:45.50 I renounce? 00:22:45.50\00:22:46.50 I know myself guilty of none. 00:22:46.50\00:22:48.06 I call God to witness that all that I have written 00:22:48.06\00:22:51.40 and preached has been with the view of rescuing 00:22:51.40\00:22:54.16 souls from sin and perdition. 00:22:54.16\00:22:56.76 And therefore, most joyfully, will I confirm with my blood 00:22:56.76\00:23:02.00 that truth which I have written and preached." 00:23:02.00\00:23:06.46 As the flames burned around him, John Huss sang until 00:23:06.46\00:23:11.26 his voice was silenced forever. 00:23:11.26\00:23:13.93 Huss' life and ministry show us that truth is not 00:23:16.16\00:23:21.20 always popular. 00:23:21.20\00:23:23.00 John Huss' heroic example shows us that even when 00:23:23.00\00:23:26.46 the truth is not popular, God's Holy Spirit moves upon 00:23:26.46\00:23:31.06 his faithful ones and inspires them to stand for God anyway. 00:23:31.06\00:23:37.70 Paul addressed this very thing when he wrote to his 00:23:37.70\00:23:39.96 young friend, Timothy. 00:23:39.96\00:23:40.96 Here is what he said: "Preach the Word. 00:23:40.96\00:23:44.86 Be ready in season and out of season. 00:23:44.86\00:23:47.83 Convince, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering 00:23:47.83\00:23:52.16 and teaching. 00:23:52.16\00:23:53.16 For the time will come when they will not endure sound 00:23:53.16\00:23:56.30 doctrine but according to their own desires because 00:23:56.30\00:23:59.73 they have itching ears. 00:23:59.73\00:24:01.73 They will heap up for themselves teachers and they will turn 00:24:01.73\00:24:05.43 their ears away from the truth and be turned aside 00:24:05.43\00:24:09.56 to fables. 00:24:09.56\00:24:10.56 2 Timothy 4:2-4 You see, that is really the choice that 00:24:10.56\00:24:18.06 we have to make. 00:24:18.06\00:24:19.66 To stand on the Word of God and let God's Word guide out 00:24:19.66\00:24:23.50 lives and mold our existence or stand instead with human 00:24:23.50\00:24:28.40 teachings and human traditions and that would be a mistake 00:24:28.40\00:24:32.80 and I hope you and me would never make. 00:24:32.80\00:24:35.86 You see, the Bible is not just another book. 00:24:35.86\00:24:39.00 The Bible is God's Book. 00:24:39.00\00:24:42.50 Did the death of John Huss silence the man? 00:24:42.50\00:24:46.46 Maybe it silenced the man, but it didn't silence 00:24:46.46\00:24:49.83 his message. 00:24:49.83\00:24:51.00 You see, the Bible says in 2 Timothy 3:16, "All Scripture 00:24:51.00\00:24:54.96 is given by inspiration of God." 00:24:54.96\00:24:58.26 And Jesus said, in John 8: "The truth will make you free." 00:24:58.26\00:25:03.83 Writing to a friend once, John Huss wrote these words. 00:25:03.83\00:25:06.26 He said: "Truth (and that is God's truth), 00:25:06.26\00:25:09.60 Truth prevails overall. 00:25:09.60\00:25:12.86 Interestingly, the Czech government has adopted 00:25:12.86\00:25:15.76 John Huss' words as their national motto. 00:25:15.76\00:25:19.13 "Truth prevails". 00:25:19.13\00:25:21.36 And I certainly hope that will be true in your experience. 00:25:21.36\00:25:25.66 John Huss had it right. 00:25:25.66\00:25:27.86 God's truth does prevail over all. 00:25:27.86\00:25:32.76 Let me pray with you: Father in heaven, we thank you 00:25:32.76\00:25:35.96 for truth and we thank you for John Huss and men like him, 00:25:35.96\00:25:39.53 people like him and for their example. 00:25:39.53\00:25:41.53 And I pray that by your grace, I, we would be 00:25:41.53\00:25:46.00 faithful and committed to standing for you, to standing 00:25:46.00\00:25:49.90 on your Word and allowing your Word to be the guide 00:25:49.90\00:25:53.36 and the rule of our lives. 00:25:53.36\00:25:55.40 I thank you today for the Bible. 00:25:55.40\00:25:57.40 And we pray today in Jesus' name, Amen. 00:25:57.40\00:26:02.40 Perhaps our program today is touch your heart 00:26:16.73\00:26:18.90 and impress you with the personal need for 00:26:18.90\00:26:20.90 a deep bible studie I you decide to listen to God 00:26:20.90\00:26:24.10 and follow where He leads We have a wonderful resource 00:26:24.10\00:26:27.10 than can help you do that in a systematic way, 00:26:27.10\00:26:29.10 The discover Bible Guides This study guides will take you 00:26:29.10\00:26:33.26 through the essential truths taught in scripture, 00:26:33.26\00:26:35.70 they give you the big picture showing how 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