“The rain came down, the streams rose, and the
winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not
fall, because it had its foundation on the rock.”
Matthew 7:25
These words are spoken by Jesus at the very end of the Sermon on the Mount and are part
of a parable, the first time he uses a parable as a means of teaching. If the folk
remembered nothing else from the large amount of teaching they have heard (and how
much do we remember from each sermon we hear?), they will remember this: there is a
house that cannot be destroyed.
Wesley warns “do not think that you shall not see war anymore or that you are out of
reach of temptation. It still remains for God to prove the grace He has given: you shall be
tried as gold in the fire. You shall be tempted not less than they who know not God;
perhaps abundantly more. For Satan will not fail to try to the uttermost those whom he is
not able to destroy.”
Somewhere along the line people get the idea that Christians should not suffer as much as
non-Christians do and can cause great pain by implying that there is something wrong
with our faith when we are going through “undeserved” suffering. Perhaps you have been
hurt in this way, or know someone who has. Jesus teaches here that exactly the same
suffering comes to the wise and the foolish. The difference is, and this becomes a sure
hope we can cling to, in Christ we will not be, we cannot be destroyed, in this life or the
next. Our salvation even from death itself is secure.
If you are in the midst of a raging lifestorm, try and remember who your Lord is. If you
know someone who is suffering at the moment, consider gentle ways of reminding them
who their God is.
How happy are the little flock
Who safe beneath their guardian rock
In all commotion rest!
When wars and tumult’s waves run high,
Unmoved above the storm they lie,
They lodge in Jesu’s breast. (61)
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John Wesley (1703 - 1791)
Was an Anglican cleric and Christian theologian. Wesley is largely credited, along with his brother Charles Wesley, as founding the Methodist movement which began when he took to open-air preaching in a similar manner to George Whitefield. In contrast to Whitefield's Calvinism, Wesley embraced the Arminian doctrines that were dominant in the 18th-century Church of England. Methodism in both forms became a highly successful evangelical movement in Britain, which encouraged people to experience Jesus Christ personally.Wesley helped to organise and form societies of Christians throughout Great Britain, North America and Ireland as small groups that developed intensive, personal accountability, discipleship and religious instruction among members. His great contribution was to appoint itinerant, unordained preachers who travelled widely to evangelise and care for people in the societies. Under Wesley's direction, Methodists became leaders in many social issues of the day, including the prison reform and abolitionism movements.
John Wesley was an Anglican cleric and Christian theologian. Wesley is largely credited, along with his brother Charles Wesley, with founding the Methodist movement which began when he took to open-air preaching in a similar manner to George Whitefield. In contrast to George Whitefield's Calvinism (which later led to the forming of the Calvinistic Methodists), Wesley embraced Arminianism. Methodism in both forms was a highly successful evangelical movement in the United Kingdom, which encouraged people to experience Christ personally.
Wesley believed that this doctrine should be constantly preached, especially among the people called Methodists. In fact, he contended that the purpose of the Methodist movement was to "spread scriptural holiness across England."
Throughout his life, Wesley remained within the Church of England and insisted that his movement was well within the bounds of the Anglican tradition. His maverick use of church policy put him at odds with many within the Church of England, though toward the end of his life he was widely respected.
John Wesley was the founder of the Methodist movement which grew from the 'Holy Club' of his Oxford friends into a great religious revival. An indefatigable traveller, preacher and writer, Wesley averaged 8,000 miles a year on horseback and gave 15 sermons a week. The reluctance of the Anglican clergy to lend him their pulpits led him to give some of his sermons in the open air, a decision which enabled him to reach those among the poorer sections of society who were not accustomed to going to church.