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The Leaven of Evil Speaking

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It pains me to say that there are unruly tongues among Christians [church members]. There are false tongues that feed on mischief. There are sly, whispering tongues. There is tattling, impertinent meddling, adroit quizzing. Among the lovers of gossip some are actuated by curiosity, others by jealousy, many by hatred against those through whom God has spoken to reprove them. All these discordant elements are at work. Some conceal their real sentiments, while others are eager to publish all they know, or even suspect, of evil against another.

I saw that the very spirit of perjury, that would turn truth into falsehood, good into evil, and innocence into crime, is now active. Satan exults over the condition of God’s professed people. While many are neglecting their own souls, they eagerly watch for an opportunity to criticize and condemn others. All have defects of character, and it is not hard to find something that jealousy can interpret to their injury. “Now,” say these self-constituted judges, “we have facts. We will fasten upon them an accusation from which they can not clear themselves.” They wait for a fitting opportunity and then produce their bundle of gossip and bring forth their tidbits

In their efforts to carry a point, persons who have naturally a strong imagination are in danger of deceiving themselves and deceiving others. They gather up unguarded expressions from another, not considering that words may be uttered hastily and hence may not reflect the real sentiments of the speaker. But those unpremeditated remarks, often so trifling as to be unworthy of notice, are viewed through Satan’s magnifying glass, pondered, and repeated until molehills become mountains. Separated from God, the surmisers of evil become the sport of temptation. They scarcely know the strength of their feelings or the effect of their words. While condemning the errors of others, they indulge far greater errors themselves. Consistency is a jewel.

Is there no law of kindness to be observed? Have Christians been authorized of God to criticize and condemn one another? Is it honorable, or even honest, to win from the lips of another, under the guise of friendship, secrets which have been entrusted to him, and then turn the knowledge thus gained to his injury? Is it Christian charity to gather up every floating report, to unearth everything that will cast suspicion on the character of another, and then take delight in using it to injure him? Satan exults when he can defame or wound a follower of Christ. He is “the accuser of our brethren.” Shall Christians aid him in his work?

God’s all-seeing eye notes the defects of all and the ruling passion of each, yet He bears with our mistakes and pities our weakness. He bids His people cherish the same spirit of tenderness and forbearance. True Christians will not exult in exposing the faults and deficiencies of others. They will turn away from vileness and deformity, to fix the mind upon that which is attractive and lovely. To the Christian every act of faultfinding, every word of censure or condemnation, is painful.

There have always been men and women who profess the truth, who have not conformed their lives to its sanctifying influence; men who are unfaithful, yet deceiving themselves and encouraging themselves in sin. Unbelief is seen in their life, their deportment, and character, and this terrible evil acts as does a canker.

Would all professed Christians use their investigative powers to see what evils needed to be corrected in themselves, instead of talking of others’ wrongs, there would be a more healthy condition in the church today. . . .

All should wait patiently until they hear both sides of the question, and then believe only what stern facts compel them to believe. [Emphasis by the author.]

The End

The Leaven of Rebellion

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When Jesus walked among men, He gave a most wonderful discourse the day He ordained His twelve apostles to the work of the ministry. He had spent the night praying for wisdom to break the deceptive power that had come over the minds of men. Following this night of prayer, He gave His most famous sermon—the rule of life for all men: “The Sermon on the Mount.”

We are told in the book Thoughts from the Mount of Blessings, 13, that the twelve beatitudes, are an “advancing line of Christian experience.” The first step is, “Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of Heaven.” Matthew 5:3. The very first step toward Christ is to realize our own poverty and to have a humble view of ourselves. We must not only have this experience when we first come to the Lord, but we must daily retake this initial step in the Christian walk. Paul has instructed us, “As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in Him.” Colossians 2:6

Sometimes a good way to understand the importance of humility is to think about the results of a life where it is lacking. In this article, we will look at the first beatitude by studying a story where pride was the ruling element instead of humility.

Rebellion in Heaven

A few thousand years ago there was a great rebellion in Heaven. Lucifer said in his heart, “I will ascend into Heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God . . . I will be like the Most High.” Isaiah 14:13, 14. This is no admission of humility. Lucifer was determined to be rich, and clothed with the same honor, authority and power as his Creator. Today we are living in a world that has been subtly sold on Lucifer’s deceptive philosophy.

“The same spirit that prompted rebellion in Heaven still inspires rebellion on earth. Satan has continued with men the same policy which he pursued with the angels.” Great Controversy, 500. What was this policy that Satan used to take a third of the angels in rebellion? How could he get angels out of a perfect Heaven where there was peace and joy, to accept strife, discord, and bitterness? And now, he has instilled his policy into the minds of men and deceived the world with it.

Lucifer, “was a high and exalted angel, next in honor to God’s dear Son. His countenance . . . was brighter and more beautiful” than all the other angels. Spirit of Prophecy, vol. 1, 17. In his heart he became envious of Christ, and the very first manifestation of his envy was that he “gradually assumed command” over the angels, which devolved on Jesus alone, Ibid. Beware when someone starts assuming command, over others, that does not belong to them.

God knew the heart of Lucifer. Before anything else was apparent, except that one “little” manifestation, God called a meeting. Before the assembled angelic host, He conferred special honor upon His Son. He explained that His Son was equal with Himself and the angels were all under His mild and gentle rulership. When this was stated, Lucifer bowed down and worshipped with the other angels, but in his heart there was a strange conflict. Fighting in his heart against love, joy, and peace were envy, jealousy, and hatred. This time, when he left the presence of God, he determined that he was not ever again going to bow in acknowledgment to the authority of God’s Son. Thus began the mystery of iniquity.

Lucifer gloried in his loftiness. This is not the result of “Blessed are the poor in spirit.” It is the result of pride. He questioned why Christ should be honored before himself. He did not like being in second place, and if we cannot take being less than in first place, we have the same problem. Lucifer wanted to take the place of Christ and be above Him. However, Lucifer carefully concealed his real purposes. A second meeting of the angelic hosts was called by Lucifer himself. He introduced his subject, which was himself, and indicated that it was not right for Jesus to be preferred above him.

Proofing the Bread

When a baker prepares to make bread, one of the first things he does is “proof” the yeast to make sure it is active. This is done by putting the yeast in warm water with some flour and sweetener. If the yeast is active, the “proof” mixture quickly starts fomenting and bubbling. Then you know the yeast, even though unseen, has the strength to raise the bread. This leaven of rebellion started fomenting and working among the angels in Heaven, just as a little yeast does when it is “proofed.” Satan “stated to them that he had called them together to assure them that he no longer would submit to this invasion of his rights and theirs.” Spirit of Prophecy, vol. 1, 18. He told them that they should not allow their rights to be invaded either.

The sure result of Satan’s leaven followed—”there was contention among the angels.” Ibid., 19. Whenever we see contention, there is some leaven working underneath that we cannot see. Contention is the “proof” that somewhere some of Satan’s leaven is at work. The angels were deceived by Satan’s leaven into thinking that they were only trying to make Heaven a better place. “They were discontented and unhappy because they could not look into God’s unsearchable wisdom and ascertain His purposes.” Ibid. “Oh”, they thought, “If only God would take us into His plans, how much better we could make things.”

“Taking advantage of the loving, loyal trust reposed in him by the holy beings under his command, he had so artfully instilled into their minds his own distrust and discontent that his agency was not discerned. Lucifer had presented the purposes of God in a false light, misconstruing and distorting them to excite dissent and dissatisfaction. He cunningly drew his hearers on to give utterance to their feelings; then these expressions were repeated by him when it would serve his purpose, as evidence that the angels were not in harmony with the government of God.” Patriarchs and Prophets, 38. Beware when anyone tries to draw you into saying words of distrust. This is some of the leaven of rebellion at work.

Satan made claims that were not in actuality the real situation. “While claiming for himself perfect loyalty to God . . . he urged that changes in the order and laws of Heaven were necessary for the stability of the divine government.” Patriarchs and Prophets, 38. This was his leaven working silently and imperceptibly. In reality Satan was working “to excite opposition to the law of God and to instill his own discontent into the minds of the angels under him.” However, he claimed to be “seeking to remove dissatisfaction and to reconcile disaffected angels to the order of Heaven.” The dissatisfaction he implanted, he now claimed he was trying to remove. “While secretly fomenting discord and rebellion, he with consummate craft caused it to appear as his sole purpose to promote loyalty and to preserve harmony and peace.” Ibid. Beware when someone claims to be doing the opposite of what is really happening.

“While there was no open outbreak, division of feeling imperceptibly grew among the angels . . . they were now discontented and unhappy because they could not penetrate His unsearchable counsels; they were dissatisfied with His purpose in exalting Christ.” The disloyal angels now “stood ready to second Lucifer’s demand for equal authority with the Son of God.” Ibid.

What Does the Leaven Represent?

At the Lord’s Supper, we eat unleavened bread. There is a reason. The leaven represents this subtle reasoning of Satan. He told them that “henceforth all the sweet liberty the angels had enjoyed was at an end.” That is some of his leaven. Paul admonishes us, “Your glorying is not good. Know ye not that a little leaven leaveneth the whole lump? Purge out therefore the old leaven, that ye may be a new lump, as ye are unleavened. For even Christ our passover is sacrificed for us: therefore let us keep the feast, not with old leaven, neither with the leaven of malice and wickedness; but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.” 1 Corinthians 5:6-8

The leaven of rebellion once in the heart does a fearful work. One of its terrible deceptive manifestations is in complicating simple things by making them mysterious. “Everything simple Satan shrouded in mystery.” Patriarchs and Prophets, 41. The same thing is still happening today. Some of the simplest statements in the Bible and Spirit of Prophecy have been made complicated and then conveniently dispensed of. Beware when anyone takes plain statements of inspiration and makes them of none effect by making them complicated.

Hearing of Satan’s demand for equal authority, the loyal angels hastened to inform Jesus of the situation and found Him in counsel with His Father. The Lord saw that the seed of rebellion had grown so strong that there was no turning back. The disloyal angels had lived in the full light of the love of God. But now, their hearts were fully set in them to do evil. “They had learned the lesson of genuine rebellion against the unchangeable law of God; and this is incurable.” Spirit of Prophecy, vol. 1, 21

Loyal angels pled and reasoned with Lucifer, but he became angry and told them they were deluded slaves. A third meeting of the angels, vastly different from the first, was called by the Father. (Lucifer had, on his own, called the second meeting of the angels.) Instead of bowing low before His Creator, Lucifer “stood up proudly and urged that he should be equal with God and be taken into conference with the Father and understand His purposes.” Ibid., 22. The angels each displayed their hearts at that meeting; each case was decided. To make it plain to the angelic hosts what was in each heart, each angel had to join one army or the other. (There was no fence riding.) Then there was war in Heaven resulting in Satan and his angels being physically cast out of Heaven.

The disloyal angels were sorely disappointed at being cast out of Heaven. They “had become turbulent with disappointed hopes. Instead of greater good, they were experiencing the sad results of disobedience and disregard of law. Never more would these unhappy beings be swayed by the mild rule of Jesus Christ.” Ibid., 29

Forever too Late

After Satan was cast out of Heaven, he had time for reflection. A most interesting note is made about this by Ellen White. “Satan trembled . . . He was all alone in meditation upon the past, the present, and his future plans. His mighty frame shook as with a tempest. An angel from Heaven was passing. He called him, and entreated an interview with Christ.” This was granted him. As Satan and Jesus talked, Satan told Jesus “that he repented of his rebellion, and wished again the favor of God. He was willing to take the place God had previously assigned him, and be under his wise command. Christ wept at Satan’s woe, but told him, as the mind of God, that he could never be received into Heaven. Heaven must not be placed in jeopardy. All Heaven would be marred should he be received back; for sin and rebellion originated with him. The seeds of rebellion were still within him.” Ibid., 29

Satan was full of grief and anger when Jesus told him he would not be allowed back into Heaven. He went off alone in meditation to think about his wretched condition. “To be commander out of Heaven, was vastly different from being thus honored in Heaven. The loss he had sustained of all the privileges of Heaven seemed too much to be borne. He wished to regain these.” Ibid., 30. Satan determined to get back at God for not allowing him back into Heaven. He then talked to his angels and said, “We must overthrow Adam and Eve. That’s how we will get back at God. That’s what we’ll do.” He started right then to make his plans to get the leaven of sin into Adam and Eve. But even Satan “shuddered at the thought of plunging this holy, happy pair into the misery and remorse he was himself enduring.” Ibid., 32. Nevertheless, his rebellion was so great that he went right ahead with his plans for their fall.

The War

Are you fighting the good fight of faith against the leaven of rebellion in your own heart? The devil would like to trick people into thinking that they can stay on the fence and be safe, but there is no middle ground in this war. Before it is done, you are going to join an army and everyone is going to know which side you are on. The great issue is still the authority of the Creator, and His mark of creatorship is the seventh-day Sabbath. The initial fight in Heaven and the fight today have not changed. It is still over the authority of God.

The Lord says “I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed.” Genesis 3:15. This is an enmity that we must have—to hate with a perfect hatred this rebellion against God and His law. If the seeds of rebellion are not cast out, the leaven grows, silently and imperceptibly until it takes over the heart.

Satan’s Special Tool

Today there are all kinds of theories floating around. People are surmising this and that about many elements of God and His government that have never been revealed to us in inspiration. I cannot help but think of Satan’s first trick. “This has been his special work with great success ever since his fall, to lead men to pry into the secrets of the Almighty.” Ibid., 36. What has been revealed to us belongs to us and to our children to obey. But what has not been revealed, we had better leave alone or we may enter into the fomenting rebellion of Satan. There are things that God “has been pleased to withhold from mortals. They are elated with their ideas of progression, and charmed with their own vain philosophy; but grope in midnight darkness relative to true knowledge. They are ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.” Ibid., 37

Do not think that Satan has forgotten this secret even in the ranks of Historic Adventists. He is working to instill this “irreverent curiosity,” to lead us to pry into things that God “has been pleased not to reveal to mortals.” Then he tempts men to disobey by leading them to believe that they are entering a wonderful “field of knowledge.” But all of this is a deception.

Satan uses very skillfully what God will not use—deceit. Deceit in the heart works like yeast does in the mixture when the baker “proofs” it—it foments and bubbles. Some of the elements of this fomenting and bubbling are seen in the following: evil curiosity about what somebody else is saying or doing, getting people to say things, then repeating it and using it as evidence against them, gossiping, backbiting, and flattering. You can see the results of this kind of leaven in the disunity and discontent that is sure to follow. Whenever you see contention, that is a sure sign that the leaven is at work.

A lesson that we would do well to ponder and copy is how God dealt with Satan’s rebellion. God could have easily destroyed Satan and his followers. But instead of using force, He chose to use love, kindness, and truth. He sent His Son who was the Truth to show the whole universe the evil of deceit. When Jesus came to deliver us from the deceptions of Satan, He emptied Himself and took one step after another in the path of humility. He showed us that He was not grasping for power. He walked among the lowly of this earth. He was despised and rejected of men. He took on our nature that He might expel the leaven of sin and rebellion from our hearts. It must be cast out of our heart or it will overtake us.

God has promised that with His stripes we will be healed. The prayer of David must become our own prayer. “Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts: and see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.” Psalms 139:23, 24. God will bring us the victory. We must begin having the victory by casting down our pride and by realizing our spiritual poverty. We must work out in our own experience the great principle, “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of Heaven.”

The End

Recipe – Cold and Flu Home Remedy Drink

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⅛ red onion, diced 1 lemon, juiced
1–2 garlic cloves, crushed 1 large orange, peeled and chopped
1 thumb-size piece of ginger 2 Tbsp. honey
 

Add to blender onion, garlic cloves and ginger; pulse. Add lemon juice and orange chunks and pulse until orange is finely blended. Pour into glass; whisk in honey. Sip slowly.

Editorial – When You Fear to Send You Child to Church

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1 – Why is the church to be organized and what will it eventually demonstrate?

“The church is God’s appointed agency for the salvation of men. It was organized for service, and its mission is to carry the gospel to the world. From the beginning it has been God’s plan that through His church shall be reflected to the world His fullness and His sufficiency. The members of the church, those whom He has called out of darkness into His marvelous light, are to show forth His glory. The church is the repository of the riches of the grace of Christ; and through the church will eventually be made manifest, even to ‘the principalities and powers in heavenly places,’ the final and full display of the love of God.” Acts of the Apostles, 9. [All emphasis supplied.]

(This final and full display of the love of God will take place during the loud cry of the third angel. See Testimonies to Ministers, 50.)

2 – Will there ever be a time when we should just be sowing the gospel seed and not seeking to reap the harvest, because of the condition of the church?

“They [the church] are embarked so long as time shall last upon an enterprise of mercy.” Sons and Daughters of God, 265

“The instruction Christ gave His disciples when He was among them He gave for the encouragement of His followers to the end of time . . . Today He commissions His workers, ‘Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost; teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you; and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world.’ ” Signs of the Times, December 20, 1899

“The Saviour’s commission to the disciples included all the believers. It includes all believers in Christ to the end of time.” Desire of Ages, 822

“The figure which Paul uses of the temple erected on the foundation stone is to represent the work of God’s servants to the end of time . . . He who neglects to teach the truth in its purity, will gather converts who are not holy in heart and life. He is bringing material that will not stand the test. In the day of God he will suffer loss. Though it is possible that those who have spent the best of life in teaching error may, by repentance and faith, be saved at last, yet their work is lost. Their life has failed of the good results that might have been secured. Souls have gone down to ruin, who, by a faithful presentation of the truth, might have been saved. Says the apostle, ‘Let every man take heed how he buildeth.’ ” Sketches from the Life of Paul, 159, 160

3 – What should we do for our young people when God’s professed church manifests a low grade of piety?

“They simply have the name of Christians but are not fitted for the work of God, and never will be until they are born again, and learn the A.B.C. in true religion of Jesus Christ. There is a little hope in one direction: Take the young men and women, and place them where they will come as little in contact with our churches as possible, that the low grade of piety which is current in this day shall not leaven their ideas of what it means to be a Christian.” (Written to S. N. Haskell, 1892.) Manuscript Release, vol. 12, 333

4 – What should these young people do, who are to be brought in contact as little as possible with the churches?

“Brother and Sister Haskell have rented a house in one of the best parts of the city, and have gathered round them a family of helpers, who day by day go out giving Bible readings, selling our papers, and doing medical missionary work. During the hour of worship, the workers relate their experiences. Bible studies are regularly conducted in the home, and the young men and young women connected with the mission receive a practical, thorough training in holding Bible readings and in selling our publications. The Lord has blessed their labors, a number have embraced the truth, and many others are deeply interested.” Review and Herald, September 7, 1905

“A similar work should be done in many cities. The young people who go out to labor in these cities should be under the direction of experienced, consecrated leaders . . . This work is to be carried forward on a higher plane of individual responsibility than ever before.” Review and Herald, September 7, 1905

The End

Children’s Story – Rowena and the Pills

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Mr. and Mrs. Woods were a very fine young couple. One day Jesus gave them a lovely baby girl to make their home even happier than it was. Of course, they had to think of a name for this sweet little member of their family. Thus her name became Rowena.

Rowena was a sweet cuddly little baby, and she grew very fast. Time slipped by very rapidly for Rowena’s mother and father, as they were very busy people. Almost before they could realized it, their little child was three years old.

Well, one day the Woods family had to move. This was a big job for mommy and daddy, but Rowena just thought it was great fun. Things were scattered around and she could get into everything. She loved seeing what was in this box and that box. Moving turned out to be a great adventure for little her.

Especially was it fun when they got to their new home. For it had a stair way and upstairs rooms to investigate. Rowena had fun running up and down the stairs. But there was one room upstairs that Daddy had hooked shut, thinking that it was safe to lock out a little three year old girl, who was having fun getting settled in her new home.

The locked room was the room Daddy and Mommy were using for storage of the things that they were not needing at the present time. As mommy was cleaning up her kitchen she had a box of medications that were more in the way than they were useful, so she set them up on top of the refrigerator for a while. Then she decided that was not a good place, and since she was not using any of them, she decided to put them in the store room upstairs. That would be plenty safe, as the door was locked with a hook.

Little did Mommy know how clever their little three year old daughter was. One day when mother was very busy she paused for a moment and thought, “I wonder where Rowena is. She is so quiet and I haven’t seen her for a little while.” She called Rowena, but no answer. Mother began looking, never thinking that Rowena could get the locked door open. But mother went up the stairs, and there was Rowena in the store room.

Not only was she in the store room, but she had found the box of medications, and had consumed a whole bottle of carters little liver pills and a bottle of ionized yeast. Well, Rowena was already a very sick little girl lying on the floor.

Poor Mother, what was she to do? She had no car, as daddy had taken the car to work. She called a neighbor, who, as soon as possible, got in touch with Rowena’s daddy. He came home very quickly and rushed Rowena to the hospital. By the time she arrived there, she was unconscious.

The doctor and nurses began working on her immediately. They took a long rubber tube and put it down her nose, into her stomach and pumped out everything that was in there. They found the remains of the pills that Rowena had swallowed. The doctor shook his head and said that they did not think it would be possible to save Rowena’s life.

Mother called the minister of the local Seventh-day Adventist church, who came over to the hospital. When he saw little Rowena he too, realized that only God could save her life, so he anointed her with a little oil. He and the doctor with her parents knelt beside her bed and prayed that Jesus would heal little Rowena.

Jesus did heal her, but it took her a long time to get strong again. She had to learn to walk and talk all over again.

Is not Jesus wonderful? He loves the little children, and even when they make mistakes He wants to help them. But, it would have been better if she had not eaten those pills!

The End

Food – Immune-Boosting Nutrition

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Our marvelous immune system acts like a protective physical and biochemical bubble around the human body, defending against threats from both outside and inside. Most often, the external threats are infections caused by invading bacteria, viruses, parasites and fungi, while abnormal or cancerous cells pose the major internal threats. In addition, this complex system oversees the repair of tissues that are injured by wounds or disease.

The immune system is capable of making more than 100 billion types of antibodies, so it can recognize and attack just about anything it comes into contact with. Its most remarkable characteristic is its memory for every foreign protein it encounters. Confronted with a virus or other invading organism, the immune system creates an antibody that will recognize and attack against it at any future encounter. It will remember, and if the germ ever comes back, the appropriate antibodies will quickly go into action. By constantly adapting, the body can also fight against bacteria or viruses that change over time.

Feeding the body certain foods will keep the immune system on guard, having a major influence on immune health. The body’s most powerful protection is achieved by eating a well-balanced diet containing a variety of colorful fruits and vegetables, whole grains, seeds, and nuts. These foods are high in nutrients and antioxidants that protect cells from damage caused by unstable molecules called free radicals. In a study at Memorial University of Newfoundland, Canada, researchers found that people who got the most of a variety of nutrients, including antioxidants such as beta-carotene and vitamins C and E in their diets, were able to produce greater numbers of natural killer cells (immune cells that search out and destroy bacteria and other invaders) and virus-killing lymphocytes (specialized white blood cells), than those getting the least.

Foods high in beta-carotene include orange-colored foods such as carrots, sweet potatoes, yams and squash. Red pepper, spinach, kale, watercress, mangoes, and apricots are also excellent sources. Eating just one sweet potato and one carrot, providing nearly 30 mg daily value (DV), can have a significant impact on immunity.

Sources of high antioxidant vitamin E foods include hazelnuts, almonds, sunflower seeds, dark leafy greens, sweet potatoes, avocados, tofu, peanuts, olives and olive oil. Also included are tomatoes, bell peppers, papaya, and dried herbs.

Because our body does not synthesize vitamin C internally, it is a crucial nutrient to consume. Many fruits and vegetables contain high amounts of vitamin C. Black currants and guava are excellent sources as well as cantaloupe, strawberries, peppers and pineapple. Spring greens, brussels sprouts, broccoli, onions, garlic, ginger, berries, rose hip tea and citrus fruits are highly rated sources as well.

Keeping our immune system healthy is important, no matter the season, but increasing antioxidant foods during cold and flu season will provide nutrients to fend off illness or shorten the duration if one does succumb.

 

Recipe

Cold and Flu Home Remedy Drink
⅛ red onion, diced 1 lemon, juiced
1–2 garlic cloves, crushed 1 large orange, peeled and chopped
1 thumb-size piece of ginger 2 Tbsp. honey
Add to blender onion, garlic cloves and ginger; pulse. Add lemon juice and orange chunks and pulse until orange is finely blended. Pour into glass; whisk in honey. Sip slowly.

Martin Luther, part X – The Fanatics

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While many new friends were joining the Reformation, even in the face of persecution, a principle of weakness was growing from within the ranks of the reformers. Two camps began to form, dividing the Protestant world—the Luther an and the Reformed.

Fanatics arose calling for forsaking all outward ordinances claiming men were to be guided by an inner light and that religion was exclusively a spiritual communion. Luther saw that this theory would end in the destruction of not only the outward but also the inward spirit of religion. At first the differences were confined to Luther and Carlstadt who had stood together against Dr. Eck. They differed in the Sacrament of the Supper, and Luther, who at an earlier time seemed to recognize the presence of Christ in the Sacrament as a symbol, reverted backward to the old position that the body and blood of Christ were actually present in the bread and wine but that these maintained their natural substance as well. “His doctrine of justification by faith alone implied the total renunciation of this idea; but, as regards the Sacraments, he did not so fully vindicate his freedom from the old beliefs.” History of Protestantism, book 1, 508

Carlstadt would not give in on this point and he also “attacked Luther on the subject of images . . . Luther not only tolerated the presence of images in the churches, like Zwingli, for the sake of the weak; he feared to displace them even when the worshippers desired their removal. He believed they might be helpful. Carlstadt denounced these tendencies and weaknesses as Popery.” Ibid, 509

Hatred of images began to be shown through acts of violence as churches and cloisters were broken into and images burned. Luther called on Frederick to curb this fanatical spirit. This is evidence that the reformer believed that the Reformation had more to fear from fanaticism within than from the persecutors.

Carlstadt began to decry Luther and Lutherans and Elector Frederick ordered him out of his dominions. Carlstadt moved southward spreading not only his views of the Supper and images but also proclaiming loudly his hatred of Luther and blaming him for all of his calamities.
The aged Elector began to fear that the Reformation was going too far. The necessary process of causing men to question and seek answers and the extreme ideas of some caused him alarm but his faith in the Reformed doctrine grew even as his health failed. He was at peace as he dictated his last instructions to his brother and called for reading of the promises of God’s word as he breathed his last.

War of the Peasants

The oppression of the German peasants had grown for centuries. The privileges to roam the forest and hunt and build their huts where they pleased, had been removed. They were expected to remain on their native property and by their sweat till the fields of their masters and spill their blood defending their masters in their quarrels. The small income that they were given was stripped from them by the priest by spiritual threat. As they compared their lot with their masters they were embittered.

The Reformation came on the stage and could have worked to heal the hearts of princes and their subjects, but its progress was prevented by force and then it was accused of causing the unrest that it could have cured if it had been allowed to grow. The poor, by imposed ignorance, knew of only one way to right the situation—death to their oppressors and destruction of their castles and lands. The rulers were content to shut their eyes to their own misdeeds and blame the Gospel for the unrest.

Some justification for this view was supplied as Thomas Munzer, a professed convert of the Reformation, used a religious element to fire the already hot tempers of the peasants. He put himself at the head of the revolted peasantry and taught them to put on the sword of Gideon and seek their liberty by their own hands. The peasants wrote twelve articles of demands which were quite moderate and reasonable but which the unwise princes chose to deny with their hands pressed to their swords.

Luther must now decide on the right course for the Reformation concerning this battle ready to erupt. “He knew that to ally so holy a cause as the Reformation with a movement at best but political, would be to profane it; and that to borrow the sword of men in its behalf was the sure way to forfeit the help of the mightier sword which alone could win such a battle. The Reformation had its own path and its own weapons, to which if it adhered, it would assuredly triumph in the end. It would correct all wrongs, would explode all errors, and pacify all feuds, but only by propagating its own principles, and diffusing its own spirit among men. Luther, therefore, stood apart.” Ibid, 514

This course made it possible for him to try to work with both parties. He was able to speak to each side. He told the peasants that they had chosen the wrong way to try to improve their lot. They must exercise Christian submission and wait for the healing power of the Gospel. He urged them to allow the process of reform to do its work and he argued that “it was preachers, not soldiers—the gospel, not rebellion, that is to benefit the world. And he warned them that if they should oppose the gospel in the name of the gospel, they would only rivet the yoke of their enemies upon their neck.” Ibid, 514

He worked faithfully with the princes reminding them of the tyranny which they and their fathers had long exerted toward the people. He spoke more plainly to the bishops revealing how they had hid the Gospel from the people replacing the doctrines of truth with fables and cheats. He said they were only reaping what they had sown and that God was using the peasantry as His instrument for their chastisement.

The courage and wisdom of the Reformer were evident as Luther spoke with these parties at the brink of war, but his mediation was not successful in preventing the cruel violence which soon erupted. Insurrection began to spread like wildfire, in the summer of 1524, filling towns with tumults, sedition and terrors. The twelve articles were published and demands for their enforcement were followed by armies of peasants who trampled fields, looted barns and storehouses, demolished castles of the nobility, and burned convents to the ground.

Death and destruction raged from town to town and the princes seemed to be chased before this whirlwind. But they recovered and joined their forces to oppose the rebels. On May 15th, 1525, they found the rebel camp of Munzer and his forces who were poorly armed. The princes sent a messenger with an offer of pardon if the rebels would lay down their arms. The rebels killed the messenger at Munzer’s suggestion and both camps prepared for battle. Munzer stood before his army and claimed that the Lord would fight for them and that they would be delivered as Israel at the Red Sea, David with Goliath, and Jonathan when he attacked the Philistine garrison. He vowed that his own coat would catch all the bullets shot at them and insisted that victory was theirs.

The first onset of battle, however, found the rebels at flight with Munzer among the first to try to escape. He was captured and more than five thousand peasants were slain. The battle moved into another region where over two-hundred castles had burned besides noblemen’s houses and monasteries. “Luther raised his voice again, but this time to pronounce an unqualified condemnation on a movement which, from a demand for just rights, had become a war of pillage and murder. He called on all to gird on the sword and resist it.” Ibid, 517

The war ended with terrible retaliation taken by the princes against the peasants. Estimates of the slain range from 50,000 to 100,000, with the high figure probably more accurate. Munzer was decapitated after torture on the rack where he admitted his crimes. Other rebel leaders were convicted and died with dreadful tortures.

In the end, the revolt was not seen in the places where the Gospel had taken hold. The differences between Protestantism and Romanism were illustrated. If only the Reformation had been allowed to do its work in all of the provinces, how different would have been the result. “This outbreak taught the age, moreover, that Protestantism could no more be advanced by popular violence than it could be suppressed by aristocratic tyranny.” Ibid, 518

The Battle of Pavia

Romanism, because it mixed with the politics of Europe, found its fortunes rose and fell with the King or Emperor with which it sided. Protestantism, free from this encumbrance, was able to develop principles and find its course apart from the turmoil of the political arena. But, God could intervene in the political arena for the benefit of the Reformation. Marvelous was the outcome where man could never have maneuvered such victories. This was made manifest in the Battle of Pavia and the resulting Diet at Spires and the effects of these on Protestantism.

The Kings of France and Spain were battling one another for possession of Italy. Of course, the Pope thought that he was rightful ruler and he used his political influence to try to keep these two kings of about equal power so that one would check the other. All three were agreed on one thing however, they were enemies of the Reformation. During the course of battle, the Spanish Charles V defeated the French Francis I, capturing the well fortified Pavia and taking Francis captive. The king was carried to Madrid as a trophy and spent a year in captivity. Charles worked out an agreement for Francis’ release which stipulated among other things that they would fight together the Turks and the enemies of the Church, rooting out heretics.

Charles thought this was his chance to finally rid the world of the hated monk who had none to defend him. He called for a diet at Augsburg for the purpose of executing the Edict of Worms. The prospects for Protestantism grew darker every hour. The emperor had never been stronger and Frederick was now dead. The princes which backed Protestantism were new to the cause and were discouraged by the dangers. Germany was divided, the Ratisbon League was rampant and it appeared that the author of the Edict of Worms was about to carry out the order. “The only man who did not tremble was Luther . . . He knew that if the Gospel had been stripped of all earthly defense it was not because it was about to perish, but because a Divine hand was about to be stretched out in its behalf, so visibly as to give proof to the world that it had a Protector, though ‘unseen’, more powerful than its enemies.” Ibid, 521

Luther Marries

While calamity seemed about to strike, Luther did not run but he took Catherine von Bora as his wife. Many of his friends were stunned that he could make such a move while disaster seemed eminent. “Even some of the disciples of the Reformation were scandalized at Luther’s marrying an ex-nun, so slow are men to cast off the trammels of ages.

“With Catherine von Bora there entered a new light into the dwelling of Luther. To sweetness and modesty, she added a more than ordinary share of good sense. A genuine disciple of the Gospel, she became the faithful companion and help-meet of the Reformer in all the labours and trials of his subsequent life.” Ibid, 522

The Diet at Spires

Events seemed to foretell a repeat of the crusades and the extinction of Protestantism but to the amazement of all the storm moved and dispensed its fury over Rome.

One would have thought that the Pope would have thrown his lot with Charles at this important juncture but in a suicidal policy he turned from the emperor and called for a league against him. Clement did not want the emperor to be too strong for he designed to set Italy as an independent kingdom with he himself as its temporal monarch. His dream, of restoring the power of the papacy to its glories under Gregory VII, misled him. The “Holy League,” of all the nations who feared the emperors overgrown power, was set in motion with the King of England at its head.

In Germany, meantime, the diet at Augsburg had been so poorly attended in the autumn of 1525, that it was adjourned to midsummer of the next year in Spires. June of 1526, found the assembling of all the electoral princes except the Prince of Brandenburg. None was aware of the league against the emperor.

The Reformed princes made a strong showing, riding into the city with large retinues of armed retainers bearing a banner embroidered with five letters which stood for, in translation, “The Word of the Lord endureth for ever.” Under this banner they would conquer. They first demanded a church for the preaching of the gospel and when denied they opened their hotels for worship. On one occasion as many as 8,000 were gathered to hear the sermon. Luther’s tracts were freely distributed and helped to move the public strongly in the Reformed direction.

Charles had made his brother Ferdinand of Austria to preside over the diet. He thought to see something of the movement of the diet before reading his brothers instructions. In August, the Reformed princes gave a paper with certain complaints against the policies of the emperor. Seeing the diet turning toward Wittenberg, Ferdinand drew forth the emperor’s letter demanding that all within his kingdom move forward according to the form and tenor of the Edict of Worms. What was to happen now? What was to be done? The Reformation seemed at the Red Sea, blocked on every side.

At this hour a strange rumor reached Spires. There was strife between the emperor and the pope! Here were the great workings of the unseen hand made evident. The mighty confederacy was broken into two camps as the walls of the Red Sea and the Protestant army under its sacred banner were to march through to safety. “Instead of girding himself to fight against Lutheranism for the Pope, Charles must now ask the aid of Lutheranism in the battle that he was girding himself to fight against the Pope and his confederate kings.” Ibid, 529. “Thus the storm passed away. Nay, the crisis resulted in great good to the Reformation.” Ibid, 530

The Diet of Spires resulted in a decree which made the existence of Protestantism legal in the Empire with every state free to act in religion according to its own judgment. “This edict was the first legal blow dealt at the supremacy and infallibility of Rome.” Ibid, 530

By November, an army of 20,000 was marching through the snow to join the emperor’s general and march on Rome with an iron chain with which to hang the Pope. On the 5th of May, the troops reached Rome and were within the walls in hours. The Pope and his cardinals fled to the Castle of St. Angelo, and when he would not surrender the attack began.

In the first assault, the general was slain and the army left without a strong leader. The unrestrained army proceeded to plunder the magnificent city of the accumulated wealth of centuries. Their rage and greed resulted in unsparing and pitiless pillage. Even the corpses of the Popes were robbed of their rings and ornaments. Plunder was piled in heaps in the market places.

The remaining inhabitants suffered cruel tortures. Estimates of the number of victims range from 5,000 to 10,000 with all ages, ranks and both sexes suffering together. The more than 30,000 armed men of the city knew no bravery. They might have stopped the advancing army or chased them from their walls if they had been courageous. But in a matter of days, the city fell from the prime of her medieval glory which it had taken centuries to develop and which centuries have not been able to restore.

The End

Children’s Story – Dearer to Her Than Life

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“And it came to pass, that, as He (Jesus) was praying in a certain place, when He ceased, one of His disciples said unto Him, Lord, teach us to pray, as John also taught his disciples. And He said unto them, When ye pray, say, Our Father …” 

Luke 11:1, 2

If I call someone “Father” that means I am the child, and in the Bible God tells children how they are to be towards their parents. Exodus 20:12 says, “Honour thy father and thy mother,” and the Lord says through Paul, “Children, obey your parents in the Lord: for this is right” (Ephesians 6:1).

Jesus tells us, through His child Ellen White, “But if you call God your Father you acknowledge yourselves His children, to be guided by His wisdom and to be obedient in all things, knowing that His love is changeless. You will accept His plan for your life. As children of God, you will hold His honor, His character, His family, His work, as the objects of your highest interest. It will be your joy to recognize and honor your relation to your Father and to every member of His family. You will rejoice to do any act, however humble, that will tend to His glory or to the well-being of your kindred.” Thoughts from the Mount of Blessing, 105, 106.

Margaret lived in Scotland in the sixteenth century when Covenanters, followers of Christ through His servant John Knox, were thrown into prison, and many were martyred for their faith. Margaret was a Covenanter who ended up in jail for nothing more than belief in the Scriptures.

There she became friends with Mrs. Lauchlison, a fellow Covenanter who insisted on obeying Scripture rather than the king’s religion. The two encouraged one another in their cell, quoting Bible verses and praying for strength to endure to the end.

The day came when soldiers tied the hands of Mrs. Lauchlison and led her away to her execution. “Let me go too!” Margaret begged. Guarded by soldiers, she walked beside her friend to the beach where a wooden stake already stood at the water’s edge. Margaret watched as they bound her friend to the wooden pole. She stared as the tide came in, slowly raising the water level about the woman tied to the stake. Each wave brought the water higher about her body.

“What has the old woman done?” someone cried out of the crowd.

“She was found on her knees in prayer,” a guard answered.

As Margaret kept staring at her friend, the old woman’s wrinkled face seemed aglow with heavenly light. Margaret strained to catch her words above the crash of the waves. “I have promised to obey Thee, heavenly Father. Help me now when I am tested.”

The faint strains of a hymn sounded above the pounding waves. Margaret watched as they washed over the old woman’s head. “Lord, help me to be as faithful to Your word,” she breathed a silent prayer of commitment.

The next day Margaret was the one tied to the stake. As the tide came in, she recited Romans 8:31–39: “If God be for us, who can be against us? Who can divide us from the love of Christ? … For I am persuaded that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

Margaret and her friend Mrs. Lauchlison both honored their Father in heaven. To do anything different than they did would have been to dishonor, disobey and deny Him. Though their obedience to their heavenly Father cost them their lives on this earth, they are simply sleeping in their temporary beds until the great waking up morning, when their Saviour and Lord will awaken them to the joys of eternal life.

Pray that each one of us will make the same commitment to our heavenly Father that Margaret and Mrs. Lauchlison made, to be faithful no matter the cost. Then we also, on that great waking up morning when Jesus returns, will be with our Father and His only begotten Son, our Saviour, Jesus Christ, for eternity.

Food For Life – Salt and Hypertension

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Let us take a look at the subject matter for this month’s article—preservatives. You may like this, or you may not but: the “proof is in the pudding!” And what I read is not necessarily what I like to read; but it is a viable fact that man cannot live by “bread alone,” but by every word that proceeds out of the mouth of the Lord. With this in mind, let us look at various articles printed on this subject. First of all let me talk to you about salt! Is it bad or is it essential? “Food should be prepared in as simple a manner as possible, free from condiments and spices, and even from an undue amount of salt.” “I use some salt, and always have, because from the light given me by God, this article, in place of being deleterious, is actually essential for the blood. The whys and wherefores of this I know not, but I give you the instruction as it is given me.” “Good baked or boiled potatoes served with cream and a sprinkling of salt are the most healthful. The remnants of Irish and sweet potatoes are prepared with a little cream and salt and re-baked, and not fried; they are excellent.” Counsels on Diets and Foods, 340, 344, 323. [All emphasis supplied.]

Today, the use of an excess amount of that delicious flavoring is well known to increase the risk of high blood pressure. The incidence of high blood pressure in populations using large amounts of sodium is well documented. The amount of salt needed every day can be as low as between 200 and 300 milligrams for a sedentary person up to well in excess of 2 grams for a laborer in extremely heated conditions (such as roofing in the summer or hard physical labor in tropical conditions or in a boiler room etc.) Since most Americans consume between 6 and 13 grams of salt per day obtaining adequate amounts is seldom a problem.

A person who is using large amounts of preprocessed foods can obtain large amounts of sodium without knowing it (over 20 grams per day). One of the easiest ways to decrease sodium is to decrease the foods eaten which have large amounts of salt added. Most health reformers have discarded most of these foods already for other reasons. They include all foods which contain monosodium glutamate, baking soda or baking powder, foods that are cured, smoked, pickled, salted or prepared in salty brines such as sauerkraut, pickles, soy sauce (and many other sauces), all regular chips such as potato chips, corn chips, popcorn, salted crackers, and salted nuts. The next step is moderate use of salt in cooking and especially at the table. Most experts recommend that the sedentary person not consume more than about 1 teaspoon of salt per day (or between 2 and 3 grams) which is an easy range to be in if you are using natural foods (not highly processed) and are moderate in the use of salt in cooking and on the table.

The National Academy of Sciences and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration have advised everyone to cut down on salt to prevent high blood pressure. Although many people are getting too much salt that does not mean that less is always better—in the summer especially when people are spending alot of time out of doors many people do not get enough of it. While experts agree that many of the nation’s fifty million or so hypertensives should decrease their salt intake, ‘there is not conclusive scientific evidence that the general population should adopt a low-sodium diet.

Salt—sodium chloride—is an essential ingredient of the blood. Sodium is necessary to maintain proper blood volume and controls the water-balance in body cells. It is required for transmission of nerve impulses and the proper utilization of carbohydrates and proteins. Chloride is needed for proper pH and for production of hydrochloric acid by the stomach and for certain enzymes.

People who are afraid of getting too much salt and are getting strenuous activity in warm or hot conditions may actually need more of it than they normally obtain.

Corn Spread

1 cup Millet Flour

2½ cups soft Water

1 Tsp. Sea Salt

Place these ingredients in your small mini-crock pot. Stir well, and let cook overnight.
Cook 1 – 16 oz. pkg. of frozen corn according to pkg. directions and when finished place in blender, whiz on high until very smooth. Drop by spoonfuls the millet flour mixture which has cooked.

Add Seasonings:

2 tsps. Butter flavoring

1 tsp. Coconut flavoring

½ tsp. Sea Salt

½ cup Cashews

Whiz again to mix properly. If you wish a thicker butter, drain the cooking water off the corn.

The End

Life Sketches – A Rich Fool

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Ironically, there is temporal gain in this world that later results in great loss, and there is also temporal loss that later results in great gain. A wise person considers the long-term effects of day-by-day decisions.

When Jesus was on earth, He taught that there were consequences to all decisions that may be completely different from what was expected. For instance, recorded in Matthew 16:24–26, literal translation, is this seeming paradox: “Jesus said to His disciples, ‘If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me. For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it. For what is a man profited if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul?’ ”

That is interesting, for the result is the opposite of what is expected. If you save your life, you will lose it, and if you lose your life for Christ’s sake, you will end up finding it. Jesus mentioned this several times (see also Mark 8:35 or Luke 9:24). If you find what you think is success in this world and have not denied yourself by taking up your cross and following Jesus, you may have gained the whole world, but you could eventually lose your own soul. Jesus asked, “What have you gained?” In light of eternity you have gained nothing because any gain on this earth is temporary.

However, there have been those who have apparently lost everything who will end up gaining more than they lost. Matthew 19:27–29 says, “Peter answered and said to Him [Jesus], ‘… See, we have left all and followed You. Therefore what shall we have?’ So Jesus said to them, ‘Assuredly I say to you, that in the regeneration, when the Son of Man sits on the throne of His glory, you who have followed Me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or wife or children or lands, for My name’s sake, shall receive a hundredfold, and inherit ever-lasting life’ ” (literal translation). Jesus greatly rewards a hundred fold those who are prepared to put all on the line in order to follow Him.

The Bible gives many stories of people who made both decisions. There is nothing in this world more valuable than the offer of eternal life. In Luke 12:18–21 there is a story about a rich man who said, “ ‘I will do this: I will pull down my barns and build greater, and there I will store all my crops and my goods. And I will say to my soul, “Soul, you have many goods laid up for many years; take your ease; eat, drink, and be merry.” ’ But God said to him, ‘Fool! This night your soul will be required of you; then whose will those things be which you have provided?’ So is he who lays up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God.”

The apostle Paul, before he met the Lord on the Damascus road, was a zealous persecutor of the Christian church. In fact, he was on his way to Damascus with orders from the high priest in Jerusalem to take captive any that were found in the city of Damascus who were Christians and bring them back to Jerusalem bound for judgment and punishment when Jesus caught his attention in a mighty way.

It says in Acts 9:3–6, “… suddenly a light shone around him from heaven. Then he fell to the ground, and heard a voice saying to him, ‘Saul, Saul why are you persecuting Me?’ And he said, ‘Who are You, Lord?’ Then the Lord said, ‘I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting.’ … So he, trembling and astonished, said, ‘Lord, what do You want me to do?’ Then the Lord said to him, ‘Arise and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do.’ ”

After that encounter, Paul could not see anything for the light had completely blinded his eyes. So he arose and had to be led by the hand by his fellow traveling companions into the city. The Bible records that after a few days he was baptized by Ananias in the river. Paul was given back his eyesight; however, the vision that he had on the Damascus road affected his eyesight for the rest of his life.

After Paul’s baptism, he went back into the city to fellowship with the Christians. Now, instead of taking them prisoners, he shared with them his testimony of how, during his three days of blindness and fasting, he had reviewed in his mind the knowledge he had of the Old Testament prophecies. He now saw how the Old Testament prophecies pointed specifically to Jesus of Nazareth as the Messiah and how everything fit perfectly together. He knew the time prophecies in Daniel and saw that Jesus had come at exactly the time predicted in Daniel 9. He connected the prophecies in the minor prophets predicting that the Messiah would be born in Bethlehem, and that He would be born of the lineage of David. He recalled from the prophecies in Isaiah that the Messiah’s work would be headquartered in the territory of Galilee.

The scales were lifted from Paul’s eyes, and through his blindness, he now understood that the prophecies in the Psalms and Isaiah predicting that the Messiah would be rejected by the Jews and that He would be killed as a criminal by His own people had been fulfilled. He knew well from memory the prophecies in the Psalms, and in Isaiah, and in Jeremiah, and the minor prophets, in Daniel, and the prophecies given by Moses concerning the Messiah. But now he was able to see how these prophecies pointed directly to Jesus as the Messiah.

With this new understanding, he began to preach. First, he preached to the Jews and showed them from prophecy that this Jesus, who had been put to death, was really the Son of God. His arguments from prophecy were so convincing and conclusive, and his preaching was attended by the power of God so much, that the Jews who opposed him were confounded and unable to answer him.

In Acts 9:20–22, the Bible says,  “Immediately he preached the Christ in the synagogues, that He is the Son of God. Then all who heard were amazed, and said, ‘Is this not he who destroyed those who called on this name in Jerusalem, and has come here for that purpose, so that he might bring them bound to the chief priests?’ But Saul increased all the more in strength, and confounded the Jews that dwelt in Damascus, proving that this Jesus is the Christ.”

Paul showed them that his change of mind was not brought about by some impulse or fanaticism, but had been brought about by overwhelming evidence from Scripture.

As he presented it, he saw more and more clearly that Jesus was indeed the Son of God. There was no more argument, for all the Bible prophecies of the Old Testament proved it. Paul met such fierce opposition from the Jews in Damascus that he had to leave. Instead of being converted by the evidence presented, they developed an intense hatred of him. The same result is often true today. When the gospel is presented, some people accept it, but most people resist it and when the evidence becomes exceedingly powerful that what is being resisted is the truth, people develop hatred against the presenter. That has been true for thousands of years.

The same intense hatred was now exhibited toward Paul as was manifested before toward Jesus. Paul’s life in Damascus was in peril and he was directed by the Lord to leave there for a time, so he went to Arabia. In that land, he had opportunity for close contemplation and communion with God. He had time to search his own soul to deepen his repentance and to prepare himself by study and prayer for the work that he was about to engage in, which seemed to him to be too great and too important for him to undertake.

The Lord had already plainly told him that his work was to be among the Gentiles. To the Galatians Paul wrote, “When it pleased God, who separated me from my mother’s womb and called me through His grace, to reveal His Son in me, that I might preach Him among the Gentiles, I did not immediately confer with flesh and blood, nor did I go up to Jerusalem to those who were apostles before me; but I went to Arabia, and returned again to Damascus. Then after three years I went up to Jerusalem … ” (Galatians 1:15–18).

The time spent in Arabia was to him a time of great soul-searching, prayer, and study. He wanted to know for sure that his great sin against Christ and His followers had been forgiven. Jesus had told him that it was He whom Paul was persecuting. When you persecute a Christian, a person who is a real follower of Jesus Christ, not only by profession but in character, the persecution is accounted as being done to the Lord Himself.

In the book of Matthew Jesus pulls back the veil from the future and tells us what is going to happen when He returns to this world again. Matthew 25:31–33 says, “When the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all the holy angels with Him, then He will sit on the throne of His glory. All the nations will be gathered before Him, and He will separate them one from another, as a shepherd divides his sheep from the goats. And He will set the sheep on His right hand, but the goats on the left.” Notice what He says to both groups. To the ones on His right side He says, “ ‘Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me.’ ” To those on the left side, He will say to them, “ ‘Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to Me’ ” (verses 40, 45).

When Paul went back to Damascus preaching boldly in the name of Jesus, the Jews could not withstand his arguments. So they counseled together to silence his voice by force, the only argument left to a sinking cause. In 2 Corinthians 5:11, Paul says, “We persuade men.” The only force that the apostles used was the constraining love of Christ. Paul said in 2 Corinthians 5:14, literal translation, “The love of Christ constrains us.” That is the force that God uses, the force of His love. If that doesn’t draw you, then there is no other weapon that God will use to win you. Revelation 22:17 says, “And the Spirit and the bride say, ‘Come!’ And let him who hears say, ‘Come!’ And let him who thirsts come. Whoever desires, let him take the water of life freely.”

In the books of Daniel and Revelation, all persecuting powers are described as Satanic. God does not use compulsion, except for the force of love to draw and to attract. In Jeremiah 31:3, literal translation, the Lord says, “With an everlasting love I have loved you, therefore with lovingkindness I have drawn you.” But, the only argument left to a sinking cause is to silence the voice by force that cannot be silenced by persuasion or any logical arguments. When you look down through human history you find that this has happened millions and millions of times. If you cannot gain the best of your opponent by logic or reason, or persuade him of the righteousness of your cause, and he is determined to resist, the only thing left to do is to kill him. When you do that, of course, you reveal which side of the great controversy between Christ and Satan that you are on. There is a great controversy going on in our world between two supernatural powers, and the methods that we use when we deal with each other reveal which side of this controversy we stand on (see Revelation 12).

Unable to resist the wisdom spoken by Him, the Jews decided that they would kill Jesus to get Him out of the way. They did the same with the apostles. James was the first to be killed. They wanted to kill Peter, but his time to die was not yet and they were not allowed to do it. The Jews decided to kill Paul in Damascus and the disciples in Damascus did not know what to do. It says in Acts 9:23–25, “After many days were past, the Jews plotted to kill him. But their plot became known to Saul (Paul). And they watched the gates day and night, to kill him. Then the disciples took him by night and let him down through the wall in a large basket.”

After he made his escape from Damascus, Paul went to Jerusalem to see the great apostle Peter, who was with James, but there he met with a lot of trouble because the Christians would not receive him, remembering him as a persecutor. He had no way to even contact the apostles.

Paul had been away from Jerusalem for three years. He had many friends, acquaintances, and relatives living there and he thought that they would be excited about hearing the wonderful experience he had. He thought that they would accept Christ, too, but he misjudged his former friends and associates. Not only did they reject what he said, but their rage and anger against him knew no bounds. They sought to kill him. This is often the same reaction today when a person finds Jesus, the Pearl of great price, that is worth more than anything in the world. Often that person who is so excited to share their new love and hope in the One described as “altogether lovely,” the “Prince of Peace,” the only Person in the universe who can deliver you from the guilt of your sin and the power of sin, and put joy and peace and love in your heart, is met with ridicule and rejection.

When a person finds Christ, he knows he has found such a treasure so wonderful that he immediately wants to tell his friends, acquaintances, and relatives what he has found. But it is still true today, just as it was in those days, that the eyes of those who are perishing are blinded by the god of this world, so that they should not see the light of the gospel. The apostle Paul in 2 Corinthians 4:3, 4, says, “If our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing, whose minds the god of this age has blinded, who do not believe, lest the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine on them.”

Not only did Paul meet with disappointment from his former fellow associates and friends, but the Christians would not accept him either because they were afraid that this was a set-up to flush them out and then destroy them. “When Saul had come to Jerusalem, he tried to join the disciples; but they were all afraid of him, and did not believe that he was a disciple. But Barnabas took him and brought him to the apostles. And he declared to them how he had seen the Lord on the road, and that He had spoken to Him, and how he had preached boldly at Damascus in the name of Jesus. So he was with them at Jerusalem, coming in and going out. And he spoke boldly in the name of the Lord Jesus and disputed against the Hellenists, but they attempted to kill him. When the brethren found out, they brought him down to Caesarea and sent him out to Tarsus” (Acts 9:26–30).

Throughout the ages, the person who knows the truth and wants to share it with others has been forced to flee because so many will not accept it. Paul was willing to stay in Jerusalem even if it meant giving his life to try to save his former associates. But while he was there, he said, “It happened, when I returned to Jerusalem and was praying in the temple, that I was in a trance and saw Him (Christ) saying to me, ‘Make haste and get out of Jerusalem quickly, for they will not receive your testimony concerning Me.’ So I said, ‘Lord, they know that in every synagogue I imprisoned and beat those who believe on You. And when the blood of Your martyr Stephen was shed, I also was standing by consenting to his death, and guarding the clothes of those who were killing him.’ Then He said to me, ‘Depart, for I will send you far from here to the Gentiles’ ” (Acts 22:17–21).

Although the Jews rejected the Lord Jesus, divine wisdom saw that there were multitudes in the Gentile world that if they heard the gospel would accept it. There are still people scattered here and there around the world who accept the gospel when hearing it.

Have you accepted the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ? Have you surrendered yourself to Him? Has He become the Sovereign of your life so that He can deliver you from the guilt and power of sin, and give you an inheritance among those that are sanctified? Have you found the real reason that you are here, the real reason for living? Do you have security for the future because you are following the One who never makes a mistake?

(Unless appearing in quoted references or otherwise identified, Bible texts are from the New King James Version.)

Pastor John J. Grosboll is Director of Steps to Life and pastors the Prairie Meadows Church in Wichita, Kansas. He may be contacted by email at: historic@stepstolife.org, or by telephone at: 316-788-5559.