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The following excerpt is from Robert Govett’s Is Sanctification Perfect Here Below? which is Romans 6-8 expounded. I recommend this book highly along with his The Church of Old. God gave this man an incredible mind with precise analytical abilities. I believe he glorified the Bestower. We must give thanks to Lewis Schoettle for keeping these and many other precious volumes from being lost and obscured by the sands of history.

“The law, when applied to fallen man in the case of Israel, made transgression to abound. Jehovah forbade the gathering of manna, or the doing of any work on the Sabbath. But that only roused the unruly wills of some to seek the manna, and to gather sticks. And in all times, even where the law had sufficient hold upon the man to prevent open disobedience, his heart rebelled against the law, and its restraints upon his will. ‘When will the new moon be gone, that we may sell corn? And the Sabbath, that we may set forth wheat?’ Amos 8:5. Thus, then, law set sin in motion. It presents it, defines it, and while man desires it, forbids.

“But despite all its force of authority, and denouncing of woe upon the deed, the heart desires the forbidden object still, and conflict takes place in the soul. (1) The waterfall runs down the mountain smoothly enough, till it meets a barrier of rock. Then it breaks, and bursts into foam and fury. Its force was not seen till then. (2) Or, we may compare the unrenewed, to one laboring under a disease lurking in the constitution. A doctor gives a medicine which throws out on the skin the evil humours secretly at work in the system; and soon the patient appears covered with a foul eruption. Such is law. Law does not subdue evil desires: at its utmost, it only restrains evil acts. Oft-times it manifests that hatred of God which is the characteristic of fallen man.

“These motions of sin, ‘used to work in our members, to bring forth fruit to death.’ Law cannot make a bad man good. His habitual flow of soul within goes on as before. Evil nature still keeps its evil desires; these break into acts; and these acts draw down the laws, curse and penalty of death. Man, under law, is only fruitful in acts of sin, which end in death, as the sentence of God’s displeasure: James 1:14-15.

“Law, applied to the unrenewed does not produce holiness of heart, or good works acceptable to God. Working on the fallen, it excites and irritates against God and the restraints of His law: it does not in general, even prevent the evil works which it forbids. The natural man’s ideas then, about law, as the way in which man is to obtain eternal life, and to be fitted to live with God in holiness, are holy unfounded. Law exasperates the evil of the heart, which it discovers, threatens, condemns. Law, as the agrieved husband of fallen flesh, can only prosecute us to death.”

“Paul, an apostle (not sent from men nor through the agency of man, but through Jesus Christ and God the Father…..”

So Paul begins Galatians and reveals to us right up front the reason for his mighty success in proclaiming and carrying out the Lord’s will.

We find the same power and calling at work in Samuels life. In a period of great declension and unbelief the God of Israel performs a miracle by knitting him together in his mothers womb. When he is sent to live with Eli, dedicated to the Lord, we see the hand of God at work to do what He wants at the given time. Samuel was not sent by man. Samuel was sent into the midst of men who had corrupted the things of heaven and dragged them into the sink hole of flesh. This is a common and very obvious phenomenon.

Whether it was, Paul, Samuel, Isaiah or whoever, the Lord calls, then he equips. If either of these components is missing, it results in a dead work performed in a dead way. Is it to be any different today? Are we not personally get our marching orders from the Most High God? Does not each of us desperately need to receive from Him not only our work but obviously the divine power to carry it out? And yet in this busy, busy day of religious activity there are no shortage of entrepreneurs that are simply certain as to what the Lord’s will is for our lives. Whether these men are sincerely interested in doing God’s will or are simply deceived is not the point. The point is that God has something for His children that no one can assign or declare to them.

God forbid that any of us, through impatience or unbelief, squander our calling to wait on Him for power and service. Many times I have had to prayerfully ponder Moses’ forty years in Midian. If we simply want to ‘work for God’, the possibilities can be endless. Many desire more human grease for the wheels of their machine. There are multitudes who are willing to provide that, it seems, whether or not it is being done with unction from God and with true results that have the stamp of approval from heaven. These are not light issues. When men are not willing to wait on God for His power and His wherewithal the only alternative is striking out in the flesh.

We are told clearly in the Word that this flesh profits nothing. I think we may need to have a definite examination of our hearts, our methods, and our attitude toward God and His methods. I am extremely grateful for any legitimate conversion, conviction, or fear of God that we see in this present age. But we must all be honest and admit that all three of those commodities are rare at this time.

Let us desire to prophesy and to build each other up in the most Holy faith, but let us beware of building up by the methods of the world and the power of fallen humanity, regenerated or not, something that may be found to be worthless in God’s eyes on that Great Day. We have each been given a measure of faith, the scripture clearly teaches this, whether that arm of faith is stubby or whether it is long and agile, we have to use that heavenly appendage to reach in to God’s heart to receive from Him our direction, our calling, and the power necessary to carry out His will. This is really the issue that separates the spiritual men from the boys. This generation needs to understand that we can conjure up nothing of value in God’s eyes.

Consider how many apparatus and devices just in your homes that are of no value if they do not receive what they were designed to receive. That is our position exactly. We were designed to receive from God everything for life, service, and holiness. Let us not busy ourselves manufacturing something inherently worthless. Let us learn to acquire feeding on Jesus as He tells us to do in the sixth chapter of John, moment by moment through our lives. A difficult task? No, an impossible task without the constant grace of God manifested in our lives.

We all obviously have a long way to go, but we have a great God, a mighty King, that has set all of His love on us, to take us there. I myself fear being disappointed in that Great Day of Judgment, not because I could not live up, but that I did not let God do the great work in me that only He can do. Brothers, let us press on, redeeming the time, for the days are evil.

” And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather expose them”. Eph. 5:11 is a very instructive verse that seems to have very little practical application in the lives of many of God’s children. I mean how could you explain the modern evangelical’s fascination with the Republican party if the concept had a true fix on our minds? But I am concerned here with a constant evil that seems to be given a free pass by many who should be grieved to the depths.

I am referring to ‘Christian’ television. Whenever my wife and I travel we flip through the channels on the TV and without fail whatever shows up on TBN or Daystar is some magnificent display of carnality and greed almost beyond comprehension. We are speaking of a medium where lies, false prophecies, and every brand of wicked teaching are simply the coin of the realm. Yet many so called ‘church leaders’ who are quick to denounce everything from A to Z have very little or nothing to say concerning what may be one of the biggest stumbling blocks in the minds on many sinners. Who would not be grieved and angry if his chaste and loving wife was portrayed before the world as a scarlet clad whore? Yet it seems that very little is written or sail about this slick and very seductive medium.

I was speaking to a young man recently about his eternal soul and it was impressed upon me to relate to him that these people do not represent the Christ that is wooing him. Is it not a terrible thing to consider that the next person you speak with about salvation may be convinced that TBN is really about Jesus Christ? Who it is that funnels the millions upon millions of dollars into the coffers of these folks I have not the slightest idea. But that it is an extremely lucrative business is simply beyond question. Nor is it confined to the USA. TBN is piped into Nigeria 24 hours a day and has been instrumental in the spread of the religious buffoonery that permeates that nation.

What can we do, we who want to live a simple and honest Christian life before a lost, perishing world? We can not physically manipulate peoples’ televisions nor can we spend our lives railing or picketing studios. But we can pray. We can pray that our loving God will use every means to expose the fraud, corruption, and outright lies of these individuals who walk about with seared consciences. If any of them can still hear the voice of the Holy Spirit we need to implore God to send a spirit of repentance. Yet I believe we would have to be quite naive to really think He was indwelling many of these professors.

This is no small matter. We live in a age of great and accelerating declension. An age in which money and the unquenching desire for the praise and acceptance of other men has ruined the souls of many. Let it not be so with us. When we become sick to our souls of making it up as we go along and truly understand that we can only receive what He gives us will we ever have something of true eternal value for others.

A man was at a very cordial gathering of religious folk. He was in the front room speaking about his love for his spouse with some others. Someone came and told him that a couple guys were in the kitchen making lewd and lascivious comments and gestures to her, that is his wife. His reply was that he was too busy telling everyone about his great love for her to break off now. After all, who was he to judge? And besides that, it just isn’t Christian to get involved in those messy matters where someone might actually be offended.

Let us uphold the most precious name in a worthy manner of His magnificent and unending love. Let us not be corrupted from the sweet simplicity that is in Him. And if we have been, let us repent. Many glossy professors claim the claim but God sees only illegitimate children. By their fruit you will know them. The fruit of these TV preachers has been concocted into deadly little pastries that will poison those who imbibe. Christ will not be used, nor will He be mocked. Let us look upward desirous only of His approval, fearing only His rebuke.

“I do pray that the Lord will keep you from entering in to curious questions at home. I believe all those subjects which cause such contention, are really as the small dust of the balance, in comparison with the preservation with love and harmony of the body. May you be able to seek to establish all in grace; for God has given you a heart to feel the preciousness of His saving power and His forgiving love: This is the classic truth that draws all hearts personally to Jesus and one another; be content to appear ignorant about many things which others think they know a great deal about, if you may but be permitted to exhibit Jesus, precious to all- His meekness, His tenderness, His forbearing pity in the midst of all our weakness and perverseness, dwell upon; and be assured God’s spirit will be with you: The exaltation of Jesus is the saints’ proper work and true glory; and be always assured, the tree that is most loaded with God’s fruit will bend its head most lowly toward the ground. In spiritual things humility and faithfulness always accompany each other. May you be rich in the love of the Church of God, for their profit as well as your own peace: but know nothing of Paul or Apollos.”

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BELOVED, DO NOT BE SURPRISED AT THE FIERY TRIAL AMONG YOU,
WHICH COMES UPON YOU FOR YOUR TESTING,
AS THOUGH SOME STRANGE THING WERE HAPPENING TO YOU
[I Pet.4:12]

If the Master is maligned as Beelzebub, the members of His
house must fare even worse at the hands of men [Mt.10:25].
If they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you [Jn.15:20].

There is nothing strange, then, about Peter and John being
arrested and flogged [Acts 5:17, 18, 40] nor that Stephen was stoned
to death [Acts 7:58]. It was the same high priest and council that had
crucified their Lord that was responsible for their own afflictions.

Conformity to Christ’s character necessarily results in
partaking of His sufferings. The two are inseparable. All who desire
to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution [2 Tim.3:12].
Fiery trials are therefore not a strange thing but follow expectedly as a
consequence of godliness.

They arise from wicked men but are sent by the hand of God
accompanied by the Spirit of glory and of God [I Pet.4:14]. We should
not be ashamed to be reviled for the name of Christ and suffer for
uprightness [I Pet.4:16]. Men may malign and mistreat while casting
shame and slander upon the righteous. But it is no cause to be
ashamed.

Rather, it is cause to glory [I Pet.4:16], to rejoice [Acts 5:41],
and to be exceedingly glad [Mt.5:12]. Such response demands the
spiritual reality evident in a Paul who witnessed that he was sorrowful,
yet always rejoicing [2 Cor.6:10]. Will fiery trial turn us from the
appointed path?

Skin for skin, yea, all that a man has will he give for his life
[Job 2:4]. So says the adversary. What say you? What said three
young Hebrew men?

Our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the
burning fiery furnace…but if not, be it known unto thee, O king,
that we will not serve thy gods… [Dan.3:17, 18].

He is able…but if not…we will not. Their devotion did not
depend upon deliverance. Rescued or no, to them, God must be
honored, truth upheld, and faith rest unwavering. This is the
unyielding allegiance of true consecration.

God is to be glorified as God without rival or compromise
though self perish in the process. All of the workings of truth flow to
this end. It is why we are tried by fire.

It is why we exult in our tribulations. They produce
perseverance and that tested character which issues in hope [Rom.5:3-
5]. The godly quality of life resulting from enduring afflictions lends
confidence to the soul of its eventual conformity to Christ’s image.

That is hope; a hope born in the fire and fanned into a flame
of light by the winds of adversity. It is truth and righteousness upheld
that are the provocations to heat the furnace seven times hotter and
cast the godly therein.

Fiery trials ensue when we are unashamed of Christ and His
words in the midst of a sinful and adulterous generation [Mk.8:38].
This, no Nebuchadnezzar can endure.

Cains will arise against the Abels of the land. Pharaohs will
increase their afflictions upon the Israel of God who refuse to
compromise divine decrees. Testifying the good confession before the
Pilates of this world ushers one to Golgotha’s brow, while craftsmen
of Diana’s shrines riot against gospel light

Suffering for the sake of truth embraced is the portion of the
godly in all generations [2 Tim.3:12]. Moses chose to suffer affliction
with the people of God…esteeming the reproach of Christ greater
riches than the treasure in Egypt [Heb.11:25, 26].

Others were tortured, not accepting deliverance, that they
might obtain a better resurrection [Heb.11:35]. Time would fail us
to recount the histories of the men whom, valiant for truth, the world
was not worthy of [Heb.11:36-38].

Suffice it to say that Paul kept the faith [2 Tim.4:7]. Peter and
Apostles must obey God rather than men [Acts 5:29]. John partook
of tribulation on Patmos’ Isle because of the Word of God and the
testimony of Jesus [Rev.1:9]. And our Lord Jesus despised the shame
and endured a cross for the joy set before Him [Heb.12:2].

Love of truth issues in salvation of those who embrace it [2
Thess.2:10]. At the same time, though, it also issues in persecution
from those who love it not [Jn.15:19].

But something happens when we stand stalwart and
immovable. The world rises up in haste when it sees One like the Son
of God with us in the flames [Dan.3:24, 25].

A testimony is established in the furnace. But we must not
shrink from the fire if we would have Christ meet us therein. It is
there that it becomes evident to all that it is God, and not self, that we
serve.

Brethren, don’t be surpirsed at the fiery ordeal among you
which comes upon you for your testing. It is no strange thing.
Suffering is our expected portion in this world, but Christ will be with
us if we stand erect when Babylon’s notes compel our prostration.

October 1833

“What an instructive chapter the 6th of Romans is. How it points out that there is to be a holy employment of those members that once served sin. I could not help desiring to be perfect, not purely because I cannot be content to be unhappy, - and every measure of sin is a measure of unhappiness, - but because I cannot endure the thought of cherishing what dishonors my Father, and wounds Christ. If I seek perfection, it is only in and by Christ, by seeing in the depths of my soul, and feeling in all the affections of my heart, all those things to be lovely and beautiful in Christ, which God the Father sees to be so. It is by the Spirit’s taking of these things of Jesus, and revealing them unto us, that we are changed from glory to glory………does not our dear Lord say, ‘he that has my commandments and keeps them, he it is that loves me?’ Not merely that one commandment to believe in Him, the greatest and most blessed fountain of the rest, but every one that He has uttered? ”

“Do you not feel you have a precious preeminence as one of the elect of God, and some special reason for adoring love and gratitude? It is so sweet to me to think that to my Father’s love in Christ I owe my all, a wanderer without a wish to love Him. He sought me, found me, adopted me and made me His. By our union with the world, we have altogether lost that testimony of God being on our side, which Rahab speaks of to the spies (Josh. 2:9-11), the ‘fear of us’ being put into the hearts of our enemies, because God is among us. (See also Judges 7:14). He has now no faithful witness in us; we have sown the ground with mixed seed, and are everywhere plowing with an ox and an ass, which the Lord abhors, and how can we be blessed? Who now fears the church because God is in the midst of her? She is now just feared in proportion to her wealth and riches, numbers and power, just as the political unions are. How strong we should be if we felt as the two spies did (Josh 2:24); but we have sown to the wind and are reaping the whirlwind.”

From Memoir of the Late Anthony Norris Groves published by Sentinel Publications 2002

For the first three hundred years, persecution came in ten “waves,” with periods of relative peace between. Many were faithful and did not yield to temptations to deny Christ. These were the Confessors [faithful survivors of torture and prison] and Martyrs.

Others weakened and compromised their faith out of fear, cowardice, or unbelief. Yet when the “wave” had passed and persecution had died down, multitudes of these Lapsed [fallen/apostate] sought to be received into the fellowship of the church once again.

Some had actually sacrificed to the pagan gods. Others had paid to obtain false documents saying that they had sacrificed. Traditores [traitors] handed over the Scriptures to be destroyed in order to spare their lives.

What was to be done? Should they be restored and received back into the church? If so, on what basis? These questions caused serious division in the churches throughout the empire.

Some said that those who sacrificed could not be re-admitted until their death-bed or until they proved themselves faithful during the next persecution. Others said they must be restored because of the forgiveness of Christ, while others proposed various forms of discipline for the Lapsed to show their sincerity.

Who should decide? Many thought that the Confessors should be the ones to make that judgment. Few Bishops agreed, thinking this would weaken their authority over the churches.

Stop and think: In your church gathering is the widow of a Martyr along with her children, a Confessor who is partially crippled due to his sufferings, and several others who had homes and businesses destroyed by persecution. The persecution has ended for the moment and three Lapsed request to join you at the Lord’s Supper. What should that church do?

Brothers, I think it is a fair and honest question to pose: How long will the church of Jesus Christ continue to dishonor Him by embracing the cult of man? Everywhere and at every level we see men involved in countless religious schemes which claim to have the imprimatur of heaven but which when viewed up close have a decidedly fleshly odor.

Are we really being Christlike and walking in love when we support and encourage in any way the notion that the Lord has ordained ‘pastors’ who are to stand before the ‘congregation’s’ each Sunday and ‘preach a sermon’? If these men are not called, sent, and empowered by God what is the point?

If the proportion of conversions were related to the number of ‘ministries’ in this country, everyone would be a disciple of Christ.

Imagine with me for a moment a group of people who had never tasted anything but vending machine food. We have all partook of it at some point so I do not have to go into great detail concerning the insipid nature of it. It is real bad. But you can survive eating it. Now suppose by the largess of someone outside the group a wonderful home cooked meal was provided for some of the individuals. They would be delighted and overwhelmed that food could possibly be so delicious and satisfying even if the deeper issues regarding nutrition were hidden from them. Do you think those people would consent to return to the vending machine menu if it was possible to partake of the other? I think not.

There are men on this planet who have tasted of that power and wonder of the Holy Spirit at work and have no intention of being content with something less. God is interested in setting before His children a feast. Something that possesses a heavenly aroma and flavor. Yet believers in this age for any number of reasons are by and large not interested in celestial fare but prefer something vastly inferior. This is where the ambitious churchmen step in with all the traditions and programs and the willingness to ape the world in an increasingly embarrassing manner. Tripe and scraps are substituted for the bread of life.

As a young believer I was given a ’spiritual aptitude test’ in the Assemblies of God to help find out what my ‘gifts’ might be. That was 20 years ago. I shudder to imagine what things are like there now. A year or so later I had a very telling dream. I met the ‘pastor’ and his wife in a stair well. He pointed at me and screamed, “He won’t work!” I will never forget that dream. I was not then or am I now willing to be poured out as a drink offering on the alter of fleshly religion.

We are going to be judged for our works. If we are foolish and or lazy enough to hook up our railroad car to the carnal engine of some religious guru we may have a very nasty surprise when it finally pulls into the station. Someone once said very wisely that God is looking to come into us and do through us what only He can do. Most religous ‘leaders’ today seem not to be at all interested in this concept. Religion is killing us.

Faith energized by love has no counterfeit. It can not be feigned, it can not be obtained on our own. If God is not inside us doing, then we are simply spinning our wheels in the muck. It is a twisted irony that some say it is rebellion to speak like this when the truth of the matter is that the rebels are those who have set aside the NT pattern and strike out on their own gathering disciples to themselves. This is epidemic in our time. It is the cult of man.

This arena can be quite lucrative.. Benny Hinn lives in a 8.5 million dollar house in a gated community and owns a 36 million dollar Gulf Stream Jet aircraft. Do the foolish souls who sin with their money by giving to this liar ever pick up their bibles? How soon the judgment day will be upon us!

Let no one deceive himself. If anyone among us seems to be wise in this age, let him become a fool that he may become wise. Therefore let no one boast in men. What was Jesus’ response to the disciples in Ephesus who tested the false apostles and found them liars? Was it a rebuke for ‘touching God’s anointed?’ Or was it praise because they had exercised their God given discernment as He expects each one of us to do? The writer of Hebrews told us in 5:14 that we are to have our senses exercised to discern both good and evil. Surely this is the crying need of our day; not simply that someone uses the name of Christ, begins a ‘ministry’, and proceeds to engage in much religious work. That isn’t the criteria. God is expecting us to do His work in His way, and in His time. This age, characterized as it is with fads, fluff, and a truly cavalier attitude towards extremely important revelations that God has given us in the Word, will never stand in the day of judgment without great shame and sorrow.

In 2 Chronicles 15 we see clearly that God, the knower of all hearts, is looking and brooding over those who desire to walk in the fullness of the Spirit. Azariah was sent to meet Asa the king with a word of great encouragement. He told him to be strong and not to let his hands be weak, for his work would be rewarded. This visit by the prophet, which was received with humility by the king, was used as an occasion for a great revival. Although Asa had problems and fell into disobedience later on, at this juncture he responded in a way that was pleasing to God. What I think God wants us to see is that if we do His work in His way and in His power we will be rewarded. Whether God uses an Azariah or some obscure brother that no one has ever heard of makes not the slightest difference. We simply need to walk in humility before the Lord, truly seeking from the heart to know what He is involved in and what He is not involved in. Unfortunately, the pride of our heart comes in many times and makes the voice from heaven either too faint to hear, or ascribes it to another source.

Brothers, we need to build each other up in the most holy faith, but let’s be very careful that the edifice we are involved with is the body of Christ and not something that is going to go up in a sudden burst of flame and smoke on that Great Day.

BLESSED IS HE WHO DOES NOT STUMBLE OVER ME [Mt.11:6]

A man sent from God [Jn.1:6], indeed, none greater that has
been born of women [Mt.11:11] and more than a prophet
[Mt.11:9]; this was John. Filled with the Spirit while yet in his
mother’s womb [Lk.1:15] and coming in the spirit and power of Elijah
[Lk.1:17] as the messenger to prepare the way for the Lord [Mt.11:10];
there have arisen none to equal the Baptist.

Fearlessly, he confronted an entire generation like a thunder
clap from heaven against the sins of peasants, priests, and princes
alike. None were exempt from his withering denunciations and
demands for repentance; none, not even the king.

When Herod the tetrarch was reproved because of Herodias,
his brother’s wife, and because of all the wicked things which Herod had done, Herod also added this to them all: he locked John up in prison [Lk.3:19, 20].

And thus he descended into Herod’s dark and dank dungeon.
The blaze of heaven’s light bursting from him was then plunged into
blackness. Multitudes who once rejoiced in this burning lamp
[Jn.5:35] thronged to him no more. The voice that cried in the
wilderness was silenced behind the confines of cold castle stone.
John is alone. The heralded Messiah of the coming kingdom
sends no greeting. Jesus the Christ makes no visit to his cell. No word
of cheer reaches his ears.

He whom he faithfully testified of and announced remains aloof while the wicked king he faithfully testified to abides an afflicting
captor. The One that John’s whole life had been prepared for and was
devoted to does nothing, says nothing.

Are You the Coming One, or do we look for another?
[Mt.11:3]. Multiplied anxious thoughts race through fevered
imaginations in Herod’s dungeon. “The kingdom of heaven was at
hand, yet Herod’s wicked scepter still holds sway. How is it that the
Bridegroom can abandon His friend who rejoiced to hear His voice?
[Jn.3:29]. Surely He has come to set the captives free! [Isa.61:1]. Why
does He not come?”

And so it was that a deputation of disciples came to inquire
of Christ on John’s behalf. And thus did Christ respond.
At that very hour He cured many of diseases, afflictions, and
evil spirits; and to many blind he gave sight. Jesus answered and said to them, “Go and tell John the things you have seen and heard: the blind see, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, the poor have the gospel preached to them. “And blessed is he who is not offended because of Me”
[Lk.7:21-23].

Report what you have seen and heard. They saw that many,
but not all, were healed. They heard those ancient prophesies of the blind, deaf, and lame being saved [Isa.35:3-6] and of the gospel being
preached to the poor by the Lord’s Anointed [Isa.61:1-3].
This is what they saw and heard. It was the message that they
carried to the downcast in the dungeon. Jesus Himself did not come.
The message of truth did. And John was left there with the Truth
until his earthly race had run its course.

And blessed is he who is not offended because of Me. It is
a blessed condition to not be offended when the Lord Jesus does not
perform according to our expectation. We are blessed when His Word
alone is sufficient to sustain us in the midst of distressing and grievous
afflictions. Blessed are you when you trust what you know is true in the unrelieved grimness of Herod’s dungeon.

He was left alone to reflect on the fact that many were healed,
but not all. It was the same Jesus who healed some and did not relieve
others. He pondered those prophesies, both of which promised rescue
from maladies and pointed to a coming day of vengeance.
That of the 35th of Isaiah promised that the weak and fearfulhearted
will yet be visited by God and saved [v.4]. In the 61st chapter,
not only is the gospel preached unto the poor, but the captives are
liberated and the prison doors fly open [v.1].

They were cheering words to the downcast. But when shall
they be realized? When will He come to this, my dungeon?
The fact is, that it may not be in this life at all that your
distress is visited and relieved. Perhaps not until the day of vengeance
will all of your woes, grievances, and injustices be rectified.
By faith the servants of the Most High escaped the edge of the
sword [Heb.11:34]. By faith others, equally His servants, were put to
death with that same sword [Heb.11:37].

Elijah was ushered into glory in a fiery chariot sent from above
[2 K.2:11]. His faithful companion who possessed a double portion of
his spirit, slowly expired in his sickness [2 K.13:14].

By the mercies of God Epaphroditus was healed of his deadly
ailment [Phil.2:27]. But Paul’s beloved co-worker was left sick at
Miletus [2 Tim.4:20].

One of God’s notable prophets was delivered and raised from
a pit of certain destruction [Jer.38:4-14]. Yet the stalwart and fearless
Micaiah was cast into prison and fed sparingly with the bread of
affliction [I K.22:27].

In days of famine, one desolate widow was miraculously fed
while others foraged about searching for crumbs. Elijah was sent to
none of them [Lk.4:25, 26].

Black despair burst into light’s glowing warmth in Herod’s
dismal prison-house of death. Fierce guards and flashing swords were bypassed as if nothing by the liberated captive. Shackles and chains
clinked powerless to the ground as Peter was escorted by his heavensent
deliverer.

Now I know for certain that the Lord has sent His angel, and
has delivered me from the hand of Herod [Acts 12:11]. These were
the words of Peter.

This is the testimony of James. Then he [Herod] killed James
the brother of John with the sword [Acts 12:1, 2]. They were in the
same prison, bound by the same Herod, and serving the same Jesus.
Which Jesus do we want? The Jesus of Peter or the Jesus of
James? Which Jesus will we love and serve? Which One will we not
be offended with?

Will we presume to choose, or even demand, our own means
of deliverance? For, truly, both Peter as well as James were set free
from Herod’s clutches, were they not?

Lonely vigils night and day passed in the Baptist’s miserable
cell in Herod’s dungeon before he was released. The prisoner was
eventually set free. The prison doors finally burst forth from their
squalor into the brightness of eternal day. It was the Lord’s doing.
At the malicious demand of Herod’s wanton consort, he sent
and had John beheaded in prison [Mt.14:10]. And thus the captive
was set free by Herod’s murderous sword, yet not even one hair of
John’s head perished [Lk.21:18].

And blessed is he who is not offended because of Me.