In 1543, Wishart was studying in Cambridge and apparently during that time became converted. In 1544, he determined to return to his native Scotland and preach the Gospel there. He preached for a short time at Montrose and then went on to Dundee.
While there an interesting event occurred, as he was preaching he was interrupted by one of the chief men of the town, who told him not to trouble the town any more. Wishart replied, “God is my witness, that I never minded your trouble but your comfort; yea, your trouble is more grievous to me than it is to yourselves: but I am assured to refuse God's Word, and to chase from you His messenger, shall not preserve you from trouble, but shall bring you into it: for God shall send you ministers that shall fear neither burning nor banishment. I have offered you the Word of salvation. With the hazard of my life I have remained among you; now you yourselves refuse me; and I must leave my innocence to be declared by my God. If it be long prosperous with you, I am not led by the Spirit of truth; but if unlooked-for troubles come upon you, acknowledge the cause and turn to God, who is gracious and merciful. But if you turn not at the first warning, He will visit you with fire and sword.”
He left Dundee shortly afterwards. Four days later, a severe plague broke out and many of the townspeople began to die. When Wishart heard of this he returned to Dundee, in spite of attempts by his friends to prevent it, to see if they would be more responsive. They were, and many were then converted.
An attempt was made on his life there, by a priest who had a dagger concealed under his cloak. He was waiting for Wishart at the bottom of the pulpit after he had finished his sermon, but as Wishart went to him and grabbed the dagger that was in his hand but still hidden in his sleeves as he said, “My friend, what would you have.” The priest was startled and confessed his intentions. Wishart then had to intercede on his behalf as the people wanted to kill him.
Later a letter was sent to him as he was in another place to lure him into a trap. He began to go, but shortly said, “I will not go; I am forbidden of God; I am assured there is treason. Let some of you go to yonder place, and tell me what you find.” They went and discovered the plot. He then told them that while he would die by Cardinal Beaton’s hand it would not be in this manner.
Shortly before his martyrdom, he was heard by two of his friends to be praying one night very fervently. They asked him about it and he told them that his warfare was nearing it’s end, and asked them to pray that he might not shrink from it in the end.
He was burned at the stake on March 1, 1546, but shortly before this was done he saw Cardinal Beaton, watching the proceedings from the top of the castle, and told one nearby that he who was so at ease now would soon, be cast down ignominiously. This shortly came to pass.
Tuesday, February 27, 2007
Saturday, February 24, 2007
The Rock
Here's a song that I just wrote. I recorded it on my mp3 player (Thanks again to all you who chipped in to buy it for me). The recording is now being uploaded to my multiply site. Please let me know what you think... the quality isn't the best.
G C G D
Moses struck and water flowed,
G C G D em
Showing forth Your very blood,
C G D
That You gave on that tree,
Em C G D
Flowing forth to cover me,
G C D
And supply my deepest needs
Chorus:
G-em-C-D G-em-C-D
You, You are my Rock, (Echo)
G-em-C-D G-em-C-D
You, You are my strength, (Echo)
G-em-C-D G-em-C-D
You, You are my hope, (Echo)
G-em-C-D G-em-C-D
You, You are my everything
G C G D
A sacrifice once for all,
G C G D em
Saving grace to all who call,
C G D
No more struck now you live,
Em C G D
Intercession for us You give,
G C D
To do a work in our lives
G C G D
A hiding place from the wind,
G C G D em
As I’m hidden in Your hand,
C G D
The tempest rages around,
Em C G D
But in Your presence I am found,
G C D
In Jesus my all in all
G C G D
Moses struck and water flowed,
G C G D em
Showing forth Your very blood,
C G D
That You gave on that tree,
Em C G D
Flowing forth to cover me,
G C D
And supply my deepest needs
Chorus:
G-em-C-D G-em-C-D
You, You are my Rock, (Echo)
G-em-C-D G-em-C-D
You, You are my strength, (Echo)
G-em-C-D G-em-C-D
You, You are my hope, (Echo)
G-em-C-D G-em-C-D
You, You are my everything
G C G D
A sacrifice once for all,
G C G D em
Saving grace to all who call,
C G D
No more struck now you live,
Em C G D
Intercession for us You give,
G C D
To do a work in our lives
G C G D
A hiding place from the wind,
G C G D em
As I’m hidden in Your hand,
C G D
The tempest rages around,
Em C G D
But in Your presence I am found,
G C D
In Jesus my all in all
The Labourers in the vineyard ( Matthew 20:1-17)
Here’s just a few thoughts I was having on this parable.
There are three main interpretations of this parable which are valid.
The first one is comparing the various times in which one comes to the knowledge of Christ, and if they diligently work for Him, whether it be in youth or old age, if they are faithful from that time forward they are rewarded.
The second one compares the times to dispensations in the gospel, the first being with John the Baptist, going on to the day of Pentecost. In one sense this is a valid application, for while some were called of God during the time of John (like Andrew and John), others came later in Christ’s ministry. (James and Jude, the brothers of the Lord, in all likelihood only became disciples after the resurrection). However, at Pentecost all who had faithfully laboured, and waited in the upper room received the same blessing of the Holy Spirit.
The third one is the one I was thinking about recently, and is the one that I would like to apply to our lives today. I believe that in some ways we are in this parable now. Some of us are labouring in the vineyard of God and are waiting earnestly for God to send the revival He has promised and to see the reward for our labours.
It is interesting when you read of revivals in the past that often some of the people who prayed the hardest to see the move of God oppose it when it comes. Why? Because they see God promoting people who did not labour as they did. V12 “Saying, These last have done only one hour's work, and you have made them equal to us, who have undergone the hard work of the day and the burning heat.”
Right now we are still in the heat of the day, and God’s Word and standards are being reviled in the world, but the day will come as the Gospel works that multitudes will rush into the Kingdom. When that happens, many will be raised up who did not struggle as we have had to for the glory, and when we see that it might stumble some of us to grumble like those in the parable. “Lord, How can you reward that person, I bore the hard work, he has just sprung up overnight.”
To counteract this remember 2 things:
1. It is God’s vineyard. He can do what He wants in His vineyard. The important thing is not who He uses, but that He gets His harvest in. Amen!
2. God’s acceptance of others is not His rejection of us. He will faithfully reward us what is our due. If we are thankful for what God has given us, we won’t have a problem with what He gives others.
Anyway those were just the thoughts I had, may God grant that we all are faithful and cheerful labourers in His glorious vineyard.
There are three main interpretations of this parable which are valid.
The first one is comparing the various times in which one comes to the knowledge of Christ, and if they diligently work for Him, whether it be in youth or old age, if they are faithful from that time forward they are rewarded.
The second one compares the times to dispensations in the gospel, the first being with John the Baptist, going on to the day of Pentecost. In one sense this is a valid application, for while some were called of God during the time of John (like Andrew and John), others came later in Christ’s ministry. (James and Jude, the brothers of the Lord, in all likelihood only became disciples after the resurrection). However, at Pentecost all who had faithfully laboured, and waited in the upper room received the same blessing of the Holy Spirit.
The third one is the one I was thinking about recently, and is the one that I would like to apply to our lives today. I believe that in some ways we are in this parable now. Some of us are labouring in the vineyard of God and are waiting earnestly for God to send the revival He has promised and to see the reward for our labours.
It is interesting when you read of revivals in the past that often some of the people who prayed the hardest to see the move of God oppose it when it comes. Why? Because they see God promoting people who did not labour as they did. V12 “Saying, These last have done only one hour's work, and you have made them equal to us, who have undergone the hard work of the day and the burning heat.”
Right now we are still in the heat of the day, and God’s Word and standards are being reviled in the world, but the day will come as the Gospel works that multitudes will rush into the Kingdom. When that happens, many will be raised up who did not struggle as we have had to for the glory, and when we see that it might stumble some of us to grumble like those in the parable. “Lord, How can you reward that person, I bore the hard work, he has just sprung up overnight.”
To counteract this remember 2 things:
1. It is God’s vineyard. He can do what He wants in His vineyard. The important thing is not who He uses, but that He gets His harvest in. Amen!
2. God’s acceptance of others is not His rejection of us. He will faithfully reward us what is our due. If we are thankful for what God has given us, we won’t have a problem with what He gives others.
Anyway those were just the thoughts I had, may God grant that we all are faithful and cheerful labourers in His glorious vineyard.
The Labourers in the vineyard ( Matthew 20:1-17)
Here’s just a few thoughts I was having on this parable.
There are three main interpretations of this parable which are valid.
The first one is comparing the various times in which one comes to the knowledge of Christ, and if they diligently work for Him, whether it be in youth or old age, if they are faithful from that time forward they are rewarded.
The second one compares the times to dispensations in the gospel, the first being with John the Baptist, going on to the day of Pentecost. In one sense this is a valid application, for while some were called of God during the time of John (like Andrew and John), others came later in Christ’s ministry. (James and Jude, the brothers of the Lord, in all likelihood only became disciples after the resurrection). However, at Pentecost all who had faithfully laboured, and waited in the upper room received the same blessing of the Holy Spirit.
The third one is the one I was thinking about recently, and is the one that I would like to apply to our lives today. I believe that in some ways we are in this parable now. Some of us are labouring in the vineyard of God and are waiting earnestly for God to send the revival He has promised and to see the reward for our labours.
It is interesting when you read of revivals in the past that often some of the people who prayed the hardest to see the move of God oppose it when it comes. Why? Because they see God promoting people who did not labour as they did. V12 “Saying, These last have done only one hour's work, and you have made them equal to us, who have undergone the hard work of the day and the burning heat.”
Right now we are still in the heat of the day, and God’s Word and standards are being reviled in the world, but the day will come as the Gospel works that multitudes will rush into the Kingdom. When that happens, many will be raised up who did not struggle as we have had to for the glory, and when we see that it might stumble some of us to grumble like those in the parable. “Lord, How can you reward that person, I bore the hard work, he has just sprung up overnight.”
To counteract this remember 2 things:
1. It is God’s vineyard. He can do what He wants in His vineyard. The important thing is not who He uses, but that He gets His harvest in. Amen!
2. God’s acceptance of others is not His rejection of us. He will faithfully reward us what is our due. If we are thankful for what God has given us, we won’t have a problem with what He gives others.
Anyway those were just the thoughts I had, may God grat that we all are faithful and cheerful labourers in His glorious vineyard.
There are three main interpretations of this parable which are valid.
The first one is comparing the various times in which one comes to the knowledge of Christ, and if they diligently work for Him, whether it be in youth or old age, if they are faithful from that time forward they are rewarded.
The second one compares the times to dispensations in the gospel, the first being with John the Baptist, going on to the day of Pentecost. In one sense this is a valid application, for while some were called of God during the time of John (like Andrew and John), others came later in Christ’s ministry. (James and Jude, the brothers of the Lord, in all likelihood only became disciples after the resurrection). However, at Pentecost all who had faithfully laboured, and waited in the upper room received the same blessing of the Holy Spirit.
The third one is the one I was thinking about recently, and is the one that I would like to apply to our lives today. I believe that in some ways we are in this parable now. Some of us are labouring in the vineyard of God and are waiting earnestly for God to send the revival He has promised and to see the reward for our labours.
It is interesting when you read of revivals in the past that often some of the people who prayed the hardest to see the move of God oppose it when it comes. Why? Because they see God promoting people who did not labour as they did. V12 “Saying, These last have done only one hour's work, and you have made them equal to us, who have undergone the hard work of the day and the burning heat.”
Right now we are still in the heat of the day, and God’s Word and standards are being reviled in the world, but the day will come as the Gospel works that multitudes will rush into the Kingdom. When that happens, many will be raised up who did not struggle as we have had to for the glory, and when we see that it might stumble some of us to grumble like those in the parable. “Lord, How can you reward that person, I bore the hard work, he has just sprung up overnight.”
To counteract this remember 2 things:
1. It is God’s vineyard. He can do what He wants in His vineyard. The important thing is not who He uses, but that He gets His harvest in. Amen!
2. God’s acceptance of others is not His rejection of us. He will faithfully reward us what is our due. If we are thankful for what God has given us, we won’t have a problem with what He gives others.
Anyway those were just the thoughts I had, may God grat that we all are faithful and cheerful labourers in His glorious vineyard.
Blogging Again
Well, after a season of not much activity, I am blogging again. I had been hoping to be able to publish at least twice a month, but that isn’t going to be likely, however I will still see if I can come close to that.
I finished teaching Romans, it went fairly well, I think (How do you gauge it, I wasn’t listening to myself, and I only know if I covered questions that were asked, not unasked ones that students might have had.)
Mom is teaching the Comforter now, so Dad is grading papers from the previous weeks and I am helping cook. Today is a Wednesday so I have more time, because we fast lunch. We have nearly 30 students here which is good, our maximum capacity is about 34, so it is a nice size. When the Bible school first started 6 years ago, most of our students took the courses in Chichewa, only about 3 out of 30 could understand enough English to do the courses in English. Now over 10 out of the 30 in this class are able to study in English (it is so much nicer to be able to interact without an interpreter). It is also a younger class than in previous years.
It is good to see progress in all areas here since I left 4 years ago. It shows the faithfulness of God and also gives us hope for the areas that are still so needy.
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