Whisper Of God Ministries

Little Bilney

This week’s reading in the book of Isaiah take us from chapter 40– 2. These chapters contain many precious and memorable verses.

“The grass withers and the flowers fall, but the word of our God stands forever.” – 40:8

“A bruised reed he will not break, and a smoldering wick he will not snuff out.” – 42:3

“A righteous God and a Savior, there is none but me.” – 45:21b – a verse that ties together the Ten Commandments and John 3:16.

We could point to the sheer awe of 40:26 – “Lift your eyes and look to the heavens: Who created all these? He who brings out the starry host one by one, and calls them by name. Because of his great power and mighty strength, not one of them is missing.” There are too many stars to count one by one but scientist estimate that there are at least 1,000,000,000,000,000,000,000 stars in the sky. God calls them all by name and not one of them is missing.

However, every time I read this section of Scripture, I pause at 43:2, I pause at this verse because it is perhaps the last verse ever quoted by one of the most important men in all of biblical history in England – a man many of you have never heard of – Thomas Bilney. Bilney was born in 1495 near or in Norwich, England. What is so remarkable about this small and unassuming man is found in the words of Marcus Loane, “the time of harvest which brought forth the Reformation of the Church of England must be traced back to the simple goodness and loving witness of Bilney of Cambridge.” You see Thomas Bilney single handedly brought the Reformation to Cambridge University and in doing so changed the landscape of England forever. He never was the type of man to take the lead role in England like Luther in Germany. Bilney fits the role of the Apostle Andrew. His work was done in quite conversation or through intense friendship. But it was Bilney who led such giants as Hugh Latimer, Robert Barnes, and John Lambert to the true Gospel of Jesus Christ.

Bilney was arrested in 1527 for his reformed views and was tortured in the Tower of London. Under these difficult circumstances, he recanted his beliefs. As part of his release, he was forced to light the fire that burned hundreds of William Tyndale’s New Testaments in English. Released a ruined man Bilney returned to Cambridge, cried out to God for forgiveness and began preaching in the fields and streets because he had lost his license to preach in a church. He carried only Tyndale’s New Testament and Tyndale’s other great work, The Obedience of a Christian Man. Eventually he is arrested again and this time sentenced to death in 1531. The night before he dies, he is in his cell with a few of his closest friends. Knowing he will die the next day by being burned to death at the stake, Thomas Bilney looked into the flame of his only candle, put his finger into the flame and quoted Isaiah 43:2, “When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze.”

The next morning Bilney was led out to what is known today as Lollard Pit. This is where over 300 Lollards and other reformers would be burned to death between 1390 and 1550. As he was fastened to the stake and the flames began to burn the wood, Thomas Bilney’s last words were “I have had many storms in this world, but soon my vessel will be on shore in heaven. As he burned, he was heard to cry out, “Jesus, I believe.” Marcus Loane closes his wonderful work on Bilney with this, “Little Bilney had not escaped from death by fire, but those who had eyes to see may have seen that he was not alone: there was One like the Son of Man who stood by him in the heat of dying and went with him through the gate of glory.”

My prayer is that all of us would desire such a faith as Thomas Bilney – a faith that willingly walks into the flames for the cause of the Gospel. Such faith only comes by the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. But most of us won’t be called on by God to die for our faith. Most of us are only called on to live out our faith every day. The strength also comes through the Spirit. If you are in the midst of difficult circumstances, remember this verse in Isaiah that brought Little Bilney so much comfort. Pray for the Spirit to strengthen you and comfort you. God longs for his children to want more of Him.

Are You on the Right Road?
Several months ago, my son Sam asked if he could buy a GPS system for his car. He had one that he had bought a year or so before to take when he hikes with the Boy Scouts. Now he wanted the same type of system for his car. I must admit that it is a pretty neat navigational system. He knows where he is, what the approaching streets are named and even his altitude. He can program in his destination and the device comes on with a pleasant voice and tells him where to turn and when. Reminds him gently if he turns the wrong way and will without much effort, recalculate the correct route from his mistake. I can think of many times when I could have used this subtle influence in my driving career. I know my directionally challenged daughter could certainly use it.

In this week’s reading, we come across a couple of interesting ideas expressed in Isaiah 35. One of them involves our route in life. The chapter deals with the joy that the redeemed have. Verses 5 and 6 are the replies that Christ gives to John the Baptist’s disciples when John has a crisis of faith in prison before his death. In Matthew chapter 11, John has sent his disciples to Jesus to ask him, “Are you the one who was to come, or should we expect someone else?” John wants to know that even though he had baptized Christ as the Messiah, his faith was straining under the shadow of his own death. Notice that Christ does not reply as you or I would have done. Most folks would have said back to John’s disciples, “of course I am the one, tell him I am the one you looked for. You should know better than to doubt.” But not Christ. Instead of that direct approach, he appeals to what John already knows in his soul – the Scriptures. Jesus tells the disciples to return to John and report what they “hear and see.” Then Christ reminds them that what is happening now is just as the prophet Isaiah had foretold almost 700 years earlier.

The verses I want to concentrate on are found in 35:8-10 – the Holy Highway! Isaiah says that in that day of joy, “a highway will be there; it will be called the Way of Holiness. The unclean will not journey on it; it will be for those who walk in that Way; wicked fools will not go about on it.” I find myself contemplating these three verses at the end of chapter 35, the Holy Highway. It is the narrow path that Christ talks about in Matthew 7:13-14. It is not a wide path, but the narrow path that leads to eternal life. I ask myself how I can make sure that I am on this highway. How do I make sure that I am traveling in the right direction, on the right road? After all, there are a lot of paths out there. Just the other day I sat and had lunch with a Hindu. He said to me that his religion and Christianity were not that very different, after all both of them were telling us to be good, to pray, and do what is right to others. Is his way on this same path that Isaiah speaks of? Of course not. Many world religions may be superficially alike but they differ greatly at the fundamental level. The claims of Christ are exclusive and so is his highway. Isaiah tells us that only the redeemed will walk there. So, how does this tie back to my son’s GPS system? Well, in a way, the Bible is our own personal GPS navigational system from God. While the Bible is much more than just that, it certainly does give us the directions to the right road; it certainly tells us when we make a wrong turn; and it will encourage us back to the correct way. But just like Sam’s GPS, we must be willing to listen and let it guide us. I am terrible about asking directions. I want to trust my own sense of direction when I am lost. Nothing could be worse for the sinner. Our instincts are fallen, fouled up by sin. The Bible is the only sure map for us to get on the narrow way. I want to ask you today, are you in God’s Word, making sure that you are on the Holy Highway and not some wrong road? Trust only his Word to be your map and guide to eternal fellowship with him. Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life, and no one arrives at the proper destination with out his guidance, indeed his efficient help.

Who Will Bring Change
As I sit down to write this teaching update, I find myself, (I think) in India. Over the last month, I have spent 23 of those days on the road and out of town. I have another 7 days away before I get home. In traveling to China, Macau, Hong Kong, Frankfurt, and Chennai, I have tried to follow the events of the news either on my computer or via TV and newspaper. It is fascinating to watch and listen to how foreign media views the United States and our political challenges. Often times I am just embarrassed at how we handle ourselves. The political ads, the campaign rhetoric and the promises made always seem to echo the same theme – “I can bring change to America.” But do they ever really bring significant change? I don’t think so. We seem to be able to talk the talk but never walk the walk.

As we read from the book of Isaiah this week, chapters 9-24, I am struck by the real change promised by this prophet who speaks for God. He has been in God’s very presence (chapter 6) and he clearly speaks from the one who sits on the throne – God himself. Chapter 11 tells us of this real change that is coming. Not political policy changes, not promises to special interest groups, not new economic changes – but real life change.

“A shoot will come up from the stump of Jesse; from his roots a Branch will bear fruit. The Spirit of the LORD will rest on him the Spirit of wisdom and of understanding, the Spirit of counsel and of power, the Spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the LORD - and he will delight in the fear of the LORD. He will not judge by what he sees with his eyes, or decide by what he hears with his ears; but with righteousness he will judge the needy, with justice he will give decisions for the poor of the earth. He will strike the earth with the rod of his mouth; with the breath of his lips he will slay the wicked. Righteousness will be his belt and faithfulness the sash around his waist. The wolf will live with the lamb, the leopard will lie down with the goat, the calf and the lion and the yearling together; and a little child will lead them. The cow will feed with the bear, their young will lie down together, and the lion will eat straw like the ox. The infant will play near the hole of the cobra, and the young child put his hand into the viper’s nest. They will neither harm nor destroy on all my holy mountain, for the earth will be full of the knowledge of the LORD as the waters cover the sea. In that day the Root of Jesse will stand as a banner for the peoples; the nations will rally to him, and his place of rest will be glorious.”

This is the life changing power that will be brought by the Messiah. This is the future change that will be brought when Christ returns again to gather all of God’s children to himself. His banner will be a banner for all people. He will bring the change in life that we all want to see – the Kingdom of God. No democrats or republican idealism, this change we see here is from the eternal Son of God. Don’t miss this description from Chapter 9:6: “For to us a child is born, to us a son is given and the government will be on his shoulders.” Notice that in his humanity, the “child is born” but the eternal Son of God can only be “given.” Christ has existed from all eternity past and will rule and reign in his perfect government for all eternity to come.

So, as you vote this election year, remember that God is sovereign even over our election process. Our next president – whether we agree or disagree – will have been decreed from before the foundations of the earth were laid. But if you seek real change – change that matters, change that brings newness of life, that change can only be found in Christ. He alone can truly satisfy all you needs, cultivate healthy desires, and bring the type of change you really need – forgiveness of your sins. His banner is the rallying point for all humanity. His campaign is to win not an election and serve a term, but to win the souls of mankind to eternal rest in him.

The Marvelous Victories of Christ
This week’s reading finished up the last couple of chapters in 2 Samuel and we began the captivating book of Isaiah. Isaiah is a prophetic book full of the judgments of God but also glimpses of his overwhelming grace – “For to us a child is born, to us the son is given.” I have to remind myself how privileged we are to live on this side of Christ’s life when these rich prophesies are so clear and specific for us to see.
Normally in surveying this week’s verses, I would naturally gravitate to the call of Isaiah in chapter 6. This passage has long been a clarion call in my on life and I may well write on it next week. But this week I want to look at a verse that perhaps you missed altogether. It concerns a favorite character of mine that most people would never even remember. In Chapter 23 of 2 Samuel, the writer talks about David’s mighty men –those men who fight for the nation of Israel in such a valiant way that their exploits are recorded for all of history by God himself. The man I want us to look at briefly is the warrior Benaiah.
Benaiah was captain of King David’s personal bodyguard. He also commanded the army in the third month of the year. After David died, he and Nathan and Zadok supported Solomon. Eventually Benaiah became the commander of the entire Israel army. In 2 Samuel 23:20-23 we read of some of the deeds of Benaiah. No doubt he was perhaps Israel’s greatest warrior. The Spirit of God was mightily upon him in all that he did. But one story, when I read it, is always an occasion for joy in my heart. I find that joy not from what Benaiah did but from what God did through him.
“He also went down into a pit on a snowy day and killed a lion.” I told you that you probably read over this verse without a second thought. F.W. Boreham writes wonderfully on this very verse and it is from his insight that I find my joy in this passage. For you see Benaiah went to the worst of places to fight – a pit, during the worst kind of conditions – a snowy day, and fought perhaps man’s greatest animal enemy – a lion. Even in this place, in these conditions, and against this enemy, God delivered him.
I catch myself thinking of Benaiah when times get tough for me. He willingly went into a terrible place to fight with no way out – a pit. He did it on a horrid day – can you imagine trying to fight in the slippery mud and against a lion of all things. How often do I find myself in a place where I think I have no way out. Sometimes I find myself in this kind of place because of my own sin but often I am there in God’s providence to learn. I sense in that place that conditions could not be much worse than they are at that moment – or at least my mind tells me that. Sometimes I am so overwhelmed by my conditions that I feel trapped and all alone. In these times, I find myself battling against a variety of enemies – fear, sinfulness, pride, or disease. I am overwhelmed by all that is around me. And yet I remember Benaiah. God worked a marvelous victory in Benaiah’s life in the face of all that surrounded him. God can and does do that in my life and your life. While he may not have us always defeat the lion in the manner that Benaiah did, he still promises to be with us in any place, in any condition and against any foe. Deut 31:8 reads, “The Lord himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid: do not be discouraged.” Take this promise that God made to Joshua. If you are his, saved by faith in his son, you have the same assurance as Joshua had. When surrounded in your life by foes and conditions greater than you can imagine, trust in Christ. He works marvelous victories.