If I were to ask you what are the saddest words in the English language, I wonder what you would say? My answer to such a question would be "If only..".
Huge numbers of people torture their minds with deep and bitter regrets that haunt them to the point where their lives are seriously blighted; indeed, there are people who suffer mental illness as a result of dwelling on their regrets.
They will keep saying to themselves things like "If only I had not done such and such thing" or they may say to themselves "If only I had done such and such thing"; and so it goes on, day after day, week after week, month after month, year after year, until the mental stress becomes too much and they have a breakdown.
People in such a state are to be grievously pitied, it must be terrible for them. However, people's regrets about things done, or not done, in this life, are as nothing compared to the bitter regrets people will have in eternity as they contemplate lost opportunities to be saved.
I've had many conversations with an atheist man, in Ramsgate, over the years and, one day, I asked him the following: "When you stand before God what do you think He will say to you?", his reply showed that he knew more about God than he let on -
"He would say to me 'you should have listened to that man with those leaflets' ".
If this atheist does not respond to the Gospel, and I've warned him many times about the consequences of unbelief, he will have all eternity to keep repeating the words "If only..."
I'm sure that there are multitudes of lost souls who are, even now, torturing themselves with bitter regrets because they didn't respond to the Gospel; "if only I had listened to that preacher" or perhaps, "if only I had read that leaflet given to me in Canterbury, Ramsgate, Ashford, (or any number of places where street evangelists spread the Gospel)" or perhaps, "if only I had read that New Testament given to me at school", and so it goes on, and on, and on.
Indeed, the worst torment in Hell may well be this bitter sense of regret. Perhaps that is what Jesus meant when he said the following ".......where their worm dies not, and the fire is not quenched", could it be that "their worm" is the accusing conscience worming its way into them and eating them up with these huge regrets and "If onlys...."??
These are sobering thoughts indeed, and I can only thank and praise God daily for what happened to me in September, 1975 when, after hearing a presentation of the Gospel I came to repentance and faith in Christ - a decision I have NEVER regretted. In eternity there will be no "If only..." for me.
I trust that, as the Gospel is preached, there will be many who come to their senses and respond positively to the only message that brings an eternity of bliss, and not an eternity of torment.
Monday, 8 February 2016
Wednesday, 20 January 2016
Is God's love unconditional?
Some churches teach that God loves people just the way they are. Is that correct theology? There is a sense in which God does love all people - eg. we read in John 3 v 16 that ".....God so loved the world "; it is also true that the reason why I am a Christian is because God loved me while I was in my sins, and drew me to repentance and faith in Christ. Were it not for God's love I would not be on the road to Heaven now.
However, for a "minister" to teach people that God loves them "just the way they are" is deeply misleading and may even cause them to end up facing God's wrath for all eternity - why do I say this?
When people are taught that God loves them "just the way they are" it is very likely that they will think in this way - "if God loves me just as I am, then there is no need for me to change the way I'm living". To put it simply, such people will continue living in rebellion against God and not see the need for repentance. Indeed, why should they repent? If God loves them anyway surely He will let them into Heaven in the end?
When viewed in this light we can see just how dangerous such teaching is. It is on a par with the heretical view that all people get to Heaven in the end (universalism) or that everyone gets a 2nd chance to be saved after death, a so-called post mortem conversion. In my evangelistic work I have come across ministers who have taught such views and they are leading people astray - how many people are there, I wonder, who have passed into eternity without being right with God because they sincerely believed that all people will get to Heaven in the end, or that they will have another chance to repent after death. A preacher who has led them astray will have their blood on his hands.
For preachers to say that God loves people just as they are is equally as dangerous as universalism or post-mortem conversion. It is a travesty of the truth and a blatant undermining of the Bible.
Yes, God does love us but He also calls us to repentance. The free offer of the Gospel goes out to all people, everywhere. We are all sinners and, in our natural state, under His wrath. However, because He loves us He sent His son to die for our sins and rise again to be our Saviour. All those who truly repent and accept Christ as Lord and Saviour will have eternal life, but all those who will not so repent, and believe, will suffer eternal damnation. Any minister/preacher who deviates from that is giving people a false sense of assurance.
John 3 v 36 is clear - "He who believes in the Son has everlasting life; and he who does not believe the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him"
However, for a "minister" to teach people that God loves them "just the way they are" is deeply misleading and may even cause them to end up facing God's wrath for all eternity - why do I say this?
When people are taught that God loves them "just the way they are" it is very likely that they will think in this way - "if God loves me just as I am, then there is no need for me to change the way I'm living". To put it simply, such people will continue living in rebellion against God and not see the need for repentance. Indeed, why should they repent? If God loves them anyway surely He will let them into Heaven in the end?
When viewed in this light we can see just how dangerous such teaching is. It is on a par with the heretical view that all people get to Heaven in the end (universalism) or that everyone gets a 2nd chance to be saved after death, a so-called post mortem conversion. In my evangelistic work I have come across ministers who have taught such views and they are leading people astray - how many people are there, I wonder, who have passed into eternity without being right with God because they sincerely believed that all people will get to Heaven in the end, or that they will have another chance to repent after death. A preacher who has led them astray will have their blood on his hands.
For preachers to say that God loves people just as they are is equally as dangerous as universalism or post-mortem conversion. It is a travesty of the truth and a blatant undermining of the Bible.
Yes, God does love us but He also calls us to repentance. The free offer of the Gospel goes out to all people, everywhere. We are all sinners and, in our natural state, under His wrath. However, because He loves us He sent His son to die for our sins and rise again to be our Saviour. All those who truly repent and accept Christ as Lord and Saviour will have eternal life, but all those who will not so repent, and believe, will suffer eternal damnation. Any minister/preacher who deviates from that is giving people a false sense of assurance.
John 3 v 36 is clear - "He who believes in the Son has everlasting life; and he who does not believe the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him"
Thursday, 7 January 2016
Revelation 20 v 4 - proof the Bible is up to date.
I've just been reading through the book of Revelation and was reminded, as I read chapter 20 v 4, just how up to date it is. In this verse we read of believers being beheaded for the witness of Jesus. When Islamic State take over a region they often give Christians a stark choice - convert to Islam or die; those who refused to renounce Christ are beheaded. (This is what happened to Egyptian Christians who were captured by IS in Libya. As they were being martyred some of them shouted out "Jesus is Lord"). This barbarity is in direct fulfilment of Revelation 20 v 4 and shows just how relevant the Bible is.
Moreover, I've just finished reading an excellent book entitled "The martyrs of Malatya". It is about 3 Christians who were murdered by Islamic fundamentalists in an orgy of violence which involved attempts to decapitate them. Again, further evidence that the Bible is true.
Indeed, over the last 100 years or so, more Christians have been murdered for the faith than in the previous 19 centuries put together. As the Bible clearly predicts that persecution will increase in the run-up to Christ's 2nd coming we can be confident that that time is approaching.
While on the subject of the book of Revelation, there have been many interpretations but the most helpful I've come across goes like this:
In chapter 1 v 19 John was told to write the things he had seen, what is now and what will take place hereafter. This gives the 3-fold division of the book viz. chapter 1 is about John's vision of Christ, chapters 2-3 is about the church age from the day of Pentecost until Jesus comes again, and chapters 4-22 are about the end times and the final consummation of all things, the eternal state.
In chapter 1 John wrote clearly about what he had seen, and how he worshipped Christ, another proof that He is God and worthy of worship.
In chapters 2-3 he wrote about the good and bad points of the 7 churches. As we survey the Christian churches we can see how all 7 are represented. For example there are worldly churches, little more than social clubs; there are faithful churches, bearing a powerful testimony in the midst of suffering; there are compromised churches that allow sin in their midst, and so on.
In Chapters 4- 22 we read a clear account of end time events starting with the rapture of the church in Chapter 4 v 1 "....come up here and I will show you what will take place after this".
As we read Revelation it is helpful to bear this 3-fold division in mind in order to aid correct interpretation.
Ultimately, the book is about the final triumph of Christ over the devil and we see that in chapter 20 v 10 where Satan is cast "into the lake of fire" for ever.
As we continue in the Christian life let us always remember that we are on the victory side and that we are the ones "who will have the last laugh".
Moreover, I've just finished reading an excellent book entitled "The martyrs of Malatya". It is about 3 Christians who were murdered by Islamic fundamentalists in an orgy of violence which involved attempts to decapitate them. Again, further evidence that the Bible is true.
Indeed, over the last 100 years or so, more Christians have been murdered for the faith than in the previous 19 centuries put together. As the Bible clearly predicts that persecution will increase in the run-up to Christ's 2nd coming we can be confident that that time is approaching.
While on the subject of the book of Revelation, there have been many interpretations but the most helpful I've come across goes like this:
In chapter 1 v 19 John was told to write the things he had seen, what is now and what will take place hereafter. This gives the 3-fold division of the book viz. chapter 1 is about John's vision of Christ, chapters 2-3 is about the church age from the day of Pentecost until Jesus comes again, and chapters 4-22 are about the end times and the final consummation of all things, the eternal state.
In chapter 1 John wrote clearly about what he had seen, and how he worshipped Christ, another proof that He is God and worthy of worship.
In chapters 2-3 he wrote about the good and bad points of the 7 churches. As we survey the Christian churches we can see how all 7 are represented. For example there are worldly churches, little more than social clubs; there are faithful churches, bearing a powerful testimony in the midst of suffering; there are compromised churches that allow sin in their midst, and so on.
In Chapters 4- 22 we read a clear account of end time events starting with the rapture of the church in Chapter 4 v 1 "....come up here and I will show you what will take place after this".
As we read Revelation it is helpful to bear this 3-fold division in mind in order to aid correct interpretation.
Ultimately, the book is about the final triumph of Christ over the devil and we see that in chapter 20 v 10 where Satan is cast "into the lake of fire" for ever.
As we continue in the Christian life let us always remember that we are on the victory side and that we are the ones "who will have the last laugh".
Monday, 21 December 2015
December 22, 2015 - proof God exists.
Every year around December 20-22 we have the shortest day of the year in terms of hours of daylight. We also have, around June 21, the longest day when there are the most hours of daylight. We also have, around March 20 and Sept 22 every year what is termed "an equinox" - this means that the number of daylight and night time hours are the same. These cycles are as regular as clockwork.
What does this tell us? That the world is not here by chance, that it doesn't continue by chance, and that it was designed to work in this way. Consequently, if there is a design, there is a designer - and that designer is God.
When people deny the existence of God they simply display their ignorance of all the evidence that shows there is a God. The way that the Earth continues to rotate in the same pattern, and the same form, proves beyond any doubt that there is a brain behind all this.
What would you think of a person who believed that a clock just came into being by chance and continues to work with a regularity, again by chance? Such a person would not be taken seriously and, indeed, neither should they be. Therefore, when people say that this world and all it's workings simply came about by chance, they show themselves to have a mind set of a small child who gives outlandish explanations for matters he cannot understand.
Having established beyond doubt that there is a God, the next question we ask is this - can He be known personally? The answer is a resounding "YES".
In my work of street evangelism I often pass out a small booklet entitled "Knowing God personally". Even though we have done wrong in His sight (what the Bible calls "sin") and even though our sins are like a barrier between us and God, we can have the joy and assurance of having that barrier removed and knowing Him.
This is through the work of the Lord Jesus Christ - when He died on the cross, he did so for the sins of the world, and rose again to be our Saviour.
Because Jesus paid for our sins, the barrier between us and God can be removed provided we truly repent of our sins and accept Him as our personal Saviour.
Forgiveness of sins and peace with God are NOT automatic, we need to make a response to the free offer of the Gospel. As we approach the Christmas period, when we remember the coming of Christ, wouldn't it be marvellous to hear of people making their peace with God and knowing Him personally.
"The Father sent the Son to be the Saviour of the world" - 1st John 4 v 14
What does this tell us? That the world is not here by chance, that it doesn't continue by chance, and that it was designed to work in this way. Consequently, if there is a design, there is a designer - and that designer is God.
When people deny the existence of God they simply display their ignorance of all the evidence that shows there is a God. The way that the Earth continues to rotate in the same pattern, and the same form, proves beyond any doubt that there is a brain behind all this.
What would you think of a person who believed that a clock just came into being by chance and continues to work with a regularity, again by chance? Such a person would not be taken seriously and, indeed, neither should they be. Therefore, when people say that this world and all it's workings simply came about by chance, they show themselves to have a mind set of a small child who gives outlandish explanations for matters he cannot understand.
Having established beyond doubt that there is a God, the next question we ask is this - can He be known personally? The answer is a resounding "YES".
In my work of street evangelism I often pass out a small booklet entitled "Knowing God personally". Even though we have done wrong in His sight (what the Bible calls "sin") and even though our sins are like a barrier between us and God, we can have the joy and assurance of having that barrier removed and knowing Him.
This is through the work of the Lord Jesus Christ - when He died on the cross, he did so for the sins of the world, and rose again to be our Saviour.
Because Jesus paid for our sins, the barrier between us and God can be removed provided we truly repent of our sins and accept Him as our personal Saviour.
Forgiveness of sins and peace with God are NOT automatic, we need to make a response to the free offer of the Gospel. As we approach the Christmas period, when we remember the coming of Christ, wouldn't it be marvellous to hear of people making their peace with God and knowing Him personally.
"The Father sent the Son to be the Saviour of the world" - 1st John 4 v 14
Wednesday, 9 December 2015
The age of miracles is NOT past.
Many people think that God is an irrelevance to them if, indeed, He even exists! However, I would like to outline 2 testimonies that I came across only this last week that prove that God is very much alive. and still performing miracles.
The Gideons have a wonderful ministry of placing Bibles in numerous places (including prisons) and giving out New Testaments to youngsters in schools. An extremely violent prisoner in the north of England was placed into solitary confinement because he kept attacking the warders and other prisoners. While there he had access to a Bible and, in a rage, tore it up into pieces. As he lay on his bed wondering what was to become of him he decided to pick up one of the torn pages; it "just happened" to be the parable of the prodigal son. As he read this the Lord spoke to him and, to cut a long story short, he got wonderfully converted. Having been released he now reaches out to people who seem to be embarking on a criminal road, telling them how Jesus can change them, just as He changed him.
The second testimony may be less "spectacular" but is still, nonetheless an evidence of the saving grace of God:
In the county of Kent there is a free newspaper that comes out every week-end and is financed by advertising. 2 weeks ago they carried an article along the lines that "religion" is dying. Of course, it's not religion that people need but Christ as a personal Saviour. The next edition carried a letter from a Canterbury resident with the following heartwarming testimony (abridged) - "up until the age of 40 I was the biggest atheist going. Then I went to a local church after being invited by a friend. As a result of the work of the Holy Spirit I became born-again and accepted Christ as Saviour. It is not dependent upon religion but relationship. We can have a relationship with God through faith in Christ".
In the case of both men it was, humanly speaking, impossible that they would get saved. They were so very far from God they would never believe and trust in Christ. However, God had other ideas and drew them to a knowledge of Himself.
When I heard/read about the above I was thrilled to see that, indeed, the age of miracles has NOT passed. God is still in the business of changing lives - "If anyone is in Christ he is a new creation. Old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new" - 2nd Corinthians 5 v 17.
The Gideons have a wonderful ministry of placing Bibles in numerous places (including prisons) and giving out New Testaments to youngsters in schools. An extremely violent prisoner in the north of England was placed into solitary confinement because he kept attacking the warders and other prisoners. While there he had access to a Bible and, in a rage, tore it up into pieces. As he lay on his bed wondering what was to become of him he decided to pick up one of the torn pages; it "just happened" to be the parable of the prodigal son. As he read this the Lord spoke to him and, to cut a long story short, he got wonderfully converted. Having been released he now reaches out to people who seem to be embarking on a criminal road, telling them how Jesus can change them, just as He changed him.
The second testimony may be less "spectacular" but is still, nonetheless an evidence of the saving grace of God:
In the county of Kent there is a free newspaper that comes out every week-end and is financed by advertising. 2 weeks ago they carried an article along the lines that "religion" is dying. Of course, it's not religion that people need but Christ as a personal Saviour. The next edition carried a letter from a Canterbury resident with the following heartwarming testimony (abridged) - "up until the age of 40 I was the biggest atheist going. Then I went to a local church after being invited by a friend. As a result of the work of the Holy Spirit I became born-again and accepted Christ as Saviour. It is not dependent upon religion but relationship. We can have a relationship with God through faith in Christ".
In the case of both men it was, humanly speaking, impossible that they would get saved. They were so very far from God they would never believe and trust in Christ. However, God had other ideas and drew them to a knowledge of Himself.
When I heard/read about the above I was thrilled to see that, indeed, the age of miracles has NOT passed. God is still in the business of changing lives - "If anyone is in Christ he is a new creation. Old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new" - 2nd Corinthians 5 v 17.
Thursday, 12 November 2015
What do you think of Christ?
As regular readers of this blog will know, I spend several afternoons a week passing out tracts in Canterbury and Ramsgate and, over the years have been blessed in seeing souls saved and backsliders restored.
The latest tract I'm currently using is entitled "What do you think of Christ?" and has been well received by people in general. The wording of this is as follows:
What Do You Think of Christ?
Perhaps we might give one of the following answers to this question:
I never think about Him
I'm just not interested in Him
He isn't relevant to me
I'm just too busy to think about Him
There are many people who might give one of these answers and yet not a day goes by without them using His name casually or even as a swear word. When surprised, upset or angry they will use the name of Jesus or His title "Christ". Perhaps this reveals exactly what they think of Him, or maybe these words come out without them even thinking about what they are saying.
Actually, how we view Jesus Christ is very important, because it not only affects our lives in this life but also in the life hereafter. That may seem very unlikely to you, but have a think about three things the Bible says about Him.
He is a prophet
The first part of the Bible, the Old Testament, predicted that someone called "the Christ" would one day come. He would announce the good news that God loves people throughout the whole world. He would give proof of who He was by performing amazing miracle, "then the eyes of the blind would be opened, and the ears of the deaf shall be unstopped" (Isaiah 35 v 5). Jesus would offer to heal the broken hearted and set free those whose lives were controlled by sin and evil.
Jesus did all those things without exception during His life here on earth. His disciples could say to Him "you are the Christ, the Son of the living God" (Matthew 16 v 16).
He is a priest
Jesus Christ lived a life that was completely pure and holy in every way. All other priests need to have their own sins forgiven by God before they can be concerned about the sins of others. Jesus Christ didn't have any sin, ".....He is holy, harmless, undefiled..." (Hebrews 7 v 26).
His absolute perfection qualified Him to reunite people to God. "For there is one God and one mediator between God and men, the man Jesus Christ" (1st Timothy 2 v 5).
To be that mediator Jesus Christ was willing to stand in the place of people like us and pay the price that our sins deserve, "Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many" (Hebrews 9 v 28). Jesus died on the cross and three days later rose triumphantly from the dead and appeared to many eyewitnesses.
He is a king
We all have a king in our lives, even if it is only ourselves. Jesus Christ is the person who really deserves that place. When He went back to Heaven He was crowned "King of kings" (Revelation 19 v 16). One day He will come again for all to see that He is the rightful king "...every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord" (Philippians 2 v 11).
What do you think about Christ? was a question Jesus asked a group of sceptics (see Matthew 22 v 42). If you are a sceptic, then please take time to think seriously about Christ. You can come to know Him as your Prophet to teach you, your Priest to forgive you, and your King to protect and guide you.
THE TRACT THEN HAS A FORM FOR PEOPLE TO FILL IN AND SEND TO THE OPEN AIR MISSION FOR MORE INFORMATION.
READERS WHO WOULD LIKE MORE INFORMATION PLEASE LOOK UP: www.oamission.com
The latest tract I'm currently using is entitled "What do you think of Christ?" and has been well received by people in general. The wording of this is as follows:
What Do You Think of Christ?
Perhaps we might give one of the following answers to this question:
I never think about Him
I'm just not interested in Him
He isn't relevant to me
I'm just too busy to think about Him
There are many people who might give one of these answers and yet not a day goes by without them using His name casually or even as a swear word. When surprised, upset or angry they will use the name of Jesus or His title "Christ". Perhaps this reveals exactly what they think of Him, or maybe these words come out without them even thinking about what they are saying.
Actually, how we view Jesus Christ is very important, because it not only affects our lives in this life but also in the life hereafter. That may seem very unlikely to you, but have a think about three things the Bible says about Him.
He is a prophet
The first part of the Bible, the Old Testament, predicted that someone called "the Christ" would one day come. He would announce the good news that God loves people throughout the whole world. He would give proof of who He was by performing amazing miracle, "then the eyes of the blind would be opened, and the ears of the deaf shall be unstopped" (Isaiah 35 v 5). Jesus would offer to heal the broken hearted and set free those whose lives were controlled by sin and evil.
Jesus did all those things without exception during His life here on earth. His disciples could say to Him "you are the Christ, the Son of the living God" (Matthew 16 v 16).
He is a priest
Jesus Christ lived a life that was completely pure and holy in every way. All other priests need to have their own sins forgiven by God before they can be concerned about the sins of others. Jesus Christ didn't have any sin, ".....He is holy, harmless, undefiled..." (Hebrews 7 v 26).
His absolute perfection qualified Him to reunite people to God. "For there is one God and one mediator between God and men, the man Jesus Christ" (1st Timothy 2 v 5).
To be that mediator Jesus Christ was willing to stand in the place of people like us and pay the price that our sins deserve, "Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many" (Hebrews 9 v 28). Jesus died on the cross and three days later rose triumphantly from the dead and appeared to many eyewitnesses.
He is a king
We all have a king in our lives, even if it is only ourselves. Jesus Christ is the person who really deserves that place. When He went back to Heaven He was crowned "King of kings" (Revelation 19 v 16). One day He will come again for all to see that He is the rightful king "...every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord" (Philippians 2 v 11).
What do you think about Christ? was a question Jesus asked a group of sceptics (see Matthew 22 v 42). If you are a sceptic, then please take time to think seriously about Christ. You can come to know Him as your Prophet to teach you, your Priest to forgive you, and your King to protect and guide you.
THE TRACT THEN HAS A FORM FOR PEOPLE TO FILL IN AND SEND TO THE OPEN AIR MISSION FOR MORE INFORMATION.
READERS WHO WOULD LIKE MORE INFORMATION PLEASE LOOK UP: www.oamission.com
Tuesday, 3 November 2015
Acts 5 v 39 and the invinciblity of the Gospel.
In the Acts of the Apostles we read the thrilling early history of the Christian church and the progress of the Gospel as many souls get saved and evangelise the lost. However, when God is active in saving souls the devil is also active and the inevitable persecution occurs, much of it extremely savage.
In Acts chapter 5 we read of how Peter and his companions were brought before the Sanhedrin and threatened for preaching the Gospel. One of the council members was Gamaliel who very wisely cautioned against taking action against the preachers for one simple reason - if this Gospel that they are preaching "is of God you cannot overthrow it". So it proved; despite the persecution directed against believers the Gospel spread like wildfire and opponents were unable to prevent this.
There are two notable examples of the impotence of man to stop God's plans from being effected -
1. In Matthew 2 we read of Herod murdering small children in order to kill Christ, but the plot failed. Shortly after that he died.
2. In Acts 12 we read of another Herod having James murdered and intending to do the same to Peter. However, Peter was miraculously released and Herod was slain by God. Just after that we read (in verse 24) that "the Word of the Lord grew and multiplied".
Both of these wicked men were very powerful but could not stop the Lord's will being carried out.
This tells me that if God wills for the Gospel to be spread, and He does, then no scheme of man can thwart that. Indeed, we read in Job 42 v 2 that no purpose of God can be hindered.
What a strong encouragement this is to me as I seek to tell others about Jesus through the distribution of tracts. Over the years there have been attempts to stop this (even from those professing to be Christians) but these have failed. All the while God leads me to spread His word,and the message of the only way of salvation, then this will occur and, as the Gospel is spread, God is pleased to draw precious souls to Himself and grant them repentance unto life.
The most powerful efforts of man to stop the Gospel will always fail for one simple reason - God is sovereign and He WILL ensure that every one of His elect WILL be saved.
In Acts chapter 5 we read of how Peter and his companions were brought before the Sanhedrin and threatened for preaching the Gospel. One of the council members was Gamaliel who very wisely cautioned against taking action against the preachers for one simple reason - if this Gospel that they are preaching "is of God you cannot overthrow it". So it proved; despite the persecution directed against believers the Gospel spread like wildfire and opponents were unable to prevent this.
There are two notable examples of the impotence of man to stop God's plans from being effected -
1. In Matthew 2 we read of Herod murdering small children in order to kill Christ, but the plot failed. Shortly after that he died.
2. In Acts 12 we read of another Herod having James murdered and intending to do the same to Peter. However, Peter was miraculously released and Herod was slain by God. Just after that we read (in verse 24) that "the Word of the Lord grew and multiplied".
Both of these wicked men were very powerful but could not stop the Lord's will being carried out.
This tells me that if God wills for the Gospel to be spread, and He does, then no scheme of man can thwart that. Indeed, we read in Job 42 v 2 that no purpose of God can be hindered.
What a strong encouragement this is to me as I seek to tell others about Jesus through the distribution of tracts. Over the years there have been attempts to stop this (even from those professing to be Christians) but these have failed. All the while God leads me to spread His word,and the message of the only way of salvation, then this will occur and, as the Gospel is spread, God is pleased to draw precious souls to Himself and grant them repentance unto life.
The most powerful efforts of man to stop the Gospel will always fail for one simple reason - God is sovereign and He WILL ensure that every one of His elect WILL be saved.
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