June 22, 2023 | Silver Spring, Maryland, United States | Ted N.C. Wilson, President, General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists
Greetings, friends! Last week as we continued our study in The Great Controversy, we ended with the story of John and Charles Wesley going on a mission trip to what were then the British colonies in America. On the way, the ship was caught in a terrible storm at sea, and while John himself feared for his life, he was deeply impressed with the peace shown by the Moravians throughout the storm.
While in America, Wesley spent some time with the Moravians and was deeply impressed with their faith and Christian life. After returning to England, under the instruction of a Moravian preacher, Wesley gained a clearer understanding of Bible faith. We read in The Great Controversy that, “He was convinced that he must renounce all dependence upon his own works for salvation and must trust wholly to ‘the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world'” (pp. 255, 256).
Once he accepted Christ by faith, Wesley’s faith and understanding continued to grow, and his heart burned with the desire to spread everywhere what he had found to be true. His was now a balanced life and faith.
“The grace of God in Christ is the foundation of the Christian’s hope,” writes Ellen White, “and that grace will be manifested in obedience. Wesley’s life was devoted to the preaching of the great truths which he had received—justification through faith in the atoning blood of Christ, and the renewing power of the Holy Spirit upon the heart, bringing forth fruit in a life conformed to the example of Christ” (The Great Controversy p. 256).
Sadly, however, the message of justification, along with a changed life through the power of the Holy Spirit, was not well received by many. At the university where they studied, the Wesley brothers were subject to scorn and derision. They, and the few others who sympathized with them, were contemptuously called “Methodists” by their fellow students. This name, however, which was first spoken in contempt, became the name of one of the largest Protestant denominations in England and America.
Wesley had not set out to form a new denomination, but as he preached, thousands were converted by his clearly biblical message. Sadly, however, the established church leaders were not open to this message and closed their doors against it. Mobs were riled up against the Wesleys and many times they escaped death only through miracles of God’s mercy.
John Wesley explained how on one of these occasions, he saw God’s direct intervention: “Many endeavored to throw me down while we were going downhill on a slippery path to the town,” he said, “. . . but I made no stumble at all, nor the least slip, till I was entirely out of their hands.” He continued, “A lusty man just behind, struck at me several times with a large oak stick; with which if he had struck me once on the back part of my head, it would have saved him all further trouble. But every time, the blow was turned aside, I know not how; for I could not move to the right hand or left . . . Another came rushing [at me], and raising his arm to strike, on a sudden let it drop, and only stroked my head, saying, ‘What soft hair he has!'” (The Great Controversy, p. 258).
Not only did the Wesleys face persecution many times, but their followers also faced violence. It was not uncommon for mobs to go “from house to house, destroying furniture and goods, plundering whatever they chose and brutally abusing men, women, and children. In some instances, public notices were posted, calling upon those who desired to assist in breaking the windows and robbing the houses of the Methodists. . . A systematic persecution was carried on against a people whose only fault was that of seeking to turn the feet of sinners from the path of destruction to the path of holiness,” wrote Ellen White (The Great Controversy, p. 259).
And we have seen through history, although God’s followers often face persecution, His truth continues to march forward and cannot be stopped. For more than 50 years John Wesley continued to faithfully carry out the work God had given him, preaching the gospel of God’s grace, and magnifying His law. At the close of his long life at the age of 87, his followers numbered more than half a million people.
In Ephesians 4:1-2 we are encouraged to “walk worthy of the calling with which you were called, with all lowliness and gentleness, with longsuffering, bearing with one another in love.”
Today, God is calling us to follow the truth He has revealed through His Word, letting the world know of His marvelous grace and His mighty power to help us live in a way that is pleasing to Him.
Let’s pray together just now.
Father in Heaven, Thank you for the wonderful counsel and instruction in the Word of God that helps us to understand that we are saved by grace, that we are justified by the blood of Jesus Christ, and we are sanctified through the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, helping us day by day to follow in Your footsteps. Lord bless as we learn afresh every day how to truly be followers of Jesus Christ. Thank you for the Word of God and for those who have gone before to pave the way in learning how to live godly lives through the power of the Holy Spirit. In Jesus’ name, we ask it. Amen.